As well as producing audio, I facilitate creative workshops with different communities.
I am the co-founder and co-director of Boldface – a multi-media Community Interest Company that works with community groups to produce audio, art and film. Read more here.
I’ve designed and run training courses for Global Justice Now, HearSay Audio Arts Festival, Somerset House, Serpentine Galleries, Metroland Cultures, The Empathy Museum, Women in Prison, VICE, RTM FM, The Brixton Project, Alphabet Radio, Multitrack, Audible and primary and secondary schools around London. I also regularly mentor people wanting to get into audio, and I’m always down for a chat on the phone if you’re looking for some advice.
Some projects I’m proud of:
Split Banana – Ongoing
I am a facilitator with Split Banana, delivering inclusive and honest Relationship, Sex and Health Education workshops in secondary schools, to help young people to build healthy relationships with their minds, their bodies and each other. Check out their work – they’re really great and so very needed.
Global Justice Now – 2024
I was the Executive Producer and Facilitator for The Secret World of Investor Courts: a four part series made by the Global Justice Now Youth Network, exploring corporate power, colonialism and climate justice. Read more here.
Collective Rythms – 2023
I was the Lead Artist for the 2023 Metroland Young Associates – a paid alternative education programme for 18-24 year olds in Brent. Read more here.
Sound Communities – 2023
I ran two sessions for Sound Communities – a non-profit organisation in Torbay providing music, radio and production opportunities to marginalised young people.
I ran two sessions for their ‘This is Us’ Project – an early intervention programme supporting local young people to express their identity through creative radio and music especially around what it’s like to live in a seaside town.
I ran a session on radio presenting for the young people on the programme, and a session on the radio and podcasting landscape as a ‘Continuing Development Session’ for the staff.
I had such a lovely day in Torbay working with them, would really recommend checking out their work!
London Podcast Festival – 2022
I led a session with Arlie Adlington looking at the power dynamics in contributor/producer relationships making documentary audio and how to make these relationships less extractive. We said lots of stuff, but here are some of our closing thoughts:
Metroland Young Associates – 2022
I was the facilitator for the Metroland Young Associates: a paid opportunity for Brent young people, ages 18-24, to develop skills working in the arts as part of the Brent Biennial 2022.
I facilitated workshops and development sessions with 20 young people from Brent, with different interests and access needs, with the aim of ultimately curating the final weekend of the Biennial. They were all total legends.
In 2023, I went back to Metroland Young Associates to be the Artist Lead for the programme. Read more here.
Multitrack – 2022
I was the Fellows Coordinator for the Multitrack Fellowship 2022. I was the pastoral point of contact for the fellows – checking in every week to talk about anything they wanted to. I also supported them to create and maintain their Personal Development Plans.
On previous years, I’ve been a member of the Multitrack Training Steering Group working to develop, co-ordinate and ensure the quality of 10 weeks of training for the Multitrack Fellows.
Rise + Shine – 2022
In Feb 2022 I ran a Rise & Shine masterclass on interviewing. Rise & Shine is an amazing platform for people interested in audio stuff, founded by the legend Sarah Myles. There are so many free resources to be found, 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Down the Rabbit Hole – 2021
Down the Rabbit Hole is an audio storytelling project that I designed, facilitated and produced in collaboration with Women in Prison, The Empathy Museum and National Prison Radio working with three incredible women – Rita, Elizabeth and Angel – who access services at The Beth Centre in Lambeth. This was a project I ran through Boldface. Read more here.
Alphabet Radio’s Intro to Audio Course – 2021
I designed and delivered a 10 week training course for LGBTQ+ people who are interested in getting into audio production and presenting. The course ran from March – May 2021.
The course was free to attend, included one to one mentoring, weekly production training, and weekly ‘Listening Sessions’ in which our trainees had the chance to meet LGBTQ+ audio producers and presenters and listen to a piece of their work. I delivered this course with Kit Callin and Laura Blake.
I ran workshops on interviewing, presenting, remote recording and sound design. I also facilitated the Listening Sessions, which were effectively a series of ‘In Conversations’ with queer audio producers including Ariana Martinez, Alexander Charles Adams, Jacob Edward and Ant Adeane. I really, really enjoyed interviewing people about their audio processes.
Somerset House – 2020
In October 2020, I ran an Interviewing for Podcasts, Radio and Film workshop for Somerset House staff. In November 2020, I ran a workshop on Access to the Audio Industry, Idea Creation and Pitching for 18-25 year olds as part of Somerset House’s Upgrade Yourself series.
Primary and Secondary Schools
I love coming into schools and setting up students with the tools to create their own podcasts in a single workshop. I’ve done this in primary and secondary schools across London including in Kings Cross Academy, Kings Maths School and UAE Southbank. I also ran sessions with 8-12 year olds in Salford through Salford Community Leisure. If you are a school or educational organisation interested in podcasting workshops, hit me up!
JESSE LAWSON 