As an extra special Father’s Day episode, Alex (and his daughter Connie) are delighted to introduce the super talented and charming craftspeople and ceramic experts Chris and Freya Bramble-Carter onto ‘This Is A Token.’

Chris has been a feature in the crafts world for a long time, and has taken his love of ceramics and teaching the art form to so many different communities, including teaching inmates at some of the UK’s bigger prisons. Although Alex and Chris have never met, their paths often intertwine as they talk through their careers in the arts world.

After studying a fine art degree, Freya felt inspired by her Dad’s eclectic journey in the crafts space to make her own ceramics. Known specifically for her skill in glazing and organic shapes, Freya’s popularity has grown immensely in recent years, and has even seen her participate as a guest judge on popular reality show, ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ on Channel 4.

Settle in and listen for a friendly chat between Chris and Freya with Alex as their shared collection of jewellery pieces often hold their mark from days by the clay wheel and childhood joy from happy shared memories going to Claire’s Accessories, Kilburn High Road and Topshop! It’s a heartwarming one.

Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Freya and Chris:

You can follow Freya on Instagram here

You can read Chris and Freya’s article with Ceramics Review here

You can find Chris’s website here

You can find Freya’s website here

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our next episode of ‘This is a Token’, Alex is joined by his current favourite actor Charlotte Spencer.

Charlotte and Alex talk through her deep love of acting which started in childhood. Coming from humble beginnings, her parents have always supported her dream, which has given her the opportunity of performing both on the West End stage with another ‘This is a Token’ guest, Carrie Hope Fletcher as a child, and most recently on our screens as the formidable and uncompromising Nicki Jennings in the very popular series ‘The Gold’ on the BBC detailing*on the Brink’s-Mat Robbery.

Settle down and listen to Charlotte and Alex discuss her fantastically varied career so far, and how Charlotte’s performance have even inspired Alex for our upcoming collections. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled - *hint, hint*.

Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Charlotte:

You can watch ‘The Gold’ here

You can see Charlotte’s filmography here

Illustration by Connie Bella Monroe

Edited by Emily Sandford

Music by Daniel Patrick Cohen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning: This special episode of This Is A Token is an open conversation between Alex and his daughter Connie about experiences of anxiety and mental health with mention of suicide.

To mark Mental Heath Awareness Week from 15th - 21st May Alex and Connie have come together to record this special episode.

Here are some useful links for further reading discussed by Alex and Connie:

For more information on Mental Heath Awareness Week: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

For suggestions on how to help cope with feelings of anxiety: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxiety

For more information on mental health: www.mind.org.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.