The GoodWeird Podcast - a show about creative attention in an age of distraction

Ep. 06 Lisa Anderson

John talks to Lisa Anderson, curator and cultural producer,about imagination as resistance, care as curatorial practice, and trusting intuition over intellect alone. They talk about stepping away from institutional weight, the paradox of naming to make things visible, and what it means to hold space for artists and histories that matter. Lisa reflects on sensuality as knowing, joy as power, and the daily practice of choosing not to be resigned - grounding in faith, community, and the long view. It's a conversation about art as social infrastructure, spiritual knowing as legitimate, and imagination as the tool for living together well. https://www.instagram.com/lisaandersonaa/ https://www.instagram.com/blackbritishart/ https://www.lisaandersonartadvisory.com/

Ep.05 Merlin Nation

John talks to Merlin Nation, artist, designer & animator about burnout, joy, and finding a way back to instinct. They talk about DIY culture, creative exhaustion, and the moment when you realise you have to stop... and start again differently. Merlin reflects on rediscovering play, choosing hope, and making work without waiting for the right conditions. It’s a conversation about creative recovery, community, and doing things simply because they matter to you. https://merlinnationart.com/ https://www.instagram.com/merlin.nation.art/ https://www.corita.org/tenrules

The GoodWeird Podcast: Trailer

What does it mean to keep your imagination free in a system designed to colonise it? The GoodWeird Podcast explores that question with under-radar creators - comic artists, musicians, writers, makers - who've refused to let their work be flattened. Conversations about: * Noticing what others miss * Protecting creative practice from extraction * Making work that stays alive * Navigating systems that reward conformity Slow. Roaming. Slop-free. Because imagination is the quiet architect of every choice and widening its boundaries is how new worlds come into view. Hosted by John Davison.

Ep.04-Martine McDonagh

John talks to Martine McDonagh, novelist, teacher, and lifelong explorer of how we heal - and what it costs. We talk about keeping a beginner's mind, finding humor in the dark, and how therapy can reshape not just the self but the stories we tell. Martine’s take on transformation is raw, funny, and deeply human - proof that the work often knows more than we do. It’s a conversation about curiosity, courage, and the strange alchemy of turning pain into art. Related links: Martine Mcdonagh’s website [https://www.martinemcdonagh.com/]

Ep.03-Mick Jackson

John talks to Mick Jackson, novelist, children’s author, and former musician whose debut was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. We talk about the strange magic that appears right after you’ve given up, the quiet power of simple ideas, and the rituals that make creativity possible. There’s wisdom here about voice, confidence, and the kind of patience that turns chaos into story. It’s a conversation about faith in the process - and the small, deliberate acts that keep imagination alive.