Competitive story writer, namer, brander, and editor/designer of Menticulture magazine. Overall creative legend, and nicest bloke in Essex. Originally from the glorious hill of Danbury. Ben trained as a graphic designer as a mature student. Now he runs his own naming and brand agency The Identity Bureau. Naming is finding what a company is going to call themselves. A name that’s memorable and describes the company. A good name should be easy to say, easy to spell, easy to remember. Company names have the most brand longevity, outlasting multiple logo refreshes etc, so it’s super important to get right. Namers work through about sixteen points to make sure they get to a good name that scores ticks on the list. Why changing the name Twitter to X was a bad move because they lost brand equity. Having a rigorous process, but also when to trust your gut instinct to judge creativity. Ben has created Menticulture magazine, which is a bit like a printed version of this podcast, all about creativity in Essex! Oi oi! It is printed on a risograph in bright pink and black on cartridge paper at Colchester Maker Space. The importance of proofreaders. What is an interrobang‽ Nick has a story about how his logo design ended up in a shocking discovery online. Ben partakes in short story writing challenges for microfiction, writing under time constraints with a genre, a word to use, and an action that needs to be included. What the competitors write in 24 hours is fascinating. Ben reads his 100-word (a drabble), 24 hour short story ‘Remember Bees Dad?’. Check out the NYC Midnight website for details of the next challenge.

Identity Bureau
Id Bureau on Insta
Menticulture Magazine
NYC Midnight

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

One of the hosts of the Eerie Essex podcast (with Ailsa Clarke), all about paranormal happenings and traditional stories of mysteries and the unexplained in Essex. Is the Loch Ness Monster a ghost dinosaur? Old Roughy the poltergeist in Great Waltham. Ghost cats in pubs. How do Bethan and Ailsa research their podcast? Start with the paranormal database, books, British newspaper archive. Weird Norfolk podcast from the Norfolk Folklore Society inspired them to start their Essex podcast. Black Shuck the East Anglian dog is a brilliant regional myth. Part cryptid, part entity, a black dog with blazing red eyes that arrives in storm and lightning, can be bad or good. Shuck was a protector for travellers, like a scary Lassie. Adelle tells a creepy story about a hotel, is she imagining things? What can Bethan tell us about it? 3am is a common time for ghosts and weird things happening! Stories bring us together, so does it matter if they are true or not? Explanations for sleep paralysis. Your brain puts your body into neutral mode and turns off motor functions at night. Nightmares are named after mythical horses with glowing eyes in your room at night. Plague pits, burials and plague doctor ghosts in Colchester. Never move a witch’s stone! Matthew Hopkins is a nob. Bethan tells us loads of old rude names for roads she found in her research. How to start a podcast and find out what kit you need? Ask other podcasters! Write bullet points, not a script. Waiting for things to be released into public records - exorcism! Bethan also has a podcast called The Spectre of the Sea, which is more storytelling. Doing a live podcast for the first time. Bethan also runs the East Anglian Folklore Centre at The Minories in Colchester - there is a reference library, things from an apothecary, lectures, a museum. There will be a folk goblin rave in Colchester Castle to raise funds for the centre. Has Bethan seen a ghost? OF COURSE! And a demonic presence. The Smiler!

Eerie Essex on Insta
East Anglian Folklore Centre
Bethan on Insta

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam from Lawker Media at Lawker Media Studio
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Observational poet with luxuriant hair from Witham. Leon started poetry in 2016, and became Leon The Poet in 2022. He was a songwriter first, and got inspired by spoken word like Kae Tempest. His first book was published in 2024 - ‘Sometimes I’m The Bull, Sometimes I’m The China Shop’ - with a brilliant cover by Essex artist Jackson Bollocks. The book looks more like a music album than a poetry book. Leon finds that poetry has a more focused audience than when he used to perform music. He wants to make poetry more accessible for a wider audience - not just for super smart and serious people. Leon spend time on the titles for his poems to give them a good hook. He reads a poem about how his dog wanted to be a poet until a parcel fell on his head. Leon was raised in a controlling religious background, and he struggled to find independence and artistic outlets for most of his life. During COVID when the group couldn’t get together, Leon started to question the lifestyle and teachings and researched cults. Individualism and creativity are actively discouraged in a cult, it is all about the group. Art is therapy for Leon, he confides in his art and writes about subjects he is figuring out. Humans need to express themselves and create, it is play for adults! Creating something that didn’t exist before is joy. You have to be honest with what you write, it is your opinion and how you feel. Leon has a beef with Russell Brand and him finding Christ - he has an expert level of understanding of the bible and can easily spot his hypocrisy. Leon bigs up the poetry scene in Colchester at Patch and The Commons. How do you get poetry gigs? Poems have to connect with people, so make them easy to understand. Leon reads the best poem Nick and Sangita have ever heard - it’s called #Trainwanker and worth listening to the whole episode just for this! We talk Tim Key and his show Late Night Poetry. Big up to other Essex poets Martin Newell and Beans On Toast. Poems can be about anything, and it’s creatively liberating. Essex Tourism Board - ‘Witham - It’s just a place mate!’ Looking for James Buckley in Chelmsford. Tips for starting at poetry - just start! You’ve got to be your own curator, and trust your instincts. Commit to the idea.

Leon The Poet Instagram
Buy Leon The Poet's book

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam from Lawker Media at Lawker Media Studio
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK