About The Colour Cycle Podcast
The Colour Cycle podcast shares knowledge, experience and insight from artists and creative workers from across Australia and around the world. The podcast shares critical conversations about racial equity in the arts and screen sectors. We’re also sharing leading practices, and spotlighting great work and creators. Here are some previous seasons of the podcast: https://diversityarts.org.au/the-colour-cycle-podcast-archive/
The Colour Cycle is a project of Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) Australia’s national voice for cultural diversity and racial equity in the arts, cultural and creative industries. Our work is underpinned by a human-rights ethic, social justice principles, and the belief that a truly diverse spectrum of creative expression and participation is fundamental to a democratic, inclusive and sustainable creative sector, and society.
The Colour Cycle Season 7: Where We Are Now
This podcast was produced on the unceded lands of the Bidjigal Clan of the Darug nation and the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora Nation.
Get ready for Season 7 of The Colour Cycle podcast, Where We Are Now! This season unpacks powerful stories of creativity, resilience, and social change—spotlighting women in hip-hop, radical care in the arts, and the transformative impact of diverse leadership across Australia and the UK. Find the Colour Cycle Podcast on all good listening platforms:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic
Season 7 is a collaboration with This Is Who We Are. It is a project which amplifies and brings together Women of Colour/Global Majority Women in solidarity. Formed by a collective including Renaissance One, Third Space, Diversity Arts Australia and more plus Australia and UK-based cultural practitioners/activists including Lena Nahlous, Bernardine Evaristo, Dr Paula Abood, Nur Shkembi, Melanie Abrahams and Sarah Dara. This season is supported by Creative Australia, Create NSW, British Council and Renaissance One.
Season 7 - List of episodes
EP 1 - Women In Hip Hop
In this episode we are joined by women from across Australia, the US and the U.K connected through their shared passion for Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop has long been a bastion of anti-establishment rhetoric, providing a platform for the voiceless to be heard.
The industry veterans you’ll hear talk about the importance of hip-hop in forming connections, how self-determined spaces are crucial, as well as going over the many challenges they faced when breaking into the industry.
This discussion was conducted as part of the This Is Who We Are Project.
Guests: MC Trey, Maya Jupiter, Naomi Wenitong, DJ Sarah Love and TRUEmendous
Host: Lena Nahlous
EP 2 - Forging Your Own Path as an Industry Leader
In this Interview, Dr Görkem Acaroğlu is joined by industry veteran and CEO of the Creative Diversity Network in the UK; Deborah Williams OAM. Together they reflect on Deborah’s career spanning over thirty years in the arts and how she was able to forge her own path. They examine the importance of diversity in leadership roles and why audiences should see things they don’t like.
Guests: Deborah Williams
Hosted by: Dr Görkem Acaroğlu
Producers: Vir Kaula, Sonia Mehrmand and Kevin Bathman
EP 3 - Radical Care Part 1: Fostering Safe Spaces for Artists
In this episode we dive into the concept of radical care. Like many of topics we discuss here on the Colour Cycle, care is often unequally distributed across society with traditionally marginalised communities often receiving the least. As people within the arts we ask what can do to help facilitate an environment that feels safe and welcoming to all artists.
To answer these questions, our very own Lena Nahlous is joined by two very special guests. Tian Zhang is the essayist behind the inspiration for this episode ‘A Manifesto For Radical Care & How To Be A Human In The Arts’ She works out of western Sydney as the Co-director of Pari, an arts and community space. Our second guest is the UK based writer, poet and artistic director of the Red Ladder Theatre company, Cheryl Martin. Together they dissect what care looks like and how we can foster a sense of community in the industry.
Guests: Tian Zhang and Cheryl Martin
Hosted by: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Vir Kaula, Sonia Mehrmand and Kevin Bathman
EP 4 - Radical Care Part 2: Finding Solidarity
We continue here where we left off last time with writer, curator and co-director of Pari Tian Zhang alongside artistic director of the Red Ladder Theater company, Cheryl Martin.
During the pandemic there was a breakdown in the formal structures of care which gave way to unprecedented rates of racism and abuse. Cheryl and Tian reflect on the pandemic’s lingering impacts, how it made clear the gaps that exist in our social welfare systems as well as unexpected positives such as community finding solidarity amongst the hardship.
Guests: Tian Zhang and Cheryl Martin
Hosted by: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Vir Kaula, Sonia Mehrmand and Kevin Bathman