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Here's a lovely interview about psychology, creativity, community engagement and collaboration with Dr Dan Bowers, Head of Psychology at the University of South Wales. It took quite a while to set this one up but was well worth the wait!

This special edition of Creatrium features an interview with Ben Calvert, Vice Chancellor of the University of South Wales.  In it, we discuss Ben's Punk roots, his love of collaborative creativity and the future, outward-facing, civic mission agenda for USW.

In October 2020 the 3rd Year Performing Arts Students at the University of South Wales undertook a journey into the unknown. We were going to produce a Space Disco musical extravaganza but, in the shadow of COVID lockdowns, would it be a live show, a streamed show, a film…? In the end it was a radio musical: 'Spacetouring'. Songs are by The Naked Citizens, script by Jenny Allan … and all performed by the BA Performing Arts 3rd Years. As the students move towards graduation, here's a chance to get an insight into the creative process, in this conversation with Dr Rob Smith and the just about to graduate, Lizzie Herbert. NB: COMING SOON: Creatrium will shortly be presenting a world premiere of 'Spacetouring', please don't miss this unique opportunity... Here is the promo video: https://youtu.be/BJHuutBsE9s

This special edition features the return of Dr Thania Acarón, USW lecturer, performer, choreographer. dance movement therapist and founder of The Body Hotel, as we head for the 19th June Launch! After years of taking The Body Hotel workshops across the world, founder Dr Thania Acarón took the step last November to incorporate The Body Hotel as a Wales-based and international social enterprise which provides training, professional development programmes & dance movement psychotherapy services to the health, wellbeing, education & arts sectors and underrepresented communities. The launch event take place on Saturday 19th June from 1pm-4pm (UK Time), and will be a celebration of course through movement, providing a taster of The Body Hotel sessions and introducing our new services and team! Discounts are available for previous The Body Hotel Participants Freelancers who are earning a low wage can book through our Concession Rate Conscious Payment Scheme for our Dance Movement Psychotherapy Services Booking details are available via our website.

This was a fascinating interview! Please see details of Palash's amazing work (below): Dr Palash Kamruzzaman is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the South Wales Business School. He combines degrees in Sociology and Social Policy (PhD), and Anthropology (MA, BA (Hon.)). Before joining the USW, he taught international development, sociology and social policy at the University of Bath, University of Leicester, University of Nottingham, and University of Liverpool. He has over seventeen years of research experience on various aspects of global development that is demonstrated through his wide-ranging publications (e.g. Poverty Reduction Strategy in Bangladesh rethinking participation in policymaking (Policy Press), Dollarisation of Poverty: Re-thinking Poverty Beyond 2015 (Palgrave Macmillan) and Civil Society in the Global South (Routledge)).

I was joined for this one by Dr Mike Chick. Mike has worked in language teaching for over twenty-five years. At the University of South Wales, he is a language teacher, education lecturer and USW Refugee Champion. His research interests issues surround the organisation and provision of language education for people forced to seek safety in Wales. In this episode we discuss the plans for Refugee Week, 2021. See this link for more: https://refugeeweek.org.uk/

The guest for this edition is Professor Howard Williamson. Howard works across the spectrum on youth issues, from the global to the local. His study of the Milltown Boys is the culmination of almost 50 years of knowing them - a unique study in the annals of social science! Here is the link to the latest book, available on pre-order, published on May 10th, 2021: https://www.routledge.com/The-Milltown-Boys-at-Sixty-The-Origins-and-Destinations-of-Young-Men-from/Williamson/p/book/9780367725228

For this edition, I was delighted to be joined by Miguel Sousa, USW Media Team Manager and a man of varied passions, including Photography, Events Management, Audio-Visual: Video Editing, Sound, Music, AV Equipment and Music: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Music Production. Miguel came to Wales from Portugal, to study, liked it here and thankfully for us, has made it his home.

For this edition, I am joined by Matthew Evans, Course Leader: MA Songwriting and Production and the frontman with the band, 'Keys', twice nominated for the Welsh Music Prize 'Album of the year'.

I'm delighted to be joined by Dr Clare Kell, to continue our exploration into the notion of creativity. Clare has spent her career committed to enabling colleagues to think critically about our individual and collective impact on our students’ learning experiences. A former Physiotherapist, Clare now leads the Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and teaching at USW. She has been a UKPSF accreditor for many years and reviews extensively for a range of health and education-based journals.

For this edition, I'm joined by Dr Rob Campbell and James Stewart, to discuss their recent book 'The Newspaper that Scooped the World'. It tells the story of how the Cologne Post exclusively revealed the contents of the Treaty of Versailles.

For this a special edition of Creatrium, I'm joined by Barrie Llewelyn, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at USW to discuss her fascinating 'Sound, Speak to Me', series of creative writing workshops with refugees. Her work will be showcased during Refugee Week,2020:https://refugeeweek.org.uk/events/speak-barrie-llewelyn-conversation-steve-johnson/

I last interviewed Rory about 25 years ago for Red Dragon FM. He is now an academic colleague and has had an outstanding career, as a signed musician and music producer. Due to the Covid19 crisis, this was recorded remotely from my home studio, hence the slightly reduced sound quality but it was a total pleasure to catch up...

It was great fun to catch up with Alun Tomos, Course Leader for BA Popular and Commercial Music at USW and mad axemen. We chatted about creativity, Welshness and, of course, guitars...

For this edition, I was joined by Adam Williams, Cardiff-based music producer and multidisciplinary artist who has worked with and developed bands including Jem , Jimi Alexander and the Satellites, and Zervas & Pepper. He is also an award winning filmmaker with Birdhouse Films. His diverse career has seen him work extensively in supporting young, underrepresented people to access industry and educational opportunities through organisations including Community Music Wales, the Raspberry Pi Foundation and UpRising. You can check out his latest project at valleyofthecrow.co.uk

Here is an elongated chat with Paul Carr, Professor of Popular Music at the University of South Wales. As a former pro musician and touring artist, he didn't just land on his feet as an academic. Here's an insight into his fascinating journey.

Here is a fascinating interview with Dr Thania Acarón; performer, choreographer and dance movement therapist from Puerto Rico. Thania works as Lecturer of Dance at the University of South Wales. Thania also offers international workshops on movement and wellbeing and interdisciplinary practice and is co-artistic director of Orphaned Limbs Collective. www.thania.info; www.orphanedlimbs.com ***Don't miss Taliesin Live - 'When in Roam' on October 2nd, 2019. http://bit.ly/2lTmZl7

Here is the latest Creatrium podcast. This one was a delight, as I was joined by the multi-lingual, Marta Minier, Associate Professor of Theatre and Media Drama,International Exchange Coordinator for the Faculty of Creative Industries and co-editor of the Journal of Adaptation in Film & Performance).

José Pedro Fortuna is graduating from the University of South Wales in summer, 2019 with a BA (Hons) Performing Arts. José is a magician, circus performer and clown. Here he is, discussing his interpretation of creativity...

We are joined for the latest edition of Creatrium by Dewi Griffiths: film producer, lecturer and 'Horror' novelist. Dewi is a fascinating raconteur with a keen eye for chilling storylines...