Just Get A Real Job
A podcast that demystifies the creative industries, hosted by Scottish Script Editor Jamie Mackinlay. Each week, Jamie chats with creatives at different stages of their careers about the highs, lows and everything in between. Perfect for anyone interested in working in the arts, Just Get A Real Job celebrates creativity in all its forms and offers insight, humour, and advice for anyone starting out or trying to navigate a career in the arts.
Episodes
This week, Jamie sits down with Martyn and Christine Armstrong, two of the three founders (alongside Scott Simpson) behind the record label Blackhall Records. Together they explore the ins and outs of running an indie label in today’s ever-changing music landscape, from supporting artists like Dictator, Midnight Ambulance and Waverley, to navigating the challenges of a constantly shifting industry.
They chat about:
🎶 The realiti...
This week, Jamie reconnects with artist and creator Graham Cullis, who returns to the podcast after four years for an open and inspiring chat about art, meditation, and the life-changing path he’s been on since they last spoke.
They chat about:
✨ Graham’s Splat & Splash Tour, travelling around the UK’s beaches and bringing people together through art and community for mental health.
🎨 Spending the day with artist Sophie Tea an...
This week’s episode is a special one, recorded live in Glasgow back in June in collaboration with _and friends.
Jamie was joined by a brilliant panel of filmmakers, including BAFTA Award-winning Michael Lee Richardson, Valerie Andrews, Dylan Blore, and Blade & Bow Films’ Hayley Louise McGuire and Jayme Bartlett.
Together they explore how filmmakers are adapting in an increasingly difficult climate from the challenges of funding and f...
This week, Jamie welcomes back screenwriter Philip Ralph for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about class, creativity, and the ongoing crisis facing the TV industry.
💬 We chatted about everything from:
📺 How class continues to shape opportunity and representation
🎭 What the future of screen might hold for freelancers and working-class creatives
🎬 How shows like adolescence highlight both the strengths and flaws ...
Hello, how are you?
It’s been a wee while since I last put something out, so here’s a short check-in. A quick chat about what’s been happening behind the scenes, the ups and downs of creative work, and some news. New full episodes are back on 15th October! Thanks for sticking with the podcast. Keep your eyes peeled.
Links:
🌍 Visit our website: https://linktr.ee/Justgetarealjobpodcast
💙 Support us on Patreon:...
Ever wondered what it’s like to work at the heart of British television? BBC Commissioner Nick Lambon lifts the curtain on the realities of commissioning, producing and making some of the UK’s biggest shows.
This week, Jamie sits down with Nick Lambon, Commissioning Editor at the BBC, for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the television industry. From Doctor Who to soap operas, script editing to producing, Nick takes us through h...
This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie sits down with actor, playwright, comedian and rising Fringe star Sanjay Lago 💫Sanjay is currently performing his solo show Love Me Like a Chai Tea Latte ☕️ at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025, a heartfelt mix of storytelling, poetry and stand-up exploring love, identity and self-acceptance.
💬 We chatted about:
🎟️ What it’s really like taking a solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe
✊ Why POC and neurodi...
With the UK’s creative industries valued at over £100 billion and growing faster than the national economy, why is it still so hard for young people to break in & have sustainable careers?
In this episode, Jamie chats with Sam Hornsby, co-founder of ERIC, the free career exploration app helping young people discover exciting opportunities in the creative industries.
With both Sam and her co-founder Mae facing barriers to creative...
This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Coulson an actor and writer taking her debut solo show Lioness to the Edinburgh Fringe this August.
We spoke about:
🧠 Growing up creative and finding confidence in your voice
🌀 Living and creating with dyspraxia
⚽ Women’s football and the inspiration behind Lioness
👥 The importance of support from your community
🏟️ Making theatre accessible to wider audiences
💪 The g...
This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Carlo Cavagna Vice President of U.S. Operations at Two Daughters Entertainment and a key force behind the global writing programme PageCraft 🎬🌍
Carlo has worked across the creative industries for over two decades from helping launch Lionsgate’s early VOD platform to leading global trade initiatives for the UK Government. These days, he’s focused on helping stories (and storytellers) reach the...
This week, I’m joined once again by the brilliant Cat MacLeod a returning guest and friend of the podcast for a raw and honest chat about what it takes to be a creative in 2025 ✨
Since we last spoke, Cat’s been selected for the inaugural Sean Connery Talent Lab with NFTS Scotland, where she’s directing a short film (with a real budget this time), and she’s launched _and friends a brilliant new theatre initiative that champions fre...
This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by David Thomas a broadcaster, creative coach and trainer who’s spent the last 20 years helping people in the arts and media build more sustainable freelance careers.
David’s worked across the BBC, the UN and beyond, and now trains 100s of creatives every year. In this episode, he shares practical advice and hard-earned wisdom on everything from money to mindset.
We discuss:
💸 Why so ...
This week on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by Lizzy Skrzypiec. She’s an improviser, director, and the artistic director of Bristol’s long-running improv troupe Degrees of Error. Lizzy is also the creative force behind Murder, She Didn’t Write 🕵️♀️ the hit improvised murder mystery show currently touring the UK after seven sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and a recent West End debut at London’s Duchess Theatre. A key figure...
🎙️ Episode 169 of Just Get A Real Job is out now and this week, Jamie is joined by the brilliant Edinburgh-based band Waverley.
Known for blending Americana-inspired indie rock with folk-rooted songwriting, Waverley’s sound has drawn comparisons to Bon Iver, Frightened Rabbit, and King Creosote with dynamic shifts, dueling vocals, and a darker, heavier edge.
Their new EP ‘Flail’ is out now, following the success of their 2023 debut ...
🎙️ This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by Martin James — co-founder of the Glasgow Improv Theatre (GIT) and a driving force behind Scotland’s growing improv scene.
They chatted all about:
- 🎭 Starting an improv scene from scratch in Glasgow
- 🤔 What improv actually is — and why it's becoming more popular
- 🧠 The day-to-day realities of running a creative business
- 💬 Looking after your mental health while chasing your...
Episode 167 is a little different: we’re sharing an excerpt from my chat on the Cinora YouTube channel with filmmaker – and returning pal – Ashley Dick. We dive into the shock cancellation of BBC Scotland’s flagship soap River City and what the decision signals for drama production across Scotland and the wider UK.
Since the recording, the fight to save the show has exploded. Famous faces – Richard E. Grant, Ewan McGregor, Miriam Ma...
This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by David McIntosh Jr. — host of Origin Stories (formerly The Development by David Podcast). 🎧
David launched his podcast back in 2020 from his council estate bedroom in Scotland — no contacts, no budget, just a cheap mic and a clear mission: to spotlight inspiring origin stories. Since then, he’s racked up over 1.5 million hits, interviewed huge names like Seth Godin, Rory Sutherlan...
This week on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by the brilliant Robert Softley Gale – a Scottish theatre-maker, who’s spent over two decades championing inclusivity and accessibility in the arts.
As Artistic Director of Birds of Paradise – Scotland’s leading disability-led theatre company – Robert has reshaped the conversation around representation, storytelling, and what theatre can be. In 2024, he was recognised in The List Hot...
This week, I am joined by James Piercy and Tayla Kenyon, the creative minds behind Fluff and Tepee Productions. They share their journey of launching a theatre company, the importance of collaboration, and the realities of being a creative in 2025.
In this episode, we discuss: 🎭 The inspiration behind Fluff 🎨 The challenges of starting a theatre company 🤝 Why collaboration is key 🔑 Making theatre more accessible 💡 Advice for cr...
In Episode 163 of Just Get A Real Job, we're joined by Claire Duffy, the founder of the Glasgow TV Festival. With the television industry facing major challenges, Claire shares her insights on how we can drive meaningful change, challenge outdated systems, and create a more sustainable future for creatives.
In this episode, we discuss:
🎬 The vision behind the Glasgow TV Festival and why Claire founded it
📺 Why the TV industry need...
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