Brackish (formerly Making Design Circular with Katie Treggiden)
Welcome to this new iteration of my podcast, which was called Making Design Circular and now has the same name as my Substack, Brackish. Brackish is a term used to describe water that is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, for example, where a river meets the sea. I first encountered it sitting in a boat in just such water and it immediately became one of my favourite words. I am fascinated by intersections, liminal and littoral spaces, overlaps and interconnections, and I want to use this space to explore all of those things – the ideas that don’t fit into neat boxes. So, I’ll be exploring those things here – the places where craft meets nature, where the rules don’t apply and ‘shoulds’ start to fall away. Which brings me to the second meaning of the word brackish. As well as meaning ‘somewhat salty’ in very neutral terms, it has also come to mean ‘unpalatable’ or ‘repulsive’. I didn’t know this until after I decided upon it as a name, but as a woman in her middle years, who is relearning how to take up space, I am so here for that alternative definition! From occasional ‘salty’ language to refusing to adhere to feminine standards of beauty or behaviour, I am leaning into my brackish era – and I’m doing it here with some brilliant women and non-binary folks who are doing the same. brackishbykatietreggiden.substack.com
Episodes
Trigger Warning: We discuss the sudden loss of a loved one. If this is something you are experiencing right now or have a sensitivity towards, please listen with caution.
In this episode, Katie speaks with Stefanie Cheong, an artist jeweller and educator based in Scotland, whose work sits at the intersection of geology, anthropology, and environmentalism.
Stefanie explores the deep time stories of our planet through jewellery, obje...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Emmi Salonen, a Finnish graphic designer, creative director and educator, about creative wellbeing, burnout recovery, and how nature, travel and making connect us back to purpose.
Emmi is the founder of London-based Studio Emmi, known for championing Positive Creativity – the belief that design can foster wellbeing, connection, and sustainable choices. In this conversation, she shares the story beh...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Kerry Tottingham, a social change designer and Strategic Lead of A Brilliant Thing CIC. Kerry’s work sits at the intersection of healing, systems change and creativity, and through her framework Healing-Centred Design®, she helps leaders and organisations transform adversity into energy, action and impact.
“Hope isn’t an emotion. It’s an everyday action.” - Kerry Tottingham
In this conversation, Ker...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Helen Bowkett, a jack-of-all-trades craftswoman, Cornish Hedging Trainer, co-founder of the Cornwall Rural Education and Skills Trust (CREST), and Director of the Landwise Collective CIC.
“The hedge is a portal to the wild and to deep time. It holds stories and seeds and something we’re on the edge of remembering.” - Helen Bowkett
Helen is a woman of many hats (and muddy boots). With a background sp...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Sarah Hakewill, a Coastal Coach, Culture & Change Strategist, and Londoner turned seaside dweller, about the power of cold water, community, and the sea as a space for reimagining our lives.
“Being in the water is one of the only times my neurodivergent brain powers down. It’s like being transported to another universe.” - Sarah Hakewill
After 40+ years in London, Sarah moved to Margate during a tim...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Lucy Beckley, a writer, poet, and creative writing facilitator based in Cornwall, about creativity, motherhood, and defiant hope.
“We don’t always get what we’re expecting when we pay attention. But often, we find something just as beautiful.” - Lucy Beckley
Lucy holds an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Creative Writing from Cambridge U...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Sas Petherick, a self-belief coach, writer, speaker, and podcast host whose work explores the connection between self-doubt, self-trust, and meaningful living.
“Every small thing you do to create the world you want to live in has epic ripple effects that you may not see.” – Sas Petherick
Sas believes that healing our self-doubt is one of the most important contributions we can make to ourselves, o...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Sophie Austin, a multidisciplinary director, writer and producer, about how storytelling can become an act of regeneration, resistance, and community building.
Sophie’s work spans theatre, film, and audio, and she is passionate about amplifying voices from both marginalised human and more-than-human communities. She is the founder of Teatro Vivo and SHH Productions, and currently serves as Creativ...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Alex Dunkley - a writer, musician, and independent funeral celebrant – about creativity, courage, and the quiet power of ritual.
Alex weaves all three aspects of her work in and alongside each other kaleidoscopically, and identifies as being AuDHD. Her work invites stories into the room—whether that's through song, ceremony, or the written word—exploring how narrative can hold space for grief, joy,...
In this episode, Katie speaks with Juliet Bennett, to explore how wild swimming, coaching, and nature combine to create powerful, transformative experiences. From the clarity of lake water to coaching on windswept beaches, Juliet shares her journey into blue health, her love for cold water immersion, and how outdoor coaching is opening up new ways for people to find purpose, hope, and connection.
"I added the word 'broken' to my bra...
In this episode, Katie Treggiden speaks with Amy Wilson. Amy is an artistic and adventurous soul, wielding the epic powers of creativity daily at her studio, Acorn. She is passionate about creating brands, stories, and art in the world that shift paradigms and expand perspectives. Amy advocates for childlike play, the power of the imagination, Mother Earth, and the future - among other things! She is abstract, imperfect, free, and ...
In this episode, Katie Treggiden speaks with Kirsty Tanner, a Scottish multi-disciplinary artist, designer and maker, living in Liverpool. She runs design studio Tom Pigeon alongside her personal practice working across paint, textiles and collage. Kirsty's childhood in rural Scotland meets her love of Modernist design and Brutalist architecture, combining abstract expressions of nature with strong architectural line and negative ...
In this episode, Katie Treggiden speaks with Joanne Lamb, an Irish artist based in London, who creates delicate woven vessels inspired by nature and the Celtic Wheel of the Year.
"I want each of the baskets to tell a story, they are imbued with a sense of time and place for me. The power of telling stories helps us connect with nature, event the earliest humans have done that." – Joanne Lamb
What we cover:
* Joanne's artistic process ...
In this episode of Brackish, Katie speaks with Agnes Becker, artist, science communicator, and creator of We Are Stardust, about bridging the gap between art and science, connecting with nature, and finding freedom in creative expression.
Brackish is a term used to describe water that is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, for example, where a river meets the sea.
I first encountered it sitting in a boat in just such water and it...
Brackish is a term used to describe water that is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, for example, where a river meets the sea.
‘I first encountered it sitting in a boat in just such water and it immediately became one of my favourite words. I am fascinated by intersections, liminal and littoral spaces, overlaps and interconnections, and I want to use this space to explore all of those things – the ideas that don’t fit into neat...
In this episode, Katie talks to Elle Bower Johnston. Elle (she/they) is a body witch. Their work is the alchemisation of breathwork, somatic, and rest practices with witchcraft and folk magic. She works with creatives, witches, queers, change-makers, weirdos - folks who might not necessarily feel like they belong in ‘wellness’ or ‘spiritual’ spaces - to help them get into deeper their relationship with their body and connect with t...
In this episode, Katie talks to Rosie Murphy. Rosie is a consummate communicator and connector.
She is just one of a broad ecosystem of architectural workers uniting for greater social justice and environmental consciousness in all aspects of the built environment. She is an advocate for networks such as Black Females in Architecture, HomeGrown Plus and Architects Climate Action Network.
Rosie's work is centred on youth engagement, ...
**This episode was originally an Instagram Live, so at the point of going live on the podcast, the rest challenge we talk about has already happened – however, the Making Design Circular Conference is happening on Thursday 05 September 2024 – find out more get your ticket for that HERE >>> **
In this episode, Katie talks to Jo Casey. Jo Casey is an Autistic and ADHD speaker and business coach who helps fellow quirky-brained entrepr...
In this episode, Katie continues last week’s conversation with Tamu Thomas a renowned transformational life coach, dedicated to guiding women towards achieving work-life harmony by embracing holistic well-being practices that align with their nervous system.
Katie & Tamu explore:
- The term ‘high-functioning freeze’
- Defiant hope & rage
- Activism v Martyrdom
- And of course, the final quick fire round of season 4!
You can connect w...
In this episode, Katie talks to Tamu Thomas a renowned transformational life coach and the author of "Women Who Work Too Much: Break Free from Toxic Productivity and Find Your Joy." She is dedicated to guiding women towards achieving work-life harmony by embracing holistic well-being practices that align with their nervous system.
Tamu's groundbreaking book sheds light on the systemic pressures that force women into a cycle of over...
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