Today's episode of ArtyParti is a panel discussion with a live audience, held at Diego’s Joint in Sunderland city centre.

It’s part of ‘Creative Industries Week’ - where students at the University of Sunderland have a week-long gap in taught classes and are invited to a range of sessions that explore a range of creative disciplines.

We brought together three people who work in the creative industries - journalists Rachel Charlton-Dailey, Godstime David, and videographer Sophie Willox. They shared about their journeys, their interests, their challenges, and what advice they can offer to emerging creative professionals.

Our Panelists:

• Rachel Charlton-Dailey - Disability Rights Journalist, Author, & Activist

Rachel Charlton-Dailey is an award-winning disabled journalist, activist and author. She wrote Ramping Up Rights: An Unfinished History of British Disability Activism, which she’s been touring around the country this year - and Ruby Hastings Writes Her Own Story (Collins, 2024). Rachel is a columnist at The Canary, and has previously reported for the BBC, The Big Issue, Metro, The Guardian and The Daily Mirror. She is also the founder of The Unwritten and co-founder of Taking The Pip. When Rachel isn’t writing, she can be found walking her sausage dog, Rusty.

• Godstime David - Ghost Reporter & Award-Winning Community Journalist

Godstime David is a Nigerian-born multimedia journalist and communications strategist. She holds an MA in Journalism and works full-time as a ghost reporter while also serving part-time as a community journalist in Sunderland. Currently, Godstime is consulting for a private TV station, where she is helping to establish a new studio from the ground up, and she recently worked as a video journalist on the Generation Delta project, collaborating with a team of Black and Brown professors across Universities in England. Her work spans investigative and community-based reporting - Godstime’s dedication to investigative and community journalism was recently recognised when she won the Best Community and Investigative Reporting of the Year Award by the Women in Worship Music/Media, celebrating her impactful work in uncovering stories within the community.

• Sophie Willox - Videographer & Content Creator, Foresight

Sophie Willox is also a University of Sunderland graduate - Sophie now brings her scriptwriting and editing skills to her full-time role as Videographer and Content Creator at Foresight - a creative agency in Sunderland. Alongside their client work, with recent partners such as the NHS, the Royal Airforce, and Gig Savvy, Foresight has grown into a training provider for emerging creatives across the North East - and hopefully useful for everyone in this room, it’s called 'Creators Academy' - they deliver Adobe Certified Professional Courses in creative editing software.

More about ArtyParti:
ArtyParti is a twice-monthly podcast, events series, and community platform that celebrates and supports development of the work of artists and creatives. Now an independent podcast, ArtyParti brings artists and creatives together to share about their projects & passions, promote events and exhibitions, and offer insight and advice on developing creative practice. Whether emerging or established, everyone is invited to ArtyParti.

• Website - www.artyparti.com
• Instagram - @ArtyPartiPodcast
• Bluesky - @ArtyParti
• A Jay Sykes Media podcast

ArtyParti's 10th Birthday Celebration:
ArtyParti turns 10 years old this year - and we’re holding a 10th Birthday Celebration. It’s on Wednesday 17th December 2025, 6pm-9pm, at our usual venue Port Independent. You are invited - come join us, relax and chill with other artists and creatives. Tickets to this event are free for anyone to attend - head to ArtyParti.com for more info and to book your tickets. That’s Arty with a Y, Parti with an I. Why aye!

Our supporters and funders:

The ArtyParti podcast is made possible thanks to the support of our generous Patreon backers. Your contributions help us keep the podcast going, support local artists, and grow our creative events. Every pledge makes a difference.

• John Appleton - Poet, Actor, & Director
• Zoe Broad - Writer & Director
• Danielle Chamberlin - Watercolour Artist
• Sarah Drummond - Vegan Creative
• Chantal Herbert - DJ, & Founder of Sister Shack
• Jo Howell - Photographic Artist
• Auburn Langley - Writer, & Director of the Sunderland Lit & Phil Society
• Carrie McGovern - Contemporary Romance Author
• Nora Nadvegi - Animator & Illustrator
• Gerard Purvis - Director, Harbour Printworks CIC
• Angela Sandwith - Mixed-Media Artist
• Peter Scott - Writer, Props Master, & Voice Actor