Sandy Powell

09/21/20 • 39 min

After a longer than intended hiatus (it was meant to be a 'slow' podcast, but not this slow...), the That's Not My Age podcast is back with a magnificent guest. One of my Style Heroines, the Academy-Award-Winning costume designer Sandy Powell. With three Oscars on her South London mantlepiece, for: Shakespeare in Love (1999), The Aviator (2005) and The Young Victoria (2010), Powell's creative talent is undoubtable. Beginning in 1992 with a nomination for Orlando, directed by Sally Potter and starring Tilda Swinton, she has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards and 16 Baftas. The 60-year-old costume designer has worked on over 40 films including five Martin Scorsese flicks, probably because, ‘Scorsese is a shoe man. He always gets in a good shot of the shoes.’ As well as behind the scenes on iconic fashion movies such as Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine and Carol; and The Favourite by Yorgos Latimos (Olivia Coleman won an Oscar for her performance as Queen Anne).

In this special episode we chat about her philanthropic work, her exciting career, sustainability and how Sandy feels about ageing.

Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Sandy Powell
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Coordinator: Helen Johnson

In this special episode we chat about her philanthropic work, her exciting career, sustainability and how Sandy feels about ageing.

Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Sandy Powell
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Coordinator: Helen Johnson

Previous Episode

Meredith Gunderson

This is not my usual podcast but as it's Christmas, I thought it would be good to talk about peace and calm. Meredith introduced me to meditation at the BlandBadger creative retreat in Italy and I've been making a cack-handed attempt to chill out ever since. As Meredith says, 'Meditation is the best place to get centred and reconnect to ourselves.' And she knows, having changed career, set up a business and moved home five times in six years....'I had overcome a range of challenges,' she admits, 'from depression and anxiety, to battling with self-doubt and perfectionism, making peace with the voice that cries, “not good enough.” It was yoga, meditation and mindfulness that helped her hit the reset button, and now she teaches others how to reconnect to their inner wisdom and find peace and happiness.

In this episode we talk about chilling out, feeling happy and how to stay calm this festive season.

PODCAST CREDITS

Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Meredith Gunderson
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Coordinator: Helen Johnson

Next Episode

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

An award-winning author, columnist, journalist, activist and a pioneering voice on immigration, diversity, and multiculturalism, Yamin Alibhai-Brown is arguably one of the most influential women in Britain. A self described 'leftie liberal, anti-racist, feminist, Muslim' she is a familiar face on our TV screens and on the newsstands, and is well known for her quick-wit and articulate commentary on gender identity and creating social change. Alibhai-Brown came to the UK in 1972 from Uganda after completing her undergraduate degree in English at Makerere University. As a journalist she has written for The Guardian, Observer, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Evening Standard, The Mail and other newspapers and was a weekly columnist on The Independent for eighteen years. She was the first regular columnist of colour on a national newspaper in the UK, the first female Muslim too. For over twenty five years she has been consulted by various institutions and businesses on race and gender equality, and has met and advised politicians, peers and ministers on diversity and inclusion policies in Britain’s complex democracy. She is, it has to be said, a total powerhouse.

In this in-depth podcast I chat to Alibhai-Brown about her background, views and career. We talk at length about confronting sexism, racism, ageism and lookism. We cover the immense pressure on women over 45 in the media to look good, and chat about how she feels about getting older. We also speak in detail about Alibhai-Brown's latest book: 'Ladies Who Punch: Fifty Trailblazing Women Whose Stories You Should Know' which celebrates fifty daring and indomitable women who have punched their way through life and challenged the world order to fight for their human rights. Both famous and lesser known, the line-up includes Sophia Singh, the forgotten suffragette; detective superintendent Shabnam Chaudhri, the first Asian/Muslim to hold that role in the Met; and Harriet Wistrich, the inimitable human rights lawyer. Then there's Reni Eddo-Lodge, Caroline Criado Perez, Laura Bates and more (even women Alibhai-Brown doesn't like, but recognises for their extraordinary actions). Featuring interviews with the women themselves and cheering on those who are fighting for equality, this brilliant book of fearless ladies is a tonic during what is turning out to be an exceedingly crappy year.

Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Digital technician: Tom Hole at Stirtingale
Coordinator: Helen Johnson