Creatives Like Us

Angela Lyons sits down with Kayleigh Hall, a brand and website designer who transformed a "naive" leap of faith into an 11-year thriving freelance business. From accidentally discovering graphic design weeks before her uni interview to her obsessive love of typography, Kayleigh's journey is both inspiring and relatable. 

Kayleigh opens up about experiencing workplace microaggressions as the only Black woman in her agency and how that painful experience led her to build a business where she chooses who she works with. She shares her advice to her teenage self: "Go where your skills are, not where you f...

In this solo episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela Lyons discusses the often daunting topic of public speaking, emphasising its importance for small business owners and freelancers. 

She shares personal experiences and practical tips for building confidence, starting small, and effectively communicating ideas. The conversation highlights the significance of visibility, authority, and clarity in public speaking, while also addressing common fears and the value of authenticity.

Angela encourages listeners to embrace opportunities for public speaking, whether through networking events, podcasts or local meetups, and to practice their skills to enhance their professional presence.

Duration: 00:17:31

In today's podcast episode, Angela takes a different format to the podcast by diving into public speaking with guest Festus Akinbusoye. He shares his personal experiences and provides practical advice on conquering fear and nerves while delivering powerful presentations through storytelling. Also he covers the significance of repetition in ensuring key messages resonate with listeners. 

Festus Akinbusoye is a public figure, entrepreneur, passionate advocate for young people, and former Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire (2021–2023). With over 20 years in business and a strong record of public service, Festus is passionate about public safety, business and finding solutions to...

Do you love or loathe social media? In this episode, I'm sharing how I was someone who absolutely loathed social media to using it with purpose for my business - Lyons Creative.

I talk about practical tips on managing social media without burnout, including how I use time limits, content planning tools and the content pillar method to stay consistent. 

You'll learn about my approach to LinkedIn and Instagram, why the long game matters for service-based businesses and how to repurpose content effectively. Plus, I'm sharing some exciting personal news about being nominated for the B...

In this engaging conversation, Yolanda Sissing, founder of Pinkleaf Social and co-founder of the Anti-Social Socialites, shares her journey from a conventional career to becoming a social media consultant for purpose-driven brands.

She discusses the catalyst that led her to pursue her passion, the importance of redefining networking and her diverse clientele focused on social impact. 

Yolanda also shares her aspirations for future projects, advice for marketers and personal reflections on life and career.

Connect with Yolanda
Yolanda is an Ethical Social Media Marketing Strategist, the founder of purpose-driven storytelling c...

In this episode of Creatives Like Us Angela Lyons opens up about how this podcast has become her creative outlet and why she believes every single person has creativity within them. She shares exciting news about the upcoming Creatives Like Us event, celebrates community wins and reminds listeners that bringing something new into being, whether it's a business idea or a podcast episode, is the essence of creativity.

Join us for the Creatives Like Us event. Tickets and more information here.

Podcast feedback and suggestions: hello@lyonscreative.co.uk

If you have enjoyed...

The mic flips for our Creatives Like Us season finale! Host Angela Lyons takes the guest seat while producer Heather Pownall leads an open, honest conversation about Angela’s journey from launching the podcast to growing her voice and confidence as a Black creative business owner. From the behind-the-scenes work to the meaningful messages from listeners, Angela shares the milestones, the lessons, and the moments that made season one unforgettable.

We’re talking vision, resilience, and the power of showing up and Angela isn’t stopping here. She shares what’s ahead: the Creatives Like Us live event, m...

In this inspiring penultimate episode of the season - the final guest interview of Creatives Like Us, Angela sits down in-studio with the radiant Vanessa Belleau — multidisciplinary creative, executive coach, TEDx Speaker and founder of Beautiful Water Studio and High Fifteen. 

Vanessa opens up about what it really means to own your creative identity — even when you don’t fit into traditional boxes. From her early days in corporate data and trend forecasting to painting emotional pieces now exhibited in London galleries, she shares a raw, joyful story of pivoting, purpose and sel...

In this episode, Ange sits down with Heather Ebanks, a graphic designer, photographer, and founder of the blog Digital Fluidity. Originally from South London and now based in South Wales, Heather shares her journey of navigating the creative world as a woman of colour, particularly within corporate spaces that didn’t always appreciate or amplify her voice. From her early creative sparks (hint: think hair salons and Essence magazine) to her bold pivot from corporate admin roles to creative direction, Heather offers a candid look at the highs and lows of finding her place in the design industry.

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In this episode of Creatives Like Us , Ange chats with Jo Sealy, a creative business owner, photographer and mentor whose career has spanned marketing, radio, TV and heritage work. Jo shares how she started out as an executive assistant while trying to break into journalism, eventually landing a job in an ad agency in Trinidad. From there, she built experience across the creative industries – including roles at Jazz FM and ITV, before setting up her own agency, To Market, nearly 20 years ago.

Jo also discusses her photography, including the We Are Here project, which documented Windrush residents in...

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Ange sits down with photographer and visual storyteller Gabriel Hutchinson, who shares a candid and often humorous look at his creative journey. From experimenting with a tiny film camera in the Lake District as a child to managing a central London Sainsbury’s before landing an apprenticeship at a photo studio, Gabriel walks us through his unconventional path into photography. He opens up about being thrown out of university, learning from peers, navigating the freelance world, and the invaluable lessons he's picked up along the way, including the importance of storytelling in...

In this episode, Ange talks to Nkem Ekwukoma, a lawyer who’s doing things very differently. Nkem is the founder of The Legal Storyteller, where she helps small business owners, especially women and people of colour, understand and manage the legal side of their work in a way that actually makes sense. No jargon, no intimidation, just clear, creative support that gives people confidence. She’s not interested in gatekeeping or ticking boxes – she wants legal literacy to be something everyone can access, and she’s built a business around making that happen.

Nkem shares how burnout, being ov...

In this warm and honest conversation, designer Bhavini Lakhani from B81 Designs joins Ange on Creatives Like Us to talk about confidence, creative identity, and the joy of print. The two friends explore the value of leaning into your natural strengths, showing up on platforms like LinkedIn even when it feels exposing, and why saying no to a job that doesn’t align can open the door to the right kind of work. Bhavini shares her journey from colourful Peter Rabbit statues to publishing her own design book, alongside reflections on freelancing, raising a family, and staying true to yo...

In this uplifting episode of Creatives Like Us, Ange speaks with Nana Crawford, founder of This Black Woman Can and Jiggle Fit, about her transformative journey into dance fitness. Nana shares how, after struggling with post-pregnancy weight and disillusionment with traditional fitness methods, she discovered samba during lockdown and reframed her entire approach to movement. What began as a quest for weight loss evolved into a celebration of joy, self-expression, and confidence, all within the walls of her own home. Her experience revealed that fitness needn't be punishing or exclusive, it can be accessible, liberating and rooted in self-love.<...

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons speaks with Mo Kanjilal, diversity and inclusion leader, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Watch This Sp_ce. Mo shares her journey from senior roles in the tech industry to launching a purpose-led inclusion consultancy during the pandemic. With a background in English and a career spanning global sales and marketing, Mo talks candidly about the challenges of working in non-diverse environments, the importance of representation, and how she channelled those experiences into meaningful change. The pair discuss the founding of Watch This Sp_ce, the thinking behind its distinctive...

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela interviews performance poet Adisa, also known as The Verbaliser. Adisa shares his creative journey, beginning with his early involvement in Jamaican sound system culture and moving into poetry as a more meaningful and mature form of expression. He talks about being inspired by his father’s love of music and the discipline it taught him, as well as the importance of having role models and mentors in his early career.

Adisa discusses his work in schools and with corporate clients, using poetry as a tool to build confidence, cu...

 “I wanted my children to grow up knowing there is space for them.” - Sylvia Prince

This week on Creatives Like Us, Ange speaks with Sylvia Prince, designer and founder of Sylvia Prince Designs. Sylvia shares her journey from graphic design to launching her own range of Afrocentric cards, created to reflect and celebrate black and brown children, particularly those who are often underrepresented, including children with vitiligo and albinism. She opens up about overcoming perfectionism, the importance of visibility, and the encouragement that helped her finally start her business.

They also...

"We have a very London-centric view of Blackness in the UK, but Black people exist everywhere. Our stories deserve to be told too" - Makeda Matheson 

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons speaks with filmmaker, writer, and producer Makeda Matheson about her unexpected journey into the creative industry. Beginning her career in fashion styling in New York, Makeda transitioned into filmmaking and TV writing, demonstrating that persistence and self-belief can open doors, even without industry connections. She discusses how celebrity stylist Robert Verdi became a v...

'We belong to any space we choose to be in.' - Kala Paul-Worika

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons speaks with Kala Paul-Worika, a freelance journalist and the founder of By Kala X, a brand specialising in Afro-chic home interiors and clothing. Kala shares how her Nigerian heritage and love for vibrant African fabrics inspired her to start the business, initially making baby clothes and homeware as gifts before turning it into a sustainable brand. Alongside her creative work, she also writes for The Guardian Labs and reflects on her...

"As a Black creative, I’ve had to work ten times harder to be taken seriously – that’s why my work speaks for itself." - David Oku

In this episode of Creative Like Us, Ange speaks with London-based freelance illustrator and animator, David Oku. David shares his journey from a childhood passion for drawing to establishing himself as a professional artist. He discusses the impact of early encouragement, the challenges of navigating the creative industry as a person of colour, and the importance of valuing your work.

David also reflects on his experiences in ret...

“When you walk into a room, own who you are and what you’ve achieved, it’s not about fitting in, it’s about standing out.” – Ayo Abbas

In this episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons is joined by marketing consultant and podcaster Ayo Abbas to discuss their collaboration on the upcoming Creatives Like Us networking event for creatives of colour, which will take place on February 13th, 2025. This event will feature inspiring speakers, opportunities for collaboration, and a supportive environment for networking and sharing ideas.

The conversation also explores Ayo’s work as a ma...

In this first episode of Creatives Like Us, Angela speaks with Dominique van Werkhoven, a writer and co-founder of The Werks, about her journey as a creative entrepreneur. Dominique shares her experiences of building a career in writing, running a small business, and collaborating with other creatives. She reflects on the importance of representation, discussing her time as one of the few Black students at Oxford, and how breaking barriers can inspire others. The conversation looks into the power of collaboration in creative work, the balance between personal and professional creativity, and the pivotal role mentors can play in...

In this introductory episode of Creatives Like Us, host Angela Lyons (you may know her as Ange) shares her inspiration for creating a podcast that amplifies the voices of creatives of colour. Drawing from her personal journey as a graphic designer, Angela reflects on feelings of self-doubt during her time at Central Saint Martins and how representation and mentorship shaped her career. The podcast aims to celebrate the highs, lows, and in-betweens of being a creative of colour with conversations that inspire others to pursue their creative dreams and open doors for the next generation.

Angela and...

Creatives Like Us is a podcast dedicated to opening up the conversation and amplifying the voices of underrepresented creatives, especially people of colour. Hosted by graphic designer Angela Lyons, this podcast is all about breaking down barriers and showing that a successful career in the creative industry is possible for everyone.

Through open conversations with inspiring creatives, Angela creates a platform for stories that challenge the status quo and provide insight, encouragement, and practical advice. Creatives Like Us is here to empower and uplift the next generation of diverse talent, whether you're a student, graduate, or exploring...