The Pursuit Pod

A few final thoughts on season one. Reflecting on the process and recapping the latter episodes with my favourite (and only) co-host; Will!

Hello dear listener. Whoever you are and wherever you are welcome to The Pursuit Pod and can you believe it, to our final interview for season one! Gosh, I’m so proud of how this show has progressed over the past 10 episodes and I will be forever humbled and thankful for your tuning in.I’m of course Lauren Wood, your host here and this is where I chat with artists abroad about the pursuit of their creative careers. This week we are visiting one of my oldest and dearest friends the enchantingly lovable Margo Furness.Margo now lives and works in Brisbane but has lived through some pretty interesting events whilst taking performance contracts in her early twenties in Japan.When offered a contract before she’d even turned 18 or moved out of home this young performer was wide eyed and as enthusiastic as ever to prove to herself and her loved ones that she could cope with the challenges that working abroad might throw her way.Little did she know what the universe had in store for her over those coming years and I’m extremely honoured that Margs has taken the time to talk to me on this episode about some deeply personal and life changing experiences that she has lived through.Just so it’s known, today’s chat will be touching on the rather heavy topics of PTSD and exploring sexuality so please bare this in mind if you are someone that feels sensitive to content of this nature.And with all that being said, and for the last time this season,Without further ado, lets get to it.

Hello dear listener. Whoever you are and wherever you are welcome to episode number 10 of THE PURSUIT POD. I’m Lauren Wood and this is where I chat with artists abroad about the pursuit of their creative careers and this week we’re off to New York City my friends as we chat with fellow Qld Conservatorium alumni Libbi Swan.It was great to catch up with Libbi in this chat after not having seen her for a number of years since we last worked together back in Aus and after I’ve been very intrigued by the work she’s been doing in the states at a time in its history that has been extremely tumultuous. Although performance work in NY has been scarce for the past 12mths this girl has been thriving in an arts focussed role where she has begun to realise that her MT training has prepared her for more than just the onstage action.I was keen to hear first-hand from a NY resident about what it’s been like living in the city during some hugely historic events including Trump’s presidency, the collapse of broad way and the Black lives matter movement.I was also really thankful to have a very candid chat with somebody who also struggles with the audition process to highlight the absolute battle that it takes to get the damn performance work when it’s actually available.It’s not something we discuss enough. The fact the we put ourselves through these rigorous and emotionally strenuous interview processes for our work and I hope this chat brings a little bit of comfort and perhaps hope to anyone who’s equally still trying to figure out auditions. It’s not easy folks. So let’s have a chat about it.And without further ado, let’s get to it.

Hello dear listener. Whoever you are and wherever you are welcome to episode number Eight. I’m Lauren Wood, your host here on The Pursuit Pod where I chat to artists abroad about the pursuit of their creative careers. On this week’s show I had the very easy pleasure of meeting and chatting with someone who has followed a somewhat similar path as myself and I say easy folks because, quite simply, I didn’t have to work out any time difference to chat with my guest today.Mr Ben Chambers like me, hails from the other side of the world, originally from New Zealand but studied at the conservatorium of music in Brisbane and has trudged the well-worn path over here to London where he now lives and works as an artist.It’s not the first we’ve heard of Ben’s name here on the show. He was mentioned by two of my previous guests earlier in the season, Chris Fung and Matthew Samer as he intertwined with both of their stories and today he’s here to tell us about his journey of navigating auditions, agents, touring work and the ever-important money job as we sometimes call it in other words, the job on the side of your performance career that helps you to maintain some semblance of stability between gigs. It’s been a great source of comfort for me not just throughout this show but in my life in general over here in the UK to connect with artists who have made the same journey from Brisbane to London as I have and although we’ve heard a couple of these stories already and no doubt there will be plenty more to come I still find it really interesting to hear about how everybody’s experience is different and full of hurdles and triumphs that are completely unique to them and because of that there’s always something to learn from each individuals perspective on their experience.Throughout my time with Ben I came to realise that he is an incredibly mindful and reflective young person and the roller coaster of emotions that he has experienced since moving over here in his early twenties is definitely shaping him up to be a formidable artist. So without further ado, let’s get to it.

Hello dear listener, whoever you are and wherever you are, welcome to episode number seven.On this week’s show we are off to Japan. Specifically, to Universal studios Japan where my mate Casey Martin has been working as an entertainer. We sat down together to discuss everything that’s been happening on his end since we last worked together back at uni in Oz.Casey has been back and forth to Japan a couple of times now, working with two different companies and hence has also experienced the weirdness of returning home after living a very intense but exciting life abroad and experiencing the feelings that can come from this.But despite how hard he has to work, his management of injuries and the fear of being away from the Australian scene and loosing touch with networks back home, this beautiful human who I am lucky enough to call a friend remains positive and excited about the life he gets to lead. And I hope that his story provides a little bit of escapism for you just as he does for his audiences at work.So settle in folks. I hope, like me you get a big stupid grin on your face whilst listening to this story of someone literally living out their dreams.Enjoy the show!

Hello dear listener, whoever you are and wherever you are welcome to episode number 6 of The PURSUIT POD. On today’s episode I got to chat with a pal who I met way back in Australia when we did a production of RENT together! I’ve always wanted to sit down with the beautiful Stephie Da Silva to hear her journey of how she managed to get all the way from Uruguay to Brisbane.This conversation brings up some deeply personal and extremely important chat surrounding vocal health and the unnecessary stigma that artists face when experiencing and recovering from surgery!We also confront the issue of diversity in casting in Australia and how perhaps, just a lack of knowledge and understanding has caused issues for the Brisbane scene in the past.And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This is such an important conversation for many reasons – again the subject of mental health in the performance industry arose (funny how that keeps coming up), also the existential question we inevitably ask ourself as artists abroad. Am I moving towards something… or am I running away from something?So settle in! And please forgive the the wifi gremlins that caused a little bit of audio distortion at times throughout the chat. It really is a great listen. 

HAPPY BONUS EPISODE! After venturing forth on this solo voyage of creating an interview series, I've felt the need for some banter about all the big thoughts swimming through my head post production. So we're here to talk about it! My partner in silliness, Will Wood will be joining me for the occasional recap and reflection on recent episodes. And in this first instalment we will be discussing episodes 1-5. Featuring thoughts, questions and ponderings from my discussions with Hayley Maybury, Chris Fung, Matt Samer, and Aurelie Roque. Join us for a behind the scenes glimpse at what's going on in my brain and at what's involved with creating the show.  

Hello dear listener, whoever you are and wherever you are welcome to episode number 5 of The PURSUIT POD. I’m Lauren Wood, and this is where I chat with artists abroad about the pursuit of their creative careers.And on this week’s show, I have the great privilege of sharing a discussion I had with somebody who is not only a gorgeous and successful performer in her own right, but who is also a very dear, good friend of mine, and that is the beautiful Aurelie Roque.Rae now lives and works in Brisbane as an actress, teacher and cabaret mastermind but originally hails from little ol’ Kansas city in the U S of A and during our chat we flashback to her early days of arriving in Brisbane and how the process of uprooting herself from one country to another was ripe with both physical and mental challenges that had to be addressed.This chat is a prime example of how Rae and I operate when conversing as friends which is to say… with many a tangent and side thought to be explored. So perhaps expect a slightly less linear story but a back and forth between us that touches on some pretty big issues surrounding mental health within the performing arts.Please understand that if you are somebody who is triggered by talk of depression, anxiety or body dysmorphia that this episode will feature moments of discussion on these topics, so please listen at your own discretion.This episode really affected me, and continues to leave me thinking every time I’ve listened to it since, about some pretty big themes but most importantly about the value in seeking therapy and support when managing mental health. And the fact that no matter where you are in the world, as an artist struggling with these things, you are not alone.So, thanks for tuning in. I hope you find the show as thought provoking as I have.And without further ado, let’s get to it!