Just Get A Real Job

In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by acting agent Ruth Hollyman, founder of Strange Town Agency, to talk about what it actually means to represent actors and build a career on the other side of the industry.Based in Edinburgh, Strange Town Agency represents some of the most exciting acting talent emerging from Scotland, with clients working across film, TV and theatre in the UK and internationally. The agency has strong links with casting directors and companies across the UK and the US, and works with standout talent including Lewis Gribben.Ruth launched the agency in 2011 alongside Strange Town Theatre Company, which she co-founded in 2008 to create opportunities for young people to develop their creative skills.Ruth opens up about:🎭 What an acting agent actually does day-to-day🎬 How she built Strange Town Agency from the ground up🌍 Her early career as a theatre maker, including living and working in Japan🤝 The reality of the actor-agent relationship🎯 What she looks for in new talent📉 The current state of the industry and how it’s changing🧠 The challenges (and rewards) of working in talent representationA really insightful chat for actors, creatives, and anyone curious about how careers in the industry actually come together.🎙️ EP.189 of Just Get A Real Job 🎧Out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube🔗 Check out Ruth’s workStrange Town Agencyhttps://www.strangetownagency.org.uk/All linkshttps://linktr.ee/JustgetarealjobpodcastSupport the podcast on Patreon 💙https://www.patreon.com/justgetarealjobInstagram 📸https://www.instagram.com/justgetarealjobTikTok 🎬https://www.tiktok.com/@justgetarealjobX (Twitter) 🐦https://twitter.com/justgetarealjob🌍 Stay Connected With Just Get A Real Job

In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by poet Luke Wright to talk about what it actually means to build a career as a full-time poet.Luke has been writing and performing poetry for over 25 years, taking his work to theatres, festivals and pubs across the world. He’s created fifteen solo shows, three plays, and published various collections.Luke opens up about:🎤 Building a long-term career as a working poet ✍️ His approach to writing 🌍 Finding your voice as a poet 🎭 How he manages his own tours 📱 How poetry is evolving in the digital age 🧠 Learning to embrace both the good and the difficult parts of the job 📚 Touring with the likes of John Cooper Clarke and Martin NuwellLuke also shares two poems in this episode, including Later Life Lesson and Gene Pool, and reflects on his latest poetry collection Later Life Letter and his upcoming tour. It was great to have Luke on the show.🎙️ EP.188 of Just Get A Real Job 🎧 Out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube🔗 Luke WrightLater Life Letterhttps://www.lukewright.co.uk/later-life-letter-1Luke’s website, tour dates & other workhttps://www.lukewright.co.uk/🌍 Stay Connected With Just Get A Real JobWebsite / all linkshttps://linktr.ee/JustgetarealjobpodcastSupport the podcast on Patreon 💙https://www.patreon.com/justgetarealjobInstagram 📸https://www.instagram.com/justgetarealjobTikTok 🎬https://www.tiktok.com/@justgetarealjobX (Twitter) 🐦https://twitter.com/justgetarealjobSpotify 🎧Just Get A Real Job on SpotifyApple Podcasts 🍏Just Get A Real Job on Apple PodcastsYouTube ▶️Just Get A Real Job on YouTube

Jamie is joined by Claire Duffy and Maureen Hascoet live from the HB Film Festival for an honest conversation about the state of Scotland’s screen industry and what it really takes to build work from the ground up right now.Claire and Maureen open up about:🎬 Building creative careers outside traditional media pathways🌱 Why grassroots movements and community-led initiatives matter more than ever🧠 The mindset shifts that can hold creatives back from putting work out🤝 Creating opportunities through collaboration rather than permission🏗️ The realities of funding, access and sustainability in the current industry📣 Why Maureen founded the Scottish Screenwriters Festival and why Claire started the Glasgow Telly Festival🔍 Where the gaps still exist and what needs to changeA really open conversation about what the industry can learn from those building things at a grassroots level.It was a genuine pleasure to welcome both Claire and Maureen on the show.A massive thank you to the team at IRIS for filming this episode, with a special shoutout to Abbie and Conor, and to Conor Mecham for his editing support on this week’s episode.Recorded live on Sunday 5th October.🔗 Episode & Partner LinksHB Film Festivalhttps://www.hbfilmfestival.com/IRIS Ayrhttps://www.theirisayr.com/👥 GuestsClaire Duffyhttps://www.instagram.com/duffysclaire/Maureen Hascoethttps://www.instagram.com/maureencuestas/?hl=en🌍 Stay Connected With Just Get A Real JobWebsite / all linkshttps://linktr.ee/JustgetarealjobpodcastSupport the podcast on Patreon 💙https://www.patreon.com/justgetarealjobInstagram 📸https://www.instagram.com/justgetarealjobTikTok 🎬https://www.tiktok.com/@justgetarealjobX (Twitter) 🐦https://twitter.com/justgetarealjobSpotify 🎧Apple Podcasts 🍏Just Get A Real Job on Youtube.

In the first episode of 2026, Jamie is joined by writer, executive producer and founder of MsMono, Karla Williams Posiuniene, for an honest conversation about taking control of your creative career and what it’s really like being a writer in a changing media landscape.Karla opened up about:🎬 Breaking into the industry as a writer🎭 Why she chose to part ways with her agent and how that decision served her better🏗️ Building her own production company, MsMono📚 The biggest lessons she’s learned in her career so far📺 Writing for Grantchester🔄 What she wishes she’d known when she first started out📉 How the industry is changing fast📺 The types of shows she’d love to see more of on screenA really honest conversation about resilience, ownership, and building a creative career on your own terms.Well worth a listen, particularly if you’re working in TV or film right now.🔍 Follow Karla & explore her workTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cue.karlaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karla-williams-piuniene-3a057238/MsMono: www.msmono.comKarla’s website: www.karlawilliams.co.uk🌍 Stay connected with Just Get A Real Job🔗 Website: https://linktr.ee/Justgetarealjobpodcast💙 Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/justgetarealjob📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justgetarealjob🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justgetarealjob🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/justgetarealjob🎧 Spotify: Just Get A Real Job on Spotify🍏 Apple Podcasts: Just Get A Real Job on Apple Podcasts

In this year’s Christmas and New Year episode, Jamie is joined by returning guest Ashley Dick for a reflective look back on the past year.Ash opened up about:🎬 How she has grown her production company and channel, Cinora💸 The realities of crowdfunding a film 📈 Building an online audience without burning out🎥 Reflections on some of the best Scottish films of 2025🌱 The lessons learened this year🔄 The changing media landscape for creators🔮 Looking ahead to 2026 and moreA lovely end-of-year conversation about persistence, community, and making things happen at your own pace.Happy New Year to all our listeners and thank you for all the support you have given us in 2025 🎧🎬 Cinorahttps://www.cinorafilms.com/team🌍 Stay connected with Just Get A Real Job🔗 Website: https://linktr.ee/Justgetarealjobpodcast💙 Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/justgetarealjob📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justgetarealjob🎬 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justgetarealjob🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/justgetarealjob🎧 Spotify: Just Get A Real Job on Spotify🍏 Apple Podcasts: Just Get A Real Job on Apple Podcas