This Is A Token with Alex Monroe

As an extra special Father’s Day episode, Alex (and his daughter Connie) are delighted to introduce the super talented and charming craftspeople and ceramic experts Chris and Freya Bramble-Carter onto ‘This Is A Token.’Chris has been a feature in the crafts world for a long time, and has taken his love of ceramics and teaching the art form to so many different communities, including teaching inmates at some of the UK’s bigger prisons. Although Alex and Chris have never met, their paths often intertwine as they talk through their careers in the arts world.After studying a fine art degree, Freya felt inspired by her Dad’s eclectic journey in the crafts space to make her own ceramics. Known specifically for her skill in glazing and organic shapes, Freya’s popularity has grown immensely in recent years, and has even seen her participate as a guest judge on popular reality show, ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’ on Channel 4.Settle in and listen for a friendly chat between Chris and Freya with Alex as their shared collection of jewellery pieces often hold their mark from days by the clay wheel and childhood joy from happy shared memories going to Claire’s Accessories, Kilburn High Road and Topshop! It’s a heartwarming one.Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Freya and Chris:You can follow Freya on Instagram here You can read Chris and Freya’s article with Ceramics Review hereYou can find Chris’s website hereYou can find Freya’s website hereIllustration by Connie Bella MonroeEdited by Emily SandfordMusic by Daniel Patrick Cohen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our next episode of ‘This is a Token’, Alex is joined by his current favourite actor Charlotte Spencer.Charlotte and Alex talk through her deep love of acting which started in childhood. Coming from humble beginnings, her parents have always supported her dream, which has given her the opportunity of performing both on the West End stage with another ‘This is a Token’ guest, Carrie Hope Fletcher as a child, and most recently on our screens as the formidable and uncompromising Nicki Jennings in the very popular series ‘The Gold’ on the BBC detailing*on the Brink’s-Mat Robbery.Settle down and listen to Charlotte and Alex discuss her fantastically varied career so far, and how Charlotte’s performance have even inspired Alex for our upcoming collections. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled -  *hint, hint*.Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Charlotte:You can watch ‘The Gold’ hereYou can see Charlotte’s filmography hereIllustration by Connie Bella MonroeEdited by Emily SandfordMusic by Daniel Patrick Cohen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning: This special episode of This Is A Token is an open conversation between Alex and his daughter Connie about experiences of anxiety and mental health with mention of suicide.To mark Mental Heath Awareness Week from 15th - 21st May Alex and Connie have come together to record this special episode.Here are some useful links for further reading discussed by Alex and Connie:For more information on Mental Heath Awareness Week: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-weekFor suggestions on how to help cope with feelings of anxiety: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/what-can-we-do-cope-feelings-anxietyFor more information on mental health: www.mind.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our latest episode of ‘This is a Token’ podcast, Alex is joined by the multi-talented and super engaging Rosie Viva.Rarely do we have a guest who is so aligned with Alex’s world. A depth of experience in the fashion industry, passionate about talking about all things mental health as well as being a jewellery designer in her own right, Rosie and Alex have so much in common.Rosie and Alex talk through her experiences growing up as a fashion model, as well how her diagnosis of Type 1 Bipolar led to her powerful new documentary with Channel 4, ‘Modelling, Mania and Me’. Within the documentary, Rosie shares deeply personal footage of her treatment after an intense mental health break down. It shows how she has been able to build a meaningful life, navigate relationships and flourish in her career in the hopes that her story, with the backing of close friends such as singer songwriter Dua Lipa, will inspire others who might be facing the same challenges.Settle down with a cup of peppermint tea (a personal favourite of Rosie’s) and listen to both Rosie and Alex have a positive conversation about all of this, as well how her natural creativity has enabled her to co-found her own brilliantly quirky jewellery for her popular brand, ‘Covert Jewellery’ in 2020.Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Rosie:You can follow Rosie on Instagram hereYou can follow Rosie’s brand, ‘Covert Jewellery’ here You can watch Rosie’s Documentary, ‘ Modelling, Mania and Me’ on Channel 4 Youtube Documentaries PageIllustration by Connie Bella MonroeEdited by Emily SandfordMusic by Daniel Patrick Cohen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex is so happy to introduce our latest, ‘This is a Token’ podcast episode with the brilliant Esme Young.After starting her fashion journey at the illustrious Central St Martins, Esme co-founded the iconic shop ‘Swanky Modes. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, her designs featured in some of the biggest publications at the time including, Vogue, The Face and Honey magazine.Esme and Alex talk about her love of both teaching at her beloved Central St Martins, and now judging on the hugely popular reality series, ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’.Listen in for a brilliant chat between Alex and Esme as her collection of jewellery pieces are as bold and impactful as her extraordinarily colourful career. This is a memorable one.Here are some useful links for further reading on topics discussed by Alex and Esme:You can follow Esme on Instagram here You see the latest series of The Great British Sewing Bee hereHere’s a link to Esme’s novel here:, ‘Behind the Seams’Illustration by Connie Bella MonroeEdited by Emily SandfordMusic by Daniel Patrick Cohen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.