Meet the Mancunian - 6 - Bonus - Meet the Artist Mahua Roy

Meet the Mancunian-6- Meet the Artist transcript

Intro

Hello and a warm Mancunian welcome to all my incredible listeners out there. I’m Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe your friendly host. You've just tuned in the sixth season of the Meet the Mancunian podcast. This podcast is celebration of the unsung heroes, the change makers and the passionate souls who are making a real difference in our vibrant city.

From social enterprises to non-profits and community groups, I bring you the voices of worker bees and volunteers all coming together for a common cause. Through heartfelt conversations, my guests share their experiences, dreams, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. From the challenges they've overcome to the triumphs that fuel their passion. The stories will leave you moved, enlightened and brimming with hope.

Join me on this audio adventure as my guests and I explore the transformative power of collective action. And the remarkable impact we can create when we unite for a common cause. Their tales are a testament, the power of community, collaboration, and the indomitable Mancunian spirit. They not only address pressing issues right here in Manchester, but also offer insights and inspiration that resonate far beyond these boundaries.

So whether you're commuting, on a run or just relaxing at home, I invite you to tune in on Apple, Spotify, Google, or any of your favourite podcasting platforms. You can also log onto my website. www.meetthemancunian.co.uk.

Let's embark on this journey of discovery and inspiration. For my new listeners, you can catch up on the incredible stories from the first five seasons at www.meetthemancunian.co.uk, but you'll also find out more about my own journey as a podcaster. And to all my returning listeners, I can't thank you enough for your support. You make the podcast possible and I'm immensely grateful.

So join me as I continue to share these inspiring tales of change and community support from the beating heart of Manchester. Together, we can spread a bit of good news, spark some meaningful conversations and inspire positive action. Thank you for being a part of the Meet the Mancunian community.

Welcome to the bonus episode of Season Six of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester.

Loving the attractive Meet the Mancunian podcast creatives, we hear from Mahua Roy artist and dear friend.

Bonus episode

[00:02:55] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Hi, Mahua. How are you doing today?

[00:02:58] Mahua Roy: Hi, Deepa. I'm fine. How are you doing?

[00:03:02] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I'm all right. It's been nice. It's a long weekend here, so enjoying the time and kind of spending a lot of time in the immersion of around the podcast. Getting ready for season six.

[00:03:14] Mahua Roy: Oh, that's nice.

[00:03:15] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: So you've been immersing yourself with a lot of art studies recently, and tell us about that. What are you currently focused on?

[00:03:24] Mahua Roy: We've been moving gradually from one art form to another, as in one media to another. So, I'm working with a lot of charcoals and soft pastes right now, and it's been a very interesting journey so far. In fact, we students are going to have an exhibition next weekend and looking forward to it.

So we were sorting out the best work and I was just going through my old work. We all realised we've come a long way really because when we see our old work and then six months down the line, so much has changed, and there's so much of finesse now in our work.

[00:04:04] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: This sounds really good. So tell me more about this art exhibition. What will you be exhibiting there?

[00:04:11] Mahua Roy: I will be exhibiting a lot of my sketches. The initial line work, all kinds of practices that we had to do. And also how we gradually moved from line work to, using charcoal and then now soft pastels. And then we'll be moving on to water colours.

What we're doing is we are putting up our entire journey for the viewers to see how the journey has been thus far. It's not just my journey, but I also get to see other artists who been taking this course, their journey, and it's been very interesting to learn from their journey as well.

So, we are basically learning from each other and not just from our teacher. We are learning from each other's journeys as well. It's been very enriching, Deepa.

[00:05:04] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: It's so amazing to kind of have this immersion into art that you're doing. Because for me, from a podcasting perspective, I learn a lot from webinars, podcasting clubs and community forums sharing ideas and sharing new software that we've discovered to make our lives easier.

[00:05:24] Mahua Roy: I basically wanted to know, now that you have a job, how are you juggling between your job, taking care of your house, your little boys and your passion project? How are you doing everything Deepa?

[00:05:40] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I am trying to be organised and I'm trying to work a lot in advance. I start recording very early, so I start recording maybe two or three months in advance that I have the time to research my guests, talk to my guests, and then edit and do other things around it.

It's hard. But I think because it's a passion project, you find the time and I think it makes me more creative. And you know that recently there've been some really good rankings where the podcast got noticed as best UK Social Work podcast, as well as best Social Impact podcast globally. Number 19 in that list. So just really nice to see that people are noticing. And of course, thanks to your creatives as well as our wonderful guests.

Have you listened to any of the recent podcast episodes of Meet the Mancunian or other podcasts that really resonated with you?

[00:06:36] Mahua Roy: In fact, I think your last podcast. You spoke to Hannah Cox and she was talking about Better Business Network and she's made some very interesting points like she spoke about how social entrepreneurship doesn't have to be a non-profit venture. It can be for profit, and still make a social impact. I think that is very interesting because, it's like a total shift from what we perceive an NGO (non-profit) should be like.

[00:07:08] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Absolutely. And I think within that for-profit obviously having community initiatives or the environment that they're supporting is also really important.

[00:07:19] Mahua Roy: Other than that, I think there is one old episode, it'll never go away from my mind. The poet, Anthony Parker, which actually made me write a poem.

He spoke about how all of us are the same. We have the same trials and tribulations, and that is something that stayed with me. I really love it. I'll always think about his poem and what he said. It helps you deal with people very differently, whether it's people in Manchester or people in Bombay.

In the end we have similar trials and tribulations, and that's the beauty of it. I have listened like a couple of times.

[00:08:07] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Anthony's poem on Manchester was very powerful, which he included within it as well.

So this time, Meet the Mancunian, and you've taken an inspiration from the British weather and the autumn season that we start next month. Tell us about that.

[00:08:23] Mahua Roy: Like you said, the inspiration was definitely the weather. Really the British weather is not just about the gloom and the rains. It's also about different seasons, which fascinates me because we don't really get that in Bombay, you know maybe other parts of India, but not in Bombay. So, I think this fascinates me and that's why I try to talk about different seasons. You have different seasons in your podcast, so portray that in the podcast.

[00:08:54] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: As always, it's really interesting and very attractive. So thank you so much for everything that you do for the creative. It wouldn't be Meet the Mancunian without your beautiful creatives, and especially the fact that you always have the worker bee in it, which is really lovely as well.

[00:09:10] Mahua Roy: I enjoy it thoroughly. That is what Mancunians are all about. So, I had to portray that. That is what makes the podcast creative alive, basically. It was important.

[00:09:24] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Now Mahua, it's been almost two years since we've been collaborating on the Meet the Mancunian podcast creatives, and you've been part of the journey, right? From I think November 2021 when we first started talking about it. So, have your perspectives on either podcasting or on Manchester changed during this? Two years is a long time, and you were talking about your art, how you've gone through that journey.

[00:09:48] Mahua Roy: I don't think, anything else can take over podcasting, you know what I mean? That can't be replaced, Deepa.

And that's the beauty of a podcast, you know? And I listen to a lot of podcasts as you know. While travelling, when I go for a walk, when I paint, I listen to podcasts. This is one thing which will never go, and that's the beauty of it.

But podcast is something which will never change, if you come to think of it because a human-to-human connection is something which can't be replaced, like I said. So that's, my take on podcasts.

Manchester, I wish I could visit anytime soon. Hoping I do, because I've really known so much about Manchester from this podcast, people of Manchester.

And since I'm a history student, I would love to visit and see where the actual industrial revolution started. Manchester's getting interesting for me day by day as I listen to your podcast. I'm like, I have to visit Manchester soon. So that keeps me going, the thought that yes, one day I am going to visit Manchester.

[00:11:04] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: It'll be lovely to have you and definitely take you around some of the historical landmarks as well as a little bit of the cultural side as well.

And I think podcasting, like you said, it's become quite powerful now because I was reading a statistic recently that 25% of all UK adults are listening to podcasts regularly and 50% have listened at least once. So, it's become a very powerful medium.

And I think the reason for it is, is because you can do other things when you are listening to your podcast. Like you said, going for a walk or painting or cooking or anything else you feel like, you could be doing that and listening to the podcast. And I think that's probably why the medium is becoming so popular as well as the creativity, the fact that so many genres.

So looking forward to season six. Thank you so much again for your amazing creativity.

[00:12:02] Mahua Roy: Thanks, Deepa for giving me this opportunity because it's been such an interesting journey, working together on the creatives discussing the podcast with you. It's really been very interesting and fun.

[00:12:19] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I love it because you have so many great ideas beyond the creative, so I really enjoy that. And you're very much part of the, it's a very small Meet the Mancunian team right now, just two people, but hoping to build a community.

[00:12:34] Mahua Roy: Yes, for sure. I'm sure that'll happen soon.

[00:12:38] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you.

[00:12:39] Mahua Roy: You are most welcome.

Outro

Mahua, thank you for talking to me about art and podcasting today.

Dear listener, thank you so much for listening to the bonus episode of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, Season Six.

Tune in every Tuesday for a new episode or log on to www.meetthemancunian.co.uk to listen to all the episodes and learn more about my podcasting story.

Next week on Tuesday, 5 September 2023. I speak to Andy Schofield about supporting mental health and veterans.

Thank you for joining me on this enriching journey through the social impact stories of Manchester with the sixth season of the Meet the Mancunian podcast. I hope the stories you've heard today have sparked a fire of inspiration within you, and they serve as a gentle reminder that no dream is too big and no passion is too small.

Your feedback means the world to me. Visit www.meetthemancunian.co.uk to share your thoughts, suggestions, and the causes that touch your heart. Your input helps me craft a podcast that truly touches hearts and makes a difference in our community.

Stay connected with the podcast on social media. You can find us @MeettheMancunian on Instagram and Facebook. Or follow us on Twitter at @Mancunianpod. Sharing and leaving a comment would be a fantastic way to spread the word and build a vibrant community of change-makers.

Before I sign off, remember to introduce this podcast, your friends and family. Together, we can amplify the impact and reach of these incredible stories. Once again, thank you so much for being a part of the Meet the Mancunian family. Your support fuels my passion and I can't wait to bring new, more compelling stories that will touch your hearts and fuel your soul.

Until we meet again in the next episode, let's keep creating waves of change together. The world needs more Mancunian spirit. So go up there and be the change you wish to see.

Take care, stay inspired.