Step forward our first OBE on the show; former Children’s Laureate, winner of the Carnegie Medal for Writing, poet and prolific children’s author, Joseph Coelho.  


Having both grown up on housing estates where you definitely weren’t pre-conditioned for a life in the creative arts, Joseph and Katherine marvel at the way teachers can shape children’s futures, wonder at the power of brutalist public art and relish the joy of watching people rummage through abandoned homes in post-apocalyptic films. 


A wonderful, and deeply thoughtful, conversation with one of the UK’s most inspiring literary figures. 


Links from the episode: 


Joseph’s website https://www.thepoetryofjosephcoelho.com/

Joseph’s Instagram

Munya Chawawa’s Black Boys Theatre Club 

Joseph’s estate he grew up on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton_Estate 

Lynn Chadwick’s The Watchers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Watchers_(sculpture)


Visit The Clearing website www.theclearingpod.com for a full transcript, to discover how to enjoy our bonus episodes, our ad free episodes and if you subscribe, how to submit your own idea for a dream retreat.


Katherine’s new book, Tending: How Care Binds the World is out in March and you can pre-order it here 


Buy Katherine’s books: Enchantment | Wintering | The Electricity of Every Living Thing: UK / US

Follow Katherine on Instagram

Visit Katherine’s Website


Production Credits

Guest Booker and Admin Support - Meghan Hutchins

Substack Manager - Rebecca Armstrong

Producer - Alice Lloyd

Music - The Leaf Library @theleaflibrary

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