Lead & Create is a podcast for choreographers who are figuring it out as they go — leading projects, navigating uncertainty, and trying to stay creatively and emotionally afloat in freelance life.Hosted by Neus Gil Cortes — choreographer, dramaturg, and leadership coach — this series explores the real challenges of making work with others: fear, power, value, conflict, burnout, boundaries, and the invisible labour of leading.Some episodes are solo reflections, some are honest conversations with artists and thinkers. All of them ask: how can we lead with more care, more clarity, and less self-doubt?If you’ve ever felt like leadership was something you were expected to do without being taught — you’re not alone. Let’s talk about it.
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 23/10/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Discover shows related to Lead & Create, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
Lead & Create, a podcast by Neus Gil Cortes - Stats, Episodes and Rankings - My Podcast Data
S3E3 On Strategy, Selling, and Taking Performances to the Streets - A conversation with Johnny Autin
Episode 31
Monday, October 19, 2026 • Duration 55:44
In this episode of the Lead and Create podcast, host Neus is joined by choreographer and Autin Dance Theatre artistic director Johnny Autin for a deep dive into the strategy behind building a sustainable independent company.This episode was recorded in 2025 but due to capacity is being published in 2026. Johnny shares the seven-year journey of A Positive Life — a piece rooted in his lived experience with HIV that evolved through countless iterations into a touring show seen in nearly 100 performances across schools and community spaces. They discuss the lessons of that process: believing in your work even when it doesn't land, embracing the role of "salesman" as an artist, and understanding what programmers actually need.The conversation moves to Queer Words and its Edinburgh Fringe run, where daily performances for three weeks became a live testing ground for edits and creative risk. Johnny then charts the company's pandemic-era pivot into outdoor arts — from a chance encounter with a master puppeteer who then becomes his husband, to building large-scale outdoor performances using puppetry, circus, and aerial dance that now play to audiences of 250,000+ in a single summer.Other topics include what makes Birmingham's dance community uniquely tight-knit, practical advice for outdoor work (investing in production shots, owning your own kit, keeping shows under 25 minutes), understanding what makes each performer tick, and the launch of WOW! Fest — the company's new summer festival in Walsall.A candid, practical conversation about resilience, community, and the business of making art that reaches people.Interested getting your work to more venues? We have a session coming up on 27th November 2026 with choreographer Richard Chappell on Tourbooking and Partnership Building. More info here
S3E2 How to influence motivation
Episode 30
Monday, October 5, 2026 • Duration 18:16
What happens when a dancer becomes disengaged in the studio? Rather than simply giving up on the relationship, what if we looked at the conditions we are creating as choreographers and teachers?In this episode, Neus looks at Peps Mccrea's research on motivation from the lens of the creation process, exploring the relationship between motivation, success and failure, and the role we play in helping dancers and collaborators feel that their effort is worthwhile. She looks at why success is subjective, how clear and achievable goals can support motivation, and why recognising progress over time matters.She also explores how we can reframe failure as an essential part of the creative and learning process, distinguish between individual and systemic barriers, and approach feedback as an investment in someone’s development rather than evidence that they have done something wrong.At the heart of the conversation is a question: How can we create studio environments where people feel challenged, supported and trusted to do their best work?Ready to create better working spaces and creative processes? Join our online Leadership Course for Independent Choreographers. More info here
Motherspace- A chat with Dance Mama
Episode 29
Sunday, October 4, 2026 • Duration 31:35
What does it really mean to be a mother and a choreographer?In this conversation, recorded during our Instagram Live with Dance Mama, we talk honestly about the realities and challenges of combining motherhood with a choreographic career — and, importantly, what we can do to create better conditions for choreographer mothers.We also share Motherspace: a new residency for three choreographer mothers, offered by Trip Space in collaboration with Lead&Create. It’s one small but practical step towards creating more supportive conditions for mothers to continue developing their creative practices.Apply by 11th October: hereAnd if this conversation gets you thinking about how parenting might have shaped the way you lead, join us for our webinar with Dance Mama:Could Parenting Make You A Better Leader?Thursday 8th OctoberA chance to explore the leadership and Human Resources skills you’re already developing through parenting — and how they might support you in your work as a choreographer.Find out more: hereIf you’re finding yourself thinking about your own leadership, and the particular challenges of making a creative career work on your own terms, we’d love to have you join us on the Lead&Create leadership course for independent choreographers. It’s a space designed specifically around our reality — not a one-size-fits-all leadership course — where you can bring your own questions, challenges and ambitions and work through them with experienced coaches from the industry.Early Bird until 9th October | Bookings close 23rd OctoberFind out more
S3E1 A chat with Lea Tirabasso — Leadership, Vulnerability & the Creative Juggle
Episode 28
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 • Duration 59:53
Choreographer, dancer, teacher, and mother of three, Lea Tirabasso joins host Neus Gil Cortes for a rich conversation about what it really takes to lead in the dance world — and in life.Lea shares how her years as a dancer in German companies shaped her understanding of leadership, from the physical rollercoaster of a day in the studio to the profound importance of creating safe, caring spaces where collaborators feel genuinely held. She opens up about the lessons motherhood taught her about care, structure, and vulnerability, and why she believes saying "I don't know" to your team is one of the most powerful acts of trust a leader can offer.Together, Neus and Lea dig into the challenges of receiving unrequested feedback, the sting of harsh criticism, and how the right creative team can lift you up when you need it most. Lea also traces the evolution of her distinctive, animal-inspired physicality — from early bird experiments to studying the Catherine Clouzot method with Gabrielle Moleta — and reveals how philosophy, mortality, and the ephemeral nature of live performance underpin her choreographic work.The conversation closes with a candid look at the realities of juggling motherhood and a freelance creative career: visible parenting in the studio, building support networks, the guilt of being away, and the sleepless nights that come with it. Neus also announces the return of the Leadership Training for Independent Choreographers and a new Trip Space residency for mother choreographers in London.Topics covered:Leadership lessons from a dancer's perspective. Safety, care, and group dynamics in the studio. Pay, structure, and professional standards. Vulnerability, trust, and not pretending. Giving and receiving feedback in creative processes. Handling unrequested feedback and gatekeepers. Building and choosing your creative team. Animal work, physicality, and the Catherine Clouzot method. Philosophy, mortality, and live performance. Motherhood and the creative juggle. Guilt, sleepless nights, and self-compassion. International funding models and networking. Trip Space residency for mothers- Apply by 10 OctoberLeadership training for choreographers- Book by 23 OctoberConnect with us! Subscribe to our newsletter Follow us on Instagram @leadandcreate
S2E8 On having more power than we think: Climate justice and independent artists — A conversation with Marla King
Episode 27
Monday, October 6, 2025 • Duration 42:58
In this episode of Lead & Create, I sit down with Marla King to talk about climate justice and what’s possible when independent artists realise they have more power than they think.We explore:- How climate justice connects with the arts and why it matters.- The myth that individual impact is too small to count — and how to challenge it.- The strength and energy that comes from artists joining forces.- Practical ways choreographers and independent artists can align their work with sustainability.- Why even small creative actions can ripple out into larger cultural change.This is a hopeful and empowering conversation for artists who want to engage with climate justice but aren’t sure where to start, or who feel their contribution might not make a difference.Links mentioned and further reading:Boycott Bloody Insurance The Carbon MapNo Climate Action Without UsCulture Declares EmergencyEquity for a Green New DealGreen Rider CampaignJulie’s BicycleSustainable Arts in LeedsTheatre Green BookThe Climate Psychology AllianceForce of Nature - The rise of eco anxiety reportDigital Carbon Footprint InfoSet Exchange - resource sharing for Theatre, TV, Film, Events, Exhibitions2nd hand materials hub - Rene MaterialsRestart - London based electronic repair events/advice/upskillingCostume Directory - We are AlbertPreworn - Online 2nd hand StoreBanking on climate chaosBooks recommended by Marla for further reading: It’s Not That Radical by Mikaela Loach Art Wash: Big Oil and the Arts by Mel Evans Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Marie BrownActive Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris JohnstoneBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-KimmererIt’s Not Just You by Tori Tsui The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-CarnacThis Changes Everything by Naomi KleinNature is a Human Right edited by Ellen Miles Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit Spinning Out by Charlie Hertzog Young The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas
S2E7 On being yourself in everything you do: A conversation with Sarah Blanc
Episode 26
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 • Duration 46:56
Sarah Blanc is one of those artists who brings her full self into everything she does—whether that’s creating punk gig-theatre for kids, making socially engaged performance, or showing up in her boldest fashion choices. Her work is funny, political, and always unapologetically her.In our chat, we talk about the real side of leadership: the moments when you can hold the space, and the moments when you need to step back and hand it over (including Sarah’s brilliant phrase, “time bitch”). We also touch on rejection, staying in your lane, and what it actually takes to keep showing up as yourself in this industry.And of course, we get into Punk Alley, her riotous kids’ show that gave young audiences permission to ask questions like “why is my brother smelly?” and “why aren’t trans rights taken seriously?”. It’s a reminder that children often see the world more clearly than we think—and that they’re not afraid to ask the difficult questions.This episode is equal parts funny, honest and thought-provoking—a true reflection of Sarah’s artistry and her way of leading.Check what Sarah's is up to following her IG account
S2 E6 This One’s for Teachers: Hidden Dynamics in Your Studio
Episode 25
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 • Duration 31:30
Why do some student groups feel more motivated, engaged, and willing to take creative risks than others — even when you’re teaching the same curriculum? And as teachers, how much influence do we really have over those hidden dynamics?In this episode of the Lead & Create Podcast (also available on YouTube), Neus Gil Cortés dives into the undercurrents that shape a classroom or studio:How group roles and unofficial “leaders” affect behaviourThe power of social norms and how to shift themWhy clear definitions of success and expectancy matterWhat teachers can do (and what’s beyond our control)Drawing on her experience teaching since 2009 — from NDC Wales to Hofesh Shechter Company to the National Centre for Circus Arts — Neus shares practical insights to help teachers better understand and influence the learning environment.If you’ve ever wondered whether group dynamics are fixed or whether you can actively shape them, this episode is for you.Links:Watch this podcast as a video hereDownload the slides to visualise the key ideas of the training here Sign up to our newsletter to get more free resources here
S2 E5 Curiosity, Conflict and Creativity in Circus: A conversation with Adrian Porter
Episode 24
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • Duration 43:46
In this episode of Lead & Create, Neus is joined by Adrian Porter, Head of Higher Education at the National Centre for Circus Arts and former Cirque du Soleil coach and performer. Adrian shares his journey from childhood gymnastics to international touring, reflecting on how curiosity and play became the foundations of his practice as both an artist and a leader.The conversation dives into what leadership looks like in different contexts — from the rehearsal studio to higher education — and how expectations, motivation, and trust shape creative learning environments. Adrian and Neus discuss the challenges of conflict, how to approach difficult conversations without blame, and why documenting, reflecting, and reframing are essential tools for growth.Together, they touch on circus training as higher education, the influence of sports science, the importance of creativity and empathy in teaching, and what it really takes to keep both students and professionals motivated over the long run.
S2 E4 On Work Culture: A conversation with Theo Clinkard
Episode 23
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 • Duration 01:00:56
What does it take to create actual healthy workspaces in dance — not just the ones we talk about? In this episode, I speak with Theo Clinkard — choreographer, teacher, designer, and longtime advocate for respectful creative processes.We explore what happens when dancers are treated as collaborators rather than vessels, how fear shows up in the studio (in both subtle and obvious ways), and what it really means to lead from a place of clarity without collapsing into people-pleasing.Theo reflects on his journey from dancing in major UK companies to rethinking leadership and ethics in his own practice — from calling out outdated norms to sharing the mistakes and tensions of trying to do better. We also touch on the responsibility of funders and programmers, the pressure to produce “more of the same,” and what a slower, more intentional pace might make possible.This isn’t a conversation full of soundbites — it’s a generous, layered exploration of the systems we’re in and how we might shift them together.00:00 – Theo joins the podcast and reflects on challenging outdated practices early in his career.02:39 – We unpack the harm in seeing dancers as “instruments” and why dancer agency matters.06:40 – Theo shares experiences of toxic work culture and asks why we still tolerate it.12:50 – What does a truly healthy creative space look like — and how can we make one?25:09 – How can choreographers be better supported? What does a sustainable practice look like?30:08 – The pressure of being “a singular vision” and how it affects collaboration.33:24 – Who holds power in the sector? Theo shares thoughts on funders, programmers, and responsibility.40:22 – What happens when care and feedback are built into the process from the beginning?49:31 – The crossover between teaching and choreographing — and how they inform each other.56:50 – Final reflections on rest, ambition, identity, and staying open as an artist.🎧 Resources Mentioned in This Episode"As Technique" – Article by Theo ClinkardDownload hereBook: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanView on Goodreads Book: The Ignorant Schoolmaster: Five Lessons in Intellectual Emancipation by Jacques RancièreLearn more on publisher siteInterested in the leadership for teachers course? Subscribe to our newsletter to know when bookings open in early September
S2 E3 Twelve Ways to Support Your Mental Health (That Go Beyond the Obvious)
Episode 22
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 • Duration 38:38
We know rest is important. We know we should see friends and take breaks from our screens. But even when we know what’s good for us… we often don’t do it. So what’s really going on?In this episode, Neus Gil Cortes explores twelve reflections to support your mental health as a choreographer — through the lens of four vital relationships: with yourself, with others, with the world, and with your purpose.These aren’t your typical wellbeing tips. Think of them more like perspective shifts — on sleep, loneliness, perfectionism, connection, boundaries, and how to stay grounded in an unpredictable freelance life.Plus: a few thoughts on why letting yourself feel joy might be part of how you keep showing up for others.🔗 Mentioned in the Episode:✨ Happiness as an act of resistance by Skye C. ClearyInspired this episode’s reflection on joy, resilience, and social responsibility — and referenced in connection with Simone de Beauvoir and Albert Camus.👉 Read here 📝 Download the free Mid-Year Check In: Vision, Value & ActionA reflective tool to help you check in with your wellbeing across the four areas — self, others, world, and purpose.👉 Download here 💬 Book a 1-to-1 SessionIf this episode stirred something and you want space to talk it through, you can book a personalised support session by filling this form