an ADEQUATE podcast

Multitudes across a life 15.08.2026 5min

A therapist once told me about the Integrated Self - a vast room of chairs for every version of a person - and warned that you can never assemble the whole. The idea has kept coming back. It surfaced in an improvisation scene with Keith Johnstone, where Steve Chapman played me at sixteen and asked what lay ahead. It surfaced again in psychiatric hospital, where I made hundreds of pictures of myself trying to work out what was happening. And it turned into a way of drawing other people beside their younger selves - Ben Akers with the boy his father once touched on the shoulder, Salwa Emerson sitting close to her thirteen-year-old, NJ’s father appearing three times on a single page, and a drawing after Saul Steinberg, who cut out a life-sized boyhood photograph of himself and stood holding its hand. Not multitudes across a room. Multitudes across a life.-Contain Multitudes Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead NW3 1LT, 18-23 August 2026. Entry free. Private view (evening of 18 Aug) is a thank-you to backers of A Speccy Man Has A Breakdown.Links Read the piece: https://flintoff.org/multitudes-across-a-life Show homepage, unfolding one portrait at a time: https://flintoff.org/contain-multitudes Ben Akers: https://flintoff.org/ben-akers Salwa Emerson: https://flintoff.org/salwa-emerson NJ’s father: https://flintoff.org/nj-father After Steinberg: https://flintoff.org/after-steinberg Jo Wood and Steve Chapman: https://flintoff.org/jo-wood-and-steve-chapman A Speccy Man Has A Breakdown: https://flintoff.org/speccy-breakdown

How a reporter's notebook gave way to a sketch pad: the arc behind this show 13.08.2026 7min

The story behind Contain Multitudes, my portrait show at Burgh House, Hampstead, 18-23 August 2026. It begins with a drawing exercise at The School of Life, then a commission from a priest in Hampstead, then Zoom portraits during lockdown (including Olivia Colman), then a run of visits to independent publishers, lawyers, teachers and writers in the rooms where they work. In January 2024 I drew The Times’s obituary page for Camila Batmanghelidjh. That felt like a hinge - the journalist and the portrait-maker meeting on the same page.Contain Multitudes Burgh House, New End Square, Hampstead NW3 1LT 18-23 August 2026. Entry free. Private view (evening of 18 Aug) is a thank-you to backers of A Speccy Man Has A Breakdown.Links Read the piece: https://flintoff.org/the-arc-behind-this-show Show homepage, unfolding one portrait at a time: https://flintoff.org/contain-multitudes Be Drawn: https://flintoff.org/be-drawn Sort Of artist in residence: https://flintoff.org/sort-of-artist-in-residence The party you never leave: https://flintoff.org/the-party-you-never-leave A Speccy Man Has A Breakdown: https://flintoff.org/speccy-breakdown

The jumper she knitted herself – Mary Ann Sieghart, journalist and author 10.08.2026 3min

Portrait of Mary Ann Sieghart, journalist, broadcaster and author of The Authority Gap, in her Wiltshire office, from Contain Multitudes at Burgh House.The pictures in the show come from a run of visits I’ve made over the past few years to people in the places where they work: writers at their desks, lawyers in their offices, publishers among the books they’ve made, a priest in the room where she thinks. Some of the sitters are old friends. Some I met for the first time on the day.

A book of liturgies - Ayla Lepine, priest and art historian, caught reading 09.08.2026 2min

Portrait of Revd Dr Ayla Lepine, priest and art historian at St James's Piccadilly, from Contain Multitudes at Burgh House, London, by John-Paul Flintoff.The pictures in the show come from a run of visits I’ve made over the past few years to people in the places where they work: writers at their desks, lawyers in their offices, publishers among the books they’ve made, a priest in the room where she thinks. Some of the sitters are old friends. Some I met for the first time on the day.

The man who talks to everyone 08.08.2026 4min

Patrick McCann, days from retiring at Linklaters, drawn three times in an emptying office. Then he took another job. From Contain Multitudes, a series of portraits I'm showing in a gallery in Hampstead. The pictures in the show come from a run of visits I’ve made over the past few years to people in the places where they work: writers at their desks, lawyers in their offices, publishers among the books they’ve made, a priest in the room where she thinks. Some of the sitters are old friends. Some I met for the first time on the day.

"Making My Own Clothes (and Making Up Quotes)" | Through the Eye of a Needle #1 30.01.2026 11min

In this first episode of a new series, John-Paul Flintoff introduces his book "Through the Eye of a Needle" - a memoir about discovering meaning through making his own clothes. He reads from the book's cover, reveals a slightly embarrassing secret about one of the cover quotes, and shares the prologue featuring a pivotal moment on the London Underground with a crochet hook in his pocket. Along the way, there are mentions of Gandhi, Jeremy Clarkson, sweatshops, economic collapse, and why his wife doesn't always let him wear his homemade clothes in public. This is the beginning of an audiobook journey covering politics, religion, haberdashery, and the radical act of making things yourself.Perfect for: Anyone interested in slow fashion, making as activism, or just enjoys a good memoir with humour and heart.

Post on Your Own Site First: A Small Act of Digital Independence. 29.01.2026 4min

In this return episode, John-Paul reflects on a year spent stepping back from big social platforms and returning to first principles. He talks about the simple, transformative habit of posting to his own website first—not for clicks, but for a sense of ownership. He explains the POSSE method, shares the joys of his "Outstagram" project, and makes a heartfelt case for why everyone should have a blog. It’s an ode to the open web, a nudge to reclaim your corner of the internet, and a reminder that "adequate" and independent is better than perfect and platform-dependent.

The Convosphere (Part 1) 01.01.2025 7min

This is the first in a special mini-series on an ADEQUATE podcast, and I'm really excited about it. I'm working on a new book project called The Convosphere, and in this introductory episode, I wanted to give you a bit of background on what that's all about. Basically, I've been thinking a lot about how conversations - whether it's interviews, chats with friends, or even overheard exchanges - can have a profound impact on our lives, even if we're not directly involved. And a whole interconnected web of conversations is happening all around us, shaping our collective understanding in ways we may not always realise. I'm calling this the "Convosphere" - a play on "biosphere" to capture this idea of a global ecosystem of conversations. And I want to dive deeper into exploring this concept, looking at how a single conversation can have ripple effects, and what it means for how we engage with each other in this digital age. Anyway, I'm really excited to get into this topic more in the episodes to come. If you're curious to follow along, be sure to sign up for updates at flintoff.org. I'd love to hear your thoughts too - what conversations have really stuck with you and changed your perspective? Let me know!

53. Writers overcome imposter syndrome 16.12.2024 10min

John-Paul Flintoff introduces a new podcast mini-series on writing book proposals, motivated by his recent work with aspiring writers.- He discusses the common issue of self-doubt that many writers face.- He recounts a meeting with a woman in a cafe who expressed a desire to write and publish a book, but was held back by self-criticism.- Flintoff provides examples of famous writers like Shakespeare and C.S. Lewis who could have doubted their right to write.- He emphasizes that anyone, even those who are not experts, can have a valuable perspective and be entitled to write.- Flintoff discusses the value of honesty and ignorance in writing, and how the writing process can help clarify why a topic is interesting.- He highlights the difficulty and effort involved in writing a book, which he believes makes the final product worthwhile.- Flintoff encourages aspiring writers to embrace their imposter syndrome and use it to drive them to write thoughtfully.- He reassures listeners that they are entitled to write and that their efforts will reveal the value in their stories and ideas.Key Takeaways: Even the greatest writers have grappled with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Your unique perspective and experiences can provide valuable insights, even if you don't consider yourself an expert. The writing process can help uncover why a topic is interesting and worth exploring. Embracing self-doubt and using it to drive thoughtful writing is preferable to overconfidence. The effort and difficulty involved in writing a book is what makes the final product worthwhile.Website: https://flintoff.org

52. Give voice to silence | what to make of getting no reply 18.11.2024 17min

John-Paul Flintoff discusses the challenges of editing audio for his podcast and shares insights from listeners working on family heirloom stories. He highlights Charmian's project involving her father's censored WWII letters and her own censored correspondence from Spain during General Franco's regime. Flintoff emphasizes the importance of describing and indexing letters and the value of adding commentary to enhance their storytelling. He references Eminem's song "Stan" to illustrate the impact of unanswered letters and encourages speculating on the emotions behind them. Flintoff concludes by inviting listeners to share their thoughts and experiences.This pop-up newsletter about family heirlooms has been supported by members of my Special Projects patron scheme. Please consider joining.

51. Lost bag of letters | Charmian speaks 15.11.2024 9min

In this episode, we meet Charmian as she recounts the panic she felt when she couldn't find her father’s wartime letters and the bittersweet emotions that surfaced as she carefully read through her father's words. From the physical descriptions of the letters to the personal reflections on her family's history, this conversation offers a glimpse into a moving personal journey.This is a story of love, loss, and the enduring power of the written word.

50. Unlocking Family Histories | JPF reads his emails 13.11.2024 5min

John-Paul Flintoff introduces this episode as a reading of his latest newsletter, hinting at the intriguing family history contained within.- The newsletter delves into a "bag of letters" written by a reader’s father during World War II in West Africa.- Flintoff shares his plans to potentially offer a special course or "extravaganza" on preserving and sharing family stories like these. - Listeners get a glimpse of Flintoff's latest art, as he describes a vibrant oil painting and the surprising engagement it receives online. Link to painting details- The newsletter also provides updates on Flintoff's special projects, including an upcoming writers' support group meeting.- Flintoff invites listeners to join his Special Projects and subscribe to his newsletter to stay connected. Thank you for listening. Subscribe here.

49: Turn your family story into an heirloom 12.11.2024 18min

John-Paul Flintoff explains how to combine family histories with artefacts to make cherished heirlooms. Drawing inspiration from a request by "Special Projects member X" to help share a collection of wartime letters written by her father, Flintoff discusses:- The value of heirlooms, both obvious ones (like photo archives or antiques) and more subtle ones (like the hands that have held them through generations)- How to describe the physical details of the heirloom (in this case, the letter collection) as well as personal memories of first encountering them- The role that emotions play in making a family story resonate, and how to incorporate them- Lessons from the BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" series, where famous people's reactions to their family histories create powerful TV moments- How listeners can identify their own family heirlooms and stories, combining them to build meaningful, shareable experiencesBy the end of the episode, Flintoff provides a clear framework for listeners to follow in order to transform their own family stories and artefacts into true heirlooms - through detailed description, emotional resonance, and the act of sharing them with others.Links:- More information on the "Who Do You Think You Are?" TV series- John-Paul Flintoff's book "The Family Project" (co-authored with his wife Harriet)

48. Unlock your family story | A step-by-step guide (join me!) 11.11.2024 8min

John-Paul Flintoff received a request from a patron to help turn a bag of WWII letters written by her father into a story.Flintoff is excited by the coincidence of this request coming in mid-November, when he often thinks of offering a month-long project on family stories.He proposes to turn this into a public project for podcast listeners, where they can also work on turning their own family artifacts into stories.He encourages listeners to reach out by sending an email or leaving a comment with their own family project ideas, and mentions the option to join his "Special Projects" membership.‪About‪John-Paul Flintoff is co-author (with his wife Harriet Green) of a book, The Family Project, with was published jointly by The Guardian and Faber & Faber. ‬

47. Crashing Boris Johnson’s party 07.11.2024 8min

John-Paul Flintoff tells a friend he once went undercover at a fundraising event for Boris Johnson. Flintoff explains how newspapers and media outlets often try to get stories from events in this way, even (or especially) if the event organisers don't want certain topics discussed.His friend, connected to an author with a big book launch coming up, could consider inviting a gossip columnist, to generate valuable media coverage.Looking back, Flintoff wonders whether this practice of "infiltrating" events to get stories is good or bad, and concludes that it is neutral - the resulting coverage depends on the columnist and the circumstances.—In other news, Flintoff aims to produce more frequent episodes of an ADEQUATE Podcast going forward, and will try to include more comprehensive show notes (like these you are reading right here), with links.Website: https://flintoff.org

46. "Conversations That Changed Everything" | JPF Reads His Emails 06-11-2024 06.11.2024 8min

John-Paul Flintoff reflects on conversations that can change everything, by reading aloud his November newsletter to make the content more accessible. The newsletter reflects on conversations that have significantly impacted people's lives, featuring interviews with various individuals, including well-known and less-known personalities. He describes the black-and-white photos of these individuals, which can be seen in the newsletter here, highlighting their expressions of surprise and delight. Flintoff encourages readers to share their own impactful conversations via a this Google Form, emphasising the importance of these stories. He also mentions his Special Projects membership program, which supports his work, inviting readers to join his Writers Support Group and/or request personalised help for up to an hour.

"I seriously thought of leaving", he told me... 13.03.2024 5min

One of the participants on a week-long residential course for writers got in touch with me afterwards...

How Making Your Introductory Video Is Easier With Help 09.07.2023 5min

A bit of a change in tone, today

A mile of steam 08.07.2023 3min

Using a podcast to make things visible.

As It Happens, on the BBC 06.07.2023 4min

Andy Kershaw blew my mind.