The Leisure Society with Gemma Cairney

Gemma joins Kathy Burke round at her house to talk about her love of television.

Gemma Cairney joins Bonnie Greer at one of her favourite places, the British Museum.

Gemma joins musician Ben Watt for a spot of birdwatching

Actress Zawe Ashton joins Gemma Cairney to the talk about how she spends her leisure time shopping in retail parks and how these seemingly menial non-artistic places calms her. Born in Hackney in London, Zawe attended Manchester University School of Theatre, where she gained her degree in acting. Her portrayal of Vod in Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong’s Fresh Meat won her a cult following and the diversity of her work across television, film and stage has attracted numerous accolades.

Gemma Cairney joins Damon Albarn for a chat about travel and adventure at his studios.

Throwing Muses frontwoman Kristin Hersh joins Gemma Cairney at the reptile house.

Gemma Cairney is joined by fashion designer Paul Smith to discuss his love of bicycles.

Santigold is the moniker of Philadelphia-born musician and producer Santi White. She released her debut album Santogold in 2008, followed by Master of My Make-Believe in 2012. She has since collaborated with the likes of Jay Z, Q Tip, Kanye West, Beastie Boys and Lykke Li. She joins Gemma at the Wallace Collection in London to talk about her loves beyond music including interior design.

Gemma Cairney continues a new series of The Leisure Society, interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. For this programme Gemma joins R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe at the ICA in London to discuss his love of photography. He studied photography and painting at University of Georgia before leaving school to form the band R.E.M., serving as frontman and singer-songwriter until the band dissolved in 2011. The sensibility he began developing during his time as an art student transferred to his work for R.E.M. – from art directing their graphics, videos and stage design, to writing, composing and performance. His new book Volume 1, brings together nearly 40 years of creating and collecting photographic materials, in addition to posing as a subject in the photographs of others. He discusses the stories behind the photos of River Phoenix’s dreadlocks as they traversed the US in 1993 shortly before Phoenix died, Kurt Cobain’s hands, his first love Jeremy Ayers, Patti Smith, William Burroughs, and what happened when he met Andy Warhol for the first time. He also discusses love and loss, producing New York artist Fischerspooner’s new album, recently discovering the music of Nils Frahm and why he’s leaving Instagram.

Gemma Cairney continues a new series of The Leisure Society, interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. For this programme Gemma joins Theresa “TT” Wayman from LA band Warpaint at the Science Museum in London to discuss how she discovered a love of marine biology and astronomy at an early age but went into a musical career with Warpaint the band she has been in for fourteen years. They also discuss her debut solo album Lovelaws, balancing having a child with being a touring musician and her introduction to frogs in Oregon when she was growing up.

Gemma Cairney begins a new series of The Leisure Society, interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. For this programme, Gemma joins Jason Williamson - one half of Electro punk duo Sleaford Mods. Named by Iggy Pop as 'undoubtedly, absolutely, definitely the world's greatest rock'n'roll band', their influences range from mod culture to the Wu-Tang Clan, with lyrics that deal with working class life and culture and autsterity-era Britain. Gemma joins Jason in his home town of Nottingham at his local gym, to find out more about his passion for weightlifting where he discusses overcoming addiction and the role that exercise has played in helping him with that. They also discuss punk culture, clubbing, social media addiction, Tori Amos and his grime heroes.

In November 2017 Gemma Cairney went for dinner with the iconic singer Grace Jones. Known for her formidable personality, Gemma was nervous of what she would get. But instead of being fierce, she found Grace funny, warm, and great company over dinner. As part of Hear Her, we revisit that conversation in podcast form. Grace talks about growing up in Jamaica, moving to America, and her nights in the legendary Studio 54 in New York.

Gemma Cairney continues The Leisure Society, a new series interviewing cultural icons, innovators, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. This week Gemma visits Laurie Vincent, best known as one half of the Kent punk band Slaves whose have been building up their following writing songs which confront their apathy-affected generation. Laurie Vincent isn't just the guitarist in Slaves, the 24 year old is also a visual artist who had his first proper exhibition in Hoxton last year. Gemma visits Laurie in his studio in Brighton to find out about how the relationship works between his art and his music, they also discuss street art and the work of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, what makes someone iconic, his admiration for Paul Simonon of the Clash, education and the pressures of social media for young people.

The Leisure Society is a series presented by Gemma Cairney, interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. The weekly show will discover how each person's passions influence what they create beginning with musician, DJ and visual artist Goldie. After a ninety minute Hot Yoga session Goldie opens up to Gemma about a range of topics from the legendary Blue Note Metalheadz night in Hoxton, to how he got his gold teeth in Miami, meeting his graffiti idols in New York, to his relationship with Bjork, his first forrays into yoga and how he got over his addictions after the death of his mother.

Gemma Cairney continues The Leisure Society, a new series interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. This week Gemma joins Turner Prize nominated artist Tracey Emin at one of her favourite haunts in her home town of Margate, the Shell Grotto. Discovered in 1835, the winding passages are covered in mosaics created entirely of millions of seashells but how they got there is still a mystery. Tracey discusses her love for the shell grotto and why she will be relocating to her hometown, the infamous Walpole Bay parties she used to host, the music she listens to when she's painting in her studio, her passion for sea swimming and how it has shaped her life and work.

Gemma Cairney continues The Leisure Society, a new series interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. This week Gemma joins Kelley Deal lead guitarist with The Breeders, in a wool and craft shop, where she describes how she swapped her heroin habit for knitting. From her work with the Breeders and beyond, Deal has created powerful, inspiring rock music and served as a positive influence for young women looking to get into bands. She also won the 2017 Gibson Les Paul Award which honors guitar playing and innovation. During the programme she speaks about growing up with twin sister Kim Deal in Dayton Ohio, and how she once auditioned as drummer for her band the Pixies, leaving her job as a defense contractor with top-secret clearance to go on tour with Nirvana and being introduced to knitting through a support band.

Gemma Cairney continues The Leisure Society, a new series interviewing cultural icons, tastemakers, artists and musicians about their pastimes, hobbies, collections and loves beyond what they are known for. This week Gemma visits the home of Cosey Fanni Tutti, performer from avant-garde group Throbbing Gristle, whose art and music inspired a generation and rocked the establishment - to talk about her passion for gardening. As well as a guided tour around her garden, Cosey discusses her background in stripping, sexual politics how she was hired to dance in Sylvester's video for Mighty Real, and how she maintained her resilience in the face of adversity. First broadcast in 2018.

Gemma Cairney explores the hidden hobbies and passions of our cultural icons.