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About This Podcast
Pain in the Arts is the unapologetically honest podcast from Welsh creatives Chris & Jak.
Each week they dive into the glorious mess of the arts sector with irreverent humour, lived experience, and questionable advice.
Featuring our Weekly Questions segment, guest voice notes, theatre rants, and the glamorous mundanity of creative life.
If you’ve ever been told your work is “too niche,” this is your backstage pass to solidarity and satire.
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Recent Episodes
S1E20 Waitress, Pride & The Trial of… Something?
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak somehow survive running two major events in one week — TEDxButeStreet and Barry Pride — while also squeezing in Rocky Horror, Waitress, VR art, and a…
S1E19 TEDx, Rocky Horror & Pride Week Chaos — What a Week
Fresh from TEDxButeStreet — literally an hour after leaving the Senedd — Chris and Jak dive into one of the busiest, most meaningful weeks they’ve had in Welsh arts.This episode covers:•…
S1E18 Exclusively on YouTube & Spotify from Next Week - Dawn French, Prue Leith & Buffy the Vampire Slayer
From Next Week - Available on YouTube & Spotify ExclusivelyWelcome back to Pain in the Arts — the podcast about the arts and creative industries in Wales, hosted by broadcaster Chris J Birch and…
S1E17 Ballet, Banksy & Bank Holidays: Our Wildest Week in Welsh Arts
This week on Pain in the Arts: We’ve had the busiest eight days in Welsh arts we’ve ever experienced — from ballet to Banksy, from London summits to Roath Gallery Weekend, from Choir of Man to a…
S1E16 Roath, Rothko & Ridiculous MLMs
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into one of the funniest, busiest and most chaotic weeks the Welsh arts scene has thrown at them yet.They head to Cabaret Cardiff for Dyke Systems…
S1E15 Scripts, Scams & Sculptural Selves
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into a brilliantly chaotic mix of insurance fraud stories, unstable art exhibitions, election‑day energy, and the newly released Rainbow Wales book.…
S1E14 Bath Weekends, Bad Theatre & Big Funding Fears
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jack dive into a gloriously chaotic mix of musical parody, Cold War theatre, Welsh film premieres, and the big question of how future generations will…
S1E13 Michael Sheen, Major Grants & the Future of Welsh Theatre
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into circus chaos, community celebrations, new tattoos, and the surprisingly dangerous temptation of food in paintings. They also tackle two big…
S1E12 Elitism, Exhibitions & Evolving Artists
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jack dive into community‑driven exhibitions, chaotic but charming audiences, and the ongoing frustrations around arts funding in Wales. From a powerful,…
S1E11 Trusts, Tigers & Tactile Art
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak return from a chaotic Easter half‑term with stories of immersive art, botanical obsessions, and a surprising amount of existential reflection. From Wake…
S1E10 Wales, Workshops & What You Asked Us
This Bank Holiday bonus episode of Pain in the Arts is a rapid‑fire Q&A special, answering as many listener questions as Chris and Jak can squeeze into one chaotic, caffeinated session. With over…
S1E9 Welsh Wonders, Winners & Whodunnits
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jack dive into one of their most varied weeks yet — from contemporary exhibitions and live TV recordings to grassroots awards, cosy crime theatre, and big…
S1E8 Welsh Theatre Triumphs, Identity & Queer Comedy Chaos
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jack dive into a whirlwind of Welsh theatre triumphs, queer comedy chaos, and a standout night at Newport Riverfront — all while tackling two big questions…
S1E7 Rooftops, Ringmasters & Really Big Admin Problems
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak celebrate hitting 1,000 YouTube subscribers before diving into a packed week across Wales’ creative scene — from circus‑musical mayhem to rooftop cinema…
S1E6 Music Manifestos, Ballet Drama & Baby Brain | Pain in the Arts
Fresh from the launch of the Manifesto for Music Wales, Chris and Jak dive into a packed week across Wales’ creative landscape — from policy and politics to opera, VR, comedy, and Mean Girls. This…
S1E5 AI Pet Portraits, Casting Bias & Cardiff’s Upside‑Down House | Pain in the Arts
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris J Birch and Jak Rhys Birch dive into a very Welsh whirlwind: St David’s Day chaos, the upside‑down house that’s still haunting them, and the bow buns that changed…
S1E4 Storytelling in Art, VAT for Creatives & Cardiff’s Upside‑Down House
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris J Birch and Jak Rhys Birch dive into a whirlwind of Welsh creativity — from Cardiff’s brand‑new upside‑down house installation to pirouettes, dancing shoes, and…
S1E3 Ghosts, Graft & Getting Paid
This week on Pain in the Arts, Chris J Birch and Jak Rhys Birch dive into a whirlwind of Welsh arts life — from ghost stories and horror theatre to the very real terrors of comparison culture and…
Pain in the Arts - Trailer
Each Week, join Chris & Jak as they delve into the Welsh Arts and Creative Sector by answering Submitted Questions and chatting about the life of a Welsh CreativeSupport the show
S1E2 Biopics, Bingo & Bad Theatre Etiquette
A fur coat, Tina Turner, immersive theatre panic, uncontrollable cackling, six dogs, and a very emotional game of bingo… it’s been a week.In this episode of Pain in the Arts, Chris and Jak dive into…
Frequently Asked Questions
Pain in the Arts has published 21 episodes since February 2026, covering topics in Arts.
Pain in the Arts is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 43m.
