Shows / Just Get A Real Job
Just Get A Real Job
A podcast that demystifies the creative industries, hosted by Scottish Script Editor Jamie Mackinlay. Each week, Jamie chats with creatives at different stages of their careers about the highs, lows and everything in between. Perfect for anyone interested in working in the arts, Just Get A Real Job celebrates creativity in all its forms and offers insight, humour, and advice for anyone starting out or trying to navigate a career in the arts.
Episodes
Just Get A Real JobEP. 204 - 'Surviving 35 Years in the Arts' | Justin Butcher
In the final episode of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe series I’m joined by Justin Butcher live from Assembly Gardens.Justin has spent more than 35 years…
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EP. 203 - 'The Arts Is an Ultramarathon' | Emery Schaffer
Today on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by playwright Emery Schaffer, recorded live from Assembly Gardens at the Edinburgh Fringe.Emery shares her journey…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 202 - Susie McCabe on Class, Comedy & Who Gets a Chance
This week I’m joined by the hilarious Susie McCabe for a brilliant conversation about comedy, class and being back at the Edinburgh Fringe with her latest show…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 201 - ‘From Musical Theatre to New York Stand-Up’ | Drew Lausch
This week on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by American comedian Drew Lausch for a brilliant conversation about stand-up, rejection and building a career in…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 200 - ‘Learning to Slow Down in an Industry That Never Stops’ | Brownbear
In this very special 200th episode, Jamie is joined once again by musician and songwriter Matt Hickman, better known as Brownbear. Matt returns for a record…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 199 - Being Different Is Your Biggest Creative Advantage | Olivia Claw & Fraser Scott
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined by Olivia Claw and Fraser Scott. Olivia is a Scottish actor, while Fraser is a theatre director and writer. Their…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 198 - Can You Actually Make a Living as an Actor in Scotland? | Darren Brownlie
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined by acclaimed Scottish actor Darren Brownlie.Best known for playing Mikey in River City, Darren has built a career…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 197 - Acting, The Apprentice & Creating Opportunities for Young Performers | Reece Donnelly
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined by actor, entrepreneur and former Apprentice star Reece DonnellyFrom starting his career as a child actor in shows…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 196 - Milo Edwards: 'Stand-Up, the Edinburgh Fringe & Building Your Own Audience'
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined by critically acclaimed comedian Milo Edwards.From performing stand-up on Russian television in his early 20s to…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 195 - 'My Award-Winning Book Was Rejected Over 60 Times’ | Margaret McDonald
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined by Scottish author Margaret McDonald, who in 2025 became the youngest ever winner of the Carnegie Medal for Writing for…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 194 - 'How Do Debut Filmmakers Get Their Chance?' | Gabriella Leonardi
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined once again by writer and filmmaker Gabriella Leonardi. After moving to London for what was meant to be a two-month…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 193 - 'Why I Had To Leave TV' | Chloe Maylaw
In this week's episode, Jamie is joined by Chloe Maylaw for an honest conversation about leaving the TV industry, creative burnout and building a life that's…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 192 - 'Finding Humour in a Broken Industry' | Craig Manson
In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by Glasgow-based performer and artist Craig Manson for an honest conversation about creativity, performance and the…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 191 - 'The Reality of Being an Artist' | David Kirkman
In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by abstract artist David Kirkman for an honest conversation about creativity, neurodivergence and what it’s really like…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 190 - ‘What It’s Really Like Being a Poet in 2026' | Robbie Hood
In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by poet Robbie Hood to talk about what it actually looks like to build a creative career right now.From starting out at…
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EP. 189 – ‘Being an Acting Agent’ | Ruth Hollyman
In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by acting agent Ruth Hollyman, founder of Strange Town Agency, to talk about what it actually means to represent actors…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 188 - ‘Building a Career as a Poet' | Luke Wright
In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by poet Luke Wright to talk about what it actually means to build a career as a full-time poet.Luke has been writing…
Just Get A Real JobEP .187 - ‘Finding New Ways of Working' | Live at the HB Film Festival
Jamie is joined by Claire Duffy and Maureen Hascoet live from the HB Film Festival for an honest conversation about the state of Scotland’s screen industry and…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 186 - 'Taking Control of Your Creative Career' with Karla Williams Posiuniene
In the first episode of 2026, Jamie is joined by writer, executive producer and founder of MsMono, Karla Williams Posiuniene, for an honest conversation about…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 185 - 'Growth, Graft & Staying the Course' with Ashley Dick
In this year’s Christmas and New Year episode, Jamie is joined by returning guest Ashley Dick for a reflective look back on the past year.Ash opened up about:🎬…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 184 - ‘The Future of Indie Filmmaking' with Hutch.on.Film
This week, Jamie sits down with Hutch.on.Film for a really interesting conversation. Hutch is leading the charge in helping a new generation of indie…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 183 - 'The Creative Industries Minister' Ian Murray MP
This week, Jamie welcomes Ian Murray, the UK’s Minister for Creative Industries, for an open and honest conversation about the state of the creative sector and…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 182 - ‘Going Full-Time in Comedy’ with Kate Hammer
This week, Jamie sits down once again with comedian and writer Kate Hammer for a funny, honest and wide-ranging chat about navigating life as a freelancer in…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 181 - 'Inside An Indie Record Label ' with Blackhall Records
This week, Jamie sits down with Martyn and Christine Armstrong, two of the three founders (alongside Scott Simpson) behind the record label Blackhall Records…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 180 - 'How Art Saved My Life' with Graham Cullis
This week, Jamie reconnects with artist and creator Graham Cullis, who returns to the podcast after four years for an open and inspiring chat about art…
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EP. 179 - 'Brave New Work: How Filmmakers Are Adapting in a Difficult Climate' (Live at _And Friends)
This week’s episode is a special one, recorded live in Glasgow back in June in collaboration with _and friends.Jamie was joined by a brilliant panel of…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 178 - 'How TV Is Failing the Working Class' with Philip Ralph
This week, Jamie welcomes back screenwriter Philip Ralph for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about class, creativity, and the ongoing crisis…
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'Hello, how are you? (Podcast Update)’
Hello, how are you?It’s been a wee while since I last put something out, so here’s a short check-in. A quick chat about what’s been happening behind the…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 177 - ‘What’s It Really Like to Be a BBC Commissioner?’ with Nick Lambon
Ever wondered what it’s like to work at the heart of British television? BBC Commissioner Nick Lambon lifts the curtain on the realities of commissioning…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 176- 'Finding Joy in the Chaos' with Sanjay Lago
This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie sits down with actor, playwright, comedian and rising Fringe star Sanjay Lago 💫Sanjay is currently performing his solo…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 175 - 'Building a Better Future for Young Creatives' with Sam Hornsby (ERIC App)
With the UK’s creative industries valued at over £100 billion and growing faster than the national economy, why is it still so hard for young people to break…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 174 - 'Football, Fringe Dreams & Finding Your Voice' with Kate Coulson
This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Coulson an actor and writer taking her debut solo show Lioness to the Edinburgh Fringe this August.We spoke about:🧠…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 173 - ‘Creativity vs Commerce: Finding the Balance’ – with Carlo Cavagna
This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Carlo Cavagna Vice President of U.S. Operations at Two Daughters Entertainment and a key force behind the global writing…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 172 - ‘Creating the Community You Wish Existed’ with Cat MacLeod
This week, I’m joined once again by the brilliant Cat MacLeod a returning guest and friend of the podcast for a raw and honest chat about what it takes to be a…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 171 - Rethinking Money, Work & Self-Worth as a Creative with David Thomas
This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by David Thomas a broadcaster, creative coach and trainer who’s spent the last 20 years helping people in the…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 170 - ‘Finding Fun in a Crazy Industry’ with Lizzy Skrzypiec
This week on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by Lizzy Skrzypiec. She’s an improviser, director, and the artistic director of Bristol’s long-running improv…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 169 - Making Music in 2025: ‘waverley.’ on Graft, Growth & Getting Heard
🎙️ Episode 169 of Just Get A Real Job is out now and this week, Jamie is joined by the brilliant Edinburgh-based band Waverley.Known for blending…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 168 - ‘Growing an Improv Scene’ with Martin James
🎙️ This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by Martin James — co-founder of the Glasgow Improv Theatre (GIT) and a driving force behind Scotland’s…
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Ep. 167 - ‘The Cancellation of River City and What It Means for TV’
Episode 167 is a little different: we’re sharing an excerpt from my chat on the Cinora YouTube channel with filmmaker – and returning pal – Ashley Dick. We…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 166 – Storytelling, Social Mobility & Building a Hit Podcast with David McIntosh Jr.
This week on Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by David McIntosh Jr. — host of Origin Stories (formerly The Development by David Podcast). 🎧David launched…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 165: ‘Making the Arts Inclusive for All’ with Robert Softley Gales
This week on Just Get A Real Job, I’m joined by the brilliant Robert Softley Gale – a Scottish theatre-maker, who’s spent over two decades championing…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 164 - ‘Being a Creative in 2025’ with James Piercy and Tayla Kenyon
This week, I am joined by James Piercy and Tayla Kenyon, the creative minds behind Fluff and Tepee Productions. They share their journey of launching a theatre…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 163 – 'The TV Industry Is Broken, How Do We Fix It?' with Claire Duffy
In Episode 163 of Just Get A Real Job, we're joined by Claire Duffy, the founder of the Glasgow TV Festival. With the television industry facing major…
Just Get A Real JobEp.162 – ‘Making Broadway Dreams a Reality’ with Drew Gasparini
In this episode of Just Get a Real Job, we’re joined by award-winning composer and songwriter Drew Gasparini. Known for his dynamic contributions to musical…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 161 – 'Telling Stories for Stage & Screen' with Morna Young
This week, we’re joined by Scottish writer Morna Young, whose powerful storytelling has made waves in theatre and on screen. From tackling imposter syndrome to…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 160 – ‘Making a Career in Comedy’ with Jordan Brookes
This week, we're joined by the hilarious Jordan Brookes, an award-winning comic known for pushing boundaries in stand-up. His latest show, Fontanelle, is…
Just Get A Real JobEP. 159 - 'The UK TV Industry is in Crisis: What Happens Now?’ | A Live Panel Discussion
This week’s episode is something different—a live panel discussion featuring voices from across the UK TV industry, including Philip Ralph, Ashley Catherine…
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Ep. 158 - Q&A 4 Year Special – "Imposter Syndrome, Growth, Creative Careers, Lessons & Grief”
We’re celebrating 4 years of podcasting with a special Q&A episode! Recorded at The Green Room Podcast Studio, previous guest Adair Murray takes over as host…
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Ep. 157 - 'The Realities of Being an Independent Band' with Dictator
For this year’s festive episode, Jamie is joined once again by Michael Campbell, front man of one of West Lothian’s most exciting bands, Dictator! Returning…
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Ep. 156 - 'Navigating the TV Industry Crisis' A Deep Dive with BAFTA-Winning Series Producer Hannah Beaugeard
In this weeks episode of Just Get A Real Job, Jamie chats with BAFTA Award-winning series producer Hannah Beaugeard about the challenges facing the TV industry…
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Ep. 155 - ‘Crafting a Comedy Series’ with Bryce Hart (Writer)
In Episode 155 of Just Get A Real Job, Jamie is joined by Bryce Hart, the BAFTA-nominated writer and creator of the BBC One comedy series Only Child, now…
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Ep. 154 - ‘Breaking Barriers and the Reality of Being A Working-Class Actor’ with Rachel Stockdale
This week, Jamie is joined by the brilliant Rachel Stockdale—an actor, writer, and voice artist based in the North East of England. Earlier this year, Rachel…
Just Get A Real JobEp. 153 - ‘Writing, Directing & Finding Your Voice’ with Raisah Ahmed
In this week’s episode, Jamie is joined by the wonderful Raisah Ahmed, a Glasgow-based Screenwriter and Director working across Film and TV. Recently named a…
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Ep. 152 - 'It’s Never Too Late To Change Careers’ with Maybelle Laye (Costume Designer)
In this week's episode, I’m joined by Maybelle Laye a talented Costume Designer with experience in both TV and Theatre. Having transitioned into costume work…
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Ep. 151 - 'WTF has happened with the TV Industry?’ A Deep Dive with Philip Ralph
In this week's episode, I’m joined by Philip Ralph, a multi-award-winning writer for screen and stage. Philip went viral in March for a powerful and…
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Ep. 150 - Live @ The HB Film Festival with Saffia Sage & Bjørn Hanson
For our 150th episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by producers Saffia Sage and Bjørn Hanson, live from the HB Film Festival in Paisley. In this episode, we…
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Ep. 149 - ‘Overcoming Setbacks’ with Gabriella Leonardi
We’re back! This week, we’re joined by Gabriella Leonardi, who is currently starring in the brilliant new play “Flock” as “Cel". Gabriella is an accomplished…
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Ep. 148 - ‘No Place Like the Fringe’ with Kyle Dolan
Join us this week as we sit down with returning guest and friend of the podcast, Kyle Dolan. Currently performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, Kyle is doing two…
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Ep. 147 - ‘Building Creative Roots in a New Country’ with Kelsey Sullivan
This week, we are joined by the wonderful Kelsey Sullivan, who is about to take her new show ‘Worm Teeth’ to the Edinburgh Fringe starting Monday, August 19th…
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Ep. 146 - ‘What Makes a Good Collaboration’ with Zoe Bullock & Louise Oliver
In this week’s bonus episode we are joined by Zoë Bullock and Louise Oliver who are currently performing their show Gracie and the Start of the End of the…