Rebel Artists Through Time (RATT) is a podcast about creative work from the inside out. Each episode brings artists, performers, and cultural makers into thoughtful conversation—across mediums and generations—to explore collaboration, process, and what it takes to keep making meaningful work in a shifting world. RATT looks backward to understand what still matters and forward to confront what's changing, with a focus on the choices and tensions that shape creative lives today. Unscripted. Unrushed. A coffee shop conversation with artists— where the work, not the hype, takes the lead. Follow @ratt.fm on instagram.
What does it mean to begin a creative life after training, but before anything feels settled? In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, we're joined by Erynn Troup, a Cape Town–based theatre practitioner working as both a performer and a stage manager. Fresh out of formal training and already embedded in professional productions, Erynn occupies a rare position — seeing the work from the stage and from the wings at the same time. We talk about the moment when theatre stops being theoretical and starts becoming real: the pressure of responsibility, the choice to take on invisible roles, and the quiet authority of making work happen without being seen. Erynn reflects on stage management as creative leadership, the realities of working within South Africa's theatre ecosystem, and how uncertainty, adaptability, and kindness shape early creative careers. This is not a how-to episode or a career roadmap. It's a conversation about being in the middle of becoming — before narratives harden and before answers feel clear.
05/02/2026 • 42:18
This episode features an early, foundational conversation between Dawson and Sebastian—a long-time friend, working musician, and creative sounding board—recorded before RATT fully had its shape, but not before it had its purpose. Rather than walking through a discography, this conversation explores what it feels like to truly listen to Pink Floyd—to experience their music as a journey, a space, and in some moments, something bordering on the sacred. From first encounters and late-night listening sessions to reflections on Dark Side of the Moon, creative fracture, and legacy, the discussion centers on how art works on us beneath language—how certain artists don't just make songs, but open doors. This episode is less about knowing Pink Floyd, and more about what happens when you let the music take you somewhere.
19/01/2026 • 57:01
In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, we sit down with photographer Leah den Bok and artist Willie Baronet for a deeply reflective conversation about presence, responsibility, and the ethics of storytelling. Leah's long-running project Humanizing the Homeless uses portraiture to restore dignity and visibility to people experiencing homelessness. Willie's We Are All Homeless project collects and exhibits handwritten signs purchased directly from unhoused individuals, transforming them into powerful public installations. Together, they explore: What it means to be truly present with another person Where documentation ends and responsibility begins How artists navigate the line between visibility and exploitation Why attention itself is never neutral And how art can quietly—but meaningfully—change how we see people This is not an episode about spectacle or solutions. It's a conversation about care, craft, and the human consequences of how stories are told. Learn more & follow the work: Leah den Bok — Humanizing the Homeless https://www.humanizingthehomeless.org https://www.instagram.com/humanizing_the_homeless Willie Baronet — We Are All Homeless https://www.weareallhomeless.org https://www.instagram.com/weareallhomeless Follow RATT: Website: https://ratt.fm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratt.fm
29/12/2025 • 61:03
In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time (RATT), we speak with Rob Stimpson, an award-winning Canadian photographer, guide, and educator whose work has taken him from Canada's northern wilderness to the frozen frontiers of the Arctic and Antarctica. Rob's creative life was not carefully planned — it was answered. After an unexpected career turning point, he followed a quiet pull toward nature, patience, and a way of seeing shaped by stillness rather than speed. This conversation explores creativity as a calling rather than a career ladder, and reflects on what it means to slow down, pay attention, and truly see in an image-saturated world. Rob shares stories from decades spent working in extreme environments, where silence, restraint, and presence matter more than productivity. Topics include: Following creative intuition over certainty Seeing versus shooting — and why patience matters Teaching photography as a way of understanding the world Art as a form of environmental witness Living in the present moment as a creative practice Rob also discusses Polar Shift, his exhibition at TIFF in Toronto (November 14–16), featuring images from the Arctic and Antarctic that capture both the beauty and fragility of Earth's polar regions. Follow Rob Stimpson @rob.stimpson.photography https://robstimpson.com https://tiff.net Follow @ratt Subscribe at ratt.fm
18/12/2025 • 52:06
Creativity doesn't just shape culture — it builds connection. In this special collaboration between RATT.fm and the Town of Collingwood, Ontario (@experiencecollingwood), we explore how creativity builds connection — turning heritage into inspiration and local artists into community catalysts. Featuring three of Collingwood's creative voices — Rick & Anke Lex (@tremontstudios) - the husband-and-wife team behind Collingwood's Tremont Studios. Rick led the restoration of the historic Tremont building, saving it from demolition, while Anke, an accomplished multidisciplinary artist, transformed it into a thriving home for artists. Leah den Bok (@humanizing_the_homeless) - photographer whose portraits of people experiencing homelessness reveal the humanity behind every face. Gracie Jet (@graciejet) - singer-songwriter whose cinematic folk-pop sound captures the town's pulse and creative energy. Together, their stories reveal how art restores, connects, and inspires — proving that when a community makes room for creativity, it makes room for connection.
27/10/2025 • 53:52
George Lucas didn's just create Star Wars — he reinvented the art of filmmaking. In this RATT conversation, Dawson and Sebastian explore how Lucas transformed sci-fi from niche to mainstream, pioneered digital cinema, and built the visual effects revolution through ILM. They also dive into his storytelling genius, mythological influences, and the balance between art and technology that defined a generation. A deep dive into the rebel who made imagination real.
12/10/2025 • 40:49
In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, dancer and magician Richard Essien — better known as Magical Bones — shares his journey from London street performer to global stage artist redefining what magic can be. From breakdancing with Madonna, Alicia Keys, and the Black Eyed Peas to captivating millions on Britain's Got Talent, Bones fuses rhythm, storytelling, and illusion into a new form of performance art. His groundbreaking act honoring Henry Box Brown, the 19th-century freedom fighter who mailed himself to freedom, celebrates creativity as liberation. In this conversation, Bones shares: How breakdance and magic taught him to bend every rule in art Why storytelling is at the heart of his illusions The power of representation in performance How artists can turn risk and imagination into freedom A masterclass in creative defiance and the art of possibility. Follow Magical Bones on Instagram: @magicalbones Follow @ratt.fm | Subscribe at ratt.fm
01/10/2025 • 52:13
What does it mean to move with purpose? In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, we meet Melly Mel — dancer, choreographer, and educator — whose journey has taken her from grassroots crews in Ottawa to the global stage with Cirque du Soleil. Mel shares how dance became her form of light, how she calls on her ancestors before each performance, and how she passes her art on to the next generation — including her own son. Highlights include: – Stories from Cirque du Soleil, including the night she freestyled to save the show. – Balancing motherhood, teaching, and artistry. – What audiences often miss about the work behind the performance. Follow Melly Mel on Instagram: @mminspires Follow RATT on Instagram | Subscribe at ratt.fm
23/09/2025 • 66:19
He changed the way the world writes. In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, filmmaker Dawson DeGraaf and musician Sebastian Ellis uncover how Ernest Hemingway — the journalist, soldier, and novelist — transformed modern storytelling. From the battlefields of World War I to the cafés of Paris, the bullrings of Spain, and the shores of Cuba, Hemingway's life was a paradox of courage and fragility. Through his timeless works — The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Old Man and the Sea — he stripped prose to its essence and defined a new literary voice. Discover how his rebellion wasn't just in how he lived, but in how he wrote — and how that spirit continues to inspire writers and creators today. Follow @ratt.fm and subscribe at ratt.fm for behind-the-scenes content and creative inspiration. Follow us on Instagram | Subscribe at ratt.fm
15/09/2025 • 35:54
He didn't just make movies — he detonated the way we watch them. In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, filmmaker Dawson DeGraaf and musician Sebastian Ellis dive into the cinematic universe of Quentin Tarantino — the director who rewrote the rules of storytelling. From Pulp Fiction's nonlinear chaos to the sharp-edged brilliance of Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino transformed the language of modern film. Dawson and Sebastian explore what made Pulp Fiction a creative explosion, why Death Proof deserves more love, and how Tarantino's dialogue, soundtracks, and violence make us laugh, flinch, and think. Tarantino is cinema's ultimate rebel — provocative, stylish, and endlessly quotable. Discover why his influence runs deep, and what it means when he says his next film may be his last. Follow us on Instagram | Subscribe at ratt.fm
01/09/2025 • 55:18
Rewind to the moment rock and roll caught fire. In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, filmmaker Dawson DeGraaf and musician Sebastian Ellis dive into the wild legacy of Jerry Lee Lewis — the original rebel showman who set pianos (and expectations) ablaze. More than a scandal, Lewis embodied the fearless creativity that redefined live performance and shaped generations of musicians. From controversy to influence, discover how "The Killer" lit a match under rock and roll — and how his untamed energy still fuels artists today. Co-host Sebastian shares how Lewis's music shaped his own creative journey. Listen now to explore one of music's most explosive legacies. Stay connected at ratt.fm for early access and behind-the-scenes content. A Piperlime Productions original.
01/09/2025 • 41:51
What drives someone to invent an entire world? 🌍 In this episode of Rebel Artists Through Time, filmmaker Dawson DeGraaf and musician Sebastian Ellis explore how J.R.R. Tolkien, the Oxford professor behind The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, redefined fantasy storytelling. From ancient myths and constructed languages to vast maps of Middle-earth, Tolkien's creative process set the standard for every fantasy universe that followed — inspiring Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and countless creators across film, music, and art. Discover how one quiet academic's obsession with mythology sparked a cultural revolution — and still fuels the imagination of modern artists. 🌐 Explore More Website: ratt.fm Instagram: @ratt.fm
01/09/2025 • 79:03
What fuels an artist? What makes an artist rebel? Rebel Artists Through Time is a podcast for creators who find inspiration in the defiant spirits of history. Each episode uncovers the lives of groundbreaking musicians, filmmakers, writers, and visionaries who changed art forever — and continue to influence today's creative world. This trailer introduces the energy behind RATT: raw, reflective, and restless. Join a community of artists and storytellers who refuse to follow the rules — and carry the fire of rebellion forward. Subscribe and be part of the lineage of legends. ratt.fm
29/08/2025 • 01:32
