Shaping Tomorrow: Breaking down barriers for the deaf community

Shaping Tomorrow is a new and unique deaf-led video podcast created with a 90% deaf production team, and it is launching today, 26th September at 7pm on YouTube! It was created by Hear Art, an award-winning Community Interest Company (CIC), co-founded in 2020 by Cindy Sasha and Rachel Shenton. To find out more about the podcast we asked Hear Art co-founder Cindy Sasha and Shaping Tomorrow director Sam Arnold to answer some questions for us…

Who are you and what is Shaping Tomorrow the video podcast about?

Cindy: I’m Cindy Sasha, co-founder of Hear Art alongside Rachel Shenton. Hear Art is an inclusive platform dedicated to empowering the deaf creative community by educating the arts and entertainment industry and breaking down barriers to collaboration and employment. Our video podcast, Shaping Tomorrow, brings together deaf and hearing professionals from the same industry for insightful conversations about their careers and experiences.

Sam: Hi, I’m Sam Arnold, a filmmaker and member of the board of directors at Hear Art. I also directed the first series of Shaping Tomorrow, a video podcast that brings together deaf and hearing professionals to discuss and share deaf experiences with a broader audience that can be accessed by deaf and hearing people to enjoy.

What were both of your experiences with podcasts before working on Shaping Tomorrow?

Sam: I had never done a podcast before, nor had I been given the opportunity until Cindy approached me with her vision for Shaping Tomorrow. The main reason for this is that most mainstream podcasts don’t consider making it accessible or engaging for deaf audiences, who often lack access to podcasts that educate and engage them visually rather than just audibly. So we want to change that through Shaping Tomorrow, engaging hearing and deaf audiences.

Cindy: I’m a big fan of podcasts because there is such a diverse range of content to explore. However, podcasts often exclude deaf audiences, leaving yet another marginalised community without access to a meaningful human experience. This made me wonder, what if there was a podcast that both deaf and hearing people could enjoy, creating connection through deaf awareness? I shared this idea with Sam, who provided invaluable insights and helped give direction to Shaping Tomorrow.

Cindy Sasha and Sam Arnold

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place? What is your aim for Shaping Tomorrow?

Cindy: There seems to be a significant and positive shift happening in the creative industry, especially in TV and film, where deaf creatives are now being given more opportunities to work on set and gain valuable experience. Hear Art has been at the forefront of this movement for the past five years, even pioneering a 50/50 model that balances deaf and hearing cast and crew on set. At Hear Art, we strive to stay ahead of the curve by challenging creative spaces and making podcasts the next accessible platform for the deaf community. Shaping Tomorrow is focused on changing mindsets around employing deaf individuals, addressing the need for further positive changes in employment and training, while also highlighting the challenges deaf people face and celebrating their achievements.

Sam: Shaping Tomorrow focuses on the challenges deaf professionals face in the creative, sports, and entertainment industries. We provide them with a platform to share their experiences and educate the industry on making positive changes. Our goal is to address their needs, celebrate their achievements, and break down barriers, shaping a better future for both the industry and the deaf community.

What challenges have the deaf members of the Shaping Tomorrow team faced when creating the podcast?

Sam: Most of us had never done a podcast before, so the real challenge was making sure our hearing guests felt welcome and comfortable. Many had never worked with deaf people, so we focused on creating a space where they could ask questions freely and communicate openly.

What are some steps that podcasters could take to ensure that their podcasts are more accessible for deaf people?

Sam: Deaf people don’t have that option and are often stuck watching long, non-visual podcasts that are hard to engage with while hearing people can listen to a 45-minute podcast while multitasking. Podcasters should also think about how to make their videos more visually engaging for deaf audiences. This can be done by using visual elements like archival footage, different camera angles and accurate subtitles instead of auto-captions, which are often wrong. Including deaf guests to share their views on various topics – like science, politics, and facts – can also help.
At Shaping Tomorrow, we aim to create series that are interesting and enjoyable for both deaf and hearing audiences so that everyone can learn and engage with the series.

Shaping Tomorrow recording session

What advice would you give to a deaf person who wants to start a podcast?

Sam: Think outside the box about how you can make your podcast engaging and educational for the deaf community. Focus on creating a topic that not only teaches them something interesting but also motivates them. It’s also important to plan out the structure of your podcast journey before you start recording. This way, you can guide your guests and help shape the narrative of each episode effectively.

Cindy: Don’t be afraid to create content for both deaf and hearing audiences. Keep your topics engaging, provocative and inspiring, with a strong narrative that clearly conveys what you want to share and reveal. Be open and vulnerable and take pride in your deaf experiences.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

Sam: I don’t watch many podcasts because, as I mentioned, mainstream podcasts often don’t consider accessibility or engagement for deaf audiences like myself. However, I’ve been inspired by Variety’s Actors on Actors and Directors on Directors.

Cindy: I take inspiration from podcasts that tell true inspirational stories like This is Love or Woman’s Hour and YouTube interviews such as Hot Ones and Variety’s Actors on Actors. I love hearing about people’s journey, where they draw their strength from and how they find beauty in their failures.

Do you have a favourite guest or episode from the Shaping Tomorrow series?

Sam: I don’t have a favourite because each episode shares unique story and perspectives on individual career journeys and the industry. I’ve learned so much from each episode, which has made it a great privilege to direct the Shaping Tomorrow series.

Cindy: Every guest brings their unique personal story, making it impossible to pick a favourite guest or episode. Each guest on Shaping Tomorrow is remarkable – comparing them would not do justice to the diversity and depth of our video podcast.

Shaping Tomorrow recording session

Who would be your dream guest for the podcast?

Sam: In this Shaping Tomorrow series, we’ve had fantastic guests who bring insightful conversations and a passion for making positive changes for the industry, giving deaf community to shine their talents.

Cindy and I want to continue this with even bigger names, in our Shaping Tomorrow conversations. We have a few big names, both hearing and deaf, on our list, but we don’t want to spoil the surprises.

Cindy: There are a few people I would love to have on the show, which I have discussed with Sam, but everyone will have to wait for series two and fingers crossed the guests we want will say yes! If I had to drop a name though, it would be Cher, purely for selfish reasons as I am a huge fan!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

Cindy: Producing a podcast may seem simple, but it requires a tremendous amount of work and careful planning. From researching topics to developing a brand identity and understanding your target audience, every detail needs thoughtful consideration to create a successful show. The biggest lesson I have learned is that so many communities have untold stories that need to be heard. I hope our podcast will inspire others and encourage people to share their own stories and experiences.

Sam: I’ve learned how crucial it is to build a strong narrative structure for the podcast. This helps the crew and guests understand our vision for Shaping Tomorrow. With that structure in place, the magic happens, allowing us to bring out the best in our guests as they share their untold stories. It’s been an enriching experience for us to be part of Shaping Tomorrow.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

Cindy: This is a hard one, but I think the first episode we filmed with Christopher Laing, a deaf architect having a conversation with Wayne Hemingway about design and accessibility. It set the tone of the podcast and what to expect from the other episodes. I would like to know what Sam thinks, as this is something we have not discussed yet.

Sam: It all depends on what you’re looking to learn from the episode, whether you share similarities or work in the same industry, or what interests you have. That’s what would make a great introduction to your podcast. Everyone has their own taste, and that’s the great thing about podcasts, to give people a choice on what they want to listen to or watch.

Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you/the podcast?

Cindy: Pod Bible readers can find out more on our website hearart.co.uk or follow us on social media @shapingtomorrow or @hearartproject – our podcast will be released on the 26th September via YouTube and Spotify.