If it was a choice, I probably would have given up Artwork

9 to 5 with Avi & Anita

Welcome to 9 to 5 with Avi and Anita a podcast where we talk with excellent women in the middle of their career journey about how they got where they are and where they're going. We're perptually curious about how people ended up in their jobs - maybe because neither of us have ever had a plan. There's a lot out there for women at the start of their careers and lots out there too following women at the top of their careers. But what about those of us in the middle? That's who we want to hear from. We've booked in friends and colleagues working in all kinds of fields to chat about how they juggle life and a career that feels worth it. A little about your co-hosts: Anita Dullard is studying a MSc Climate and Energy Policy, taking time out from media advocacy; Avigail Shai is a diplomatic and policy adviser, and former diplomat – they met working in the international humanitarian sector, stayed for the chat and shared hilarity. Hit up your regular podcast platforms to find 9 to 5 with Avi and Anita and subscribe. If you love it, don't forget to drop us a review and share where ever these good things get shared.

All Episodes

9 to 5 with Avi & Anita

If it was a choice, I probably would have given up

January 19, 2023 • Helen Teede • Season 2 • Episode 6

Today on the podcast we talk to Helen Teede, a Zimbabwean artist. It’s a big episode on creative practice and its cyclical nature, the mysteries of paint, the imperative driving the vocation to be an artist and all the reasons why we shouldn’t and challenging the patriarchy.

Helen has been dividing her time between Venice and Harare for the past five years and has had solo and group shows internationally in spaces and arts fairs including the Paris Internationale, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, Cape Town, Qingdao Art Museum in Shanghai, and First Floor Gallery, Harare. She was a finalist in the 2022: Norval Foundation Sovereign Art Prize in Cape Town and has also just been selected to join the very first Tracey Emin artist residency in Margate this year.

As usual, we hit Helen up with the important Qs:

Last meal: Avocado on toast

Currently reading: In Gratitude by Jenny Diski; Lessico Famigliare (Family Sayings) by Natalia Ginzburg; and The Visible and the Invisible by Merleau-Ponty.

Currently watching: music videos: florence and the machine ‘King’, meghan thee stallion

Listening to: Mokoomba

Favourite unwind: Running

What advice would Helen give to someone who's wondering about the next step in their career?

There’s this whole thing: identify your dream or your truth and follow it. But it's so much easier said than done. It comes from such a position of privilege to assume that people can just follow their dreams. Nevertheless, listen to yourself and figure out what you really enjoy, and then carve out a bit of time for that. I think that’s necessary in order to not end up in an existential crisis. Especially with what's going on in the world.

A little about your co-hosts:

Anita Dullard is studying a MSc Climate and Energy Policy, taking time out from media advocacy; Avigail Shai is a diplomatic and policy adviser, and former diplomat – they met working in the international humanitarian sector, stayed for the chat and hilarity.

And don't forget to join our 9 to 5 community on IG, FB and TW, and don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review!