There’s a wide variety of podcasts focused on clay, pottery, and ceramic art. Here’s a guide to the top ceramic podcasts. And following that, there’s a list of one-off podcast episodes that touch on ceramics and art.
These can all be found on your favorite way to listen to podcast (Apple, Spotify, etc) so when possible, the link goes to websites dedicated to the shows.
#1: Tales of a Red Clay Rambler
The OG of pottery podcasts, Tales of a Red Clay Rambler is 10 years old and now has more than 400 interviews with potters, curators, and gallerists with the goal of documenting the variety of approaches to pottery and clay. Hosted by Ben Carter, who also wrote Mastering the Potter’s Wheel, the podcast is informative and entertaining. And with such a massive catalog, you’ll be sure to find a starting point that interests you.
Learn more at talesofaredclayrambler.com.
#2: The Ceramics Podcast
The Ceramics Podcast, hosted by artists Cammi Climaco and Gustav Hamilton (and sometimes with guest hosts) has long-form interviews with ceramic artists along with intros where the hosts discuss life in the studio and answer listeners questions. It’s free form, entertaining, and opinionated. The show archive contains more than 40 episodes, with new podcasts coming out every month or so.
Learn more at cammiclimaco.com/theceramicspodcast.
#3: Clay in Color
Hosted by curator Angelik Vizcarrondo Laboy and artist Alex Anderson, Clay in Color now has two seasons and more than 20 podcasts that are interviews with artists, with a focus on makers from underrepresented backgrounds. Launched in 2021, Clay in Color is part of the Brickyard Network, which includes 7 podcasts that were developed by Ben Carter (of Tales of a Red Clay Rambler) along with the Archie Bray Foundation.
Learn more at brickyardnetwork.org/clayincolor.
#4: For Flux Sake
Another podcast from The Brickyard Network, For Flux Sake focuses on glaze formulation, addressing issues with making and firing ceramics, studio safety, and more. Hosted by artist Kathy King and glaze experts Matt and Rose Katz, the episodes are fun, informative and focuses, often clocking in at around 30 minutes. With two seasons and more than 30 episodes, For Flux Sake has tons of info that will help you in the studio.
Learn more at thebrickyardnetwork.org/forfluxsake.
#5: The Potters Cast
With almost 900 episodes, The Potters Cast is a stalwart show with so, so much content to dig into. Hosted by potter Paul Blais, the show focuses on interviews with potters and sculptors who work with clay. Billed as “Picking up where the art degree ends,” the Potters Cast has a little bit of everything.
Learn more at thepotterscast.com.
#6: The Slip Cast
Hosted by Clare McGibbon and Aimee McLaughlin, the NYC-based Slip Cast has more than 30 interviews with potters and sculptors, and discussions of studio practices. The Slip Cast seems to have a particular focus on the hot Instagram potters such as Recreation Center, Lolly Lolly Ceramics, and Ceramicism.
Learn more at instagram.com/theslipcast.
#7: The Mud Peddlers: Ceramic Art Behind the Scenes
Hosted by Lindsay M. Dillon and Donte Earth Nation, this podcast focuses on the nitty-gritty of pottery production, along with interviews with potters. With more than 60 episodes and more being added each month, this is one to put on your podcast list.
Learn more at lindseymdillon.com
#8: Trade Secret
Trade Secret, another great podcast from the Brickyard Network, is hosted by Adam Charles Chau and features conversations between Chau and a mix of artists, critics, curators, and more people who make the art world run. With one season so far, each episode focuses on a different topic. Here’s hoping there will be more seasons to come!
Learn more at brickyardnetwork.org/tradesecret.
More podcasts to investigate:
The Shotcallers, another podcast from the Brickyard Network
The website CFile has stopped making updates, but an archive of their podcasts can be found here.
Wheel Talk with Ryan Durbin and Becca Otis.
The Kiln Sitters focuses on the Canadian ceramic scene.
One-off Podcasts on Ceramics
In addition to podcasts focused exclusively on pottery and ceramics, there are podcasts that occasionally touch on clay.
What Pottery Can Tell Us About Culture, from The Dave Chang Show, 2019. Dave Chang in conversation with potter Adam Field. A great episode about Adam’s experience apprenticing in Korea.
Cooking as an Art, Vol 2, from The Dave Chang Show, 2019. Dave Chang in conversation with New York Times critic Roberta Smith, including a discussion of Korean ceramics.
Hyperallergic partnered with The Gardiner Museum in Toronto, Canada for a series of 4 podcasts.
The podcasts:
Shary Boyle’s Exploration of the Fantastic and Political Lives of Clay, released July 23, 2019
The Largely Unknown History of Blackface in Canada, released August 7, 2019
Kent Monkman’s Mission to Decenter the Colonial Museum, released August 9, 2019
The History, Context, and Legacy of an Ancient Maya Plate, released September 3, 2019
Are there any podcast series or episodes that should be included in this list? Let us know in the comments.
