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Emma Gannon: Passage Reading — Creative Compass

May 30, 2026 · 16 min

Show notes

In this passage episode from our guest, Emma reads from her latest book Creative Compass — a story about watching a Bill Cunningham documentary in her early 20s and the creative philosophy it unlocked.


Bill Cunningham, the beloved New York Times street photographer, lived in a rent-controlled room at Carnegie Hall, slept surrounded by filing cabinets, and ripped up a large cheque rather than compromise his freedom. The passage that follows is Emma's meditation on what that means for a creative life: keep your overheads low, consume less, create more.


Freya and Emma then discuss the passage and where it sits in their own creative lives.


WATCH the full episode HERE


Buy Emma Gannon’s Creative Compass, A Year of Nothing and more. And remember you can now pre-order Freya’s novel: A Real Piece of Work. 


👤 Follow @emmagannonuk on socials and Substack 

💛 Follow @freybromley on Instagram for updates and to ask your questions

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