We turn the
volume up on society’s forgotten voices.
Making the unknown known and amplifying sidelined stories.
From criminal justice and mental illness to trauma and adversity, we are committed to uncovering the truth in stigmatised and sensationalised topics.
It is our collective aim to instil empathy and raise hope, laying bare the challenges that many members of society struggle with.
Our multimedia platforms welcome guests who are unafraid of speaking hard truths - but who have genuinely inspirational stories to tell.
What we do
We bring people together for honest, no holds barred conversations, focusing on individuals who have endured hardship, made mistakes and overcome demons, and the frontline professionals who have worked with them to shape their experiences.
Our podcast series, Hope in Hell, is the first Curious Matter production, available to both watch and/or listen on all the usual platforms. Hope in Hell encourages listeners to see that, no matter what life has thrown at you, there is always hope – you just need to know where to look.
Who we are
Each one of us brings a mix of relevant professional and personal experiences to the table spanning healthcare, criminal justice, creative media and the arts.
C12
Founder/Producer
Richard and Anton are the creative force behind C12 – the successful agency that founded Curious Matter as a dedicated storytelling production company and separate entity. The duo love working with clients who have societal good at heart and on projects that have the potential to affect real change. Richard works as a facilitator, spotting opportunities and bringing the right teams of like-minded people together to bring projects to life. Meanwhile Anton drives brand narrative, visual identity and directs the look and feel of pretty much everything that they put out together.
True collaborators with an unwavering passion for social justice, Richard and Anton have worked with NHS health trusts, private and third sector providers of health and social care, and a range of charities spanning recovery, mental health and supported housing – as well as a wide range of arts and media projects.
Gary Crooks
Host
Gary brings the guests and storytellers to Curious Matter. As CEO of community interest company, Positive Directions NE, Gary is well connected and trusted by people with both personal and professional experience of the subject matters explored. While working as a senior director, Gary is hands on and frontline – working directly with people in prisons, healthcare, education and supported housing settings to inspire hope and navigate the systems and services available to them.
With a focus on working with those who are, or have been, socially disadvantaged, Gary is passionate about helping people to make and maintain positive change, gaining the skills and qualifications needed to progress in life.
Work with us
Collaborate with us
Do you work with groups or individuals with powerful stories to tell? If so, we want to hear from you. If your social values align with ours, we’d be happy to explore a partnership that places your clients/service users front and centre.
While we do not create promotional content, we are keen to use our platform to raise awareness of societal issues, tackle stigma and inspire understanding. Whether that be challenging misconceptions surrounding addiction or mental illness, exploring the reality of the criminal justice system or shouting about the achievements of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, we’d love to hear from you.
Why Partner with Curious Matter?
