Vada Magazine • 22nd May 2025

Contact’s Chief Executive Jack Dale-Dowd: “Contact was the first venue in Manchester where I felt that I belonged.”

Having worked with the arts charity and theatre for over a decade, the recently-appointed CEO of Contact sat down with Hadley Stewart to discuss how he is championing the diverse voices of Greater Manchester through the arts.

10th May 2025

Andrew McMillan: Belonging In/Out

Join award-winning poet Andrew McMillan for an intimate reading and conversation with journalist Hadley Stewart, as they explore the complexities of belonging, queerness and community.

Vada Magazine • 22nd April 2025

Roxy Bourdillon on writing about love and loss: “This is a book about being a woman who loves women in all senses of the word.”

The debut author sits down with Hadley Stewart to talk about being a woman who loves women, her relationship with her body, and the hierarchy of grief.

Vada Magazine • 10th April 2025

Hugh Sheehan on the Bolton 7 podcast and his passion for LGBTQ+ storytelling: “It’s so frustrating seeing queer stories being told in a really one-dimensional way.”

The creative behind the BBC Sounds podcast series that recalls one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in recent LGBTQ+ history sits down with Hadley Stewart to share the story behind the podcast and what drives him to tell queer stories.

Vada Magazine • 4th April 2025

DJ Koessler on the power of politics: “It's not some abstract thing. It’s about how you can make people's lives better.”

The Democratic strategist sits down with Hadley Stewart to discuss his work with some of the most recognisable names in modern US politics, his fears under the current Trump administration, and his hopes for more LGBTQ+ presidential candidates.

Vada Magazine • 14th February 2025

Baroness Lynne Featherstone on the fight for marriage equality: "It was a natural thing for me to do."

The former Liberal Democrat equalities minister tells Hadley Stewart about how she became the originator behind one of the biggest landmark moments in LGBTQ+ history.

Vada Magazine • 7th February 2025

Milliner Barnaby Horn on being queer and working class in fashion: “It feels like a big responsibility.”

The multi-award-winning hatmaker from Leeds sits down with Hadley Stewart to reflect on his path from drag to couture.

Vada Magazine • 27th January 2025

Maria Augusta Wozniak: "Fashion is about allowing people to express themselves however they want to."

Having founded her own fashion label Augusta Fashion & Textiles, Maria Augusta Wozniak now champions non-binary clothing and sustainable fashion, whilst staying true to her local Canadian roots.

Vada Magazine • 24th January 2025

Spencer Macnaughton, Founder of Uncloseted Media: reporting on LGBTQ+ rights at a time of Donald Trump

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Uncloseted Media, Spencer Macnaughton sits down with Hadley Stewart to discuss LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.

Vada Magazine • 31st December 2024

Behind the scenes of Vada’s 2024 digital cover shoots

As 2024 comes to a close, our features editor Hadley Stewart takes us behind the scenes of this year’s Vada cover shoots.

Vada Magazine • 3rd December 2024

Dr Rachel Hill-Tout: “Opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing saves lives.”

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement about funding for opt-out blood borne virus testing in emergency departments, the project’s clinical lead sat down with Hadley Stewart to discuss early detection and dispelling stigma.

Vada Magazine • 13th November 2024

Andrew Keates: “I was just poisoning myself every weekend.”

The theatre director and producer sits down with Hadley Stewart to talk about his journey from alcohol and drug addiction, to sobriety and founding his LGBTQ-focused theatre company.

Vada Magazine • 15th October 2024

Mickey Chong: “There’s something about that unfiltered, pure enjoyment of singing.”

The NHS doctor and House Gospel Choir singer talks to Hadley Stewart about pursuing a creative outlet alongside his career in medicine.

Vada Magazine • 9th October 2024

Sexual health service SH:24: "It’s time to end the silence of sexual health testing."

The sexual health organisation speaks with Hadley Stewart about their new campaign that sees social media influencers ending the culture of silence that surrounds sexual health testing.

Vada Magazine • 23rd September 2024

Milan Fashion Week: pizzas, piazzas and pussycats

Our features editor spends 24 hours in the Italian fashion capital for Milan Fashion Week.

Vada Magazine • 17th September 2024

London Fashion Week: From drones to singing models – an editor’s highlights from this season’s shows

As London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 comes to a close in the capital, our features editor takes us behind the scenes and shares his highlights from this season’s shows.

Vada Magazine • 11th September 2024

Harun Tulunay: "It's time for us to see the bigger picture when it comes to Mpox."

Having contracted Mpox in 2022, sexual health advocate Harun Tulunay says now is the time for collective action from governments across the world to stop the spread of the virus.

Vada Magazine • 12th August 2024

Phillipa Armstrong: “The engineering industry is working hard to change attitudes.”

The Train System Engineer and Chair of Alstom’s LGBTQ+ staff network transports Vada into the world of train manufacturing and explains how the industry is becoming more inclusive.

Vada Magazine • 11th July 2024

Daniel Harding: "Inclusive sex education should have come a lot earlier."

The author and journalist tells Vada how he is using his own experiences of sex and relationships to support the student-led sex education charity Sexpression UK on its mission to empower young people.

Vada Magazine • 26th June 2024

Josh Smith: “I know what it’s like not to be able to use your voice.”

The journalist and podcast host sits down with Hadley Stewart ahead of the publication of his book Great Chat where he shares his journey of finding his voice and how he now wants to empower others to find theirs.