The Mag Lounge: Giving Print a Voice and a Platform for Inspiration

28th July 2026

Keeping print alive means talking about it. Whether that is with people who keep print at the core of everything they do, or with people who have used print in different phases of their lives, every conversation is a reminder that print is alive and still has stories worth sharing.

That is why we created The Mag Lounge, a podcast designed to host conversations about both print and creativity. It is a place built to inspire others while celebrating the role that print continues to play in our lives.

Inspiring Others

Conversations have the power to inspire and sometimes, it only takes one conversation to help someone on their journey.

Many of our customers are local students who come in looking for inspiration for their projects, and we think it is amazing that they still turn to print for that spark of creativity. But it is not just the magazines themselves that inspire. It is the people behind them and those creating incredible work every day.

Through the connections we have built, we are able to introduce students and our wider community to creative people whose experiences, advice and stories might help shape someone else’s journey. These conversations, hosted on The Mag Lounge, offer industry insights, creative ideas, different career paths, new opportunities and those small but important nudges that encourage people to keep going.

We do not just speak to people working in print. We also invite guests from across the creative industries who inspire others and help support our North East community of creatives and print lovers. Through these conversations, people can discover new career paths, gain industry insights and perhaps find the encouragement they need to take the next step in their own journey.

Although students are a huge part of why we do this, The Mag Lounge is not just for them. It is for anyone who enjoys hearing honest conversations with people building creative careers and making exciting things happen.

In one of our recent episodes, we spoke with Meg from RADGE Magazine, who shared her journey of creating a magazine from scratch while celebrating Northern culture. We talked about overcoming challenges, pushing through self-doubt and what it really takes to build something you believe in.

One of the most inspiring moments came when Meg reflected on feeling the need to “make something of herself” as a North East creative and encouraged others to simply “keep knocking” when new opportunities do not immediately appear. The entire conversation is filled with honest advice and encouragement for anyone looking to build something creative, whether they are just leaving university or starting a new chapter later in life.

**Ellie and Megan discussing RADGE Magazine on The Mag Lounge Podcast**

We finish every episode of The Mag Lounge by asking our guests to leave one piece of advice they have heard or live by that they would like the next person listening to hear.

It is through conversations like these that we hope to create a platform that genuinely supports people, encourages creativity and inspires the next generation.

Keeping Print Alive

Many of our conversations naturally explore the current state of print and where it might be heading in the future.

Whether we are speaking with magazine founders, designers, artists or people whose creativity has been shaped by print, these discussions celebrate everything that makes magazines meaningful and remind people why they still matter today.

Towards the end of each episode, we ask our guests to share the magazines that have inspired them throughout their creative journey. Hearing these recommendations from people who work creatively every day, and often work in print themselves, is always fascinating.

Those recommendations do not just stay on the podcast. We add them to our Most Inspiring Magazine Wall inside The Mag Room, giving visitors the chance to discover the same publications that have inspired some of our favourite creative minds.

It keeps print alive, talked about and constantly inspiring new people.

**The World’s Most Inspiring Magazine Wall, located in The Mag Room**

The Space

**The magazines featured on the wall change with every guest, making every episode a celebration of print.**

The Mag Lounge has evolved over time and has been designed aesthetically entirely in-house.

Built with high-quality equipment and surrounded by, you guessed it, magazines, the space sits in its own cosy corner away from the rest of the shop. It creates a relaxed environment where conversations can flow naturally.

We wanted it to feel authentically like us. Welcoming, comfortable and full of personality. A space where guests feel at ease sharing their stories, ideas and experiences, and where genuine conversations can happen.

**Our handmade magazine wall, created by the team using pages from magazines we love**

The Goals

The goals are simple. We want to inspire the next generation of creatives and print lovers while showing people that print is alive, thriving and waiting to be discovered.

Through authentic conversations about creativity, magazines and the people behind them, we hope to remind others that inspiration can be found beyond a screen. It can also be found in something tangible that people continue to return to time and time again.

If you have a creative story to tell, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with Ellie at ellie.purvis@uniquemagazines.co.uk for the chance to be featured on The Mag Lounge.