Endorsements

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Joe Towns, Principal Lecturer, Sport Broadcast
“Working with Duke is always a pleasure. He brings energy, creativity, humility, musicality and poetry to every situation... Fast forward to Spring 2024 we invited Duke to work with our global partners from Ball State University in Indiana. They were making a feature-length documentary for ESPN... Duke returned the next day with a masterpiece he'd written overnight called 'The Seed.' This poem, its title, its spirit and the way it came to life encapsulates what Duke is capable of. He's a force of nature and if you are lucky enough to work with him, thenhe'll find the words to make your project blossom.”

The Paul Canoville Foundation

Raphael Frascogna, CEO
“Working with Duke Al was an absolute pleasure. His ability to craft powerful, thought provoking poetry that speaks directly to the heart of a project is truly exceptional... I highly recommend him for any organisation looking for spoken word poetry seamlessly blended with music and performed on video to create an impactful and unforgettable watch.”

Football Association of Wales (FAW)

Callum Ellis, Social Media Manager
“We had the pleasure of working with Duke on a special project for the Cymru national team ahead of the 2025 UEFA Women’s EURO play-offs... Duke skilfully translated our ideas, was highly receptive to feedback and made thoughtful adjustments... We would highly recommend Duke to anyone looking for a talented writer who can bring words to life with emotion.”

Epilepsy Action

Jan - Project Lead
“I had the privilege of working alongside Duke Al Hurst on an epilepsy-related event... He brings a unique combination of professional expertise and personal compassion... I am confident that his efforts are making a meaningful difference in the epilepsy community.”

Welsh Sports Association

Andrew Howard, CEO
“Working with Duke has been an outstanding experience... His talent, creativity, and ability to capture the essence of sport and community resonated so deeply that several of our member organisations have since commissioned him as well... I would highly recommend his services.”

Cardiff Rugby

Mike Brown, Head of Marketing and Communications
“It was a great pleasure working with Duke on a recent Season Membership campaign... His passion for the project was clear to see and he went above and beyond throughout... I would not hesitate to recommend Duke and would be thrilled to work with him again.”

Fujifilm UK

Rhiannon Berriman
“A big thank you to Duke AL, whose incredible work on our 90th-anniversary poem & video, 'Toward Tomorrow,' brought Fujifilm UK's journey to life... His attention to detail ensured every moment felt authentic and aligned with our values... We would certainly recommend his services to anyone seeking a talented and dedicated creative professional.”

Cardiff Metropolitan University - Graduation Poem

Jack Rivers, Brand and Content Manager
“We worked with Duke to create a spoken word celebration of the student journey at Cardiff Met... His professionalism, and the way he took on board both the initial brief and feedback, created something better than we could have expected... We’re privileged to call him a member of the Cardiff Met family.”

Egality Health

Annette Crosse
“We've collaborated with Duke as a spoken word artist, creative director, and someone with lived experience. His award-winning spoken word pieces have powerfully addressed health inequalities and diversity in research... His creativity and flair have built great momentum in our work to improve diversity in research to address health inequalities.”

BT Sport

Tanita Ojo-Baptiste - Producer/Director 'Sport in Words'
“I had the pleasure of working with Duke Al on BT Sport's Sport in Words, where we commissioned nine spoken word artists to celebrate the achievements of sporting icons. From the moment we watched Duke's audition tape, the entire team was captivated by his lyrical flow, wordplay, and commanding presence. Duke was assigned to honour Sir Lewis Hamilton, and he delivered a powerful, heartfelt piece that resonated deeply with our audience. His performance, filmed for primetime television and delivered before a live audience, was both moving and memorable. The passion and authenticity he brought to the stage sparked conversations across our social media platforms and left a lasting impression. Throughout the commissioning process, Duke was professional, communicative, and receptive to direction. He collaborated seamlessly with our studio director and production team, ensuring his performance aligned perfectly with the show's vision. I would enthusiastically work with Duke again and highly recommend him to any organisation seeking a spoken word artist who can convey messages with depth, emotion, and artistry. His talent is undeniable, and his ability to connect with audiences is truly exceptional.”