Leaven

Raechel Kelly is the founder of The Liminality, a consultancy and community to support individuals and businesses towards a more climate conscious way of living and working. Her passion and belief in how we can all make a solid daily difference and shift from horror stories to one of love for our planet is contagious; change is indeed possible. Hear how Raechel remains ever hopeful in what can sometimes feel an overwhelming world, where change is most definitely coming.

https://theliminality.co.uk

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials

@thisisleaven
www.thisisleaven.com

Saba Ali is a PA to individuals whilst balancing and giving back through her work as a trustee and ally for Galop, a charity supporting LGBTQ+ folk who are victims of abuse. Through her personal experiences, Saba highlights the lack of support available to young people on issues with cultural identity, racism, homophobia and transphobia. Also on the Crown Prosecution Service panel for hate crime, Saba holds on to hope in her daily work and life, whilst raising awareness around incredibly important issues.

@sabacelebritypa

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven
www.thisisleaven.com

Luis Lopez Smith is a textile designer, consultant, university lecturer and activist who runs Tottex. Luis has created a space that holds his professional practice , whilst supporting grass roots community projects too. Luis was shaped by experiences which led to establishing the inclusive space, with zero tolerance approach to any form of discrimination and champions equity. Very much true to Luis himself. Hear how Luis has evolved, what lifts him, keeps him grounded and positively giving his best self.

https://tottex.co.uk

@tot_tex

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven
www.thisisleaven.com

Rabya Lomas is a photographer, activist, coach and podcaster who creates space for marginalised folk, influencing inclusion across social media and in the workplace. I discovered Rabya’s work at when seeking women who looked like me and who were holding their own on what I saw as a very homogeneous space of Instagram.  Rabya’s work immediately resonated with me and it’s been wonderful to follow her creative practice and evolution. Rabya has driven the ethnicity pay gap petition, whilst supporting the community with her creative gifts always ensuring that those normally side lined or ignored are represented. Hear how Rabya has found her path and how we connected through our life experiences with mixed heritage and identities.

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven
www.thisisleaven.com

Gail Love-Schock is an Inter Faith Minister & Prosperity teacher who offers counsel and guidance to the spiritually curious. Gail is the ultimate example of no matter what you’re going through, there is a way through, having taken her past success and life in performing arts, her heartaches through personal grief and trauma and forged a path right back to where her heart and whisperings began as a child; being curious about faith and supporting the community with her gifts. Gail’s joy and wonder is infectious, her voice and manner soothe and inspire all at once and I was thrilled she was able to share some of her story with me. Hear how Gail found her path home, as we delved in the nature of being human and how much is all before us, if only we could simply see it and hear it.

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven
www.thisisleaven.com

Penny Wincer, is a photographer, podcaster and author, raising a neurodiverse family in London. Through her book published last year, Tender, the Imperfect Art of Caring, Penny has raised awareness and amplified voices of those whose lives involve caring for someone dear to them. Penny is making a huge difference in not only sharing her story and experiences of what it means to be a carer, but also championing what it truly means to ensure ultimate self care as a woman and as a mother. 

Find Penny https://www.pennywincerwrites.com

Find Carers Support here https://www.carersuk.org

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven

www.thisisleaven.com

Ruth Ridgeway is a designer & business strategist and we have bizarre parallels. We have both had our worlds shattered by events in 2014. Ruth’s partner had an accident which left him with impactful life changing injuries and nothing has been the same ever since. We have never spoken properly nor met, yet have an affinity of knowing. Ruth is a wonderful soul who has held things together through the power of love, whilst caring and using creativity to guide herself through, something I wholeheartedly relate to. 

Learn more about Ruth or get in touch directly ruthxo.com

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven

www.thisisleaven.com

Learn more about Kishen or get in touch directly via kish@designthefuture.world

SLOW support groups for child loss here 

Welcome to Leaven Podcast. It’s a series of conversations with people who have been through something formative and navigated a mad old path, yet done so with courage, holding on to hope. We elevate what it means to be human, voices of wisdom and models of lived experience, thinking, speaking, and living life regardless of what’s shaped you.

Join us on socials @thisisleaven

www.thisisleaven.com

Like all best laid plans, things went awry for the final episodes and my original planned guests. In the absence of closure for this series, I have stepped up to fill the void. This conversation is with me, myself and I; Syreeta. A deeper insight into my world, why this podcast exists, through to what brings me joy all shaped by questions fielded by my lovely Instagram followers through Moments Of Sense & Style. Recorded in one take, my thoughts for you.

Lauren Mahon is a broadcaster, presenter, writer, charity campaigner; a force of good. Through her award winning social enterprise, Girl VS Cancer, Lauren has paved the way for women finding themselves in the midst of trauma of diagnosis, creating a space that she lacked during her own experiences of breast cancer. Lauren shares her experiences of her treatment, how she has gone from strength to strength now on the other side. A powerful and uplifting conversation with a wonderful woman.

Lucy Lucraft is a journalist and podcast producer, supporting other women find their voice in the podcast world.  Having lost her father her twenties and her sister took her own life during lockdown, Lucy speaks honestly with an inner strength and resilience that powers her. Following her instincts, constantly evolving, stems from her personal experiences of loss, grief, mental health and motherhood. We discuss Lucy's path and our shared experiences of belonging in the world as deeply feeling human.

Grace is a Cinical Psychologist, seed merchant and author, who grows and collects seeds from her cottage garden in Somerset. A multitalented soul with solid values and passion for beauty, courage and growth, Grace seamlessly combines very different worlds with aplomb. Grace's spirit and approach to life is remarkable. This is a great conversation on growth through adversity, staying true and finding joy in all you do.

Sommer Pyne is a beautiful soul who has created a beautiful space to match, where her home is also her business. After a childhood of turbulence due to parental addiction, her drive and passion is fuelled by her desire to create a better world for herself and more importantly her daughters. Hear how Sommer has created her own sanctuary, as she shares her experiences of life, growing up with instability, then the traumatic premature arrival of her first daughter. All of which have incredibly not dimmed her incredible light. 

Trigger warning, chilldhood trauma due to addiction and traumatic labour and premature birth story, NICU experience. Some may find this episode challenging.

Mark Waters is a film director and cinematographer driven by his love for the natural world. Mark's work is breathtakingly beautiful, capturing the moments of beauty and stillness in nature but ultimately the beauty of being human. Hear how he found his way to creating such work by following his passion and curiosity from an early age. A wonderful and life affirming conversation on the beauty and essence of life.

The end of this first season of Leaven. Creator Syreeta shares her thoughts on talking. The simple power of talking. Sharing our stories is healing. And more important than ever when emotions are being felt deeply. Whether it's pure joy or pain, we connect as humans when sharing, it’s soothing, it’s cathartic. An insight to the reason's behind this podcast and what the thoughts are for the year ahead, with a bonus insight from Faye Isaac, as originally featured in episode 6.

Sara Tasker is an award wining multi talented creative behind the instagram account Me & Orla.  Sara’s work evolved from a photography project she started on Maternity leave and has flourished into a successful layered business encompassing writing, online courses and coaching that works around her health and families needs. Sara conveys her day to day, how a diagnosis late in life has shaped her world and how success in can look different to the patriarchal society's version we are surrounded by. 

Faye Isaac is a beautiful tender soul. The founder Annual Store, a kids design led online brand, Faye as a true open heart. Specialising in children’s books, toys and clothing, Faye’s work is rooted in creativity, design and community forging a path for her daughter, one that she never had. Faye shares her experiences of living with the death of her Mum as a baby and loss and grief have shaped her.

Annie Nicholson, The Fandangoe Kid is a print artist, who work is large scale and found in public spaces, for all to access. Annie's work challenges taboos around complex emotions and topics, such as death, mental health, trauma, grief, love and gender constructs. It stems from her own personal trauma in the loss of her entire family. The beauty and grace in which she navigates it all is astounding. This is an incredible conversation and testament to Annie’s beautiful spirit and humanity.

Lizzie Jordan is a powerhouse of love and honesty. She has taken her experiences, pain and struggle to turn them into strong force of good.  A decade on from a life changing diagnosis and events, Lizzie is championing confident conversations with children, no matter how difficult or sensitive the topic. Recognising the issues faced by young people, Lizzie set up a social enterprise to provide resources, space and support to enable confident communication regardless of the topic. Hear how she made it through the toughest of times to get to this point of positivity.

Laxmi Hussain is a London based artist, who embodies female empowerment and the notion that creativity heals; something we align with beautifully through our own story. This conversation is about Laxmi's process and evolution as an artist, motherhood, body normalisation, love, grief and hope all through the power of her pen. Join us as we chat about life, death and the tiny beautiful things.