independent woman

Counselling can help clear your mind and set you on a course for positive change - if you’re ready. Uschi shares the top three ways that we as a society can live by the ethos of 'Keeping It Real’: 1) welcome the day, 2) practice gratitude, 3) to live with acceptance.

Uschi used to be my counsellor. She shared tools and frameworks that I use and remember continually and they have led me to living MY BEST LIFE! I want this episode to breakdown the taboo over counselling and give everyone the reassurance that having counselling is OK… actually it’s more than OK. I’d say it’s a ‘must’ for EVERYONE because we all have our own unique levels of 💩to deal with.

We also discuss one of the frameworks that Uschi talked me through during my counselling which helped me grasp a better understanding of relationships with all people: The Drama Triangle and flipping that so it becomes The Empower Dynamic. This link contains a visual graphic of both frameworks: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drama-Triangle-The-Empowerment-Dynamic.jpg 

You  find out more about Uschi here: http://uschirigbycounselling.co.uk/

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme

Megan has been working in the broadcast industry for the last 8 years. She now works for Sky, is a mum to a toddler and has lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) since childhood. Megan talks really openly about the impacts of RA on her emotional wellbeing, owning her own truths and the constant drive to improve using ‘exposure therapy’ (a rather fantastic phrase coined by Megan herself!)

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme

Over the last 20 years Christiana has directed many hours of the highest rated drama series on British network television, including Holby City, Doctors, Eastenders, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale. More recently she has directed prime time TV hits such as Grantchester, Call the Midwife and Father Brown. Her short film, Some Sweet Oblivious Antidote, starring amongst others, Sir Lenny Henry, Wunmi Mosaku, Colin Salmon and Fatima Koroma, was long listed for Best Short at the 2018 BAFTA Awards. Christiana’s ways of ‘Keeping It Real’ are around wanting a career that epitomised joy, how she felt when she realised that her chosen career wasn’t free from ‘politics’ and her career hopes for the future. In this episode, we refer to the Black British Culture Special in The Guardian that Christiana featured in, which can be found here: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/25/christiana-ebohon-green-meets-wunmi-mosaku-its-exhausting-being-the-non-threatening-black-woman

Website: christianaebohon.com

Agent: https://www.independenttalent.com/

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme

Anushka is a British Tamil woman who has set up a new production company to change the landscape of the media industry of screen by having more diverse faces but more specifically British Asian faces. 

Anushka has worked in the broadcast and entertainment sector for the last 20 years, covering the two main royal weddings, filming many red carpet premieres and interviewed a plethora of A list talent. In this episode she talks about the legacy she wants to leave behind through her new production company and what she can do for the media industry.

You can find out more about her work here: https://www.filmworks.tv/about

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

During lockdown in the UK, Amber launched an initiative called The Global Reset  whose mission is to ‘accelerate gender equality one idea at a time’. Amber was compelled to create The Global Reset after reading an article by Helen Lewis in The Atlantic, an American publication, which revealed that women were severely affected by the Covid-19 global pandemic.

As well as chatting about The Global Reset, Amber talks about her family unit as a mother to a 10 month old and a four year old, how her close circle of friends have been a source of strength during Covid and her love of the open sky.

You can find out more about The Global Reset here: https://www.theglobalreset.org/

Amber is also the owner of a creative development agency called Blue Door (http://blue-door.co/) who carry out research, training, creative development with the likes of ITV Studio America, Ipsos Mori, BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel and Unilever.

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

Quince is a black man making an amazing difference to young people living in working class areas of London. He spent much of his youth in and out of prison. The last time he was in a police van he vowed never to return to a prison cell ever again. 

Quince went to evening classes and then obtained a degree in Film and Animation, going on to set up his own community interest company; Roadworks Media. The company reinvests its profits to develop creative art projects that raise social aspirations and deter youths from crime. Through the brilliant work he does, Quince has helped to reduce youth unemployment rates in three London boroughs!

His top three ways of 'Keeping It Real' are around his company values: Deter, Repair, Empower.

You can find out more about Roadworks Media here: http://www.roadworksmedia.org.uk/

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme

Last year on Trans Day of Visibility my guest changed her name by deed poll to Meg. On that very same day she wrote one of the most truthful, emotional and articulate of posts on LinkedIn where she talked through her experiences of transitioning and how the sense of melancholy she had as a child disappeared the day she made the decision to pursue a binary transition (because there was a period where she identified herself as being non binary).

Meg discusses her views on white patriarchal capitalism, uncovering her internalised misogyny and finding coherence with her body. She works around social and environmental justice and actively helps to raise the voices (and the incomes) of her black trans siblings. 

Three radical UK black-led projects she cares about right now:

Colours Youth Network for young LGBTQ+ People of Colour:  https://uk.gofundme.com/f/colours-youth-network

Black Land and Spatial Justice: https://www.gofundme.com/f/black-land-justice

Free Black University: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/the-free-black-university

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme

Meg is a leadership coach for values-driven people overwhelmed by uncertainty, complexity and mess. Best-selling author of Presentation Now, a WHSmith Business Book of the Month on rapid presentation planning, one of her superpowers is bringing clarity to multi-layered situations and uncovering easy strength in those around her. 

Explore Meg's free course 30 Days to Better Instincts in the middle of mess here: http://megalightheart.com/betterinstincts

Intro and outro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

Another one where the title 'does what it says on the tin' - as a single woman in her mid 30s who has never dated, I'm finally thinking about online dating 🤭

This poem was inspired by listening to a particular episode of a podcast entitled ‘What I Know Now’ - great podcast title - I’m ashamed to say that wish I nabbed it first 🙈. That podcast is by a young woman called Amelia - check it out - I haven’t listened to all of them but the one I refer to here was published on 12th Feb 2020 with the title “Am I Ready To Date???” Damn, I remembered it as “Am I Ready To Date Again?”… sorry Amelia didn’t mean to use the exact same episode title as you!!! I really can’t face recording this intro again and I’ve just edited it and mixed/ mastered (well tried to master) the sound. SORRY!  😬

**Please note: I make reference to the word 'sex' in this episode - just in case you're around any kids - pop on some headphones or listen when the kids aren't around!**

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme.

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

A 'psychological' interpretation as a lived expert rather than a medical expert, of why your mum and dad are the way they are if they have been dealt a 'bad hand' in life, which in turn probably means you have too.

You’ll have realised that I get DEEP (she says the word 'deep', really deeply, as in a deep tone) and this episode is no different.

**Please note: Again there is strong language in this episode and it may also be a trigger for those of you who live with depression or anxiety. If you are feeling not so good right now, then firstly, I’m sorry that’s the case and I hope you find a way of feeling better soon. Secondly, this might not be the right time to listen to this particular episode, so I’d encourage you to listen to other podcasts that are more healing or joyful right now. Then again, if you really think that you could be OK listening to this, it may offer some food for thought.**

This is my interpretation of how I think Mums and Dads around the world do the best they can (I know and am aware that some Mums and Dads do terrible, terrible things which cannot and should not be excused. If we take the time to understand why they behaved in that way or currently behave in the way they do, then it can help us heal and accept what was/ or is - I don’t go into that level of detail in this poem but it does offer my 'two pennies' as someone who had experienced trauma in my childhood (my counsellor referred to it as trauma, which at the time I was surprised by because whilst it was bloody hard, I never thought of attributing the word 'trauma' to it. I’m always very mindful that my childhood could have been worse and that other people's childhoods were or are worse than my own was).

If you experience depression, anxiety or any other emotional well-being issue then there are lots of places to seek help. Type in Mind or Samaritans in a search engine to find out more.

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme.

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

This poem was written as part of an application to become Bristol's City Poet. Reverse psychology didn't work! No, actually, the truth was I wasn't ready nor confident enough in myself.

*Please note: There is strong language in this episode*

If you haven't listened to the introduction yet, the content I refer to publishing through this podcast is poetry, written by me. (There was no intention for that last bit of that last sentence to rhyme and I almost deleted it but decided to leave the words as they are!) Also my application (listen to this episode to understand what I’m referring to!) was not successful, but the feedback I received was positive: “the judges were incredibly moved by your application, which was the most  original and affecting of all that we received”

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally on Twitter: @diversityofme. 

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I think by now everyone is probably tired of hearing what lockdown life is like for everyone else… I mean, we’re all pretty much feeling the same kinda way, but, we all have our own unique circumstances that we’re coping with. This is a round up of my own unique experiences. Decided to add to the noise but maybe you’ll appreciate the way I’m sharing it - or maybe not 🤷🏻‍♀️

**Please note: I do end up saying a mild swear word in the intro of this** Soz - I swear like a trooper. 😕

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally Twitter: @diversityofme.

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

Another poem as part of my application to become Bristol's City Poet 🙈😅. 

If you’ve ever lived in Bristol, currently live in Bristol or have ever visited Bristol, I think you’ll all agree it’s an amazing place to be (again that wasn’t meant to rhyme but I guess I just can’t help myself!) This will tell you what I love about it and why I have chosen it as my home.

**Please note: There is strong language in this episode**

I’m on social if you’re interested…primarily on Insta and occasionally on Twitter: @diversityofme.

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

Welcome one and all to my very first episode of my podcast! 😬 Well, this isn’t really an actual episode is it?!It’s the trailer (obvs - because it already says so 🙄). Podcast Purpose: to share the unique stories of how everyday people are ‘Keeping It Real’ in the hopes that you can relate to those I speak to or perhaps find solace in their stories… Tap play to hear me explain more (if you want to). If you haven’t guessed from the artwork, I am a woman of Indian (Punjabi) heritage. I was born and bred in the UK. And I have a soft Midlands accent - just putting that out there - because people either love a Midlands accent or they hate it… I guess it’s like Marmite. For years I tried to get rid of it with no joy, but now I quite like it and well, if I tried to hide it then I wouldn’t exactly be ‘Keeping It Real’, would I?! I will admit though, I did ask someone if they thought I should have elocution lessons in preparation for recording this podcast 🙈 To clarify they responded with a resounding NO!!!

You can follow on me on social media if you like. I'm on Insta and and Twitter: @diversityofme (although if I’m really honest, I’m more an Insta kinda gal so probably best to follow me on that if you wish to do so!)

At the time of writing this I have 0 followers and 0 posts/ tweets, so need to get cracking on that! 😐😅

Intro music credit: Dawn Awaits by Cody Martin, obtained from www.soundstripe.com

I'm about to embark upon our worst nightmare - I'm thinking of MOVING! Who Does this, while having Ovarian Cancer? Maybe the drugs have gone to my brain, afterall!!

Just looked back and saw I forgot to click SAVE and SEND yesterday!! So I was my own lil' audience. Sorry about that!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.