In Polite Company

In this episode, we’re embracing a bold approach to change—looking at what we want to bring into our lives and what we’re ready to leave behind. It’s all about clearing the clutter, both mentally and physically, and making space for what truly matters. We share the things we’re inviting in this year—better time management, improved mental health, and a more intentional balance between work, family...

How do you cope when politics feels like a never-ending source of fear and division? In this episode, we are joined by our friend from across the pond, Arda, and dive into the emotional aftermath of Trump’s recent victory, reflecting on the toll it takes on marginalised communities. Our conversation blends raw honesty and humour as we share the per...

What happens when toxic masculinity meets an unchallenged culture of entitlement? In this episode of  In Polite Company , we explore the disturbing rise of violence against women, exploring its deep connections to broader societal issues like toxic masculinity and systemic failure. Through high-profile cases like the Dominique Pellico trial in France, we shine a light on the vi...

What do we really see when the headlines scream of riots and unrest?  In this episode, we dive deep into the summer riots that swept across the UK, examining the racial tensions that fuelled the violence, and how the media distorted these events as anti-immigration protests. But what was really behind the chaos? We explore the tragic events that sparked the unrest and how grief quickly t...

In this episode of Impolite Company, we take an intimate look at the sudden and tragic loss of Kieron’s friend and manager, Alex, and how his incredible leadership and empathy have left an indelible mark on his life. Together, we’ll reflect on Alex's impactful work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where he championed underrepresented groups with unw...

Climate change doesn’t affect us all equally. The myth that environmental crises impact everyone the same way masks the harsh reality faced by marginalised communities, particularly in the global south. In this episode, we bring our perspectives to explore how climate change amplifies structural inequalities rooted in a history of colonialism and systemic racism. We explore the disp...

The legacy of the British Empire casts a long shadow, and its honours system is no exception. In this episode, we challenge the status quo and explore the complexities of OBEs and other accolades awarded to people of colour within the UK honour system. We confront the historical ties these honours have to the monarchy and the British Empire and the painful narratives they carry for descendants of...

Navigating bisexuality can often feel like walking a tightrope under the scrutiny of societal pressures and internal conflicts. Cesca joins us to share her deeply personal journey of discovering her bisexual identity, from a childhood with an emotionally reserved guardian to the thrilling yet confusing dynamics of an all-girls school. Cesca's journey is one of resilience, growth, and the ongoing q...

Welcome to In Polite Company, the podcast in which we bring our black, queer perspectives to some of the most exciting and pertinent DEI issues of the moment. I'm Ella, and I'm Kieron. Join us as we laugh, cry, and discuss topics that excite us and keep us up at night. In Polite Company is produced and managed by Urban Podcasts .

Happy New Year! This is an extra special bonus episode (you lucky devils!) in a slightly different format than usual. This time of year is all about reflection, resetting, and looking forward with anticipation. Rather than setting resolutions we probably won't keep, we've decided to do a retrospective instead. So this episode is all about what we want to START, STOP & CONTINUE in 2024. We really e...

In this episode, we are discussing mental health in the Black community. Why do Black men in the UK have higher rates of mental health issues than their white counterparts? To what extent does racism shape not only the development of mental health crises within our communities, but our ability to access help and support? Join us for a wide-ranging conversation in which we discuss everything from s...

We're super excited to be back for season 2! In our first episode of the season, we discuss the importance of diverse representation. What is the power of visibility? Does having leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds and walks of life always lead to positive outcomes? And in what circumstances does the phenomenon of 'representation' equate to hollow tokenism? From the governmental...

We're back for another season of insightful and occasionally challenging conversations, all through the lens of our unapologetic Blackness and Queerness. As always, you're invited to a conversation with (opinionated) friends who are here to share as well as to learn, and who are always up for a laugh - or a cry! This season, we're also excited to have some special guests behind the mic...

Join us for a special bonus two-part episode, in which we go behind the mic to learn a little more about our co-hosts; who they are, what they do, and the experiences that shaped them. Next up, Kieron chats to Ella about his career in design & how his childhood tendency to take apart his toys led him down this path; his life growing up in London in a diverse environment (but one often still st...

Join us for a special bonus two-part episode, in which we go behind the mic to learn a little more about our co-hosts; who they are, what they do, and the experiences that shaped them. First up, Ella chats to Kieron about her career journey; her life growing up in Leeds in a mixed-heritage household; some failures and hard lessons - and much more! Expect laughter and RuPaul's Drag Race tangent...

Happy Pride Month! The month of June is a month in which allyship often becomes a buzzword, as corporations in particular rush to declare their solidarity with LGBTQ+ folks. In this episode, we discuss allyship more broadly; what it means to be an ally to any marginalised community, beyond the performative posturing that happens once per year. In part 3 we dissect a couple of examples of car crash...

Happy Pride Month! The month of June is a month in which allyship often becomes a buzzword, as corporations in particular rush to declare their solidarity with LGBTQ+ folks. In this episode, we discuss allyship more broadly; what it means to be an ally to any marginalised community, beyond the performative posturing that happens once per year. In part 2, we talk further about performative allyship...

Happy Pride Month! The month of June is a month in which allyship often becomes a buzzword, as corporations in particular rush to declare their solidarity with LGBTQ+ folks. In this episode, we discuss allyship more broadly; what it means to be an ally to any marginalised community, beyond the performative posturing that happens once per year. In part 1, we cover some of the research around allysh...

In this episode we talk all about the current anti-trans climate, and the urgent necessity of allyship and solidarity with our trans siblings. As cis queer people, we discuss how the gender binary impacts us, as well as the responsibility we have to use our privilege in spaces where we have it, to fight for trans rights and liberation. Part 3 covers the 'bathroom debate', the dangers of reducing w...

In this episode we talk all about the current anti-trans climate, and the urgent necessity of allyship and solidarity with our trans siblings. As cis queer people, we discuss how the gender binary impacts us, as well as the responsibility we have to use our privilege in spaces where we have it, to fight for trans rights and liberation. Part 2 covers issues of prejudice & exclusivity within our...

In this episode we talk all about the current anti-trans climate, and the urgent necessity of allyship and solidarity with our trans siblings. As cis queer people, we discuss how the gender binary impacts us, as well as the responsibility we have to use our privilege in spaces where we have it, to fight for trans rights and liberation. Part 1 covers the gender binary and its colonial roots; our pe...

Join us as we discuss whether it's really possible to bring your authentic self into the professional environment. Should we view corporate statements encouraging employees to 'bring their whole self to work' as positive - or (more cynically) as empty platitudes? Is it actually even possible to bring our authentic selves into the workplace, and should we be asked to? We explore some of the potenti...

Join us as we discuss whether it's really possible to bring your authentic self into the professional environment. Should we view corporate statements encouraging employees to 'bring their whole self to work' as positive - or (more cynically) as empty platitudes? Is it actually even possible to bring our authentic selves into the workplace, and should we be asked to? We explore some of the potenti...

Join us as we look into the impact of mass tech lay-offs on DEI efforts. With 'last to join is the first out the door' adopted as common practice when it comes to redundancies, how does this impact the wave of recent hires that companies made, in the wake of the BLM protests of 2020? Are people from historically marginalised backgrounds bearing the brunt of tokenistic policies that are now being s...

Join us as we look into the impact of mass tech lay-offs on DEI efforts. With 'last to join is the first out the door' adopted as common practice when it comes to redundancies, how does this impact the wave of recent hires that companies made, in the wake of the BLM protests of 2020? Are people from historically marginalised backgrounds bearing the brunt of tokenistic policies that are now being s...