Nothing Without Us

This week, we're reissuing a solo episode from April 2024, where Angie shares an essay on allyship and advocacy in the context of global atrocities and the war in Gaza, and how these events intersect with educators’ roles and school conversations about the Middle East. She argues that passive allyship and apathy have catastrophic impacts, urging listeners to face the horror of dehumanisation—citin...

Angie Browne reflects on International Women’s Day and how it has shifted from its socialist, working-class origins into a more corporate, marketing-friendly celebration, using narrative literacy to examine which stories are told and which are erased. Browne then applies narrative and relational literacy to Theresa May’s 2011 Violence Against Women Action Plan, acknowledging policy advances while...

Angie Browne shares an essay written in response to the BAFTAs and the BBC broadcasting the N word during a time-delayed edit, while reportedly editing out an acceptance speech that included “Free Palestine.” She argues for lineage consciousness, urging listeners to see the incident not as a one-off but as part of a long pattern of institutional behavior by BAFTA and the BBC, citing previous contr...

Angie Browne reflects on Minette Batters becoming the first female president of the UK National Farmers Union in 2018, and uses her story to explore women’s exclusion from land, farming, and decision-making. She outlines Batters’ path from being discouraged by her father, to building a tenant farming business and leading the NFU, and considers what tenant farming reveals about wealth, power, and c...

In this episode Angie Browne discusses the 2018 Haiti earthquake scandal involving Oxfam, highlighting moral failings and institutional accountability. Angie explores themes such as spiritual literacy, dignitary authority, and liberatory literacy, while analyzing Oxfam's internal culture and response. She questions the organisation's moral superiority, temporal sovereignty, and how they handle har...

Angie Browne delves into the complex history of women's suffrage in the UK, particularly focusing on the centenary in February 2018, which marked 100 years since some women were granted the vote. Browne critiques the celebratory narrative by exploring how the 1918 Representation of the People Act still excluded many women, especially working-class and marginalized groups. Using narrative literacy...

In this episode, Angie Browne analyses the events of the infamous Handforth Parish Council meeting from December 2020, which went viral in February 2021. Browne explores the chaotic Zoom meeting where Jackie Weaver, an external facilitator, faced backlash from council members for attempting to restore order. The episode delves into the background of the conflict, the roles of key figures, and the...

In this week's episode, Angie Browne explores the myth of Blue Monday, allegedly the most depressing day of the year, and its origins as a marketing ploy by British Travel Agency Sky Travel in 2005. She delves into how narrative intelligence can be used to critically examine and deconstruct this and other pervasive societal narratives. By highlighting multiple perspectives, including historical co...

In this episode, Angie discusses the 2017 Women's March and its implications on equity, feminism, womanism and social justice. She explores the origins and purposes of the march, which arose as a response to Donald Trump's rhetoric and policies. Browne highlights the march's focus on unity and inclusivity across various identities and struggles, despite criticisms regarding unequal representation...

In this episode, Angie Browne discusses the importance of relational humility and humanity during crises, using the Capitol Hill insurrection on January 6, 2021, as a case study. Browne emphasises the need to approach news stories with detachment and empathy, explores various key events of the insurrection, and introduces concepts from her book 'Re-Enchanted.' She also shares insights from public...

Angie Browne reflects on the challenges and accomplishments in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) during 2025. She highlights the importance Being Luminary's consistent commitment to equity work, even when attendance at community calls is low and the DEI market cools. Angie discusses her move towards making the Excellence in Equity award more accessible and meaningful, the deepeni...

In this episode Angie Browne reflects on the social and political climate of 2025. She discusses the challenges and setbacks facing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid ongoing global conflicts, political shifts, and public apathy. Angie criticizes the DEI industry's focus on softer language like 'belonging' over substantive equity work, and emphasizes the need for new leadership ap...

In these last few episodes of the year, Angie  shares her insights and experiences from 2025. She reflects on the past year, discussing the challenges faced in equity work, the personal and professional changes she underwent, and the shift in public interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. Angie narrates her journey towards developing deeper, more sustainable practices, including a...

In this episode Angie discusses the concept of joy as a form of relational literacy, emphasisng its importance in equity work. She elaborates on shifting from emotional intelligence to relational literacy, critiquing traditional frameworks and proposing a deeper, more somatic and interrelational approach. Angie breaks down four anchors of relational literacy: somatic awareness, emotional presence,...

In this episode, Angie Browne discusses the importance of aesthetic literacy as a means of bringing joy and humanity back into institutional spaces. Angie shares her personal journey of enhancing spaces throughout her career in education, emphasizing the role of aesthetics in fostering dignity and equity. She contrasts two school building projects to illustrate how design decisions can impact the...

This week Angie explores the concept of joy as a form of resistance and praxis rather than mere performance or escapism. She delves into the role of joy in social justice work, emphasizing its importance as a political and communal tool. She discusses 'joy as praxis,' advocating for the deliberate recognition and integration of joy in daily life and leadership. The episode highlights how joy can d...

In  this second episode, Angie Browne and Dr Claire Stewart-Hall discuss the aftermath and responses to a race hate crime Angie experienced. Angie shares her motivation for creating social media videos to document her feelings and the incident. She contrasts the differing responses from LinkedIn and Instagram users, noting the lack of engagement on LinkedIn versus the outpouring of care on Instagr...

In this week's episode, Angie Browne discusses her recent traumatic experience of a race hate crime. Joined by Dr. Claire Stewart-Hall, a race researcher and friend, Angie explores the broader impact of such personal and institutional racism on Black women's lives. Angie describes receiving hundreds of aggressive, racist messages through her business website, perpetrated by an individual she brief...

In this episode, Angie is in conversation with Sue Mulholland, Deputy Head Teacher for enrichment at the British International School of Ho Chi Minh City. They delve into Sue's journey from an art teacher to a leader in education, her experiences in different schools, and her work in equity, diversity, and inclusion. Sue shares her upbringing in Belfast, the impact of the Troubles, and her evoluti...

In this episode Angie delves into the complex terrain of despair faced by those engaged in equity work. Angie discusses the predictability of betrayal and retreat within equity movements. She references the work of thinkers like Audre Lorde and Leah Mani VIN to explain how capitalist patriarchy inherently demands the fragmentation and depletion of marginalized groups. Angie argues that DEI work of...

"Like yoga, I need to keep showing up to the practice of humanising, of leaning in and toward things that are very difficult." In this episode Angie discusses the importance of relational and narrative intelligence, particularly in the context of engaging with those with whom we disagree. Angie explores her physiological and emotional responses to listening to a long-form interview with Tommy Robi...

"Equity work is everybody in the nobody out. And it means we need to be able to tolerate and hear and humanise the people whose views we oppose. Humanise them more, not less." Welcome back to Nothing Without Us and a new season of episodes.  This time, Angie is exploring the concept of wilderness in these troubled times. Today's episode also includes a reflection on responses to the murder of Char...

In this last episode before the summer break, Angie shares a short extract from her forthcoming book.  Look out for more episodes of the podcast in our new series from September onwards.

In this week's episode, we join Angie on a recent webinar exploring a framework for managing staff conduct issues in polarising times.  Angie explores various issues such as the influence of Andrew Tate, UK race riots, Trump's re-election, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and gender definitions. She breaks down a framework of narrative intelligence, emotional intelligence, liberatory intelligence, and sp...

This week, Angie reads her open letter addressed to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT). The letter criticizes the design choice of placing a pub at the center of the 2025 Inspiring Leadership Conference, highlighting its exclusionary impact on various marginalized groups, including Muslim educators, people in recovery, disabled individuals, and more.  Angie discusses the response she...