Initial Step

In this powerful episode, autistic filmmaker John Clark opens up about his remarkable journey, from growing up working class in Essex to making impactful films and championing neurodivergent voices in the industry. John shares the real challenges of breaking into film as a neurodivergent person, the weight of masking, and why perseverance and community are everything in a creative career. We also...

From homelessness to founding a theatre company. Emma shares the journey that shaped her, and why she believes access, authenticity, and owning your story are the most powerful tools in the industry. In this episode I'm joined by Emma, actor, founder, and theatre programme director of Bthechange Theatre CIC. An organisation dedicated to breaking down barriers to the acting industry by partnering w...

In this conversation, Susanna shares her journey from a working-class background to becoming the Head of Marketing at a charity focused on social mobility. She reflects on the impact of her upbringing, education, and the encouragement she received from a teacher that changed her trajectory. Susanna discusses the challenges of navigating class perceptions in professional spaces, the importance of s...

What does it really take to level the playing field, and is the system even designed to let that happen? Nina Slingsby, founder of OAHA, shares her personal journey from a grant-funded school to leading meaningful change in workplace inclusion and social mobility. Her story is one of navigating systems not built with everyone in mind and choosing to rewrite the rules from the inside. In this conve...

In this conversation, Marisa shares her journey growing up in foster care in Essex, shaped by instability, addiction and the justice system. She reflects on how receiving funding to attend a convent boarding school exposed her to a world far removed from her roots, forcing her to adapt, blend in, and develop confidence in formal environments, while quietly carrying the stigma of being in care. Mar...

In this episode, veteran graphic designer David Chaudoir draws on over 30 years in the media industry to speak candidly about class, culture, and power inside major institutions like the BBC. David reflects on a controversial moment involving a doctored Newsnight clip linked to the Insurrection on January 6th 2021. An incident that pushed him to publicly question media integrity and editorial bias...

In this episode, I get to speak with with Sam Conley, Youth Empowerment Lead at Poplar HARCA, to unpack what it really means to grow up working class in the UK today. From the stigma and stereotypes young people are up against, to the massive role social media plays in shaping their aspirations, Sam brings frontline experience, honesty, and hope to the conversation. They explore why class still fe...

Ashleigh grew up in Leicester in a working-class, single-parent household, caring full-time for his disabled mother from his teens into his twenties. While his brothers moved on, Ashleigh took on the responsibility of assisted living care. A commitment that shaped his life, his opportunities, and his sense of purpose. Despite limited options and financial struggles, he started volunteering remotel...

In this episode, we meet Ryan, who grew up in the small town of Yeovil, Somerset, a traditionally working-class area hit hard by the 2008 crash. After his parents lost their business, they rebuilt their lives through hands-on work. His dad as a plumber and his mum as a cleaner, instilling in Ryan the value of resilience and humility. Although strong academically, Ryan was drawn to creativity, insp...

In this episode, we hear from Mert, Research and Engagement Lead at Urban Symbiotics. Mert’s story is one of resilience, perseverance, and finding purpose through community. Growing up in a council estate in Walthamstow to immigrant parents, Mert faced challenges from an early age, from overcrowded housing to being homeless at 16 after coming out as gay. Despite these struggles, he juggled multipl...

In this powerful episode, we hear from Toni, a keynote speaker and social mobility advocate who grew up on a council estate in Basingstoke. Her early life was shaped by grief, limited opportunity, and the pressure to contribute financially instead of pursuing her creative dreams. Starting in a fruit and veg shop, Toni thought that was as far as she could go, until a job at Reed Recruitment transfo...

Growing up on a council estate in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, Matt left school with no GCSEs, apart from an A* in PE. Never seen as a high achiever, just one of the kids that got lost in the middle, his journey took a dramatic turn after witnessing the loss of his father. That moment became the catalyst for change. From night school to earning a PhD, while cleaning to fund his studies, Matt carved...

In this episode, Michael J. Diamond, freelance producer and director at WEIGHT. Films, shares his journey from a single-parent home in East London to carving out a space for himself in the UK’s creative industry. Drawing on his working-class roots, Michael reflects on how upbringing, location, and access shaped his path. He opens up about the challenges of breaking into film without privilege, the...

Growing up in a working-class town in northern England, Nicole was expected to follow the traditional route into engineering. But her passion pulled her in a different direction. After leaving university early, she took a leap of faith with an online animation course—and never looked back. Through sheer determination, self-taught skills, and relentless networking, Nicole carved out her place in th...

In this thought-provoking conversation, Andy Green, co-founder of Modern Cockney Festival, explores the rich and evolving identity of the Cockney community in modern Britain. From the roots of the accent to the resilience of working-class culture, Andy sheds light on the importance of reclaiming and celebrating Cockney heritage. 💬 Key Topics Covered: The true origins of the term Cockney How worki...

In this insightful conversation, Paddy Moogan shares his unconventional journey from a working-class background in Birmingham to becoming a leader in the digital marketing industry. He reflects on his transition from studying law to discovering his passion for SEO, the financial and emotional challenges of moving to London, and the importance of creating opportunities for others from similar backg...

Meet Sonal, a London-born creative with Kenyan roots, who turned uncertainty into innovation. From studying knitwear at Nottingham Trent to pioneering roles in wearable tech, Sonal’s path has been anything but conventional. After a career pivot sparked by redundancy, she now empowers the next generation as a teacher and mentor. Discover how passion, perseverance, and giving back shaped her incredi...

In this episode of Initial Step , we dive into the inspiring journey of Danny, a freelance graphic designer from Wigan. Raised in a working-class family, Danny’s story is one of resilience and growth as he navigates the creative industry while staying true to his roots. From his early academic path in biology, business, and art to an internship in Berlin, and the challenges he faced after graduati...

In today’s episode, we sit down with an inspiring guest who grew up in a working-class family and turned their love for creativity into a successful career in advertising. They talk about how early inspiration from family and a passion for movies fuelled their journey into the media world, overcoming obstacles like imposter syndrome while staying true to their roots. Now based in the USA, they sha...

In this powerful episode, we chat with Kellie Hill, a resilient professional who turned a challenging upbringing in Northern England into a thriving career in experience design strategy. From battling toxic work environments in broadcast journalism to navigating the complexities of the working-class identity, Kellie's journey is one of true grit and adaptability. Tune in as we explore: The influen...

In this episode, we sit down with Jai, a senior digital designer at Just Eat, who shares his inspiring journey from a working-class upbringing in Bolton to a thriving career in the design industry. Despite the pressure to follow a traditional academic path, Jai followed his passion for design, supported by his family and a pivotal work experience during university. Over the past decade, Jai has wo...

Join us as we sit down with Andy Copping, a media professional who turned his childhood passion into a thriving career. Growing up in suburban Essex with supportive parents, Andy's love for media began with sports TV and creating montages using Windows Movie Maker. Encouraged by his parents and teachers, he pursued media studies in sixth form and later broke into the industry through sheer determi...

**From Nottingham to Freelance Success: Abs' Inspiring Journey** Today, we are thrilled to have Abs, a truly remarkable guest, share her incredible story. Growing in Nottingham, Abs was raised in a working-class family, her upbringing shaped by resilience and determination. Abs discovered her passion for media during her college years. However, her journey into the industry was anything but smooth...