Compassionate Cultures

Rebbecca Hemmings is joined by Melanin Moods, the team behind the Beyond the Fade Project, and Strawberry Words associate trainer Sipho Ndlovu. Dr Chanelle Dennis and Talisa Mesquitta  explore how barbershops, storytelling, and trusted community spaces are becoming vital locations for early intervention, mental health conversations, and wellbeing support. This episode dives into: – the origin...

This episode brings together two influential voices who are reshaping what equitable and compassionate healthcare looks like in Birmingham. Olaunde Awe, Managing Director of Ilera Health, and Dr Tonye Sikabofori, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, join Rebbecca Hemmings to explore the realities of building antiracist health systems from both community and clinical perspectives. Together they speak cand...

In this deeply honest conversation, Salman Mirza shares unfiltered insights into the real priorities for migrants and asylum seekers in the UK today and they might not be what you expect. Drawing on decades of lived experience, from his early years in Luton to his current work supporting asylum seekers, Salman offers a deeply personal reflection on what it means to seek justice and belonging in a...

We had the privilege of speaking with Professor Partha Kar, Type 1 Diabetes and Technology Lead at NHS England, whose influence has shaped healthcare policy and practice across the country.  As a proud Bengali clinician, Professor Kar has dedicated his career to improving health outcomes for racially marginalised communities and challenging inequities within the system. Tune in to hear his re...

In this thought-provoking episode of The Compassionate Cultures Podcast , host Rebbecca Hemmings speaks with Eugene Hilton , founder of North Star AI Solutions , about the promises and perils of artificial intelligence in today’s workplaces. As organisations increasingly turn to AI to streamline recruitment, performance management, and decision-making, many overlook the risk that bias can be built...

Part 2 of our first live edition of the Compassionate Cultures podcast is now streaming. At the start of this episode, our panel takes on a pressing question: how is the widespread public showcasing of the St George’s flag creating challenges inside the workplace? And what are leaders doing to navigate the tensions this symbol is stirring? This conversation continues our exploration of how UK soci...

UK societal discourse around who is deemed deserving and who is not is becoming increasingly polarised. The flags, the migrant hotel protests, and the marches are all symbols of this growing discontent. But how does the workplace contend with these issues when they inevitably seep through its doors? This is the focus of the first live edition of the Compassionate Cultures podcast, featuring the He...

This week on Compassionate Cultures, we’re joined by Carla Devereux, a psychotherapist and leadership development specialist. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, Carla offers a nuanced exploration of autism in adulthood, particularly in the workplace. In this insightful conversation, Carla helps us better understand how autism can present in adults, especially in those who are un...

In this episode, Rebbecca is joined by the Assistant Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council to discuss the Cultural Humility and Safety programme, a pioneering initiative that equips staff with the tools to navigate discrimination, antiracism, power dynamics, and compassionate relationships in the workplace. Rooted in the findings of the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean...

In this straight-talking episode, we’re joined by Kevin J Brazant, practitioner-academic, creator of Disrupt the Discourse Co-Creation Framework™ and founder of Lounge Akademics. With roots in grassroots activism and a growing academic portfolio, Kevin brings a rare and necessary perspective on race, exclusion, and justice in the UK universities. Drawing from both lived experience and scholarly re...

What does it take to build a world where careers aren’t determined by background or privilege? In this energising episode of Compassionate Cultures, host Rebbecca Hemmings speaks with James Adeleke, founder and CEO of Generation Success. From being awarded the Freedom of the City of London to leading thousands of structured mentorships, James shares his deeply personal journey and the values that...

In this episode of the Compassionate Cultures Podcast, Rebbecca reflects on the powerful words and presence of historian David Olusoga. From uncovering the hidden histories behind everyday British staples like tea and fish and chips, to challenging how we frame national identity, David invites us to look more honestly at the stories we tell ourselves. He reminds us that history isn’t about guilt,...

In this episode of Compassionate Cultures, Rebbecca unpacks some of the most persistent myths surrounding sexual harassment. From the damaging belief that false reports are common, to the idea that sexual harassment only affects young women, Rebbecca sets the record straight with facts, compassion, and a call to action. She also highlights real-world cases – including the headlines around Luis Rub...

Some individuals face a heightened risk of sexual harassment due to the intersecting aspects of their identity. In this episode, we explore the critical intersection of race and gender, highlighting how stereotypes rooted in both can create environments ripe for harm. What might appear to be casual remarks or ‘harmless’ assumptions can, in reality, be deeply damaging and part of a broader pattern...

In this episode Strawberry Words Trainers Sipho, Rebbecca and Naomi, discuss their experience of delivering cultural humility training. Cultural Humility is a framework that offers a compassionate way through learning about systemic discrimination and racism. We absolutely love it and think all organisations should adopt this learning. Tune in to hear why. 

In this two-part special recorded during my visit to the Health and Wellbeing at Work Show at the NEC in Birmingham (11–12 March), I set out to gather the most urgent questions and insights relating to equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. In part two, I continue to share key learnings and reflections drawn from the event, exploring how organisations can begin their DEI journeys...

During my visit to the Health and Wellbeing at Work Show (held at the NEC, Birmingham on 11th-12th March), my job was to collate the most pressing EDI-related questions and to learn. In this episode and the next, I share my thoughts and learning on: how companies can start on their EDI journeys, The difference between the Rooney Rule and Positive Action, Men’s Health Networks and Menopause in the...

Welcome back to Compassionate Cultures for an exciting Season 2! We've been hard at work behind the scenes, growing, learning, and expanding our impact. In this episode, we take you inside our latest projects, share key insights from our journey, and reveal what's in store for the season ahead. If you're passionate about creating inclusive, compassionate spaces, you won’t want to miss this!

The new season is about to launch on Friday 7th March! After that, you can catch it every Wednesday for the next 10-15 weeks

Racial gaslighting is a reality that racially marginalised individuals often face, yet it remains an issue that many still don't address. In this episode, Rebbecca delves into the dynamics of racial gaslighting, breaking down how it manifests and providing insights into recognising it.  When we learn to understand racial gaslighting, we can take steps to ensure that racially marginalised peop...

A commonly held belief and comment frequently asked of us at Strawberry Words is “Why do you always talk about racism?” Often followed by the statement “It’s so divisive!”. In this episode, therefore, Rebbecca breaks down the common reasoning behind these words and assesses how they can actually be harmful to racially marginalised people. Follow Strawberry Words Training Consultancy here: On Insta...

In this particularly necessary episode of Compassionate Cultures, we explore how U.K. schools can better support racially, religiously and culturally marginalised pupils in the aftermath of the recent U.K. riots. While many schools have anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies in place, these measures are not enough to protect pupils from the systemic and everyday challenges of racism. Join...

In this essential continuation from last week's episode, Rebbecca concludes her deeply personal and insightful discussion on the lasting effects of racial trauma following the recent race riots in England. In part two, she delves deeper into the emotional toll these events have taken on individuals and communities, and how they have shaped the mental health and well-being of people from the global...

In the wake of the recent race riots that have shaken communities across England, many individuals are grappling with the profound effects of racial trauma. In this deeply moving episode, Rebbecca opens up with raw honesty about how these events have touched her life and the lives of those around her. Drawing on personal experiences and expert insights, she explores the lingering impact of these r...

Sipho Ndlovu guest hosts this interview with Birmingham’s philosopher, Daniel Stone. Tune in to hear about Daniel’s journey from inner-city Handsworth Birmingham through the Halls of Oxford University (whilst navigating tricky racial terrain), to now offering a neutral space for the exploration of life’s big questions at his charity The Philosopher’s Yard. In this safe environment, he and the team...