Nothing Without Us

"I'm trying to recognise that I have been able to bring a body of work into the world that benefits from being shared and interpreted and articulated by others. And also just to really see the impact of becoming the bottleneck for all of that getting out into the world. There's something of ego in there isn't there, there's something of hubris like, Oh, I'm the only person that can do this. That a...

“I think the idea of it being a golden ticket to being an insider, has already gone. And I think that's a good thing. I mean, I don't have a problem with it. And I think one of the big challenges for the independent sector is, is to ensure that we are fully integrated in society. And we are a force for good both institutionally and for the individuals that we send out into the world.” In this dist...

"If you do nothing, that is a political act. If you sit on the sidelines, and you are not engaged in using the talents that you have, ultimately for the well being of others, then you're actually contributing to maintaining the status quo, you're not seeking change." In this distillled episode Angie talks to Robin Bevan, Headteacher at Southend High School for Boys. They talk about Robin’s backgro...

“This is exciting, energising stuff. And while it's difficult, we shouldn't be cowed by that. Because it's through the difficulty that we will make real progress and start to chip away at some very embedded and deep issues that just need to have a light shone on them and that's why we should approach it in a very positive way”  In this distilled episode Angie talks to Cheryl Giovannoni about growi...

Trigger warning - this podcast contains depictions of both physical and emotional torture and pain. Listener discretion is advised.   Somebody asked me recently, what I thought might be different about my life, had I been born in a different skin in less brown skin? And my immediate response was, how could I possibly know? We none of us really know, do we, what the other person experiences. But th...

"I think as a white woman in this field, there's just so much that one has to try to be mindful of. And I think holding on to this notion that I will be good is just, it's not helpful. Right? Of course, I try to do no harm. I try to be self aware. But there are layers and layers. So I do need people to reflect back. But I also need to be self reliant and responsible and not just expect other peopl...

“There are thousands of school leaders and teachers doing those sorts of things every day. And if they weren't, this country would be a lot worse place for this and we don't see it, reward it. I think government takes it for granted that this sort of glue is there. In many ways it sort of uses it, I think, but if we funded it properly, and resourced it and respected it that way, this could be a ve...

In this solo episode, Angie shares an intimate portrait  of a day in her life.  Connect with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne.co.uk A full transcript of this episode can be found at   https://being-luminary.simplecast.com/episodes/a-day-in-the-life-of-angie-browne This podcast was written and presented by Angie Browne. Original music was by Martin Austwick.  The series is edited and produce...

“Every adult in school is getting paid to be there, including me, the kids are not. They don't get anything out of it. And if they're disengaged from their education, from the learning in that school, they're getting less than nothing. Imagine if somebody said to you as an adult, now, here's the thing, you go to this place, it's not very good for you. You just don't want to be there all day. And m...

'For so many people in my generation who were raised with that kind of colorblind approach, they've always thought there's not no racism at all, but they haven't realised that they've internalised so much of it. Because it is in all, it's in the media, it's in the culture, it's all in there. So it's for us about kind of trying to say to people, it's okay to see that now. And we need to start talki...

"I found that when I was acting, there were no, I had to audition with monologues. And there were no monologues written for me, for a mixed girl. So I'm like, Well, I'm writing it. And then I was getting asked the What are you? questions so many times when I would go into auditions, that I wrote a monologue, and I it was called, I'm mixed and I walked in the room. They're like, Do you have a monol...

"We're so sort of conditioned to think of writing as this solitary thing where one person tells you how it is - that collaboration is seen as, as less interesting." In this distilled episode Angie talks to Darren Chetty about his varied family background in Wales, the Netherlands and South Africa, and his focus on collaboration through his disparate work in anti racism in primary schools, academic...

"I have had no reason to achieve the success that I have, to achieve the confidence that I have, to enjoy the life that I have. There is no reason that that should have happened to me, and it can't happen to you. And that's why I've developed this programme. That's why I want to work with you. Because I want you to feel what that feels like, as a woman of colour in your workplace, in your life, to...

“I kind of realised that, probably from the age of maybe 15/16/17, that if you have advantage, if you have power, whether it is there by virtue of merit, or whether it's there by virtue of the way society is organised, that you can either use that power that influence that voice, to help transform the world into the world that you want to see. Or you can use it to shore things up to your own advan...

‘When was the last time you asked young people about identity and about how safe they feel to bring their identity into school. Because that's the starting point to mitigating attrition of both students and staff.’ In this masterclass episode, Angie focuses on listening to your stakeholders, particularly on issues of race. She discusses how to narrow the gap between pupils’ perception of racist in...

“Our ability to weather storms in our schools, I believe, rests on our ability to have skilful, and confident conversations with all of our stakeholders” In this masterclass episode, Angie presents a strategy for developing an SLT that can navigate stormy weather, going beyond just being good people to gain a DEI Intellectual Quotient leading to a DEI Emotional Quotient through deliberate practice...

“I think the idea of it being a golden ticket to being an insider, has already gone. And I think that's a good thing. I mean, I don't have a problem with it. And I think one of the big challenges for the independent sector is, is to ensure that we are fully integrated in society. And we are a force for good both institutionally and for the individuals that we send out into the world.” In this epis...

“This is exciting, energising stuff. And while it's difficult, we shouldn't be cowed by that. Because it's through the difficulty that we will make real progress and start to chip away at some very embedded and deep issues that just need to have a light shone on them and that's why we should approach it in a very positive way”  In this episode Angie talks to Cheryl Giovannoni about growing up in S...

“There are thousands of school leaders and teachers doing those sorts of things every day. And if they weren't, this country would be a lot worse place for this and we don't see it, reward it. I think government takes it for granted that this sort of glue is there. In many ways it sort of uses it, I think, but if we funded it properly, and resourced it and respected it that way, this could be a ve...

'For so many people in my generation who were raised with that kind of colorblind approach, they've always thought there's not no racism at all, but they haven't realised that they've internalised so much of it. Because it is in all, it's in the media, it's in the culture, it's all in there. So it's for us about kind of trying to say to people, it's okay to see that now. And we need to start talki...

“I remember talking to my PhD supervisor at the time, and saying I'm really getting fed up with being the angriest person in the room. And his response was, you need to find yourself some new rooms.” In this episode Angie talks to Darren Chetty about his origin story, including his varied family background in the Netherlands and South Africa, and his focus on collaboration through his disparate wo...

"I often think I developed a way of being that is quite convenient, but actually on reflection, I think I was already destined to be that person. But notice, when I look back on how helpful that chameleon like aptitude was, as I made my way through school, because I was very able to put people at ease, very able to make people feel as though my race was not going to cause them any problem." In thi...

‘I really want schools to be places that shine a light on their own challenges in DEI and that shine a light on their own great practice because I believe that that kind of unrelenting focus and that willingness to look at every dark corner will change communities, will change society, will change individuals who work in organisations and will allow organisations to innovate in as yet unimagined w...

‘Just like every other story has been partial and imperfect, just like the coloniser story has been partial and imperfect, I give myself licence to tell a partial and imperfect story about myself’ This episode is part two of Angie’s conversation with her long time friend and colleague Claire Stewart-Hall. They discuss the contributions that Angie’s previous roles have made to her current practice,...

“I think I'm more taken by the breathtaking nature of what would happen if we just decentralised some of those voices, those activities that are currently dominated by the majority And I've become increasingly aware of just how brilliant people are.”  In this episode, the tables are turned, and Angie is interviewed by her long time friend and colleague Claire Stewart-Hall. They discuss Angie’s ori...