Pause. And Rewind...

“I’m most proud that I gave myself a chance. Because so many opportunities came to me and there was always that person on the left side of your shoulder telling you ‘that's not for you. Sit back, know your place’. But then there's that other side of you that's like ‘who else if it's not you?’ So I constantly give myself chances. Even when I fell off. Even when I relapse. Even w...

“I've never shied away from my past, I've never hidden anything. I don't believe in sugarcoating, what's happened to me. Because the reality is that my life's turned out amazing. I've been able to use my trauma to actually help heal other people as well as myself. I'm still learning every day and I've never forgotten my roots.” Powerful words from Saba Ali (...

“When people think about diversity & inclusion, they don’t often think about sex workers but they’re some of the most marginalised people globally in different communities so it feels natural to consider them.” Alex Feis-Bryce (he/him) is an award-winning third sector leader, campaigner and policy adviser with a track record of driving social change and services to support some of the most mar...

“I feel like I can make wins. I can win in the classroom & I can win in my school but it feels like I can win more for LGBT+ people & Trans people & Trans students as well as educators.” Kacey DeGroot (she/her), my first guest for season 4 of ‘Pause… And Rewind…’, is a drama teacher and trade unionist on a mission. She’s currently campaigning to be elected as the Deputy General Secreta...

“I’ve experienced things I never thought I’d experience. I’ve experienced freedom I never thought I would have. I didn’t even know it existed.” This a powerful reflection around sobriety from this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ that I really relate to. Harry Gay (he/him) - YES, that’s his real name and there’s a brilliant story about it in this episode - is a DJ, event producer & activis...

“I don’t care if it’s just one person at a time. Because one person talks to one person talks to one person. That’s how you win.” LGBTQ+ inclusion and rugby in the topic here as this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ shares their efforts in founding & becoming the Chair of the World's First LGBTQIA+ supporters' association in World Professional Rugby, QuinsPride at Harlequins. It’...

“It’s all about changing hearts & minds. That’s kind of me all over really.” With a career in PR working across small & large agencies through to founding TransMission PR - lovingly described as her third child - for Aby Hawker (she/her), it’s truly a mission driven by love, values & an incredibly clear stance on what it’s all about. That being to flip the narrative and prioritise upli...

“To blend is not something I want to do.” And this certainly shows with this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’. Whether it’s through their creative outlets, owning their queerness as a superpower or busting out nail polish that matches the front cover of their debut book, Andrew Flewitt (he/him) is passionate, unapologetic & ambitious. He’s the host & producer of the podcast ‘Queer I Am...

“It's exhausting existing authentically in a world that claims to value authenticity. But at every turn of that authenticity being revealed asks it to politely put itself in the box that it was given.” This conversation is PACKED with deep reflection & wise wise wise words of wisdom from Darkwah (they/them), this week’s guest for ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ Darkwah is a multi-disciplinary artist...

“It’s all just a happy accident.” I love the above sentiment from this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…” when talking about their career. I also bloody love them - and it’s a hard relate too! George Lester, or That Girl, is an author & drag queen. I first met them in early 2023 during the protests against drag queen storytime that were taking place at the Honor Oak pub in Southeast London....

“I thought at that time it definitely will get better. You'll be able to escape the situation, and I had a feeling within myself even at the time. I said, you will be able to escape it.” This was one of many deep reflections from this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ when thinking about their younger self at just 12 years old.  Tolu Osinubi (she/her) is a Director at Deloitte, passionate...

“Don't forget luck. I think everyone feels like they're in control, and they can do it all. And if you just slog it out hard enough it will come to you. Sometimes, it’s just luck. Let go and see what comes.” Calling your company ‘The Unmistakables’ is a bold move but when it’s grounded in science & rigour plus a touch of cheekiness with a truly innovative leader in charge, it just ma...

“I have the community that I never ever in a million years would I have dreamed of when I was a kid.” Season 3 of ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ gets off to a CRACKING start with this conversation! I’m chatting to Jua O’Kane (they/he). Jua is the Marketing Manager for We Create Space and Communications Director for Trans Pride Plymouth as well as being an illustrator, creator, creative researcher & auth...

This episode was A MOMENT for ‘Pause. And Rewind..’. It was my first time recording live with a live audience! And a celebration of three things… A whole year since I launched the podcast Lesbian Visibility Week My guest - the one & only Char Bailey “Once I know what my truth is, can’t nobody tell me shit about shit. Because I know exactly who I am”. Char (she/her) wears many hats. Director of...

“You'll be surprised how often your friends, acquaintances & family will go ‘You were right about that thing”. If you have a bit more faith in yourself, you're like, I'm just waiting for the world to catch up.” I’m chatting to this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ about the three words they’d use to describe themselves & their origin story when they bust out the word ‘Li...

“Don’t think if you haven’t got to where you want to be in your twenties it’s game over. Because it’s really not. You can achieve great things at any point in your life." Solid advice from this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ especially in a society obsessed with youth & achieving things whilst young.  Roxy Bourdillon (she/her) spent a decade bouncing between jobs, dealing with rejec...

“I wish I’d grew up in a household… in a world... that would have allowed me to live a softer life and be kinder to myself. To be more open. More trusting. But unfortunately, that’s just not how it was for me. And for many people.” This is just part of my conversation with my guest for this week’s episode of ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ as they reflect on their experience of growing up in an environment t...

“I know that my parents loved me fiercely. I’m not sure if they liked me. And that dominated a lot of the relationships in my life & so that means that there was a wrongness in me.” Feeling different growing up as a queer child is a common thread for many guests on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ This week’s guest echoes that. Gray Burke-Stowe (he/him) is the Lead Researcher for Trans+ History Week so I...

I credit this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ with getting me involved with our LGBTQ+ staff network when we were colleagues which essentially kickstarted what I am doing now.  Terry Eastham (he/him) is a proud & loud LGBT+ activist. He’s the driving force behind much of London South Bank University’s Pride activities as well as being heavily involved in UNISON’s LGBT+ group where, as wel...

“I was going on random forums & adding people as friends saying ‘I just want to hear your story’. They weren’t particularly mind blowing or interesting but just hearing people share what they’d been through made me really comforted.” This simple act of interviewing people to help them understand their own experience for this guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ led to the creation of Love Queers , a...

“The scene saved me on so many levels.” This week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ shares as she reflects on her love of the 90s LGBTQ+ scene. She truly deserves her status as Queer Clubland royalty. As a Club Promoter & Host, Paula Harrowing (she/her) was a driving force behind some of London’s most popular nights, including Queer Nation & Fruit Machine, and particularly events for queer w...

This week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ was not a particularly ambitious teenager. It was generally teased that he likely wouldn’t go on to achieve anything great. Fast forward to today and three degrees, a published book & an Honorary Doctorate later, he’s the leading figure in integrating intersectionality, inclusion and equity in higher education systems, policy and programmes both nation...

This week’s guest was described at school as a ‘natural born leader’ - and it’s clear to see why. Tash Koster-Thomas (she/her) is a DEI consultant & educator, public speaker & activist. She also runs Breaking the Distance , a travel blog with her wife, Marthe, which explores their love of culture, their life together & positive queer representation. Tash is mum to almost two-year old S...

“I feel like I’ve lived a hundred lives. With so much more to live!” My guest for this episode of ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ has covered A LOT of ground in her career in a multitude of roles across various industries. Yet I know - and love - her as a champion of inclusion & community and the Co-Founder of Bērytī , a Lebanese restaurant in Barcelona that not only celebrates Lebanese culture but also...

“I didn’t go home for a week. This is my tribe. This is where I’m supposed to be.” This was my guest’s recount of the moment she met other LGBTQ+ people like her for the first time & the joy on her faces as she tells this story of pure affirmation. It’s a feeling I remember well, as would many queer people I’m sure. Angel Maxine (she/her) is a prominent Ghanaian trans artist, musician, and act...