Pause. And Rewind...

“I’m happy to fail. I’m terrified by the idea that I wouldn’t have given something an enthusiastic go.” Joseph Galliano-Doig MBE (he/him) has carved his legacy & place in the LGBTQ+ history books as the man who founded Queer Britain, the nation’s first LGBTQ+ museum. And that statement above speaks to the person he is & his achievements. That all sounds quite formal. I bloody love Joe! Fro...

“You can’t really make change if you don’t know your own history”.  My first guest for 2025 on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ certainly knows her history. And with February marking the 20th anniversary of LGBT+ History Month, now seemed like a great time to sit down & chat with one of its co-founders, Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders (she/her). In 2005, Sue, along with Paul Patrick, launched the first eve...

“I am most proud that I know my worth in a way I didn’t. And that’s been something that’s been a concerted effort to build build my self-esteem, to build my self-confidence”. My final guest of 2024 for ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ is someone who brings energy, laughter & passion into what they do & the world. It’s Woosh Raza (he/him).  Woosh is a Human Resources professional who is embarking on an...

Right now is an exciting time for this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind..’ Dr Jack Lopez (he/him) has just left his 16 year career in academia to go it alone on a ‘self-imposed sabbatical’. It’s a huge change and one that Jack is excited about - despite the niggling adult responsibilities to contend with. As he tiptoes towards 50, Jack is allowing himself to believe that anything is possible. Ja...

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” This quote from the 2009 movie Coraline is one this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ lives by. And it flows through his work, impact & origin story. Olly Pike (he/him) is an illustrator, presenter, educator & all-round amazing human. He’s the Founder &...

“What are YOU going to do about it?” This was the response this week’s guest was met with from his manager after sharing some startling results from a Stonewall workplace survey. This was the catalyst for a plethora of work, initiatives & impact that Deon Pillay (he/him) has become known for. Deon is the Head of Technology, Enablement & Governance for Legal & General Investment Managem...

“I turned 30 this year and it has been the biggest block for me in terms of the next part of my life. I gave myself until my 30th. I was like, do what you want to do and then, by 30, I think it'll be time. And I fully expected, one way or another, to step off my life at 30. And I'm here still.” Those were heart-wrenching words to hear during my conversion with Ben Pechey (they/them), my...

“It’s not been an easy journey but it’s a journey I’d do again in a heartbeat. I know why I’m here & I don’t think there’s a lot of people that can say ‘I know why I’m on the planet right now’. I do. And what a blessing to know that.” This statement gave me chills during my chat with this week’s guest, Cynthia Fortlage, for ‘Pause. And Rewind…’. Cynthia (she/her) is referring to her mission to...

It’s not every day you get to have a chat with one of the most well-known, loved, dedicated and impactful LGBTQ+ activists in the country. Marc Thompson (he/him) has been a HIV awareness & LGBTQ+ rights activist for over 3 decades. He’s also a highly sought after thought leader and specialist in health promotion & education around sexual health, an advocate for Black LGBTQ+ communities, pu...

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have always been at the heart of her career and Marie-Helene Tyack (she/her) brings passion, joy & a deep commitment to what she does. Her 'day job' sees her leading on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Allianz Commercial globally and her 'gay job' is as Chair of the Allianz Global Pride Board. She's set up an incredible 28 Pride n...

"I'm proud of the communities that I'm part of.  To meet so many incredible people. And to be part of their stories, and to be part of their lives. Yeah, they make the world feel less alone and more beautiful." Community is fundamental to Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir (she/her). From growing up in Nigeria surrounded by family through to what she's doing now in her professional and v...

It was a casual conversation with a friend about teaching when they asked this week’s guest if they’d want to give it a go. “Yeh alright then” she said. And so began her career in education - one that has seen her change lives, pivot, innovate & create. Laila El-Metoui (she/her) is now a DEI consultant, educator & public speaker. She’s the founder of Pride in Education, Embassy Model Summi...

“What I’ve learned to be true is my intuition has never lied to me once. It doesn’t know how to lie”. Barry Brandon (he/ they/ her/ ze) aka The Queer Indigo lives at the intersections of advocacy & creativity, empowerment & entertainment. It’s Barry’s intuition that has landed him there - as a content creator, influencer, public speaker, emcee & host, community builder & LGBTQ+ lea...

I first saw Saski on an elevated platform in the middle of the parade during Pride in London as she hyped up the crowds & I thought ‘WOW. I want to be able to do that’. Her energy & warmth were both all enveloping & infectious  Saski (she/her), like many guests on 'Pause. And Rewind...' wears many hats. An LGBTQIA+ inclusion specialist & trainer. A public speaker, present...

This weeks guest is an activist, author, community builder & public speaker - as well as software engineer by day. They're also a bisexual role model & community leader so it's a timely episode as this week marks Bisexual Awareness Week! When Vaneet Mehta (he/him) first came up with the hashtag #BisexualMenExist, he did so for a number of reasons. To help challenge bi-erasure &am...

I've actually not met Eva Echo (she/they) in person yet but having known Eva for sometime, I'm always impressed by her insight, sharpness & humour. Whether a DEI session, social media content or her brilliant Tedx talk, Eva injects all of this into what she does so uniquely when sharing about mental health, neurodivergence, transness or current affairs. Eva is a well-known, respected...

At just 25 years old, Tate Smith (he/him) has recently launched his new business as a professional public speaker, Tate Smith Consulting Limited, and become a Company Director. This achievement has been in parallel with Tate's transition, which he began 5 years ago... and it all started with a simple lunch & learn talk at this workplace! Tate is an incredibly insightful, talented and wise...

"I choose me." These three simple words really hit me during this whirlwind episode of 'Pause. And Rewind..." with this bloody wonderful guest! Thea Bardot (they/she) is the Founder of Lightning Travel Recruitment, a travel & lifestyle recruitment consultancy that proudly does things differently to your standard & - let's say it - boring ones. With powerful messagi...

"My name is Calvin & I'm a nurse". It this guest's standard introduction that says so much about him. Professor Calvin Moorley (he/him) is a Professor of Diversity & Social Justice at London South Bank University which is where we met. As a former colleague & very much a friend, Calvin has been fundamental in my journey of allyship, education & awareness - as he...

Ever wondered who the awesome human is behind The Queer Chameleon, the world’s most adored cartoon reptile⁉️🌎🦎  Well I did & I was absolutely thrilled when it’s creator Amee Wilson (she/her) agreed to be a guest for ‘Pause. And Rewind... ‘ From its beginnings as a webcomic back in 2021 during lockdown to help Amee manage her anxiety, @queeeerchameleon has now taken on a life of its own with...

Sabah Choudrey (they/he) is an award winning activist & campaigner. An author, writer and international public speaker. A community organiser. A psychotherapist, youth worker and... a go go dancer! Impressive, right? We often see each other at events and I know all about Sabah's incredible achievements but it's not often we get to have a decent chat so recording an episode with them...

Paul Carruthers (he/him) is a nurse consultant at Gender Plus, the UK's first gender hormone service to receive CQC registration for treating trans and non-binary individuals aged 16 and over. He's also Mr Gay Britain 2023! Whilst campaigning for this accolade and since, Paul has been leveraging his title to champion trans rights, challenge false narrative around trans healthcare (deeply...

"There is nothing like a Black woman. We are the source." I love listening to Chloe Davies (she/her), my guest for this episode, speak whenever I get the opportunity. She is full of wisdom, insight & vision - and there's mic drop moments & t-shirt slogans a plenty! Undoubtedly partly due to her extensive career in marketing, advertising & branding but also her truly bril...

Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt is an organisational development consultant, writer, activist and all round amazing human. He's passionate about helping people to show up as their wholes selves... something he leads by example on and from listening to his story, it's always been that way. From being quite a serious kid who perhaps took things too seriously, Paul knew he was queer and despite having...

This week celebrates Non-Binary Awareness Week and the world is full of SO MANY INCREDIBLE non-binary individuals including this week's guest for Pause. And Rewind... Marley Conte (they/them). Marley is an Italian trans/non-binary freelance writer, speaker, consultant and content creator. Their passion for diversity, equality, inclusion and justice shines through and they harness they own liv...