Verandah Talk

We are honoured to welcome Trish Muirhead, CEO and founder of the Ashdon Jazz Academy, to our verandah. Following the tragic loss of her 14-year-old daughter to suicide, Trish channelled her grief into creating a lasting legacy. Today, her charity provides vital one-to-one mentoring and support for young women navigating emotional difficulties and mental health challenges. We’ve always been incred...

This week, we are absolutely thrilled to welcome our very dear friend and fellow BiBi Crew founding member, Beverley Michaels, to the verandah. Bev takes us right back to the 80s, reflecting on her starring role in the seminal Black British film Babylon . We share a lot of laughs reminiscing about our early days creating the UK’s first all-female Black comedy group, before exploring Bev's insp...

Leadership coach and author, Jackee Holder, joins us on our verandah in this episode. Jackee contributed to our book, Still Breathing, but Suzette’s connection actually goes back over 30 years to the early days in the Rhythm Writers group! Jackee is a passionate "tree advocate." She shares how a breathless run in a park during a period of burnout sparked a profound, lifelong connection w...

Filmmaker, activist, and curator Veronic McKenzie joins us on the verandah today. We hear about Veronica's award-winning films and her work on the Vanguard project, which documented Black queer history in the UK. We also hear about her chaotic experiences at Live TV in the 90s. Who remembers the News Bunny? Veronica also talks about her current project, a short film about Nina Simone, which sh...

British-Nigerian solicitor and equalities practitioner, Uzo Iwobi CBE is our guest on the verandah this week. Professor Uzo talks about the racial discrimination she faced on route to becoming a solicitor, including being told she couldn't work in the legal profession due to her race. She went on to become an adviser to the Welsh Government as its Specialist Policy Adviser on Equalities. She h...

Patrick Vernon is a Windrush campaigner and chair of Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, which manages a £6 billion budget for 1.4 million people. He joins us on the verandah to talk about his incredible work in reducing health inequalities for which he's received an OBE. We also hear about the importance of representation in boardrooms to influence policy and decision-making. We ta...

For our first episode of 2026, we’re delighted to welcome Mzz Kimberley onto our verandah.  Kim is a singer, actress, cabaret performer and a prominent LGBTQIA+ activist. In this episode, we learn about her vast portfolio of work and her role in organising a trans-led stage at London Pride.  She talks about the need for unity among Black and trans communities. “I always make a point of complimenti...

Award-winning actor, writer and playwright, Pamela Nomvete joins us on our verandah today to talk about her career and some of the hurdles she’s overcome on the way.  Her parents were exiled from South Africa in the 1950s due to their opposition to the apartheid regime. She talks passionately about moving to her parents' newly free homeland in the 1990s to further her acting career, after a Br...

We're excited to welcome the acclaimed artist and curator Sharon Walters onto our verandah.  Sharon’s work includes a National Portrait Gallery commission to celebrate the political and social activists Eric and Jessica Huntley, and an ongoing project - called "Seeing Ourselves" - focused on representation and legacy for Black women. You may also have seen her work on ITV as she desi...

Broadcaster, political and financial analyst, Albie Amankona, is our latest guest on the verandah. Albie co-founded Conservatives Against Racism in response to the murder of George Floyd and talks about the need for a merit-based system in both politics and the arts. He talks about his ambitions to become an MP one day and his admiration for those who do the role with real conviction on both the l...

Award-winning wedding hair and makeup artist, Pam Wrigley, joins us on our verandah this week. Pam talks to us about how she prioritises customer satisfaction over accolades, and the importance of making brides feel beautiful and confident on their wedding day. We hear about the joy motherhood brought Pam. And despite her serious business acumen over the last 20 years, why the businesswoman tag si...

We're delighted to welcome playwright, novelist, critic and broadcaster Bonnie Greer onto our verandah this week. Bonnie reflects on her lifetime in activism, the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on her identity, and the challenges faced by younger generations in navigating social media and visibility. She discusses a poignant encounter with writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin and t...

The remarkable Dame Elizabeth Anionwu—trailblazing nurse, author, lecturer, and the UK’s first sickle cell and thalassemia specialist - is our guest on the verandah today. A Dame of the British Empire and recipient of the Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award, her legacy spans healthcare, education, and tireless advocacy.  Dame Elizabeth shares how the three Ps—Professional, Personal, and Po...

In this episode of Verandah Talk , we’re joined by the acclaimed actor, playwright, director, and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah. From his dream veranda in the hills of Grenada—overlooking the ocean, surrounded by mountains and family photos—Kwame offers us a cold glass of coconut water and an intimate glimpse into his world.  He shares the story behind leaving his birth name, Ian Roberts, and how h...

The incredible Rakie Ayola joins us on our imaginary verandah. Rakie is a BAFTA-winning actor, producer, and founder of Shanty Productions.   Rakie shares stories from her remarkable career, including what it’s really like working with Jeff Goldblum. She also confesses how she might just be the best—and worst—neighbour you could ask for!  She discusses the challenges and complexities she faces as...

Welcome to our verandah - let us show you around. We are Suzette and Suzanne, and this taster introduces you to not only ourselves, but also some of the people who contributed to our book, Still Breathing: 100 Black Voices on Racism - 100 Ways to Change the Narrative.   It's a collection of inspiring individuals with a rich and diverse collection of experiences, and this episode gives you an i...