In this episode, Paolo and Paul visit Become, the charity supporting Looked After Children and Care Leavers, for an inspiring conversation with actress Sonya Nisa—Waterloo Road, Casualty, Red Rose, Damsel—and the charity’s Chief Executive, Katharine Sacks-Jones.

As Become’s first celebrity ambassador, Sonya shares her story of growing up in care, having lived with five foster families and in a children’s home by the age of 14. She speaks about the challenges of instability, the importance of culture in fostering, and how finding unconditional love with her final foster parents, Linda and Alan, transformed her life.

Together with Katharine, the episode also explores the impact of long-distance placements, the gaps in the current care system, and how Sonya is using her voice to campaign for change.

For more information:
Become Charity https://becomecharity.org.uk/
X https://x.com/BecomeCharity 
Instagram   / becomecharity 
Facebook   / becomecharity 

Follow Sonya: Instagram   / sonyanisa5  or X https://x.com/sonyanisa5

Credits:
Produced by Simon Wady
Filmed by Adrian Tanner, Many Hands Productions
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band

Thank you for listening.

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Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

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May we all shine on.

In this episode, Paolo and Paul sit down with the incredible Paris Bartholomew, a UK-based psychologist, lecturer, and care experience advocate whose story of survival, healing, and purpose will stay with you long after listening.

Paris shares her journey from a childhood marked by trauma and abuse to becoming a voice for change in the care system. She reflects on her early years, the fierce women writers who shaped her, and how storytelling and education became her refuge.

The conversation explores trauma, memory, forgiveness, and the power of therapy—especially for care-experienced people. Paris opens up about the painful process of reading her care files, confronting her mother’s mental illness, understanding the roots of her pain, and ultimately learning to forgive.

Toni Morrison’s words set the tone: “She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order."

By the end, Paris shows us what it means to truly gather the pieces - and shine on.

Connect with Paris:
Website https://parisbartholomew.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parismotivates/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/survive_grow_inspire__/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paris-bartholomew-b01852a1/

Thank you to our sponsors Bibb Egan and Bet Enabling for supporting the show and helping us bring these important stories to light. https://bibbegan.co.uk/

Credits:
Produced by Simon Wady
Recorded at Podcast Room, Great Portland Street
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

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May we all shine on.

Following last week’s episode with Sonya Nisa, Waterloo Road actress and Become ambassador, Paul and Paolo talk more with Catherine Sacks-Jones, outgoing CEO of Become.

Catherine reflects on her time at Become and the transformative power of giving care-experienced young people the support and respect they deserve, and unpacks the origins of the charity—from a kitchen table magazine to a national movement—and the systemic challenges that persist in the UK care system, from cliff-edge transitions at 18 to children being sent hundreds of miles from home.

Sonya talks using her experience of care as a voice of hope and advocacy as Become’s first celebrity ambassador. Her message to her younger self? “Love is given, not earned. You deserve to be happy.”

For more information:

📢 Sign the #GoneTooFar petition and learn more at Become's website https://becomecharity.org.uk/
X https://x.com/BecomeCharity 
Instagram   / becomecharity 
Facebook   / becomecharity 

Follow Sonya: Instagram   / sonyanisa5  or X https://x.com/sonyanisa5

Produced by Simon Wady
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

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May we all shine on.

This is part two of our interview with best-selling author Jenny Molloy.

In the first part of Paolo and Paul's conversation with Jenny, they focused on her first memoir "Hackney Child". In episode eight, they discuss her follow-up "This Isn't Love", sharing her experience in care and the immense risks faced by children in care that are often overlooked by society and the authorities.

Jenny speaks candidly about the emotional and psychological toll of growing up in care, feeling a lack of self-worth and a sense of belonging, she discusses the misconception that children in care are somehow to blame for the abuse they face, often being dismissed as "impossible to manage" or even "asking for it" due to their circumstances. These vulnerable children are left in limbo, too old to be considered children by the system but far too young to be exposed to the adult world.

Having been in care since the age of nine, Jenny opens up about her untold experiences after leaving the safety of her children's home at 13, moving into a ‘secure unit’. While the unit may have been designed to provide security, Jenny reveals that it was far from being a place of safety.

And with Paolo and Paul leading the conversation, despite the dark subject matter, expect some humour (and Spurs being shoehorned in whenever possible) and ultimately a story of hope, resilience, acceptance and forgiveness.

It will leave you wanting more...

For more information:
Click on the link to buy Jenny's books https://amzn.to/3DroRtq
Follow Jenny on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hackneychild/

Credits:
Produced by Simon Wady
Filmed by Adrian Tanner, Many Hands Productions
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

Watch episodes on our YouTube page.

May we all shine on.

In episode seven, Paolo and Paul visit the offices of Coram Voice to learn about their writing competition for care-experienced young people and meet one of last year’s winners, Evan Amery. Evan’s journey is one of resilience, courage, and transformation.

At just 11 years old, Evan was outed by a close friend. After coming out as transgender, and struggling with his mental health Evan, aged 14, found himself in a psychiatric unit. Upon his discharge into foster care, he faced a new fear—life with strangers. But his foster family, Nick and Jackie, provided the love, acceptance, and support he needed to heal and be himself.

Through poetry and performance, Evan rediscovered his confidence, embraced his identity, and found a way to express his emotions. Winning last year’s Coram Voice competition played a significant role in his journey, giving him a platform to share his story and inspire others.

Paolo and Paul also speak with Linda Briheim-Crookall, who shares insights into this year’s writing competition and the incredible growth of Coram Voice. From its humble beginnings in a social worker’s front room, the organisation has evolved into a vital support system for nearly 10,000 care-experienced children and young people in 2021/22.

For more information:
Buy Evan's book: https://amzn.to/3RkL7Ix

Learn more about Coram Voice: https://coramvoice.org.uk/
Information on this year’s writing competition: https://coramvoice.org.uk/get-involved/voices-writing-competition/

Credits:
Produced by Simon Wady
Filmed by Adrian Tanner, Many Hands Productions
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

Watch episodes on our YouTube page.

May we all shine on.

In this episode, Paolo and Paul hit the road to sit down with Jenny Molloy, the best-selling author of Hackney Child and This Isn’t Love.

In the first part of a two-episode special, we talk about the events detailed in Hackney Child. At just nine years old, Jenny, along with her two brothers, went to the Stoke Newington police station and asked to be taken into care after an angry mob attacked their family home. The mob’s fury was sparked by the revelation that Jenny’s mother had been working as a prostitute, and one of her clients was a neighbour’s husband.

Although Jenny escaped the neglect of her alcoholic parents and the severe poverty they faced, life in care still brought its own set of challenges. However, as Jenny shares, the caring staff and social workers who saw something good in her became her saviours during this turbulent time.

This conversation is one of resilience, survival, and the joy found in small moments of happiness.

For more information:
Click on the link to buy Jenny's books.
Follow Jenny on Instagram.

Credits:
Produced by Simon Wady
Filmed by Adrian Tanner, Many Hands Productions
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

Watch episodes on our YouTube page.

May we all shine on.

This week, Paolo and Paul sit down with Mark Riddell MBE, the government’s National Adviser for Care Leavers, for a deeply personal conversation about how his time in the Scottish care system shapes his work to improve the lives of young people transitioning out of care.

From his childhood with an alcoholic father and the painful loss of his mother, Mark shares the emotional story that led him into the care system. A love for music and Mod culture provided some escape, but he ultimately succumbed to peer pressure and became involved in glue-sniffing.

He pushed his care staff to their breaking point, and after a chaotic weekend that nearly landed him in jail, he was ready to be moved to yet another home. But when the care manager arrived, instead of sending him away, he told Mark, “This is your home, and you’re staying. We’ll just replace the windows and doors.”

That moment became a turning point for Mark.

As Mark says: "Even for a normal 16-year-old, to face the world on their own at such an age is hard and terrifying and it is much worse for care leaver children. The feeling of abandonment, low self-esteem and trust issues make them more likely to take the wrong path leading to self-destruction." Out of eight kids in one of the care homes Mark stayed at only four are still alive. This is why he felt the system had to change.

What follows is a remarkable journey of self-discovery, via Sylvester Stallone – and now meeting the original Cappuccino Kid –  and how this led him to become a passionate advocate for change, and why he’s determined to prevent the same struggles from impacting future generations of care leavers.

So, order a cappuccino, sit back and enjoy our latest episode. It is a classic reminder that we all shine on.

For more information:

• Follow the links to buy Mark’s books The Cornflake Kid and The Cappuccino Kid.
• Follow Mark on X 

Produced by Simon Wady.
Recorded at the Tileyard Studios, with thanks to Andres Albert. 
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band.

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

Watch episodes on our YouTube page.

May we all shine on.

In this episode of But We All Shine On, hosts Paolo and Paul invite you to join them at De Amicis as they reflect on the first month of the show. 

With their signature blend of honesty, humour, and insight, they look back on their conversations with two incredible guests: Dr Jim Goddard and Pauline Black.

Paolo and Paul dive deep into the themes that emerged from these interviews, touching on issues of identity, race, and acceptance - and Paul's inability to have a Bowie haircut. They discuss how these themes have shaped their own lives and explore the powerful moments from the first two episodes that resonated with them.

And yes, Skoggies shoes make another appearance – because you can’t beat a pair of Skoggies!

So, grab a seat at the table and join Paolo and Paul as they continue to talk about what it means to shine on.

Join the conversation! Email your thoughts, reflections, or questions to: [email protected].

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share if you enjoyed this episode!

Due to technical issues on the day, we apologise for the camerawork and audio quality not meeting our usual standards during the first half of the podcast.

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

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May we all shine on.

In episode three, Paolo and Paul talk to Pauline Black, the iconic lead singer of Two-Tone legends The Selecter.

Pauline was born on October 3, 1953, the daughter of a Nigerian man. As a baby, she was adopted by a white family in Romford, Essex. 

In this enthralling and moving interview, Pauline talks about the loneliness of being adopted and growing up mixed-race in a predominantly white environment. She shares the difficulty of not having role models, as well as the frustration of not having the vocabulary to express her feelings at the time. 

By the 1970s, Pauline embraced her Black identity, even though it clashed with her mother's expectations. She later changed her surname to "Black," a radical choice that highlighted her racial identity. As lead singer of The Selecter, she became a prominent figure in the 2-Tone ska movement, standing out as one of the few Black women in the genre.

Pauline eventually traced her birth mother in her 40s, discovering a connection to her Nigerian father and a reunion with her birth mother in Australia. In her journey of self-discovery, she stresses the importance of supporting adopted children with resources and connections to their heritage.

Tune in to hear more about Pauline's powerful story of identity, adoption, class, race, and finding her place in the world through music.

More information

• Buy Pauline's autobiography. 
• Find out more about The Selecter here.
• Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story (documentary film). 

Produced by Simon Wady.
Recorded at the Tileyard Studios, with thanks to Andres Albert.
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band.
"Human Algebra" by The Selecter was used with the kind permission of DMF Music.

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

Watch episodes on our YouTube page.

May we all shine on.

In episode two of But We All Shine On, Paolo Hewitt and Paul Anderson-Walsh talk to Dr Jim Goddard, Chair of the Care Leavers Association.

Jim Goddard is an expert on the care system and currently serves as the Chair of The Care Leavers Association. Jim and his brother spent their childhood in children’s homes in Liverpool and Birkenhead, before moving into a family group home that was meant to replicate family life but was marred by a “randomly violent” care worker.

Through it all, Jim remained academically successful, enjoying the sanctuary of libraries, and eventually going on to university — a rare achievement for someone from the care system at the time. Jim has also become a historian of the care experience and is working on a book about the history of the care system since 1945.

As Chair of The Care Leavers Association, Jim has been involved in campaigning for the rights of care leavers, including lobbying the government for improvements to the care system and helping individuals access their care files. His dedication to advocating for the welfare and well-being of care leavers continues to make a significant impact.

In a wide-ranging and enthralling conversation, Jim talks about his journey through the care system, the history of care, his academic success, and his work for The Care Leavers Association helping people access their care files.

For more information about accessing your care files: https://www.careleavers.com/what-we-d...

For more information on The Care Leavers Association: https://www.careleavers.com/

Follow Dr Jim Goddard on X: https://x.com/JimGoddard1

With thanks to Andres Albert at Tileyard Studios, Kings Cross.

Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band.

May we all shine on.

www.butweallshineon.com

Thank you for listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, remember to like and subscribe...and tell a friend.

Keep up-to-date on guests, future episodes and other news on our website, including all our social platforms.

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May we all shine on.