DID YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN PECKHAM? This topic was already on my radar. This episode was recorded earlier this year in April. Many of us already have felt displaced when it comes to black hair shops such as PAKS. So recent events just brings back what we already knew was occurring within our community.

We are joined by the one and only Marie Baker. She was born in Uganda. She is a truly beautiful soul, who own's Eurafro World in Eastbourne. She is a qualified hairdresser who has been in the industry for many years. 

Many of you may not know but I lived in East Sussex for a long time. Marie's shop was my saviour. Black women cannot live without gracing their crown. Going to London just to get my hair done would of been a mission. Marie's shop provides such services for all those in Eastbourne who are in desperate need for their afro hair to be blessed. 

On this episode we spoke about Marie's journey into hairdressing and how she studied to become the hairdresser she is today. How she ventured into the uk, Germany and Tanzania. She also shares about her childhood and her daughter Nicole. Marie also was passionate to speak about the toxicity within the black hair dressing industry and the products that are causing cancer. We also touched on many other topics regarding African culture and spirituality. This is a insightful episode which was a pleasure to create. 

Be sure to let us know if you enjoyed this episode.

Follow us on instagram @C.N.T.B.H 

As we learnt in part 1 Maya Matanah is a qualified in many areas. We delve deeper into Maya's education and musical theatre school on this episode.

Foundations within community:

"Created and managed a Performance Art Youth Theatre within Lewisham, (1987)  Kept it functioning for 12 years (named Lewisham Black Arts Group  then renamed Loco Bravura Arts Group).

Did some travelling and self development.

2005, Continued the works in the Arts with the introduction of health and wellbeing. The Spirited Palace was created.  Within that hub, plantbased Vegan food, natural products, music, books,  clothing, jewelry, healing workshops, yoga, meditation, massage and such, was prioritised on the premises. As well, I managed to extend parts of our healing process as projects which we share insights on such lifestyle to schools, colleges, youth clubs, elders centres and so on.

Life and trials came upon me so I took time out.

Returned with LoveGift Vegan 2013  with the same vision as was given for creating The Spirited Palace.

To date: Many lessons learnt.

My stability with the vision that was  given several years ago?... still my mission... which is,  the procedures to maintain principles for assisting communities,  wholistically."

Please follow Love Gift Vegan @lovegiftvegan on Instagram. Support in anyway you can as Maya Matanah is a beacon of a our community. As Maya was taught to respect her elders so was I. I have learnt so much from this episode and I hope you have too. Thank you for listening.

On this episode we had a Conversation with Maya Matanah. (The SoothSayer Who Cooks) I am so happy i had an opportunity to learn more about this incredible woman. It is a privilege to share this conversation with the world. Many currently in London may know Maya as the woman behind Love Gift Vegan. A vegan Carribean restaurant in South London. Maya also has My Inner Sanctuary right next door to Love Gift Vegan.  A space to receive healing such as massages, readings, crystals and collective gatherings. There is so much behind Maya and that is why we have two parts to this conversation, ha!  I wanted us to go right to the start of what made Maya become The Soothsayer who cooks and how she learnt to be at one with nature.

  We go right into Maya's humbling beginnings and her education on earth. Her family dynamic and how her mother lived for a party. We learn how Maya's grandmother played an important role to her life and how she saw the world especially spirituality. Maya was Born and raised in the Caribbean Island Grenada, Isle of Spice. We the learn how she came to London at 14. Maya then was faced with a new world but managed to always keep her connection to nature alive despite the conflict she may of had with authority in education or religion. 

"The season was returning to summer so seeing naked trees, high concrete buildings, when tropical country living was my homestead...There started confusion. 

2 days after arrival in London, I entered school for continued education, Me, a new teenager; a  secondary Catholic Girl School in Kensington, West London.

My Mother, my guardian whom I'd not seen for almost 9 year...a stranger to me.

Brought from the freedom and unity of island lifestyle; raised by Indigenous women; Women and Elder Men who taught me Holistic and Spiritual Practices ... understanding of natural medicines. Abilities to read signs of Natures Ways, including Indigenous Rituals for overall wellness...

Food habits... we ate what we grew.

To then be introduced to processed foods,  tin foods and packaged animal products... How was I to survive if this is to be my nourishment and continuous lifestyle?

Life was concrete hostility.

My daily  manoeuvres was to devise stability of mind and soul.

My mother was trying to manage parenting.

We lived, mother,  2 children in  a 1 bed basement room, with shared kitchen and bathroom.

Moved to South East London at the age of 14 to a better home.

My sister arrived to join us 3 years later.

I've lived south of the river ever since."

I hope you enjoy this episode and join us for part 2. As we go into more of Maya's Journey and where she currently is at now. This episode is also to support Maya in her business and contributions to our community. Please follow @Lovegift on instagram. Conversation's Need To Be Had! supports Maya and would urge everyone to donate to her Go Fund me Page.  Love Gift & My Inner Sanctuary are closed currently. Maya as we will discover in part two kept these two premises open during the pandemic without regular customers due to lockdown. She has been giving her heart to so many and now it is time we give back to Maya Matanah. A elder who has wisdom that not only nourishes the body but the mind , soul & spirit. 

It was a pleasure to have conversation with Andreena Leeanne on this episode. Andreena Leeanne is a Self-Employed Lived Experience Speaker, Writing Workshop Facilitator, Poet & Author of CHARRED: A survivor speaks her truth to inspire, a collection of poems published by Team Angelica in October 2020.

Andreena writes and performs poetry to come to terms with and speak out about her personal experiences with homelessness, mental health, childhood sexual abuse and the many other challenges she has faced in her life. By speaking her truth, she hopes to inspire and empower others to speak and write their truth.

Andreena delivers self-care writing workshops, performs her poetry at various events and facilitates two virtual open mic events specifically for the LGBT community (@PoetryLGBT) and adult survivors of abuse (@AdultSurvivorsOpenMic).

We delve right into Andreena's world and what made her into the woman she is today.

Trigger warning contains content of sexual abuse. 

We were honoured to have Teshay Makeda join us on Conversation's Need To Be Had! . Teshay Makeda is a Singer Songwriter and Vocal Healer. She has just released her debut EP " Omega Mother Goddess. "  Teshay Makeda has created her own sound called Roots and Soul influenced by her love for Reggae and Soul. Teshay Makeda allows us into her world and her heritage on this episode. Teshay Makeda shares her journey into music and how her Rastafarian up bringing influenced her. We also talk about gentrification, food health, spirituality and so much more. 

Teshay Makeda spoke openly on this podcast and it really filled this episode with so much wisdom. Be sure to keep in touch with her and follow her journey. @TeshayMakeda_

*Trigger warning*

contains sexual/ mental abuse.

We are back!!!  Chantelle is Joined by Monique. An ex-girlfriend she dated in her Late Teens. This reunion was unexpected from both sides but 2020 was a unexpected year.  Their Relationship was turbulent and Chantelle didn't know until this podcast they was "Official"  Monique played a significant part in Chantelle's Life journey. 

 Monique was studying at St Andrews University and invited Chantelle to live with her.  This experience opened Chantelle's mind who was 17 at the time. This is something Chantelle is grateful for as she experienced "university life" at St Andrews. However it was an intense and heartbreaking experience for Chantelle as she ran away from home to be with Monique.

This episode is about Forgiveness. Monique was not who she is today when they dated. As we discover on this podcast Monique was suffering from her own trauma and became the aggressor. Chantelle openly shares how she can now relate and forgive as she has a better understanding.  Chantelle and Monique delve into their past honestly and with a new perspective. This is truly a sacred moment of evolution between two beings who are just living and discovering each day. 

Monique is now a mother of two, a fiancé and is working for Support u a LGBT organisation in Reading. Chantelle was shocked to learn that Monique choose to be a single parent using IVF. This is what lead to Monique being asked to be on the Podcast. 

This episode we discuss many topics, I hope you're comfortable. Enjoy this open and honest conversation...

The continuation of Steph Thompson’s story. She goes into her alignment with Christianity. After feeling the desire to connect to God. Steph connected with a Church which changed her life. She found a place where she felt unconditional love.  After hiding her gender to her Church, she came out to her Pastor before being baptised. 

This then lead to Steph asking serious questions to herself and God. 

“Can she can still follow Christianity and be Trans?”

Steph then shares her choice to de-transition. She shares how she deliberated about the decision. 

This is Steph’s Story and it is important we listen with an open heart. She did not take conversion therapy. 

Thank you for tuning into Season 1 Of “ Conversation’s Need To Be Had!”

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to connect with Steph. 

Then here is her socials.

@__minimvlist

On our final Episode of Season 1.  

We have the pleasure of having a Conversation with Steph Thompson. This Podcast has been broken into two parts, as we really did flow!!

Steph is a Director, Producer and Writer. Her most recent project” Silenced” is available on Amazon Prime which is about Domestic Abuse. Directed by Sereena al Noor. 

Steph lives in Birmingham and is of Jamaican descent.  Steph was well known on the LGBT scene as a transgendered Man. She has recently De transitioned. Her bravery encouraged me to reach out as it is very rare hearing about de transition. Steph has Contributed within the LGBT community and even featured on a Trans documentary for the BBC. Where herself and someone else, went to Jamaica to come out. 

She allows us into her life on this podcast and the journey it took for her to unite back with Herself and God.

Part 1. We learn about Steph’s first understanding of Sexuality and Identity, Catfishing days, Stud-chronicles, Gay Scene,  Mental Health, Transition, The Impact of taking T and attempted suicide. 

Stef is incredible and it was an honour to share space with her for this podcast. Her story is inspirational. She has gone through alot but never folded. She is courageous and instead of punishing herself for what she went through, she accepted it. It’s important we do not judge her by society indoctrinations and hear a woman who has bravely evolved into who she truly is. 

On this Episode i was joined by my cousin Umreet. It was such a bizarre experience but im glad i get to share. We spoke in detail about Umreet's profession and how the pandemic has effected his career. He went into the benefits that have come because of the pandemic.

Umreet also discusses being a Sikh and how his faith helps him to navigate in the world. His understandings of the current protests by Farmers in  India. As explained on this podcast, It is much more complex then current times.  Umreet went into the history and impact of colonialization of India. Many may not know what the Punjab was split by the British and called Pakistan. It was important for me to show my solidarity with those currently fighting for their livelihoods as it is part of my heritage and without my grandparents immigrating we could of been in that situation. 

Umreet went into his perspectives on Fatherhood and how he parents his child around technology and social media. 

Did you enjoy this episode? feel free to get in touch, we would love to hear from you via socials. @c.n.t.b.h 

If you would like to hear more from Umreet then follow his page on Instagram IG. @s4nity_over_v4nity 

* Trigger Warning * 

This episode features Sexual exploitation, Human Trafficking.      

There was no stone left unturned in this episode. I had the pleasure of aligning with an absolute diamond who ironically has a project called Diamond you projects. I met this Queen in 2018 at beat-freeks in Birmingham.

Since then, Samantha has shared her story as well as working with some incredible organisations such as Amensty Uk. She shares in this episode  being groomed into prositution then the porn industry. Sadly Samantha was later sex trafficked across the united kingdom. She was at the hands of pure evil and was manipulated by a satanic cult member. She discusses how she freed herself and how she was supported in putting the perpetrator into prison.  Samantha's also shares how her now partner played an important role in helping her regain her life. They are beautiful couple and their love is inspirational.

Samantha is a courageous woman who dedicates her life to exposing the truth and her own experiences as well as of others. It was an absolute pleasure to witness such a fearless woman who is more then just a survivor. Samantha is an motivational speaker, activist, co founder of Stop Child Exploitation, business owner of  holistic health " Self ". She is boundless in what she has to offer and at her core it's always to help everyone. She is such a loving woman and demonstrates that we are not defined by what we have been through but who we are. Love will always overcome. 

This episode is filled with a lot of Revelations that some may find disturbing or hard to believe but it is important we listen to peoples stories. If you would like to give feedback, we would love to hear from you via our socials.  

To stay in-tune with Samantha, @samantha_dy / @diamondyouprojects / @onesselfwellbeing / @stop.child.expoltation