I Was on the Verge of Quitting My Job, That's When I Took the risk. Every creative career has a moment where it almost doesn't happen. For Imaan Islow founder of IslowStudio that moment came in bed, on the verge of quitting her job, realising she'd spent years pouring into everyone else and forgotten her own craft in the process.In this Season 1 finale, Sham traces the full arc that led there: growing up the only girl among five brothers, moving from Germany to the UK as a child, training and qualifying as a teacher before deciding the classroom wasn't for her, and years spent in care work while photography sat quietly on the side. Imaan opens up about the mixed reactions when she finally chose herself, the friendships that shifted as a result, and what it actually took to turn a side-project into IslowStudio a name she's building as a generational legacy for her family.They also get into the craft itself: why she believes it's the skillset and not the camera, the boundaries she's set as a female photographer, and her advice for the next generation of girls finding their eye behind the lens.A conversation about the cost of pouring into everyone else, and the risk it takes to finally choose yourself.Follow Department of Talking Sense: @departmentoftalkingsenseFollow IslowStudio: https://www.instagram.com/islowstudio/Follow Imaan: https://www.instagram.com/i.isl._/Subscribe for more honest, story-driven conversations on culture, identity, and the people building something real.Timestamp Chapter00:00 Welcome Imaan Islow to DOTS00:47 Meet the crew & catching up01:55 The Somali-Italian surname story02:40 Only girl, five brothers03:22 Primary school & moving from Germany04:30 Secondary school & finding sisterhood05:40 GCSEs, art & falling in love with heritage07:49 Where the creative spark began: her dad's camera10:15 Learning to cook, clean & balance14:00 Choosing subjects: media, photography & religious studies18:59 Becoming a qualified teacher (unexpectedly)20:04 "You should have failed" family pressure22:31 Why she never taught in a classroom26:00 Years in care work & never dropping photography28:07 The verge of quitting: the night everything changed29:23 Mixed reactions from friends & family37:41 The Islo Studio praise segment40:01 Why she named it after her family44:11 The Diary Room booking story47:43 The vision: a creative hub, not just a business48:57 6-month & 5-year plans58:25 It's not about the camera it's the skillset1:01:18 Advice to the next generation of girls1:03:50 Closing thoughts & Season 1 wrapDepartment of Talking Sense, DOTS podcast, Imaan Islow, IslowStudio, quitting your job for your passion, career change story, Somali photographer, Somali videographer UK, Birmingham podcast, UK podcast, teacher to photographer, creative entrepreneur podcast, female photographer UK, photography journey, behind the camera, self-taught photographer, wedding photographer interview, career burnout, choosing yourself, Society and Culture podcast, women in photography, British Somali podcast, small business growth UK, personal transformation podcast, faith and identity podcast, UK creative industry

What happens when you combine discipline, faith, purpose, and a love for running?

In this episode of Department of Talking Sense, Sham sits down with Nafs, founder of Dimensions Running Club, to explore a journey that goes far beyond fitness.

From growing up between Germany and Birmingham, working with Nike, discovering running, building one of Birmingham's fastest-growing communities, overcoming personal challenges, navigating marriage, and staying grounded through faith this conversation is full of honest stories and practical life lessons.

Whether you're a runner, entrepreneur, student, or simply trying to improve your life, this episode offers insights into resilience, consistency, leadership, and finding purpose through community.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & Meet Nafs

01:15 Nike invites him to Spain

05:43 Birmingham Half Marathon experience

07:09 Working at Nike isn't just a job

08:41 Growing up in Germany & moving to Birmingham

10:10 Lessons from his father

11:46 Culture shock arriving in England

15:00 School life and finding confidence

18:16 Childhood, discipline & staying out of trouble

20:05 Football, university & changing direction

21:46 The life-changing police stop

24:56 Ghana, family & perspective

28:05 Ramadan, faith & building consistency

31:15 Returning to the UK with a new mindset

34:49 University, sports science & personal growth

39:48 Family, marriage & responsibility

44:57 Supporting each other through adversity

50:02 Building character through hardship

53:23 The birth of Dimensions Running Club

55:08 Growing a community with Nike

58:35 What makes Dimensions different?

1:00:18 Why community matters

1:03:48 Diversity, inclusion & welcoming everyone

1:05:36 One year of Dimensions: lessons learned

1:09:14 The future vision for Dimensions

1:10:59 Collaborations, Nike & what's next

1:12:52 Advice to his younger self

1:15:53 Final reflections & where to find Dimensions

Burale joins Department of Talking Sense to discuss his remarkable journey from poetry and music to becoming the founder of After Hours and co-founder of Aspiring Young Minds.

We explore football media, sports journalism, youth mentoring, entrepreneurship and the importance of documenting communities and building opportunities for the next generation.

Burale also shares stories from his past, lessons learned through hardship, and explains why he believes England will finally lift the World Cup in 2026.

This episode is a conversation about purpose, creativity, faith and legacy.

What does it really take to leave the UK, move abroad and build a life in the Middle East?

In this episode, Sham sits down with Maryam from Ventured Teaching to discuss her journey from Birmingham teacher to entrepreneur helping educators secure opportunities abroad.

We explore the realities of teaching in Dubai and Qatar, career progression overseas, international school culture, entrepreneurship, social media growth and the lessons learned from mentoring dozens of teachers through the relocation process.

This conversation also dives into personal growth, relationships, risk-taking and the mindset required to create opportunities beyond your comfort zone.

Whether you're a teacher, entrepreneur or someone considering a major life change, this episode offers practical advice and honest insights.

We need more people doing positive content - Waviest In this episode of Department of Talking Sense, I sits down with Ahmed, better known as Waviest, for a powerful, funny and honest conversation about identity, Muay Thai, social media, personal growth, London vs Birmingham, faith, content creation and the pressure of becoming someone worth watching.Ahmed opens up about where the name “Waviest” came from, why Muay Thai changed his life, dealing with a serious back injury, pulling out of his first sanctioned fight, and how he balances being a multifaceted creator without forcing himself into one box.The conversation also dives into networking, confidence, university, warehouse work, moving to the UK, working with children, the future of long-form content, and why creators have a responsibility to influence young people positively.From deep reflections to wild debates, red flag/green flag games, Birmingham banter and real brotherhood — this episode is everything DOTS stands for: honest conversation, humour, growth and talking sense without pretending to have it all figured out.Make sure you like, comment, subscribe and share this episode.Follow Ahmed Waviest:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waviesstt/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCnWa3s-k8EUsP5UaTHgCxAw Hosted by ShamInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/southsideshami/Department of Talking SenseFor studio lighting and gear.https://amzn.to/4nn6Kalhttps://amzn.to/4wiTlV7https://amzn.to/4f9ohRqhttps://amzn.to/4uGtF30#DepartmentOfTalkingSense #DOTS #AhmedWaviest #Waviest #UKPodcast #BirminghamPodcast #MuslimPodcast #MuayThai #ContentCreator #SocialMediaGrowth #PersonalGrowth #LondonVsBirmingham #Networking #FaithAndGrowth #PodcastInterview #UKContentCreator #BirminghamCreators #SelfImprovement #YoungCreators #TalkingSense

Gatekeeping is for haters - Jabril Aden CEO and Co-Founder of Centauri.

In this episode we go through the story of a young CEO and Co-Founder of a thriving company that has quickly secured itself many clients and grew like wildfire. we discuss his childhood days and what made him take the jump into starting Centauri, we discuss the ups and downs of the business moments he felt like it couldn't continue anymore. and what drives him most, we gain an insight into a young man who constantly performs at such a high level that it makes everyone around feel like they are not moving.

Youth and Community Advocate The Story of a Mother on a Mission.In this episode we speak with Nimo a teacher, headmaster and a youth and community advocate, having worked in several schools and played many different roles today we hear her story and why she does what she does. If anything said in this episode you find useful we are glad to hear and always be off help. Episodes will be coming out every other week so drop a follow to keep up with us.Follow on tiktok - ‪@Departmentoftalkingsense‬ Follow on instagram- ‪@Departmentoftalkingsense‬

D’s Kitchen Story: From the Streets to the Stove | DOTS PodcastIn this gripping episode of the Department of Talking Sense, we sit down with the founder of D’s Kitchen — the viral Somali-infused fast food sensation.From his early days of hustling through Snapchat food orders to building physical locations in London, Bristol, and now Birmingham, he shares the real story behind the journey — raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal.We talk: • The importance of family and friendship in building something real • His relationship with Islam, and how faith helped ground him • Leaving behind a life of illegal activity to build something legit and lasting • The highs and lows of entrepreneurship • What it means to carry culture through foodThis isn’t just a business story. It’s a redemption arc. A masterclass in resilience. A reminder that you can start again and win.Watch now and get inspired by the story behind the food that’s colouring cities red. Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to support independent voices telling real stories.

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Department of Talking Sense (DOTS) Podcast — the unapologetically honest podcast that dives into the chaos of life with common sense, sarcasm, and unfiltered truth.In this powerful episode, we explore the raw realities of motherhood, womanhood, and the vital importance of self-care.Joining us is the incredible Nasra, Co-founder and co-host of Entry Level Mums Podcast and Founder of HanaCodes and Bride The Gap in Tech; two platforms that empower women to reach their full potentials. Together, we get into the emotional and mental toll of parenting, the identity shifts women face after motherhood, and how to find balance between nurturing others and caring for yourself.We delve into: • The journey behind Entry Level Mums and HanaCodes • The myth of the “perfect mother” • Parenting as an only child • Reclaiming your identity post-motherhood • Cultural and societal influences and pressures • Practical ways to prioritise YOU00:00:00 - Intro00:03:20 - Who where you before you became a mother?00:10:00 - Parenting as an only child00:18:00 - The juxtaposition of coming from big families and small families when raising children00:24:00 - The effort it takes to raise a child00:30:00 - 60 and pregnant????00:34:00 - BUN them kids00:37:40 - Shoutout to SAWIYA00:39:00 - How Entry Level Mums came to be00:45:20 - Mum Club00:46:40 - Cultural and societal pressures00:49:30 - Dating as a single parent00:51:00 - What is a "Good Man"?00:55:30 - Everybody needs to go through heartbreak!00:58:00 - Would you date a man with kids?01:01:00 - 3 things you wish women were more vocal about during pregnancy01:05:00 - Romanticising marriage and parenthood01:07:00 - WHY IS THIS MAKING ME ANGRY?01:13:35 - What did you learn?01:15:00 - Kids are calculated!01:17:30 - THAT SMELL SHIT01:17:50 - OutroWhether you’re a mum, thinking of becoming one, or simply navigating the many layers of womanhood — this episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and refreshing advice.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered conversations that make sense.

Instagram:@studionasra@hanacodesxo@departmentoftalkingsense Subscribe for weekly episodes on tech, culture, personal growth, and making sense of the madness.

In this powerful episode of Department of Talking Sense (DOTS), we sit down with Hana Abdi, also known as HanaCodes—a leading voice in tech, diversity, and digital empowerment. From working with global giants like Google and Uber to founding her own platform aimed at breaking down systemic barriers, Hana shares her journey as a Black Muslim woman in tech, her thoughts on inclusion, and how she’s building a legacy through code and community.We explore: • Her journey into tech and overcoming imposter syndrome • How she navigates being a woman of color in male-dominated spaces • Practical tips for breaking into the tech industry • The mission behind HanaCodes and how she’s making tech more accessible • Balancing leadership, creativity, and personal well-beingWhether you’re a tech enthusiast, aspiring founder, or just someone seeking real talk and inspiration—this episode will challenge you to rethink what’s possible.