Growing up with gal-dem

By gal-demSociety & Culture Personal Journals

Growing up with gal-dem episodes

June 02, 2022 Debbie on creating your own path
This week we are joined by Debbie: singer, songwriter and musician who has worked with the likes of Stormzy. Debbie speaks to Natty and Nie about being the middle child of Ghanian and Nigerian parents and how church music started her inspirations to become a musician from childhood.

In Debbie’s extract we look back on her experience in year 6 when she was reflecting on her time at primary school. When we are younger, we want nothing more than to grow up but Debbie reflects on just enjoying the time you have and letting that help you create a journey for your future.

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29 min
May 26, 2022 Daphne Palasi Andreades on the wonders of daydreaming and creativity
Following her debut book release Brown Girls, we are joined by the lovely Daphne Palasi Andreades. Her new book takes a deep dive into the lives of a variety of young women of colour growing up in Queens, New York. Daphne masterfully taps into various diasporas and communities to share their narrative as one whole.

In a Growing up with gal-dem first, Daphne’s extract is a tactile and colourful visual art piece she created when she was 11 years old. She reminds us of the joys of daydreaming and wondering, as we are taken through an immersive journey of creativity in a playful and inquisitive way.

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30 min
May 19, 2022 Radam Ridwan on deconstructing imaginary life milestones
This week on Growing up with gal-dem we’re joined by queer non-binary multi-disciplinary artist Radam Ridwan. Radam talks about how they created an authentic space on social media and the importance of setting boundaries online. We discussed how having safe queer spaces for people of colour are vital, and how the lack of them affected Radam while growing up.

Radam’s extract, written a few weeks after their 21st birthday, is a poetic narrative in which Radam looks forward on the time they have and what you ‘should’ be achieving by each age milestone. They reflect on deconstructing these timelines and pressures in order to recognise the space you have now.

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29 min
May 12, 2022 Dior Bediako on the importance of self care in a side hustle world
Welcome to this week’s episode of Growing Up with gal-dem, Tune in to our conversation with inspiring coach, keynote speaker and founder of Pepper Your Talk, Dior Bediako.

Natty and Nie talk to Dior all about her drive to build her own business and what it takes to keep it going, including letting go of animosity towards others. In her extract, we take a look at a text Dior sent to her ex and how to maximise every experience for the ultimate form of self-care.

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36 min
May 05, 2022 Mahalia on the true meaning of a love hangover
We’re back with season 7 of growing up with gal-dem, our amazing hosts natty Kasambala and Niellah Arboine!
This week, we’re kicking off with the amazing and one of a kind Mahalia who talks to us about her new song Whatever Simon Says and her inspiration growing up as a minority in her hometown environment - growing up with the pressure of being signed so young
and how she’s found self love through that.

Mahalia, Natty and Nie discuss the writing process for Mahalia’s hit Sober and the complex emotions and feelings of bringing this beautiful song to life. They also discuss how the music industry has developed, changed and evolved for music artists in 2022. Taking us through her music process, Mahalia discusses how her unique perspective from being up north allows her to carve her own journey in the London scene.

Produced by Aiwan Obinyan
Production by AiAi Studios
Production Assistant - Adedamola Bajomo
Creative Producer at gal-dem - Bijal Shah

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42 min
December 30, 2021 Anchal Seda on the power of affirmations and making a plan
It’s our final episode of season 6 and we are joined by the lovely Anchal Seda, social media content creator, presenter and culture champion. In this positive and inspiring episode Anchal talks to us about her new book, What Would the Aunties Say? And how it’s important to talk about uncomfortable but important topics in intergenerational culture settings. Anchal talks us through her extract which focuses on how to believe in yourself, the power of affirmations and planning - a great way to start the new year! Look out for the next season of Growing up with gal-dem when we return in 2022! Thank you so much for listening.
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29 min
December 23, 2021 Angela Camacho on being happy and alive from now to 105
Trigger warning. This episode of Growing up with gal-dem includes a mention of an abusive relationship and instances of violence.This week we are joined by Bonita Chola, Angela Camacho: indigenous creative, Bruja, and a community organiser for Wretched Of The Earth. Angela talks us through the differences between her South American culture vs the western influences that have been seeping through her life in London and how she remains true to her beliefs from protest culture to family values.We have another non-traditional extract as Angela shares an image of a party flyer from a venue she used to work in. Angela helps us relive the party scene of 2011 but also reminisces on her survival methods during a hard time in her life and how they help her life a happy life now.
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37 min
December 16, 2021 Aisha Shaibu on getting back out into the world
Content warning: this episode contains mentions of death and illnessIn this’s episode of Growing up with gal-dem Natty and Nie are joined by Aisha Shaibu, LGBTQ+ activist, cultural producer, and founder. We hear about the significance of queer nightlife in not only London but around the world and having safe, fun spaces for the community - owned by the community. For this week’s extract, Aisha shares a note she wrote 15 years ago after losing her grandma rediscovering the emotions she experienced and learning about the positive impact of living in an intergenerational household.
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35 min
December 09, 2021 Rachel Chinouriri on the importance of memories in creating who you are today
Content warning: this episode contains mentions of death
This week on Growing up with gal-dem, Nie and Natty chat to musician Rachel Chinouriri about the vast influences (spanning alternative music to horror films) that have affected her music now and helped her pursue music as the youngest of 5 children. Rachel brings us a different kind of extract in the form of a whatsapp screenshot to her grandma in 2016. She shares how losing her grandma and losing that supportive hand encouraged her to keep going and encouraged her to be happy in music and life.

You can listen to Rachel’s stunning second EP, Four° In Winter here.

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37 min
December 02, 2021 Ruby Rare on the reflections of heartbreak
Trigger warning. This episode of Growing up with gal-dem includes mentions of sexual violence. So if you don't feel comfortable listening to this episode, please feel free to skip this and listen to one of our other episodes.

This week we are joined by Ruby Rare: sex educator, author and public speaker. Ruby speaks to Natty and Nie about the importance of sex education not only to young people in schools but also to adults everywhere and how this can impact not only your sex life but to your self understanding and any relationships you have.

Ruby talks about this more deeply as she reads out her extract from 2016 when she was newly heartbroken and figuring out how to move on. We hear how it’s very hard in those moments to see past what’s currently happening but as Ruby kindly explains - it’s not going to last forever!

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45 min