Ahead of the release of their highly anticipated 3rd album featuring the likes of Pa Salieu, Jorja Smith and Berwyn we are joined by the legendary duo Ibeyi - twin sisters Lisa-Kainde and Naomi Diaz. They talk us through their new song “Made of Gold” and the power behind it. 

Lisa and Naomi take turns to read a truly poetic extract that delves into the origins of Ibeyi, the importance of the name and how it’s shaped their lives and music now. The twins reflect on support, the opposition of their personalities and familial love as a way of pure connection to each other and their audience.

You can listen to Ibeyi on spotify here. Check out their new video Made of Gold here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Growing up with gal-dem we’re joined by Anti-Disciplinary artist Tobi Adebajo.  

Tobi talks about being a doula from both beginning of life to end of life - supporting black women after experiencing a traumatic birth experience themselves. They discuss how they hold space of care for black women vs what is currently available in the healthcare system. 

Tobi’s extract, written 10 years ago as they were starting their degree, is a poetic narrative asking Tobi to encourage the creativity they let slip as they entered a new phase of their life. Tobi encourages pushing yourself to write as a healing practice to process emotions and feelings despite what you have going on.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Growing up with gal-dem, this week we’re joined by one of the leading next generation DJs in the UK, JAMZ SUPERNOVA. Hosting a weekly specialist show on BBC RADIO 1XTRA, Jamz has the privilege and platform to showcase new talent. 

Joining us on her birthday, Jamz reads her diary extracts from exactly 20 years ago - addressed to her beanie babies. Jamz talks us through the importance of sharing knowledge for the younger generation and opening the doors for people coming up in the radio industry. 

Reflecting on how past relationships have impacted her career, confidence and self acceptance, Jamz let’s us know how to ground yourself through your passions. 

You can read transcripts of Growing up with gal-dem Season 6 here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with season 6 of growing up with gal-dem, our amazing hosts Natty Kasambala and Niellah Arboine! 

This week, we’re kicking off with film and culture critic Zeba Blay who was one of the first people to coin the viral term #carefreeblackgirls on Twitter, as she talks us through her new book, Carefree Black Girls, A Celebration of Black Women.  

Zeba, Natty and Nie discuss living for yourself and not your job, the industry or those around you and how to make sure you lead with yourself in mind first. Looking back on her past experiences, Zeba works to try to get back to her most carefree self, just be in the world and live for right now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this, our final episode of season 5, we’re so excited to be joined by Malorie Blackman, award winning writer, and hero of so many of our childhoods. It’s an incredible episode, and one we’re so excited to share with you as we prepare for our next season. 

Nie and Natty talk to Malorie about primary school memories, career expectations, anti-racism in writing and fiction, and what her career has meant to so many young black people in the UK. 

Malorie shares with us a poem she wrote in the 1980s, and reflects on whether the past is something that holds us back or makes us stronger, and how we can embrace pieces of our history to create safer and more powerful futures. 

Today is the launch day for Endgame, which you can purchase at all good bookstores. You can follow Malorie’s work on Twitter, and on her website. Look out for the next season of Growing up with gal-dem when we return in November! Thank you so much for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Growing up with gal-dem, Nie and Natty are reflecting back on song lyrics with east London singer songwriter Olivia Dean in this beautiful and warming episode. In our penultimate episode of the season, expect some laughs, lots of love, and so so so much wisdom shared.

Looking back at lyrics she wrote over 2 and a half years ago, Olivia reflects on what it means to be grounded in the present, how the pandemic has forced us to grow in new and unexpected ways. Olivia shares her goals for the future (which we are 100% backing), but also reflects that sometimes success is about finding happiness, rather than ticking boxes. 

You can follow Olivia’s work on Instagram and stream Slowly on YouTube. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of season 5 we’re joined by the incredible and award-winning author Leah Johnson. Reflecting (and cringing) back on a Facebook 30 day challenge post (remember those?!!), Leah talks us through growing up as a queer black girl. Reflecting on self-esteem, early relationships and romantic versus familial love and coming out, Leah shares invaluable life lessons for teenagers, encouraging us to love and allow ourselves freedom and room to grow. 

Leah has two incredible books out now, You Should See Me In A Crown won the Stonewall book honor, and is available from all good bookshops. Her latest novel Rise to the Sun was released earlier this summer, and is available now!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re joined by Sudanese-Australian writer, broadcaster and award-winning social advocate Yassmin Abdel Magied. Nie and Natty listen in as Yassmin reads through an op-ed she wrote for Brisbane Times in 2012 titled How racist are we? . Looking back, Yassmin reflects what it’s like to grapple with the expectation of expertise on racism as a person of colour, and how her own plans and career aspirations changed in the face of these expectations. 

Yassmin also talks to Natty and Nie about the ways that islamophobia and anti-blackness have intersected in her lived experience, and the shock of moving to London, experiencing majority black events and communities, and learning first hand about the plantain wars. It’s a beautiful, moving and often hilarious conversation that shows the beauty of growing up and allowing yourself the room to move and grow at any age. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of dieting, weight loss, specific weights, and discussion of disordered eating. For more information and recommended reading and listening, please check out the rest of the show notes for a list of brilliant articles, resources, and podcasts dealing with these topics. 

This week on Growing up with gal-dem we’re joined by award-nominated author and editor Sara Jafari. Ahead of the US publication of her debut novel The Mismatch, we speak to Sara about Muslim women’s representation in literature, and how The Mismatch tackles this through storytelling in 1970s Iran and contemporary Brighton. 

Sara shares with us an extract from her teen years dealing with disordered eating and weight loss, and shares her experiences with Nie and Natty on how normalised fatphobia impacted her and her growth. 

Recommended reading / listening

Maintenance Phase Podcast - Wellness & weight loss, debunked & decoded.

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

Sonalee Rashatwar - The Fat Sex Therapist on Instagram  

Stephanie Yeboah - writer and consultant working in fat acceptance & activism 

Queeries: how do I work through my internalised fatphobia? - gal-dem Queeries article, with extensive list of resources collated by Aisha Mirza in footer 

This Is for Anyone Living Through the Pandemic With an Eating Disorder 

Your Fat Friend - Aubrey Gordon’s writings 

What is an eating problem? Mind.org resource

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re here with a special bonus episode published in partnership with the Mayor of London. With the COVID-19 Vaccinations now available to people of all age groups, we wanted to take some of the most common questions about the vaccines on offer straight to a trusted voice. In conversation with Dr Adwoa Danso, the GP behind the online platform The Clinic Diaries, we answer questions about the vaccines and menstruation, the importance of making empowered and informed decisions for yourself, and why this vaccine was produced as quickly as it was. 

Dr Danso also shares her journey into medicine, and reflects on the many pathways that present themselves to us when we’re at that most stressful, and vulnerable period post A-Levels, and pre-university. 

If you have any questions about the vaccine, want to offer guidance to friends or family with concerns, or are considering a career in medicine, this is an insightful conversation that we’re so pleased to present. 

You can find out more about Dr Danso at The Clinic Diaries, and for the most up to date information on the COVID-19 vaccines, please visit the NHS website. To get your vaccine, you can search 'book COVID vaccine' or visit your local walk in centre.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.