In this episode of the Curl Squad’s Curl Power Podcast, we talk about:

• The pressure of finding your direction when leaving school.
• Being a square peg in a round hole.
• Passion being misconstrued as aggression in male-dominated environments.
• Being a rubbish employee.
• Innovating ideas or problematic behaviours.
• Knowing your worth as an employee.
• Lacking the confidence to make a change.
• Impact of doing meaningless work.
• Living and working with anxiety.
• Counselling and personal transformation.
• Finding freedom and purpose after trauma.

Links

Episode: My Boyfriend Died

https://thecurlsquad.com/my-boyfriend-died-suddenly-and-it-shattered-my-world/

Shop CURLS Sweatshirts 

https://thecurlsquad.com/shop/

Youth Art Charity 

https://www.yuaf.org/

Follow us:

Find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheCurlSquad/

Find us on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/

Zoe Fox on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/

In this episode of the Curl Squad’s Curl Power Podcast, we talk about:

• Our return to the podcast after a sudden unplanned departure
• Adjusting to life-changing injury
• Turning pain into creativity 
• How finding joy can deepen the connection to purpose 
• The power of connecting with our inner child.

1:00 Adjusting to Life After Rehab

3:37 Chronic Conditions and the Spoon Theory

4:33 Focusing on Joy to Escape from Pain

5:30 CURLS Sweatshirt Launch

8:03 Little Curls and Representation

09:21 The Mission, Connecting 

10:43 Significance of our Formative Years

11:15 Connecting with our Inner Child

12:42 What’s coming up in the next episode

Links

Spinal Cord Injury Rehab Episode

https://thecurlsquad.com/they-tried-to-make-me-go-to-rehab-spinal-injury-rehab/

The Spoon Theory

https://www.healthline.com/health/spoon-theory-chronic-illness-explained-like-never-before#1

Shop CURLS Sweatshirts 

https://thecurlsquad.com/shop/

Join our New Community on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecurlsquad

Find us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheCurlSquad/

Find us on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/

Guys, it's not you, it's me. Unplanned episode and unexpected news.  

[email protected]

Link to Cauda Equina Episode https://link.chtbl.com/caudaequinasyndrome Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/161f3805 Instagram zoe.e.fox https://www.instagram.com/zoe.e.fox/ The Curl Squad https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/

Recorded before I went into hospital and My longest episode yet and there is so much still to be discussed. My guest today recently pulled off a stunning all black-owned business photoshoot for the Curly Bride Company and fulfilled a celebrity order for Jorga Smith.

She’s been through a lot and she’s achieved a lot 

Today I’m speaking to serial entrepreneur Sacha, CEO of The Happy Hair Co, a UK based super brand that provides affordable luxury protective haircare and education for curly, afro and frizz-prone hair all over the world. Run by serial entrepreneur Sacha Atherton and her 10-year-old daughter Jaya, they also use their platform to do important work against racism and hair discrimination and have done since the brand’s inception in 2018. The brand quickly gained a global customer base, largely attracted to their innovative anti-frizz bamboo TLC towel and their luxury reversible satin bonnets. As trusted self-taught curl specialists with a focus on healthy hair and healthy product ingredients, demand quickly resulted in The Happy Hair Co. expanding their services to include salon treatments and education, across the UK.

Sacha has a wealth of business and life experience, having entered the world of work at the tender age of 16, whilst also homeless and living in hostels.  Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2016 when she left her job as a Product Manager in the tech industry to launch a recruitment consultancy around parental employment and flexible working as a result of her own barriers and experiences as a skilled single black mother.

She continues to disrupt across industries developing innovative and purposeful products and services for her beloved communities and global customer base.  Sacha's current brand portfolio also includes, The Curly Bride Company, a high end bridal accessory and gift store. Jamaicandles, vegan Jamaican scented non-toxic candles and Diaz x Jay, products encouraging self care and wellness for men. 

We discussed 

1: Having her daughter made her reconsider her hair journey

2:The detrimental impact of being rejected by her parents on self-worth

3: Going it alone in motherhood

4: “I’m your Dad”, discovering her biological Dad

5: The Curly Bride; A black love story: centring black love and talent in a wedding industry that lacks representation

6: Black Luxury, I'm not paying that. 

https://thehappyhairco.com/

https://thecurlybrideco.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thehappyhairco/

https://www.instagram.com/thecurlybrideco/ https://www.instagram.com/diazxjay/

In this episode, I speak about the events of the last week and I let you know where I'm going to be spending the next 2-3 week

02:33 Cauda Equina Red Flags 07:25 Wheels in motion, Road to Healing 09:20 The physical impact of my Pregnancy and Trauma in Labour 11:40 Time to put the work in 12:07 Next Week

----

Cauda Equina Syndrome Red Flags - https://www.ihavecaudaequina.com/about-us/red-flags/

https://www.instagram.com/zoe.e.fox/

The Curl Squad on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/

Zoe's Injury in the National Press 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-36-paralysed-below-waist-24111747

https://www.spinal.co.uk/

http://www.rstrust.com/

In this off schedule episode of the Curl Power podcast, I talk about what's blown my mind over the last week and the power in the kindness of humanity.

I discuss:

1:40 Pride and not asking for help.

3:03 The realities of sustaining a spinal cord injury in a global pandemic.

4:47 Opening up publicly about my challenges

6:28 Being given 2 Years to heal

8:25 So Grateful

09:14 Rooprai Spinal Trust

Thank you for tuning in, keep your eye out for beautiful moments in humanity and I'll catch you next week x

Special Shout out to Rikki from https://www.instagram.com/thecocoonuk/

and

Janai from https://www.instagram.com/vytelements/

Links

Go Fund Me | Help Zoe Heal After Spinal Cord Injury 

Rooprai Spinal Trust

https://www.instagram.com/zoe.e.fox/

Naturally Curly Conversation with the Curl Squad

Join the conversion on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/ Visit our website https://thecurlsquad.com/

In this episode of the Curl Power podcast, I talk about how music and raving became a distraction from my grief after the death of my boyfriend

• Music and Raving as Distraction from my Emotional Pain
• Opening up my heart after the death of my boyfriend
• Emotionally Abusive Relationship
• Contemplating Suicide

Timeline:

00.46 Intro

04:15 "I was a proper raver" Jungle Drum and Bass

Diversity, Feeling the Music, Raving after loss, a distraction from my pain, tape pack famous, interviewing artists for official event DVD’s

11:48 Opening up my heart after a loss

12:55 Toxic Emotionally Abusive Relationship

15:22 Total Emotional Breakdown, panic attacks and agoraphobia and PTSD

17:16 Contemplating suicide, "I couldn’t see a reason to keep going, there was no light at the end of the tunnel

19:15 Blessed with love for my family

21:00 The healing journey and coping mechanisms

22:50 Shout out to my dnb family

24:46 Signing out

Music Credits

Shy FX - Original Nutter

General Levy and MBeat - Incredible

DJ Kane - Konga

Konflict - Messiah

DJ Stanza - Colonel Vibenhoff 

Krust - Warhead

Naturally Curly Conversation with the Curl Squad

Join the conversion on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/ Visit our website https://thecurlsquad.com/

I really enjoyed this episode of the Curl Power Podcast and I hope you will too. Annika Spalding is an award-winning author from the West Midlands. She launched her most recent book She Who Writes, a memoir, in July 2020. She published her first book in 2013 followed by several other books.

She has featured frequently on BBC WM radio on the Nikki Tapper Show, and also on Graham Torrington’s evening show she discusses her personal journey.

A qualified and experienced writer Annika attended university as a mature student and a single mother to two children, studying Creative and Professional Writing. She graduated in 2018 with a 2:1, despite struggling with anxiety and depression which led to medication and counselling to manage it.

Annika is also a member of the Writing West Midlands Room 204 Writers Development Programme, aimed at supporting the career development of emerging writers.

She is also a Contributor for Soul and Joy, a brand-new platform celebrating the vitality of black people in Britain. An award-winning woman, a few years ago, Annika won the BEX Live Author of Colour Award, followed by a LIFT Effects Inspirational Woman Award by Sandra Nelson.

Annika is an ambassador for Free Your Mind CIC, a charity that supports children and young people affected by domestic violence. In previous roles, she has been a support worker and children’s worker in women’s refuges, on helplines and in the community.

In most recent years, she has worked as a Communications Officer for charities, supporting with branding, social media content and management, liaising with media, design of literature, event planning, communications strategies, planning campaigns and fundraising. 

We discussed:

• The creative process
• Refining your message
• Establishing boundaries as an empath
• Raising daughters
• The benefits of journaling

Hair Talk

4 Mins Fave Products Lotta Body 

04:20 Representation - I wasn’t surrounded by anyone that looked like me.

05:00 Noticing you're different at school

7:00 Growing up

10:46 Journey to becoming a writer

19:30 Authenticity vs Oversharing

26:02 Establishing Boundaries as an Empath

29:04 Creative Mentoring 

32:27 Most Common Reasons People are not reaching their potential

35:09 Daily Habits and Rituals

39:55 Raising Daughters in a Social Media World

42:23 Impactful Books

47:11 Where to connect

47:58 Parting words

She Who Writes - Annika Spalding

https://www.annikaspalding.co.uk/

Products 

Lotta Body https://www.instagram.com/lovelottabody/?hl=en

Books

My Best Friend's Girl Dorothy Koomson - https://amzn.to/32PJwBs

Light Is the New Black: A Guide To Answering Your Soul'S Callings And Working Your Light - https://amzn.to/2QrnF0K

Homegoing Yaa Gyaci - https://amzn.to/3gJz86m

Purpose: Find Your Truth and Embrace Your Calling https://amzn.to/3gGdS1i

Thank you for joining me here today.  This episode is dedicated to my late boyfriend G.  17th April was the 19th anniversary of his death and in this episode, I describe that fateful day, I share how it impacted me and what it taught me about life.

Follow the conversion on the socials @thecurlsquad

Check out our website https://thecurlsquad.com/

Hey, thanks for coming to check out this episode of the Curl Power Podcast.  I’m speaking to Jamelia Donaldson, the founder of Europe’s first and largest product discovery service for women and girls with kinky curly hair.  She is also the co-Founder of the Teen Experience, the workshop series for Black and Mixed Race teen girls.

She is busy creating the things she wants to exist and I am here for it.

This episode is scattered with little gems of advice for anyone else on their entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode Jamelia discusses: 

Her Hair Journey

The importance of representation in beauty and business

What it would like if part of the black experience was enjoying hair from a young age.

Setting up a business as a young black woman

How mentors and advisors can help you on your road to success

Adding value and getting noticed.

Proof of concept, what it’s like when your business idea is validated.

Building a team and starting a community

Timeline

05:00 This or That | Natural Hair edition

07:07 Hairstrory “Why is it that every other ethnicity wears their hair in its natural state”

17:40 The Importance of Representation  

21:12 The Realities of Setting up a Business as a Young Black Woman and the Power of Mentors and Advisers

31:33 What it’s Like to Have Your Ideas Validated, Building a Community and the benefits of a mailing list.

37:00 Building a Team and Tips for Hiring 

42:45 The Teen Experience:  Creating Safe Spaces for Black and Mixed Race Girls to learn and grow

47:40 She’s Obsessed the Podcast, Elevating the Voices of Black Founders

51:20 Balance and routine

55:25 Book Talk

Jamelia's Instagram

 https://www.instagram.com/jameliaisobsessed/

Treasuretress

https://www.instagram.com/TreasureTress/

The Teen Experience

https://www.instagram.com/TheTeenExperience/

Products Accessories

Satin hairband OSO Curls - https://www.osocurly.com/collections/satin-accessories/products/satinscrunchie

She’s Obsessed Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/shes-obsessed-the-podcast/id1455652368

https://open.spotify.com/show/735IT0QuxMW5Cvvb1jwXWq?si=XITkSFW3QU2KKMCkttVvuQ

Books 

Conversations with God -  https://amzn.to/3dUTXJ8

Outwitting the devil - Napoleon Hill - https://amzn.to/3tak2Kw

Profit First - https://amzn.to/3uPFJjH 

One Thing - https://amzn.to/3d7MZ4j

*Books are affiliate links FYI

Naturally Curly Conversation with the Curl Squad 

Join the conversion on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecurlsquad/

Visit our website https://thecurlsquad.com/