Here's Hoping with Jayda G

In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible Rapper, Musician, Film Composer, Documentary Maker, Zoologist and Nature activist, Louis VI - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Louis VI

Jayda G

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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Jayda and Louis explore their academic journeys, with Louis sharing how a teacher’s disparaging comments pushed him to pursue medical school, despite it not being his true passion. Finding the courage to pivot, Louis rediscovered his love for zoology and began combining his passions for nature and music to raise awareness about climate change. Louis shares some incredible facts about animals but also a feel understanding of how colonial ideologies are reliant on separating humans from nature and gives examples of how this occurred. Louis also opens up about working in the Wildlife film industry as a mixed-race Black man, revealing its lack of inclusivity and colonial undertones. He critiques the predominance of white professionals in zoology and environmental fields, and the disconnection of Black and Brown communities from their ancestral lands. Louis explains why he believes spending time in nature is a powerful act of resistance for city-based POC, and how he is helping make outdoor spaces more accessible.

Together Jayda and Louis discuss the mental health benefits of nature, Louis’ transformative trips to the Amazon and his paternal homeland, Dominica, and the climate crisis’ impact on the island. Jayda and Louis also reflect on their time at COP26, criticizing its shortcomings while celebrating the connections it led to with native climate activists worldwide. Together, they examine colonialism’s lasting impact on nature and how communities can resist and heal through reconnection with each other and the outdoors.

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EARTHLING

Louis VI is a Rapper, Musician, Film Composer, Documentary Maker, Zoologist and Nature activist, cross-pollinating music & nature. Louis’ mission is to use his music, documentaries and keynote speeches to help diasporic people reestablish their connection with nature. Louis’ keynote speech at COP26 about the colonial legacy of Climate Change and the alienation of people of colour in the UK from access to nature, drew on his award-winning documentary “The World Is (Y)ours” . Louis has collaborated extensively with Earth Percent, a charity founded by Brian Eno and was one of first artists in the world to officially feature “NATURE” as an artist. His music centres the climate justice movement - weaving together a love for melody and a multitude of genres cut with atmospheric field recordings from his time spent in the natural world. 

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible writer, television presenter, lecturer and speaker, Emma Dabiri - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Emma Dabiri

Jayda G

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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

Jayda sits down with Emma Dabiri to hear her academically informed understanding of beauty and identity. As well as drawing on her own unique mixed Irish and Nigerian identify, Emma reflects on how her degrees in African Studies and History laid the foundation for her deep understanding of the impact of colonialism on how we perceive ourselves and our bodies. Emma shares her knowledge of global history and philosophy, tracing the emergence of racial hierarchies and explaining why Western culture’s emphasis on appearance stems from colonialism. She contrasts this with pre-colonial Yoruba philosophy, which prioritizes inner beauty and shares her insights on body image, self-perception, and why dance and music is at the heart of connecting to herself with hope.

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Emma Dabiri books

Emma Dabiri - The Guardian

Emma Dabiri is an esteemed writer, television presenter, lecturer and speaker, Emma is the author of ‘Dont Touch My Hair’ and ‘What White People Can Do Next’ and the host of BBC Four’s ‘Britain’s Lost Masterpieces’, the Channel docuseries ‘Is Love Racist’ and the radio show ‘Journeys in Afrofuturism’. She is also a frequent contributor to the Guardian and the Irish Times. Her work explores the intersections of race and gender, as well as examining the impact of capitalism and colonialism on society.

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible film director, speaker, and author, Damon Gameau - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Damon Gameau

Jayda G

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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

In this episode of Here’s Hoping, Jayda G chats with filmmaker Damon Gameau about his new documentary Future Council and his dedication to empowering kids to tackle climate challenges while staying hopeful. Damon shares how his latest project helps children overcome fears for the climate and their future by sharing ideas and calls to action with senior figures, and emotive oy engage them in taking meaningful action for the planet. Jayda and Damon discuss the power of children’s creativity and getting everyone to tap into the inner child to drive climate solutions, and shifting activism from fear-mongering to joyful dreaming.

Damon emphasizes the importance of healing the future—not stealing it— and fostering a regeneration mindset and action over sustainability, which is no longer good enough. Damon shared with a Jayda why he started his platform The Regenrators which creates personalized action plans directing his film audiences to actions and resources that makes most sense for them, and how Damon has created a way to convert impressions of doc activism into tangible action. Jayda and Damon also discuss how dreaming of a better world and engaging in positive action can transform anxiety into hope and inspire real change, and why working with children fills Damon with hope for the future. This is a wonderful episode for inspiring people who need hope and also want to learn more about how to talk and work with kids around the theme of the climate crisis and activism.

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The Regenerators

The Regenerators - Future Council

Future Council Trailer

Damon Gameau is an Australian film director, speaker, and author. After making a name for himself as an actor and fiction director, in 2015 Damon turned to activism with his debut feature documentary “That Sugar Film”, which became Australia’s highest grossing documentary film ever. Damon turned his focus to the climate with his climate solutions feature documentary “2040” in which he imagines a future climate crisis free world for his daughter, and is now releasing his latest climate focused doc ‘Future Councils’, where he took a group of kids around the world to engage senior figures in talks on climate action and positive change . Damon is also a co-founder of Regen Studios and the impact platform The Regenerators which builds comprehensive impact campaigns for their films and raises money for ecological solutions and awareness in classrooms, boardrooms, and Parliaments around the world. 

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the amazing plant-based chef, Ben Rebuck - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Ben Rebuck

Jayda G

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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

In this episode, Jayda sits down with plant-based chef Ben Rebuck to explore the intersections of food, identity, and activism. They kick things off by discussing why Veganuary feels less and less relevant, why that is actually a good thing and Ben’s reflections on how veganism has shifted culturally as well as why he thinks reframing plant-based food as simply food makes it more accessible. They share their strong connection with food and eating as Jews and Jayda asks to Ben how he stays connected to the food traditions of his Jewish identity as a vegan and he shares how he has embraced the creativity of reimagining classic recipes in a vegan way. Jayda and Ben go on to discuss Jewish Joy deeper, the power of preserving cultural traditions, the importance of finding joy in community, and the unique challenges of being part of a very small but vibrant minority. Ben opens up about navigating social media as a Jewish creator over the last 18 months, confronting antisemitism, and how he’s embraced the role of shielding his family and community from harm online. Going deeper into this, they discuss the complex and fascinating parallel between far-left and far-right ideologies of late, particularly when it comes to antisemitism. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking episode that celebrates food and the enduring importance of tradition.

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Ben Rebuck is the face behind @benrebuck, a popular social media account in which he shows people how to make simple plant-based meals. Ben also uses his platform to discuss issues around antisemitism, and has taken great pride in becoming a spokesperson for the Jewish community.

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the inspiring Rachel Elizabeth Cargle, an author, activist, entrepreneur, and philanthropic innovator - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Rachel Cargle

Jayda G

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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

In this episode Jayda asks what self-love means to Rachel and hears how for her true self-love begins with knowing yourself and when to step off the “life escalator” to reclaim your authenticity. Rachel explains the courage muscle and why you have to train it to embrace your own values, including her own personal choice to remain childfree, as well as why she doesn’t want that to be radical. Jayda also asks Rachel about her amazing foundation and why Rachel advocates and fundraises to make therapy more accessible to black women and girls, but why at the same time as providing free therapy to them she also campaigns to support more black therapists to be able to train. Rachel gives insight into why she thinks it’s important to work with Black therapists if you are black, as well as her astute reasoning for why it’s more cost-effective! Jayda also heard Rachel’s advice for loving with grief and the power of reimagining in life, especially for Black people. This episode is a powerful look at self-love, therapy and healing.

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Follow The Loveland Foundation

The Loveland Foundation website

Rachel Elizabeth Cargle is an author, activist, entrepreneur, and philanthropic innovator. She is founder of The Loveland Group; a family of companies including Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre, a literary space that celebrates marginalised voices and The Great Unlearn, a community learning space that centres the teaching of BIPOC thinkers. In 2018, she founded The Loveland Foundation, offering free access to mental health care for Black women and girls. Cargle is a regular contributor to Cultured Magazine, Atmos, and The Cut, and her work has been featured in Time Magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. Her debut memoir A Renaissance of Our Own published by Penguin Random House in May 2023 with the paperback releasing March 26th, 2024.

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