Joanne Lockwood is joined by Roland Chester for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, labels, and the “hats” we wear in different contexts. Together they explore how intersectionality shows up in everyday life and why being able to bring your whole self to work matters for wellbeing, connection, and performance.

Roland shares his lived experience of being a gay man who once stayed closeted at work, and the shift he felt when he entered an environment where he could be open. He also speaks candidly about being diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, the stigma he encountered, and the impact workplace responses had on his ability to be authentic and on his mental health. The discussion covers myths and current information about HIV, including advances in treatment and prevention, and why education is still essential.

The episode also looks at how people make fast, automatic judgements, the role of unconscious bias, and how “slow thinking” can help us challenge assumptions. Joanne and Roland reflect on inclusion, safety, and belonging across workplaces and societies, including how visible and hidden aspects of identity can affect how people are treated. Roland closes by sharing his work in advocacy and education, including his book and involvement with the Positive Allies charter mark.

Lauren Chiren joins Joanne Lockwood to talk candidly about how early menopause showed up in her working life long before she had language for it. After a difficult meeting with her boss, Lauren reflects on months of exhaustion, anxiety, palpitations, memory problems and collapsing self-esteem, initially fearing early-onset dementia. A GP later helped her recognise that she was experiencing early menopause, prompting her to ensure other people don’t lose their health or careers through a lack of understanding of this natural life stage.

The conversation explores what perimenopause and menopause mean, the breadth of potential symptoms, and why many people don’t recognise what’s happening—especially when contraception masks cycle changes. Lauren and Joanne discuss stigma and silence around periods and menopause, the ripple effects on relationships and work, and practical ways employers and colleagues can become more informed and supportive.

They also touch on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the importance of good medical conversations and trusted resources, and how building community and education—through workplace programmes and peer support—can help people navigate menopause with more confidence and less isolation. The episode includes explicit discussion of trans identity and how inclusive language and workplace practices should recognise that not everyone who experiences periods or menopause identifies as a woman.

Susan Heaton-Wright joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what it really means to be visible, listened to and respected at work, especially for people who are naturally quieter or more reflective. They unpack how social conditioning and workplace norms can lead to introverts being underestimated, overlooked in meetings, and passed over for opportunities despite producing excellent work.

The conversation looks at what happens in group decision-making when louder voices dominate, how leaders and chairs can actively include those who speak less, and why listening is as important as speaking. Joanne and Susan discuss the pitfalls of “meritocracy” when visibility is rewarded over substance, and how meeting dynamics and power cues can shape who feels safe enough to contribute.

Susan shares practical elements of her spoken-communication model, including audience awareness, preparation, managing fear, performance and non-verbal presence, and using voice effectively so others can listen with ease. They also touch on how polarised public debates can shut down curiosity, and why clear, accessible communication builds trust.

Susan also reflects on her background as a professional singer and how finding her voice helped build confidence and presence, connecting that journey to the challenge many people face when stepping into visibility in their working lives.

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Derek Cheshire to explore how inclusion works in practice when people and perspectives mix. Starting from Derek’s work in creativity and innovation, they talk about why diversity needs curiosity, listening skills and better language to become genuinely inclusive, and how over-policing behaviour with rules can create loopholes rather than better relationships.

They discuss how language evolves, how misunderstandings arise when people have limited exposure to difference, and why psychological barriers like fear of getting it wrong can lead to avoidance and exclusion. The conversation touches on cultural intelligence, travel and context, and how humour and stereotypes can land differently depending on who is speaking and the situation.

Derek introduces his “Soup model” for organisations and society: culture as the soup, people as croutons floating within it, and value coming from contribution, trust networks, knowledge and connections rather than rigid hierarchy. They reflect on how flatter, more connected models can reduce bias created by layers, support innovation, and help people thrive at work. They close by linking these ideas to wider shifts in towns and workplaces, especially changes accelerated by COVID, and where people can find Derek’s work.

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Mark Wingfield to explore why fear and anxiety are so universal, and how they can limit people’s ability to show up fully and reach their potential.

Mark shares practical approaches he uses in his work, including calming techniques for when people feel triggered, and structured ways to respond to intimidation, bullying, and “banter” that crosses the line. They discuss how discrimination and microaggressions can fuel anxiety, why it can feel risky to speak up, and how timing, setting, and organisational processes (like HR routes and the Equality Act) affect what people can do next.

The conversation also looks at modern pressures such as social media and cyberbullying, and includes examples from schools and workplace environments. Joanne shares personal experiences of online abuse after her transition and reflects on the emotional impact of backlash and trolling.

Finally, Mark explains elements of his training and trauma-informed practice, including role-play methods designed to prepare people for difficult scenarios, and heart rate variability control to help people regain access to clear thinking under stress.

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Amy Rowlinson to explore the idea of being a “midlife beginner” and what it takes to move from simply existing to living with purpose. Amy reflects on how people can drift into careers and routines through early choices and limited exposure to options, and how stepping back to reassess values can open up new directions.

They discuss the practical realities of change: responsibilities, momentum, and the benefits of planning a transition rather than making a sudden leap. Amy shares examples from her own life, including investing in learning, building financial flexibility, and using disruption as a catalyst to create new work.

The conversation also looks at the inner barriers that stop people acting—imposter feelings, limiting beliefs, and negative self-talk—and strategies that help, such as journaling, focusing on meaningful outcomes, and celebrating small wins. Throughout, they return to the importance of connection and belonging, especially when working independently or navigating uncertainty, and how listening and supportive networks can sustain confidence and resilience.

Ryals reflects on growing up gay in Ukraine, navigating shame, bullying, and the pressure to hide who he was while living through a period of upheaval and suppression. He shares how early messages from his parents, especially his stepfather’s quiet wisdom, planted a “seed” that later grew into a deeper commitment to compassion and understanding.

Moving to the United States became a turning point: a chance to rebuild his life, come out, and repair relationships, including a difficult but ultimately loving conversation with his mother. Alongside this, Ryals speaks candidly about depression, grief after his father’s death, and the role of therapy in helping him unlearn anger and move forward.

The conversation also explores how Ryals channels lived experience into creativity and advocacy, using songwriting, performance, and storytelling to encourage young people to live more freely, seek support, and choose kindness. He discusses partnering with organisations supporting LGBTQI people facing persecution and plans to take anti-bullying messages into schools, emphasising that small acts of empathy can create lasting change.

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Merel van Haastert to explore why anti-racism work can feel daunting for white people, and why the work starts with seeing racism as a system rather than an individual moral failing.

Together they unpack how “white as default” shows up in everyday life and representation, and how media narratives, nationalism, and colonial histories reinforce structural inequity. They discuss how labels and categorisations can obscure lived experience, and how racism is sustained through systems that reward compliance and discourage people from challenging authority.

Merel shares why she created Project Colour White: to create safer spaces for white people to talk honestly about fear, shame, and fragility, and to build community for those wanting to do deliberate, active anti-racism work. The episode closes with a call to speak up, be intolerant of intolerance, and stay engaged in long-term change.

Joanne Lockwood is joined by trainer and inclusion consultant Sarah Burrell to explore what it really takes to create a level playing field in both attitude and action. They discuss why inequality is systemic and historical, and how the language and practice of privilege can be used constructively to empower others and move beyond “lip service” toward measurable change.

Sarah shares reflections from her own lived experience, including navigating a speech impairment, and how that shapes her approach to advocacy, empathy, and creating environments where people can contribute in the ways that work best for them. The conversation looks at disability and work, inclusive communication, and the value of proactively asking about support needs and preferred communication methods.

They also examine hiring and progression: the difference between tokenistic gestures and positive action, the limitations of meritocracy when people start from different points, and the responsibility leaders and organisations have to build inclusion into recruitment, induction, and day-to-day management. Finally, they reflect on how the pandemic accelerated flexible and inclusive ways of working, and what it will take to sustain that progress rather than slipping back to old habits.

Laurie Morgen joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about autism through the lens that’s often missing from public conversation: being an autistic parent. Drawing on their own family life and the stories shared with them since publishing their book, Laurie explains why “autism parent” is frequently misunderstood and why it matters to recognise autistic people as parents in their own right.

The conversation unpacks common misconceptions that show up in professional settings and everyday life, including assumptions about empathy, relationships, communication, and stereotypes about skills. Laurie discusses how language and vague social conventions can create barriers, especially when professionals expect people to respond to unspoken “tick box” norms. They share personal experiences of navigating school systems, social services, and parenting spaces where indirect communication and judgment can carry real consequences.

Jo and Laurie also explore how workplaces can become more accessible by focusing on the actual requirements of a role, communicating more directly, and reducing overreliance on culture-fit and social performance. Along the way, Laurie reflects on community, isolation during lockdown, and the practical strategies that support their wellbeing, grounding the episode in both lived experience and actionable learning.