Kind thoughts for Meghan Markle

October 4th marked the revised date for the 40th UK London Marathon. Normally run in April of each year, the event was pushed back to October due to Covid-19 issues. The amateur runners participated virtually being able to complete their marathons in their home communities. There were 45,000 participants in 109 countries around the world.

The bulk of the runners in the London marathon normally consist of amateur runners some whom run in fancy dress costumes, and all of whom raise money for charitable causes. 

Many members of the royal family show an interest in the London Marathon. It is not unusual to see one or two Royals either at the start line or finish line of the event. 

Prince Harry is Patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust and he is often at the Marathon in London. Harry was scheduled to be there this year but instead sent a message of good luck and thanks via video the day before the event. Harry also met face to face with a small group of participants who were running the event in LA.  

During Harry and Meghan’s recent interview with the Evening Standard newspaper, Meghan said how well Archie is doing, adding that Archie is getting into everything, and keeping them on their toes (as toddlers do).

So in honour of young Archie, and for my listeners who are parenting or caring for kids or grandkids and especially those with oh so busy boys, I am sharing one of my favourite kids (short) books by UK author Babette Cole. 

Please feel free to email me your ideas and comments to [email protected]

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

October is Black History Month in the UK. Meghan admitted that in the two years that she lived in the UK she had not even been aware that Black History Month was celebrated there.

Meghan and Harry were interviewed over zoom by two young journalists from the UK Evening Standard newspaper. Harry and Meghan also penned an article that was published in the newspaper celebrating a group of young black men and black women collectively called the Next. Gen Trailblazers.

During their video interview the couple discussed:

• the aim and the timing of this project
• racism 
• black lives matter
• how they chose the Next Gen. Trailblazers.

In their article published exclusively in the Evening Standard, Meghan and Harry wrote how Black History Month allows us all an opportunity to reflect upon the often unrecognized contributions people of colour have made that add to the richness and strength of the UK. It is a month that celebrates the diversity of community and of Black British Excellence.

Meghan and Harry stressed the importance for young people of colour to have representation in all parts of society, the importance of seeing role models that share the same colour skin as them.

So who made the list of Next Gen. Trailblazers.

Click here to find out more:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bhm-next-gen-trailblazers-full-list-a4560326.html

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

Meghan was interviewed this week as part of Fortune's Most Powerful Women 2020 Summit. This year's theme was "Rising to the New Reality". 

Many of the topics on this year’s agenda related to the impact of Covid-19 in the work-place and in business dealings, and how the pandemic is out of necessity leading to a reshaping of almost every aspect of the business world.

Meghan was interviewed by Fortune Editor, Ellen McGirt. Meghan spoke of the impact of Covid-19 on her own life. The pair discussed Meghan and Harry’s focus in addressing the negative side of social media. Meghan confirmed that this work will form part of their new Archewell Foundation once it is launched. 

Meghan expressed concerns for how people either passively or aggressively are propagating on-line hate by clicking on things that are contributing to an industry that is really toxic for so many of us. Meghan has no time for internet trolls, people who want to provoke and upset others online for their own amusement, but said that the aim isn’t to bad mouth all aspects of technology.

An article published by Fortune points out this is not a new area of concern for Harry and Meghan. Back in 2016 Prince Harry spoke out about the toxic behaviour by some on social media after Meghan was subjected to racists attacks on-line.

Meghan and Harry have stepped up their work on this issue since stepping back as senior Royals and since moving to live in America. Meghan describes how reforming online spaces intersects with the work she and Harry are already doing with veteran’s issues, mental health, and gender equality.

Ms. McGirt asked Meghan specifically about her own experiences. Meghan says she feels it is important to her to be authentic. She often speaks from the heart and this may come across as not polished, and not perfect - but more authentic.

Meghan repeated comments she made during last week's TIME 100 TV appearance – the way we communicate online transcends into how we interact with people around us off-line. She added, how we interact online affects our relationships, not least of which is the relationship that we have with ourselves.

Check out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com for more on the work on Meghan and Harry

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

This past week Meghan made a surprise, short video appearance on the night of the final of the TV show America’s Got Talent. Meghan appeared to express her support for a finalist in the show  - Archie Williams. 

What might have seemed a nice little shout out to a very impressive contestant, also had Meghan cleverly highlighting a more serious issue. That is because Archie’s back story is pretty unique when it comes to talent contests.

This is the Link to the AGT video with Meghan
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=meghan+markle+AGT&&view=detail&mid=59346C0A1CC5F6A0255959346C0A1CC5F6A02559&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dmeghan%2520markle%2520AGT%26qs%3Dn%26form%3DQBVR%26sp%3D-1%26ghc%3D1%26pq%3Dmeghan%2520markle%2520agt%26sc%3D8-17%26sk%3D%26cvid%3DBE8436787F304EC2A4F44EF8F939B9CF

In 1982, Archie was arrested and imprisoned in Louisiana's Angola prison, after being found guilty of attempted murder, attempted rape, and aggravated burglary of a white woman in Baton Rouge. These were crimes that Archie did not commit. 

Archie, then aged 22, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 1995 The Innocence Project took up Archie’s case. The Innocence Project repeatedly requested DNA testing and fingerprint comparisons that could prove Archie's innocence. The legal process took a very long time. 

Finally, in 2019, it was proven that a man who'd committed other sexual assaults in the neighborhood was responsible for the crimes Archie had been convicted of.  At age 58, Archie was freed after having spent 37 years in prison for crimes he did not commit.

So how did Archie end up on America’s Got Talent? Archie said that when in jail, when he faced the dark times he would pray and sing. He added, that he watched America’s Got Talent in prison and he would visualize himself being there. 

After hearing Archie's story, Simon Cowell became an ambassador for The Innocence Project.

So good for Meghan for drawing more attention to the Innocence Project, to Archie Williams, and to the many other people like him around the world who have been wrongly convicted. 

You can email your comments to me at [email protected]

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

The work week was busy for Meghan and Harry and by the end of the week - wow so much controversy.

Prince Harry kicked off the week appearing in a short video to launch the Trailwalker UK 100 km Relay Challenge in aid of the charities Oxfam UK and The Gurkha’s Welfare Trust.

Meghan’s Court case against Associated Newspapers continued to wing it way through the British High Court. As previously mentioned, Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers due to their publication of a private letter she sent to her father. There was a pre-trial appearance this past Monday. Associated Newspapers want to use as part of their expanded defence, an allegation that Meghan and Harry either provided information for, or they ‘permitted' their friends to provide information to, the authors of the book Finding Freedom.

The TIME T.V. appearance – as I mentioned in my previous podcast, Meghan and Harry participated in the inaugural TIME 100 TV special during which the names of the 2020 honourees were announced. I watched the show. Meghan and Harry both spoke about the need to reject negativity in our communications, both on-line and off-line. Meghan and Harry both talked about the importance of voting. Harry spoke of ending hate speech and misinformation. 

Their comments caused controversy both sides of the Atlantic, with Meghan being personally attacked / slammed by President Trump. 

Keep checking out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

Meghan and Harry will soon be on some of our TV screens. They are to make a joint appearance as part of a televised special revealing TIME magazine's 2020 list of the 100 most influential people. This will be their first joint T.V. appearance since stepping away from royal life.

The final list of influential individuals is exclusively chosen by TIME editors, with nominations coming from TIME 100 alumni and the magazine's international writing staff. Only the winner of the Reader's Poll, conducted days before the official list is revealed, is chosen by the general public.

TIME would typically host a glamourous gala in New York to celebrate honourees past and present. This year, due to the on-going covid-19 pandemic, TIME has made the decision to host a TV special September 22, 2020, at 10:00PM on America’s ABC Network, when the names of this year's inductees will be announced.

The TIME 100 most influential people chosen are currently divided over five categories Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Icons and Titans. Meghan and Harry were both honored in the 2018 TIME 100 list under the category of Leaders

We don’t know whether Harry and Meghan are included again in this year's list. We will just have to tune in to find out!

Meghan joined many people around the world in expressing her condolences over the death of US Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Meghan speaks of Ruth being an inspiration to her since she was a child. I read you Meghan's message. 

You can email me at [email protected]

And please check out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

As celebrities in the US freeze their social media accounts, joining a protest against the spread of online hate, propaganda and misinformation, I discuss how the Royal Family have not been exempt from attempts by media sources to sow division between them. Look no further then the reporting and postings on social media about the relationship between Meghan and Kate.

Comparisons were made between Meghan and Kate right from the beginning. At first, the comparison were in most cases factually correct. Say comparing the different fashion styles of the two ladies, their backgrounds, their approach to their work. However, things then turned and despite attempts to correct false reports and despite urging fans of Meghan and Kate to be moderate their posts on social media, hate and division have continued. 

Unfortunately, the constant comparisons in the press between Meghan and Kate led to factions being formed. There are the pro-Kate fans and the pro-Meghan fans. Each faction takes to social media to defend their Duchess and to post disparaging comments about the other.

The only winners in battle are of course the very same people that caused the issue in the first place. The press like nothing more then to report about what Meghan’s fans are saying about Kate, or about what Kate’s fans are saying about Meghan. The media are getting all of this fodder to report in their newspapers and online, printing loads of hateful and divisive stories and hiding behind the fans.  

On a lighter note to end the podcast, Harry and Meghan did a remarkable thing this week, matching dollar for dollar donations made in honour of their birthdays to CAMFED.

You can email me at [email protected]

And view my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

This podcast is a just a bit of fun. Rumour has it that young Archie, aged 16 months, likes to participate in Harry and Meghan's video conferences. It is reported that Archie will often make cameo appearances during his parent’s work video calls.

So I found Zoom Meeting Etiquette for Kids and I have adapted these for young Archie. 

My tips include: 

1. how to make his mom and dad's background scenery much more exciting,
2. how to hog the limelight during his mom and dad's video chats,
3. how to make sure he is not muted,
4. how to look presentable,
5. how not to push the 'red button' like his cousin Louis.

You can email me at [email protected]

And check out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

No matter how good the work that Meghan and Harry do, and no matter how many charities and non-profits they support, there will always be an element in the media that will seek to put them down. One such person is UK TV presenter Piers Morgan. 

Despite saying that he would govern and temper his harsh criticism of Meghan and Harry, this past week he was at it again, renewing his attack on the couple on his breakfast TV show, accusing Harry and Meghan of getting their Netflix deal on the back of their Royal titles, adding that if the couple wanted to live in America and not work for the Royal Family,  then they should lose their titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 

So who is Piers Morgan?
I will tell you a little about his background and his career so you get the measure of the man who loves to criticize Meghan and Harry. A man who has made his career of the back of criticizing others. Meghan and Harry are just another notch in his belt, another couple he can rant at, and all the while he believes that he is speaking up for us all. 

As American football and Basketball player Wes Fesler once said, "hypocrisy is the audacity to preach integrity from a den of corruption.".

Check out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com

And reach me by email at: [email protected]

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/

The major headline of this past week was the news that Harry and Meghan have signed a production deal with Netflix. Keeping the Netflix theme going, Harry participated in a documentary film on the history of the Paralympic Games called Rising Phoenix. The release of this film was timed to coincide to when the Toyoko Paralympic games should have been taking place. As we know, the games for both abled bodied athletes and para-athletes have been pushed back to July and August 2021.

This past week Harry and five of the para-athletes stars of the Rising Phoenix film sat down for a video chat. The theme of their discussion was the Power of Sport. The group touched on many aspects of the enhanced benefits of sport to people living with a physical disability. I watched the video discussion and at the end it was hard to keep a tear out of my eye, not because I was sad but because I admired and was moved by the tenacity of these athletes. For those interested you can view the video discussion on YouTube.

Lastly, and still somewhat related to the Netflix's theme of this podcast The New York Times printed a correction to an error in an article they had published about Harry and Meghan’s Netflix deal. Listen for all the details.

Check out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com 

Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.

Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/