Lazo's Podcast

Welcome back to the podcast, my people! Episode 49 is here. Have you ever met someone who's walked over 2,000 miles? Today you have. We sit down with Callum, better known as Backpack Boz, who walked over 2,000 miles across America, from outside the White House in Washington, D.C., all the way to Brownsville, Texas, to raise awareness for men's mental health.

In this episode, we talk about what inspired Callum to take on such an incredible challenge, the physical and mental battles he faced along the way, the people he met throughout his journey, and the moments that pushed him to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But this wasn't just a story about walking. Halfway through his journey, while in Memphis, Callum was abandoned by the charity he was walking for. Suddenly, he found himself alone in a foreign country with no funding, no support, and nowhere to go. What began as a journey to raise awareness for men's mental health quickly became a journey of survival.

We also dive into the wider conversation around men's mental health, why it continues to be such a significant issue, not only here in the UK but across the world. Being from Liverpool, a city where Callum has personally lost many people in his life to mental health struggles, this cause became deeply personal. We talk about the stigma that still prevents so many men from opening up, why too many continue to suffer in silence, and why creating safe spaces for honest conversations has never been more important.

Whether you've struggled with your own mental health, know someone who has, or simply want to hear an extraordinary story of resilience, determination, and refusing to give up when everything seemed stacked against you, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

If you'd like to connect with my guest:

Callum (Backpack Boz)

Instagram: @backpackboz_

TikTok: @backpackboz_

Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @lazo.podcast

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=bf84884b-0ab9-4a31-8167-c7b2e734a286

I hope you all enjoy this episode half as much as we enjoyed recording it for you! If this conversation resonates with you, don't forget to share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Much love, my people.

Welcome back to the podcast my people. Episode 48 is here, and this one is a powerful conversation around politics, resilience, and using your voice.

Today we are joined by Afzal Khan. Afzal has had a remarkable career in public service. He worked as a solicitor, became the first British Asian Lord Mayor of Manchester, served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2017, and was elected to the UK Parliament in 2017, where he has served ever since.

In this episode we go deeper into his personal journey, from moving to the UK from Kashmir, Pakistan at a young age to building a life through hard work and determination. We talk about his early experiences working a range of jobs, including in a mill, as a bus driver, and as a police officer, before going on to study law and qualify as a solicitor.

We discuss how that journey led him into politics and how overcoming adversity shaped his mindset and purpose. His story is a powerful example of how resilience and belief can take you far, regardless of your background.

We also get into his work in Parliament, community issues, representation, and why it is important for people to stay informed and engaged in today’s world.

A big thank you to Afzal for taking the time to come on and share his story and perspective.

If you want to connect with my guest:

Afzal Khan IG: @afzalkhanmcr

Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @lazo.podcast

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=bf84884b-0ab9-4a31-8167-c7b2e734a286

I hope you all enjoy this episode half as much as we enjoyed recording it for you. Much love my people. See you out on the next one!

Welcome back to the podcast my people. Episode 47 is here, and this one’s a powerful conversation around identity, culture, and using your voice.

Today we’re joined by Dashni Morad, a Kurdish music artist and women’s rights activist. In this episode we talk about her journey in music, the influence of Kurdish culture in her work, and how art and storytelling can create awareness and spark important conversations.

Dashni also talks about how she creates her music, her creative process, and what her method is like when writing and producing songs.

We also get into Kurdistan, Rojava, Rojhelat, Kurdish identity, and the importance of keeping culture, language and history alive. We discuss women’s rights, cultural expectations, and why speaking openly about these topics matters now more than ever.

A big thank you as well to Dashni for allowing us to use her music video for the intro and outro of this episode. The song is called “I Will Never Give Up.”

You can watch the music video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mGEcJ5ybfM&list=RD_mGEcJ5ybfM&start_radio=1

The music video was directed by MUSE, so a big thank you to them and the entire team involved in creating it.

If you want connect with my Guest:

Dashni Morad — IG: @dashnimorad

Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @lazo.podcast

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=bf84884b-0ab9-4a31-8167-c7b2e734a286

I hope you all enjoy this episode half as much as we enjoyed recording it for you! Much love my people.

How you can help the people of Rojava - Link to The Lotus Flower ROJAVA EMERGENCY APPEAL -

https://donorbox.org/rojava-emergency-appeal-904262?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnp53XQNYibDmeho6XAWDsC7yNLy4g9FsVGAWmdp7LY9eBLDIKnRPfnN-qfkA_aem_VtzkzjFb3JxzvoNy15-9kQ

Welcome back to the podcast my people.

This is episode 46 — No Friends But the Mountains.

As a Kurd myself, this episode is very important to me it focuses on Kurdistan, its people, its history, and the political reality that has shaped Kurdish life across generations. We explore how borders were drawn without consent, how promises of protection were repeatedly withdrawn, and why the Kurdish question remains unresolved despite a century of resistance, cooperation, and survival.

From post–World War I settlements to modern conflicts in Iraq and Syria, this episode looks at how Kurdish identity has endured despite repression, displacement, and abandonment. It also examines Rojava today, the role of the SDF, and the human cost paid by civilians caught between regional and global power struggles.

This is not about taking sides. It is about context, memory, and understanding why culture, language, and dignity still matter when people are denied security and self-determination. Having said that. Har Biji Kurdu Kurdistan!

The article on the Armagi written by Dr Nouri as mentioned in the podcast - https://www.theamargi.com/posts/the-return-of-thucydides-at-davos-mark-carney-a-broken-world-order-and-the-kurdish-moment-of-truth

As always you can contact me on instagram - @lazo.podcast

Welcome back to the podcast my people, our last podcast of 2025!

Episode 45 is here, and this one’s all about Health & Nutrition. Today we’re joined by Eleanor Hoath, who works with the Australian wellness company Bon Charge

We get into red light therapy, health and nutrition, IBS, acne, gym training, Pilates, and the lifestyle habits that support long-term wellbeing. We also touch on the lack of healthy social norms today working too much, not giving the body enough time to rest and recover, chasing the wrong dopamine, and spending too much time on our phones.

From building sustainable routines to understanding food, movement, recovery, gut health, skin health, and balance, this episode is packed with real, practical gems you can actually apply.

Whether you’re dealing with IBS, acne, hitting the gym, exploring Pilates, curious about red light therapy, or just trying to feel better day to day, this conversation is for you.

If you want connect with my Guest:

Eleanor Hoath — IG: @eleanorhoath_

Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @lazo.podcast

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=bf84884b-0ab9-4a31-8167-c7b2e734a286

I hope you all enjoy this episode half as much as we enjoyed recording it for you! Much love my people.

What’s up my people! Episode 44 is here — and it’s a BIG one. For the first time ever, we’ve got American artists chilling with us live in the studio. Today we’re joined by Marvylus and SwizZy B, two fire artists straight outta the States and part of the movement known as LOUDLIFECREW.

This episode comes in two parts:

🔥 Part 1 with Marvylus — out now

🔥 Part 2 with SwizZy B — landing Tuesday, 9th December

We talk about their music journey, their grind in the U.S. scene, performing internationally, and their experience coming over to England. Big vibes, big energy, real artist talk.

Intro Music: Marvylus – £ IN UK (Official Music Video) ft. SwizZy B

Show Some Love my Guests:

Marvylus — IG: @marvylus_ | YouTube: @marvylus

SwizZy B — IG: @therealswizzyb | YouTube: @TheRealSwizZyB

LOUDLIFECREW — IG: @loudlifecrew | YouTube: LoUdLifeCrew

Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @lazo.podcast

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=bf84884b-0ab9-4a31-8167-c7b2e734a286

Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we loved recording it for you. Much love!

What’s up my people! Episode 44 is here — and it’s a BIG one. For the first time ever, we’ve got American artists chilling with us live in the studio. Today we’re joined by Marvylus and SwizZy B, two fire artists straight outta the States and part of the movement known as LOUDLIFECREW.

This episode comes in two parts:

🔥 Part 1 with Marvylus — out now

🔥 Part 2 with SwizZy B — landing Tuesday, 9th December

We talk about their music journey, their grind in the U.S. scene, performing internationally, and their experience coming over to England. Big vibes, big energy, real artist talk.

Intro Music: Marvylus – £ IN UK (Official Music Video) ft. SwizZy B

Show Some Love my Guests:

Marvylus — IG: @marvylus_ | YouTube: @marvylus

SwizZy B — IG: @therealswizzyb | YouTube: @TheRealSwizZyB

LOUDLIFECREW — IG: @loudlifecrew | YouTube: LoUdLifeCrew

Follow the Podcast

Instagram: @lazo.podcast

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=bf84884b-0ab9-4a31-8167-c7b2e734a286

Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we loved recording it for you. Much love!

Welcome back to the podcast, my people! Today I’m joined by Zarin, host of No Stupid Answers. This is a deep, introspective conversation about how modern society shapes our norms and values. We explore the ways social media and capitalism have pulled us away from our natural patterns of behavior, and how this influences the way we think and operate each day. It’s a powerful discussion with plenty to reflect on. You can watch Zarin's content an youtube and Instagram. On youtube her channel is - No Stupid Answers - YouTube & on instagram her account name is - @nostupidanswers

We hope you enjoy the podcast, half as much as we enjoyed recording it for you! Take Care Everybody!

Welcome back to the podcast my people! Dr Bamo Nouri has now returned for the 3rd time and this time, we will be discussing the age of Danger! The age age of Danger is a period between the end of one order, and the start of a new one. In this modern example we are witnessing the decline of Neo-liberalism and the new age of Artificial Intelligence! We also discuss the current state of affairs in the UK regarding social norms and Immigration, and much more.

Most of you will remember Dr Nouri from my previous episode's Americanism and Diaspora & Climate Migration. Below I have attached all details, and links to the podcast, and you can also get in touch with Dr Nouri via his twitter account. Take care, everybody.

We hope you enjoy this podcast, half as much, as we enjoyed recording it for you! Take Care, Everybody!

As always, you can reach out to me on Instagram — @lazo.podcast or on X — @lazospodcast and all other links to all other platforms can be found on here - https://linktr.ee/lazospodcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=3f85ace8-5f01-4d05-aee9-fad906a4a0ea

You can also connect with Dr Nouri on Twitter - @Bamonouri

https://thewire.in/world/barclays-divest-elbit-elite-power-crisis-rising-people-power

https://thewire.in/world/boycotts-replacing-the-ballot-box-speaking-to-power-in-the-age-of-danger

https://www.dohainstitute.org/en/PoliticalStudies/Pages/age-of-danger-a-domestically-unstable-america-is-at-the-centre-of-the-crisis-of-liberal-international-order.aspx

🎙️ Welcome back to the podcast, my people!

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into the world of therapy — what it really means, why it matters, and the many forms it takes. From one-to-one sessions to prison-based therapy and family therapy as social intervention (designed to keep families together, not tear them apart), we unpack it all.

We also have a real, honest conversation about addiction, referencing powerful studies like the Rat Park experiment, and explore what it tells us about environment, connection, and healing.

You’ll hear us break down some key ideas from psychology and discuss why therapy is more important than ever — especially right now, with the ongoing cost of living crisis and rising social pressures.

All the stats and findings we talk about in this episode come directly from the Big Mental Health Report 2024, so you know we’re keeping it informed and grounded.

As always if you enjoyed this podcast be sure to like and share, and let us know what you think. Take Care, Everybody!