On today’s episode, we wanted to introduce an unsung hero. Brookemorgan discusses the breakdown of her relationship with her family, and her experiences with homlessness and depression. Brookemorgan’s mother suffered with debilitating depression, meaning she had to look after herself and her brother from the age of just 14.

After Brookemorgan’s relationship with her mother broke down, she moved out to live with her grandmother. But she was beginning to show signs of depression herself, which worsened when her grandmother asked her to leave a year later. After sofa surfing for a while, Brookemorgan sought help from the local authority, and she eventually ended up living at a youth hostel, with the help of the infamous homeless charity Centrepoint where she turned a corner and started building the life she always wanted. 

This came to a head when Brookemorgan was inspired to start She Oath by her own lived experiences with homelessness, sexual assault and mental health issues. She is founder of the community interest company, She Oath. The company improves the quality of life for vulnerable young girls and women, giving each person a strong internal GPS, a self-assured mindset and the ability to be the leaders in their own lives. 

This is a truly powerful episode as we walk through many issues such as homelessness, depression, and mental health. 

We cover -

• Her childhood
• Her struggle with Mental health issues 
• She Oath
• It’s mission and aims 

Note - Centrepoint has found that 6 out of every 10 homeless young people in the UK have experienced family breakdowns. Stamatia Lorentzou, a senior psychotherapist at Centrepoint, called it “one of the most common causes of homelessness in the people we see.”

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

You can follow Wes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesrashid/?hl=en 

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

Dwain Chambers is one of the fastest European sprinters in the history of athletics. He first showed promise at the age of 16, when he won the 100m sprint at the 1994 English school’s championship and he quickly established himself as one of the UK’s most promising athletics stars. He competed in the 100m sprint in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, coming in 4th place, winning him the title of fastest man in Europe. 

In 2004, Dwain’s athletics career came to an abrupt halt, when he tested positive for the performance enhancing steroid THG. He received a two-year ban from athletics and a lifetime Olympic ban. This event was highly publicised by the media shining a light on Dwaine who was once a poster child for UK Athletics. 

When his athletics ban was lifted in 2006, Dwain returned to the sport and worked hard to win back the favour of both the athletics community and the public. He and his teammates won gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2006 European championships. By 2009, he was back at the top of his game, running the 60m sprint in 6.42 seconds – a speed that remains a European record. His Olympic ban was lifted by the British Olympic Association in 2012, which meant he could compete in the 2012 London Olympics. 

Dwain has said that taking performance enhancing drugs is his greatest regret, but he also hopes to use his past mistakes to educate and guide the next generation of athletes. In 2009, he started Chambers for Sport to help train and inspire young athletes. 

This episode is raw, brutally honest and enlightening. We cover:

• Dwain’s life growing up
• Early career and rise to fame
• Going to America and taking Performance Enhancement Drugs (PEDs) 
• Redefining himself 
• His life now

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

You can follow Wes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesrashid/?hl=en 

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

On today’s episode we introduce Norman Jay MBE,  the legendary British club, radio, and soundsystem DJ. 

In 1980, he debuted at Notting Hill Carnival, playing a revolutionary selection of disco, soul, and funk using his Good Times Soundsystem amidst a soundscape of reggae and ska. It was not too long before Norman built up a huge following. Many people who went to Notting Hill Carnival would go for Good Times because they knew it would be the best weekend of their lives. 

From this point, he pioneered a new wave in the dance music scene. His Shake ‘n’ Fingerpop warehouse parties are celebrated for bringing House music to the UK, and his ‘Rare Groove’ show on KissFM – then a pirate station which he co-founded – is credited as having founded the Rare Groove music movement. 

Between 1997 and 2008, he hosted Giant 45 on BBC London and he later hosted The Funk Factory on BBC Radio 2. Since 2019, he has hosted a fortnightly show on SoHo Radio. 

In 2002, he was awarded an MBE for his services to music – he was the first black DJ to ever receive the honour. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss out on. 

In today’s episode we cover:

• Norman’s life growing up
• Notting Hill Carnival 
• Warehouse Parties and Judge Jules 
• Co-founding Kiss FM and the Rare Groove Movement
• His MBE

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

You can follow Wes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesrashid/?hl=en 

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

On today’s episode, we’re doing something a bit different, as I brought in Culture expert, Asad Dhunna. 

Asad Dhunna is founder and CEO of The Unmistakables – an award-winning culture consultancy brand that specialises in helping organisations build inclusive cultures, structures and behaviours. 

Asad – who is a gay, British-Indian, Muslim man – volunteered to be the Director of Communications for London’s 2018 Pride celebrations and is currently a trustee for akt, the UK’s leading LGBT homelessness charity. 

Since then, Asad has continued to write about and speak out on the subjects that are important to him and has contributed to Newsweek, The Guardian, Huffington Post and Independent and has appeared on BBC One, BBC Radio 4, 5 Live, Asian Network, Unilad and Sky News, among others.

In today’s topic on diversity, equity and inclusion, we navigate the following:

• Asad’s personal story
• His mission with Inside Out Inclusion
• Building inclusiveness, not tokenism
• LGBT+ issues and education 

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

You can follow Wes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesrashid/?hl=en 

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

On this episode, we introduce Eniola Aluko, the former football player who won 102 caps for England. She is Sporting Director of Angel City FC and the author of the best selling book “They Don’t Teach This”, and is currently a pundit for ITV Sports during the Qatar World Cup 2022. 

When I thought of guests that I wanted to be on the podcast the first name that sprung to mind was Eniola. Her story is inspiring for all.

Eniola started life in the UK living on a council estate having to “pay to play” football. But despite the odds she managed to get a first degree in Law whilst winning 102 caps for England. She also won a place on the 2012 British Olympics team, and it was the Olympics that changed the face of women’s football for the better. 

In this episode she discusses the challenges of navigating her career. We also talk  about her dual-heritage and Eniola embracing her ’hyphenated identity’ which she has come to terms with through her life. Her story is relatable, honest and inspirational - I hope that you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. 

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

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

In this episode we welcome the iconic and legendary former boxer, Frank Bruno MBE.

He won the WBC World Heavyweight Champion belt after the 4th attempt against Oliver McCall, as the whole nation was cheering him on. 

When I was 9 years old I was finally allowed to stay over at a friend's house to watch the historic Frank Bruno v Mike Tyson boxing match, never could I have imagined I’d one day get the chance to have a conversation with Frank, the man himself.  Frank was my childhood hero and probably for many others too.

He is, still today, considered a national treasure, and if you listen to this episode, you’ll understand why. 

His story is really about a man who refused to give up, the man who lost 3 times before he won the World Heavyweight Championship belt which he kept until his career ending fight with Mike Tyson. 

The great man Nelson Mandela once said: You never lose, you either win or learn. In that failure is just a stepping stone towards your destination, and Frank’s story is very much in keeping with this. This is a lesson of failure and using it as a stepping stone to achieve his ultimate prize. 

You’ll also hear about Frank’s mental health struggles and his new found purpose that you might not know about - the Frank Bruno Foundation.

We’ll cover:

Frank’s early years

The highs and lows of his boxing career

Achieving his dream of becoming world champion

Frank’s mental health struggles

The Frank Foundation and it’s aims

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

You can follow Wes on Instagram: @wesrashid or contact Wes on www.iamoutsidein.com 

Frank Bruno’s new book, 60 Years a Fighter,  is out now. Order now:

https://www.frankbruno.co.uk/product/frank-bruno-60-years-fighter-new-2022/

In his own words, as he turns 60, Frank delivers the full, explosive story of his remarkable life so far. 

At times harrowing, at times hilarious, but always 100 percent honest, Frank Bruno: 60 Years A Fighter is the sporting memoir of the year which pulls no punches.

In it Frank opens up on his journey to becoming a World Champion and the fight which has come after retirement with mental ill health.

Plus he lets us in on a lifetime on stage and screen and the thrills-and-spills of life in the public eye.

Featuring tributes by Prince Charles, Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton and a foreword from Piers Morgan. PLUS an interview with Tyson Fury, an unseen ringside chat with Frank & ‘Arry and Bruno’s verdict on ALL of his 45 fights.

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

We talk to the man with the biggest heart I’ve met: Karl Lokko. Having him on Outside In was a real privilege.

Once a London Gang Leader, Karl started his life on a dark path despite a happy childhood. 

By the age of 16, he had been the victim of lots of violent acts, and witnessed things a teenager should never have to see.

But things changed when Pastor Mimi Asher, a fellow gang member’s mother, was determined to stop young people being drawn into a life of crime.

She opened up her home as a sort of unofficial rehabilitation centre, continuing even after a stray bullet went through her front door, which ultimately led to Karl turning his life around.

He is now Chairman of Black Seed, a venture capital fund specifically aimed at uplifting and supporting black entrepreneurs, having raised £10m to invest in black-owned businesses

In this episode we cover: 

• Early years growing up
• Gang Life
• Pastor Mimi Asher
• Turning his life around
• Helping others with Black Seed VC

You’ll want to see this side of Karl. If you are an entrepreneur that’s interested in funding. Check out Black Seed VC at blackseed.vc

You can contact Wes Rashid on Instagram: @wesrashid or [email protected]

And follow the podcast @iamoutsidein on Instagram.

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

Asma Khan is a world renowned chef, restaurateur and author who shot to fame on Netflix’s Chef's Table. There, her mission to train immigrant women to be chefs in an all-woman kitchen was shown to the world. As the founder of Darjeeling Express she has brought her adored style of cuisine to many who have visited her supper clubs and restaurant.  

But this is not a story about food.  

This is her story of fighting against the status quo. Her unlikely journey from Calcutta to a celebrated London chef.  The hard moments she faced, and her drive to break stereotypes. 

This is a one-of-a-kind conversation where there’s more than meets the eye with Asma.  She has set up the Second Daughters Fund to redress inequalities in society. In her own words she considers herself the “Ultimate Outsider” and a rebellious disrupter of a restaurant industry which is male-dominiated. She is honest, passionate, and a compelling person to be around.  

In this episode, we talk about her drive to redress inequalities in society, the power of her mother, her new cookbook, Ammu, moving to the UK as an immigrant, how her supper clubs started, the Second daughters fund and breaking the bias in the restaurant industry.

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

Welcome to Outside In, the podcast which celebrates inspiring people and their incredible achievements against the odds.

Follow and subscribe now to catch every episode.

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