Pause. And Rewind...

This episode was pure effing joy! I got to sit down with Laura Willoughby, co-founder of Club Soda, the world's largest mindful drinking movement, and dive into her amazing life story.

Laura & I connected through the sober world and she is one of the most supportive, encouraging and collaborative humans I know. She's also bloody impressive. Her work with Club Soda has encouraged thousands upon thousands of people to adopt healthier lifestyles when it comes to drinking and she was recently featured high up in the list of Top 100 influences in the drinks industry... a feat she finds amusing given her sobriety.

But Laura's story is about so much more than just this and from hearing about her passion for campaigning from a young age to her work ethic, time in Government, her love of 'The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy' and more, you can really get a feel for what's shaped her now. She uses the following three words to describer her story and I couldn't think of three better ones: Collaborative, Activator & Heretic. I know that the everyone from the sober community and beyond will love this episode as much as I did!

PS. Go visit Club Soda on Drury Lane in Covent Garden to try & buy the best selection of AF drinks out there plus the team are gorgeous and they run fab events too!

We're a few days into Pride Month and so I'm taking this episode to shout about We Create Space, and more specifically, its Founder, Michael Stephens (he/they). I work for Michael so we chat every day but I was super excited to invite him onto 'Pause. And Rewind...' to find out more about him!

We Create Space is a global learning platform providing DEI consultancy to organisations worldwide who want to create more inclusive workplaces. This is done through our wonderful Collective of queer change makers & thought leaders. As a CIC, the money it makes goes back to delivering community events - something that is fundamental to Michael and through the mission to bring people together in safe spaces to 'learn, connect & grow'. It's all done through a truly inclusive & intersectional lens.

This episode explores how Michael's experiences with bullying, shame, eating disorders and mental health play a core role in the creation of We Create Space. Please take care of yourself whilst listening as some of these topics can be triggering.

'Community' is one of the words Michael uses to describe his origin story alongside 'Determination' and 'Intuition'. He casually drops in some poignant life lessons that I'm certainly taking on board and I think you might too. Enjoy...

Oh and if your organisation would like to explore working with We Create Space, get in touch!

We're often told "never meet your heroes" - well, two fingers up to that because meeting Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, or Lady Phyll as she's more affectionately known, has been a life changing experience.

Through her incredible work, Phyll has taught me so much when it comes to pride, allyship & showing up - for our community and each other, advocating for the needs of those around us and challenging systems of oppression.

I had a unique opportunity to stand in front of Lady Phyll and her family - both her actual family and her UK Black Pride family - to tell her exactly what she means to me and so many other queer people on the day she received an Honorary Graduate Degree from London South Bank University. It was one of the highlights of my life and such a special moment in time. Just as recording this episode of 'Pause. And Rewind...' was.

Her compassion, conviction and wisdom are paramount to the Lady Phyll we know & love. So it was the biggest privilege to dive into her origin story to find out where this comes from - and to find out more about Little Phyll, her love of books, her early experiences of racism and how this has shaped her life. There are some challenging topics discussed so please take care of yourself whilst listening.

 The words Phyll uses to describe her story are 'Intense, Brave and With Purpose'. You're about to find out why... enjoy this wonderful conversation.

Many of us know how inaccessible and unaffordable mental health support can be - and right now amongst the queer community, it's vital. Hence why the work that Jaron Soh (he/him) is doing is so important.

Jaron is the founder of Voda, the LGBTQIA+ mental wellness app and their mission is to build the future of inclusive mental health support which Voda does with a fantastic team of entrepreneurs and specialists behind it. It's an exciting time for the company and Jaron's love, commitment & passion for it SHINES through.

The 3 words Jaron uses to describe there origin story are 'Shame, Joy & Love'. Jaron's story is fundamental to Voda's creation. Growing up as a queer kid in Singapore came with a lot of shame and a need for therapy, healing and acceptance so a trigger warning is attached to this episode. Please take care of yourself whilst listening.

The presence of joy & love for Jaron is down to community, chosen family and what he does - tapping into those is a work in progress for many of too so sit back and listen in to this inspiring conversation.

I was a fan of Maylis Djikalou (she/her) for some time before I had the privilege of working with her for a brief time. Listening and watching the way she spoke, heard and felt someone's story on events really moved me.

Maylis is an inclusion consultant, coach and legend! We'd chatted before about all things life, including tough experiences, but this conversation really dove deep into Maylis' origin story. It's a longer episode than previous ones and well worth time & attention - it's a conversation I will cherish.

There is a need for a trigger warning here. The podcast features discussion around suicide, addiction and abortion. And how these experiences have shaped Maylis. Please take care of yourself whilst listening.

We cover tons more too. As with life, through the trauma, there are many joyful moments to reflect on and hearing about 'little Maylis' and how it's shining through in her two children was wonderful - even if it is biting her on the arse a bit! Maylis shares how overcoming these challenges with grace have shaped her life - and if you listen, you'll understand why the 3 words she uses to describe her origin story are 'Dramatic, Pivotal and Graceful'. 

I first met Jude Guaitamacchi (they/them) on a Zoom call to chat about them speaking at some events. I was instantly bowled over by their energy & enthusiasm!

And that's Jude. They're out to make a difference. Through activism, campaigning and education. From wonderful, well known campaigns such as 'L with the T' and '#transpeopleareloved' through to founding the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance. Their career, work and purpose has evolved over the years and their gender journey is a fundamental part of that.

Jude's early years were challenging and turbulent and we'd like to put out a trigger warning with this episode as we cover challenging issues including addiction, recovery and mental health.

'Shame, Empowerment & Liberation' are the three words Jude uses to describe their origin story - which lean very much into how their adventure to  'becomingjude' (their Insta handle) is a work in progress and one that is changing lives. There's a lot of joy & love here too - for chosen family, the trans+ community and each other. Enjoy!

Following last year's burnout, I made a promise to myself to only get involved and support new projects if they met these two conditions:

• I believed in the cause
• I believed in the person

These were 100% met when my dear friend Marty Davies (she/they) asked me to jump on board as Events Director for the first ever Trans+ History Week (6-12 May).

Marty founded Trans+ History Week partly to challenge the rhetoric that trans+ identities are a recent phenomenon and the accompanying history lesson guidebook shows that trans, non-binary and gender non-confirming people and communities have always been here. But more importantly, to show trans+ people that they have a place in history. They've had an impact. They belong. Because trans history is history. Find out more about it on Instagram @transhistoryweek  

Not only is Marty a history maker but they're a highly impactful and effective change maker too and their work across advertising, brand campaigns and the media is tackling anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and shining a light on issues across multiple industries. I'll let the podcast do the rest of the talking - Marty's origin story which she describes in three words 'Proud Attention Seeker'. And she's owning it! Enjoy...

Polly Shute (she/her) is someone who likes to get shit done. And through talking about her origin story, we sussed out that Little Polly was exactly the same and didn't like to be held back!

Polly is a marketing, sales, partnerships and brand expert with a passion community, equality and representation. She's the Founder of Out & Wild, a festival for queer women and last she set up Outspoken Speakers Bureau - a collective and network for queer women & non-binary people (alongside Raga D'silva, another fab guest on the show). Polly also successfully launched the first ever Pride Swim in 2023 which will see tons more events in 2024 & beyond!

We talk multi-tasking & mental health, ageing, menopause & representation along with Polly's love of travel, cooking and her gorgeous dog Noreen. I only met Polly last year through a previous shared employer and I'm grateful that I get to work with her on various things still. Her 3 words to describe her origin story are 'drive' passion & energy' - you'll hear why this is so spot on throughout the episode!

Natalie Binns (she/her) is a sustainable fashion expert, writer, designer and community organiser. We met at a local LGBTQ+ social evening in Crystal Palace, South East London a few years ago where we both live. This was typically dominated by men and so Natalie founded SE London Sapphics to address the lack of spaces for queer women.

They host a monthly event (third Friday of the month at the Westow Tap), organise lots of other activities and have a buzzing Whatsapp group. This is part of the growth of London's thriving lesbian scene and as Natalie suggests, if there's a lack of spaces, create your own!

It was brilliant to get a proper chat in with Natalie as an exciting time for her. She's just 'quit' working for herself so she can pursue new avenues and find more time for community & herself. We chatted failure and a mutual love of charity shops and her three words to describe her origin story are 'late blooming lesbian'. Enjoy!

Liz Ridgway (she/they) is the UK's first openly trans-femme personal trainer providing inclusive, gender affirming  fitness coaching to the trans+ and queer community. She's showing that sports and fitness is for everyone - and right now, the physical and mental health benefits it brings are crucial for a community under relentless attacks.

Liz is also a fierce activist and campaigner having co-founded two incredible campaigns: 'L with the T' and '#transpeopleareloved' with the latter being how we met last year through our amazing mutual friend Jude Guaitamacchi (they/them) - another hero of mine!

Liz is one of the most wonderful people I've met in recent years. She has the warmest energy and from listening to her origin story, it's something she's always carried. The three words she uses to describe her origin story are 'humble, working-class and self effacing'. I am determined to encourage Liz to write a biography... listen in to find out way.

Trigger warning: This episode does contain some conversations around mental health and the challenges faced by the trans community right now. Please take care of yourself as you listen.