Josh speaks with Dr Sara Reis, Head of Research & Policy for the Women's Budget Group (WBG). They discuss the impacts the lockdown has had, is having and will continue to have on women.

Episode Links

Dr Sara Reis: Twitter
Women's Budget Group: Website | Twitter

The blog that Josh stumbled across was Personal debt is a feminist issue on the Brave New Europe website.

The WBG also produce a weekly newsletter providing updates on the gendered impact of Covid-19. 

The briefings Sara sent us on the impact of Covid-19 on women:

• On the impact of Covid-19 crisis on women (including pre-existing inequalities and how they’re exacerbated now)
• What to take into account as lockdown is eased

You'll also be able to hear Sara give a Q&A for Bureau Local's #NewsYouCanUse fortnight on June 19th at 1pm.

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

Today we hear from the voices from the crowd at the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Cardiff's Bute Park on Saturday, June 6th 2020.

Black Lives Matter is an international human rights movement which began in 2013 with the #BlackLivesMatter in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer and has been active ever since. The killing of George Floyd on May 25th sparked international protests, such as the one held in Cardiff.
In this episode, Laurence took a microphone, on a makeshift boom pole (to enable social distancing) and listened to what people in the crowd had to say.

Thanks to all those who contributed to the episode, we are very grateful for you sharing your words with us. 

This special episode replaces our regular episode that would have been published today.

Episode Links

Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter Twitter
Black Lives Matter Cardiff Twitter

The story of the Cardiff Three is mentioned in this episode, the interviewee mentioned she learnt more about them from a BBC Sounds podcast series The Cardiff Three (Podcast)

Another contributor talks about his blog which you can find here his name is Jafar Iqbal and you can follow him on Twitter @_JafarIqbal_

If you want to see some amazing ariel images of the protest check out Cardiff Eye in the Sky on Instagram, you can see the crowd are peacefully protesting whilst following social distance guidelines.

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

In this episode, Laurence chats to Melissa Lee, an Aerospace Project Manager and award-winning pole dancer and instructor. They discuss life in lockdown just as restrictions begin to ease, as well as adjustments Melissa has had to make by working and teaching from home.

Episode recorded on May 26th.

Episode Links

Melissa on Instagram: @melee.x
Watch: Dancing for NHS Charities Together
Donate: Dancing for NHS Charities Together

This article from The Independent highlights further the issue of racism in the UK during the pandemic  Coronavirus: Hate crimes against Chinese people almost triple in the UK during the pandemic, police data shows

Black Lives Matter Links

• blacklivesmatter.com
• Justice for George Floyd petition
• Demand Racial Data on COVID 19 

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

Josh talks to social justice activist and chef, Kirsty Haigh. She's currently working for Edinburgh's Food For Good Coalition, who've - to date - cooked around 30,000 meals for the people of Edinburgh (the "second cash richest city in the UK", at £16.9bn in 2017 figures).

They also talk about the need for a better work-life balance, zero-hours contracts, changes to the food system and a positive side effect of the lockdown; that men are talking more about their feelings and mental health.

Episode Links

Edinburgh's Food For Good Coalition:
From their crowdfunder website: "It started with a group message and has now evolved into a coalition which makes and distributes meals. We now have a team of volunteer chefs and delivery drivers working in donated kitchen spaces and supporting community organisations. The coalition partners are:"

- Edinburgh Food Social
- Edinburgh Food Festival
- Nourishing Change
- Slow Food Scotland

You'll find Kirsty on Twitter @KirstyEHaigh where she's a constant source of interesting posts on issues around social justice.

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

In today's episode Laurence speaks with Godwin Josiah, one member of The Critics Company; a group of young filmmakers in Nigeria.

Last year they gained global recognition for their work on the short film Z: The Beginning which went viral mainly due to the skills they showed in creating visual effects on a very low budget.

Laurence and Godwin discuss filmmaking and the effects Covid-19 is having on Nigera.

This interview was recorded on April 26th.

Episode Links 

• The Critics on YouTube
• The Critics on Twitter 
• Godwin Josiah on Twitter
• The Critics on Instagram

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

Josh speaks with Kelly Edney, Owner and Managing Director of The Dust Dolly, to find out the impact that the pandemic and lockdown has had on her as a small business owner and employee of 10. As well as the financial and administrative hoops, she also talks about the challenges of being in the process of moving house, the community spirit that's inspired her...and a surprise Victoria Sponge!

Episode Links

The Dust Dolly website.
The Dust Dolly Facebook.

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

In episode 11 of Positive Negative, Laurence speaks with Dr Katherine Witter a trainee psychiatrist working in Saint Albans. Katherine is working on the front line with Covid-19 patients, they discuss this and the mental health implications for those coming out of a serious viral infection and those that aren't getting support through their usual networks. They also discuss family life and the effects the current situation is having on her two young children and her husband.

Episode Links

• Jessica's Coconut Cookies
• Latest NHS Coronavirus Advice 
• The Guardian: 'Urgent studies needed' into mental health impact of coronavirus
• Coronavirus scams to watch out for and how to protect yourself

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically...

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time.

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

In episode 10 of Positive Negative Laurence is joined by professional photographer Andrew Walmsley. They discuss his work and how, as a freelancer, he is adjusting to life in lockdown and dealing with having all his income virtually stopping overnight.

Episode Links 

• Andrews Website
• Andrews Instagram Walms Wild
• Andrews Instagram Ginger Snaps Media
• Andrews Twitter 
• Andrews Facebook

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically... 

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

In our ninth episode, Josh speaks with his friend James, a Secondary School PE Teacher, to find out how he's adjusting to teaching and working from home and what effect he hopes all of this might have on the direction that Education takes in the future.

Recorded on April 29th.

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically... 

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!

In this episode of Positive Negative, Laurence speaks with Vicki Landi from VLM fitness. They discuss the changes Vicki has had to make to her job in order to still support her clients, juggling home life while working and what impact COVID-19 will have on the future of fitness, even if social distancing continues even if lockdown restrictions are eased. 

Recorded on May 6th

Links for this Episode 

• Vicki's Website: vlmfitness.com
• VLM Fitness on Instagram: @vlmfitness
• Vicki's Twitter: @VLMFitness
• VLM Fitness on Facebook
• Vicki's Dad's Social Distancing Video
• Couch to 5K

Positive Negative Links

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook  
• YouTube

Join in the discussion by using #posnegative

Special thanks to

Artwork by George Hall @geogeohall
Animations by Emily Turvey @digeoproductions

About Us
Positive Negative creates discussion with a wide range of people around the same set of questions, building a picture of how a certain topic or event is affecting them.
With COVID-19's sudden and dramatic spread across the globe, we'll be connecting with people from varying personal and professional backgrounds to see what impact the virus, and its repercussions, are having on them personally, professionally, economically, emotionally, physically... 

Beginning with those within our own broad networks of friends and colleagues, we'll spread the net as far and wide as we can, to help capture stories that shine a light on the breadth of experiences going on in the world around us in this unusual and challenging time. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW to make sure you don't miss an episode!