Reflections to Rise

Reflections to Rise

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Reflections to Rise episodes

  • Dr. Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild): Turning Indigenous Lived Experience into Systemic Change

    Rahim Moosa sits down with Dr. Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild), an Indigenous scholar, educator and governance leader whose work advances Indigenous rights, sovereignty and accountability across health, education and research systems.


    Dr. Kemble reflects on identity, grief and the experiences that shaped her journey from losing her mother as a teenager and finding her way back to education, to earning her PhD and confronting profound changes in her career and sense of self.


    Together, Rahim and Dr. Kemble explore the ongoing harm of birth alerts, the effects of colonial systems on Indigenous women, children and families, and the difference between symbolic gestures and meaningful accountability. They also discuss relational leadership, the courage to trust yourself and what it means to create spaces where people feel genuinely seen, heard and loved.


    This conversation is an invitation to listen more deeply, lead with humility and consider what each of us must do and not simply say to help others rise.


    Content note: This episode includes discussions of grief, child apprehension, the Sixties Scoop, residential schools, addiction, workplace harassment and colonial violence.


    00:00 - Introduction

    01:45 - About Dr. Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild)

    04:26 - Birth Alerts

    07:55 - How Grief Enabled Her to Rise

    10:42 - Grieving Multiple Identities to Becoming Whole

    15:58 - Her Father's Role in Shaping Her Identity

    19:23 - How Loss Leads to Resilience and Self Trust

    22:22 - Trusting the Creator

    24:24 - Breaking Open to Lead

    26:40 - Her Lived Experience Connects to Leadership

    28:49 - Leading and Supporting Indigenous Peoples

    30:38 - Accountability and Indigenous Leadership

    36:58 - Advice on Leading Authentically

    41:12 - Making a Land Acknowledgment Meaningful

    43:58 - How Colonial Systems Impact Indigenous Health

    47:12 - Hope for the Future

    48:44 - Responsibility for Non-Indigenous Individuals

    50:34 - The Meaning of her Writing

    52:29 - Closing with Her Legacy and Message to her Daughter


    About Dr. Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild)


    Dr. Kemble is an Indigenous scholar, educator and governance leader. A registered member of Piapot First Nation in Treaty 4 territory, her work focuses on Indigenous rights, sovereignty and accountability, with a particular commitment to Indigenous women, children and families in Canada.


    Subscribe for more conversations about leadership, resilience and becoming who you were meant to be.


    Learn more about Dr. Tibetha Kemble: https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/tibethastonechild/tawaw-welcome


    About Rahim Moosa:

    www.rahimmmosa.com


    #ReflectionsToRise #IndigenousLeadership #DrTibethaKemble #Leadership #Resilience #IndigenousRights #Reconciliation #PersonalGrowth #GriefAndHealing

    56 min
  • Michelle Mama: A filmmaker's Gay Agenda

    Rahim Moosa sits down with award-winning documentary writer, director, producer and founder of Gay Agenda, Michelle Mama. Michelle shares how being an "outsider" became her greatest leadership strength.


    Her story offers deep insights into:


    02:25 Early life and how layers of identity (Female, First Generation Canadian, Parsi/Zoroastrian, South Asian and Queer) shaped her observer mindset


    9:00 The origins of the Parsi community


    15:52 The project that changed everything: 21 Days to Nawroz (filmed in Iraq during the war)


    30:05 Launching Gay Agenda and why it's important to accurately represent LGBTQIA+ in the media with love and respect


    40:21 Queerness, mentorship and advocacy: her coming out story, family acceptance while managing societal pressures from a South Asian lens


    59:22 Leadership: disarming hierarchy with community first values


    1:02:09 Why diversity is strength (and how leaders can stop diluting it)


    1:10:17 Legacy, mentorship, helping others and supporting the next generation

    Links mentioned:


    • 21 Days to Nawroz

    • Gay Agenda

    • Michelle Mama's Instagram

    • Gay Agenda Instagram


    If this resonates, like/subscribe and share to support others on their journey.

    1 hr 15 min
  • Shirley Lewis: How Her Vocal Leadership Created The George Michael Sound

    Rahim Moosa connects with powerhouse vocalist Shirley Lewis as she shares the leadership lessons, life stories, and quiet strength behind some of the most iconic music ever made with George Michael.


    Guided first by her sister Linda Lewis, the first Black British female singer-songwriter to enter the UK charts and perform at Glastonbury, Shirley speaks about her childhood growing up in London’s East End to the world’s biggest stages.


    As the voice on George Michael’s Father Figure, Freedom! 90' , Amazing and countless live performances touring with George, Shirley built a career defined not by the spotlight, but by leading as a vocalist from the back of the stage. In this intimate conversation, Shirley opens up about:


    03:26 Linda Lewis: Her Sister as a Trailblazer & Curtain-Opener

    12:39 From Live Aid to Wembley: Meeting George Michael

    14:33 Creating the George Michael Sound

    19:29 Carrying George's leadership forward in her band, The George Michael Singers

    22:37 Reflecting on her own Power in "Father Figure" and "Freedom! 90'"

    25:54 Making the song "Father Figure"

    29:37 George Michael's Leadership Style

    32:30 Leading as a Woman in a Male Dominated Industry

    34:27 On Trusting Her Instincts

    37:50 Signs & Synchronicities - how it led her to create The George Michael Singers Band and Tour

    44:12  Naming the Song of Her Life: “We Can Win”



    🎧 Audio-only episode. For personal photos shared by Shirley, continue watching the video version.



    📸 Follow Shirley Lewis & The George Michael Singers

    Instagram: @shirleylewisofficial

    The George Michael Singers: @georgemichaelsingers

    📣 Connect with Rahim / Reflections to Rise

    Website: rahimmoosa.com

    Podcast Instagram: @reflectionstorise

    47 min
  • Clayton Peters: The Architect Behind Global Comedian Russell Peters

    Rahim Moosa sits down with  Clayton Peters, Manager, Strategist and Brother to global comedy icon Russell Peters. Clayton’s insights remind us that leadership doesn’t always mean being in the spotlight. Sometimes, the most powerful impact is made behind the scenes. Clayton’s story offers a rare look into:

    • The art of leading through reflection and driving success.
    • Finding resilience through struggle and loss.
    • Sustaining a global brand through vision, balance and foresight.


    What they discuss:

    00:00 Intro

    02:10 Convergence

    20:17 How Struggle Relates to Success

    26:53 Leading in the Background

    40:44 Reflection

    50:57 The Defining Moment

    1:00:23 The Next Chapter

    1 hr 6 min

About Reflections to Rise

From the publisher's feed

Reflections to Rise features unique and unconventional leaders. Powerful stories. Real strategies. Inspiration to fuel your growth and elevate you.