Speaking for ourselves

Speaking for ourselves

By Professor Laura Serrant CBESociety & CulturePersonal Journals
Download on the App Store

Speaking for ourselves episodes

  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 18: "Changing the 'Tone' at the top" Speaking With Nicolina Andall

    My mother used to say "we are all here just passing through" and that is very true. Life has a way of challenging us, lifting us and asking us to occasionally reflect on where we are headed - and why.
    We never really know for sure what will happen, but having a purpose and a direction certainly help - our past, present and future aspirations are only part of the story.
    At some point we all ask ourselves - why am I here? What difference do I make??

    This is something my next guest and I spent time discussing - In this podcast I am speaking with ⁠Nicolina Andall⁠


    A powerhouse of a woman - feisty, charming and definitely a live wire! - Nicolina will enthuse you with her infectious zest for life - and shares with us her journey to recognising we are all empowered through our experiences...challenging you to push yourself a little more but at all time remain you own primary cheerleader. Her commitment to changing opportunities for all by influencing the Diversity of people on Boards ( through Inspiring Diverse Leaders initiative) and in leadership roles in inspiring.


    Join us as we explore the questions above... - you are in for a treat!


    You can contact Nicolina via

    E: [email protected] 
    M: 07951 743426 

    W: www.nicolinaandall.com 
    www.linkedin.com/in/nicolinaandall/

    42 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 17: "Ripple effects...It's the world I inhabit" Speaking With Heather McLellan

    Life happens....in unexpected ways. We are sometimes unaware of the lasting impacts of the events that occur...The ripple effects can last far beyond the experience of the event itself, sometimes catching us out, reminding us that we still have unresolved issues to address or challenges to face. The consequences and impacts of these changes may change our lives in ways we could not have imagined and sometimes in ways that are beyond our control - but how we face them and what we do about them is up to us.

    This podcast is about those effects..those ripples that happen as part of this life, and how we face them.

    I am speaking with Heather McLellan. Heather is a qualified physiotherapist and works with people who are facing the impacts of great 'ripples' in their life. People who  for a variety of reasons find themselves having to rebuild and reexamine how they see themselves, their work and their abilities. Heather has had to do this for herself - you'll have to listen to hear her story - but she uses her personal and professional experiences of ripples and their effects to help them find a way to regain, refresh and reimagine the world they inhabit. 

    I found speaking with Heather insightful, affirming and energising...a reset if you like...encouraging us to embrace the wonder of our own lives, opportunities and experiences in the world we each inhabit. 

    Heather can be contacted via 

    linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherkmclellan/

    Twitter: @heatherkm22

    I hope you enjoy the podcast.



    42 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 16: "Are you ready?...Inner dialogues and external landscapes" Speaking With Sandra Wood
    For many of us, The last month of the year is when we spend more time with family and friends....for others of us, we may spend time on our own.
    Whether with others or on our own, This is a time for RELATIONSHIPS.
    Relationships are central to our human experience .....and indeed what makes us...'US'
    When we think about relationships - what works, which ones sustain us - or otherwise - it's easy to think only of the relationships we have with other people. We consider what has happened in those relationships and how they have shaped us, in the last year, the last months...or even for longer periods of our lives. We may plan to do better, make changes - or to give thanks for what has happened so far. However, in thinking about relationships we often forget one fundamental key relationship...that with ourselves.
    In this podcast I will be speaking with Women's Relationship coach Sandra Wood
    Sandra shares with me the importance of relationships in steering our path to a fulfilling life...With the most important the relationship being that with ourselves. Sandra openly invites us into her own story of relationships and experiences she in her life so far ...and what drives her commitment to helping other women find the key to reconnecting with their own self worth and having the fulfilling relationships - often with themselves - that they dream of.
    It is a conversation about courage to explore and connect with your own self....in order that we can better connect with and appreciate others....a conversation of learning to be. Speaking with Sandra is engaging and accepting! Listen to the podcast...I hope you enjoy it and find some little space for your own reflections....Just as I did.
    If you wish to connect with Sandra her details are:
    Sandra Wood
    Speaker, Author, Coach
    https://sandrawood.coach/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandraswood/
    https://www.instagram.com/sandrawoodcoach/
    https://www.facebook.com/sandra.s.wood
    39 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 15: "Finding my voice...and learning to Roar!" Speaking With Professor Calvin Moorley
    We are familiar with the phrase 'life is a journey, not a destination" and that's true. No one really knows which paths their life will take and which opportunities will come their way. But the distances we travel are measure in more than miles - life is a journey of becoming.. passing through phases of development marked by fortune misfortune and chances taken. As we move through our experiences we are shaped by what happens to us but we also have the ability to affect the world around us, and the people we meet on the way. In this podcast I will am speaking with Professor Calvin Moorley. Calvin shares with me the journeys he has taken in his life so far from growing up in Trinidad, coming to the UK and training as Nurse through to working as a clinical academic through the COVID19 pandemic. It is a story of learning to stand up, speak up and stand out...until speaking becomes a roar....and speaking out enables others to speak - and to be. Speaking with Calvin is infectious, engaging and fun! Listen to the podcast...I hope you enjoy listening it as much I I did recording it.
    You can connect with Calvin on 
    Twitter: @CalvinMoorley
    49 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 14: "Faith and Boldness" .......Navigating life's journey, belonging and finding myself. Speaking with Dr Kathy Sienko OBE

    As we travel through life we learn about ourselves and where we belong, through the the experiences we have and choices we make. All of this leads to our sense of identity, what we are here to do, what contributions we make to the world.... Our purpose in life often takes time to become known to us - life itself 'gets in the way'. But eventually we reach a space where we think about our place in the world and what actions we need to take. Speaking with Kathy Sienko O.B.E she shares her thoughts on the importance of self and belonging - navigating life's journey with "Faith and Boldness" - learning most importantly to be at one with yourself and what the lights the flame inside you. .... I hope you enjoy the podcast! 

    You can contact Dr Kathy Sienko as follows:

    Instagram - @drsienko

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-sienko-2604/

    50 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves: Vol 13 - "I just need to Pivot"....From side hustle to Edupreneur. Speaking with Dr Tamu Petra Browne

    Sometimes in life things don't go as planned...the dreams we had as youngsters may be changed or impacts by what happens to us. 

    At these times we may feel tired and we can feel that it's just too hard.

    However, it is rare that our potential to achieve or to regain a different version of our futures, is ever truly lost.

    Sometimes we just need to pivot.

    Pivoting requires us to harness our gifts, our dreams and our potential....using these are fuel to boost our energies and to give us the courage to go on. This is as true in business as it is in our personal life.

    Today I am speaking with Dr Tamu Petra  Browne from the fabulous island of St. Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean. I was privileged to meet Tamu a few years ago and was struck by her vision, foresight and infectious zest for life. Tamu describes herself as a 'Edupreneur' - an educationalist and entrepreneur. During our conversation she shares with us her own personal journey of 'learning to pivot' from recognising 'visions of herself' in the adult learners she taught and using her entrepreneurial skills to build a group of businesses that helps women in the Caribbean recognise their own natural entrepreneurship and build their own business futures. 

    This is my first 'cross time zone' podcast in the series and I am excited for you to hear our conversation. 

    You can contact Dr Tamu Petra Browne as follows:

    Innovative Education and Training Solutions - A 'Levels and Training and Curriculum Development - https://tamubrowne.com/

    Coaching by Tamu - entrepreneurship services - https://tamucoaching.com/

    Instagram - @coachingbytamu

    Facebook - @TamuBrowne

    LinkedIn - Dr. Tamu Petra Browne

    37 min
  • Speaking for ourselves: Vol 12 - "Listening to my own inner compass"... navigating life spaces and being you. Speaking with brand expert and chief 'brew' maker Clare Froggatt

    Do you have a life plan? How did you come to be where you are now?


    These are questions we are often asked - or ask ourselves. In reality, few of us (me included) are where we imagined our life would take us. Experiencing the ups and downs, the twists and turns that come our way, is something we all share as human beings.

    In reality, it is not the 'unpredictable' nature of life's journey that distinguishes us, or makes us unique...but HOW we travel....and what we use to guide us through.

    In this episode I am speaking with Clare Froggatt, Branding and marketing expert with her very aptly named company "Make a Brew" (MakeaBrew.co.uk)

    Over a virtual 'Brew' We talk of what guides #branding #selflove and drives her through life's journey - Clare shares her personal and professional experiences through life, her honest reflections on challenges and the importance of learning to love yourself, and listen to your own Inner compass are enlightening and humbling.

    What clearly comes over with Clare is 'what you see is what you get' her zest for life and straight talking are infectious...So put the kettle on, relax and prepare yourselves for a treat!

    If you want to learn more about Clare or your own journey to Branding and being your best business self - contact Clare at Make A Brew via the details below


    T: 0798 994 3339

    s: linkedin.com/in/clarefroggatt
    w: www.makeabrew.co.uk

    47 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 11:"Finding my voice......Helping others to be heard" - How our stories give us power and purpose

    Life Transitions: Illness, identity, loss and growth....These are natural and normal part of being human.


    Transitions come in many guises - social, emotional and physical. Sometimes we expect these stages to happen in certain ways, and they do.

    At other times we are caught off-guard....blindsided even...and in those instances we can feel a range of feelings including being alienated in our own life. Unable to describe, explain or even speak of what happens to us.

    In those times it is most important that we are able to tell our stories and have someone 'hear us' - helping us to reset our own way though, emerging energised into the next phase.

    In this podcast I am speaking with Pamela Ann Windle, Women's health specialist and menopause coach. We talk of the expected and unexpected aspects of transitioning through life, 

    Pamela has 20+ years of experience in health and wellness as a certified women's health coach, hypnotherapist, and personal trainer. She understands the unique physical and psychological challenges that modern women face throughout their lives.

    For five years, she struggled with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and she was forced to quit employment and sell her home. 

    Pamela shares her personal and professional experiences of Finding her own voice, power and purpose through life. something that all of us can relate to - irrespective of age or gender

    To connect with Pamela

    Website: www.smarterchange.co.uk

    Instagram: Pamelawindlehormonecoach

    Mobile: 07971651 698

    43 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 10: "You might see the glory but you don't know the story" - Speaking with... Counsellor, trainer and speaker Dr Delroy Hall

    We all have people we admire, those who inspire us at different times in our lives....it's easy to see them at the 'top' of their game or career and believe that they were 'lucky'  - Often our heroes only become known to us at that point. Success in any field usually results not from simple 'luck' but from talent, perseverance and the ability to keep going, keep striving even when no-one is watching.

    In this podcast I am speaking with Counsellor, wellbeing advisor, trainer and speaker, Dr Delroy Hall. 

    Delroy is a success, a man with an infectious laugh and a great mind. I spoke with him a couple of weeks ago - after the agony of the European championship finals, when English football was reeling from not only the loss in the final - but more from the racism and reactions that followed. We talked about his work to support men in counselling and his own story of effort, failures and continuing to grow. He shared his journey as a sportsman through to supporting footballers with the emotional pressures of "success" ...The words above are from our conversation - it's true, when we look at those who have 'made it' it is easy to be blinded by the 'glory' without full knowledge of the 'story' it takes to get there.

    What Delroy shared in our conversation was the importance of remembering how to support each other, and ourselves - most importantly to remember "this too shall pass"  - we must be kind to ourselves....always....failure is part of life. So instead of asking why did it go wrong? Follow Delroy's advice and ask yourself "how far can I grow"

    I hope you enjoy the podcast!

    If you want to hear more from him join his regular facebook live talks on a Tuesday evening at https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Delroy-Hall-104349474580663/

    Contact Delroy at 

    Website: www.delwes.com

    Twitter: @DelroyDr


    35 min
  • Speaking for Ourselves Vol 9: "Seeing the Opportunties in the challenges.." - Speaking with... Thrive coach and Expert by experience Prof. Debbie Carrick-Sen

    Life happens...

    As human beings we have a life plan, sometimes expressed and shared, and sometimes just known to ourselves. 

    No matter who we are, sometimes life does not go the way we planned.

    However one of our enduring strengths as human beings is our ability to continue to move on, move upwards and to change our destiny - through our own actions. 

    Today I am speaking with an extraordinary woman - Professor Debbie Carrick-Sen. Debbie is at thrive coach and an Expert in 'thriving' herself. In this podcast Debbie shares what drives and motivates her - often in the face of challenges which many of us could not imagine. Her positive outlook has helped her not only face her own challenges but fuels her passion to help others do the same...She urges us to remain positive and see opportunities where challenges exist.

    It reminds me of what mighty power we have to determine our own happiness when we take control for ourselves 

    You can connect with Debbie  via 

    linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-carrick-sen-85131327

    twitter: @CarrickSen

    mobile: 07377 932 004

    33 min

About Speaking for ourselves

From the publisher's feed

Speaking for ourselves is the first of my podcasts. It introduces the importance of telling our stories, using our own voices and hearing the stories of others. Stories that shape our world and…