Speaking for ourselves

This week has been National Fertility Awareness week in the UK - One week in which we are encouraged to focus on the challenges of living with infertility and those living with fertility concerns.

In a world in which we are often defined  by our ability to reproduce, to bear the next generation , finding that this is not as straight forward as we imagined - or even choosing not to do so, can be socially, culturally and spiritually challenging. For many, this can be met with a range of responses from others, from quiet disapproval to downright rejection - in the face of such responses attempting to find yourself, hold on to your relationships and become the person you are destined to be can be exhausting. 

In this podcast I am speaking with Alice Rose...this strong, feisty ray of sunshine shares with me her own journey and her fabulous work with individuals and couples living with fertility challenges while  'learning to thrive despite cycles of hope and despair'. 

Alice Rose and I met a few years ago at the BBC where we were both part of a programme on infertility; our conversation then took place in the corridor! I am grateful we had time to chat, I hope you enjoy the podcast - It is a reminder of the strength of character of our friends, family members and colleagues who live with, and through, fertility journeys....remembering them everyday, not just one week a year, is our responsibility as allies and advocates.

Alice Rose is an inspiration...I urge you to follow her and catch up with her work - Whether you are walking the fertility Journey yourself or not...The silence around fertility is deafening.

You can find Alice Rose here:

website: https://www.thisisalicerose.com/

instagram: Thisisalicerose

Often, in life we spend a lot of time working out what is the right thing to say, and when to say it!..Trying to present the best of ourselves at all times - but in doing this we often filter out what makes us truly ourselves, our authentic selves...that part of us which is the greatest gift to the world.

In this podcast I speak with Rob Green - singer songwriter, inspirational artist....and my son ( proud mum moment). 

In our conversation we talk about the power in our stories of self, and how we can share those stories with the world through many media and opportunities to engage with others. Rob shares with me the experiences that have shaped and informed himself as an artist and the pleasure or nurturing other artists in that shared space of expression, performance and self.

I learned a great deal about my son, the artist in this podcast - but more importantly I learned about the importance of freeing yourself to gift your true stories of self to the world 'minimally edited and unspoilt'

I hope this podcast will also help you to see the power in 'not editing yourself too much' 

Hopefully 2021 will see rob being able to perform live once more...in the meantime follow Rob on across social media on 

web: www.robgreenmusic.com

twitter: @robgreenmusic

instagram: robgreenmusic

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robgreenmusic/

Why we do things is such an interesting question - and one which I am asked many times.

What drives us to do the things e do - and keeps us doing them over time and through the ups and downs of life?

in this podcast I was interviewed by Amy Rowlinson as part of her podcast series "Focus on Why"

it was an illuminating and enjoyable discussion - Amy was easy to talk to and a skilled interviewer in encouraging others to explore their 'WHY?'

So what is my WHY?.......listen and find out!

I encourage you to listen to Amy's podcast series. you can find them here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/focus-on-why/id1510330149

2021...it has never been more important to listen to diverse stories and hear the stories 'hidden in plain sight'.

You can hear more of her stories from 13,414 days of teaching" by buying her book on from her website www.maxineblake.com

In this podcast I speak with Sara J. Sanderson, Co-founder of  When Women Speak Global Network CIC. It was a stimulating discussion on self leadership, diversity and speaking for ourselves. Even with some poetry from me!

Listen to our podcast and follow this great CIC!

You can hear the original full interview here on the When Women Speak post on their public page ~  https://www.facebook.com/whenwomenspeakglobalnetwork/photos/a.222638658647169/592922848285413/?type=3&theater