The Belonging Project

I'm dedicating this episode of the Belonging Project podcast to all the amazing
fathers out there.

I really enjoyed talking with Tomasso Maggio about fatherhood, parenthood and increasing representation of fathers as the main caregiver, especially online.

 
As you know, recently out of my second mat leave, I have attended many baby groups and activities and not only it's mostly mums, when dads attend they are clearly
off the norm and get not only kind smiles but also inquisitive ones. And I know some dads on pat leave (still a minority) feeling intimidated to joint baby groups as they don't want to be the 'only dad'.

 
We also talk about Tommaso hot and current tips on parenthood and also his community building project for kids with an Italian heritage in South East Asia.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

--
Chapters

(04:30) The podcasting Journey

(10:00) Italian community building in South east Asia

(25:00) Current challenges and lessons from being a father

--

Connect with Tomasso here:

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

and listen to his podcast the Fatherly Edition:

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2ENscRJXGHOr8ZoDA42KVm?si=P5Cz6CL1Sv-xKdopvuR8hQ⁠

or on your usual podcast platform!

 
❤️Podcast is proudly sponsored by InNow and hosted by Fiorenza Rossini.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiorenza-rossini

In celebration of the Pride Month, we are delighted to share an episode with Jamie Love - a heartfelt conversation on themes of authenticity, inclusivity, and
belonging.

Jamie is the visionary founder and CEO of Monumental, a digital marketing and PR agency. Growing up in a conservative environment and struggling to be yourself is something many can relate to, but few can tell the
story as Jamie does.

Jamie’s story is captivating, from the early days as a child model in Italy to creating an agency that’s all about inclusivity - Monumental works on empowering diverse communities, with a strong focus on supporting sexual and gender minorities.

We also talked about Jamie’s experiences growing up gay in the Middle East, overcoming burnout, human connection, the fluid nature of belonging and the
universal human need to find our place in the world.

We explore:

(02:32)
- From Child Model to Founder of his PR Agency

(04:56)
- Professional and Personal Growth Journey

(07:57)
- Impact of Experience on Belonging

(12:52)
- Hiring Based on Passion in Agency

(18:48)
- Client Relationships Through Shared Values

(22:17)
- Navigating Vulnerability in Relationships

(26:55)
- Defining the Ever-Evolving Concept of Belonging

You can connect with Jamie
Love here and with your host, Fiorenza Rossini here.


The podcast is supported by InNow.

#thebelongingprojectpodcast #belonging

As we hear about some personal stories and societal landscapes of nursing, in this episode, we confronted the gamut of reactions to breastfeeding in different context: at work, in public, beyond a certain time period and within different cultural contexts.

From acceptance to negativity, the dialogue serves as a
reminder of the need for visibility and community. The surprising shifts in breastfeeding rates during lockdowns and the discussion about nursing older children further reveal the intricate societal tapestry surrounding this natural aspect of motherhood.

Join me as I sit down with Lea Henry, co-founder of Cocorio,
for a heartfelt conversation about the triumphs and tribulations of
breastfeeding. Lea opens up about her personal struggles and the societal scrutiny that accompanies a mother's decision to breastfeed or formula feed. We tackle the stigma surrounding public breastfeeding and the importance of supporting mothers in their choices without judgment.

Later, I sit down with Katie Muir, a health visitor with the
NHS Scotland, to explore her personal breastfeeding experiences with her two children. Despite facing a range of challenges, including faltering growth and latch difficulties, Katie's resilience shines through. We delve into the crucial role of support from partners and healthcare professionals. Katie's insights reveal the complexities of breastfeeding and underscore the importance
of a robust support system for new mothers.

Our discussion is a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and understanding in the journey of new motherhood. We explore:

(11:22) - Breastfeeding Norms and Challenges

(23:22) - Normalizing Conversations Around Breastfeeding

(27:45) - Empowerment and Belonging in Breastfeeding

(34:39) - Breastfeeding Experiences and Support

(45:51) - Supportive Workplace for Breastfeeding Mothers

(51:48) - Transitioning Away From Breastfeeding

(56:16) - Breastfeeding Challenges and Belonging

** Selected Resources from the episode:

Breastfeeding or Formula-Feeding support in the UK:

National Breastfeeding Helpline (open 365 days a year): 0300 100 0212, here to support you and listen, including any grief around not being able to breastfeed if you wanted to <3.

IBCLC are certified lactation consultants providing professional infant feeding support.

First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity.

Articles written by Lea Henry:

Feed your bubba proudly

A stranger called me unhygienic for breastfeeding in a GP waiting room

Article with input from Katie Muir:

Continuing Breastfeeding when you return to work (including UK legal rights)

** Connect withLea: Linkedin | Instagram | Website

I really enjoyed diving into Justin Reinert's model of Belonging, following up on his book Creating Belonging, a Practical Guide to Accelerate Belonging in Organisations and Communities.

Justin's work poses a model where belonging is created at the intersection of authenticity and acceptance.

I really wanted to explore with him strategies to help us navigate toxic work environments. The unpacking we did together was brilliant: from setting intentions, values mining, implementing behaviours that match our intentions.

Gold nuggets have been dropped, people!


Justin also provides poignant examples of how we could expand our world views and perspectives through life.

We had such a great conversation, I can't wait for you to tune in!


** Links from the episode:

Book Creating Belonging, a Practical Guide to Accelerate Belonging in Organisations and Communities.: https://amzn.to/3NVSUez


Justin's podcast Creating Belonging


Connect with Justin's here and with Fiorenza here.

Our host Fiorenza sits down with Tim Mart, CEO and co-founder of the socially driven coaching platform Know You More.

They talk about transitioning from corporate career into entrepreneurship and Tim's personal journey since he was diagnosed with ADHD a few months earlier.


Entrepreneurship: we get to learn about what prompted Tim's decision, how his family adapted, and why the projects his company are involved in matter, such as coaching for young adults.


ADHD diagnostic: Tim's decision to get the diagnostic, how he's been processing it, how's he's been talking to his children about ADHD and ways he's finding to feel seen and belong.


Links from the episode:

- Learn more about Know You More and their project of coaching young adults

- Connect with Tim here and Fiorenza here.

Women make on average 15% less than men across countries.

As I was pregnant with my second baby and ahead of my mat leave, Allison Venditti and I got to talk on the Belonging Project Podcast.

Allison is the founder of Moms at Work, a Canada-based organisation providing
community, resources and advocacy for working mothers.

In this podcast episode, we talk about:

- the Motherhood Penalty

- the impact of the pandemic on working mums

- what can help prevent gender discrimination in the workplace: universal daycare, pay transparency, actively promoting & supporting men taking parental leave.

I also loved learning about Allison's own journey and how her organisation grew from a Facebook Group to meeting with the Canadian PM and passing legislation.

What a great conversation!!! If you're a working mother, father, or if you have a working mom in your organisation, I urge you to listen to this episode.

** Links from the episode:

Learn more about Moms at work and Allison's work here: https://thisismomsatwork.com/


Access expert resources on Parental leave for your teams: https://myparentalleave.ca/about/
(Canada specific)


Connect with Allison here and with Fiorenza here.

More than a decade ago, Kerstin Graebner moved across the globe from Germany to India - interestingly enough she was not the first in her family to do so. It's a journey that her grandparents had also taken.

Reflecting on this cultural and life journey with my dear friend Kerstin brought up many shared experiences: arriving in a new place, being in culture shock, stepping out of the expat circle, finding roots in a new professional path, finding a sense of real arriving many years after.

We had such a great conversation, I can’t wait for you to tune in this episode! 🎧

Connect with Kerstin Graebner
and with your host Fiorenza Rossini.

What’s a hidden disability?

A hidden disability is a disability that may not visible or immediately obvious
when looking or talking to someone but can have a significant impact on a
person’s life.

'Hidden disabilities' is an umbrella term that captures a spectrum of
disabilities, and can include:

• Sensory Disabilities


• Mental Health Conditions


• Specific learning differences


• Autism


• Long-term and physical health conditions

*not and exhaustive list

For The Belonging Project Podcast, I talked with Serena Savini. Serena has
experienced a life changing event a few years ago, for which she had to undergo
several surgeries and face chronic pain. In our conversation we talk about the
emotional impact this had for her generally and for her career within HR.

More recently, Serena has started her own podcast I’m Back!, a platform for many to
share about their life changing events and how they came back to work after
that.



🎙️ We had such a great
conversation, I can’t wait for you to tune in this episode!

***Resources
from the episode:

-
Serena's podcast Im Back!: https://www.serenheart.com/

Connect
with Serena Savini and
with your host Fiorenza
Rossini.

Isaac Harvey was born and raised in East London with a disability called limb pelvic
hypo aplasia, which in short means no arms and short legs. Even with this
disability it has not stopped him from achieving things such skiing, skydiving,
tall ship sailing and much more. For the past ten years he has used his feet to
use the computer to edit videos, answer emails and communicate to the wider
world. He is now a prominent disability advocate in the community, public
speaker, president of Wheels and Wheelchairs.

I wanted to know more about Isaac’s life and the projects he’s currently involved
in, so I invited him on the podcast! 🎙️

We talk about his engagement in adaptive fashion, or in Seated Perspectives
which showcases accessible venues to a wider audience.

We had such a great conversation, I can’t wait for you to tune in this episode!

***Resources from the episode:

- https://www.wheelsandwheelchairs.co.uk/

- Seated Perspectives: https://seatedperspectives.ldn.gtl.mybluehost.me/

Connect with Isaac
Harvey and

with your host Fiorenza Rossini.

Kemo Camara is the founder of OMEK, the home of the global bicultural community.
OMEK’s mission is to amplify the talent, voices, and energy of bicultural of
African descent.

I know first hand how meaningful it can be to meet people that have a shared cultural
identity, especially for biculturals (or TCKs).



I wanted to know more about how Kemo came up with the idea of creating this
community space, so I invited him on the podcast! 🎙️


We had such a great conversation, I can’t wait for you to tune in!

 
***Resources from the episode:


Join the Omek community here. It’s open to all
- biculturals of African descent and their allies.

Connect with Kemo Camara and with your host Fiorenza Rossini.