The Convex Conversation

Natalie Queiroz MBE shares her story of survival and determination to make a difference after being stabbed 24 times with a carving knife in a frenzied nine-minute assault whilst eight months pregnant.

She recounts the moment she realised her hooded attacker was her partner Bob – the love of her life – and father of her unborn child. He’s now in prison for attempted murder.

Natalie’s life changed in many ways that afternoon. She’s become a victims advocate for West Midlands Police, speaks to murderers and gang members serving time in category A prisons, is a trained specialist in youth violence helping youngsters find a better path, and through it all retains an extraordinary sense of humour and grace. 

Natalie receiving the MBE for services to young people & the prevention of knife crime

Natalie with her former partner Babur Karamat Raja (Bob), now serving time for her attempted murder

Babur Karamat Raja (Bob) photographed by West Midlands Police

Former Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police Neil Basu talks candidly about serving in Counter Terror when the threat level against Britain was at its highest since the Northern Ireland troubles of the ‘70s. 

In part two of our special, Neil quotes Dickens when he describes those seven years as “the best of times and the worst of times”, liaising closely with MI5 to stop terrorists attacking the UK.

Neil reveals more stories from his book Turmoil - an extraordinary insight into serving in the biggest police force in the UK – and what he misses about being ‘in the room’ at the heart of policing. 

Neil Basu photographed by Antonio Olmos at the Old Bailey

Neil Basu - former Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police - retired as the most senior officer of colour in the UK, dedicated to a service that has a problem with race and, according to the Casey Review, remains institutionally racist. 

As a mixed-race detective, he stuck with it through bombings, murders, kidnaps, extortion and during his time running counter terrorism, working closely with MI5 to foil 29 plots against Britain. 

Neil shares eye-opening and, at times, uncomfortable stories from his new book Turmoil, which he describes as a love letter to policing - a vocation which defined him for decades. It's a deeply personal account of what it was like to serve for the biggest police force in the UK and the toll it ultimately took on his career, family and mind.    

Neil Basu photographed by Antonio Olmos at the Old Bailey

New York Magazine/Vogue journalist Jon Gluck was living the dream at 38 - married, loving his first New York apartment and enjoying his baby daughter. 

But, after a minor, innocuous slip on a patch of ice, he was devastated to be diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood cancer and given just 18 months to 3 years to live. 

22 years on and counting, Jon has written a searingly honest account of his survival. 'An Exercise in Uncertainty – A Memoir of Illness and Hope’ documents how he’s beaten the odds and, more broadly, offers some gems on how to cope with uncertainly of any kind. 

At 5.44am on May 15th, 17-year-old Emma Schwerin from Montana reached the summit of Mount Everest with her dad, Sam, and earned not one, but three world records! 

She’s the youngest American female ever to summit Everest, as well as Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and the youngest woman in the world to conquer the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent. 

Emma – who describes herself as ‘a fierce 4ft 11’ – says climbing the notoriously dangerous Icefall on Everest, she repeated the quote 'if it wasn't scary, it wouldn't be big enough' to conquer her fear. Her aim is to inspire other young girls and women to dream big and show that anything is possible with grit, hard work and determination.

Cian Adams and his brother Jordan have a gene mutation which means they will almost certainly develop devastating symptoms of a rare form of frontotemporal dementia in their 40s. The same gene robbed them of their mum, Geraldine, when she was just 52, as well as their aunt, nana and other relatives.

Known as the FTD Brothers, Cian and Jordan take on epic running challenges – including a 903-mile run from John o’ Groats to Land’s End in 2024 - to raise £1 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK of which they’re ambassadors. 

Helen talks to 24-year-old Cian about the family turmoil of seeing his mum suffering when he was a young boy and how he copes with the knowledge of what the future likely holds for him. He’s joined on the podcast by his girlfriend, Helen Jolly, who’s studying for a PhD in Dementia at Oxford University and gives an insight into the science behind this cruel disease. 

Cian & Jordan’s mum, Geraldine.

There’s a small square of the Arctic – 3 metres by 3 metres - behind the UK Research Station in Svalbard, which Encounter Edu Founder & former teacher Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop calls his own.

Huddled in sub-zero temperatures on the ice, he’s spent hours there, broadcasting to more than 150,000 children from 57 countries, sharing the magical northernmost region of the Earth with them, bringing scientists’ work to life and inspiring young minds to understand our planet.

Encounter Edu produces live lessons for schools on some of our most pressing global issues - climate change, ocean health, the refugee crisis, Ai, and unites students living with conflict with classrooms around the world. The Encounter Edu team has reached more than 24 million youngsters in 91 countries. 

UK Arctic Research Station, Svalbard

When 18-year-old Arsenal & England star Myles Lewis-Skelly showed serious potential on the pitch as a young lad, his mum Marcia experienced how confusing and lonely the world of youth football can be, and realised she needed expert knowledge for their journey ahead. 

So, she studied for a Masters in Football Business and took agency exams, before setting up No1Fan.club – the UK’s first platform to help parents navigate the intricacies of the football industry, from grassroots and academy to Premier League. Marcia and her team run workshops, one-on-one sessions and talks.

Myles made history in March, becoming the youngest player to score on his England debut, and has had a ground-breaking season at Arsenal. He’s very proud of No1Fan.club and wants other children to experience the support and guidance he feels grateful to have. 

David Lowe was outed on TikTok as the composer of some of TV's most iconic music when his 'how I created the BBC News themes' post to mark the 25th anniversary went viral! 

He's the man behind the opening music for programmes like The One Show, Panorama, Grand Designs and BBC Countryfile, as well as top TV ads. And he arranged a special version of Chariots of Fire by Vangelis for the 2012 Olympic medal ceremony when Andy Murray took gold in the tennis. 

David shows Helen how he builds the tracks, loved by millions of viewers. He's composed our new music for The Convex Conversation with guitarist James Nisbet, who plays for artists like Kylie Minogue & Belinda Carlisle, and West End trumpet player Jim Lynch on flugelhorn live in the studio. 

Nikki Scott shares the story behind founding Scotty’s Little Soldiers after her husband, 26-yr-old Corp Lee Scott of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was killed on active duty in Afghanistan. 

As Nikki navigated her devastating loss with their 5-yr-old son & baby, she realised there was little help for children and young people grieving the death of a military parent. 

Scotty’s supports hundreds of young people & is proud to have Prince Harry as their very hands-on Global Ambassador.