The Diverse Minds Podcast

Welcome to the 172nd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. As you know, the theme for December is all about intersectionality in disability and today we're going to be talking about ADHD and the Muslim experience or one person's Muslim experience of being diagnosed with ADHD when they turned 30.

And to do this with me is the wonderful Rahimeh Ramezany.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

Rahimeh Ramezany (RAH-hee-may) (RAM-eh-zaun-nee) is a multiethnic, neurodiverse, visibly Muslim American woman, and is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Specialist. No matter how big or small, all of us have spheres of influence to push for greater inclusion, equity, and intercultural understanding.

Her work is focused on addressing the experiences of marginalized religious, racial, and ethnic communities in the United States, in order to create change on an individual, interpersonal, and systemic scale. 

She holds a Masters degree in Intercultural Communication from San Jose State University, and a Certificate in Advanced Global Leadership from Lucas College of Business’s Global Leadership Advancement Center. In 2016 she served as a Fellow at the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication, and since then have worked at multiple diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused consulting firms and nonprofits in program management, training, and consulting capacities, before starting her own business in June 2021.

• About Rahimeh and the work she does. [02:11]
• How she got into her line of work [02:56]
• A look into her ADHD journey, and how it came about. [06:40]
• About her religious identity and how it's woven into her ADHD journey. [16:18]
• Her top 3 tips for looking after her mental health. [45:12]

• I actively go out of my way to learn about other cultures, ethnicities, and genders so that I can be a more understanding sensitive ally.
• We all learn, and when we know better, we do better.
• When you meet someone in person, make sure you understand that no group is a monolith.
• A neurodiverse person, especially with ADHD, might need certain accommodations, or an understanding of the way their brain works.
• Self-awareness is really important. 

• Rahimeh on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 171st episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month’s theme is all about intersectionality and disability. To join me in talking about this in greater detail, this week I am joined by Martin Griffin. 

Martin is a UK-based Senior Mining Geotechnical Engineer who is a chartered engineer and chartered geologist and works for the international multidisciplinary niche consultancy Knight Piésold in their London office.  He is neurodivergent (autistic dyslexic and dyspraxic) and registered as disabled by being visually impaired.  Presently, he specialises in mining and ground risk and uncertainty and works on geotechnical engineering aspects of international mining projects from their concept to closure.  Martin has also been involved in ground engineering teams for several UK civil engineering megaprojects. 

Currently, Martin is serving as an elected Geological Society Council Member and a former committee member of several other national executives (British Geotechnical Association, Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists, and Ground Forum), Geological Society Scrutineer for chartership candidates, Keratoconus-UK charity trustee, international journal peer reviewer for several technical and specialist journals, STEM Ambassador to local secondary schools and a Ground Forum / STEER mentor for underrepresented groups. Martin has been a lay EDI Champion and Advocate since 2013 in the geoscience and engineering sectors for underrepresented groups, acting as an advisor, mentor, and is frequent LinkedIn blogger on all aspects of EDI, disability and neurodiversity.

• About Martin and the work he does. [02:31]
• What the term Inclusive workplace in relation to disability means to him. [07:35]
• The biggest challenges for workplaces moving in from awareness [14:26]
• Some things that workplaces can do to create an accessibility and usability mindset. [17:47]
• His top 3 tips for looking after her mental health. [23:17]

• Sleep, rest and recover.
• Do something you really enjoy.
• When you meet one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism.
• I get sad when I see the lack of role models in engineering,
• I think training has to be given to every line manager and not just from top-down leadership.

• Martin on LinkedIn

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific

Welcome to the 169th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month's theme is all about intersectionality and disability for Disability History Month 2020.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• A podcast I really enjoy listening to. [00:41]
• Why progress in EDI is often glacial. [02:10]
• What is intersectionality? [02:39]
• Why we need to talk about prejudice [04:16]
• About the wheel of systemic advantages and disadvantages. [05.45]

• It's imperative to consider disability in a holistic way.
• It's about barriers. It's about inequity. It's also about the hurdles that people might have to jump over because the system is set up in a particular way.
• If we're closer to power, we're going to have fewer barriers. So, it's the circumstances that can support people or undermine them.
• We know that secure environments and a lack of caring responsibility enable free or freer choices to be made.
• There is a considerable variation that exists between people, and this will be influenced by both external and internal factors.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my SpeakPipe
• UK Disability History Month
• DIVERSish video
• Listen to Episode #29: Intersectionality for International Women’s Day
• Check out Episode #119: Universal Design and why it’s so important

Check out my course: The Mentally Healthy Professional

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 169th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. As you know, this month's theme has been all about nutrition food and mental health. So on today's episode, I'm going to be talking about how workplaces can embed this idea of nutrition for mental well-being.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• One of the challenges workplaces have when trying to incorporate nutrition to improve mental well being [01:22]
• The importance of taking into account how diverse food needs are. [02:22]
• How workplaces can improve a staff mental wellbeing via nutrition. [03:41]
• Why the focus shouldn't be about weight and calories. [04:41]
• Why taking a lunch break is important. [07:30]

• It's estimated that overall work and careers we consume as much as 60% of our food and drink in the workplace.
• Nutrition shouldn't be seen as a luxury an add on or something to think about.
• Don't make this about weight and calories.
• I think a culture of scales in the office is bizarre.
• We don't want anyone to feel judged.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my SpeakPipe
• Listen to Episode #166: The connection between nutrition and mental health
• Check out Ep 131: How true crime podcasts can get us to recognise bias

Check out my course: The Mentally Healthy Professional

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Join my mailing list here: https://bit.ly/DMMCHSU

Welcome to the 168th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month’s theme is all about nutrition and mental health. This week I am joined by Dr Amanda Adkins. 

About my guest

Dr. Amanda Adkins is a board-certified internal medicine physician, health coach/owner of Enlightenment Health and Wealth. She has a deep passion for ensuring that everyone has a chance at a healthy and happy life.

Her most recent focus has been to help women who are overweight prevent and possibly reverse chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.  Both through her medical and personal experience she knows how our lifestyle can lead to remarkable changes in our health and our ability to fulfil God's will for our lives. 

She became interested in helping women prevent chronic disease because she was an overweight teenager who wanted better for her life than to feel defeated by weight.  There is a lot of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer in my family.  She knew if she didn’t change she would end up with some if not all these illnesses.

• What Dr Amanda is currently working on. [02:16]
• The connection between mental health and mental ill health, culture and nutrition [06:41]
• The benefits of cooking and nutrition as a form of protection for our mental well-being. [09:11]
• The biggest challenge for the black and global majority communities in accessing holistic support for both mental and physical health around nutrition. [16:52]
• Her top 3 tips for looking after her mental health. [23:17]

• Fruits and vegetables have so many different nutrients and things in there that it helps with, all these other aspects of your body.
• I was an avid Coca-Cola drinker and that was my soothing thing because it tasted good in my mouth.
• The more you can take care of yourself, the more likely that you're able to strive and thrive in your community.
• Everyone leans on each other, so please, seek out the help that you need.
• I'm learning how to take care of our mental health through meditation.

• Dr. Amanda on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook
• Dr. Amanda's email and website

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: http://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 167th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month’s theme is all about nutrition, food and mental health. So, on today’s episode, I'm going to be talking about seven ways cooking can support our mental.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• Some foodbanks and charities that help people get access to hot meals [02:03]
• How cooking can be used as therapy. [03:10]
• One research that found that cooking can improve mental health. [03:53]
• Another study found that cooking can be a really important way to foster social connections. [05:57]
• 7 ways cooking can support your mental health. [05:57]

• We shouldn't have food poverty in this country, but sadly we do.
• So cooking can indeed be used as therapy.
• when I have a terrible day, I actually just want to get into the kitchen, put on an audiobook or some music, and produce something at the end of it.
• Cooking can also be a really important way to foster social connections.
• Creativity has a very positive impact on our mental wellbeing,

• Leave me an anonymous message on my SpeakPipe
• Is Home Cooking Really Good for the Soul? Science Says Yes
• 7 Ways Cooking Can Boost Your Mental Health
• Listen to Episode #136 How music boosts our mental health
• Check out Episode #153 How the arts support mental health

Check out my course: The Mentally Healthy Professional

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Join my mailing list here: https://bit.ly/DMMCHSU

Welcome to the 166th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month’s theme is all about nutrition, food and mental health. So, on today’s episode, I am going to be kicking off by talking about the connection between nutrition and mental health.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• What is nutrition? [02:00]
• A study that shows how diet and nutrition affect mental well-being. [03:15]
• Why nutrition shouldn't just be about individual choices. [07:35]
• A clinical trial that found how a Mediterranean-style diet can have a large benefit to depressive illness. [08:58]
• What we can do about nutrition. [13:10]

• Nutrition is the nutrients and nourishment we obtain from food and drink.
• Poor nutrition may be a causal factor in the experience of low mood.
• if we can't afford food and to nourish ourselves in any way, this is going to have a hugely detrimental impact on mental well-being.
• Nutrition shouldn't just be about individual choices.
• We know what we eat impacts our physical health, especially when it comes to diabetes and cancer.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my SpeakPipe
• Check out my course: The Mentally Healthy Professional
• Food for thought: Mental health and nutrition briefing
• How diet can affect your wellbeing
• How are gut brain and mental health are linked?
• Listen to Episode #20 Body Positivity and How to be an Ally
• Check out Episode #26 Eating Disorders Awareness Week with Hope Virgo

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 165th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. It’s the final episode for Black History Month 2022, and I am excited to say we are focussing on activism and activism through community radio.

To join me in speaking more about this is Ken Orlukwu. The co-founder of an Independent Community Radio Station called WetinDey Radio.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

WetinDey Radio is an online global radio station streaming LIVE 24X7, providing the best in mainstream Afro-Urban music, entertainment, interactive talk shows, breaking news, lifestyle and culture programmes. Founded in 2020 by a dedicated team passionate about promoting the rich African & Caribbean heritage worldwide.

The term ‘Wetin Dey’ (pronounced 'waiting day' ) is a popular West-African word which simply means What is happening? 

The management team have a vast wealth of experience spanning over 15 years in the media industry ranging from broadcasting, podcasting, music production, sound engineering, content production, events consultancy, artist management, business development and training.

Our mission is to bring to your listening pleasure, unique and uninterrupted worldwide entertainment, including real-life content that affects our lifestyle and community.

• About Ken and what he's currently working on. [02:01]
• How he set up WetinDey Radio. [03:50]
• The costs involved in running a community radio station. [06:07]
• What the word "activism" means to him. [08:03]
• His top 3 tips for looking after his mental health. [20:21]

• Africa is one, regardless of all the boundaries.
• You have to look after yourself to be able to look after people.
• Sometimes, I detox from my mobile phone.
• I'm very passionate about what I do, from my professional life to my community.
• Our presenters don't have to come from a media background, but the first thing we want is that passion.

• Ken on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• Check out Episode #134 Recognising the needs of Carers

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 164th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month’s theme is UK Black History Month: Action, not words. 

So, on today’s episode, I’m reflecting on the book, How to be an anti-racist by I X Kendi, published in the UK in 2019.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• How the book has helped me [00:56]
• A brief introduction to the book. [02:19]
• One of the things I really enjoyed about this book. [03:55]
• The idea of embracing discomfort and tips to help achieve it. [04:43]
• Some ways in which we can see or not see the faces of racism. [06:40]

• I feel this book is poignant in so many ways.
• It's just over two years after the June 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, it seems many people's enthusiasm has waned.
• As a society, we need to have a culture of upstanders.
• We know how to pretend to be not racist. Now let's know how to be anti-racist.
• Individually, we have to all embrace discomfort and acknowledge our feelings, including those of uncertainty and guilt.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my SpeakPipe
• Check out my course: The Mentally Healthy Professional
• Listen to Episode #103 The damaging impacts of colourism and shadism

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Join my mailing list here: https://bit.ly/DMMCHSU