The Echo Chamber

Following the viral video of a school girl in south London who was abused by a man on her way to school, we have a conversation about grooming and the different ways grooming manifests in our communities. We speak about the importance of safeguarding young people and creating space for all young people to be supported even when they don't fit our idea of the typical 'victim'. Touching on our experiences personally and professionally we explore the ways race and class intersect to create additional barriers for young people who experience abuse.

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In this weeks episode we discuss the protest and resistance against SARS that culminated in the Lekki Tollgate Massacre on 20.10.20.

We briefly discuss Nigeria's political history and the general running of the federal state. We berate the colonial hangover of which has led us to this tragic point, give our critiques on modes of protest/resistance, and finally discuss our individual hopes for Nigeria.

Many we acknowledge the Feminist Coalition who have organised, raised awareness, accounted for donations, and provided logistical support on the ground to the protesters.

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*TRIGGER WARNING* In this weeks episode we chat with Hannah Rankine of the Han Jan Ran Show and get in to the topic of Addiction.

We get deep in this episode. All three of us earnestly share our journeys with both soft and hard addictions, and the varying forms/means we have sought out to achieve recovery and healing.

We explore the narratives we all harness that keep us from acknowledging the addictions & unhealthy relationships we have, we talk about the things we have unhealthy relationships with that we may not acknowledge as problematic because they're socially acceptable, and realise our shared belief in how central faith is to all forms of healing.

Find Hannah on www.hanjanran.com as well as Instagram @hanjanran and talking all this audaciousness on the HanJanRan Show (stream on all popular podcast platforms).

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In this episode we chat with Tissot Regis about life, love and masculinity. He imparts some wisdom and reassurance from his perspective as a 42 year old black man.

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In this episode we discuss an uncomfortable period within our friendship. We talk openly about the discomfort we faced navigating our commitment as co-hosts and friends. We delve into some of the stories we told ourselves in relation to the difficult period we were facing and the way effective and open communication supported us to overcome this. As women who strive to live freely and authentically, we hope this conversation models the value of dialogue to overcome conflict in valued relationships.

In this episode we discuss grief following the transition of someone very dear to Ez. We talk about the fact that grief is not only experienced in relation to people dying but can be the loss of relationships, jobs or even ideas.

We talk about the ways we have questioned our right to grieve and how this has impacted our ability to process death as well as touching on communal grieving and the importance of this across the African diaspora. We are determined to develop healthier relationships with death and grief and explore the importance of giving space to the grieving process, whilst simultaneously honouring the fact that life must continue. This was a difficult but necessary conversation, we hope you enjoy listening!

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In this episode we sit down (virtually) with Dr Yusef Bakali to discuss his trajectory in academia as a teacher, researcher and scholar whose research focuses on road life. Hailing from a working class background, Yusef talks with us about the difficulties of being an academic and shouldering the labels he does, as well as his real social and economic realities despite the assumption that he is now 'very well off' because he is a Doctor.

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In this episode we talk about Self-care and our individual relationships with it, as well as how distant the narratives perpetuated by the 'self-care' industry about what it is (spa-days, luxurious pampering sessions, etc) feel from what the reality of self-care is for us.

We consider how things that actually feel like chores (i.e. doing our nails every 2-3 weeks) are considered 'self-care', and how changing ones relationship to the task can make it feel more like self-care.

Thank you for listening.

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In this episode we chat about breakups, specifically, breaking up entanglements. We discuss about what hurts so much when we make the decision to go our separate ways even if it wasn't a traditionally serious, committed relationship.

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In this episode we discuss life after lockdown. Following episode 18 'Being black, broke and quarantined', we thought it was pertinent to discuss some of the struggles arising in the post-lockdown climate. As Britain attempts to 'get back to normal', we discuss how some of the schemes and initiatives stand to exclude, or, in some cases, flat out harm marginalised and working class communities.

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