Hey, hey Shelfies, thanks for staying curious

We're back with Part 2 of our finance campfires, and we are re-joined by our Finance PT Bianca Williams, Certified Financial Planner (CFP).  You'll recall Bianca joined us in Season 2, Campfire 3 where we talked about relationships with money and Bianca asked if we commit time to review and look at our finances as we may do with other things in our lives.

Bianca again gives us some great insightful information about things we can do if we are trying to align our finances in particular in this climate of increased inflation, high utility costs, and general cost of living.  We also talked about seeking support from family and friends and the value we place on the things we buy.  M&S sandwich v homemade?  We'd love to hear your thoughts on this. 

Not sure about you, but it's actually causing us some real headspace in terms of thinking about what and how we spend our money these days......

The key take-aways for this Campfire are the Financial Planning Tabata - Stop (what can you stop doing to recoup some finances), Start (what should you start doing to add value to the things you are spending money on and what should you start doing to build on your finances), Continue (what's going well), and Reduce (OK, we don't need to stop this completely, but let's reduce it slightly).

What great advice.  Simple and easy to implement.

As always, share your comments and thoughts on this campfire on our social media pages.

Thanks for staying curious

Patsy & Lydia

Edits by Che Cardoso

Hey, hey, Shelfies, thanks for staying curious.

Today joining Patsy, Lydia, Hellen and Margaret are three young, professional black women all working to help our community and the service users of the criminal justice system.

Sureya and Hazel are Paralegals working for the Crown Prosecution Service and Chelsea works for the National Probation Service.  

If like me you are a fan of Suits, you'll know just how much solicitors rely on the paralegal, who are not yet officially qualified but know a vast amount of information as many, like Hazel are training to get to the next level. 

All have very exciting and emotional stories to share - why they got into that specific line of work, how they cope with the cases they deal with on a daily basis and how they cope as black women in a profession and historical system which is dominated by white males - inside and outside of the courtroom.

It's not all grim, listen to Chelsea share a good news story and how worthwhile the job is when justice is finally served.  And take a listen here  to Hezron Brown talk about the impact his Probation Officer had on his life when he was growing up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JlMGfHId7M

Listen up, who says they feel like they are Angela Valdez (Power)?  Who in the group will be 'bossing it' soon? Take a listen and then let us know on our Insta page the answers to the above questions.  Don't be shy we really want to hear from you. 

If you have or are a service user we'd love to hear from you after listening to this campfire.

As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording.

Stay curious

Patsy & Lydia

Edits by Che Cardoso

We're back for another campfire

“We live in a cynical world. A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors.” Jerry Maguire, 1996. 

Today Patsy & I host a ‘larger than life character’ from across the pond, John Sorzano. 

John, gives us a snapshot into his glamourous world as a top ‘sports agent’. We discover, Jerry Maguire ‘show me the money’ is one of his favourite films and we use that to take a humorous look into that mysterious world where perceptions include ‘living your best life, mixing with celebrities, and having it all. 

We get to understand the realities of what a sports agent says, does, and means behind the scenes.

‘It’s not just a 9-5, if a player or a club rings you at midnight you’re going to answer your phone’ John shows us what the creme de la creme of customer service looks like - ‘clients are more than just customers....they are family’. 

With a few laughs along the way, we get to the heart of an occupation that’s shrouded in secrecy and offers as much ‘highlife’ as a compromise. 

So get ready to enjoy John, a sports agent aficionado whose purpose isn’t to be ‘just another shark in a suit’, but someone who’s out there for his clients - up at dawn, hustling big with his head and his heart and after it’s all said and done, settling back down to ‘normal life’ antics - navigating the soft play etiquette! 

As always, thanks for staying Curious

Editing - Che Cardoso

Spending time in nature has major health benefits. 

A study in 2019 found that spending 2 hours a week in nature is associated with an overall increase in wellbeing. COVID has taught us to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the gift of the land. 

We make room on the Shelf to welcome someone who lives quietly with curiousity and has shaken things up within her local community. Our talk is seriously O2 fuelled and outdoorsy. 

We get to ask our guest to share their view on the loneliness and isolation debate as We unpack her thoughts-“When you’re in it you’re feeling it and when you’re out of it and meeting people it’s gone”. 

This is an interesting conversational delve into someone who continues to shine a spotlight on ‘doing for themselves’ and their community whilst following her love for life and people. 

So whether you’re a ‘hugger’ or not grab your tipple of choice and get listening to the purposeful journey of one amazing Sandra Allen. 

Thanks for staying Curious. 

Edits: Che Cardoso

Welcome back to Season 3, Campfire #2, we're glad you stayed curious.

Today owning their space on The Shelf is Charlotte Francis, CEO & Founder of Biankha and Friends. 

Charlotte and her daughter create and design for manufacturing black dolls and accessories.

Charlotte says she wants to 'Empower little princesses to become Queens' and the company's mission is to educate and encourage young girls of colour to embrace their culture and heritage.  The dolls created allow girls to do just that. 

Charlotte talks to us very candidly about why the business was created; the hurdles they have 'jumped' over and how she juggles work, raising a child and building a business at the same time. She also shares why Biankha is spelt the way it is and 'who is Biankha'.

You're probably wondering if you can have it all - listen in to hear Charlotte tell you how.  She shares how her hard work, determination, and dealing with nay-sayers fuel her drive and passion to succeed. All the while, her daughter is at her side watching mummy do her thing and gaining lifelong experiences. 

This is a great campfire, true inspiration.  Charlotte inspired us all.

You can find more information and shop here https://www.biankhaandfriends.com/

Connect with Biankha on Insta here https://www.instagram.com/biankhaandfriends/?hl=en

Patsy & Lydia

Edits by Che Cardoso

Hey, hey Shelfies, thanks for staying Curious

This was an on the spot recording, we had to pivot due to some last minute changes and we pulled this out of the bag. 

Join this conversation about a recent Netflix show Tinder Swindler and our views on Valentines Day.

Did you watch Tinder Swindler?  If not it's highly recommended.  Have you been caught up in a situation like this?  Do you consider yourself too 'smart' to be able to get yourself into any kind of situation. 

Here on The Shelf we share our views and comments with no judgement and we are here to support in as well as sharing our views.  If you do find yourself in a situation like this speak to someone you can trust and report the incident to your local police. 

So we wrapping up this season with a Valentines special where you'll hear Lydia, Patsy, Margaret, Hellen and special guest Rick give their views (as always) on Valentine's Day. This campfire takes on a different spin, we discuss two topics and we get a males' perspective.  

Do you explicitly communicate your needs, wants and desires to your partner so there is no misunderstanding - either for Valentines Day or any other time?  Who says on the show 'don't expect a thing then you can't be disappointed'?

Is Valentine's Day a thing for you?  Do you use the day to go all out for your partner or do you show your partner the attention they deserve 365 days of the year? 

This discussion is a mixed bag.  Rick says the day is good to give a prompt to do something extra for your partner because life is so busy you may not always get a chance to at other times.  Do you agree?

Or is this just another opportunity to get us spending more of our hard earned money, get us sucked into hype.  Let us know what you think.

So Happy Valentines Day to those who celebrate it and for those who don't Happy Independence Day.  It's a great campfire so listen in

Stay Curious 

Patsy & Lydia

Edits by Che Cardoso

Hey, hey Shelf listeners, it's that time again.

WOW, two seasons 14 Campfires.....we are on a roll. So we are wrapping up Season 2 not for too long so don't go to far.

We've enjoyed many a good discussion since we brought The Shelf to you in 2021 and we have many more to come.

A big shout out to everyone who has and still listening, all the help from family and friends who has helped bring The Shelf to the 20 countries listening to us.  Yes you did hear correctly, 20 countries from Denmark to Australia and USA to Angola.  We got you and we'll be back soon.

Listen out for our last Campfire on Valentines, that will be with you very soon.

So you can keep up to date and also get to hear some bonus content sign up to our new platform https://zipistream.com/u/theshelfrenaissance

where you can listen back, as well as get to hear a slightly different tone Under The Shelf - available ONLY IF YOU SUBSCRIBE.

You know where to find us.

Stay curious

Patsy & Lydia

Hey Shelf Listeners, thanks for staying curious. 

In this campfire we continue our series on education and owning their space on the shelf, in addition to Patsy & Lydia is four professional NHS workers who, with Patsy are part way through a Masters Degree. 

Molly - Chief Clinical Physiologist; 

Ann - Chief Pharmacist Technician; 

Natalie - Obstetrician Gynaecologist Consultant and  

SherBanu - Physiotherapist.  

All who are juggling impressive careers, family and life. The masters workload is plentiful.  The paid job is busy and the demands on us all as either parents, siblings, partners or all is such that time has to be spend to work out how to fit everything in. 

Are we mad?  A question Patsy asks many times however reflecting on why we are on this journey is something we all do.

Ultimately many are on this journey to further careers and fulfill a long aspiration for self development. 

Education at this level may not have been an opportunity at another time in life so a few grabbed it with both hands when offered.   Listen to the guests sharing the support they have received from each other, their families as well as the industries they work in.  

They will also share some of the difficulties (some overcome and some still going).   You know you'll also get some jokes with us along the way.  Tune in to hear how they keep juggling life with assignments and submission dates. 

Thanks for listening and stay curious and blessed Patsy & Lydia

Edits by Che Cardoso