The Shelf

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

Welcome to S2, Campfire #5

Jackie Moody-McNamara came into the lives of Patsy and Lydia a few years ago.  Patsy at a speed mentoring event pre-Covid and Lydia at one of Jackie's' virtual event during Covid.  Jackie has since been a great supporter of The Shelf.

Jackie is a business coach, who specialises in facilitating accelerated strategic growth in business. However Jackie's passion is the support of women (and men) helping them navigate career challenges whilst also supporting a number of other organisations in the form of mentoring, being an Ambassador and advisor.

Founder and Chair of BRILLIANT Women, a successful self-directive learning group and tailored career pathway for professional women.

Listen to Jackie talk about her career to date, her upbringing and how her recognised privilege helped steer her career to what it is today.

Lydia shares with Jackie one of the lasting nuggets of inspiration Lydia gained from attending one of Jackie's events.  It relates to the windscreen and the rear view mirror.......listen in to this campfire to hear the full analogy.

Jackie mentions some of the great books she has read with stand-out lines and quotes, we also recall a few from Nanny McPhee. Do you know the line in Nanny McPhee we refer to?  Listen in and then drop us a line to let us know what you thought of it.

This is another great Campfire if we do say so ourselves so please do us the honour of listening in, share and like.

Stay curious

Patsy and Lydia

Edits by Che Cardoso

Welcome to episode 2 of BLAPOW! - Blacknificent Power of… Continuing on with my ladies season of local talent, I had the pleasure of interviewing the creators of The Shelf Renaissance podcast - a well overdue platform for ladies of a certain hue and age too!

We end this Black History Month with a poem by one of our Shefies - Sofia Cardoso, eldest daugther of Lydia sharing what she is Proud To Be.  However you have celebrated Black History this year, let's make it a 365 day celebration and not just 31 days of the years.

The Shelf is Proud to Be.......able to share great content with you, laughs and jokes and we are excited we are keeping you curious.

We are excited to launch Season Two today along with featuring on Thames Valley Radio also today.

Don't forget to follow, follow, follow and share, share, share.

Subscribe and be the first to hear when the next Campfire is being published.

Stay Curious

Patsy, Lydia and Sofia