n this episode of Trims & Talks, Lungani and Donald sit down with lifelong friend and brother, Errol Legister — educator, musician, missionary, and community builder.

From his early days strumming guitar in the Sojourner Choir at Carterknowle Seventh-day Adventist Church, to his missionary work in Ecuador, and his years mentoring youth in Sheffield, Errol’s story is bound together by a deep love for music, faith, and community.

He speaks with honesty about the lessons he learned from his mother, Sister Legister — a 94-year-old Jamaican matriarch whose resourcefulness and prayer shaped his path. Errol also reflects on therapy, growth, and the responsibility of men to do the inner work before they can love and lead.

This conversation is a celebration of legacy and mission: the songs that carried us, the women who raised us, and the call to pour into the next generation.

This is more than a conversation — it’s a reminder of the women who raised us, the lessons we carry, and the tables we are called to open for others.

In a world where belonging can feel elusive, 6+1 – The Movers stands as a testament: it began as a whisper between three souls—Nikita, Naphtali, Kwabs—who once ran across fields of competition, only to find the ground under them shift with life. From that trembling, they built something enduring: a family grounded in joy, grit, vision—and togetherness.

Nikita holds the room with a quiet grace that says, “I see you, even when you feel unseen.” Nap moves with the force of discipline, boxing through dawn into dusk, teaching through action what it means to show up. Kwabs dreams with open eyes—he sees beyond the path, beyond the run—to what could be.

This episode is not a race. It is a reframing. It is about stepping into community. It’s about the laughter before the jog, the energy that pulses when strangers become kin, the sense that together, we are better than we thought we could be.

In this episode of Trims and Talk, we sit down with the extraordinary John Rwothomack — a Ugandan-born, Sheffield-raised actor, playwright, and founder of Roots Mbili Theatre. At just 31, John has achieved what many spend a lifetime striving for: becoming a prolific storyteller and cultural bridge-builder whose work spans continents and communities.

We explore his journey from arriving in Sheffield at 11, braving the cold and seizing opportunities, to carving out a space in theatre that speaks to cross-cultural collaboration and social change. Between two elders, John shares insights that remind us of the triumphs we often overlook — the victories of growth, collaboration, and the grounding power of community.

This is more than a conversation; it’s a reminder that strength lies not only in our individual struggles, but in the people we meet, the stories we share, and the communities we build.

In this conversation, we sit down with Rodney Glasgow Jr., captain of the Sheffield Sharks and a man whose life refuses to be reduced to one headline.
From Brooklyn to Maryland, from the U.S. Army to British basketball, Rodney has carried the weight of multiple identities—Black man, athlete, father—each with its own expectations, stereotypes, and quiet responsibilities.

We talk faith, discipline, and what it means to lead on and off the court. We explore the double burden of being a Black public figure, the art of masking, and the quiet resistance of living fully in your own humanity.

This is more than a sports story. It’s a meditation on identity, dignity, and the courage to be more than the roles the world hands you.

In this deeply moving episode, Lungani Sibanda and Donald McLean sit down with long-time friend and cultural elder Kent Roach a Liverpool-born musician, activist, and educator with roots that stretch from Jamaica to Merseyside.

Kent reflects on being the child of a Jamaican father who arrived in the UK during the war effort in 1941 and a white Liverpudlian mother whose quiet strength shaped his world. We talk music, his band Montuno’s Afro-Cuban jazz-funk fusion as well as memory, identity, the forgotten labour of white mothers in Black families, and the beauty (and burden) of living in the margins.

We also dive into “liminal space” that complex in-between where Kent has built a life full of rhythm, justice, and deep community connection.

It’s a conversation about belonging, plurality, and legacy with plenty of laughter, storytelling, and, as always, a good nata.

🎧 Tune in, reflect, and meet the man behind the saxophone.

n this special episode of Trims & Talk, we sit down with a brother whose presence has long been felt, even before he enters the room—Robert Cottrell.

Our co-host Donald McLean recalls first meeting Robert in 1990 while teaching on the Black Access course. Robert was a student then, part of a pioneering group of Black learners stepping into higher education at a time when that space rarely reflected them. Donald remembers that classroom—not just as a place of learning, but as a signpost of hope, pride, and shared ascent.

For me, Lungani Sibanda, Robert has always been a figure in the frame. He’s one of those men you notice—whether it's his physical presence in the gym, his sharp mind, or his ever-consistent community engagement. You might not remember exactly when you met him because he's always just been there. A part of the landscape. And that matters.

But Robert is more than visible—he’s indispensable. His career spans over 28 years in the criminal justice system, including work in local probation and national briefs with the Ministry of Justice. He is skilled in risk assessment and has brought those insights into boardrooms, barbershops, boxing rings, and broadcast studios.

For over 35 years, he has volunteered as a boxing coach, not only teaching the fine art of the sport, but instilling discipline, life skills, and a sense of identity into the young men he’s mentored. His leadership has shaped generations—through sweat, structure, and sincere investment.

As Chair of SADACCA (Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association), Robert stepped into a space that had seen years of instability. And with his grounded vision and tireless work, he's helped bring SADACCA back into relevance—on the ground and online. He's been instrumental in rebuilding networks with local Black organisations, lifting SADACCA’s profile across platforms like BBC Radio Sheffield, Sheffield Live, and The Sheffield Star, and forging stronger ties with Sheffield City Council.

With 40 years of community work, Robert brings a rare blend of wisdom, street-level credibility, and strategic foresight. He understands what it means to stand in the gap—to carry the weight so others don’t fall through the cracks.

He is a father. A grandfather. A mentor. A brother. A PhD student. A bridge between generations.

And he is a key part of the FADES Men’s Group—meeting every first Friday of the month at FADES Barbershop, helping young men navigate the terrain of mental health, identity, and manhood. Because when you’ve survived the fire, you don’t just walk away—you go back and help others find the path.

This episode is more than an interview. It’s a testimony. A celebration. A call to take stock of the ones who do the work—quietly, consistently, and with conviction.

On this episode of the Trims and Talk Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sharon Curtis, Nursery Manager at Ellesmere Children's Centre and visionary Founder of Emosi, Sheffield’s first Transcultural Therapy Centre. With over 20 years dedicated to Early Years educational development, Sharon brings profound insights into creating environments that celebrate cultural diversity and foster true inclusion.

Join us as Sharon shares her groundbreaking work, including how conducting cultural audits at Ellesmere revealed families speaking 26 different languages, guiding her to cultivate deeper community connections. She discusses her approach to creating welcoming spaces that respect and embrace multicultural differences, always grounded by the vital question: "What would I want for my own children?"

Sharon’s leadership challenges traditional educational models by highlighting representation and cultural intersections, ensuring children see themselves authentically reflected in their learning. Her focus on addressing intergenerational trauma and promoting understanding, especially within underserved communities, underscores the transformative power of culturally informed leadership.

Listen now to discover how Sharon's passion and dedication are empowering multicultural communities, providing children and families with inclusive, high-quality educational opportunities that value every individual's unique identity and experiences.

In this powerful episode of Trims and Talk, we welcome back David Bussue CEO of SACMHA and pastor at Duke Street Church of God of Prophecy for a raw and necessary conversation on what it really means to lead in the Black community.

David shares the burden of visibility, the cost of accountability, and the unexpected journey that brought him to the frontlines of mental health, faith, and social care. We explore the complexity of being called a "community leader" in a world that often marginalizes the very communities we serve—and how sometimes the harshest critique comes from within.

This episode isn’t just about titles. It’s about the weight they carry, the pain they conceal, and the legacy they leave behind.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep showing up for a people who don’t always show up for you—this one’s for you.

🎧 Tap in. Share it. Let it breathe.
#TrimsAndTalk

In this reflective season finale, co-hosts Lungani Sibanda and Donald McLean sit down—not just to talk, but to feel.

What began as a simple idea—to create a space where Black men could speak freely about life, wellness, faith, fatherhood, and everything in between—has grown into something sacred. Over the past year, Trims & Talk has become a sanctuary of sorts. And today, we pause to honour that.

Together, Lungani and Donald look back at some of the most powerful conversations they’ve had on the podcast—from the earliest chats in the barbershop at Faith, asking "When was the last time you cried?", to more recent dialogues on secrecy, masculinity, and the quiet epidemic of male suffering.

We speak about permission. The kind that is often only granted to men at funerals, but denied in everyday life. We reflect on how many of us have been taught to suffer in silence, until the physical or emotional toll lands us in a different kind of emergency—one the world never sees coming.

But through this podcast, that silence has been broken.

From the wisdom of guests like Dave Campbell, David Bussue, Angela Barrows, Shirley Samuels, Corinne Moss, Aiden Rogers and so many more—this year has been a masterclass in vulnerability, truth-telling, and community healing.

As Donald admits: “I could easily just be the guy behind the scenes... the producer. Because the wealth of insight from our guests has been that rich.”

But this episode is also a thank you. A thank you to our listeners, to those who’ve taken time out to journey with us. Who’ve sat in these digital barber chairs and dared to listen deeply.

Because this isn’t just a podcast. It’s a conversation. A calling. A collective reminder that if we are going to do mental health and wellness properly, we must be intentional. We must find our ritual, our rhythm—our thing—that keeps us balanced.

So, we ask again:

What are you doing to stay well?

Hit play, and let’s reflect together.

#TrimsAndTalk #MentalHealthMatters #PermissionToFeel #BarbershopWisdom

In this energising and deeply reflective episode of Trims and Talk, we’re joined once again by the brilliant Dr Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh — scholar, community advocate, and unapologetic disruptor.

We talk about becoming — that sacred journey toward self-acceptance and purpose — and dive into Stephanie’s recent visit to St Vincent, where roots and memory meet. But it’s her powerful concept of “reparative theft” that takes centre stage: the practice of absorbing knowledge from spaces not built for us and using it to rebuild and restore the communities we love.

This episode is full of laughter, insight, warmth, and that good old-fashioned soul-stirring conversation you’ve come to expect from Trims and Talk.

We also welcome back Donald from his Greek island hiatus and reflect on the importance of brotherhood, affirmation, and saying “I missed you” out loud.

🖤 This one is for those who know what it means to carry light, disrupt gently, and lead with love.