Unplug with Ani

Naz Ahmed has a wealth of editorial experience in soap and continuing drama roles having worked across script and story on Doctors, Eastenders and Coronation Street as well as producing/directing BBC radio drama for a number of years. She also created and script edited several issue-led specials around the subjects of Homelessness and Mental Health Awareness for Doctors during her tenure on the show, as well as stepping up as Producer of the ‘Bollywood Marriage proposal’ that won ‘Scene of the Year’ at the British Soap Awards in 2018. Naz also fought off fierce competition to win the ‘Services to Media Award’ at the British Muslim Awards, in recognition of her vast work around diversity in storytelling and script editing for the BBC. We discuss the journey so far, the challenges she has faced as well as whether or not representation for artists has diversified over the years.

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Afshan d’souza-lodhi was born in Dubai and bred in Manchester. She is a writer of scripts and poetry and was recently commissioned to write and direct a short film for Channel 4 (An Act of Terror) and a radio play for BBC Sounds (Chop Chop). Afshan is currently a Sky Writes writer-in-residence for Rotherham, a partnership between Sky Studios and New Writing North. She is also currently developing a TV series with Sky Studios. Afshan has edited many anthologies and has an essay featured in Picador's collection by Muslim women called Its Not About The Burqa. Her debut poetry collection ‘re:desire’ (Burning Eye Books) has been longlisted for the Jhalak Prize (2021).Her most recent play,Santi & Naz, described as “tender yet sharply political” by The Guardian, won the Vault Outstanding New Work Award in 2020.

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Anthony Vander is an award winning Filmmaker and producer. In 2017 and 2018 Anthony was nominated by the Chairwoman of Media Com UK as a top ten creative trailblazer for Black History Month.
Anthony's work was featured during We Are Parable and British Film Institute 'WHO WE ARE' season in July 2020 which shined a light at Black British filmmakers in the UK. Anthony is a BFI x BAFTA Crew 2021 filmmaker. His first short film ‘Hooligan’ screened at The Short Film Corner at Cannes Film Festival in 2012. In 2014, Anthony’s directorial debut feature film, 'Sweetboy' had its North American première at the American Black Film Festival and in 2017 aired on London Live television multiple times. His second short film 'Spar' screened at festivals including S.O.U.L Connect and The Miami Independent Film Festival.

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Gurmit launched Impress in 2009, a video production company producing and directing adverts for online companies. Through BGP Ltd Gurmit produced & directed his first short film ‘7 Reasons Why’ which was selected for Cannes Film Festival ‘Short film corner’ in 2013.

In early 2017 Gurmit released a documentary ‘Attract Any Woman Anywhere’ released for Amazon Prime. It also secured distribution in Poland, Berlin, Finland and Sky Italy. Gurmit has relentlessly bought his visions to life on a number of projects. Planning is key where all aspects of the production are drafted by him providing a solid foundation for collaborations with all creatives involved. ‘The team have to believe in you first, and then in your vision in order for it to come to life.'

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On this season's finale, I host Vipul Bhesania, who is the host of the Know Your Legacy podcast, author of ‘Searching in Silence’ and seeker of truth. His words stir emotion to reach people on a deeper level. We talk about his poetry, how we conquer ourselves and commit to self growth and why gratitude is key.

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Stefanie Sword Williams is the founder and author of F*ck Being Humble. She set up the platform to encourage individuals to be unapologetically proud of their achievements and overcome the fear of self-promotion. Named as Forbes 30 Under 30 in Europe, she has delivered workshops for global brands including Unilever, Warner Music, Google, ASOS, Microsoft, The Guardian and for conferences such as Cannes Lions Festival and D&AD. In 2020 Stef released her first book ‘F*ck Being Humble: Why self-promotion isn't a dirty word.'

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Adeeba Aqeel is a Self-Care & Personal Development Blogger and Motivational Speaker. Her purpose is to help people embrace who they are, to be more confident and pursue their passions. As well as living their best life, through spreading positivity. Blog: www.adeebaaqeel.online

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Harshh was born & raised in Mumbai, India. He played professional football for junior clubs in India and internationally for clubs like AC Milan junior team & Leicester City Junior in England. He was at the peak of his performance as an athlete when a sudden knee deformity compelled him to stop playing. The deformity required an immediate surgery. He was encouraged to attend the Shaolin Temple as a Warrior Monk (in China) and he studied the 3 principles of Shaolin Culture in Mandarin. After serving the temple for 4.5years & mastering the art form, he decided to come back home to revive Bodhidharma’s teachings in India & spread the Shaolin Culture through Warrior Monk Academy.

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James was selected for the Channel 4 Screenwriting Scheme and was a finalist on "Coming Up". Since then he has developed projects with Ridley Scott's Scott Free, Addictive Pictures, ITV Studios and Channel 4, and is currently writing a feature film with Screen Scotland's Scottish Film Talent Network. In September 2019, he won the BAFTA/Rocliffe New Writing Competition for his family script, THE MINISTRY OF UMBRELLAS

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Geeta Sidhu-Robb is an author, inspirational speaker, CEO and Founder of Nosh Detox.  Her frequent appearance on Radio and National TV has given her a strong media profile as an expert on Natural Health Solutions.  Geeta gave up her career as a corporate lawyer to set up her own business, Nosh Detox in 2008, after her son’s severe food allergies, eczema, asthma and anaphylaxis as a baby led her to retrain as a Raw Chef and functional nutritionist.

To hear more, visit anisabutt.substack.com