On Episode 57 of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of speaking with the brilliant comedian, author, and actor Samantha Baines. Samantha opened up about discovering her hearing loss in her late twenties, embracing her deaf identity, and advocating for better access and representation in the arts. Her story sparked a wider reflection for me on the many unseen conditions that shape how people experience the workplace, and how organisations can better set everyone up for success.

In Episode 56 of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of chatting to Geeta Sidhu-Robb, award-winning entrepreneur, political candidate, and the visionary Founder of WCorp. In the episode, we touch on everything from redefining leadership, Geeta’s experience of financial struggles, to the story of her daughter’s workplace discrimination that led to her launching WCorp at the United Nations. Geeta’s concept of a “woman’s workplace” existing alongside a “man’s workplace” necessitates a deeper dive into what that looks like in practice. Are workplaces systematically designed to favour one gender, and what is the long and short-term impact on organisations?

In Episode 55 of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ryan Panchoo, Founder of Borough 22, a pioneering doughnut brand built on the principles of inclusion, representation, and authenticity. We had an insightful discussion on employer identity and its impact on business, the story behind how his brand started, and how designing for the minority can be strategically beneficial.

On episode 54 of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of sitting on the sofa with the inspirational Lavina Mehta MBE, wellness coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of Feel Good with Lavina. In the episode, we touch on Lavina’s mission of normalising conversations around menopause, her commitment to promoting accessible health through her innovative ‘exercise snacking’ concept (more on that later), as well as her approach to celebrating menopause as a milestone in every woman's life. I wanted to explore this further in the context of the workplace - how menopause shapes women's experiences, and how both workplaces and individuals can navigate this new change.

On the episode 53 of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of sitting on the sofa with the talented Robert Taylor, a renowned photographer whose work is held in collections including the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A, and numerous Oxbridge colleges. We touched on the fluidity of beauty standards (through the lens of his recent pioneering project Permissible Beauty), the role of representation in shaping identity, and the ways different individuals navigate their differing diversity characteristics (e.g. gender, race) in professional spaces, from “just getting on with it” to being “very much in for the battle”, as Robert put it.

In Episode 53 of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of sitting on the sofa with the wonderful Montell Douglas, a groundbreaking athlete known for her historic achievement as the UK’s first woman to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. We touched on how Montell’s upbringing shaped her drive and work ethic, the disparities she’s seen in sport and media, and - more personally - the barriers she faced in getting the recognition for her incredible achievements. This got me thinking about the recognition gap that shows up in many workplaces - how some people’s achievements, efforts, and strengths are routinely seen and celebrated, whilst others go unnoticed. Let’s unpack.

In the 1st episode of the 6th season of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of hosting the inspirational Founder and CEO of Media Stream AI (UK), Christopher Kenna. Chris explained his vision behind his personalised AI-powered TV channels, how his lived experience shaped his goal to disrupt traditional media representation - and how AI can be harnessed ethically to do it at scale. During the conversation, Chris touched on the incredibly relevant point of performative diversity by quoting his organisation’s ethos: “Nothing about us without us.”

In a special bonus episode of Why Care?, I had the privilege of a compelling and colourful conversation with the wonderful Blair Imani, historian, educator, author of Read This to Get Smarter, and known for her viral ‘Smarter in Seconds’ digital series. We touch on the importance of storytelling in social justice, Blair’s personal activism, and the prevalence of wildly inaccurate historical narratives. This got me thinking about what other narratives and ‘myths’ have crept upon us, taken stronghold, and don’t necessarily reflect the full truth - not just in history (though there are many of those), but even in the office.

On the 50th (!) episode of Why Care? I had the pleasure of a conversation with bestselling children’s author, Robin Stevens, best known for her internationally renowned Murder Most Unladylike series. In the episode, Robin shares the personal experiences that influence her writing, how her neurodivergence and lived experiences have shaped the stories she tells, and how stories can help young readers navigate the tricky topics of identity and belonging.

In the 49th episode of Why Care? I had the pleasure of an exciting conversation with the Permalloo Sisters - Shelina Permalloo, MasterChef winner and celebrated chef, and Pamela Permalloo Bass, a diversity, equity and inclusion expert with extensive experience in the NHS. In the episode we touch on culture, family, and the incredibly nuanced and endlessly fascinating topics of belonging, diaspora, and what it means to be British.

In the 48th episode of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Gunning, an elite swimmer and trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in sport. During our conversation, we touched on the way some media outlets have reported on Michael’s successes - labelling him as a ‘Black, gay swimmer’, as opposed to a world-class swimmer. This got me thinking about the effects of labels in the workplace.

In the 47th episode of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of speaking with Claire: a coach, Henley Business School Professor of Leadership, and my former MBA dissertation supervisor! In the episode, we delve into an issue that affects a staggering 49% of employees: toxic work environments. We explore how to identify toxic behaviours, the effects of gaslighting, and strategies for building resilience, alongside a shocking personal anecdote from Claire on her experience with workplace bullying.

In the 46th episode of Why Care? I had the pleasure of talking to serial tech entrepreneur Tarek Kamil. Tarek is the CEO of Cerkl, an AI-powered communication solutions company with a focus on social value and inclusion. During the episode, we explore Tarek’s journey from software engineer to serial founder, his unique personal approach decision-making, and how his company uses AI and personalised communications to enhance inclusion and employee engagement.

In the 45th episode of Why Care? I had the great pleasure of speaking to the multi-talented Sarah Mulindwa. Sarah has a colourful and fascinating career, merging both her background in nursing and her passion for fashion to become a big advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In the episode, we talk about career changes, her work in sexual health education, and health challenges like menopause in the workplace, among other things.

In the44th episode ofWhy Care? I had the great pleasure of speaking to the wonderful Rosie Nixon, former Editor-in-Chief of HELLO!Magazine and author of four books. In the episode, Rosie opens up about the burnout that often comes with career highs, being defined by our professional lives, and the unique experiences of middle-aged women in the workforce.

Hamilton, a leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practitioner and author of Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences Into a Stronger Future. She explained that pushback against DEI may be because the field has veered into “this Noah's Ark approach.”

On the latest episode of Why Care? I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Sandra Upton, a renowned industry thought leader, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Strategist for Upton Consulting Group, a keynote speaker, and an esteemed author. Sandra’s impressive 25+ years of experience in the field were incredibly insightful in our discussion on overcoming resistance in DEI work, building effective DEI governance, and ensuring long-term success through her 8-step DEI Propel framework. Our discussion about the current ‘backlash’ on DEI prompted me to explore the subject further: the reasons behind it, and how organisations can work around it.

In the 41st episode of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of a fascinating conversation with a prolific thought leader in the theatre space. Tegan Summer is a renowned writer, producer and lyricist, whose powerful bio-musicals have captivated audiences from Broadway to the West End. Tegan’s time as a Black producer brought an intriguing perspective to our conversation on representation in theatre and the unique experiences of underrepresented groups. Our conversation ultimately got me thinking about the stories that performing arts tell us, and the impact of their different narratives.

In the second special celebrity episode of Why Care? I am joined by double gold Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes. Kelly is the first woman ever in Great Britain to win two gold medals at the same games, and has gone on to obtain a litany of impressive accomplishments, including BBC Sports Personality of the Year and European Athlete of the Year following her 2004 wins. During our conversation, Kelly shares her difficult experience navigating the systemic discrimination present in the army in the 1980s-90s, and the psychological trauma it caused. This got me thinking about how organisations can help destigmatize mental health concerns and create psychological safety within teams.

In a celebrity special episode of Why Care?, I had the pleasure of speaking to the inspirational Dr Ranj, an NHS doctor, BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, best-selling author, keynote speaker, radio host and much more. In this insightful and captivating conversation, Dr Ranj shares his journey with inclusion, both through personal anecdotes and experiences from his varied and extensive career. During the conversation, we touched on Dr Ranj’s time on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, where he discusses the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey that the show has taken, stating that in order for it to be inclusive it had to develop a “two-way understanding between itself and its audience”.