Growing Up Brit-ish British With A Dash

Content Warning: Discussion of police brutality / death in police custody from 1hr6mins.

Mohannad Bashir, our lovely friend and a fan of the podcast, shares his journey to discovering music as a form of self-expression and a vital creative outlet. Brought up in Sudan, he reflects on the pressures of growing up in a conservative family and the need to conform to the role of the "perfect Muslim boy". We explore the concepts of home and belonging - and how music in particular helped shape who he is today - as well as the importance of mental health self-care, especially amongst men where it is often still considered taboo. We are thankful to Mo for his trust and vulnerability in opening up to us about such sensitive topics, including a heartbreaking incident that occurred in 2021. Follow Mo (@mohandbashir) and his band (@torchbeareruk) for updates on their latest shows, and @justice4mouayed to support his family's cause.

In this episode, we welcome our first ever couple on the podcast, Mateusz and Yading. Brought up in different parts of the world - with Yading from Beijing, China, and Mateusz born into a Catholic family in the Polish countryside - they share their experience of being a multiracial gay married couple and tell us the cutest story of how they met in London years ago. We explore the perception of homosexuality across cultures, learn about gay stereotypes (or 'tribes') and hear about the secrets to a lasting relationship. Follow Mateusz and Yading on IG @hubbyspoilshubby for more on their adventures!

We're back from our break with a new guest, the lovely Feji, who opens up about her experience of growing up in Britain and the struggles of fitting in when she moves to Canada in her teens. She gives us some well-needed education on Black beauty ideals, the archetype of Precious and the cut-throat expectation of not being 'too Black'. This is an enthralling one that, as usual, takes us in directions we never thought. You're not going to want to miss this!

Our wonderful guest on this episode is educator and entrepreneur, Eresha Jayatillake. She tells us all about how she made the transition from working in the corporate world to becoming an MFL teacher, and turning her side hustle into her own tuition business. We explore the challenges she has faced as a South Asian woman in an industry that is white dominated, as well as the importance of choosing yourself and your passions, despite cultural and societal expectations. This conversation left us feeling empowered and inspired, so we hope you enjoy it just as much as we did! Find out more about Eresha's business, Kudos Tuition Ltd at www.kudostuitionltd.co.uk and on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kudostuitionltd.

This is Part 2 of our chat with Kweku Ackom-Mensah, children’s author and spoken word poet, and his cousin, Neal Gruer, photographer and writer. In this second half, we hear more about Kweku's fascination with lyricism (including an exclusive performance of one of his pieces!), and from Neal on what led him to leave his career in law to pursue a life of creative expression. We discuss authenticity in a society that equates value with likes and explore how creativity can be used as a tool to challenge our view of the world. To find out more about Kweku's work, visit https://www.unclekweks.com/ or @unclekweks on IG, and listen to the podcast he co-hosts at What Comes Next? For all things Neal, check out his website https://www.nealgruerphotography.com/ and IG: @scotch.bonnet.

We covered so much in this episode that we had to split it into two! Here’s Part 1 of our chat about art and culture with Kweku Ackom-Mensah, children’s author and spoken word poet, and his cousin, Neal Gruer, photographer and writer. They fill us in on how their mixed Ghanaian-British heritage, alongside their upbringing in Sheffield and Glasgow respectively, influenced their creative pursuits. We discuss societal labels, the process of self-assimilation and how they have come to embrace their mixed identities through art. Find out more about their work via the links below.

You can buy Kweku's children's books from https://www.unclekweks.com/, IG: @unclekweks, and listen to the podcast he co-hosts at What Comes Next?

For all things Neal, check out his website https://www.nealgruerphotography.com/ and IG: @scotch.bonnet