100 Londoners you need to meet Luisa Starling

Where do I even start? If one multipod wasn’t enough, today I bring you two incredible girls, who wear many hats, are passionate about life and who are here to change things around. Lexie is the Head and Founder of Queer Weddings UK, a company that focuses on weddings for the LGBTQ+ community. She is the Head of Operations for UK Black Pride and a lot of her time is also spent on educating companies and businesses on diversity and queer culture. Aisha founded Moonlight Experiences to show the LGBTQ+ community visiting London where to go, eat and do within this amazing epicenter of queer culture that is London. But she also doesn’t stop there! She is a woman in science, and an advocate for more representation not just of women in the trade but also black people and poc. If this wasn’t enough, she is the Head of Community for UK Black Pride. Lexie and Aisha are engaged to be married and run an IG account for their travels called @thequeernomads, inspiring LGBTQ+ people to discover the world. Our conversation explores how they met, their passions, values, work, life within COVID times and lifts the veil into the beautiful humans they are. Two more Londoners you NEED TO MEET!

What an episode! This week marks the beginning of nominated interviews! Dapo Adeola is a children’s book illustrator, winner of the Waterstones children’s book of 2019 and creator of the hashtag and movement #blackbritishillustrators, which has the goal of showcasing hidden and undiscovered black talent accross the country. He was nominated by Jaqueline Shepherd with whom I spoke to on episode 4, and what a ride this interview was! We not only spoke about his career, but got to take a peek into his life, habits and beliefs. As we sometimes rambled away from illustration, we spoke about life, and growing up in a family who doesn’t understand what you want to do for a living, an unsupportive uni which led to him finding out his true passion, and finally, the causes he so dearly cares for and never in this world thought he’d be the face of. I got to have a look inside myself too, learned a great deal, and took a pledge. Dapo is a Londoner YOU NEED TO MEET.

I have felt a lot of guilt for not having been more present lately on what is one of my dearest projects I’ve ever made.

Truth is, life carries on even when you’re feeling low… And I had to make a great decision that implied strength and whole lotta self care to be away.

Dealing with moving countries, even if for a short amount of time, nostalgia, missing home, being involved in the creation of a huge project on the other side of the world, losing a possible new relationship due to long distance, grieving the great loss of a dear friend… it’s been a lot lately.

Luckily, I am surrounded by incredible humans (in the flesh and a click away) who know how to lift me up, who know how to just listen, and who encourage me to feel my feelings.

One of them is Zahida, whom I bring to you this week.
As I work for three months across the globe, she has the heart of gold that allows me to feel at peace when it comes to my home and kitties.

A dear friend, a belly dance teacher, a hardcore feminist, a body positivity encourager, a sharer, a cooperative member, a co-founder of a new incredible project for people to help each other financially, and someone to whom I tell all my secrets, good and bad.

On one of our late night phone calls after work, I opened up about the feeling of guilt and shame for having stepped away from 100 Londoners for a few weeks. Zahida said: If people love the project, they will have to love the person who makes it, and respect her decisions too. A game changer in kindness, huh?

I know you’ll feel inspired and empowered by today’s episode. I can feel it in my bones. Zahida is definitely a Londoner you need to meet.

It only made sense, when i realised it, that her episode would come out on the week the world celebrated International Women’s Day.
I am not going to lie, what I love the most about it is the fact that the interview isn’t coming out on the actual 8th of March but on the 10th, as a symbol that our day should be EVERY FREAKING DAY!

Find Zahida:
IG: @zahidance

website: www.dancepandemic.com

Credits:
100 Londoners you need to meet presented by Luisa Starling
Produced by Luisa Starling
Podcast music done by my musician friend Tobel Lopes

Jaqueline Shepherd is a presenter, journalist and producer with a story that will inspire you to keep moving towards your calling.

She grew up in Kent and all around, following her cricketer dad wherever he needed to be and this, as she shares, turned her into a people's person. 

Always the new girl in school, adapting to new places and having to make new friends, Jaqueline sees her childhood as a significant part of who she is: a natural communicator.

Jaqueline has lived in London now for the last 20 years (which you'd never tell, as she doesn't look a year past 23!). 

From a diploma in textile design where she followed the footsteps of the women in her family, she moved into working in face-to-face fundraising, to recruitment...

I mean, talk about wearing many hats, hey? But as it happens with me, the glue that keeps all of this together, is communication and people!

Rewinding to her childhood once more, Jaqui used to connect to teletext on tv, and one of her favourite things to do would be to read it out loud as a TV presenter... fast forwarding to just a few years ago, it was with no surprise that all her friends received the news that she wanted to actually follow a career in media.

'You've always been a natural at this, Jaxx! Just do it!' - they said.

At first she went slowly, and as she recalls, maybe for the lack of representation, but as she got her first job at Sky One, she never stopped. 

The force of nature that is Jaqueline Shepherd has now been one of the faces and voices of not only Sky One but also Sky Arts, Times Radio, BBC Radio London and also hosts her own Podcast called Taking the Leap.

A proof that all you have to do is keep pushing and dreaming, is in the fact that only during this pandemic did Jaqueline find the time to finally finish her studies in Media, right after her 40s! If this doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will!

In our interview we explored all of this in detail, talked about how she is an advocate for natural hair, and much much more.

Another Londoner YOU . NEED . TO . MEET.

Find Jaqueline:
IG: @jaxxsheps

Agent Craig @talent4media 

website: www.jacquelineshepherd.com



Credits:
100 Londoners you need to meet presented by Luisa Starling
Produced by Luisa Starling
Platform used was ZOOM
Podcast music done by my musician friend Tobel Lopes

On this week’s interview we go back in time and experience growing up in Hackney in the 70’s through Stephen’s eyes.

He told me tales of being a black kid in a diverse neighborhood, son of immigrant parents, and how the world treated him and other kids like him back in the days.

We talked about school, family, work, and the journey that brought him to work with kids in schools who face a similar life story to his.

Getting into yoga and mindfulness saved him and changed him from angry to centered. 

He uses his techniques to help with his student’s anxiety, stress and coping with life in general.

We explored the relationship and relatability he creates with these kids, how racism still exists in London schools, and how his work continues through a pandemic and 3 lockdowns.

An incredible human, with the biggest heart.

Another Londoner you need to meet.

Portuguese in London for 22 years, Lucia Margarida Pestana is focused on helping people find their dream job while being their truest self.  
It's not just an HR affair. 
 This is life coaching - meets inspiration - meets discovering who you really are - meets ultimately dissipating the fog in your mind that is keeping you away from job satisfaction and dream pursuing.  
In episode 002 of 100 Londoners you need to meet we explore Lucia's trajectory in life, the different jobs she did, what she experienced and learned, the deep depression she overcame, and all that culminated with her being so empathetic that anything you might present as a hurdle, she's been there, and she is ready to listen and help you succeed.  
A boost of inspo for your daily run.  
Linkedin // Facebook
IG: @pestanashrandcoaching  

Credits:  
100 Londoners you need to meet presented by Luisa Starling
Produced by Luisa Starling
Platform used was ZOOM
Podcast music done by my musician friend Tobel Lopes