Daring to be Different | Samantha Grierson Samantha Grierson

I am delighted to be joined today by Samantha Lee Howe, bestselling author, screenwriter and survivor ambassador for IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services), which is based in Yorkshire. Samantha’s novel “The Stranger in our Bed '' became a number one hit In the US Today book charts. Samantha adapted the book and turned it into her first screenplay. it is now a successful film starring Samantha Bond available on streaming services. Samantha, welcome to this special edition of “Daring to be Different”.

We discuss writing, growing up in Manchester, being “discovered”, surviving Domestic Abuse, charity work with the Independent Domestic Abuse Services, asking for help and standing up for yourself.

Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have more work to do. I am interested to look at the role that the Arts play, to both inspire, provoke, educate and support social change.

Actors, Singers, Members of Parliament, Artists, Authors, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who all dare… Sam Grierson interviews… Daring to be different…

Graphics by Poke Marketing, Podcast Sound Engineering & Editing by Rose Hill, Photography by Claire Brown

Disclaimer: This podcast is for private non-commercial use and the guests and their views do not necessarily reflect any agency or organisation or company that they work for and by no means represent absolute facts. Opinions expressed by the host and guests can change at any time. Listeners acknowledge that they are not being provided professional advice from this podcast or the guests.

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to ADHD Diagnosis, treatment, Neurodivergent terminology, mental health issues, eating disorders, suicide, sexual abuse, assault, violence, trauma, Domestic Abuse, LGBT+ Coming out, LGBT+ themes, Hate Crime, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, Feminism. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Daring to be different I chat with the brilliant poet Clare Shaw, who is a keen advocate for writing as a tool of social and personal change.  As the Project Lead for the Royal Literary Fund, they were responsible for setting up writing projects in workplaces across the UK. Clare was the resident poet for Lancashire Wildlife Trust in 2021 and they continue to use poetry to engage communities with wildlife and ecology. In collaboration with the novelist Winnie M Li, Clare was the recipient of a Royal Society of Literature Literature Matters Award in 2019, creating workshops and a free online resource for survivors of trauma.

We chat about the importance of poetry, trauma expressed through poetry, the cost of speaking out, the influence of parenting on art, love and the importance of touch, and being a queer artist. Clare reads from her latest poetry collection, as we go on a journey with "monkey"...

Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have more work to do. I am interested to look at the role that the Arts play, to both inspire, provoke, educate and support social change.

Actors, Singers, Members of Parliament, Artists, Authors, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who all dare… Sam Grierson interviews… Daring to be different…

Graphics by Poke Marketing, Podcast Sound Engineering & Editing by Rose Hill, Photography by Claire Brown

Disclaimer: This podcast is for private non-commercial use and the guests and their views do not necessarily reflect any agency or organisation or company that they work for and by no means represent absolute facts. Opinions expressed by the host and guests can change at any time. Listeners acknowledge that they are not being provided professional advice from this podcast or the guests.

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to ADHD Diagnosis, treatment, Neurodivergent terminology, mental health issues, eating disorders, suicide, sexual abuse, assault, violence, trauma,  LGBT+ Coming out, LGBT+ themes, Hate Crime, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, Feminism. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Susannah Laing actor, writer, singer/songwriter, poet, athlete and ADHD advocate. She gave a Tedx Talk in 2020 on “what bulimia taught me”. She has represented Scotland in both Hockey and Golf, playing professional golf in the US and is currently learning aerials and dance trapeze, paintings of which are featured in Greer Ralstons “Into the Light” exhibition in Perth.

We chat about the gender politics of Professional Sport, playing queer/straight roles, addiction, eating disorders, ADHD, coming out as queer, Megan Black, Greer Ralston, Val McDermid and why waiting for the rainbows matters.

Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have more work to do. I am interested to look at the role that the Arts play, to both inspire, provoke, educate and support social change.

Actors, Singers, Members of Parliament, Artists, Authors, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who all dare… Sam Grierson interviews… Daring to be different…

Graphics by Poke Marketing, Podcast Sound Engineering & Editing by Rose Hill, Photography by Claire Brown

Disclaimer: This podcast is for private non-commercial use and the guests and their views do not necessarily reflect any agency or organisation or company that they work for and by no means represent absolute facts. Opinions expressed by the host and guests can change at any time. Listeners acknowledge that they are not being provided professional advice from this podcast or the guests.

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to ADHD Diagnosis, treatment, Neurodivergent terminology, mental health issues, eating disorders, suicide, LGBT+ Coming out, LGBT+ themes, Hate Crime, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, Feminism. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Daring to be different “Learning from Autistic teachers - How to Be a Neurodiversity-Inclusive School ” I chat with two of the authors Madge Woollard a music teacher and Autistic Advocate and Susanna Matthan is a Freelance specialist teacher, full time student and Positive Autistic Advocate.

We chat about the book, the realities of being an Autistic teacher and working with Autistic children, later life autism diagnosis, the risks of coming out as Neurodivergent at work & University, asking for reasonable adjustments at work, gender and neurodivergence.

Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have more work to do. I am interested to look at the role that the Arts play, to both inspire, provoke, educate and support social change.

Actors, Singers, Members of Parliament, Artists, Authors, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who all dare… Sam Grierson interviews… Daring to be different…

Graphics by Poke Marketing, Podcast Sound Engineering & Editing by Rose Hill, Photography by Claire Brown

Disclaimer: This podcast is for private non-commercial use and the guests and their views do not necessarily reflect any agency or organisation or company that they work for and by no means represent absolute facts. Opinions expressed by the host and guests can change at any time. Listeners acknowledge that they are not being provided professional advice from this podcast or the guests.

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to Autism Diagnosis, treatment, Neurodivergent terminology, historical treatment for autism, mental health issues. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Daring to be different with Steven Smith, Celebrity Hairdresser, Author of “It shouldn’t happen to a hairdresser”, Chat show host, Journalist, Radio presenter and Diversity Role model.

We talk about coming out in the 1970’s, his experiences of being a young gay man, gay social history, Kenny Everett, tales of styling the stars and charity work for Anna Kennedy Online a charity which raises awareness of Autism.

Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have more work to do. I am interested to look at the role that the Arts play, to both inspire, provoke, educate and support social change.

Actors, Singers, Members of Parliament, Artists, Authors, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who all dare… Sam Grierson interviews… Daring to be different…

Graphics by Poke Marketing, Podcast Sound Engineering & Editing by Rose Hill, Photography by Claire Brown

Disclaimer: This podcast is for private non-commercial use and the guests and their views do not necessarily reflect any agency or organisation or company that they work for and by no means represent absolute facts. Opinions expressed by the host and guests can change at any time. Listeners acknowledge that they are not being provided professional advice from this podcast or the guests.

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to LGBT+ Coming out, LGBT+ themes, Hate Crime, Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia, Feminism, Autism Diagnosis, treatment, Neurodivergent terminology, historical treatment for autism, mental health issues. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.

Daring to be different with Giuliana Wheater, an author & multi award winning therapist working with autism, SEN and mental health. She is the founder of Therapies For Special Needs and Rainbow Kids Touch Therapy . She is the Wellbeing Ambassador for the international Autism charity Anna Kennedy Online. Her work has been recognised by the Children’s University as a Learning Destination. Her proudest achievement is being Mum to 4 neurodiverse children.

We chat about the challenges of autism diagnosis in childhood, tips on navigating schools with autistic children, activism, therapies for children with special needs, The Anna Kennedy charity and finding your yellow.

Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have more work to do. I am interested to look at the role that the Arts play, to both inspire, provoke, educate and support social change.

Actors, Singers, Members of Parliament, Artists, Authors, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who all dare… Sam Grierson interviews… Daring to be different…

Graphics by Poke Marketing, Podcast Sound Engineering & Editing by Rose Hill, Photography by Claire Brown

Disclaimer: This podcast is for private non-commercial use and the guests and their views do not necessarily reflect any agency or organisation or company that they work for and by no means represent absolute facts. Opinions expressed by the host and guests can change at any time. Listeners acknowledge that they are not being provided professional advice from this podcast or the guests.

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode may, at times, cover sensitive topics including but not limited to Autism Diagnosis, treatment, Neurodivergent terminology, historical treatment for autism, mental health issues. You are advised to refrain from listening if you are likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.