In this episode of Stories That Stay, hosts Shamm Petros and Dwight Dunston welcome Sali Mudawi, a Sudanese-born photographer and creative director based in London, shaped by growing up in Sweden and the UK. Sali shares an early childhood memory from Sweden, when a beloved teacher apologized for calling her “Medusa” because of her braids—an incident that left her with questions about race, difference, hair, accountability, and what children are expected to carry alone. Through the Lion’s Story process, Sali explores the emotions still connected to that memory: feeling cheated, sadness for her younger self, tightness in her chest, and the self-talk that helped her make meaning over time. The conversation also opens into Sali’s creative path. With a background in architecture, she first focused on structure, form, and landscapes before finding a deeper calling in portrait photography. After the death of her sister and a period of unemployment, photography became more than a creative practice—it became a way to connect with people, emotion, and story. Together, Shamm and Dwight guide Sali through the CLCBE practice: calculating emotions, locating them in the body, communicating self-talk and images, breathing, and expanding toward new choices. Sali’s story becomes a powerful reflection on hair, grief, identity, artistry, and the freedom of authorship. NOTE: When Sali says she “was made redundant,” she is using a British expression that means her job was eliminated, similar to being laid off. In this episode, we explore: * Race, difference, and childhood memories * Hair as identity, symbol, and site of scrutiny * The emotional impact of being singled out as a child * Grief, creativity, and discovering a calling * How portraits can hold emotion and story * The CLCBE practice as a tool for processing racial stress * Why healing is not always linear Reflection question: What is one early memory of difference that still lives in your body, your self-talk, or your story? About Sali Mudawi Sali Mudawi is a Sudanese-born photographer and creative director based in London, shaped by growing up in Sweden and the UK. With a background in architecture, her work is influenced by structure, form, and space, which helped shape her visual style. She first focused on landscapes, but soon became drawn to photographing people, where she found a deeper connection through portraits, emotion, and storytelling. Her work is guided by authenticity, creativity, and a willingness to be bold. Follow Sali on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saliphotog/ Stories That Stay is a project of Lion’s Story, a nonprofit dedicated to building racial literacy through storytelling, mindfulness, and healing. Rooted in over 35 years of research by Dr. Howard C. Stevenson at the University of Pennsylvania, our work guides individuals and institutions to reclaim their stories, reduce identity-based stress, and step into authentic inclusion—not as a checklist, but as a way of being. For a full video version of this podcast, visit our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@StoriesThatStayPodcast Produced and edited by Peterson Toscano. Mindful moment music by Dwight Dunston. Music by Epidemic Sound. Podcast site: StoriesThatStay.net Hosts: Shamm Petros and Dwight Dunston
