On today’s episode I am joined by Kriss Munsya, a Congolese-born visual artist currently living in Rio de Janeiro, with experience in photography, graphic design, music and video production. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in Brussels, Belgium in the ‘90s, Munsya became aware of his differences early on. In his white-dominated surroundings, he became accustomed to experiences with normalised discrimination, oppression, and violence. He grew up in Brussels, Belgium in the ‘90s, and that era was very important for him. As a first- generation African immigrant, Munsya was cons ..read more

On today’s episode I am joined by Sammy McKay, professional boxer, boxing coach at Miguels Boxing Gym in Brixton and founder of Champs Within. Sammy started boxing in 2015, as part of the London Fire Brigade Lambeth Boxing Initiative. Having travelled the world training with champions, Sammy gained a number of title wins and turned pro in 2020. Sammy has trained regularly at Miguels since finding the sport, and is now one of the lead trainers at the gym. Set up in 2020, Champs within uses boxing as a tool to foster positive social interaction in a supportive and controlled environmen ..read more

On today’s episode I am joined by Beatriz Acevedo. Beatriz Acevedo is an artist and educator, originally from Colombia, who has been living in the UK for 20 years. She is passionate about restoring our relationship with beauty, challenging the imposed ideas of what is pretty and discovering beauty around and inside us. She has been writing about beauty, aesthetics and ethics and is now finishing her first book on her experience of mental health and the healing powers of beauty. On this episode we discuss the feelings of isolation that can come with leaving behind your home country and becomin ..read more

On today’s episode I am joined by Brendan Cox. Brendan Cox is a campaigner for more cohesive communities. He has co-founded multiple organisations that work to build more connected and cohesive communities, such as More in Common which works to build more inclusive communities in France, Germany, the UK and the US, Survivors Against Terror, the Jo Cox Foundation,(continuing the work of his late wife) and the Together Coalition. Brendan started work in the aftermath of the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, working with children who lost their parents in the war. This formative work ..read more

On today’s episode I am joined by Nova Reid. Nova Reid is a thought leader, TED speaker, author and producer, fascinated by human behavior. Often described as a force to be reckoned with, Nova uses her professional background in mental wellbeing to encourage meaningful change from the inside out.  Through her impactful advocacy and powerful public speaking, writing and storytelling, she has become renowned as an agent of change, selected as one of Black Magic Network’s Top 100 Black British Women and receiving a Precious Award for Social Impact.  She is a regular contributor to BBC N ..read more

On this episode I am joined by my grandfather, Commander David Hawksley OBE, born in August 1923. David joined the navy at 18 in 1942 and fought in the Second World War and continued to work in the navy until 1976. He then began a new career at BSI, British Standards Institution. On leaving BSI at 65, he became an international consultant for developing countries to help them develop their own standards institution. Whilst working in the navy David met his wife Sheila and they were married for 54 years. David became her full time carer in 2000 for the last 4 years of her life when Sheila passe ..read more

On this episode I am joined by Marc Abraham or Marc The Vet, as he is more commonly known. Marc is an award winning veterinary surgeon, broadcaster, author and animal welfare campaigner and was awarded an OBE for services to animal welfare in the 2021 Queens Birthday honours. As well as campaigning to improve animal welfare in the UK, Marc volunteers around the world, and visits schools teaching pupils about looking after animals and each other. On this episode, we discuss Marc's own personal journey with loneliness as an animal welfare campaigner, the importance of our connection with animal ..read more

On this episode I am joined by Tony Supreme, an award winning radio presenter, CEO of Grounded Sounds, a charity which aims at empowering youth through music, as well as the founder of Soul Surge - a music and wellbeing platform. With extensive knowledge and personal experience of the criminal justice system Tony also mentors and supports young people into careers in music. On this episode, we discuss Tony's own personal experience of loneliness and isolation in prison, dealing with grief and the difficulty men face in talking about their emotions. We explore the power of radio and music ..read more

On this episode I am joined by Meryl Davies, Chief Executive Officer at Re-engage, a charity aimed at tackling the huge and growing issue of loneliness in later life. More than 2 million people in the UK over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say that they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. Re-engage is working to make life less lonely for thousands of older people every year. They organise monthly tea parties to people aged 75 and over, as well as running a telephone befriending service, organise group activities that offer g ..read more

On this episode I am joined by Dr Radha Modgil, GP, Media Personality and medical expert for BBC Radio 1, campaigner, broadcaster, podcast host and author. Dr Radha Modgil is also an ambassador for the National Academy of Social Prescribing and offers empowering advice that helps people deal with life's many challenges, and to take control of their own health and wellbeing. On this episode we discuss loneliness as a public health issue, exploring the impacts of loneliness on health and how social prescribing offers a diverse range of community projects which are helping to empower people and ..read more