Thriving Through Adversity

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Oscar Hoyle, CEO of Blossom LGBT, to explore what it takes for Gen Z LGBTQIA+ people to thrive in a social and workplace climate that can feel hostile. They discuss why many young people hide their identity at work, and how intergenerational gaps in technology, values and expectations can make belonging harder to achieve.

The conversation focuses on what creates an inclusive workplace in practice: everyday respect (pronouns and names), psychologically safe cultures, and policies that draw a clear line between holding beliefs and discriminatory behaviour. Oscar shares how Blossom LGBT supports young adults through mentoring, arts and heritage programmes, and community spaces that build peer support and resilience.

They also reflect on the role of media and "anti-woke" narratives, the pressures of social media, and the importance of providing safe, accessible, intersectional spaces that enable authenticity. The episode closes with a call to support Blossom LGBT’s work and to help build workplaces where people can belong and do their best work.