Theme
Storytelling & Voice
The power of lived-experience storytelling — how sharing our truth changes minds and moves cultures.
34 episodes on this theme
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Finding Self-Love and Resilience
with Denise Cesare
Joanne Lockwood is joined by speech-language pathologist, author, and inclusive fashion founder Denise Cesare for a wide-ranging conversation about self-love, resilience, and what it means to be seen and heard when your voice and body…
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Creating a Gayer and More Colourful Disney
with AJ Hannah
Joanne Lockwood is joined by AJ Hannah, founder and creative director of FWDIO Studios, to talk about what it takes to build an indie animation studio committed to unapologetically queer, more representative storytelling. AJ shares why “a…
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Surviving Adversity and Choosing Happiness
with Naseem Rochette
Joanne Lockwood speaks with author and speaker Naseem Rochette about what it means to survive a life-altering traumatic event and consciously choose a different story afterward. Naseem recounts being hit and run over by a car three times…
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Embracing Queer Joy and Diversity in the Arts
with Sam Turlington
Joanne Lockwood is joined by New York-based actor and multi-hyphenate creative Sam Turlington for a wide-ranging conversation about what it means to live authentically. Sam reflects on how curiosity and empathy shaped their path into…
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Beyond Banter: Creating Safe Spaces for Bold Learning and Inclusive Innovation
with Pippa O'Brien
Joanne Lockwood is joined by learning innovator Pippa O’Brien, founder of Poda, to explore what “brave learning” looks like in practice and how it enables bolder, more inclusive leadership. Together they unpack why traditional, slide-led…
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The Power of Being Proudly Authentic in Business
with Jodie Goodchild
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Jodie Goodchild, an award-winning community creator and LinkedIn trainer, to explore what it looks like to be proudly authentic in business and in life. Jodie shares her journey of coming out as a lesbian, the…
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Transforming the Narrative Making Space for Disabled and Minority Authors in Literature
with Tracy Stewart
Joanne Lockwood is joined by book coach and editor Tracy Stewart, founder of Freshly Press, to explore why so many voices and storylines still struggle to be heard in publishing. Together they unpack how the industry’s commercial caution,…
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Navigating Dual Identities: Building Belonging Across Cultural Borders
with Mina Sharif
Joanne Lockwood is joined by writer and media producer Mina Sharif to explore what belonging looks like when your life spans countries, cultures and competing narratives. Mina reflects on being born in Afghanistan, raised in Canada as part…
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Empowering Women Through Visibility and Genuine Self-Expression
with Raimonda Jankunaite
Joanne Lockwood is joined by visibility and empowerment mentor Raimonda Jankunaite to explore what it means to be seen, heard and unapologetically yourself. Raimonda shares her personal journey, from growing up in Lithuania and later…
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Storytelling as a Catalyst for Inclusion and Positive Change
with Nick Elston
Joanne Lockwood is joined by speaker and coach Nick Elston to explore what honest storytelling can unlock—for individuals, audiences, and workplace conversations that are often hard to have. Nick shares how lived experience of obsessive…
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How PR Shapes Authentic Change in a Noisy World
with Sara McCracken
Joanne Lockwood is joined by PR and communications specialist Sarah McCracken to explore how public relations can be used as a genuine tool for meaningful change, rather than “spin.” They unpack how organisations and individuals can align…
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Amplifying Marginalised Voices
with Saba Ali
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Saba Ali for a wide-ranging conversation about speaking truth to power and turning advocacy into institutional change. Saba shares her personal story, including childhood abuse and cultural abuse, periods of…
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Bridging Brands and People
with Samta Datta
Joanne Lockwood is joined by brand marketing consultant Samta Datta for a wide-ranging conversation about why genuine connection matters more than polished branding. Samta shares how her work centres on understanding people’s insights,…
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The Empathetic Approach to Diversity
with Fiona Dawson, Rita Hallgató
Joanne Lockwood is joined by DEI and storytelling collaborators Rita Hallgató and Fiona Dawson to explore what it means to “infuse empathy” into workplace inclusion efforts. They discuss how personal storytelling can help colleagues…
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Voices for Change: Inclusive Speech and the Art of Listening
with Fiona Brennan-Scott
Joanne Lockwood is joined by voice and speech coach Fiona Brennan-Scott to explore what it really means to find your “Voice for change” — not just the sound you make, but the identity you bring into a room. Together they unpack why…
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Transforming Mindsets: A Journey from Battlefield to Wellness
with Jason Archdale
Joanne Lockwood speaks with wellness coach and speaker Jason Archdale about his journey from joining the Army at 16 to struggling with poor mental health after leaving service. Jason describes the gradual slide into anxiety and depression…
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Style Matters: Crafting Your Speaker Image for Inclusive Connection
with Kay Korsh
Joanne Lockwood is joined by stylist Kay Korsh to explore how clothing and personal presentation influence credibility, connection, and impact when you’re speaking in public. Kay shares how her career evolved from working with high-profile…
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Humanising Workplaces: Transforming Business Communication
with Ben Afia
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Ben Afia, a language and communication specialist whose work focuses on making organisations feel more human. They explore how large organisations can become dehumanising through bureaucracy and process, and…
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Connecting Through Comedy: Harnessing Humour for Inclusive Discourse
with Beth Sherman
Joanne Lockwood is joined by multi-Emmy award-winning comedy writer and speaker Beth Sherman to explore how humour can create faster human connection in professional communication. Beth shares how she built her career in TV comedy and…
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Effective Communication in Tough Conversations: Truth, Emotion, and Ethical Strategies
with Michael Dodd
Joanne Lockwood is joined by media communication specialist Michael Dodd to explore what makes difficult conversations go well, whether in the media, at work, or in high-pressure public situations. Drawing on his background in broadcast…
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Dismantling Stoicism: Promoting Open Dialogue and Emotional Expression in Male Mental Health
with Greg Wasserman
Joanne Lockwood talks with Greg Wasserman about the difference between listening to someone and trying to solve them. Greg shares how a lifelong “fix it” culture and a perfectionist, fixed mindset fed a deep sense of not being good enough,…
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Writing Queerness: How Authors are Creating Mirrors and Opening Doorways in Literature
with Nonir Amicitia
Joanne Lockwood is joined by author Nonir Amicitia, who co-writes as O E Tearmann, to explore the idea of “mirrors and doorways” in storytelling: mirrors that let marginalised readers see themselves as full characters, and doorways that…
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Challenging Societal Expectations: The Influence of Conditioning on Voices
with Jamie Read
Joanne Lockwood talks with vocal coach and vocal health expert Jamie Read about how breath fuels the voice and how vocal choices shape the way we’re perceived in workplaces and everyday life. They unpack how anxiety, confidence, and…
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Self-Awareness: The Overlooked Key to Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
with Sylvie di Giusto
Joanne Lockwood is joined by personal branding and first-impression expert Sylvie di Giusto to unpack what really happens in the first few seconds of meeting someone, and why it matters for credibility, opportunity and inclusion. Sylvie…
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Self-Forgiveness Is Tough
with Lis Cashin
Lis Cashin joins Joanne Lockwood to explore why self-forgiveness can feel impossible when shame and guilt have taken hold for years. Lis shares the defining event of her childhood: at 13, during a school sports day javelin event, a tragic…
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Outright Optimism
with Lisa Braithwaite
Joanne Lockwood is joined by public speaking coach Lisa Braithwaite to unpack what she calls “outright optimism” and how it fuels a pushback against narrow, outdated ideas of what “professional” is supposed to look like. They explore…
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Building steppingstones to a better future
with Rachel Oliver
Joanne Lockwood is joined by broadcaster and presenter Rachel Oliver, a dual UK–Australian national who describes Australia as home and reflects on the winding path that brought her back to the UK. Rachel shares how a background in nursing…
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Creating a level playing field so every human can be inspired
with Mindy Gibbins-Klein
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Mindy Gibbins-Klein about what it really takes to create a more level playing field so more people can be inspired and, crucially, feel able to speak up. They explore how opportunity and access are often left…
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Personal is Political and How Silence Speaks
with Professor Laura Serrant OBE
Professor Laura Serrant OBE joins Joanne Lockwood to unpack what it means for “the personal to be political”, and why our everyday experiences of inclusion, exclusion, and being given (or denied) equal chances reflect how society…
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Finding the Magic
with Mark Lee
Mark Lee, a chartered accountant and long-time member of the Magic Circle, reflects on how he spent years hiding his love of magic from clients because he feared it would undermine his professional credibility. Through stories of awkward…
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Being Visible, Listened to and Respected
with Susan Heaton-Wright
Susan Heaton-Wright joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what it really means to be visible, listened to and respected at work, especially for people who are naturally quieter or more reflective. They unpack how social conditioning and…
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Planting a seed of kindness and understanding
with Ryals
Ryals reflects on growing up gay in Ukraine, navigating shame, bullying, and the pressure to hide who he was while living through a period of upheaval and suppression. He shares how early messages from his parents, especially his…
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Finding your courage and voice to speak out
with Madeline Black
Madeline Black joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about what it took to find the courage to speak publicly about being gang raped at 13, and how shame and fear kept her silent for decades. She describes how victim-blaming culture and gaps in…
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How good humour can be used to nurture inclusive cultures
with Jeremy Nicholas
Joanne Lockwood speaks with keynote speaker and former BBC broadcaster Jeremy Nicholas about how humour can help people connect and feel included at work. They explore why shared laughter builds rapport, how humour can quickly reduce…
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