Topic
Lived Experience & Identity
First-person stories of identity, belonging and being seen. Guests speak candidly about the experiences that shaped them — across gender, race, disability, faith, sexuality and more — and what allies and organisations can learn from truly listening. These are the conversations at the heart of Inclusion Bites.
61 episodes on this topic
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Navigating Gender, Identity and Fear
with Dr Gwen Patrone
In this episode of Inclusion Bites, Joanne Lockwood speaks with Dr. Gwen Patrone about fear, resilience and the process of living more authentically. Gwen describes how military training, professional experience and personal reflection…
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Restoring Relationships Beyond the Bedroom
with Xanet Pailet
In this episode, Jo Lockwood speaks with sex and intimacy educator Xanet Pailet about what it takes to restore intimacy in long-term relationships. The conversation focuses on how emotional disconnection, shame, stress, and routine can…
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Shattering Stereotypes Immigrant Experiences
with Solveiga Jaskunas
Joanne Lockwood is joined by HR consultant and keynote speaker Solveiga Jaskunas to explore what “belonging beyond borders” looks like when you build a life and career in a new country. Solveiga shares her journey from Lithuania to the…
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Breaking Free from Limiting Labels
with Dr Khutso Madubanya
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Dr Khutso Madubanya for a wide-ranging conversation about difference, identity, and what it takes to reclaim self-worth when the world keeps trying to define you. Khutso reflects on growing up in apartheid-era…
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Radical Authenticity and Transformation
with Bobbi Barrington
Joanne Lockwood is joined by wisdom speaker and coach Bobbi Barrington for a candid conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the cost of living an inauthentic life. Bobbi shares her lived experience of transitioning later in life…
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Navigating Hidden Disabilities: Life Beyond Sight
with Hannah Cohen
Hannah Cohen joins Joanne Lockwood to unpack what it means to navigate life with a visual impairment that many people don’t immediately see. Hannah shares how her sight loss developed, what “blindness as a spectrum” looks like in practice,…
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Radical Empathy and the Power of Inclusion for Deaf and Hearing People
with Maria Gallucci
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Maria Gallucci, a multi-award-winning realtor and author of Raised in Silence, to explore the realities of growing up as a hearing child of Deaf adults. Maria shares how American Sign Language shaped her family…
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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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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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Trans Resilience in a Challenging World
with Gillian Russell
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Gillian Russell to explore what it means to move beyond reflection towards genuine belonging, in the context of a UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of “woman” and its impact on trans people. They…
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Breaking Free: Courage, Self-Discovery, and Living Your Truth Beyond Societal Norms
with Ayce Kyptyn
Joanne Lockwood is joined by somatic sexologist Ayce Kyptyn to explore what it really takes to be seen and to live in alignment with who you are, especially when society, faith, and community have taught you to hide. Ayce shares how…
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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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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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Neurodiversity, Identity, and Breaking Stereotypes in Male-Dominated Industries
with Sonia Pérez
Joanne Lockwood speaks with engineer and energy-industry leader Sonia Pérez about what it means to navigate a biased world while holding multiple, sometimes competing identities. Sonia reflects on her experience as a woman in a…
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From Illusions to Authenticity: Unmasking the Lies We Inherit and Tell Ourselves
with Heather Egginton
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Heather Egginton, who describes her work as activating truth, trust, and love to help people connect more deeply with themselves and others. Together they explore how everyday “truths” can be inherited…
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From Stimming to Self-Advocacy
with Rebecca Engle
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Rebecca Engle, an autistic special education teacher, author, and advocate, for a candid conversation about what it has meant to grow up, study, and work while navigating autism. Rebecca reflects on early…
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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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Journey from Amputation to Entrepreneurial Triumph
with Lyndsay Mitcheson
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Lindsay Mitchison, an award-winning disabled entrepreneur and founder of NeoWalk, to talk about what it means to “break the disability mould” and reclaim agency after life-changing health events. Lindsay…
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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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Embracing Autism and Empowering Families
with Crystal Jordan
Joanne Lockwood is joined by autism advocate and author Crystal Jordan for a conversation about what it really means to “redefine normal” through the lens of autism and neurodiversity. Crystal shares how her son Zachariah’s diagnosis…
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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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Embracing Imperfection and Progress
with Steph VanHaverbeke
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Steph VanHaverbeke, co-founder of the House of Coaching, about what happens when you stop chasing a fixed result and allow space for creativity and renewal. Steph shares a pivotal moment after a business…
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Unpacking Harm and Inclusivity in Everyday Language
with Katie Allen
Joanne Lockwood is joined by confidence coach and inclusion consultant Katie Allen to explore what it really means to “talk, not tell” in inclusion work. Together they unpack why people get stuck in ambiguity and fear saying the wrong…
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Decolonising Minds and Bodies
with Lorie Solis
Joanne Lockwood is joined by somatic trauma worker and educator Lorie Solis to explore “Claiming Each Other” — Lorie’s approach to building resilient relationships when charged, values-led conflict shows up in our closest circles.…
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Understanding Cultural Integration through Language Education
with Caroline Praveen
Caroline Praveen shares how moving from India to the United States as a child reshaped her confidence, sense of self, and connection to her mother tongue as she learned English. She describes the long, uneven path from feeling like an…
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Serving with Pride and the Battle Against LGBTQ+ Discrimination in the Military
with Emma Riley
Emma Riley joins Joanne Lockwood to recount her experience of serving in the Royal Navy at a time when being gay in the military was illegal, and how that forced silence shaped her sense of belonging and safety. Emma describes the…
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The Convergence of Queer Identities and Neurodiversity
with Helen Davies
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Helen Davies to explore the convergence of neurodiversity and queer identities, and what it can mean to navigate both at once. Helen shares how common the overlap can be within queer communities, and why…
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The Courage to Be You: Food, Fashion and Finding Your Path
with Sarah Naylor
Joanne Lockwood speaks with coach and creator Sarah Naylor about what it really means to embrace who you are kinks, quirks and all and why self-acceptance is the foundation for a happier life. Sarah shares how divorce and starting…
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Queer Resistance and Joy: A Global Conversation
with Georgie Williams
Joanne Lockwood is joined by researcher and storyteller Georgie Williams to explore what we can learn from queer lives and communities across borders, and why narrowly defined gender and sexuality “boxes” fail to reflect human diversity.…
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Empathy in Action: a Journey from Resilience to Inspiratiom
with Paris Bartholomew
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Paris Bartholomew, a speaker, writer, lecturer and trainer, about growing up in the British care system and the long path from instability and trauma to building a life rooted in empathy and purpose. Paris…
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From Shame to Authenticity and Advocacy
with Lee Gilbert
Lee Gilbert joins Joanne Lockwood to talk through what it took to move from decades of masking to living openly and authentically. Lee reflects on knowing she was transgender from childhood, the absence of information and role models in…
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Unveiling Identity: Journeys Beyond the Closet
with TJ Richards
Joanne Lockwood is joined by TJ Richards for a wide-ranging conversation about what it means to move “beyond the closet” and live with fewer self-imposed boundaries. Together they explore how identity, safety, and belonging intersect, and…
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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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Uplifting Queer Genius: Challenging Negative Narratives and Celebrating Queer Contributions
with Dr Joel A Davis-Brown
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Dr Joel A Davis-Brown about what they call “queer genius”: the skills, values, and ways of navigating the world that many queer people develop through self-discovery, coming out, and living outside social norms.…
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The Harmful Stereotype of the Autistic Savant
with Sophie Power
Joanne Lockwood is joined by talent lead and podcast host Sophie Power to explore what it feels like to discover, in adulthood, that you have been “running on a different operating system” all along. Sophie shares her experience of being…
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Balancing Two Worlds: Navigating the Complexity of Mixed Identity
with Holly Straker-Humphreys
Holly Straker-Humphreys reflects on growing up as a mixed-race woman in predominantly white spaces, and the long process of becoming comfortable “in the middle” of two worlds. She shares how subtle signals—especially around Afro hair,…
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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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Unmasking Neurodivergent Conditions: The Harmful Effects of 'Superhero' and 'Masking'
with Matt Gupwell
Matt Gupwell joins Joanne Lockwood to unpack what he means by “lighting the blue touch paper of understanding”: giving people enough grounded knowledge about neurodiversity to start better conversations, rather than trying to turn a…
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Taking Responsibility for Our Lives: Trusting Society's Evolution
with Arnaud Saint-Paul
Joanne Lockwood speaks with Arnaud Saint-Paul about what it means to “leave no stone unturned” in understanding our lives: noticing repeating patterns, stepping off autopilot, and making conscious choices that realign us with who we are.…
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Unhiding at Work
with Kat Kibben
Kat Kibben joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what it means to hide and “unhide” at work, and the personal cost of living with two versions of yourself. Kat reflects on growing up in a military family, navigating conservative workplaces, and…
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Autism Rocks
with Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about why “autism rocks,” sharing how autism shapes his creativity, preference for structure, and day-to-day experiences navigating social cues. He reflects on being misunderstood, the impact of…
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Dare to be YOU!
with Shelley Bridgeman
Joanne Lockwood speaks with performance coach, psychotherapist, and workshop facilitator Shelley Bridgeman about what it really takes to “dare to be you” — not as a slogan, but as a practice of peeling back protection, facing fear, and…
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Being on the periphery of society
with Khakan Qureshi
Khakan Qureshi reflects on growing up feeling different and on the edges of multiple communities, from school playground dynamics and gender expectations to the pressures of culture, faith, and community norms. He describes how not fitting…
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Domestic abuse must not be tolerated
with Andrew Pain
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Andrew Pain to discuss why domestic abuse must not be tolerated, drawing on Andrew’s experience as a long-term victim in a former marriage and his subsequent campaigning work. They explore how domestic abuse…
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Assimilation is not necessary
with Hung Lee
Hung Lee, curator of Recruiting Brainfood, joins Joanne Lockwood to unpack the pressures many people feel to assimilate when living in a country where their ethnic background is not considered “native”. Drawing on his childhood experiences…
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Peeling back our layers to uncover our Essence
with Michelle Mills-Porter
Michelle Mills-Porter joins Joanne Lockwood to explore what it means to “peel back our layers” and uncover our essence Michelle recounts being caught in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Sri Lanka, and how witnessing unexpected reactions in…
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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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Living on the Edge
with Andi Maratos
Andi Maratos and host Joanne Lockwood explore what it means to live “on the edge” of the mainstream, and how that perspective can make it easier to see the world differently and create safer spaces for others. Andi reflects on growing up…
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Losing the Labels
with Briana Tucker
Briana Tucker describes what it feels like to live under constant scrutiny as a woman of colour in Wisconsin, where everyday situations can carry the risk of being stereotyped, labelled, or treated as a threat. She shares stark examples of…
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Being a woman in a man’s world
with Mandy Hickson
Mandy Hickson, a former Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 pilot, joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about being one of the first women allowed to fly fast jets on the front line and what it meant to build a career in a strongly male-coded culture.…
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Standing in the middle and feeling excluded
with Tom Morley
Tom Morley joins Joanne Lockwood to unpack what it means to be “standing in the middle and feeling excluded” — a pattern that began in childhood as the youngest of four brothers, and followed him into adult life. Tom shares how he tried to…
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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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Who am I, and Who are You?
with Roland Chester
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Roland Chester for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, labels, and the “hats” we wear in different contexts. Together they explore how intersectionality shows up in everyday life and why being able to…
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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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Autism from an Autistic parent's perspective
with Laurie Morgen
Laurie Morgen joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about autism through the lens that’s often missing from public conversation: being an autistic parent. Drawing on their own family life and the stories shared with them since publishing their…
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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 the term queer became cool again
with Joseph Galliano-Doig
Joanne Lockwood is joined by Joseph Galliano-Doig, co-founder and CEO of Queer Britain, to explore how the word “queer” shifted from a weaponised slur to a reclaimed, inclusive umbrella term. They discuss generational differences in how…
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It’s all about Acceptance and Authenticity to be able to Achieve
with Michael Cerasi
Joanne Lockwood is joined by transformational life coach Michael Cerasi to explore his AAA philosophy: acceptance and authenticity as foundations for achievement. They unpack what active listening really means, why compassion matters, and…
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Swimming upstream against the flow!
with Lewis Bell-Cawthra
Lewis Bell-Cawthra reflects on what it has meant to “swim upstream” as a gay man moving from an accepting environment into a corporate recruitment culture where he experienced exclusion, stereotyping and homophobic abuse. He and Joanne…
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Embracing Diversity & Inclusion as a Small Business Owner
with Katie Neeves
Katie Neeves joins Joanne Lockwood to talk about coming out publicly as transgender while running an established photography and filmmaking business, and the risks and uncertainties that came with that decision. Katie describes the…