Verandah Talk

We are honoured to welcome Trish Muirhead, CEO and founder of the Ashdon Jazz Academy, to our verandah.Following the tragic loss of her 14-year-old daughter to suicide, Trish channelled her grief into creating a lasting legacy. Today, her charity provides vital one-to-one mentoring and support for young women navigating emotional difficulties and mental health challenges.We’ve always been incredibly moved by Trish’s mission, which is why we chose her charity to receive the proceeds from our book, Still Breathing. In this episode, Trish shares funny, cherished memories of Ashdon, the prophetic conversation that sparked the academy's creation, and the profound healing she has found in lifting up others.It’s a deeply inspiring conversation about turning personal pain into positive change. Settle in, pour a drink, and join us.

This week, we are absolutely thrilled to welcome our very dear friend and fellow BiBi Crew founding member, Beverley Michaels, to the verandah.Bev takes us right back to the 80s, reflecting on her starring role in the seminal Black British film Babylon. We share a lot of laughs reminiscing about our early days creating the UK’s first all-female Black comedy group, before exploring Bev's inspiring pivot from acting to education. Now a headteacher, she shares how she finds that same stage "buzz" in the classroom, using the arts to empower and uplift young people.We also have a wonderfully honest chat about ageing, encapsulating both the respect we have for our elders and us laughing about our own creaking joints!

Leadership coach and author, Jackee Holder, joins us on our verandah in this episode. Jackee contributed to our book, Still Breathing, but Suzette’s connection actually goes back over 30 years to the early days in the Rhythm Writers group!Jackee is a passionate "tree advocate." She shares how a breathless run in a park during a period of burnout sparked a profound, lifelong connection with nature. We also have a beautifully honest chat about navigating single life as older women and the importance of choosing ourselves.Plus, Jackee reminisces about her grassroots work bringing literary giants like Toni Morrison and Iyanla Vanzant to the UK. Finally, she transports us to a deeply moving dream verandah under a Baobab tree in Benin.

Filmmaker, activist, and curator Veronic McKenzie joins us on the verandah today. We hear about Veronica's award-winning films and her work on the Vanguard project, which documented Black queer history in the UK. We also hear about her chaotic experiences at Live TV in the 90s. Who remembers the News Bunny?Veronica also talks about her current project, a short film about Nina Simone, which she describes as a spiritual project for her.

British-Nigerian solicitor and equalities practitioner, Uzo Iwobi CBE is our guest on the verandah this week. Professor Uzo talks about the racial discrimination she faced on route to becoming a solicitor, including being told she couldn't work in the legal profession due to her race. She went on to become an adviser to the Welsh Government as its Specialist Policy Adviser on Equalities. She highlights her work on anti-racism, including the first anti-racist action plan in Wales and the introduction of mandatory black history education. Professor Uzo also talks about the importance of community support and her ongoing advocacy for racial equality and cultural recognition.