Lesley Groom and Chris Sparrow have had fruitful careers in sociology and social work. They’ve spent much of their time in Greater Manchester, North West England—the part of the world in which I was born, and a part of the world that’s close to my heart.

In this episode, we talk about a community space they helped to set up in 1981, and how that space evolved organically over time. We also discuss our lost tradition of radicalism and culture of risk, the shifting aspirations of the working class, the intentional limits of the state education system, and the power of social media in promoting both narcissism and social change.

Lesley cites many books and studies throughout the conversation, including:

“Family and Kinship in East London”, a 1957 sociological study

“Adult Education and Community Action: Popular Social Movements” by Tom Lovett, Chris Clarke, and Avila Kilmurray

“Goliath: Britain's Dangerous Places” by Beatrix Campbell

“One No, Many Yeses” by Paul Kingsnorth

Enjoy!

Helen Halliday, AKA Helen the Food Coach, is a registered nutritional therapist working remotely with clients through the coronavirus pandemic. Helen helps people to define and achieve health goals relating to diet, sleep, and exercise.

In this episode we talk about what a nutritional therapist is and isn’t, how to separate sage advice from snake oil, and how to define and stay motivated to achieve your health goals. We also discuss the Healthy Trinity of diet, sleep, and exercise, and the power that mindfulness has to augment them all. Simple suggestions for the Healthy Trinity are included below.

To find out more, request a copy of Helen’s health goal tracker, or attempt a selection of tasty recipes, head over to http://helenthefoodcoach.co.uk/.

Enjoy!

The Healthy Trinity: Sleep, Diet, and Exercise.

Sleep: Avoid technology, avoid alcohol before bed, and get as many hours as you need.

Diet: Balance protein, fat, and carbs, with some micronutrients for good measure.

Exercise: Get a mix of cardio, strength, and stretching into your weekly routine.

Bonus: Begin a short five-minute morning meditation practice.

Liliane Laborde-Edozien is a US-born French-Italian-Nigerian-Brazilian filmmaker and photographer whose work explores resilience, love, and collective memory. Her documentaries have picked up awards in the US and have been screened in major cities on four continents. 

In this episode, we talk about her first three documentaries—defining love beyond language, escaping poverty and gang violence through sports, and collective memory within Brazil’s African diaspora. We also discuss the censorship of artistic expression, recognising our shared humanity, and Alan Watts’ beloved story of the Chinese farmer. 

Liliane’s two recommended films are Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” (1941) and John Carpenter’s “They Live” (1988)—two classics that Liliane argues are relevant meditations on corporate media and consumer culture. The book we discuss on maintaining an open heart is Michael Singer’s “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself”.

For a selection of Liliane’s work, including photography, films, and gallery curation, head over to LilianeLabordeEdozien.com.

Enjoy!