The reality of acceptance & queer healing with Robert Finlayson & Earl Gregory | Not Us Podcast

The reality of acceptance & queer healing with Robert Finlayson & Earl Gregory | Not Us Podcast

How do you find your true self when the world tells you to change or stay hidden? In this raw, celebratory Pride Month episode of the Not Us podcast, sisters Angela and Samantha sit down with award-winning West End and South African musical theatre legends (and husbands!) Robert Finlayson and Earl Gregory.Together, they pull back the curtain on the glamorous stage lights to discuss the messy, beautiful realities of navigating gay relationships, confronting generational shame, and processing the trauma of being 'other'. Earl shares his profound experience with "queer healing" through performing in drag for Kinky Boots, while Robert offers his dual perspective as both an industry veteran and a practicing therapist dealing daily with the systemic loneliness experienced by older gay men.From growing up in militarised spaces and the hoods of South Africa to surviving the high-stakes hustle of the London theatre scene, this episode tackles why Pride remains a vital act of defiance. If you've ever wrestled with imposter syndrome, external validation, or finding your chosen tribe, this deeply human conversation is your reminder to show up exactly as you are.Connect with our guests:Robert’s Therapy Practice: Finlayson Hypnosis / Living Well OrganizationFollow our journey: Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @NotUs_PodcastGot questions or want to connect? Email us: notuspod@gmail.comIf this conversation resonated with you, please like, leave a comment below with your thoughts, and subscribe for weekly episodes navigating change, choice, and all the messy bits in between!Hashtags#pridemonth2026 #queerhealing #musicaltheatre #LGBTQPodcasts #AgeGapLove #notuspodcast #WestEndActors

What Pride Month Is Really About (And Why It Matters In 2026) | Not Us Podcast

Pride didn't start as a party. It started as a protest. This week on Not Us Podcast, sisters Angela and Samantha share their personal experiences as members of the LGBTQIA+ community while exploring the history of Pride, the Stonewall uprising, coming out, discrimination, allyship, and why LGBTQ+ rights remain fragile even in countries that appear progressive. From growing up in South Africa to living in Europe, we talk openly about sexuality, identity, religion, workplace discrimination, family acceptance, finding community, and why visibility still matters. We also discuss: 🏳️‍🌈 The origins of Pride and the Stonewall riots 🏳️‍🌈 Why Pride Month is still political 🏳️‍🌈 Coming out stories and family reactions 🏳️‍🌈 Growing up gay in South Africa 🏳️‍🌈 Religion, identity and belonging 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ rights around the world 🏳️‍🌈 Corporate Pride and performative allyship 🏳️‍🌈 Why representation matters 🏳️‍🌈 How allies can show up meaningfully This isn't a conversation about labels. It's a conversation about human rights, visibility, and creating a world where people can safely be themselves. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #ComingOut #HumanRights #Pride2026 #NotUsPodcast #QueerVoices #LGBTQRights #Allyship #Stonewall

Football Rivalries, Family Drama & FIFA World Cup Chaos | Germany vs England vs Brazil

The FIFA World Cup is almost here… and apparently our family relationships are once again hanging by a thread. This week on Not Us Podcast, we’re talking football rivalries, national loyalty, World Cup obsession, sports culture, and the deeply irrational emotional damage caused by supporting the wrong team. Angela backs Brazil and England. Samantha supports Germany with the emotional commitment of a medieval knight defending a kingdom. Naturally, this becomes a problem. We get into: * why football feels almost religious * growing up in a hyper-competitive family * England’s eternal “It’s Coming Home” optimism * German football discipline vs Brazilian flair * football hooligans, drama and fake injuries * women’s football finally getting the attention it deserves * why South Africans are obsessed with European football * the weird emotional loyalty sports creates * the new FIFA World Cup rules * halftime shows, Shakira, BTS and football becoming entertainment culture We also somehow discuss:David Beckham, Sergio Ramos, Maradona’s Hand of God, Pickles the dog who found the stolen World Cup trophy, and why our mother still hasn’t emotionally recovered from having a Manchester United supporter in the family. So basically:football, identity, chaos, tequila. ⚽️ Hosted by sisters Angela & Samantha🎙️ Not Us PodcastNew episodes weekly on change, choice, identity, culture and all the messy bits in between. #FIFAWorldCup #FootballPodcast #WorldCup2026 #BrazilFootball #EnglandFootball #GermanyFootball #WomenInSport #FootballCulture #SportsPodcast #NotUsPodcast

From Burnout to Artist: Nikki Edwards on finally living her childhood dream

What happens when the safe career you spent years building suddenly feels completely wrong? Or worse… what if it never really fit you in the first place? This week on Not Us Podcast, we’re joined by London-based mixed-media artist Nikki Edwards to talk about burnout, bad fits, creative identity, and the long, messy road back to herself. Before becoming a full-time artist, Nikki worked in top advertising agencies across South Africa, London, and Sydney. On paper, she was successful, in demand, and living an exciting creative life. In reality? She found herself stuck in a pattern of burnout, breakdowns, time off, and starting over. Sometimes in new jobs. Sometimes in new cities. But never quite able to outrun the childhood dream she’d had since she was three years old. Today, somewhere between unfinished creative projects, experimentation, uncertainty, and finally trusting herself, she’s building a life that feels far more honest. The strange thing is, none of this was new. At three years old, Nikki already knew what she wanted to be: an artist. We talk about: * choosing the “safe” career path * why creative industries can quietly break people * AI panic and what it means for artists * being South African abroad and apparently “too direct” * unfinished projects and creative guilt * comparison, fear, and starting over * why physical art matters more than ever * and what happens when you stop ignoring yourself This isn’t one of those neat “quit your job and follow your passion” conversations. It’s about the awkward middle bit. The uncertainty. The grief. The identity wobble. The practical fear. The mess. And sometimes having to navigate all of it a little naively just to keep going. Because becoming yourself often takes much longer than expected. Guest: Nikki EdwardsLondon-based mixed-media artist working from Hackney Downs Studios. Nikki’s details IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_edwards_studio_london/ [https://www.instagram.com/nikki_edwards_studio_london/] Website:www.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.uk [https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.uk%2F%3Futm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnZ1aPdyPfxshIuL4DL5FJ37UQtsEznAAl_-o9FIvVvmAq2trRcFNcIpOmo-Q_aem_zHbncsBCnCU0hwyvIbW1aQ&e=AUAaTLIGgHDQuULPDGSTou8eWYx5B7wP77GDCPYlLZ3-lxD5w1X6jIT1yagTKzXwT7B-4hjqIr59YroD0igPJ32YyIspfT3A5CjPK_ei6e9RxPlG7Sp-I5Gm30jWfz-ctIdHpaxPyp6U] Email: nikkiedwardsstudio@gmail.com #CreativeBurnout #ArtistLife #CareerChange #WomenInCreative #Creativity #LondonArtist #NotUsPodcast

Why Saying No Feels So Hard | Boundaries, People-Pleasing & The Power of a Clean No

Why does saying no feel so loaded? This week, we talk about the power of a clean no: the kind that does not come with a 20-minute explanation, three days of guilt, or a fake yes that turns into resentment. We unpack people-pleasing, overcommitting, boundaries, women being conditioned to make others comfortable, and the difference between saying yes from truth versus saying yes because you are scared to disappoint someone. It gets funny, personal, and very honest, because apparently even a simple “no” comes with childhood conditioning, cultural rules, body signals, guilt, and one highly questionable David Beckham dream. A real conversation about letting your yes be yes, and your no be no. Keywords: boundaries, saying no, people pleasing, clean no, self trust, relationships, women, communication Hashtags: #NotUsPodcast #Boundaries #PowerOfNo #PeoplePleasing #CleanNo