Episode 14 - Black Firefighter Speaks Out on Racism, Prison & Being Erased | Curtis McLardie

Ep 15 - Paul Taylor Pt1| After 60 Years… He Finally Tells The Truth About Religion, Race & Identity

🔥 This conversation will challenge how you see identity, religion, race, masculinity, education, and human behaviour.In this powerful 5.5-hour deep dive, Jermaine Curtis Liburd sits down with educator, cultural engagement specialist, and philosopher Paul Taylor (Paul Eme / Paul Obinna) to explore the psychological and philosophical forces that shape human identity and belief systems.Born in Preston in 1959 and raised in Blackburn, Paul grew up as a mixed-race child adopted into a white Christian family, navigating racism, belonging, faith, masculinity, and identity from an early age. He later became an educator in Manchester’s Moss Side during a complex social period, worked in prisons, and developed strong perspectives on discipline, culture, spirituality, and human consciousness. His journey offers rare insight into the intersection of race, religion, psychology, and education.This episode goes far beyond biography — it explores what shapes belief, behaviour, and personal evolution across a lifetime of experience.If you are interested in psychology, spirituality, philosophy, religion, race identity, masculinity, education systems, or human consciousness — this is one of the most thought-provoking conversations you will watch.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Introduction & Context08:42 – Childhood Memories & Early Identity Formation32:10 – Growing Up Mixed Race in a White Family58:27 – Discovering Biological Parentage & Emotional Impact1:22:18 – Religion, Christianity & Moral Foundations1:48:05 – Anger, Masculinity & Emotional Development2:15:44 – Martial Arts, Discipline & Self-Control2:39:52 – Identity Conflict & Belonging3:05:36 – Choosing Education Over Boxing3:28:14 – Teaching in Moss Side: Social Reality of the 1980s3:55:02 – Authority, Discipline & The “Mr Taylor” Persona4:18:27 – Education System Failures & Youth Behaviour4:41:09 – Teaching in Prisons & Understanding Human Nature5:02:33 – Race, Culture & Belonging in Modern Society5:14:40 – Religion, Hypocrisy & Human Behaviour5:24:18 – Spiritual Perspective & Final Reflections5:30:00 – Closing Thoughts🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST“Are We There Yet?” is a long-form interview platform exploring the journeys, struggles, psychology, and philosophies of entrepreneurs, creatives, thinkers, and individuals with powerful life experiences. Hosted by Jermaine Curtis Liburd, the show focuses on honest conversations about growth, identity, success, adversity, and human development.📌 TOPICS COVERED• Identity and belonging• Adoption psychology• Mixed-race experiences• Religion vs spirituality• Masculinity and discipline• Anger and emotional development• Education systems and youth culture• Prison education insights• Race and culture debates• Human behaviour and consciousness• Personal philosophy and life lessons📲 FOLLOW & CONNECTSubscribe for more deep conversations on psychology, success, spirituality, and human development.#podcast #religion #philosophy #psychology #identity #race #education #spirituality #masculinity #selfdevelopment #mindset #humanbehavior #culture #jermainecurtisliburd

Episode 14 - Black Firefighter Speaks Out on Racism, Prison & Being Erased | Curtis McLardie

Black firefighter speaks out on racism, prison, and feeling erased after 14 years in the UK Fire Service.This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had on Are We There Yet?Curtis McLardie grew up in Moss Side, Manchester, born to a 16-year-old single mother and raised in the 12 Tribes of Israel faith. He went on to become one of the few Black firefighters in Greater Manchester — serving 14 years in the Fire & Rescue Service.In this 3-hour 20-minute interview, Curtis shares his experience of:• Alleged racism during Fire Service recruitment• A controversial senior officer's remark• Building a community boxing club from inside a fire station• Feeling marginalised despite national recognition• Being charged with £6 million worth of heroin and cocaine — and being unanimously found NOT GUILTY• Spending 3½ weeks in prison• Returning to work under suspicion• Resigning and rebuilding his life abroad• Fatherhood, premature birth trauma, and caring for a disabled partner• Reapplying years later — and feeling rejected againThis episode explores institutional culture, identity, masculinity, fatherhood, resilience and what happens when you serve a system that doesn’t feel like it serves you back.Curtis says:"I left the Fire Service… but the Fire Service hasn’t left me."This is a conversation about truth, healing, and accountability.Watch until the end.⏱ TIMESTAMPS (3:20:00)00:00 Introduction05:00 Born in Salford – Teenage Mother14:00 Moss Side Childhood24:00 Raised Rasta – Identity & Faith36:00 Masculinity & Race Growing Up48:00 Joining the Fire Service58:00 Recruitment Racism1:10:00 Deputy Chief Controversy1:22:00 Isolation Within the Service1:35:00 Serving Moss Side1:48:00 The Birth of the Boxing Club2:02:00 Media Attention & Community Impact2:15:00 Marginalisation Begins2:28:00 Coaching Certificate Conflict2:40:00 £6M Drug Charge2:52:00 Prison Experience3:02:00 Not Guilty Verdict3:08:00 Returning to Work3:14:00 Bullying & Resignation3:18:00 Rebuilding Abroad & Final Reflection#jermainecurtisliburd#arewethereyetpodcast#firefighterstory#blackfirefighter#racismdiscussion#institutionalracism#ukfireandrescue#manchesterpodcast#mosside#realstories#prisonstory#resilience#mensmentalhealth#britishpodcast#longformpodcast

Ep 13 - Stace Don| Where did Safeguarding collapse? My father raped me | This could've been stopped

This is not just a survivor story.This is a 3 hour+ in-depth conversation about safeguarding failures, reunification policy, trauma recovery, and what happens when systems designed to protect children break down.In this powerful episode of Are We There Yet?, Stace Don shares her journey from being removed from danger at 18 months old… to being sent back into unsafe environments at 10. We explore attachment trauma, grooming psychology, court decisions, risk assessment gaps, mental health neglect, and the long-term impact of CPTSD.This conversation is not about blame — it’s about reform.We discuss:• Foster care and attachment disruption• Reunification and safeguarding checks• Cross-agency communication failures• Living with a known offender• Trauma, hypervigilance and CPTSD• Criminalisation of trauma survivors• Mental health system gaps• Prison day release and victim protection• Breaking generational cycles• What reforms could prevent this happening againThis episode is heavy, honest and necessary.If you work in safeguarding, social care, mental health, criminal justice or child protection — this conversation matters.Viewer discretion advised. Support links are provided below.00:00 Introduction & Safeguarding Disclaimer05:42 Removed at 18 Months – The Start of the Story18:30 Foster Care, Attachment & Feeling Safe35:10 The Park Incident & Identity Shock52:40 Reunification at 10 – Court Decisions & Red Flags1:12:15 Manipulation, Grooming & Silence1:32:50 Living With a Known Offender1:55:40 Fear, Isolation & Psychological Survival2:14:30 Escape, Pregnancy & Carrying Trauma2:32:10 CPTSD, Hypervigilance & Mental Health Gaps2:48:45 Criminalisation & Rock Bottom (2012–2019)3:02:20 Blogging, Healing & Finding Purpose3:12:40 What Would Have Saved Me?3:17:50 Survivor or Victim?3:19:00 Are We There Yet?Support Resources (UK):This episode discusses trauma, abuse and safeguarding. If you are affected by any of the topics discussed, support is available:🆘 If You’re in Immediate DangerEmergency Services (UK): Call 999If you can’t speak: Dial 999 and press 55 when prompted.🧠 Mental Health SupportNHS Mental Health Serviceshttps://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/Samaritans (24/7 emotional support)📞 116 123 (Free, 24/7)https://www.samaritans.org/Shout (Text support service)Text SHOUT to 85258https://www.giveusashout.org/🛡️ Abuse & Sexual Violence SupportNSPCC (Child Protection & Safeguarding)https://www.nspcc.org.uk/Helpline: 0808 800 5000NAPAC (Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse)https://napac.org.uk/Support line: 0808 801 0331Rape Crisis England & Waleshttps://rapecrisis.org.uk/24/7 Support Line: 0808 500 2222Victim Support (Crime Support Services)https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/Support line: 0808 168 9111👩‍👧 Support for Parents & FamiliesFamily Liveshttps://www.familylives.org.uk/Helpline: 0808 800 2222🧒 If You Are a Young PersonChildline (Under 19)📞 0800 1111https://www.childline.org.uk/#Safeguarding#FosterCare#ChildProtection#TraumaRecovery#CPTSD#SurvivorStory#SystemFailure#AreWeThereYet#jermainecurtisliburd

Episode 12 - From Care, Crack & Prison to Counsellor and Home owner – Derek Fredericks’ Untold Story

Written off at 9. Addicted for 20 years. Nearly a decade in prison.This is the full story of Derek Fredericks.Born in Moss Side, Manchester in 1967, Derek Fredericks grew up in poverty as one of eight siblings in a mixed-race family. By age nine he was placed into care and labelled “maladjusted” by a psychologist — a label that followed him into school exclusions, addiction, crime, and multiple prison sentences.He started smoking cannabis at 12. Used heroin at 18. Spent over 20 years addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. Served approximately 7–8 years in prison.But on May 23rd, 2005, everything changed.In this 3 hour 27 minute episode of Are We There Yet?, Derek opens up about childhood trauma, the UK care system, addiction, prison life, shame, identity, race, belonging, and what true recovery looks like beyond just “getting clean.”After rehab, Derek returned to education at 39, trained in Health & Social Care, became a therapist, trained as a teacher, ran a private counselling practice for 15 years, and worked for 20 years at the same rehab that saved his life.This conversation explores:• Growing up in care in the UK• Addiction recovery and rehabilitation• Prison reform and lived experience• Childhood trauma and labelling• Education later in life• Moving from service user to professional helper• Building stability after chaos• Identity, race, and belongingIf you’ve ever felt written off, labelled, or trapped by your past — this episode is proof that transformation is possible.⏱ TIMESTAMPS (3:27:00 Total)00:00 – 05:08 | Opening: Written Off Early05:09 – 19:34 | Growing Up in Moss Side & Longsight19:35 – 34:50 | Poverty, Identity & Family Dynamics34:51 – 53:12 | Entering Care at 9 & Being Labelled53:13 – 1:12:28 | School Exclusions & System Failure1:12:29 – 1:32:40 | First Drugs at 12 & Crime Culture1:32:41 – 1:53:18 | Heroin, Crack & 20 Years of Addiction1:53:19 – 2:12:55 | Prison Sentences & Survival Inside2:12:56 – 2:28:44 | Shame, Identity & Hitting Rock Bottom2:28:45 – 2:43:22 | May 23rd 2005 – The Turning Point2:43:23 – 2:58:40 | Education at 39 & Becoming a Therapist2:58:41 – 3:12:30 | From Addict to Counsellor & Teacher3:12:31 – 3:21:48 | Working at the Rehab That Saved Him3:21:49 – 3:27:00 | Life After Recovery, Legacy & Reflection

Episode 11 - Tanzi |Married at 17. A Mum at 18. Divorced, Alone — Then She Rebuilt Her Life

Married at 17. A mum at 18. Divorced at 24. A single mother for 13 years.This is a powerful female empowerment story about resilience, rebuilding after divorce, single motherhood, and transforming your life through fitness and self-belief.In this episode of Are We There Yet?, we speak with a woman from Bolton, UK, who followed a traditional path early in life — marriage, motherhood, responsibility — only to find herself separated at 20 and rebuilding alone by 24.The same year she divorced, she also lost her father.She graduated with a law degree — alone.She spent 10 years working as a carer while quietly surviving emotionally.For years, she lived in survival mode.Then fitness changed everything.Through personal development, discipline, and mindset transformation, she rebuilt her confidence, strength, and identity. She became a personal trainer to help other women overcome low self-worth, rebuild after divorce, and take control of their lives.This episode covers:• Getting married young and growing up too fast• Divorce and single motherhood struggles• Grief and losing a parent• Mental health and emotional resilience• Fitness transformation and mindset change• Building confidence as a woman• Starting again later in life• Healthy boundaries and self-worth• Wanting love again from a place of strengthIf you’re a woman who feels behind in life, rebuilding after heartbreak, raising a child alone, healing from divorce, or rediscovering your identity — this conversation will resonate deeply.You are not late.You are not behind.You are becoming.🎙️ Are We There Yet? — real stories of resilience, growth and transformation.00:00 – Intro & opening monologue03:45 – Growing up in Bolton & early identity11:30 – Islamic school, faith & expectations18:40 – Marriage at 17 & becoming a mum at 1829:20 – Separation at 20 & feeling isolated39:10 – Divorce, losing her dad & emotional impact48:30 – Graduating in law alone55:40 – Life as a single mum in survival mode1:04:30 – Working as a carer & putting herself last1:11:50 – Discovering fitness as healing1:20:10 – Mental transformation before physical1:27:30 – Becoming a personal trainer1:34:50 – Helping women rebuild confidence1:40:20 – Goals, freedom & future vision1:45:30 – Love, self-worth & final message1:47:30 – Are We There Yet? closing reflection🎙️ Are We There Yet?#jermainecurtisliburd#arewethereyet,#womenempowerment,#femalegrowth,#singlemumlife,#womensstories,#womensupportingwomen,#healingjourney,#selfworth,#survivorstory,#fitnessjourney,#mentalhealthawareness,#womenspodcast,#rebuildinglife,#inspirationalwomen,#resilience,#confidencebuilding,#personaltrainerlife,#womensvoices,#jermainecurtisliburd