Leadership, Belonging and the Courage to Stay in the Conversation

What happens when crisis is no longer something you survive—but something you transform into a calling?

Some people have a way of making you feel as though you've known them all your life. Their presence reminds you of a mother, an auntie, a grandmother—the women whose strength quietly held families together while carrying burdens few ever saw. In this episode of Trims & Talk, we sit down with Beatrice Uwadiale-Odigie , founder of Life After Crisis, nurse, midwife, mother of six, grandmother, and one of Sheffield's quiet champions of healing. Born in Nigeria, Beatrice first arrived in Britain in 1975 to train as a midwife before returning home to build a life and raise a family. But when economic hardship reshaped that dream, she found herself back in the UK, carrying not only her own experiences of loss, resilience and reinvention, but also a growing awareness that many women—particularly African and Caribbean women—were suffering in silence. Out of that realisation came Life After Crisis: a safe space where women experiencing domestic abuse, bereavement, loneliness, financial hardship, and emotional trauma can rediscover hope, confidence, friendship, and purpose. This is more than a conversation about mental health. It is a conversation about migration. About motherhood. About faith. About friendship. About identity. About loneliness. About ageing with purpose. And about the extraordinary power of community. Along the way we discuss: * Why silence keeps cycles of pain alive. * Building safe spaces where people can finally tell their stories. * The hidden loneliness experienced by carers and healthcare professionals. * Nigerian and Caribbean culture, food, music, humour and belonging. * Why social connection is one of the greatest medicines we possess. * How dancing, sewing, singing, creativity and shared meals become pathways to healing. * What it means to remain full of life at 75 years young. There is laughter—especially over Jollof rice. There are moments of deep reflection. And there is a simple but profound reminder: Crisis does not have to define your life. There is always life after crisis. Hosted by Lungani Sibanda and Donald McLean, this episode is a celebration of resilience, compassion, and the women whose stories too often remain untold. It is also a reminder that healing rarely happens in isolation...it begins with conversation. "As long as we are in this world, there is something to do." — Beatrice

Leadership, Belonging and the Courage to Stay in the Conversation

What happens when four Black men each shaped by decades of community work, faith, education and lived experience sit together without a script? In this special extended conversation, David Bussue (CEO of SACMHA and pastor), Dr. Delroy Hall (author, educator, therapist and former pastor), Donald Maclean, and Lungani Sibanda explore some of the most pressing questions facing Black communities today. From the changing political climate and the resurgence of racial tensions, to mental health, servant leadership, spirituality, solidarity, identity and belonging, this is an honest, reflective discussion that refuses easy answers. Together they ask: * Why do organisations like SACMHA matter now more than ever? * Have we mistaken representation for transformation? * What is the difference between allyship and genuine solidarity? * How do faith and practical action work together? * What responsibilities come with leadership? * How do we prepare the next generation without surrendering hope? Rather than offering certainty, this episode invites listeners into a thoughtful conversation about values, purpose and community. It is a reminder that healing begins not only in therapy rooms, churches or political institutions but wherever people choose to listen deeply, speak honestly and walk alongside one another. Featuring: David Bussue • Dr. Delroy Hall • Donald Maclean • Lungani Sibanda "Hope is not found in denying reality. Hope is found in choosing one another despite it."

More Than Skin Deep: Self-Care, Confidence & Community ' with Eleasha Yarde

What does it really mean to look after yourself? On this episode of  Trims and Talk, we sit down with Eleasha Yarde of OMM Makeup & Beauty for a conversation that goes far beyond skincare and makeup. We explore the link between self-care and mental health, and how the simple acts, a haircut, clear skin, clean clothes can shift how we feel, how we move, and how we show up in the world. Eleasha opens up about: * Growing up navigating dyslexia and nearly quitting university * The teacher who refused to let her give up * Building confidence in young people who don’t feel seen * The lack of representation in beauty education for melanin-rich skin * Social media, body image, and the pressure to look a certain way This episode moves like a real conversation from barbershops to classrooms, from laughter to lived experience. Because in the end, this isn’t just about beauty. It’s about confidence, identity, and learning to see yourself differently. 🎧 Tap in. This one’s real. #TrimsAndTalk #SelfCareMatters

Mothers Who Shape Minds: Women, Research & Leadership in Academia

In this episode of the Trims and Talk Podcast, we sit down with two remarkable women from the University of Sheffield, Dr. Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh and Dr. Kate Fryer  for a thoughtful conversation about motherhood, academia, leadership, and community responsibility. Released around International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, this episode reflects on the many roles women hold as mothers, scholars, researchers, and leaders, often navigating professional spaces that have historically been dominated by men. Dr. Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh is a Research Fellow in the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. Her work focuses on mental health, wellbeing, health inequalities, and the lived experiences of illness, particularly how racial and gendered inequalities shape health outcomes. Dr. Kate Fryer is a Research Fellow in the Primary Care Research Group within the School of Medicine and Population Health. She leads the Deep End Research Alliance, a pioneering initiative focused on tackling health inequalities and ensuring that research involving underserved communities is inclusive, collaborative, and grounded in real community participation. Both of these women have also been instrumental behind the scenes in helping create the institutional space within the University of Sheffield that allowed conversations like Trims and Talk to happen, supporting initiatives that centre  men’s mental health and honest dialogue within our communities. In this episode we explore: • What it means to be highly educated women and mothers working within academia• The pressures of research environments that demand constant innovation and intellectual leadership• Why research must be done with communities rather than on communities• How women continue to shape institutions, families, and the intellectual spaces that influence future generations For me personally, this conversation is also an acknowledgement. Having been raised and shaped by mothers, sisters, aunties, and grandmothers, I recognise the profound role women have played in shaping my worldview. This episode is both a celebration and a thank you to the women whose work often happens quietly, but whose influence is deeply felt in our communities, our institutions, and our lives.

The Minds That Shape Minds: Motherhood, Academia & Leadership

In this episode of the Trims and Talk Podcast, we sit down with two remarkable women from the University of Sheffield, Dr. Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh and Dr. Kate Fryer  for a thoughtful conversation about motherhood, academia, leadership, and community responsibility. Released around International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, this episode reflects on the many roles women hold as mothers, scholars, researchers, and leaders, often navigating professional spaces that have historically been dominated by men. Dr. Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh is a Research Fellow in the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. Her work focuses on mental health, wellbeing, health inequalities, and the lived experiences of illness, particularly how racial and gendered inequalities shape health outcomes. Dr. Kate Fryer is a Research Fellow in the Primary Care Research Group within the School of Medicine and Population Health. She leads the Deep End Research Alliance, a pioneering initiative focused on tackling health inequalities and ensuring that research involving underserved communities is inclusive, collaborative, and grounded in real community participation. Both of these women have also been instrumental behind the scenes in helping create the institutional space within the University of Sheffield that allowed conversations like Trims and Talk to happen, supporting initiatives that centre  men’s mental health and honest dialogue within our communities. In this episode we explore: • What it means to be highly educated women and mothers working within academia • The pressures of research environments that demand constant innovation and intellectual leadership • Why research must be done with communities rather than on communities • How women continue to shape institutions, families, and the intellectual spaces that influence future generations For me personally, this conversation is also an acknowledgement. Having been raised and shaped by mothers, sisters, aunties, and grandmothers, I recognise the profound role women have played in shaping my worldview. This episode is both a celebration and a thank you to the women whose work often happens quietly, but whose influence is deeply felt in our communities, our institutions, and our lives.