Talking Tough

Christina de Witte is an Antwerp-based Belgian illustrator and cartoonist, famed for creating the character Chrostin. In this third and final bonus episode of Talking Tough, our three hosts Jill Mathon, Bo Hanna and Shamiro van der Geld talk to Christina about the value of creativity, and how her art has helped her during the lockdown. On behalf of Christina, Dr. Martens is proud to support Merhaba with a donation through the production of this episode. Head to www.merhaba.be to find out more about the organization.

Conversations on rebellion and resilience continue on Talking Tough this week with Kriss Munsya, a multi-disciplinary Congolese artist raised in Brussels, Belgium. Our three hosts Jill Mathon, Bo Hanna and Shamiro van der Geld spoke to Kriss on the back of his recent photography series "The Eraser," and explore themes of race, gender and identity.

Dr. Martens Belgium is bringing you three special episodes of the Talking Tough podcast, hosted by Jill Mathon, Bo Hanna and Shamiro van der Geld. In the first, we sit down with Belgian-Caribbean musician Charlotte Adigéry after the release of her debut album, Foundations, to talk self-care, inspiration in isolation, and staying connected to her culture. On behalf of Charlotte, Dr. Martens is proud to support Wikifriends with a donation through the production of this episode. Head to https://wikifriendz.wixsite.com/wikifriends/l-association to find out more about the organization.

There aren’t many more radical voices in contemporary fashion than Charles Jeffrey. The designer, illustrator and creative originally hails from Glasgow, and has become renowned for LOVERBOY, a brand and cult club night committed to pushing the boundaries of performance and experimentation in fashion. Georgia Moot and Charles chat all things self-identity, community, and the importance of safe spaces.

Emma Dabiri is a writer, presenter and social historian. Throughout her prolific career across books, television series and radio programmes, Emma has worked to ask some of the most important questions facing the Black British public, most notably in her best selling novels Don't Touch My Hair and What White People Can Do Next. For Talking Tough, she sat down with host Georgia Moot to discuss anti-racism, allyship and deconstructing race. For Emma's recommendations on where this conversation is continued, check out the list below: Books: Futures of Black Radicalism; Edited by Gaye Theresa Johnson and Alex Lubin The Undercommons Fugitive Study and Black Planning; Fred Moten and Stefano Harney Capitalist Realism; Mark Fisher Podcast: The Tightrope Cornell West and Tricia Rose YouTube: Contrapoints

For Charly Cox, poetry has always been a way of expressing herself. Since she was 15, she’s used it to document her mental health struggles, and now as a full-time writer and poet she is an ambassador for the charity MQ Foundation and uses her experience to further the conversation around mental illness. In this episode of Talking Tough, Charly and Georgia chatted about the importance of destigmatizing mental health and how Charly’s work so poignantly expresses the coming-of-age of a young woman surviving the modern world. Check out Charly's recommendations on where you can learn more about this topic below She Must Be Mad - Charly Cox Validate Me - Charly Cox MQ Mental Health Research https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/home/

On stage, Blaine is the lead singer of legendary indie band the Mystery Jets. Off stage, he has been spearheading a movement to make music more accessible for people living with disabilities, working with the charity Attitude Is Everything to improve access to live music. Blaine sat down with host Georgia Moot for Talking Tough to chat the need to make space for peoples differences, and what we can all do to make music more accessible for everyone. Check out Blaine's recommendations on the people furthering this conversation below: Attitude is everything: http://www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk/ DIY Access Guide UK: https://music.britishcouncil.org/news-and-features/2019-01-16/making-music-more-accessible-diy-access-guides Gig Buddies: https://gigbuddies.org.uk/ Drake Music: https://www.drakemusic.org/ Heart n Soul: https://www.heartnsoul.co.uk/ Things worth fighting for: https://mysteryjets.lnk.to/ThingsWorthFightingForSo

Model, activist, and co-founder of ‘Be Who You Deserve’, Nyome Nicholas-Williams has been unapologetically leading a movement against body censorship. For this episode of Talking Tough, Georgia sat down with Nyome to discuss how her campaign #iwanttoseenyome changed Facebook’s policy on how they assess semi-naked imagery to ensure all body types, namely black plus size bodies, are treated fairly on their platforms. Having worked with photographer Alex Cameron and previous Talking Tough guest Gina Martin, they also talked about Nyome’s activism for body positivity, mental health awareness and healthy coping skills. Check out Nyome’s recommendations for more on this topic below: Be Who You Deserve – https://www.instagram.com/bewhoyoudeserve/?hl=en “The Secret”by Rhonda Burn “Faith in the Valley: Lessons for Women on the Journey toward Peace” by Iyanla Vazant

To kick off the second series of Talking Tough, Georgia Moot chats to Jamie Windust about the importance of visibility for non-binary people and why everyone should learn to make their lives less about the labels they go by and more about the joy they bring. Jamie is an award-winning LGBTQ+ writer/editor, speaker and invincible voice for change within the fashion and beauty industries, who combines wit and creativity to deliver a powerful message on diversity. To learn more about uplifting others' joy over their trauma, and the experiences of marginalised genders, Jamie's top picks are: Charities http://www.galop.org.uk/ - Leading LGBTQ Anti violence charity https://instagram.com/existloudly?igshid=1wkx2ckzg2nuf Books This Book Will Make You Kinder by Henry James Garrett Unicorn - Amrou Al-Kadhi Articles https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/why-are-we-surprised-the-uk-government-has-not-only-created-a-hostile-environment-for-lgbtq-issues-but-fuelled-one/ https://gal-dem.com/transphobia-sexual-violence-sound-like-a-man-hang-up-vawg-investigation/

Naomie Pieter has always made her voice known. In the third and final episode of our special edition Talking Tough mini-series recorded in Rotterdam, Jill, Bo and Shamiro find out more about the woman behind the megaphone. Naomie is a choreographer, founder of Black Pride Netherlands and Pon Di Pride. Naomie is also one of the driving forces behind Kick Out Zwarte Piet and Black Lives Matter in the Netherlands. And yes - she is able to do all this with just 24 hours in her day. In this episode, we talk to her about healing and the importance of love in the broadest sense of the word. On behalf of Naomie, Dr. Martens is proud to support the FOKO Curaçao Foundation with a donation through the production of this episode. Head to https://www.facebook.com/outcuracao to find out more about the organization. ****** In de derde en laatste aflevering van onze speciale editie Talking Tough mini-serie opgenomen vanuit Rotterdam, pratten Jill, Bo en Shamiro met Naomie Pieter. Ze is choreograaf, oprichter van Black Pride Nederland en Pon Di Pride. Ook is Naomie een van de drijvende krachten achter Kick Out Zwarte Piet en Black Lives Matter Nederland. En ja, ze heeft ook 24 uur in haar dag. In deze episode hebben we het met haar over heling en het belang van liefde in de breedste zin van het woord. Namens Naomie doneert Dr. Martens een geldbedrag aan Stichting FOKO Curaçao. Meer weten over de organisatie? Kijk hier: https://www.facebook.com/outcuracao.

In the second episode from our special edition Talking Tough mini-series recorded in Rotterdam, our three hosts Jill Mathon, Bo Hanna and Shamiro van der Geld sit down with Tim Wes. Music has always meant something more for Tim Wes. Looking at its intersection with identity and individualism, the multi-disciplinary jazz and R&B artist opens up about the pressures faced within the music industry, using art as an act of resistance, and fighting to showcase new forms of creativity. On behalf of Tim, Dr. Martens is proud to support the Stichting MAEH (MAEH Foundation) with a donation through the production of this episode. Head to https://maeh.eu/ to find out more about the organization. ****** In de tweede aflevering van de speciale mini-serie editie van onze Talking Tough podcast opgenomen vanuit Rotterdam, nemen we een kijkje in de ziel van Tim Wes. Als onafhankelijk muzikant en multi-disciplinair artiest liep hij in zijn carriere vaak tegen vastgeroeste systemen en hokjes aan. Hoe verzet hij zich daartegen? En hoe komt hij de instituten binnen zonder zijn identiteit te verliezen? Namens Tim doneert Dr. Martens een geldbedrag aan Stichting MAEH. Meer weten over de organisatie? Kijk hier: https://maeh.eu/.

Talking Tough is back, as part of a new three-part mini-series recorded live in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. On this episode, our three new hosts Jill Mathon, Bo Hanna and Shamiro van der Geld sit down with Massih Hutak to discuss community building, creative hubs and maintaining authentic cultures. Massih is a musician, author, columnist and father. Originally from Afghanistan, but raised in Amsterdam, he speaks of integration as a two-way street and the global threat of gentrification. On behalf of Massih, Dr. Martens is proud to support the Amsterdam Voedselbank (Amsterdam Food Bank) with a donation through the production of this episode. Head to https://amsterdam.voedselbank.org to find out more about the organization. ****** Onze Talking Tough-podcast is terug, en dit keer presenteren we een speciale mini-serie editie, live opgenomen vanuit Rotterdam in Nederland. In deze aflevering van Talking Tough praten onze hosts Jill Mathon, Bo Hanna en Shamiro van der Geld met Massih Hutak. Ze hebben het over gentrificatie, wat je daartegen kunt doen en hoe je gemeenschappen dichterbij elkaar brengt. Naast oprichter van Verdedig Noord, is Massih ook rapper, kunstenaar, schrijver, columnist en vader. Namens Massih doneert Dr. Martens een geldbedrag aan de Amsterdam Voedselbank. Meer weten over de organisatie? Kijk hier: https://amsterdam.voedselbank.org.

In this bonus episode of Talking Tough, Georgia chats to body positivity activist Lotte Van Eijk and performer/writer Travis Alabanza. Using new conversation platform Zoom, they navigate their way through the lockdown and discuss what toughness means in 2020. Whether you’re needing a distraction, some inspiration or if you’re not feeling too tough right now, this one is for you. With everything that’s going on at the moment, it can be difficult to cope. If you need some advice or want to help others, check out CALM’s tips on getting through this weird and difficult time https://www.thecalmzone.net/2020/03/a-little-help-to-get-you-through-these-weird-times/ DM’s have donated some money to help keep them going. If you can do the same, head here https://www.thecalmzone.net/event/looking-for-an-event-heres-how-you-can-support-calm/

In our final episode of the season, we went live at the DM's Boot Room. Georgia spoke to YouTuber, presenter and nightlife enthusiast Miss Jason about coming out of the closet, the importance of safe spaces and allies, and how to turn a look even when you’re in your dressing gown.

On this episode of Talking Tough, Georgia talks vulnerability, accountability and campaigning for change with Gina Martin. Gina is an activist who made headlines by changing the law on the sexual offence known as ‘upskirting’. Her book ‘Be The Change’ has been championed as an essential handbook for the modern day activist. For more information on how you can get involved in social change, visit https://www.reclaim.org.uk/support

On this episode of Talking Tough, Georgia discusses confidence, the plus size industry and body diversity with Felicity Hayward. Felicity is a plus sized model who founded the 'Self Love Brings Beauty' movement. She encourages confidence and body positivity and pushes industries to take note that one size fits all shouldn’t apply to our bodies.

On this episode of Talking Tough, Georgia talks to Jordan Charles about diversity, tokenism and inclusivity in the fashion industry. Jordan is a model and presenter from London, who was born with albinism and is vocal on the need within the fashion industry to challenge what is considered the norm.

On this episode of Talking Tough, Georgia talks to Tori West about social media, the pressure of freelance and Instagram transparency. Tori is a freelance writer and editor of Bricks magazine. She champions the hashtag #instagramtransparency to highlight the importance of being honest on social media.

On this episode of Talking Tough, Georgia tackles toxic masculinity, accountability and self-care with Ben Hurst. Ben is Head of Facilitation and Training at The Good Lad Initiative — an organisation that focuses on challenging traditional gender roles and promoting positive forms of masculinity. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode and want to talk, head to CALM https://www.thecalmzone.net/