The World From My Window

One wintery day in early March 2016, Natalie Queiroz's world turned upside down. She was eight months pregnant and preparing for maternity leave when was stabbed twenty-four times during a nine minute attack by a heavily disguised man who turned out to be her partner. Somehow, both Natalie and her daughter survived. In the week that Natalie attended the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, we spoke with her about her incredible story and how she has somehow been able to turn this chapter into a source of power and purpose. Natalie is now a company director, a TEDx and motivational speaker, an International bestselling author and proud holder of the title MBE for Service to Young People and the Prevention of Knife Crime.

In this episode we talk with the extraordinary Lulu Jemimah from Uganda; a writer, educator and radio producer who defied all social and cultural expectations by taking the brave and unusual decision to marry herself to crowdfund her Oxford University masters degree.  Lulu lets us into a life that has consistently challenged the status quo, transporting us to the back streets of Kampala, via Oxford and Berlin. Thank you Lulu for reminding us what's possible when you are bold enough to step outside the box.

In this episode we talk to the photographer, business man, connector, champion and founder of the Black British Network Cephas Williams. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, Cephas wrote an open letter to his newly born son called Letter to Zion which has now been signed by almost fifty business executives, who have all committed to coming together to drive systemic change for Black people throughout the UK. This is a deep conversation not to be missed.

We talked with The Fandangoe Kid (AKA Annie Nicholson), whose art is driven by navigating her own story, following the loss of many individuals in her family back in 2011, her practice being largely underpinned by the will to create a platform for open dialogue around the still taboo subject of grief.   Her work seeks to smash taboos around complex subject matters such as loss, trauma release, mental health and gender constructs.  Her story is truly life changing.

To kick off series 2 we chatted with Anick Soni, whose life has been more complicated than most.  In his 20's Anick is already a trailblazer and a champion. His story has opened doors for other young people, showing the world what it means to be born intersex and paving the way for other young people to be able to explore who they are.  We talk about how it feels to have to conform to parental and societal expectations from a young age and what happens when our 'normal' doesn't fit with other peoples' expectations. Thank you Anick for sharing your truly incredible story with us.

To close Series 1 we speak with the incredible Jade Thirlwall; Little Mix royalty, friend and supporter of The World From My Window and all round beautiful human being. Jade talks about the people that helped to shape her path so far, from the bandmates she calls ‘monumental', to the ex that almost stopped her from auditioning for The X-Factor. The award-winning artist also shares a rare glimpse into her personal life, talking us through the people and the places that have been important to her, and shining a light on what the next chapter looks like for this superstar.

Louis is a hairstylist who has worked with the likes of Chanel, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Vogue, whilst also being the personal stylist for Vicky McClure, Emma Willis and Ellie Goulding. His rollercoaster of a life story is incredible - highs and lows that would have scuppered most people, but even when his bones and his body were literally broken his spirit never was. Louis has used these darker moments to grow, and has now created a life that is full to the brim with positivity and joy.  He is the Founder of 'I can I am I will', an empowerment project that aims to motivate and inspire, and the conversation on this weeks podcast has definitely done both of those things for us.

We're taken on a unique journey through the back rooms of Westminster and given access to a world that most people won't ever get to witness. Hilary has dedicated her life to raising the voices of people living on the margins of society, which started in the early stages with VSO and has remained a constant throughout her career at the heart of British politics.

Matthew is an award winning writer, performer and campaigner for climate change. He is the author of "Straight Jacket”, which deals with the legacy of gay shame and was editor of Attitude magazine from 2008-16. In this episode we talk deeply about climate change, the need for peaceful protest, how Madonna can change a life and what it feels like to put the first member of the Royal Family on the cover of a gay magazine. Not to be missed.

Paula is a campaigner, mother, trailblazer within the criminal justice system and a former prisoner. After her release from prison, Paula climbed fiercely up the professional ladder and now works tirelessly to ensure that prisoners' voices are heard at every level of decision making within the criminal justice system.  In this deeply inspiring conversation, we're led through the decades of a life that has had moments of joy, and of pain. We hear about the impact of prison, the tools she used to get through it, and the resulting power and determination she now carries with her.

Megan is a best selling author, speaker and digital creator with more than 1.3 million followers on her instagram account; a page that feels like a celebration of everything life throws her way.    In this episode Megan bravely invites us to look through her window, at a life that is inspiring thousands of people around  the world to be happy with who they are, not striving for a version of themselves that other people want them to be. We talk about siblings, slowing down, and whether it might actually be society, and not us, that is the problem.

Now, more than ever, is the time to be celebrating, and amplifying, the stories of the people of Sudan. Recorded just weeks before the military tried to wrestle back power from the civilian-led transitional government, Maya walks us through the back streets of Khartoum and through the avenues of her own life. We talk openly about the complexities of living in the Horn of Africa, the power of young people and the role art can play in helping shape our futures.

Thomas is a man on a mission to 'rebrand the ginger male stereotype'. In 2013 Thomas created an exhibition of 100 beautiful men, all with beautiful ginger hair, which soon became a global movement that put two fingers up to all the haters out there. We speak to the photographer, director and music producer in his Kings Cross hideaway about shame, depression and how he's been able to push through the low points in his life in order to seek out, and hold on to the amazing highs. 

In this episode we sunk back into our chairs with some wine and joyfully meandered through the technicolour world of multi-disciplinary artist, actor, writer and director Adébayo Bolaji. He unpacks some of the tightropes and tensions he's been balancing throughout his career, exploring culture, identity, place and belonging. We're given an intimate tour of the inner workings of a truly creative mind, and leave feeling all warm and fuzzy (nothing to do with the wine).

The World From My Window is an unscripted show where we lead our guests through a conversation inspired by the process a writer takes when planning their work, with the aim of uncovering the true life stories of our guests and bringing new learnings and positivity to our listeners. Jordan talks candidly about life during lockdown, the power of positive male role models, and that one slightly weird time with a Shaman in Archway. Open, honest and heartfelt, this is one to open minds and challenge preconceptions about what it means to be a man today. We want to find out what the world looks like from his window, hear about the characters that have inspired him, the moments that have shaped the chapters of his life, what he has learnt along the way and even, what the title of their life story might be.

The World From My Window is an unscripted show where we lead our guests through a conversation inspired by the process a writer takes when planning their work, with the aim of uncovering the true life stories of our guests and bringing new learnings and positivity to our listeners. In this episode we talk to Dom Evans who is an illustrator and all round brilliant human being currently taking the world by storm. Dom takes us on a rapid rollercoaster ride through his life; it's an hilarious journey from the changing rooms of Top Shop to Ru Pauls Drag Race, via the park bench outside his window. We want to find out what the world looks like from his window, hear about the characters that have inspired him, the moments that have shaped the chapters of his life, what he has learnt along the way and even, what the title of their life story might be.  

The World From My Window is an unscripted show where we lead our guests through a conversation inspired by the process a writer takes when planning their work, with the aim of uncovering the true life stories of our guests and bringing new learnings and positivity to our listeners. Julie's memoir, “The Pendulum,” reveals her 6-year journey through Europe and Latin America to discover the role her grandparents played in the Third Reich. We talk about generational trauma, empathy, forgiveness and go deeper into the role of storytelling to make sense of your past, present and future. We want to find out what the world looks like from her window, hear about the characters that have inspired her, the moments that have shaped the chapters of her life, what he has learnt along the way and even, what the title of their life story might be.