Compassionate Conversations Podcast: Recent Episodes
Single Parents Wellbeing
Compassionate Conversations is all about honest and compassionate conversations around issues affecting young people from single parent households. We’ll be hosting each episode where we speak to some amazing young people with inspiring stories.
In this episode, Jessica asks Talia and Heather about SPW’s first ever Youth Action Academy and what it looked like for them in 2024.
They share some of the moments they had - from funny to daunting to exhilarating and everything in between. Heather reflects on her experience as a member who completed this programme, achieving level gold. This conversation highlights the positive impact volunteering has on young people! Enjoy!
In this episode , previous summer intern and new member of staff Maria talks to Talia and SPW staff member Harriet about SPW's Youth project.
They reveal the new name for the project and discuss the work it has done in the past year. They also talk about how they came across and started working for SPW, their own experiences being from single parent backgrounds and what their personal "Mental Health Manifestos" are.
In this episode, I have an inspiring young woman joining me today called Tonda.
Tonda, opens up about a significant life event that lead to her to becoming a young carer for her younger siblings. She shares about the things that helped her navigate these changes including the youth forums and The Mix; volunteering enabled Tonda to not just ‘feel seen and heard’ but also ‘to feel alive and important in being able to contribute my views’. We delve into coping strategies, future aspirations, Tonda’s passion for ethnic minority and care leavers groups and the power of volunteering. Tune in to be inspired.
In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Molly. Molly is 19 years old and is currently studying to become a professional dancer while also volunteering at The Mix - a youth service.
Molly opens up about her experience of becoming a single-parent household in her teen years after her parents split up. She goes on to share how valuable volunteering for The Mix has been for her and how it contributed to the inspiring outward-looking perspective she has today. “Volunteering has really opened my eyes to the variety of problems and challenges that people experience” and given her a huge confidence boost.
In this episode, I have two special guests joining me from Glasgow, the amazing LGBTQ+ couple Ellis and Lou Beardsmore. This power couple have co-founded Pride Outside CIC, and are on a mission to build a world where every LGBTQ+ person is safe and well. They are both LGBTQ+ inclusion experts delivering diversity training to organisations and reinvesting the profits into free LGBTQ+ wellbeing events and family support groups. Lou and Ellis share their coming out stories and shed light on some of their own struggles and victory moments along the way. It’s an insightful conversation around some heartbreaking battles that many of the LGBTQ+ youth continue to face. We get expert advice on what we can do to enable young people to feel safe and well and supporting them in their own gender and sexuality journeys. Tune in for a heart warming listen.
In this episode, my guest is Folade who is the project manager for Leaders Unlocked. Folade is passionate about enabling young people to be a part of decision-making and to shape our systems. Folade urges those conversations in youth spaces to be taken to 'the big round table', to the places where change happens. Listen here to find out how to raise young leaders and amplify their voices.
n this introduction episode get to know the hosts Talia and Ihab and why having compassionate conversations is so important to them. They discuss mental health, psychosis and self harm, plus give tips to parents and other young people going through any mental health struggles, in this very honest and engaging episode.
TRIGGER WARNING: mental health, self harm and psychosis.