Right Side of the Brain: Recent Episodes
Nirjay Mahindru
An Arts, Health and Culture podcast created by InterAct Stroke Support interviewing a variety of guests from the Arts and Health fields, who talk about their life, work and sometimes the big ideas and issues of the day. Our podcasts hosts are Nirjay Mahindru and Megan McKie Smith.
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Avita Jay talk about her work as an actor and her experiences of stroke, her father dying of a stroke when Avita was fifteen.
Theatre includes: The Empress, Falkland Sound, The Comedy of Errors, The Winter’s Tale (RSC); Jinnistan (Òran Mór, Traverse); Favour (Bush Theatre); The Lovely Bones (Birmingham Rep); Billionaire Boy (NST Theatre/UK tour); The Secret Garden (York Theatre Royal); The Jungle Book (national tour); Bottled Up (Lyric Hammersmith); Bring on the Bollywood (national tour); We’re Stuck (Shoreditch Town Hall/national tour); Rapunzel, Warde Street (Park Theatre); Pioneer (Sheffield Crucible/tour); Unsung (Wilton’s Music Hall); The Merry Wives of Windsor (national tour); Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World (Southwark Playhouse).
Television includes: Casualty; Doctors; The Good Ship Murder; Emmerdale; Silent Witness; Coronation Street; L8R.
Film includes: By Any Other Name; The Rezort, London, Paris, New York; Twenty8K.
Other: Avita also narrates audiobooks for Audible and works for the charity, InterAct Stroke Support
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Originally from Portsmouth, Adam trained as an actor at the Guildford School of Acting. He has worked in many shows across the West End and UK including Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard, The Prince of Egypt, Sweeney Todd to name a few.
With surviving at stroke at the age of 38, Adam is incredibly proud of his 'journey'
so far, which finds him back at the Sondheim Theatre in Les Miserables.
@adampearceuk
@lesmizofficial
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Sarah manages the Greater Manchester Neurorehabilitation & Integrated Stroke Delivery Network, which she helped establish in 2015. Previously, Sarah spent much of her career within the NIHR Clinical Research Networks in senior management roles both in Greater Manchester and in London.
Cillian is a qualified Occupational Therapist with experience of working in several inpatient stroke and neurorehabilitation settings across GM. He joined the network in April 2022 as a Facilitator as part of a larger service improvement team. The team work in collaboration with local stroke and neurorehabilitation teams into support quality improvement projects which currently include: vocational rehabilitation, motor neurone disease care pathway and discharge processes.
You can find out more about the network at www.gmnisdn.org.uk or on X (Twitter) @GMNISDN
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Edmund Hubbard is an independent arts consultant and a trustee for InterAct Stroke Support. He talks about his life and the circumstances of his stroke with Nirjay Mahindru. Details about his consultancy work can be found at
www.hubbardartconsultancy.com
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In 2016, after 10 years working frontline as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Major Trauma, Dr Bahl decided to pursue her interest in Exercise and Physical activity and retrain formally in Sports and Exercise medicine. She now shares her working hours between being a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Kings College London, working as an Adult and Paediatric SEM Consultant at the National Centre in Loughborough and for UHL, working as a Clinical champion for Physical Activity for the Department of Health and Social care and as a Medical Examiner. Her specialist interests include Corporate and Conference Health, Performing Arts Medicine, Post Covid recovery and Focused Ultrasound. She delivers webinars on wellbeing and personal sustainability for a number of clients, including HEEM and L’Oreal. She is a Level four personal trainer. In her non-work time she runs with her dog, dances, does yoga, escapes to her garden and is an Ambassador for InterAct, a charity that brightens up the lives of Stroke patients via live reading. She spends as much time as possible around her teenagers, getting soundly beaten at any activities they do together, cooking dairy-free, nutritionally punchy meals and making the most of living in London.
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Jenny Benson is the Fundraising and Project Officer at Read for Good, a UK charity with the aim of motivating all children to read for fun, because loving reading changes lives. With a background in fundraising and communications, and in young people's mental health and activism, Jenny delights in sharing her love of literature and inspiring children and young people to embrace the power of stories
For more details about Read for Good visit https://readforgood.org/about-us/
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Ségolène is a Performer and Vocal Empowerment Coach combining voice, language, breathwork and energy therapy to help creatives find their voice in life and in art.She's taken what she's learned from the worlds of wellness, coaching and performance to help people fuel their expression, release limiting beliefs, stagnant emotions and unlock their vocal power.
Instagram: @artfulsego // @theartfulathlete
Find out more about my journey: https://theartfulathlete.co.uk/about-me
The Artful Athlete Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1EtigHRBHSlcKvlEr6eTQV
The Artful Athlete Podcast on ApplePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-artful-athlete/id1526058139
Books and methods mentioned:
- The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick Mckeown
You can sign up to courses and find out more about the science used to improve breath on his website: https://oxygenadvantage.com/about/
- Breathe by James Nestor
- I would also recommend Exhale by Richie Bostock who was my introduction to Breathwork outside of performance
Jacko's Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/jacko.david.jackson
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Marion Walker is Emeritus Professor of Stroke Rehabilitation at the University of Nottingham and a fully accredited Executive Coach. She has particular expertise in the development and evaluation of complex interventions and has published widely on moving evidence from randomised controlled trials into routine clinical care. She is a strong advocate of patient partnership and co-chaired the Nottingham Stroke Research Partnership Group for 10 years. Marion was a Trustee of the Stroke Association (2009-2019) and is passionate about supporting women in STEM subjects. Marion is an Executive Member of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance and currently leads on the development of Global Centres of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Rehabilitation. She is an Emeritus NIHR Senior Investigator and was awarded anMBE in the Queens New Year Honours list 2012 for her service to stroke rehabilitation and stroke survivors. In 2020 she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from UK Stroke Forum.
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Helen Daniels is a former InterAct Stroke Support Office Administrator and has recently rejoined the InterAct family as their Development Co-ordinator. Helen is a British mezzo-soprano based in Bern, Switzerland. She is a member of the Swiss Opera Studio where she is studying with Christian Hilz, and has worked with renowned directors and conductors including Olivier Tambosi and Christoph Campestrini.
Helen is generously supported by the Alec Turner Music Scholarship (awarded by the General Charity of the City of Coventry).
Helen has performed in masterclasses with Barbara Hannigan and Anna Stéphany; and played roles including Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia; Trinity Laban Conservatoire), Nancy (Albert Herring; Trinity Laban Conservatoire), Didone/Volupia/Hora Terza (L’Egisto; Hamsptead Garden Opera) and Lapak (Cunning Little Vixen; Cambridge University Opera Society).
For more: https://www.helendanielsmezzo.com/
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Cassandra Hugill, founder of the UCL World Stroke Day Forum and Public Engagement Manager at the Department of Imaging Neuroscience, UCL, discusses the importance of having lived experts voice in shaping stroke research and rehabilitation. Cassandra has been working with people with neurological conditions for the past five years, ensuring that research is accessible and more tailored to the needs of patients. To find out more about the forum, and to watch some short documentaries about the stroke research taking place at UCL, please visit bit.ly/UCLWSDforum
UCL World Stroke Day Forum
A free Forum run by UCL for stroke survivors and their loved ones will return in 2022.
Now in its fifth year, UCL World Stroke Day Forum aims to empower stroke survivors to influence the future of stroke research at UCL.
The forum, sponsored by The National Brain Appeal, encourages an open dialogue between researchers, clinicians, charities, stroke survivors, carers and loved ones.
Since 2020 the Forum has been held entirely online due to the pandemic. For the first time, UCL World Stroke Day Forum 2022 will be a hybrid event.
Online sessions will be held in the two weeks leading up to an in-person event at Church House Westminster, London on Friday 28th October.
The forum will build upon previous years successes, where in 2021 over 500 stroke survivors, loved ones and carers signed up to our online events.
UCL research groups will team up once more with stroke charities to deliver panel discussions, interactive talks and workshops.
The exciting programme of free events will include a series of online panels with leading stroke experts starting from the 17th October 2022.
These events will lead up to the in-person event at Church House, Westminster, London on Friday 28th October 2022.
The full day event will provide people with the opportunity to engage with researchers and charity partners in an open expo space, and learn more about post stroke support, research and rehabilitation in a series of talks and hands on workshops. Tickets can be booked at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-person-event-ucl-world-stroke-day-forum-2022-tickets-418048653777
Online sessions can be booked at https://engagement.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/projects/wsdforum/ucl-world-stroke-day-forum-2022/
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Konstantin and Francis share their experiences of developing the hugely successful podcast Triggernometry. Konstantin Kisin is a Russian-British comedian, podcaster, writer and social commentator. He made international headlines in 2018 by refusing to sign a university “behavioural agreement form” which banned jokes about religion, atheism and insisted that all humour must be “respectful and kind”.
Konstantin is the reigning Jewish Comedian of the Year and has won a number of other comedy competitions, awards and prizes. He has played some of the UK's biggest comedy clubs and has supported Geoff Norcott, Shazia Mirza and Andrew Doyle on tour.
He took his debut hour, Orwell That Ends Well, to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, receiving a host of positive reviews.
Konstantin is a regular contributor to BBC, ITV and TalkRadio. Frequently described as an "objective voice from the centre of the political spectrum", he regularly writes for a wide range of publications, including the Telegraph, Spectator and Quillette.
He is also the creator and co-host of the TRIGGERnometry YouTube show where 2 comics interview economists, political experts, journalists and social commentators about interesting, controversial and challenging subjects.
Konstantin is a regular host at Kilkenomics, the best economics and comedy festival in the world.
Francis Foster is a comedian and teacher. He has taught in both primary and secondary sectors with a specialism in Drama and English. Francis graduated from the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama and away from the classroom he is a stand up comedian who gigs regularly in Europe and beyond. He supported Eddie Izzard on his latest Force Majeure Tour. Francis is the regular co-host of the Triggernometry podcast.
TRIGGERnometry is a free speech YouTube show and podcast. Comedians Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster create fun-but-serious conversations with fascinating guests, including former Presidential advisors and political experts, leading economists, psychologists, journalists, social and cultural commentators, YouTubers and others.
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Torin Douglas is a highly respected former BBC media correspondent for over 25 years who has also worked for the Independent and the Times. He is one of the founders of the Chiswick Book Festival which starts on Wednesday 7th September. Details of the festival can be found here
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Christable Flight is the founder of Silver Sunday, an event celebrating older people that occurs on the first Sunday in October. She was a Westminster councillor for 17 years. Further details about Silver Sunday can be found at https://silversunday.org.uk/
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Eleanor Caird is an actor that started working for InterAct during the early days of the charity, seeing the plethora of changes that has occured within the charity over the years, and was an active participant in community based projects that encouraged the creativity of stroke survivors.
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Actor Ross Foley talks about his experiences working for InterAct Stroke Support, including hospital settings, and the InterAct at Home virtual delivery service.
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Professor Judith Mottram talks about her work as an Arts professor at the University of Lancaster, the relationship between Art and creativity and also arts and health.
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An English actor and voice artist, born and raised in Wiltshire, UK. Sartaj began as theatre actor in Shakespeare and contemporary productions. Performed in Scott Rudin's 2015 production of "Behind The Beautiful Forevers" at National Theatre. Other theatre credits include Royal Court, Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester and Bush Theatre in UK. Has worked with Sean Connery, Andrew Garfield, Archie Panjabi, Sheridan Smith, Omid Djalili. Hollywood debut in League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Has also appeared in Indian feature films Tezz and Desi Boyz. Best known for playing Jasper Choudhury in Season 2 of Nickelodeon's hit teen drama "House Of Anubis." Holds Finance degree, is a qualified mediator and an experienced martial artist.
Sartaj Garewal is best known in the US for playing "Jasper Choudhury" in hit teen gothic drama House Of Anubis for Nickelodeon.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts - FRSA.
Founded high performance leadership development consultancy, Dynamic Presenting Ltd.
He runs Dynamic Presenting Ltd, a leadership consultancy, which adapts improvisation and rehearsal exercises to create experiential learning for business executives.
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Fellow podcast host Megan takes to the other side of the Mic as she is interviewed by Nirjay Mahindru. Megan is an actor, poet, drama facilitator and highly experienced InterAct reader.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with actress Rula Lenska. Rula talks about her childhood, her journey within acting, and her support for the various charities she feels passionate about.
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In conversation with former footballer and stroke survivor Nick Clarke about his stroke and how and why he set up Stroke Information.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Professor of Neurology Alexander Leff from Kings College London.
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Tony Banks spent 10 years at the Stroke Association and was the head of Conferences and events.
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Oliver Robert Ford Davies (born 12 August 1939) is an English actor and writer, best known for his extensive theatre work, and to a broader audience for his role as Sio Bibble in Star Wars Episodes I to III. He is also known for his role as Maester Cressen in HBO series Game of Thrones.
In 1959, as a member of the Oxford University Experimental Theatre Club, he appeared in his first Stratford performance in the Memorial Theatre's open-air production of Bartholomew Fair. His first professional appearances were, at the age of 27, in the 1967 season at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.[5] Short Seasons at the Mermaid, London, the Oxford Playhouse and the Cambridge Arts Theatre followed. His long and prolific association with the Royal Shakespeare Company started in 1975, when director Terry Hands cast him as Mountjoy in Henry V. He is an Honorary Associate Artist of the company. From 1990 until 2019 He appeared more frequently at the National Theatre, London, until at the age of 80 he lent his "sublime presence" to the part of the appraising button moulder in Henryk Ibsen's Peter Gynt at the Olivier Theatre.
On television, Davies had a regular role as Peter Foxcott QC in Kavanagh QC and was schoolmaster Le Bas in the serialization of A Dance to the Music of Time (1997). He also appeared with John Thaw in an episode of Inspector Morse and also appeared in the ITV television drama The Uninvited, and in a 2002 episode of the popular drama Foyle's War.
On film, his most prominent role was probably Sio Bibble in the Star Wars "prequel trilogy" films, released in 1999, 2002 and 2005. In 2003, Davies appeared in the film Johnny English, where he portrayed the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He appeared on stage as Polonius in Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company, alongside David Tennant and Patrick Stewart, and in 2009 appeared in All's Well That Ends Well at the Royal National Theatre as the King of France. In 2010, he appeared as Balfour in the premiere of Ben Brown's play The Promise, about the Balfour Declaration.
In 2011, he appeared in a stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian's book Goodnight Mister Tom, in which he played the central character, Thomas Oakley. He was back with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2014 as Justice Shallow in Henry IV, Part 2. Davies again appeared with David Tennant in Richard II in 2013. In February 2019 Davies discussed his career in the BBC Radio Three series Private Passions.
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Dr Adam Ali is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and NHS Clinical Entrepreneur. He is co-founder of carecompare.net, an innovative site that enables people paying for their own care to quickly find and choose between local care companies able to help. CareCompare is free-to-use and being supported widely by the NHS, Homecare Association, voluntary sector and Innovate UK.
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Stroke survivor John Gordon in conversation with Nirjay Mahindru. John met InterAct whilst at Newcastle hospital and was inspired to write poetry afterwards. He's published book of poetry Popcorn is available online.
John's story was the inspiration behind InterAct's recent BBC Radio 4 Charity appeal. A civil servant during his working life, John talks about his background, the civil service and his experiences both of stroke and InterAct Stroke Support.
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Ronald Ferguson is a music producer and stroke survivor who now campaigns for what he describes as "social prescribing enterprise". Ronald is now a director of the charity Arts4dementia
In this interview Ronald talks about his experiences of suffering a stroke and his treatment during his hospital stay, and how the organisation Headway, the brain charity, put him back together again.
This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown.
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Allie Esiri’s best-selling anthologies SHAKESPEARE FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, A POET FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, A POEM FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR and A POEM FOR EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR have lit an explosion of interest in poetry in the UK, are regularly chosen for National Poetry Day and have been picked as best books of the year in The Observer, The Times and the New Statesman. Live performances at festivals and theatres and on audio with poems read by some of our best-known actors - from Helena Bonham Carter to Dominic West - are capturing and enthralling a new generation of poetry lovers.
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Robin Norton-Hale is an English theatre and opera director. She is the Artistic Director of OperaUpClose, having founded the company alongside Adam Spreadbury-Maher and Ben Cooper in October 2009 and an Artist in Residence at Oxford Playhouse. She studied English Literature at Hertford College, Oxford and was a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow (2013/14).
Her directing credits for OperaUpClose, all in her own new English translations, include La Bohème (Soho Theatre, Cock Tavern Theatre and King's Head Theatre), winner of the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Opera and Best Off-West End Production in the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards, La Traviata and Carmen (both co-productions with Belgrade Theatre, Coventry) and La Voix Humaine (Kings Place) .
Other directing credits include The Little Sweep and La Traviata (Malmo Opera, Sweden), Masters Are You Mad? by Glyn Maxwell (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre), The Taming of the Shrew (Southwark Playhouse), the UK premiere of Martin Duberman's Visions of Kerouac (Half Moon Theatre).
She has written new English versions of six operas, including Eugene Onegin and The Marriage of Figaro. Her librettos for La Bohème and Don Giovanni are published by Oberon. Her agent is Micheline Steinberg.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with musician Lisa Lux. As a professional drummer Lisa has banged the skins for various UK chart bands inc, Girls Aloud, Hepburn, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Michelle Gayle. Current band: The Priscillas
This interview was recorded during the lockdown period.
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Baroness Royall of Blaisdon is a British Labour Co-operative Party politician. She was Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council.
Jan Royall grew up in Hucclecote and Newnham on Severn, where her parents ran a shop.
She was educated at the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School and Westfield College, University of London, where she gained a BA in Spanish and French in 1977.
She was a special adviser to Neil Kinnock, the leader of the Labour Party, in the 1980s, and she has remained a close ally of his ever since. She sought selection as Labour's candidate for Ogmore in a 2002 by-election, losing to Huw Irranca-Davies. In 2003 she became head of the European Commission office in Wales.
She is the currently principal of Somerville College, Oxford.
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In conversation with Vanessa Bailey. Founder of award-winning production company NINE YARDS FILMS, creating powerful stories. Multi award-winning director, screenwriter and actress. Irrepressible storyteller.
https://www.nineyardsfilms.com
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with actor Alex Hassell. As well as being an actor, he is a co- founder of the highly influential Factory Theatre. Alex was born in Southend, the youngest of four, to a vicar. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama after completing GCSE and A-Level courses at Moulsham High School, in Chelmsford, Essex.
He has appeared in a number of stage roles, most recently as Hal in Henry IV Parts I and II, and Henry in Henry V, for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
His first Hollywood role was in George Clooney's Suburbicon (2017), and later that year he appeared in his first major television role in the BBC adaptation of Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist. He also starred in the hit Netflix series The Boys Series 1. Other film credits include The Sick House (2007) – Nick
Anonymous (2011) – Gabriel Spenser
Miss In Her Teens (2014) – The Player
Two Down (2015) – John Thomas
Suburbicon (2017) – Louis
The Isle (2018)
The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019) – Max Rose. Television credits include
Queen of Swords (2000) Episode "The Pretender" – Andreo
The Private Life of Samuel Pepys (2003) – Balty
Boudica (2003) – Roman Officer
Robin Hood (2006) – Soldier
Torchwood (2006) Episode "Combat" – Mark Lynch
Bonkers (2007) – Felix Nash
Miranda (2010) Episode "Excuse" – Edmund Dettori
Hustle (2011) Series 7, Episode 1 – Viscount Manley
Life of Crime (2013) Episodes 1 & 3 – Colin Nash
The Miniaturist (2017) – Johannes Brandt
Grantchester (TV series) Series 4 Episode 4 (2019) – Ernest Carter
The Boys (2019) – Translucent
This interview was recorded during the period of the full lockdown.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Stephen Haywood. Stephen is a former businessman and was a member of the Territorial Army for over 30 years. He is also a stroke survivor.
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Helen Brice is an existential psychotherapist, a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Practitioner, and founder of Stimmung, a busy private practice in
Piccadilly. She works trans-diagnostically, with or
without diagnosis. Passionate about bringing equal status to
psychotherapy alongside psychologist colleagues and associates,
whether in the NHS, private hospital or forensic settings. She is
passionate about what neuroscience has brought to traditional talking therapies, and was invited to speak at the World Summit on Neuroscience & Psychiatry .
Helen's practice Stimmung can be found here
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with actor Mitchell Mullen. As well as being a performer, Mitchell is also a teacher. Mitchell has been teaching at the London studio since it first opened its doors in 2013. He holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been teaching acting since 1996.
TV credits include: Deep State (Epix), Catastrophe (Amazon Prime/Channel 4), The New Pope, (HBO), The Feed (Amazon), Genius: Einstein (National Geographic Channel), Outlander (Starz), Absentia, (Sony Pictures), Undercover and The Interceptor (BBC One), Toast of London and Utopia (Channel 4), Harley and The Davidsons, (Discovery Channel), A Royal Christmas (Hallmark), The Assets (ABC-TV), Beauty and the Baker, (Keshet International).
Film credits include: About Time, RED 2, Made in Dagenham, The Infiltrator, A Good Year, Red Lights, Flying Home
Theatre credits include: The Exorcist (West End/Birmingham Rep), Death of a Salesman (UK No. 1 Tour), The American Wife (Park Theatre), The Shawshank Redemption (West End/Gaiety Theatre, Dublin), As You Like It (Peter Hall Company/USA National Tour), A Bunch of Amateurs (The Watermill Theatre), Orphans, Next Fall, Superior Donuts, The Hairy Ape and The Canterville Ghost (all at Southwark Playhouse), Speed-the-plow (Theatre Royal Winchester), Shear Madness (Boston and Cleveland Companies, more than 1,000 performances)
This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown.
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Tara Lakin of the Stroke Association in conversation with Nirjay Mahindru. She is the Service Lead for the South East covering Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. She is interested in all aspects of stroke recovery and has dedicated the past 12 years to this field.
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Half-German, and born in Cuckfield, West Sussex Daniel Betts trained at the Drama Centre London. He trained under Yat Malmgren and Christopher Fettes at the Drama Centre, London, graduating in 1993. His varied career has included many roles on the British and International stage, as well as TV and film work including Fury (2014), and the Brad Pitt films War Machine (2016) and Allied (2016)As well as appearing in films and television programmes, he has been a voiceover artist on many commercials.
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Jacob Sam-La Rose is a poet, performer, educator and editor who has performed and taught internationally.
His work has been published in several anthologies, including Identity State: New British and Irish Poets (2010); Penguin's Poems for Love (2009); City State: New London Poetry (2009); and Michael Rosen's A-Z: The Best Children's Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah (2009); and journals including Sable LitMag, Trespass magazine and X magazine. His debut pamphlet collection, Communion (2006), was a Poetry Book Society Pamphlet Choice and his first full poetry collection, Breaking Silence (2012), was shortlisted for the Forward Poetry Prize (Best First Collection)..
He runs workshops in schools and other institutions, and has developed programmes for poets and writers of all ages, being particularly well-known for his work with city-wide, national and international youth 'slam' poetry initiatives and for his advocacy for positive impacts of new technology on literary and artistic practice and collaboration. He has led workshops and seminars at Botswana University and for the Ministry of Education in Malaysia through the British Council.
He has undertaken many commissions and projects and has worked with organisations such as the National Theatre, The Barbican, London Open House, Glyndebourne, The Roundhouse, The Royal Festival Hall and Apples & Snakes, also being a former poet in residence at BBC London and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. He has been Artistic Director of the London Teenage Poetry Slam since 2003, and helped establish the first youth slam programme in Finland. In 2008 he established the Shadow Cabinet - pairing emerging literature in education artists with established professionals.
This interview was conducted during the period of the full lockdown.
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Born in Coventry, London resident for 30 years
Fayon Dixon is a broadcaster, host and facilitator with her purpose embedded in motivation, encouragement and inspirational interactions.
Fayon is a regular commentator with BBC Radio London and a newspaper reviewer for a variety of broadcasters on Talk Radio. Fayon is the creator, host and producer of ‘The Kids Are Alright Show’ where she encourages children as young as 4 years to provide content and present on Riverside Radio, achieving awards for best presenter and best community content in 2018 and 2019.
Her versatility in LIVE presenting stretches to shopping TV presentation, hosting at The Royal Albert Hall and is the energetic host for Engineering UK’s speed networking event Meet The Future You; and webinar co-host for Equal Engineers.
In schools across the UK Fayon delivers dynamic, interactive workshops, which give students the opportunity to explore their potential. Fayon uses her playful and strong personality to connect with young people, offering up her own experiences of breaking through obstacles when needed to empower both girls and boys to be themselves.
Fayon began as a reader for InterAct Stroke Support 18 years ago and in the last few years has been their community liaison officer setting up a number of creative workshops with in the community utilising the skills of professional actors to deliver creative and engaging workshops to stroke survivors supporting them to regain their voices and confidence.
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Alan Johnson was General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union before entering Parliament as Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle in 1997. He served as Home Secretary from June 2009 to May 2010. Before that, he filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary and Education Secretary. Until 20 January 2011 he was Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
His childhood memoir ‘This Boy’ was published by Bantam Press on 9th May 2013. It won the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, and the Orwell Prize, Britain's top political writing award. His second volume of memoirs. ‘Please Mr Postman’, was published in September 2014 and won the National Book Club award for Best Biography.
The final book in his memoir trilogy, ‘The Long and winding Road’, was published in September 2016 and won the Parliamentary Book Award for Best Memoir.
Alan retired as an MP before the 2017 general election after 20 years as an MP.
On 20th September 2018 his latest book, ‘In My Life – A Music Memoir’ was launched at Studio 2, Abbey Road where the Beatles made almost all of their records.
His first novel will be published in September 2021.
He and his wife Carolyn live in East Yorkshire.
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Nell Dunn came to notice with the publication of Up the Junction (1963), a series of short stories set in South London, some of which had already appeared in the New Statesman. The book, awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, was a controversial success at the time for its vibrant, realistic and non-judgmental portrait of its working-class protagonists. It was adapted for television by Dunn, with Ken Loach, for The Wednesday Play series, which was directed by Loach and broadcast in November 1965. A cinema film version was released in 1968.
Talking to Women (1965) was a collection of interviews with nine friends, "from society heiresses to factory workers (Dunn herself was both)". The interviewees included Edna O’Brien, Pauline Boty, Ann Quin and Paddy Kitchen.[5] Dunn's first novel, Poor Cow (1967) was a bestseller, achieving a succès de scandale. Poor Cow was made into a film starring Carol White and Terence Stamp, under Loach's direction.
Her later books are Grandmothers (1991) and My Silver Shoes (1996). Dunn's play Steaming was produced in 1981 and a television film Every Breath You Take, was transmitted in 1987. She has also written Sisters, a film script commissioned by the BBC.
She won the 1982 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her latest novel is the Muse.
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Dr Kate Allatt is a , keynote/webinar speaker, THRIVE trainer, TEDx, health consultant, internationally published author, researcher, global stroke advocate and peer mentor. Kate’s unique leadership messages support businesses operating in the health sector ie, the NHS Leadership, assisted tech providers, home care providers and pharma sectors points of difference in crowded markets. Kate also delivers her Stroke Rehab Surgeries for clinicians and stroke survivors to help them be the best versions of themselves functionally, during activities and participating in life. Kate has dedicated her life to stroke recovery, Locked In Syndrome and has become a trusted stroke recovery key opinion leader worldwide. She is the author of the book Running Free.
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Maria Grazia Turri is a Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and the co-director of the MSc Creative Arts and Mental Health. She is a medical doctor and worked as psychiatrist and psychotherapist for the NHS for 15 years. She is a member of the Critical Psychiatry Network.
Maria advocates for reform of the dominant paradigm in contemporary psychiatry and is passionate about promoting the creative arts as essential to research,education and practice in mental health and wellbeing.
As a researcher in theatre studies, she writes about spectators’ unconscious responses to performance. Her book Acting, Spectating and the Unconscious is published by Routledge. Maria’s biography and publication list can be found here:
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/wolfson/about-us/staff/profiles/turri-maria.html
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with the founder of the ARNI.
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Peter G Levine is a researcher, author, clinician, professor and science communicator, dedicated to finding and reporting on the best systems for driving post-stroke brain plasticity. Pete has been at the forefront of testing many of the most innovative stroke neuro-rehab options including EMG-based gaming, wearable robotics, mental practice, functional E-Stim, transcranial magnetic stimulation and modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT).
He was the lab co-director at the U. of Cincinnati Academic Medical Center, and a Research Associate at the Kessler Institute. His clinical research continued with The OSU B.R.A.I.N. lab. Pete communicates what he's learned in research through his blog, dozens of magazine and articles, hundreds of professional talks, and his book, Stronger After Stroke.
You can find his blog here.
Explore his research here and you can listen to his own podcast here.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Steph Harland, the CEO of Age UK. Steph has been CEO of Age UK since January 2018. She joined one of our predecessor organisations, Age Concern England, in 2002. Before that Steph had worked in the voluntary sector locally, nationally and internationally mainly on issues to do with older people and other groups of adults with care needs. She first became involved with Age Concern in the late 1980s as a volunteer for Age Concern Greenwich.
Steph was closely involved in the creation of Age UK in 2009. Since then, Steph has had a number of different roles at Age UK, focusing on our international work, strategy, partnership with the Age UK network, people and performance, and governance, becoming Deputy CEO in 2016. Steph is also the Chairman of Cecily's Fund, a UK charity supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.
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Nirjay Mahindru and Megan Mckie Smith in conversation with stroke consultant Amith Sitaram, stroke consultant at Glasgow Queen Elizabeth hospital. Amith is an experienced Stroke Clinician and researcher with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Imaging Research, Clinical Research, Medicine, Healthcare, and Neuroscience. Strong Clinical and research background with a focus in Improving Stroke Care. Has had the pleasure to work with the best in the field in the University of Zurich, University of Calgary and University of Glasgow.
This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown.
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Artist Joanna Brendon in conversation with Nirjay Mahindru. Joanna Brendon is probably best known for being the first Director of the concert hall, St John’s Smith Square (https://www.sjss.org.uk). Throughout her career, she has been involved with funding for the arts, working with the Royal Opera House, Royal Academy of Dancing, the Spanish Arts Festival and Sadler’s Wells.
In 2005, she gained a MA at Brighton University, her thesis being “Do Visual Artists Need To See? – Exploring Alternative Perceptions” as a way of confronting her own diminishing sight prior to a life-changing operation. Two prints from her Sightlines series are in the V&A Print Collection. The thesis can be found online.
She has been Artist in Residence at Brantwood, John Ruskin’s home in the Lake District, where she had a solo exhibition. In 2011, she had an exhibition at the Holywell Music Room, to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Oxford Lieder Festival, and in 2013, she had a show at The Orange Tree Theatre. Her work is represented in private collections in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. She lives and works in London where she regularly exhibits and holds
open studios.
For ten years Joanna was Chair of Artists at Home. She is still closely involved,
but has stepped back since developing an auto-immune disease. “With a landscape subject matter that is often intensely familiar to her, Joanna Brendon’s bold, abstracting way of working creates paintings rich in dramatic feeling and entirely mysterious in character”
Nicholas Usherwood
It was through art that Joanna met the founder of InterAct Stroke Support, Caroline Smith, and she has been a committed supporter from the outset.
If you would like to join her mailing list, please write to her at
email: jbrendon@me.com
website: www.joannabrendon.com
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Nirjay Mahindru talks to Norfolk based artist Lynn Rutherford about her life, her stroke and her art. Lynn suffered a major stroke in 2018 and hospital staff were convinced she wouldn't pull through. Lynn retired from a life time working with children and young people. Art has always been important at work and for leisure.
Lynn remembers nothing about her stroke. She knows that it was the kindness and professionalism of strangers which meant she survived.
Lynn says "Friends and family are very important, as is experiencing nature. Having a lovely dog means I'm out in it every day, whatever the weather!"
Lindsay, who wrote Charlie the Horse, has been a good friend for a long time. She has got me roped in to various creative projects! Drawing for her book, undoubtedly speeded up my recovery. This interview was recorded during the lockdown.
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Sas Freeman was living the fairytale dream as a model, a television and film actress – which all came to an end overnight. Life changed drastically for the 45-year-old as the result of not one, but two back-to-back strokes .After experiencing two strokes in her mid-40s, Sas has become an impassioned advocate for increasing stroke awareness and supporting fellow stroke survivors and their care partners. She is the author of Two strokes not out. Saspreviously worked as a photographic model and on television. She appeared in films and as a double for Emma Thompson in Brideshead Revisited. Alongside, she managed teams for companies delivering advertising material for national organisations, client facing where necessary, pitching campaigns.
She is now an artist using her non-dominant hand following her strokes. Her website ishttp://www.sasfreeman.com This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown.
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Trevor Phillips OBE ARCS FIC is a British writer, broadcaster and former politician. In March 2015, Phillips was appointed as the President of the Partnership Council of the John Lewis Partnership for a three-year term. His is the first external appointment since 1928.
Phillips is deputy chairman of the board of the National Equality Standard, and other business appointments include chairman of Green Park Diversity Analytics, director of WebberPhillips, a data analytics provider; and director of Pepper Productions, an independent television production company. He is a member of the board of the Barbican Arts Centre and the Council of Aldeburgh Music; and a trustee of the Social Mobility Foundation, among other charities.
Phillips is a former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and a former television presenter and executive.
Phillips became head of the Commission for Racial Equality in 2003, and on its abolition in 2006 was appointed full-time chairman of its successor, the EHRC (initially called the Commission for Equality and Human Rights), which had a broader remit of combating discrimination and promoting equality across other grounds (age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment).[3] The EHRC also had the role of promoting and defending human rights, and secured recognition as the national human rights institution for England and Wales (alongside separate commissions in Northern Ireland and Scotland). Phillips' tenure as EHRC chairman (which at his request became a part-time position in 2009) has at times been controversial.
This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown.
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Michelle Iglesias began her painting journey in 2004 after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31, which lead her to discovering the therapeutic value of creating art. She has since been exhibiting her paintings nationally and continues to develop her inherent skills in order to produce art of the finest quality. Much of her work consists of natural elements, including water and nature. She specializes in acrylic and oil paintings on canvas, with inspirations coming from nature, dimensions, and individuals struck by cancer. Michelle’s paintings invite viewer involvement and have been described as profound, reflective, symbolic images of an uncompromising realm.
Michelle has a hugely successful Youtube channel
You can follow Michelle on Patreon
You can also see her great art via her website
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Waris Islam is an award-winning writer director with network credits in film, television and radio.He also practices as a Consultant on projects developing training courses, overseas and in the UK. He has written for BBC Radio drama, directed award winning short films 'Short' and 'The Family Portrait' and written a 'Coming Up' for Channel 4. Waris has also
directed episodes of Hollyoaks, Eastenders, Holby City and creator, series writer and director for BISHAASH. He is on the BBC Hotlist for 2017 and preparing for his first feature film. Waris is represented by Elinor Burns from Casarotto Ramsay in the UK and
Eric Williams from Zero Gravity Management in L.A
http://vimeo.com/user18650892
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=109053989&trk=tab_pro
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2099845/
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Lucy Smith spent 20 years working in the film industry before moving to the voluntary sector. She is currently the philanthropy officer at Leonard Cheshire disability. Lucy was integral to the creative collaboration between InterAct and Leonard Cheshire culminating in the creation of a radio play. This interview was recorded during the period of the lockdown. For more information on Leonard Cheshire, www.leonardcheshire.org
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Megan Mckie Smith in conversation with the Chief Executive of Different Strokes, the charity dedicated to helping younger stroke surviviors. For more details of the work of Different Strokes, please visit https://differentstrokes.co.uk
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Megan McKie Smith in conversation with actor and theatre director Ian Talbot. For 20 years Ian was Artistic Director of the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, where he directed a few of his own musical hits over the years at the Open Air – High Society and The Boy Friend being examples and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director for his production of The Pirates Of Penzance. Ian was awarded an OBE in 2008 for his services to Drama. He is also the Chairman of trustees of InterAct Stroke Support.
Ian's latest work is Jack and the Beanstalk, a pantomime available online. The production runs from December 4th 2020 to 10th January 2021, and tickets are available at
www.pantoonline.co.uk
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Two guests in this podcast. Hayley Youell of the Culture Health and Wellbeing alliance and Kiz Bangerh founder of Hip Hop Heals, both in conversation with Nirjay Mahindru. Catch the latest events that will be occuring via the Alliance. Details for the alliance can be found at
www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk
For Hip Hop Heals and Kiz's work, more details can be found at:
https://anchor.fm/hiphophealskiz
https://www.hiphophealsuk.org/
https://twitter.com/hiphophealsuk
https://www.facebook.com/hiphophealsuk/
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Nirjay Mahindru is joined by Che Walker.
Che Walker studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and has worked with Edward Bond, Philip Ridley, Mark Ravenhill, Stellan Skarsgaard, Chris Penn and Robert David Mc Donald.
His first play BEEN SO LONG premiered at the Royal Court theatre in 1998, starring Sophie Okonedo, and was runner-up for The John Whiting Award and the Meyer-Whitworth Award, and has subsequently been translated and produced worldwide.
FLESHWOUND premiered at the Royal Court in 2003 and won the George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright, and The Arts Council Young Writer of the Future Award.
CRAZY LOVE was produced by Paines Plough theatre company ('a brilliant piece of dramatic poetry- the scotsman" 'brilliantly buzzy..poignant'- the guardian) and, along with it's sister piece, BURNT-UP LOVE, won the Mark Marvin Peter Brook Award.
In 2008, his play THE FRONTLINE made English Theatre history ,becoming the first contemporary-set new play to perform at Shakespeare's Globe theatre since MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. An enormous critical success, THE FRONTLINE was revived in 2009.
His musical adaptation of his first play 'Been So Long' - a collaboration with composer Arthur Darvill, premiered at The Young Vic Theatre in 2009, before playing The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, and Latitude Rock Festival. 'Been So Long' was nominated for the Evening Standard Best Musical Award. Walker's former student, Naana Agyei-Ampadu was also nominated for Best Newcomer for her role as Yvonne in 'Been So Long'.
He has received commissions from Regent's Park Theatre, English Touring Theatre amongst others. As he teacher, Che has taught acting at RADA, Arts Ed, E15, and has taught at Central, Oxford, Identity Drama School, and was Head of Drama for the Weekend Arts College for over ten years. This interview was recorded in June 2020 during the period of the lockdown.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Juliet Bouverie, COE of the Stroke Association.
Juliet has been chief executive of the Stroke Association since June 2016.
Prior to joining the Stroke Association, Juliet worked at Macmillan Cancer Support for 16 years in roles including head of planning and policy, director of corporate development and executive director of services and influencing.
In this last role, she led a staff team of over 800 people, managed a budget of £150m and oversaw a programme of award-winning innovations and service design across the UK. She also secured important government commitments to improve patient experience and post-treatment support through the 2015 Cancer Strategy for England.
Prior to Macmillan, Juliet worked at the British Red Cross in strategy and service evaluation, the Community Development Foundation in fundraising and a political consultancy. She was a trustee of the Long-Term Conditions Alliance and chaired the Cancer Patient Experience Board for University College London Hospital (UCLH) from 2011 to 2014.
Juliet has a degree in modern languages from Oxford . This interview was recorded in June 2020 during the period of the lockdown.
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Megan McKie Smith in conversation with former yoga teacher Francis D'Angel about his life, and the circumstances of his stroke. Francis is a regular attendee of Leonard Cheshire disablity in Wandsworth, an organisation InterAct has been working with.
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Nirjay Mahindru talks to stand up comedian Maureen Younger about her life and career.
Maureen is a tri-lingual London Scot, she’s frank, fast, feisty, sharp, engaging – honest humour with attitude!
Gigs include: Hackney Empire, The Stand, Hampstead Comedy Club, Upfront Comedy, Glee Club, Amused Moose Soho, Comedy Camp, Comedy Store, Up the Creek, Bearcat Comedy Club, Underbelly, Komedia, Frog & Bucket, Downstairs at the King’s Head, Arthur Smith’s Cut Price Comedy Night, Comedy Café, Laughing Cows, Hampstead Theatre, BrouHaHa, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Buzz Comedy, Monkey Business, Joogleberry Playhouse, Retort Cabaret Show
International Gigs
Berlin: Comedy Club Kookaburra & BeatStreet (in English); Stage-Diven & Scheinbar (in German)
Radio/TV
Newspaper reviewer on Sky News
Regular guest panellist on BBC Radio London & BBC Radio 5 Live.
Newspaper Reviewer on the Biggins & Lesley Show, BBC Radio London.
Presented an 80s soul show on Break FM.
Roles in Band of Brothers (BBC/HBO), The Affair (black & white silent comedy).
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Nirjay Mahindru talks to Nick Ede about his life and work. Nick has over 20 years of experience in PR and brand development and spent 15 years as Creative Director of EdenCancan PR in London. During those years he was lucky enough to develop strategic PR campaigns for brands including Lastminute.com, Puma, Channel Four, MTV, Spanx, Lipsy London, BBC Children In Need, Fox, News UK, little Mistress, Ultimo, Ariella Couture, Upper Street Shoes, Comedy Central and Organic Surge.
During that time he also carved out a successful TV career presenting regularly on Lorraine on ITV, GMTV, OKTV, Sky One and landing the recurring judging role on the International hit show, Project Catwalk.
In the past 2 years his interest in charity PR and branding has led him to leave EdenCancan and launch EastofEden London. Since launch they have worked with many charities and brands on their CSR including Liberty, BBC Children In Need, WE Day, Serious Fun Camps, The Global Gift Gala, Eva Longoria Foundation, The Stroke Association, Pink Ribbon Foundation, British Asian Trust, MTV Staying Alive, Rwanga and many more.
In 2017 he launched the Style for Stroke Foundation which will raise money and awareness for stroke worldwide.
While his main focus is on charity campaigns he loves consumer PR. In 2019 he acquired his former agency, Eden Cancan to deliver strategic PR, event management and celebrity booking for clients in the lifestyle arena.
This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period.
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Nirjay Mahindru talks to former nurse Lyndsey Dowding about her life, working in the NHS as a nurse for many years, her stroke, and the publication of her book "Charlie the Horse, Owl, and the Planning Application". This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period.
Lindsay Dowding worked at the NNUH for 13 years, was taking part in a workshop in Pottergate in Norwich when she suffered a stroke. She was rushed to the very hospital she worked at.
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Nirjay Mahindru in conversation with Barry Macaulay, talking all things Stroke in relation to Northern Ireland. Recently, Barry received a BEM in recognition of his commitment to Disability Sports. The medal recognises the positive contribution that Barry has made to the disability sports sector in Northern Ireland over a period of 27 years. Barry’s passion and dedication has made a significant impact, providing lots of new opportunities for people with a disability to get involved in sports. Barry has also provided strong strategic input for strengthening Disability Sport NI and other disability sports organisations and clubs, as well as advising on policy affecting the provision of disability sports in Northern Ireland. This interview was conducted during the period of the lockdown.
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Nirjay Mahindru interviews Professor Anthony Rudd, one of the UK's former leading clinician on stroke. Anthony Rudd was Professor of Stroke Medicine at Kings College London, Consultant stroke physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and the National Clinical Director for Stroke for NHS England and NHS Improvement.
He ran the stroke programme producing national stroke guidelines and the national stroke audit since 1995.
His research interests are stroke rehabilitation, organisation of care and quality improvement with over 300 peer reviewed publications.
He was made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2013. This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period.
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Nirjay Mahindru talks to theatre director Iqbal Khan about his life growing up in Birmingham, the influence of his mother and brothers, depression and feeling out of kilter with those around us, plus the state of British theatre today.
Iqbal began his directing career at the Leicester Haymarket and National Theatre Studio.
His credits include: A Christmas Carol (Box Clever); Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe); Snookered(Tamasha/Oldham Coliseum/Bush/UK tour): The Importance of Being Earnest: The Musical (Riverside Studios); The Killing of Sister George (West End); Broken Glass (Tricycle/West End); Rafta Rafta (Bolton Octagon/New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme); East is East (Birmingham Rep); A Slight Ache, Landscape (National Theatre); Treemonisha (Pegasus Opera); The Last Photograph (Edinburgh Festival); Otello (Associate Director. Birmingham Opera Company); Time for the Good Looking Boy (Box Clever/UK tour); Oleanna (Bolton Octagon);Richard III (RWCMD); Simply Cinderella (Associate Director. Curve); 16up (Union Theatre/tour); Too Close to Home (Lyric Hammersmith/Library Theatre); Madama Butterfly (Lyric Hammersmith/Minack); Beautiful Thing (Oldham Coliseum).
His other work has been seen at the Union Chapel; Bloomsbury Theatre, the Edinburgh Fringe, the Bridewell, the Old Red Lion and in Japan.
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Nirjay Mahindru interviews Andrew Davis, the critically acclaimed photographer who suffered a stroke in 2013. Andrew discusses his life, the world of professional photography, and the consequences of his stroke. This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period in the UK.
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Nirjay Mahindru talks to actor Rupert Graves about his early childhood in Weston Super Mare, his life as a professional actor, the stroke that affected his father, and Arsenal football club.
This interview was recorded in May 2020 during the lockdown period in the UK following COVID 19.
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Pilot episode, An interview with the founder of InterAct Stroke Support, former theatre director Caroline Smith about her life and the idea behind creating the charity. InterAct are a charity that take professional actors into hospitals and read to stroke survivors. For more information visit our website at www.interactstrokesupport.org
This interview was recorded on 12th May 2020 during lockdown in the United Kingdom due to COVID-19.
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