Compassionate Cultures

Hosted by Rebbecca Hemmings

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Dec 2025

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December 18, 202538 min

S3:Ep:7 Celebrating Antiracist Healthcare in Birmingham – Part 2

Rebbecca Hemmings is joined by Melanin Moods, the team behind the Beyond the Fade Project, and Strawberry Words associate trainer Sipho Ndlovu. Dr Chanelle Dennis and Talisa Mesquitta  explore how barbershops, storytelling, and trusted community spaces are becoming vital locations for early intervention, mental health conversations, and wellbeing support. This episode dives into:– the origins and impact of the Beyond the Fade Project– why culturally specific spaces can open doors traditional services often miss– how grassroots organisations and public health teams can collaborate meaningfully– the lived experiences that underpin this work and the compassion that sustains it It is an inspiring, uplifting conversation that demonstrates the power of culture, creativity, and community expertise. For listeners who want to understand what antiracist healthcare looks like in real life, this episode offers practical wisdom and a deep sense of hope

December 4, 202530 min

S3:Ep:6 Celebrating Antiracist Healthcare in Birmingham – Part 1

This episode brings together two influential voices who are reshaping what equitable and compassionate healthcare looks like in Birmingham. Olaunde Awe, Managing Director of Ilera Health, and Dr Tonye Sikabofori, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, join Rebbecca Hemmings to explore the realities of building antiracist health systems from both community and clinical perspectives. Together they speak candidly about the gaps that persist in health outcomes, the structural issues that drive mistrust, and the transformative work happening across the city to ensure Black communities are seen, heard, and cared for with dignity. This episode is an invitation to hear from those driving change on the ground and within senior leadership. It is thoughtful, energising, and essential listening for anyone committed to compassionate, equitable care.

November 20, 202522 min

S3:Ep:5 Migrants, Belonging, and the Reality Behind the Headlines – A Conversation with Salman Mirza

In this deeply honest conversation, Salman Mirza shares unfiltered insights into the real priorities for migrants and asylum seekers in the UK today and they might not be what you expect. Drawing on decades of lived experience, from his early years in Luton to his current work supporting asylum seekers, Salman offers a deeply personal reflection on what it means to seek justice and belonging in a society wrestling with fear, division, and far-right hostility. Together, we explore how the current climate is affecting new arrivals, how attitudes among more established migrant communities are shifting, and what true allyship looks like in workplaces and beyond. For leaders, managers, and anyone striving to create cultures of compassion, Salman’s reflections are both grounding and galvanising  a reminder that meaningful change begins with understanding, humility, and the courage to act.

November 7, 202527 min

S3:Ep:4 Professor Partha S Kar on Tackling Racial Inequality in Healthcare

We had the privilege of speaking with Professor Partha Kar, Type 1 Diabetes and Technology Lead at NHS England, whose influence has shaped healthcare policy and practice across the country.  As a proud Bengali clinician, Professor Kar has dedicated his career to improving health outcomes for racially marginalised communities and challenging inequities within the system. Tune in to hear his reflections on how individuals and organisations can address racial disparities in healthcare, and how his humble beginnings continue to inspire his work and leadership today.

October 29, 202528 min

S3:Ep:3 AI in the Age of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – A Conversation with Eugene Hilton

In this thought-provoking episode of The Compassionate Cultures Podcast, host Rebbecca Hemmings speaks with Eugene Hilton, founder of North Star AI Solutions, about the promises and perils of artificial intelligence in today’s workplaces. As organisations increasingly turn to AI to streamline recruitment, performance management, and decision-making, many overlook the risk that bias can be built into the very systems meant to create fairness. Eugene offers both practical advice and a stark warning: without intentional oversight, AI could deepen existing inequities rather than dismantle them. Together, Rebbecca and Eugene explore how leaders and managers can embrace AI responsibly, embedding cultural humility, transparency, and ethical safeguards at every stage. They discuss what it really means to use technology in service of inclusion, and how to ensure that innovation never comes at the cost of humanity.

October 14, 202532 min

S3:Ep2 Embedding DEI in Evolving Times - Part 2

Part 2 of our first live edition of the Compassionate Cultures podcast is now streaming. At the start of this episode, our panel takes on a pressing question: how is the widespread public showcasing of the St George’s flag creating challenges inside the workplace? And what are leaders doing to navigate the tensions this symbol is stirring? This conversation continues our exploration of how UK societal discourse, around who is deemed deserving and who is not, is becoming increasingly polarised. From flags and migrant hotel protests to marches on the streets, these issues inevitably seep through workplace doors. The challenge for organisations is how to respond. Joining me in this live discussion are: • Head of DEI&B at Birmingham City Council • CEO of The Smallpeice Trust • Head of Student EDI at the University of Birmingham, Loreal Stokes We would love to hear your reflections on Spotify, and please remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Now streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

October 5, 202527 min

S3:Ep:1 Embedding DEI in Evolving Times - Part 1

UK societal discourse around who is deemed deserving and who is not is becoming increasingly polarised. The flags, the migrant hotel protests, and the marches are all symbols of this growing discontent. But how does the workplace contend with these issues when they inevitably seep through its doors? This is the focus of the first live edition of the Compassionate Cultures podcast, featuring the Head of DEI&B at Birmingham City Council, the CEO of The Smallpeice Trust, and the Head of Student EDI at the University of Birmingham, Loreal Stokes. To make it easier to engage with, the episode has been split into two parts. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on Spotify. Don’t forget to subscribe. Now streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

July 9, 202535 min

S2:Ep:11 Autism in the Workplace with Carla Dereveux

This week on Compassionate Cultures, we’re joined by Carla Devereux, a psychotherapist and leadership development specialist. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, Carla offers a nuanced exploration of autism in adulthood, particularly in the workplace. In this insightful conversation, Carla helps us better understand how autism can present in adults, especially in those who are undiagnosed. She challenges some of the most common myths, explains how masking shows up, particularly in women and shares why behaviours like stimming and palilalia may go unnoticed or misunderstood. Carla also offers insights into autistic communication styles and how teams can create space for directness without judgement. We discuss what psychological safety means in practical terms for neurodivergent employees, how leaders can support self-regulation without stigma, and why a diagnosis in adulthood can be both daunting and liberating. Whether you're a manager, colleague, or someone navigating neurodiversity yourself, this episode offers compassion, clarity and tangible ways to create more inclusive workplaces. Connect with Carla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-devereux/ Access the Autism Spectrum Quotient by Simon Baron-Cohen, professor of psychology at Cambridge University and head of the Cambridge Autism Research Centre. https://psychology-tools.com/test/autism-spectrum-quotient Listen now to join the conversation. Streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

June 25, 202519 min

S2:Ep:10 Cultural Humility and Safety with Helen Harrison

In this episode, Rebbecca is joined by the Assistant Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council to discuss the Cultural Humility and Safety programme, a pioneering initiative that equips staff with the tools to navigate discrimination, antiracism, power dynamics, and compassionate relationships in the workplace. Rooted in the findings of the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR), the programme was developed in response to the stark health disparities experienced by Black communities. This conversation is particularly valuable for organisations seeking a meaningful and emotionally intelligent way to educate their teams on discrimination, using the gentle yet powerful lens of cultural humility. Streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.

June 11, 202547 min

S2:Ep:9 Disrupting the Deficit Narrative with Kevin J Brazant

In this straight-talking episode, we’re joined by Kevin J Brazant, practitioner-academic, creator of Disrupt the Discourse Co-Creation Framework™ and founder of Lounge Akademics. With roots in grassroots activism and a growing academic portfolio, Kevin brings a rare and necessary perspective on race, exclusion, and justice in the UK universities. Drawing from both lived experience and scholarly research, Kevin challenges commonly accepted terms like “hard to reach” and offers an unflinching critique of the systems that fail racially marginalised communities. He speaks about the importance of co-creating solutions with those most impacted, the need for trauma-informed education, and how institutions can move from tokenism to true transformation. Whether you’re a policy-maker, educator, academic or advocate for social change, Kevin’s reflections will leave you contemplating about how to creatively embed equity and compassion into your practice. Streaming on all major platforms and at www.strawberrywords.co.uk.