“Don't forget luck. I think everyone feels like they're in control, and they can do it all. And if you just slog it out hard enough it will come to you. Sometimes, it’s just luck. Let go and see what comes.”

Calling your company ‘The Unmistakables’ is a bold move but when it’s grounded in science & rigour plus a touch of cheekiness with a truly innovative leader in charge, it just makes sense. It was founded by this week’s guest Asad Dhunna (he/him) back in 2018 and as consultancy specialising in DEI, it boasts an incredibly committed & skilled team doing transformational work when it comes to creativity, culture & positive change.

I’m a fan of both Asad & his work so I was so thrilled when Asad said yes to appearing on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’. We chat a lot about the story behind The Unmistakables and what makes it just that. We explore his mischievous side & how he’s learned to harness that over the years which really is evident in what he puts out there.

Coming out was a challenge and his first time in a gay venue - the iconic Ghetto which I used to go to weekly - was a conflicting experience of ‘I’m going to hell’ vs ‘This is fun’ running through his mind.

Asad shares he is still finding his destination in inclusion and his work has evolved as the DEI industry has shifted. His insistence on ‘trading off lived expertise vs lived experience’ and being able to back that up are all part of his deep insights, leadership & skills.

We dive into the difference between secrecy & privacy and how as queer people we often play a role that can undermine our seriousness - a point in the conversation that really stuck with me.

I loved getting to know Asad more & I am sure you will too. Plus there’s exciting stuff coming up from The Unmistakables so stay tuned!

“I have the community that I never ever in a million years would I have dreamed of when I was a kid.”

Season 3 of ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ gets off to a CRACKING start with this conversation! I’m chatting to Jua O’Kane (they/he). Jua is the Marketing Manager for We Create Space and Communications Director for Trans Pride Plymouth as well as being an illustrator, creator, creative researcher & author of their recently published graphic novella, Road to Chimera. It’s a virtually stunning piece of work that explores a life navigating transness as a spiritual journey.

Jua is also my colleague & I relish our chats - this one especially! From chatting about & reconnecting with ‘Little Jua’ to challenging mental health issues as a teenager through to what’s been a crazy last few years, Jua shares their story in such a powerful & punchy way.

Self-care, community & creativity are core to how Jua shows up in the world as they state “I made the things that I needed happen.” That’s just one of the mic drop moments & realisations you can expect to hear along with Jua’s love for Plymouth & its thriving Trans+ community, the influence of their girlfriend’s ability to channel hope & optimism and their top surgery adventure being “a hero’s journey moment”.

Isolation. Creation. Transcendence. These are the three words Jua uses to describe themselves & their origin story & deliberately in that order.

Jua truly sets the tempo. On the dance floor. Through the work they do & the world they’ve created. In life. You’re going to love this episode as much as I did.

We cover some challenging topics so please take care of yourself whilst listening.

Visit Jua's website, check out their work & buy a copy of 'Road to Chimera' here.

Trans Pride Plymouth takes place on Saturday 14 June 2025. Follow them here.

This episode was A MOMENT for ‘Pause. And Rewind..’. It was my first time recording live with a live audience! And a celebration of three things…

• A whole year since I launched the podcast
• Lesbian Visibility Week
• My guest - the one & only Char Bailey

“Once I know what my truth is, can’t nobody tell me shit about shit. Because I know exactly who I am”.

Char (she/her) wears many hats. Director of People & Culture for Birmingham Pride. Education & Inclusion Office for UK Black Pride. She’s on the Board for Neurodiversity in Business. Features Editor & Roving presenter for Diva Magazine. NLP Practitioner, Coach & Facilitator. And Tree Hugger. Yes, that’s a lot. Char shows up for people. With a lot of heart, energy & skill. Plus the best hugs!

We chat about community, forgiveness, legacy, relationships, spirituality & more. I’m not gonna overload this description - I’ll let the podcast speak for itself but it’s packed with anecdotes, insights & realisations that say so much about Char’s origin story & the absolute change maker we know & love today. It’s also bloody hilarious too. ENJOY!

BIG thanks to The Common Press for hosting. Buy your book from there peeps & support this super special space!

Please take care of yourself whilst listening as we do cover some challenging topics around racism, health & life generally.