The Aperture
By Steph Cutler
You believe a better world is worth consideration and want to hear fresh thinking on how to create impact with humanity. You want to live in an equal and equable world which prioritises social justice.
Join Steph Cutler as she hosts candid conversations with people prepared to think differently about creating social change; people, like you, who are open to exploring alternative ways to building a fairer future.
The last word goes to a spoken word artist who captures each episode.
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The ApertureJan 05, 2021
Art, activism, authenticity & a touch of crazy!
Episode 6
BAFTA nominated international prize winning Lemn Sissay MBE joins Steph Cutler on this final episode of this series. They talk about the unique way in which creativity provides a means for cathartic expression, a platform for the truth to prevail and supports storytelling from the heart. They discuss the role of improvisation in uncovering ideas and innovation. Liv Torc provides an imaginative creative response
Quotes & timings
4:05 “I didn’t know I was being an activist at the time.”
6:00 “…And maybe it is about mental health as well because when your core is challenged by being institutionalised you start to ask yourself questions.”
8:22 “Artists talk about not just the condition we find ourselves in politically, but the emotional state. Matching those two things is a powerful concoction.”
14:32 “Maybe as we get older we play less and we invest less in play”
19:38 “Your poems can be like flags in the mountain side of your own personal journey”
21:15 “Right now, Art and creativity is the best translator of the human being”
24:37 Liv’s poem
About the guests
Lemn Sissay
Lemn is a poet, playwright, artist performer and broadcaster. His work is renowned and award winning. He has read on stage throughout the world: from The Library of Congress in The United States to The University of Addis Ababa, from Singapore to Sri Lanka, Bangalore to Dubai, from Bali to Greenland and Wigan library.
He was the first poet commissioned to write for the London Olympics and wrote the official poem for the FA Cup.
In 2017 he launched The Equity and Merit Scholarship scheme in Ethiopia with University of Manchester. University of Huddersfield hold the Lemn Sissay Scholarship for Care Leavers.
His photograph is exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery and in 2020 he was the sitter in the final of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the year.
Liv Torc
Liv Torc is a razor blade skating performance poet and performer. She is a Radio 4 Slam winner and former bard of Exeter. She is the current co-host of The Hip Yak Poetry Shack. She has performed at Glastonbury festival and runs the spoken word stage at Womad.
In 2020 she was chosen as one of four Siren Poets by Cape Farewell for a commission on climate change in the time of COVID and wrote and filmed a poem for the BBC’s Make a Difference campaign.
About the host
Steph Cutler is a speaker, trainer and coach. Her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade specialises in disability equality and she is a Clore Social Leadership fellow.
She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in 2018 on the Disability Power100 list and has been a judge since.
Huge thanks to VIPodcasting for their support and skills in producing this podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you access your podcasts from. Please leave a review and be sure to tune in to future episodes for more insights from social changemakers
LEX influential insights and innovations: From Mars bars for your thoughts to thought leadership
Marie-Claire O’Brien talks to Steph Cutler about the legitimacy of lived experience being a catalyst for change in the criminal justice system. She shares the challenges and her hopes for greater opportunities and inclusion. Jason N Smith then uses his lived experience to creative effect.
Quotes & timings
3:15 We need to find other innovative ways of engaging with prisoners once they are released.
5:38 The commissioning landscape has changed, so there is a much larger focus on lived experience leadership
6:58 Organisations will come and speak to service users and just extract what they need
17:42 She’s got a conviction and look at the career and the respect she’s carved out for herself.
21:55 We need to lift the stigma about what rehabilitation looks like
22:38 we can see the gaps that need filling, we can see the pathways that are broken
24:58 Our passion can err on the side of unmanageability or unprofessionalism and this is a quandary
27:25 This is the clincher with the criminal justice system, this notion of risk
30:40 Jason’s poem
Resources
The Value of Lived Experience in Social Change: The Need for Leadership and Organisational Development in the Social Sector By Baljeet Sandhu
http://thelivedexperience.org/report/
About the guests
Marie-Claire is one of the most successful Entrepreneurs with lived experience of the criminal justice system in the UK. She is the Founder and CEO of New Leaf. New Leaf has supported hundreds of adult and youth offenders to change their lives, utilising the power of lived experience, education and positive networks to deliver a holistic and person-centred service. She sits on the Steering committee for the Prisoner Learning Alliance and the expert panel of lived experience for the Criminal Justice Alliance. She is a First-Class honours student from the University of Warwick.
Website: The New Leaf Initiative - A Rehabilitation Evolution (newleafcic.org) Twitter: Marie-Claire@NewLeaf (@newleafcic) / Twitter Facebook: The New Leaf Initiative CIC | Facebook
Jason is an award-winning writer and spoken word artist who performs nationally at literature events. He has published a popular collection of poetry titled, ‘Beyond Words’ and has also released an album and book. He has worked as a Community Support Worker for CRC Probation in Stoke on Trent and is now a development Coach for young people in care. Jason is a Trustee of Safe Ground, a charity which delivers programmes within the justice system.
Resource:https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Witness-Mr-Jason-Smith/dp/B089C8H9QQ & https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Words-Jason-N-Smith-ebook/dp/B077MPCGZ3/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=beyond+words+jason+smith&qid=1601918121&s=digital-text&sr=1-1 Twitter: Jason N Smith S.A.C. (@wordsmith212) / Twitter
Steph Cutler is a speaker, trainer and coach. Her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade specialises in disability equality and she is a Clore Social Leadership fellow. She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in 2018 on the Disability Power100 list and has been a judge since.
Huge thanks to vipodcasting for their support and skills in producing this podcast.
Choose collective impact and contribution over capes and competition. We don’t need another hero!
Episode 4
Daniela Papi-Thornton speaks with Steph Cutler about the need to reframe social entrepreneurship. In this episode she calls for replacing the ‘heropreneur’ model with systems-led leadership. She suggests social entrepreneurs would create more meaningful social impact if they ask, ‘How can I contribute? Rather than ‘how can I compete?’. Our guest poet Chris Redmond takes the idea of collective impact to the skies with his beautiful creative response.
3:32 Too often we think of a social entrepreneur as a hero
6:20 We need to teach people a different mental model. Instead of, ‘how am I going to compete?’ It’s ‘how am I going to contribute?’
11:18 We are telling young people that they have all the tools to go change someone else’s life
14:57 What’s holding this in place? Who benefits from this problem remaining a problem?
19:40 It doesn’t mean you don’t start a social enterprise. It means you are going to start it with an intention to change the system, rather than to win.
29:20 If you just care about being a founder then you’re starting in the wrong place
30:17 Chris’s poem
Resources
The Value of Lived Experience in Social Change: The Need for Leadership and Organisational Development in the Social Sector By Baljeet Sadhu. thelivedexperience.org/report/
Daniela is an impact consultant, educator, and author whose work focuses on social entrepreneurship and systems-led leadership. Daniela has served as a Lecturer at Yale School of Management, Watson Institute, and Oxford’s Saïd Business School where she was also the Deputy Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. Daniela has served as a consultant, advisor, and trainer at a range of enterprises, from public companies to private foundations. Daniela’s work builds upon six years of emerging market entrepreneurial experience in Cambodia, running a hybrid social enterprise.
Website: systems-ledleadership.com/ Twitter: @daniela papi Learning Service The Essential Guide to Volunteering Abroad: learningservice.info/Reclaiming Social Entrepreneurship: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdrfMqBRfEQ
Chris is a poet, musician, performer and producer. He has been featured on BBC Radio 1, 2 and 4, XFM, CBBC and Sky Arts. He is artistic director of Tongue Fu, one of the UK’s leading spoken word shows, where poets, comedians, storytellers and rappers perform with improvised music and films. As an educator, Chris leads workshops in writing, performing and musicianship for organisations such as the British Council, BBC, National Theatre, the Roundhouse and St Mary’s University, London. His debut collection Let The Pig Out is published by Burning Eye.
Website:www.tonguefu.co.uk, Facebook: www.facebook.com/tonguefupage, Twitter:www.twitter.com/tonguefushow, Instagram:www.instagram.com/tonguefushow
Steph Cutler is a speaker, trainer and coach. Her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade specialises in disability equality and she is a Clore Social Leadership fellow. She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in 2018 on the Disability Power100 list and has been a judge since.
Huge thanks to VIPodcasting for their support and skills in producing this podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you access your podcasts from.
Social leadership: Purpose, politics and Portuguese Policies.
For curious minds and critical social thinkers. You believe a better world is worth consideration and want to hear fresh thinking on how to create impact with humanity. You want to live in an equal and equable world which prioritises social justice. Join Steph Cutler as she hosts candid conversations with people prepared to think differently about creating social change; people, like you, who are open to exploring alternative ways to building a fairer future. The last word goes to a spoken word artist who captures each episode.
Episode 3
Sunny Dhadley shares with Steph Cutler how he has developed his leadership in pursuit of creating social impact. He talks about voter representation, drug policy reform and how we need to create more social leaders in every town and every city across the UK and the world. Ibrahim Ismail provides is poetic response.
Quotes & timings
6:04 I noticed a huge disparity between the lived experience of people in the community and the political and strategic aspirations of the government
10:10 Its untenable that we can even consider continuing in this way
12:15 Interaction with the criminal justice system did not stop me with my drug use
11:52 The taxpayer should be up in arms as it is glaringly obvious that the approach isn’t working
16:55 How can you criticise decisions that have been taken if you haven’t exercised your right to vote?
23:05 Ibby’s poem
Resources
LEX Move: https://www.lexmovement.org/, Operation Black Vote: https://www.obv.org.uk/
Sunny Dhadley FRSA
Sunny Dhadley is a leader, social impact consultant and TEDx speaker. In 2007 he began developing peer led services shortly after detoxing from heroin. He went on to nurture the programme he had initially joined, which then received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service. His work in developing collaborative interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable and/or marginalised communities is considered ground-breaking and has been cited in many UK and European best practice papers.
Some of his current roles include; Expert Working Group member for the Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform, member of the Expert Reference Group for Part Two of the Dame Carol Black Review on drugs, and as a LEX (Lived Experience) Elder helping to develop the LEX Movement.
TEDx Talk: Activating Lived Experience to Create Social Change - https://www.ted.com/talks/sunny_dhadley_activating_lived_experience_to_create_social_change
Website: www.sunnydhadley.com, Facebook: @SocialLeadershipGuy, Twitter: @SunnyDhadley
Ibrahim Ismail
Ibby is the Development Manager at Bolton Solidarity Community Association, a charity that works mainly with new communities in Bolton. He is also Deputy Chair and a Non-Executive Director of Bolton at Home and is Chair of Bolton Council for Voluntary Service. In his spare time he writes poetry and short stories and supports Everton FC.
Twitter: @IbbyIsmail1
About the host
Steph Cutler is a speaker, trainer and coach. Her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade specialises in disability equality and she is a Clore Social Leadership fellow. She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in 2018 on the Disability Power100 list and has been a judge since.
Huge thanks to vipodcasting for their support and skills in producing this podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you access your podcasts from.
What can be male, straight, white or purple? It’s not a riddle….. it’s allyship.
Episode 2
Steph Cutler & Leyla Okhai discuss how systems create advantage and how you can check your privilege and be a genuine ally. Annie Rockson provides her creative take on it.
Quotes and timings
2.34 Black Lives Matter is actually 600 years old.
5.34 “Within British South Asian communities we’ve also got a hell of a long way to go on this”
8.50 “We don’t want to be indoctrinated into this woke way of thinking”
10.09 There’s a difference between being an ally and being a savior.
13.36 WE don’t need to ask those private questions.
15.00 When does genuine allyship work well?
15.20 Is it ok for white footballers to ‘take the knee?
20.32 You can’t talk about allyship without talking about power and privilege.
23.30 Your four times more likely to get a job with a white sounding name.
30.52 Annie’s poem.
Resources
- Me & White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism & Change by Layla Saad
- Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Prospectus connects talented people with non-profit organisations
About the Guests
Leyla Okhai is the founder and Director of Diverse Minds UK Ltd. Diverse Minds creates happy, equal and mentally healthy workplaces through training, coaching, speaking and consultancy. The focus is placed on wellbeing, mental health and by understanding culture and race. Leyla has over seventeen years’ experience in developing and implementing diversity, inclusion and equality practices, with senior leadership teams.
Website: Diverse Minds UK Twitter: @diversemindsuk Facebook: diversemindsuk
Annie Rockson is a poet, author, music editor and podcaster. She currently works as the music editor for Amor Magazine. What drives her as a writer, is shedding a light on the stories of underrepresented groups in order to spark debate to bring about social change.
Latest Poem, twitter: @gyallikeannie, instagram: @gyallikeannie
About the host
Steph Cutler is a speaker, equality and personal development trainer and coach. Her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade specialises in disability equality and she is a Clore Social Leadership fellow. She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in 2018 on the Disability Power100 list and has been a judge since.
twitter: @steph_cutler, Linkedin: stephcutler
Huge thanks to vipodcasting for their support and skills in producing this podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you access your podcasts from. Please leave a review and be sure to tune in to future episodes for more insights from social changemakers.
Fairness, fights and furrows: what's next for the disability movement?
Episode 1
In our maiden podcast, Steph Cutler and Phil Friend OBE reflect on the civil rights movement for disabled people and chat how challenges have changed, from invalid tricycles to social media spats, and ask what’s next for the movement, if indeed there still is one? We then hand over to Harry Baker who poetically summarises the conversation.
Show Notes & Quotes
3.12 “There was no such thing as disability inclusion.”
5:21 “The disability movement back in the 80s was as sexist as the non-disabled movement”
6:31 “It took 13 attempts to get disability legislation through the house of commons”
11:10 "We live in a world where communication is all around us but it's telling us not to say anything”
15:55 “The social model of disability doesn’t work quite so well then”
19:26 “Black lives matter is an amazing catalyst”
23:21 “White men in wheelchairs were the supreme beings”
27:03 “For many people in our club they don’t want to belong”
31:07 Poet Harry Bakers creative response
The Guests
Phil Friend OBE
Phil Friend is a wheelchair user and has been involved in disability employment and customer service issues since 1986. After an extremely successful career in the public sector; he founded Phil & Friends Ltd to promote the issue of disability within the business community. At grass roots level, he is very active within voluntary organisations that deal with disability issues and was awarded an OBE in 2001 and an honorary doctorate in 2009, both for service to disability and equal opportunities.
Podcasts: The Way We Roll and Gear Gadgets and Gizmos
Book: Why are you pretending to be normal?
Harry Baker
World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker published his debut anthology ‘The Sunshine Kid’ with Burning Eye in December 2014. The subsequent show of the same name was voted ‘Best Spoken Word show’ of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015. His work has been shared on TED.com and viewed millions of times worldwide, as well as being translated into 21 different languages.
Podcast: Something Borrowed
www.Instagram.com/harrybakerpoet
www.twitter.com/harrybakerpoet.
The Host
Steph Cutler is a speaker, trainer and coach. Her inclusion consultancy, Making Lemonade specialises in disability equality and she is a Clore Social Leadership fellow. She was recognised as one of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK in 2018 on the Disability Power100 list and has been a judge since.
Twitter: @Steph_Cutler
LinkedIn: Steph Cutler
Huge thanks to vipodcasting for their support and skills in producing this podcast.
Podcast Transcript