Here's Hoping with Jayda G – Details, episodes & analysis

George shares how going to Cambridge and the fear of being stereotyped kickstarted his transition from Grime & rap to poetry, and why he never looked back due to the greater freedom he feels there is to talk on vulnerable topics in poetry. George talks about the impact of coming across black poets Def Poetry Jam and connecting to it emotionally instantly and why he feels poetry has maintained a grassroots quality compared to music because of the struggle to truly commercialise it. On this theme George talks about the process of writing his non-fiction book, Track Record, drawing on his PhD in understanding why, despite the huge commercial success of Black music, Black communities haven’t truly benefitted and been empowered by that success and unpacking how Colonialism and its continued presence is core to this. George also tells Jayda why he didn’t accept the MBE offered to him in 2019 and how it relates to Colonialism and being Ugandan, but conversely how writing a poem for Harry and Megan’s wedding opened him up to love and led him to falling in love with his wife shortly after. Jayda and George talk about marriage and George shares how partnership with his wife has helped him stay grounded as an artist.

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Have You Heard George's Podcast?

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George the Poet is an award winning London-born spoken word performer and sociopolitical poet. George’s innovative brand of musical poetry has won him critical acclaim both as a recording artist and a social commentator. He is the author of multiple poetry books and the non-fiction book Track Record which explores the power dynamics that impact Black creativity. George is also the host of the podcast ‘Have you Heard George’s Podcast?’ which has won 5 British Podcast Awards! In 2019, George was offered an MBE, but turned it down due to due to the British Empire's history of exploitation. In 2021 The University of London presented George with an honorary doctorate in literature. George is now embarking on a PhD at UCL'S Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, focusing on the socio-economic potential of black music.

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the amazing high fashion model, activist and creative director, James Corbin - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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James Corbin

Jayda G

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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Willow shares why she feels the answer to positive change is love and reminding people that we love the earth is a crucial part of fighting climate change. She talks about how love and admiration of nature is at the of her beautiful publication, atmos’ ethos. Willow also shares how the ever changing dynamic of nature gave her strength to transition herself and also shares the ways in which nature is queer. With that, Willow shares how queer activism overlaps with climate activism and how they are both grounded in challenging the status quo, and why she practices spiritual ecology and allow nature’s wisdom to help guide her through life. 

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Willow Defebaugh is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Atmos, a climate and culture magazine that tells stories about the environment through a lens of creativity. She is the author of The Overview, a deep ecology newsletter and book. She is a lifelong student of nature and graduated with a degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue,V Magazine, Interview, i-D, BBC, The Guardian, them, New York Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn on unceded Lenape territory.

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible grammy-winning Haitian producer & DJ, Michaël Brun - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Jayda G

Michaël Brun

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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In this beautiful conversation, Michaël shares with Jayda his experience of growing up in Haiti and how his Caribbean culture has influenced his music and approach to collaboration. They talk about the importance of creating opportunities for community and connection for the Caribbean diaspora and how important enjoying one’s culture and music is to a sense of self and actualised personal identity. Michaël shares why he founded his event series BAYO and how his love of Haiti and celebrating Haiti culture is both behind the parties he throws but also the important Philanthropy he does, from both supporting Haitian communities impacted by local disasters to investing in local culture and arts. Jayda also talks with Michaël about his journey from studying medicine to quitting and pursuing music full-time and the importance of mentors in supporting your journey to what you are meant for in life. This was such a rich and uplifting conversation!

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BAYO tour

Michaël Brun is a grammy-winning Haitian producer & DJ, with a sound that is heavily Caribbean influenced with a global outlook. he has collaborated with an amazing array of international artists including J Balvin, Becky G, to Oxlade, Mr Eazi, to Lolo Zouaï & John Legend! Michael is also deeply committed to his roots and platforming Haitian and Caribbean artists, and founded the incredible sell-out event series BAYO, which brings together and celebrates the Haitian and Carribean diaspora. What started off as a block party in New York now tours around the world. Michael is also a philanthropist, supporting communities in Haiti and is always using his platform to shine a spotlight on Haitian culture, talent and creativity. 

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, live improviser, and field recordist, Cosmo Sheldrake - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Jayda G

Cosmo Sheldrake

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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In this episode, Jayda and Cosmo talk about how they interweave their music with their love and fascination with nature. Cosmo also shares his role in campaigning for the publishing rights of nature, for nature to earn from the music it is featured in. We hear Jayda and Cosmo discuss why giving nature legal rights like this is essential in preserving and protecting the living world. Cosmo also shares his thoughts around artists donating parts of their profits and why looking to fungi, appreciating how interconnected we all are, plants and humans, is what gives him a sense of hope. 

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Cosmo is a UK-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, live improviser, and field recordist. His music ranges widely from celebratory anthems to soulful elegies to riotous party numbers, to sparse electronic production, to haunting polyphonic songs that have grown out of field recordings of birds, whales, fish, frogs, and fungi, and more. Running through all his work is a belief that the living world is a noisy and musical place with the power to change how we think, feel, and imagine. Together with his human and non-human collaborators, Cosmo creates music that speaks to the urgency and possibility of our times. Cosmo has toured internationally with sold-out headline shows across North America, Europe, and Japan. He has composed music for both film and theatre and, in 2015, ran a community choir in Brighton, UK. Cosmo’s song Come Along was featured in a high-profile global Apple commercial, resulting in the track charting at number 39 on the US Digital Songs chart. In 2020, his song Birthday Suit became a top trend on TikTok and currently has over 60 million streams on platforms with over 1 million video uploads using the track. In 2020, he released Wake Up Calls on his label Tardigrade Records, featuring tracks composed entirely from recordings of endangered British birds. In 2023, Cosmo released Wild Wet World, an EP that is an homage to the ocean. His new album, Eye to the Earwill be released in April 2024. See his Linktree for shows, merch, and more.

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia chat about this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the brilliant content creator, author, presenter, freelance writer, public speaker, plus-size model, and body image and self-love advocate, Stephanie Yeboah, what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Jayda G

Stephanie Yeboah

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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In this powerful conversation Stephanie shares her journey with body image, body positivity and fat acceptance with Jayda. They share the importance of visibility of marginalised bodies and how seeing people who look like you, directly impacts your relationship with your body, and in turn, your mental health. Stephanie discusses the roots of the body positivity movement, started by Black and fat American women, but how over the years this movement has been co-opted by capitalism and it’s true inclusivity has been lost. Steph shares how embracing the word fat has been her response to reclaiming that power and Jayda and her discuss why having proper plus size fashion options is so important for self actualisation. 

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Fattily Ever After Book

Gratitude Affirmations For The Body

Steph is a multi-award-winning content creator, author, presenter, freelance writer, public speaker, plus-size model, and body image and self-love advocate, with over 15 years of experience writing and creating content about plus-size fashion, beauty/skincare, travel, lifestyle and pop culture.

In 2020, Steph released her debut non-fiction novel ‘Fattily Ever After: A Fat Black Girl’s Guide to Living Life Unapologetically‘, which became an Amazon bestseller in its first week of publication. In the same year, she became the first British plus-size black woman to grace the cover of Glamour Magazine UK and has featured on the lives of Sky News, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio London, LBC, ITV News and MTV UK.

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In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia chat about this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the brilliant Documentary director, producer and co-founder, Alice Aedy, what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.

If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…

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Alice Aedy

Mia Zur-Szpiro

Here's Hoping Podcast

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