Leading Minds

Here Co Founder Courtney talks with Father,Actor and Fitness coach entrepreneur Joshua Dacosta about his upbringing and what it means to be a influential black role model on a grass roots level.

Leading Minds - Episode 14- Black History Month Series - Breaking Down The Doors” - with Jazzie Martian We will all face challenges in our life however it’s our outlook that determines how negatively we allow these issues to impact us. This episode focusses on how some people can face trauma and can face challenges in life but through a natural inclination or through a type of mindset they are able to look at life with a smile on their face and keep reaching for the stars. Where does this positive outlook come from ? Is it inherent In us as humans and needs to be triggered in our low moments ? Are some people born with it? Is it something that can be taught ? Jazzie takes us on his journey , his traumas, his challenges and most importantly his outlook that just doesn’t seem to waiver no matter what life has thrown at him. The first time Jazzie was on our screens was on the BBCs Let It Shine with Gary Barlow etc and made it through to the finals however the glitz and glamour masked a journey from a “Blockey Estate” following his passion. almost an obsession for dance, that saw him at one point with just £5 in his pocket to survive to literally breaking down the doors to achieve what he wanted. This isn’t just a story of overcoming our adversities but a story of true grit and determination through mental health challenges , depression , knock backs and inequality to still be smiling and see life from a humble and positive perspective. Jazzies talent is immense but the humility that he shows and the appreciation of his roots is inspirational , you can check out Jazzies latest single “Hard Days Hard Nights” This one is sure to leave you smiling ... Leading Minds...Leading You To A Better Life

Episode 15 - When Faith Turns Toxic with Mardoche Yembi Leading Minds - Episode 15 - When Faith Turns Toxic with Mardoche Yembi Faith plays an important part in some people’s recovery however cultural taboos & misinterpreted religious theology can create an extraordinary set of mental & physical challenges that can seem impossible to overcome. Mardoche’s story gives us the hope that they can be overcome. Child abuse based on faith or belief, which includes witchcraft, spirit possession and black magic, increased from 1,460 cases in 2016 to 1,950 in 2019 and experts believe the real figure may be even higher due to a lack of awareness about the issue. Mardoche suffered horrendous mental and physical abuse from what were meant to be his care givers. After the death of his mother when he was 8 he was sent from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to London, to live with his Aunt and Uncle. What followed was abuse at the hands of his extended family after they started to believe he was a “kindoki child”. Whilst still in primary school, Mardoche survived exorcisms , death threats, emotional abuse and isolation - all while coping with the loss of his mother and the separation from his father and siblings. After being accused of the death of his mother and suffering years of abuse from his care givers an 11 year old Mardoche spent nights riding the bus so he wouldn’t have to go home and came very close to ending it all and committing suicide if it wasn’t for a stroke of twisted luck. While his story is challenging to hear at times, it’s also one of hope, forgiveness and incredible strength in the face of some extraordinary circumstances. www.leading-minds.co.uk

Leading Minds - Episode 13 - Black History Month Series - A Broken System with Mulz Simpasa of Skitzo As a continuation of our black history month series this episode delves deep into inequality and discrimination that are rife in the treatment of mental health systemically. We drill deep into a system run on inequality and poor resources , wrong diagnoses and counterproductive, out of the box solutions. Shockingly a recent statistic revealed by the NHS shows that black people are 4 times more likely to be sectioned than their white counterparts. This means that the “system” would rather detain people from black backgrounds under the mental health act than provide the actual resources needed to overcome their challenges. Mulz is an alarming example of black people being sectioned wrongly and having to face the unfair consequences in cold and bleak institutions that offer no tangible signposted solutions for recovery rather a bureaucratic system of clip boards and tick boxes that pigeon hole the sufferer. In his darkest moment in 2016 Mulz attempted suicide overdosing to escape the pressure of society and the self imposed sense of failure that he felt through environmental pressures, his subsequent treatment by the authorities will give you goose bumps. His story is one of discrimination, profiling and an exposure of a broken mental health system. The world is lucky that Mulz survived so that we could all enjoy an extraordinarily skilled and creative individual whose passion runs through his designs at Skitzo Worldwide. This humble individual shies away from taking any credit for his success and focusses on the Skitzo family - a multicultural community of super creative and gifted individuals. Leading Minds....Leading you to a better life.

As part of Black History Month and world mental health awareness around inequality we have chosen the next few podcasts to represent a series displaying the issues and challenges race and ethnicity play in our conditioning and mental health. BBC Documentary Maker , TV Presenter, behavioural specialist & Poet the supremely talented Aaron Roach Bridgeman joins us on this episode to discuss the issue of inequality and its impact on mental health. Aarons acclaimed documentaries shed a well needed light into societal issues caused by race such as the issues surrounding Black Business and the controversial topic of Stop & Search. His latest documentary “Spending Black - The Currency Of Community” (available on BBC iplayer) is a prime example of how his work provides a balanced view despite the fact he has every right to champion the dark side of racism and discrimination due to his own experiences. Aaron Roach Bridgeman has risen from the rough streets of Harlesden to becoming a prominent figure on our screens. We delve deep into Aaron’s background and his motivations as well the struggles and challenges he’s faced from a young age and the immense mental strength he has had to not be influenced by his peers or his environment and to go on and excel in his craft. Aaron is a trailblazer and a beacon for people from ethnic backgrounds but the start of his journey is no different to any black youth today This is one not to be missed , we dissect racism and black cultural issues thoroughly on this episode and the impact they have on mental health.

Episode 11 - Wellness In The Workplace with Mark Wright - BBC Apprentice winner & Entrepreneur. Leading Minds - Episode 11 - Wellness In The Workplace with Mark Wright - BBC Apprentice winner & Entrepreneur. From a shattered dream to winning the BBC’s apprentice, to then experiencing hate and abuse to going on to running many successful businesses. Mark's lived experiences have enabled him to acknowledge that mental health support for the workforce is a necessity. In episode 11 we discuss Mark's journey and the lessons he has learnt. The peaks and troughs in life on the road to success have not only enabled him to pass on his lessons to others but have allowed him the foresight to provide mental health support for his staff. From meditation to therapy Mark has all angles covered for his staff's mental health wellbeing but this is not as straightforward as we would imagine and Mark discusses the challenges of actually implementing any solution despite the sincerity behind it. Equally we discuss the difficulties that exist in trying to find the support needed in the first place , is it companies not doing enough? or does the solution actually not exist in one place until now in the form of Leading Minds.

In episode 10 we reflect on the common threads and running themes that have arisen from our guests stories from the first 10 episodes of our podcast and what lessons we can all take from our guests to over come our challenges. We also give our own take on our guests stories and look back at the lessons we’ve learnt as individuals from them s over the last 10 weeks. When we set up Leading Minds we felt that if we could tell our own stories and share our vulnerabilities and challenges then it would allow people to have a platform and a safe place to discuss their own challenges. Most importantly we wanted to get the message across that people suffering from mental health issues are not alone and that there is always a way out. In Episode 10 we discuss some real life success stories from this strategy so far and our plans to ensure that everyone suffering from mental health challenges has the access to the solutions they require in one place A massive thank you to all our guests so far : Episode 1 - Our Journey To Leading Minds Episode 2 - Sales , Self Worth & Success with John Ogah Episode 3 - Drugs , Guns & Violence to Boardrooms , Bhangra & Billions with Roberto Rudie Episode 4 - The Reality Behind Our Perceptions Deana Uppal Episode 5 - Problem Solving & Mind Management Kash Khokhar Episode 6 - The Art Of Never Giving Up with David Earles Episode 7 - The Science Of Oneself with Anu Sareen Episode 8 - Addiction: Alcoholism James Horwood Episode 9 - An Introduction to Breathwork with Shaina Maree All our podcast episodes are available on the Leadings Minds YouTube Channel. We hope to bring you many more stories that will resonate with you and that you can relate to and to take lessons how we can all overcome our challenges. We will also aim to provide the tools and knowledge to overcome challenges and to shift from a negative mindset to a positive mindset. Whether it’s therapy , physical fitness , yoga , breathwork, training courses etc Leading Minds...Leading You To A Better Life

In episode 9 we uncover the history and benefits of Breath Work, the essence of which is the pranayama practice and a more popular variant of this today is Wim Hof. Shaina , who is a certified trainer in breath work practices and has spent a large amount of time with Wim Hof himself, takes us on her journey from a tough upbringing to finding solace in her breath work practice and teaching others the amazing instant benefits of breath work. Shaina is a true expert when it comes to these techniques and she shares her knowledge for us all to get an insight into how breath work can increase positivity in our mental state and equally help us increase immunity. Breath Work has many benefits and unlike other practices where stamina and endurance need to be built up to see results the benefits and results of breath work are instant. We don’t need to be in a specific mental or physical shape to partake in this practice, all we need to be able to do is just breath and stop.

Addiction is vast and varied and comes in many forms. Doing a podcast that covers the issue of addiction in one episode would be impossible and over the coming weeks and months some of our podcasts will be highlighting different forms of addiction and giving each one its own platform. In Episode 8 we discuss Alcoholism , what does alcoholism look like and the negative impact it can have in our lives. James takes us on a journey of his challenges with alcoholism , the darkest moments in his addictive state and how he has overcome these challenges to reach sobriety through a structured recovery programme. Alcoholism is not always what we think it is and can look very different for different people , it’s not necessarily about the amount we consume but what we attach the alcohol to in our lives and the dependency it creates in different forms. With the increase in alcohol consumption over the last 18 months due to lockdown the number of people suffering from alcohol addiction and alcohol dependancy has also increased and in this episode James talks us through the 12 step programme that has helped him overcome his challenges so that others may benefit from it.

Leading Minds - Episode 7 - The Science Of Oneself - with Anuj Sareen Anuj takes us on a journey to the inner self discussing meditation , spirituality and how to reconnect with ourselves. The truth lies within us and in the clutter of our minds we forget that “I AM” is the most important acknowledgement that we can make to ourselves when we start our journey to inner peace and tranquility. In this episode we discuss the power of meditation and how we can find the forgotten self. Anuj beautifully describes the inward journey and the tool kit he uses on a daily basis to reconnect and stay grounded through a practice called Advita - The science of oneself. It all starts with ourselves and the science of oneself is a topic that will inspire you to reconnect to the most important being in your life .... YOU