Joining me for episode 10 of Lemonade is the wonderful Gulwali Passarlay, refugee rights advocate, campaigner, and author of the acclaimed memoir, The Lightless Sky. When he was just eleven years old, his mother made the heartbreaking decision to send him away from Afghanistan after his father was killed.

In this insightful conversation, Gulwali tells me about his childhood growing up in rural Afghanistan. He sheds light on the challenges faced by the country, and the impact of conflict and war on its people. He also speaks openly about his own journey from Afghanistan to Europe as a child, highlighting the dangers faced by countless refugees who are forced to make similar journeys. We discuss the challenges refugees encounter upon arrival in the UK, and the rise of right-wing ideologies. I learned so much from this episode - about the resilience of the human spirit, the complexities of seeking asylum, and the importance of staying compassionate and informed. Gulwali's insights on how we can all play a role in supporting refugees and advocating for a more just world were both eye-opening and inspiring.

If you'd like to stay in touch with Gulwali, you can follow his work on Instagram. You can buy his memoir, The Lightless Sky, here.

To be the first to know about every new episode of The Lemonade Podcast, please click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.

We are proudly sponsored by Nurecover. Head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.

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I'm thrilled to kick off season two of The Lemonade Podcast with the incredible Amber Jeffrey—a powerhouse speaker, mentor, and the voice behind The Grief Gang podcast. Amber’s story is nothing short of inspiring. At just 19, she lost her beloved mum, Susan, to a sudden heart attack. Struggling with isolation, suicidal ideation and the lack of relatable support, Amber channeled her pain into action, launching the Grief Gang podcast to break the silence around loss and to build a community for those who feel unseen.

In this episode, Amber opens up about her journey through grief and the birth of The Grief Gang movement. She dives into the power of connecting with others who’ve walked the same path, and challenges the notion that only professionals hold the key to healing. We talk about the threads of hope that bind those of us navigating loss and how grief isn’t something to "get over", but something to live alongside. Amber reflects on how her mum’s death has shaped her, driving her to take risks and build a life marked by resilience. Her insights are profound and I’m sure her wisdom will resonate with you as much as it does with me.

If you'd like to stay in touch with Amber, follow her on Instagram and check out her podcast on Spotify.

Support Resources:

The Grief School

Samaritans UK

The Good Grief Trust

The New Normal Charity

To be the first to know about every new episode of The Lemonade Podcast, click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.

We are proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The incredible Stacey Heale is a true multi-hyphenate - a fashion academic, speaker, campaigner, and author of upcoming memoir, 'Now is not the Time for Flowers'. In November 2016, her husband Greg Gilbert, the lead singer of Delays, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. He died five years later in September 2021, leaving Stacey with two small children, Dali and Bay.

In this refreshingly honest, no-holds-barred conversation, Stacey and I lift the lid on the reality of navigating cancer diagnoses, our roles as primary caregivers to our late partners, and dealing with regrets in the wake of their deaths. We discuss the unique fallout of partner loss, the misconceptions surrounding grief, and the lessons we've learned. Stacey also chats to me about her fabulous debut book, which examines the messy and unexpected realities of love, desire, motherhood, death, grief, identity, and personal growth.

Stay connected with Stacey on Instagram, and pre-order 'Now is not the Time for Flowers' here.

To be the first to know about every new Lemonade episode, click 'subscribe' and connect with me over on Instagram.

The Lemonade Podcast is proudly sponsored by Nurecover. If saunas and ice baths are your thing, head to the website and use the discount code LOTTENU for 15% off your purchase.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.