Daring to be Different | Samantha Grierson

I am delighted to be joined today by Samantha Lee Howe, bestselling author, screenwriter and survivor ambassador for IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services), which is based in Yorkshire. Samantha’s novel “The Stranger in our Bed '' became a number one hit In the US Today book charts. Samantha adapted the book and turned it into her first screenplay. it is now a successful film starring Samantha Bond available on streaming services. Samantha, welcome to this special edition of “Daring to...

Daring to be different I chat with the brilliant poet Clare Shaw, who is a keen advocate for writing as a tool of social and personal change. As the Project Lead for the Royal Literary Fund, they were responsible for setting up writing projects in workplaces across the UK. Clare was the resident poet for Lancashire Wildlife Trust in 2021 and they continue to use poetry to engage communities with wildlife and ecology. In collaboration with the novelist Winnie M Li, Clare was the recipient of...

Susannah Laing actor, writer, singer/songwriter, poet, athlete and ADHD advocate. She gave a Tedx Talk in 2020 on “what bulimia taught me”. She has represented Scotland in both Hockey and Golf, playing professional golf in the US and is currently learning aerials and dance trapeze, paintings of which are featured in Greer Ralstons “Into the Light” exhibition in Perth. We chat about the gender politics of Professional Sport, playing queer/straight roles, addiction, eating disorders, ADHD,...

Daring to be different “Learning from Autistic teachers - How to Be a Neurodiversity-Inclusive School ” I chat with two of the authors Madge Woollard a music teacher and Autistic Advocate and Susanna Matthan is a Freelance specialist teacher, full time student and Positive Autistic Advocate. We chat about the book, the realities of being an Autistic teacher and working with Autistic children, later life autism diagnosis, the risks of coming out as Neurodivergent at work & University,...

Daring to be different with Steven Smith, Celebrity Hairdresser, Author of “It shouldn’t happen to a hairdresser”, Chat show host, Journalist, Radio presenter and Diversity Role model. We talk about coming out in the 1970’s, his experiences of being a young gay man, gay social history, Kenny Everett, tales of styling the stars and charity work for Anna Kennedy Online a charity which raises awareness of Autism. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have...

Daring to be different with Giuliana Wheater, an author & multi award winning therapist working with autism, SEN and mental health. She is the founder of Therapies For Special Needs and Rainbow Kids Touch Therapy . She is the Wellbeing Ambassador for the international Autism charity Anna Kennedy Online. Her work has been recognised by the Children’s University as a Learning Destination. Her proudest achievement is being Mum to 4 neurodiverse children. We chat about the challenges of autism...

Daring to be different, I chat with the remarkable Merryn Johns, Editor in Chief of Queer Forty Online Magazine. Journalist & Broadcaster, who previously held roles as Editor in Chief at Curve Magazine, Group Editor of OUT Voices and Editor at News Corp & Bound Magazine. We discuss queer media in Australia, the UK and the US, the move from paper to digital, the importance of social media to drive content, why age matters, coming out and what the future trends are within the LGBTQ+...

Sharon Morgan, an actor from the stage and screen, she has received three BAFTA Cymru awards, appearing in Casualty, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Torchwood and in the feature film Apostle. She translated the play Vagina Monologues into welsh and is a welsh language campaigner. We discuss activism, the welsh language, getting arrested, Torchwood, Working whilst being a single parent, playing the autistic lead in Mole, The Vagina Monologues, feminism, political art and Helen...

Daring to be different - I am delighted to be joined today by Rosie Wilby, an award-winning comedian, author and podcaster who has appeared many times on BBC Radio 4 programmes including Woman's Hour, Saturday Live and Four Thought. Her first book Is Monogamy Dead? was longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize and followed a trilogy of solo shows investigating the psychology of love and relationships. Her new book The Breakup Monologues is based on her acclaimed podcast of the same name and...

Daring to be different, I chat with Hannah Bardell, a Scottish politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Livingston since 2015. She is a member of the Scottish National Party and was the spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. In addition to all of this Hannah is one of at least 45 out LGBT+ MPs in the House of Commons… identifying on Instagram as a Lesbian / Feminist. We discuss playing football in the House of Commons, Surfing, Coming Out, Banning Conversion Therapy...

Daring to be different - I am joined by Sally Nilsson, Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, Neurodiversity Advocate, Podcaster and Author of “The Man who sank Titanic. The Troubled Life Of Quartermaster Robert Hichens”. We discuss the Titanic and her book about her Great Grandfather Robert Hitchens and her theories about his neurodivergence, her own later life diagnosis of Autism and ADHD, Mental Health, being a Psychotherapist for Neurodivergent people and tips and thoughts on receiving a...

Daring to be different I chat with Claire Summerskill, a writer, comedian, a singer-song-writer and an academic. She performs one-woman comedy shows and tours internationally. Currently she is on tour with her latest show, ‘I’ve Been Clare Summerskill' She’s termed ’The Lesbian Victoria Wood’ by Radio 4 Woman’s Hour. Patron of several LGBTQ organisations including Kenric, London Gay Symphony Orchestra, The East London Out Project, MindOut, and Educate & Celebrate. We discuss comedy legends...

Daring to be different, I chat with Victoria Broom an actor who has starred in ITVs Marcella and Cheaters for the BBC. Victoria won the Diversity in Media award for 'Rising star 2017' for her role in the LGBT series Different for Girls seasons 1 & 2. Victoria has performed on Stage in London for many years including Shakespeares Globe theatre. We discuss coming out as an actor, Anna Friels character in Brookside and the importance of the first pre watershed lesbian kiss, casting queer...

Daring to be different - I chat with Leng Montgomery, Diversity and Inclusion leader, Trans specialist, Tedx Speaker and Masterchef contestant. We discuss Trans inclusion, casting for Trans characters in dramas, tips on how to suceed on Masterchef and Tedx Talks. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is...

Daring to be different in celebration of Pride month, I chat with Linda Riley, a journalist and LGBT+ rights advocate. She is the publisher of the Diva magazine and founder of the very successful Lesbian Visibility Week. She was joint publisher of the magazines g3 and Out in the City, founded the Global Diversity List, European Diversity Awards, and the Pride Power List, and a former board director of GLAAD. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have...

We start Season 2 chatting with Tess Eagle Swan, author of the new book “Incredible Kratu”. She is an Autism advocate, rescue dog ambassador and campaigner. Tess also supports the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred over the last 30 years, how language has evolved and is evolving and how we still have...

Daring to be Different: In celebration of Lesbian Visibility week, I chat with LGBT Poet Laureate, Trudy Howson. We discuss lesbian visibility, poetry, the 23rd Anniversary of the homophobic hate bombing at The Admiral Duncan in Soho, coming out and Trudy reads some of her fantastic poems. Happy Lesbian Visibility Week. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has occurred...

In this episode I chat with Entrepreneur and Co Founder of Walking Women, Ginny Lunn and Anne Scholefield, a retired teacher, world traveller and all round adventurer. We discuss Walking with Women, the importance of safe spaces for women, adventures and travel, how the landscape has changed for LGBT+ women over the last 30 years. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that...

In this episode I chat with Claire Littley Singer, Song Writer and Producer, she previously sang the lead vocal on “Fly Me to The Moon”, for the anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, which amassed hundreds of millions of views on Social media. We discuss her latest single "Change the Game", which provides the theme tune to this Podcast series, her music career, making it in the music world as an older female artist and being an "Out" gay artist. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview...

In this episode I chat with Megan Black Singer and Song Writer, she was a BBC Scotlands 2019 Singer/Songwriter Award nominee and is a self proclaimed “hippy-dippy drag queen”. We discuss her coming out as Bisexual, establishing herself as an artist and we review her upcoming album "Deadly is the Woman", which releases 1st April. Welcome to the Sam Grierson interview series, chatting to change makers who have Dared to Be Different and stand up and speak out. We discuss social change that has...