"I have had no reason to achieve the success that I have, to achieve the confidence that I have, to enjoy the life that I have. There is no reason that that should have happened to me, and it can't happen to you. And that's why I've developed this programme. That's why I want to work with you. Because I want you to feel what that feels like, as a woman of colour in your workplace, in your life, to show up and feel like you're in complete control of your destiny is just, it's just luminary." In t...
Jan 12, 2023•21 min•Season 2Ep. 37
“I kind of realised that, probably from the age of maybe 15/16/17, that if you have advantage, if you have power, whether it is there by virtue of merit, or whether it's there by virtue of the way society is organised, that you can either use that power that influence that voice, to help transform the world into the world that you want to see. Or you can use it to shore things up to your own advantage. And although that's a kind of fairly bleak, split between the two, I also became convinced tha...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 36
‘When was the last time you asked young people about identity and about how safe they feel to bring their identity into school. Because that's the starting point to mitigating attrition of both students and staff.’ In this masterclass episode, Angie focuses on listening to your stakeholders, particularly on issues of race. She discusses how to narrow the gap between pupils’ perception of racist incidents and staff perceptions, and invites you to consider how your own school would address such is...
Dec 29, 2022•49 min•Season 2Ep. 35
“Our ability to weather storms in our schools, I believe, rests on our ability to have skilful, and confident conversations with all of our stakeholders” In this masterclass episode, Angie presents a strategy for developing an SLT that can navigate stormy weather, going beyond just being good people to gain a DEI Intellectual Quotient leading to a DEI Emotional Quotient through deliberate practice. Connect with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne.co.uk A full transcript of this episode can b...
Dec 22, 2022•45 min•Season 2Ep. 34
“I think the idea of it being a golden ticket to being an insider, has already gone. And I think that's a good thing. I mean, I don't have a problem with it. And I think one of the big challenges for the independent sector is, is to ensure that we are fully integrated in society. And we are a force for good both institutionally and for the individuals that we send out into the world.” In this episode Angie talks to Steffan Griffiths about how he approaches DEI work while holding a lot of privile...
Dec 15, 2022•46 min•Season 2Ep. 33
“This is exciting, energising stuff. And while it's difficult, we shouldn't be cowed by that. Because it's through the difficulty that we will make real progress and start to chip away at some very embedded and deep issues that just need to have a light shone on them and that's why we should approach it in a very positive way” In this episode Angie talks to Cheryl Giovannoni about growing up in South Africa, and being a South African in Britain. They also discuss what makes girls’ schools valuab...
Dec 08, 2022•41 min•Season 2Ep. 32
“There are thousands of school leaders and teachers doing those sorts of things every day. And if they weren't, this country would be a lot worse place for this and we don't see it, reward it. I think government takes it for granted that this sort of glue is there. In many ways it sort of uses it, I think, but if we funded it properly, and resourced it and respected it that way, this could be a very powerful force for our country.” In this episode Angie talks to Russell Hobby about his origin st...
Dec 01, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 31
'For so many people in my generation who were raised with that kind of colorblind approach, they've always thought there's not no racism at all, but they haven't realised that they've internalised so much of it. Because it is in all, it's in the media, it's in the culture, it's all in there. So it's for us about kind of trying to say to people, it's okay to see that now. And we need to start talking about it, and having really deep meaningful conversations about it, and how that might be impacti...
Nov 24, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 30
“I remember talking to my PhD supervisor at the time, and saying I'm really getting fed up with being the angriest person in the room. And his response was, you need to find yourself some new rooms.” In this episode Angie talks to Darren Chetty about his origin story, including his varied family background in the Netherlands and South Africa, and his focus on collaboration through his disparate work in anti racism in primary schools, academic writing, philosophy of education, Hip Hop Ed and DEI ...
Nov 17, 2022•49 min•Season 2Ep. 29
"I often think I developed a way of being that is quite convenient, but actually on reflection, I think I was already destined to be that person. But notice, when I look back on how helpful that chameleon like aptitude was, as I made my way through school, because I was very able to put people at ease, very able to make people feel as though my race was not going to cause them any problem." In this distilled episode, Angie reflects on her childhood and first teaching experience, in coversation w...
Nov 10, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 28
‘I really want schools to be places that shine a light on their own challenges in DEI and that shine a light on their own great practice because I believe that that kind of unrelenting focus and that willingness to look at every dark corner will change communities, will change society, will change individuals who work in organisations and will allow organisations to innovate in as yet unimagined ways. I think luminary organisations are great for the world. And the organisations that embrace this...
Nov 03, 2022•31 min•Season 2Ep. 27
‘Just like every other story has been partial and imperfect, just like the coloniser story has been partial and imperfect, I give myself licence to tell a partial and imperfect story about myself’ This episode is part two of Angie’s conversation with her long time friend and colleague Claire Stewart-Hall. They discuss the contributions that Angie’s previous roles have made to her current practice, modelling flexibility and reflection, self care, deciding what to let in, and Angie’s commitment to...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 26
“I think I'm more taken by the breathtaking nature of what would happen if we just decentralised some of those voices, those activities that are currently dominated by the majority And I've become increasingly aware of just how brilliant people are.” In this episode, the tables are turned, and Angie is interviewed by her long time friend and colleague Claire Stewart-Hall. They discuss Angie’s origin story, from her childhood move from North London to Devon, through her teaching career to her mot...
Oct 19, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 25
'In a perfect world, diversity, equity and inclusion would be an aspirational goal in any society, any classroom, any workplace.' This is a really short episode because I wanted to make an audio recording of a recent newsletter that has gone out from Being Luminary towers. And it's because it's been on my mind over the last couple of weeks. The newsletter itself was a response to some critique I had from a friend about the relevance and importance of diversity, equity and inclusion work. The fee...
Oct 12, 2022•9 min•Season 2Ep. 24
‘The system really needs to build in more accountability for it to do its work properly, and then to hold us to account for our silence and our avoidance of what are clearly institutional issues.’ I've been reflecting this week on the murder of Chris Kaba. And thinking about how two years ago, people were very, very exercised about the murder of George Floyd. There's been relatively little notice taken of Chris Kaba in this country, somewhat overshadowed by the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II...
Oct 06, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 23
A quick update from Angie, about Season 2 of Being Luminary, which begins on Thursday 6th October 2022. Make sure you follow the podcast, wherever you're listening, so that you don't miss the new episodes coming soon. Connect with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne.co.uk A full transcript of this episode can be found at https://being-luminary.simplecast.com/episodes/looking-forward-to-season-2 This podcast was written and presented by Angie Browne. Original music is by Martin Austwick. The ...
Sep 22, 2022•5 min
‘If you haven't got someone symbolising the strength and power of diversity, as well as having the systems to back it up. It fails, it doesn't work. Whenever we're doing anything, and whenever we're producing anything, we say why’ In this distilled episode Angie talks to Will Smith, CEO of Greenshaw Learning Trust, about using experience to motivate change, and bringing people onboard by embracing diversity of opinions and explaining why. Will Smith is a Physics teacher, and was leader of the Pi...
Aug 04, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 22
“There never is a barrier; it's only a perceived barrier” In this distilled episode Angie talks to Abby Bayford, Director of Institute at the Academy Transformation Trust, a national multi-academy trust, about discovering that difference can be talked about, and should be shared by the people who experience it. Abby has been a qualified teacher for 14 years, working in and supporting a range of schools in the Midlands. Abby now leads on people development across all directorates for all employee...
Jul 28, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 21
"There have been thresholds in my life where I have actually dug into what I've thought, rather than be binary. I obviously got through, I did it through education. So I learned about the history of lesbian and gay and trans people. I learned about women's history, I learned about black history. And I learned that people have always navigated those boundaries, and those thresholds and created lives for themselves." In this episode distilled episode, Angie talks to Claire Stewart-Hall founder of ...
Jul 21, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 20
"I've had to have a lot of conversations. I've been to a lot of funerals. But it's really important to do that stuff. And to be able to talk about it and support people through those situations, and being able to write to them and have the conversation rather than shy away from it and say to other people, you need to do that." In this distilled episode Angie talks to Dave Baker, CEO of the Olympus Academy Trust. They discuss the influence of Dave’s childhood in a busy vicarage on his leadership ...
Jul 14, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 19
"I haven't got the knowledge. You know, we're sharing knowledge, we're transmitting that knowledge between us, we're shaping it between us. And sometimes that comes with truths, you know, things that are hard to swallow, things that are unpalatable, to kind of keep extending this metaphor. And that's okay." In this distilled episode, Angie talks to Bennie Kara about finding her identity in terms of both race and sexuality. You can find the full conversation in Episode 6 Bennie Kara is a deputy h...
Jul 07, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 18
“I think our beliefs about the world, yes, are are formed by the very big messages that we get. But I actually believe that they're even more informed and I don't know what the evidence is for this, this is just my view, but are even more formed by all the little things that happen to you on a day to day basis.” In this distilled episode, Andy Buck talks about creating positive micro signals for his students and his legacy in education. Listen to the full episode here - Being Luminary Episode 5 ...
Jun 30, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 17
“I started talking about an alternative improvement agenda that wasn't based on blaming people, wasn't based on labelling children, it wasn't based on tracking performance. It was essentially based on on openness and questioning and inventiveness and so on, that was all about a highly inclusive way of thinking about teaching and learning.” A second chance to hear Angie talk to Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching and originator of Learning Without Limits abou...
Jun 23, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 16
“When we think about parental engagement, I’m encouraging us to just sit in that space between praise and blame, and really lean into compassion and non-judgement.” In this solo episode of Being Luminary, Angie explores how we can cultivate fertile ground through trust, compassion and openness, to better work with parents as we strengthen our DEI work in schools. She ends with posing some questions you can use to support your work with stakeholders. Read more in Lighting the Way: the case for et...
Jun 16, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 15
“It turned out that I could not be an innocent bystander, and the more I understood this, the more it became possible for people to ask me for help” In this episode Angie shares five of the prompts that she gives her podcast guests, to tease out their stories, and their personal reflections on diversity, equity and inclusion work. In doing so, she shares her own thoughts from her blog about the prompts, and encourages you to think what your answers would be. Connect with Angie on her website - w...
Jun 09, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 14
“Really luminary work is recalibrating around being better places to be, for everyone” In this solo episode of Being Luminary, Angie encourages you to stop playing DEI whack-a-mole and focus on being intersectional in all aspects of recruitment and retention. Angie highlights areas of recruitment that tend to be overlooked, and gives three practical ways to attract a more diverse talent pool. Connect with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne.co.uk A full transcript of this episode can be foun...
Jun 02, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 13
‘If you haven't got someone symbolising the strength and power of diversity, as well as having the systems to back it up. It fails, it doesn't work. Whenever we're doing anything, and whenever we're producing anything, we say why’ In this episode Angie talks to Will Smith, CEO of Greenshaw Learning Trust, about using experience to motivate change, and bringing people onboard by embracing diversity of opinions and explaining why. Will Smith is a Physics teacher, and was leader of the PiXL network...
May 26, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 12
“At the heart of diversity, equity, inclusion work for me, is a desire to be respectful enough to know who we remember and why.” In the wake of the terrorist attack in Buffalo, and the anniversary of the death of George Floyd, a reminder of why and for whom we do this work. Connect with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne.co.uk A full transcript of this episode can be found at https://being-luminary.simplecast.com/episodes/lest-we-forget This podcast was written and presented by Angie Browne...
May 19, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 11
“There never is a barrier; it's only a perceived barrier” In this episode Angie talks to Abby Bayford, Director of Institute at the Academy Transformation Trust, a national multi-academy trust, about discovering that difference can be talked about, and should be shared by the people who experience it. Abby has been a qualified teacher for 14 years, working in and supporting a range of schools in the Midlands. Abby now leads on people development across all directorates for all employees at Acade...
May 12, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Is following a framework enough when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion work? What motivates us to do the work? In this solo episode of Being Luminary, Angie looks at why it is important to explore the culture and practice of your organization as part of DEI work, and why one size may not fit all. Find out more about the Luminary Leadership of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme visit www.angelabrowne.co.uk/luminary-leadership-dei Connect with Angie on her website - www.angelabrowne....
May 05, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 9
