Episodes

In this episode we step into the world of theatre and storytelling through JaJa’s African Hair Braiding — a play that centres the beauty, complexity and politics of Black life within the familiar space of the hair salon. The conversation reflects pertinent themes such as identity, migration, labour and belonging. We delve into the unspoken dynamics that live in community spaces — the care, the tension, the humour and the truth. Through this discussion, we reflect on what it means to be seen, to...

Welcome Back to ARM-OUR or OUR-ARM, the podcast from the Anti-Racist Movement (ARM). Giving can be powerful, restorative, and intentional and this episode explores how we reclaim our energy and connect more deeply to our shared humanity. For this relaunch episode, we mark International Women’s Day with a powerful conversation inspired by the theme Give to Gain and the call to give again. Black women have always given, we give our care, labour, wisdom, leadership and for our community. Giving is...

Welcome to today’s episode. - We’re diving into the power of Black women’s writing — not just as creativity, but as survival, healing, and resistance. This episode comes out of a five-day writing retreat in July 2025 for Black women in academia,

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the finale of our unforgettable "March in May" fundraiser—a journey that took us across the stunning Seven Sisters hills and deep into conversations about resilience, representation,

In this episode, we tackle a tough conversation head-on. Our core collective delves into a deeply disturbing situation that shook us to our core and compelled us to respond. We confront the impact of racist imagery, prioritising its effects over its intent. As a collective, we recognise the urgent need to call out these issues, no matter how uncomfortable they may be. Ignoring them only perpetuates behaviour, which is then deemed unconscious. We can no longer tolerate this and have a responsibi...

This isn't reform, it reimagination. Season 10 begins with a call for radical, anti-racist visions for social work. - In this episode, we launch a call for abstracts for the upcoming British Journal of Social Work special issue: "Reimagining Anti-Ra...

Welcome to today’s episode - the last for series 9 - where we dive deep into the complexities of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Members of the core collective unpack the challenges of implementing and measuring EDI efforts and explore the gr...

Happy New Year to you ALL. - Welcome to Bridging the Years, the first episode of ARMOUR or OURARM for 2025. As we step into this new year, we pause to reflect on the lessons, triumphs, and growth of 2024. What did the past year teach us?

In this deeply moving season finale of ARM-OUR, Laurelle and I hold nothing back as we delve into the intricate intersection of neurodiversity, leadership, and identity. As Black women navigating the dual worlds of executive leadership and ADHD (and dyslexia), we explore the layers of complexity, resilience, and vulnerability that come with breaking stereotypes and challenging expectations. This conversation is a raw, honest reflection on the highs and lows of our journeys—offering insights, sol...

Welcome to this special episode, where we have the privilege of sitting down with the extraordinary Dr. Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE. With decades of experience in social work and child protection, Dr. Barnett-Jones has dedicated her life to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families. A trailblazer in her field, she has not only transformed social work practice but has also influenced policy at a national level. In this candid and inspiring conversation, we delve into her personal jo...

Welcome to another episode of ARM-OUR or OUR-ARM, the podcast hosted by me, Shantel Thomas, founder of the Anti-Racist Movement (A.R.M.). Today, we have a special one-on-one conversation with Shirleecia Ward—a remarkable woman with an incredible story and purpose. Shirleecia is an African-Caribbean mother of two daughters, a dedicated researcher, and a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. Her passion lies in amplifying the voices of Black women and ensuring that their lived experiences ...

Recorded at the end of October 2024, this episode again features some of the core members of A.R.M talking about their individual and collective contributions to social activism over the past months. This years theme for Black History Month is 'Reclaiming Narratives' and we reflect on the milestones and resilience that has shaped History and our ongoing fight for racial justice. We also look ahead to the upcoming ICU or 'I See You' Conference and 2nd Anniversary Celebrations for the Anti-Racist ...

In this episode - C-our-rage or See Our Rage - we focus on the interplay between courage and anger in light of the "Race Riots" of August 2024. Courage is the 4th of 4 core values of A.R.M and we explore how our collective anger against injustice becomes a source of strength, fueling our courage to confront racism head-on. We'll examine the balance between rage, resilience and vulnerability, and how these emotions are essential to sustaining the fight for justice. Take a listen and leave a comme...

Welcome to ARM-OUR, the podcast from the Anti-Racist Movement (ARM). In this episode, we continue to delve into our core values, with today's focus being 'Compassion as the Core'. We explore how empathy and understanding are essential in the fight against racism and discuss how compassion shows up across the life span. A key focus is on self-compassion, both inside and outside of social work. Step into our world, and we'll meet you there and lets embark on this journey of compassion and action t...

In this episode, we delve into the heart of social work, focusing on the vital role of connection. We explore how taking the time to rest and rejuvenate can actually strengthen the bonds we build with those we work for and with. We share practical strategies, powerful stories from the field, and discuss the intersection of rest, connection, and social justice. Join us as we reflect on how rest not only nurtures us as individuals but also empowers us to forge stronger, more meaningful connections...

In this inaugural episode of ARM-OUR, you'll have the chance to meet the six powerful women who form the nucleus of our community. Each of us bring a unique perspective, passion, and wealth of experience to our collective resistance. Focussing on one of the 4Cs that make up our values (Courage, Compassion, Connection and Community), we discuss our personal and professional journeys, reflecting on the role of self-awareness, intentionality, and supportive individuals in shaping our paths.

In our final podcast of series 8, we do our annual review of the year in social work. We are joined by Sylvia and Shantel from the Anti-Racism Movement, who are taking over as hosts. We reflect on the way social workers have responded to events over the last year and share our hopes for the future.

In this final episode about sustaining yourself as a social worker, we explore the need for recognition and respect for social work. This enables good working conditions and supports social workers to offer trusted expertise to children, adults and families.

We continue our series on sustainable social work by looking at how social workers can practise authentic self-care. We discuss how self-care is really a shared endeavour with peers, and the importance of seeing it as activism for good social work. We are excited to be joined by Shantel Thomas and Sylvia Smith, who will be taking over as hosts in April.

We continue our series on sustainable social work by looking at how organisations provide relational support to enable social workers to thrive. We discuss how everyone can work together with a shared purpose. And we consider the importance of building a sense of belonging and equity within the organisation.

We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing how good managerial support can help social workers to thrive. We look at how to build relationships of trust, including through the use of intersectionality.

We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing the vital topic of supervision. We talk about why it matters, and how to secure sound professional supervision to enable you to practice well and to thrive.

We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing the importance of wider support from the social work profession. We talk about how being part of a national and global community of social workers inspires us, encourages us and makes us think about what we stand for.

We continue our series on sustainable social work by discussing the importance of peer support. We look at how this helps social workers to manage stress, develop practice and be inspired.