Tales to Inspire
Life rarely goes exactly to plan. Whether it's illness, disability, loss, financial pressure, relationship breakdowns, career changes or unexpected setbacks, every one of us will face moments that require us to adapt. In this special Tales to Inspire themed episode, we revisit powerful conversations with Steve Hill, Kate Appleby and Amit Ghose to explore what it means to navigate life's challenges with resilience, courage and hope. Steve Hill shares why adaptability and mindset are essential when facing uncertainty, both in education and in life. Kate Appleby reflects on her philosophy of...
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What happens when you lose everything you thought defined you? In this powerful episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Rich Jones shares his remarkable journey through burnout, mental health challenges, homelessness, identity loss and ultimately finding hope. Having spent more than 20 years working in the charity and social impact sector, Rich dedicated his life to helping others. Yet behind the professional success, he was struggling with his own wellbeing. Following a period of breakdown, relationship challenges and homelessness, Rich reached a crossroads that would change the course of...
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What does it mean to move beyond surviving and start truly living? In this powerful Bite Size episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Rich Jones shares his deeply personal journey through mental health challenges, burnout, stigma and recovery. Having experienced some of life's darkest moments, including reaching the brink of suicide, Rich speaks candidly about what helped him find hope and why he now describes himself as "living in the reality of hope." Together, Rich and host Krish Patel explore the barriers that still prevent people from speaking openly about their mental health,...
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What does sustainability really mean in today’s world? In this thought provoking episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, we explore the realities, misconceptions and deeper conversations surrounding sustainability, climate change and the systems we live within. Featuring powerful reflections from Hannah Cox, Adam Bastock and Bea Thackeray, this episode looks beyond headlines and guilt driven narratives to ask bigger questions: • Is sustainability only for the privileged? • Why do so many people feel disconnected from climate conversations? • How do businesses create truly sustainable...
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In this heartfelt Deep Dive episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Krish Patel sits down with Sital Raja - Arjan MBE for a moving conversation about kindness, community and what it truly means to give back. Awarded an MBE for Services to Bolton, Sital reflects on her family’s journey arriving in the UK from Uganda, growing up in Little Lever and helping build one of Bolton’s most loved family businesses. But at the heart of this conversation is something much deeper than business success. This episode explores the power of community spirit, supporting one another and creating spaces...
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In this heartfelt Bite Size episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Sital Raja-Arjan shares her powerful journey through charity work, community leadership and supporting vulnerable people across Bolton and Greater Manchester. From helping Homeless Aid UK provide food for over 100 people every night, to supporting conversations around breast cancer awareness through Boot Out Breast Cancer, Sital reflects on the importance of compassion, representation and creating spaces where people feel seen and supported. Throughout the conversation, Sital discusses the realities of homelessness, barriers...
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In this deeply reflective episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, we explore what it truly means to support marginalised communities, through the lens of lived experience. Drawing on powerful insights from past conversations, Krish Patel brings together the voices of three incredible individuals:Yatin Mistry, Alex Winstanley, and Jenny Van Mputu Dakosta, each sharing their perspective on inequality, identity, and systemic barriers. From understanding how marginalisation is shaped by prejudice and societal structures, to hearing first-hand the realities faced by refugees navigating life...
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In this Deep Dive episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, we sit down with Maura Jackson, Former Chief Executive of Backup North West, for an honest, eye-opening conversation about youth homelessness, resilience, and what it truly means to lead with purpose. Maura’s journey is anything but conventional. From growing up in a challenging household and becoming a teenage mother, to leading one of the UK’s most impactful youth homelessness charities, her story is one of determination, compassion, and unwavering belief in people. Across this episode, Maura shares the realities facing young...
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In this our 200th episode Krish Patel sits down with Maura Jackson, a highly experienced leader in the charity sector with over 30 years in social care, including more than a decade working in homelessness. This honest and insightful conversation explores the growing challenges facing charities today. From shrinking funding pots to increasing demand, Maura shares what it really takes to sustain services that support vulnerable communities. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures of leadership in the sector, describing the constant “plate spinning” required to keep...
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In this episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, we explore one of the most important and often misunderstood topics of our time: mental health. Not long ago, mental health wasn’t something openly spoken about. Conversations were often dismissed, misunderstood, or avoided altogether. Today, while progress has been made, stigma and silence still exist in many spaces. Through the lived experiences of three powerful voices from the Tales to Inspire community — Vicki Roberts, Pete Sincock and Pete Barty — this episode brings honesty, depth and humanity to the conversation. Together, we...
info_outlineIn this deeply reflective episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, we explore what it truly means to support marginalised communities, through the lens of lived experience.
Drawing on powerful insights from past conversations, Krish Patel brings together the voices of three incredible individuals:Yatin Mistry, Alex Winstanley, and Jenny Van Mputu Dakosta, each sharing their perspective on inequality, identity, and systemic barriers.
From understanding how marginalisation is shaped by prejudice and societal structures, to hearing first-hand the realities faced by refugees navigating life without access or support, this episode offers an honest and thought-provoking look at the world around us.
At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful truth: meaningful change begins when we listen.
Krish reflects on three key lessons:
- Marginalisation is systemic, not individual
- Lived experience is essential for meaningful change
- Dialogue is the bridge to understanding
This episode is not just about awareness, it’s about action.
It’s about choosing empathy, creating space for others, and recognising the role we all play in shaping a more inclusive society.
Resources:
https://www.happysmilestraining.co.uk/