Zion Lights is an environmental activist and previously worked with Extinction Rebellion to advocate for climate change. Zion is an expert in science communication and she noticed how a lot of the messaging around climate change can be alienating and threatening - one of the main reasons why she left Extinction Rebellion. We discuss alternatives to living a greener life and why big corporations are spending billions to manipulate the reality of the impact of climate change. 

Christine's life turned upside down in 2009 after she gave birth to her first child. She found it difficult to juggle her new life as a mother and continue to excel in her career. Things didn't get any easier as her family grew. Christine decided the only way to find answers was to conduct research on how mothers balance their life at home with their careers. The results were shocking - the truth was, most mothers struggled and Christine wasn't alone. The Mother of All Jobs was published...

Lauren Currie is the founder of Upfront - a movement that seeks to change confidence in women around the world. We discuss the realities of building a brand straight from scratch and the personal cost this all comes with. Lauren grew up in a working class family in Glasgow and through her hard work and sacrifices, she's built a life where she can enjoy the revolution she is creating and soak in quality time with her family. UPFRONT has just opened its doors to Bond 6 - this is one...

This live podcast was recorded at the Byline Festival in Notting Hill - I was joined by Dr Julia Grace Patterson, Lord Victor Adebowale, and Lorraine Collins. Dr Julia Grace Patterson is the founder and chief executive of Every Doctor, a campaign group advocating for better working conditions for NHS staff and her team have worked tirelessly to protect the well-being and future of doctors and nurses across the country. Lord Victor Adebowale is the chair of the NHS Confederation and has...

Patsy Stevenson was detained at the Clapham Common vigil for Sarah Everard - the moment that changed her life forever. Her photo went viral online and overnight, her life changed forever. She is now dealing with the Metropolitan Police and taking her case to the High Court, all of which comes at a great personal cost. We discussed violence against women, receiving death threats, and her newfound passion for activism.

Rupinder Kaur is the award-winning founder of Asian Women Mean Business. Her vision is to create a community of South Asian women who feel empowered to build their dream businesses and excel in their respective fields. Building this business has been one of the most challenging projects for Rupinder, especially when she decided to cut her losses and fully focus on this project right before lockdown. We dived deep into motherhood and Rupinder tells me about her traumatic birth with her...

Sian Norris is a writer and author of her first non-fiction book, Birth Violence. We discussed how the far right has had an impact on women's reproductive rights and the extent of her research in writing this book. Sian has a very optimistic view of the future. She's campaigned with many groups and has written extensively on the issues surrounding gender equality and feminism - she believes in the power of the people and how everybody can play a small part in shaping democracy. You can...

Daniel Guinness runs Beyond Equality, an organisation that promotes positive masculinity, disrupts negative expectations and stereotypes and empowers men to be better allies to women and girls. Daniel has an academic background in Anthropology and has also conducted research on issues of gender and masculinity. Beyond Equality has been running for over 10 years and throughout this time, they’ve broken cultural barriers and expectations to create a generation of men and boys who are now...

Joeli is the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. She started campaigning after she lost her job when she fell pregnant -an experience that changed her life forever. A one-woman battle has now become a huge organization helping thousands of women across the country. We reflect on the last two years and the heavy responsibility she had to help protect pregnant women from the virus. Her workload increased by almost four times on the day lockdown was announced - a one-woman show has now evolved...

Iain Overton is an investigative journalist and author. He has travelled around the world sharing stories of war and the human cost of violence. We discussed his writing career and how he believes that the role of journalists goes beyond the main headline - his work has covered the most fascinating stories from suicide bombers to gun violence in America. Follow Iain on Twitter Find all of Iain's work and books on his website

Jess Jones A.K.A. The Fat Funny One is a mum of four and a lifestyle blogger. Jess is known for spreading awareness on self-confidence and has recently released her book, Own It - a practical guide to learning how to love yourself in your own skin. We discuss her life as she grew up in a council estate without her biological father and how that shaped her journey into self-discovery and motherhood. Follow Jess on Instagram Order Own It

Asma Khan is one of the UK's most prominent female chefs and an unstoppable force for social change in the food industry.  We discuss her life before coming to the UK and why she felt the need to explore her identity and culture through her cooking. The process of going from having dinner clubs at home to opening a restaurant at the most prestigious sites in London was full of many challenges - but nothing that Asma couldn’t take on. As well as creating a place for Indian food, Asma has...

We all know Gina Martin as the woman who changed the law in 2019. Taking this step came at a huge personal cost and Gina is still processing the turmoil she went through for something which seemed so simple at the time - women's safety. Gina talks about her life before becoming an activist and author. We dive deep into the role she hopes to play in this world as a feminist and how she wants to use her platform to raise the voices of others fighting similar battles. You can follow Gina on...

Deepti is a clinical epidemiologist and throughout the pandemic, she has been very vocal about the lack of data the British government has been providing to the public. Deepti has used her own platform to speak truth to power and raise alarm bells with the government's handling of the pandemic. But this isn't the first time she decided speaking up was important - Deepti previously worked at the Sanger Institute where she had to face terrible consequences for challenging her managers. We...

George Monbiot is a writer and activist. Throughout his years as an investigative journalist, he uncovered some of the greatest stories of mankind. Despite the resistance he faced to publish his stories in mainstream media, George always had his mind set on making people aware of the truth. We discuss how his love for the environment started from a very young age and how he always felt different from the rest of the crowd, especially when he went to boarding school. Politics was at the...

Dr Gavin Francis is an award-winning writer and GP. His latest book explores how - and why - we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes, its shifting history and the frequent failure of our modern lives to make adequate space for it. We dive into his learnings as a doctor and how despite such a hectic career, he’s found time to pursue his passion for writing and teaching. Order Recovery on Amazon Follow Dr Gavin Francis on Twitter

It was a pleasure having Jaspreet back on the show! As she prepares to release her new book, Brown Girl Like Me, we discuss: - Her writing process - Why it's important to have South Asian voices in the writing world - How she's learnt the art of self-love and compassion over the most stressful period of her career. Pre-order Brown Girl Like Me: www.browngirllikeme.com Follow Jaspreet on Twitter: @behindthenetra Follow Jaspreet on Instagram: @behindthenetra

Jamie Klingler has had an eventful year - not only through her activism, but also through her journey of weight loss and quitting alcohol. We discussed how she's found a new purpose through her work as an activist and how none of this would have been possible if she hadn't made the bold decision to quit alcohol and lead a healthier lifestyle.  Jamie is a bundle of energy and passion and you can hear it as she speaks on this episode - a lot of gems here that I'm sure will help you in your own...

Otto English is the pen name for author and writer Andrew Scott. In his book, Fake History, he dissects the greatest lies told by the world that shaped our society. Andrew's take on Brexit and our current political landscape is eye-opening and throught-provoking. We discuss politics, the role journalists play in shaping our society and of course, his fascinating book, Fake History. Follow Otto on Twitter Order Fake History here

Catherine's insight into our political landscape is thought-provoking and inspiring. We discussed Catherine's case against Time Magazine for sex and age discrimination. This was an extremely challenging period of her career, but she knew this wasn't just for her - it was a fight for the future of women in journalism. In a world where we are witnessing the rise of the far-right, we discuss how the progress we've made as a generation might be undone and what this means for our future. Setting...

It's been two years since I released the very first episode of Meenal's World - life has changed significantly since I recorded my first episode. In this episode, I touch upon why I felt I needed a break and how podcasting has helped me in my own healing and understanding of the world. Thank you to everyone for showing me your love and support - welcome to a journey of learning and unlearning with me. 

Kajal Odedra is the UK Director of Change.org – a platform that enables people everywhere to start campaigns, mobilise supporters, and work with decision-makers to drive solutions. It has become the world’s leading platform for change with over 200 million people in 196 countries creating change in their communities.  You can get in touch with Kajal on Twitter @KajalOdedra1 and Instagram @KajalOdedra 

Celebrating all the incredible women who have inspired us and blazed the trail for people like me and the generations ahead of us - cheers to all the ladies who've joined me on my own journey! 

Amit Patel, a medical doctor, lost his vision at the age of 32, just 18 months after he married the love of his life. We discuss how he found a new purpose through this life-changing experience. Now raising a family in London, Amit tells me about his most challenging days and how his resilience is a constant work in progress.