In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we sit down with Kamal Ahmed - journalist, editor, and now a senior leader at Fortune to explore his journey as the son of a Sudanese father and English mother.

Kamal reflects on his book The Life and Times of a Very British Man, sharing honest stories from his childhood in West London, navigating race, class, difference, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) experiences of feeling “other.”

What You’ll Discover

- Growing Up Between Cultures: Kamal’s experiences of difference in 1970s/80s Britain, from two-tone music and Soul II Soul to the slow realisation of prejudice and othering.

- The Power of Critical Thinking and Partnership: Why giving young people the tools to navigate complex information, social media, and identity matters more than ever.

- Belonging, Education & The Next Generation: Reflections on how schools, conversations, and intergenerational sympathy can help the next generation feel they matter.

What really stayed with us is Kamal’s honesty about his own prejudices and mistakes as a young person, alongside his deep optimism about Britishness as a rich mix of backgrounds. His call for partnership across generations rather than simply “making way” feels especially powerful.

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The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.