In this episode of Black Maternity Natters, Ann Remmers sits down with Aisha Thomas, the Founding Director of Representation Matters and one of the founding members of our Black Maternity Matters collaborative, to explore her powerful journey from law to becoming a pioneering voice in anti-racist education.

Aisha shares the visceral experiences that shaped her mission, from a transformational encounter with young Black boys in the prison system to her impactful 2018 BBC documentary on the lack of Black teachers in Bristol. Driven by what she describes as a calling, Aisha discusses how her work is rooted in the belief that "you can't be what you can't see" and how representation serves as either a bridge or a barrier to fulfilling one's potential.

The conversation dives deep into the "special sauce" behind the Black Maternity Matters programme, and how this work focuses on tackling racial inequality in maternity care without apology. Aisha explains how the programme moves beyond traditional knowledge transfer to foster a space for courage, honesty, and critical reflection on systemic inequity. By moving from the macro level of structural racism to the micro level of daily clinical practice, she highlights how every healthcare professional has the power to change a patient’s trajectory through simple yet profound shifts in engagement.

Beyond professional accolades as an author and doctoral researcher, Aisha talks candidly about her personal anchors: her faith, her ancestral lineage, and her lived experience as a mother to two Black boys. As she navigates the challenges of the current political climate, she leaves listeners with a vital challenge: to move away from feeling furious to getting curious.

This episode is an invitation to look inward and ask how we can remain anchored, aligned, and accountable in our collective pursuit of equity and change.

Programme notes

Representation Matters

Black Maternity Matters

Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator by Aisha Thomas

Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work by Aiko Bethea

BBC Inside Out West

TEDxBristol: Why Representation Really Matters - Aisha Thomas

Connect with Black Maternity Matters on socials: Instagram and LinkedIn

Got feedback or an idea for a future programme?

Contact us at healthinnowest.communications@nhs.net or via our socials: Instagram, LinkedIn or Bluesky

Find out more about Health Innovation West of England