Menopause is finally getting more attention at work. But what about menstruation?

In this episode of Diverse Talk Matters, Natasha Broomfield-Reid is joined by Chiara Cocco, a postdoctoral research associate working with Professor Kate Sang and the EDI Caucus. Chiara shares findings from research involving more than 60 women and people who menstruate, exploring how workplace culture, flexibility, access and job roles can shape their experiences.

Together, they explore:
• Why menstrual experiences are far more diverse than we might assume
• How workplace practices can create barriers, even when menstruation itself is not problematic
• Why people may describe their periods as “fine” while experiencing significant pain, heavy bleeding or disruption to work
• The connection between menstrual health and disability through the social model of disability
• How disability, race, neurodivergence, age and gender identity can shape experiences
• Why policies alone are not enough without supportive workplace cultures
• How listening, co-design and evaluation can help employers create meaningful support
• Why employers need to think beyond menopause and consider menstrual health across the wider reproductive health journey

This is a practical conversation for employers, HR professionals, managers and EDI practitioners about who our workplaces are designed for, where barriers exist and what organisations can do differently.

Chiara also shares free resources from the research, including a menstrual health action plan, baseline survey guidance and comics exploring different lived experiences.

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What does a truly inclusive school look like in practice? And what does it take to move beyond policies, awareness days and good intentions to create a culture where every child genuinely belongs?

In this episode of Diverse Talk Matters, Natasha Broomfield-Reid is joined by Gemma Hathaway, EDI Lead at Inspire Education Trust and Assistant Headteacher at Bluecoats School in Coventry. With more than 16 years in education and a continuing role in the classroom, Gemma brings both strategic insight and lived experience of what inclusion looks like for students, teachers and school communities.

Together, they explore:
• Why inclusion needs to go beyond SEND and become part of the whole school culture
• The importance of genuinely listening to student voice and acting on what students tell us
• How curriculum choices can create belonging through representation, identity and the ‘mirrors and windows’ approach
• The difference between visible EDI activity and embedding inclusion into everyday decisions and practice
• How schools can address racism, misogyny, harmful online content and other barriers to inclusion
• Why care, compassion and safeguarding matter when working with students’ lived experiences
• Practical questions teachers, leaders and parents can ask to understand how inclusive a school really is

Gemma shares examples from Inspire Education Trust and Bluecoats School, including work around curriculum diversity, student voice, recruitment, positive masculinity, digital wellbeing and creating equitable access to education.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful idea: an inclusive school is one where every child belongs, every child matters and the school is prepared to change for them.

If you care about inclusive education, EDI in schools, student voice, belonging or creating environments where every child can thrive, this is an important conversation to listen to, reflect on and share.

Listen to Diverse Talk Matters, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode with someone working to make education more inclusive.

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In this powerful episode of Diverse Talk Matters, Tash sits down once again with leadership expert, coach, and inclusion strategist Sandra Pollock OBE — and this time, they go deep into what inclusive leadership really means in today’s workplaces.

Together, they unpack the realities leaders often avoid:

Why inclusive leadership is not “being soft” — it’s a performance strategy

How heart‑led leadership transforms teams, culture, and outcomes

The myths that keep organisations stuck (“treating everyone the same”, “HR will sort it”, “we don’t have bias here”)

Why psychological safety is more than a policy — it’s a daily practice

How leaders should respond during crisis, uncertainty and global events

The role of staff networks, governance, and accountability in real inclusion

Why coaching is one of the most powerful tools for leadership growth

The single most important habit every leader can start today: listening

Sandra brings honesty, clarity, and decades of leadership experience — from boardrooms to community organisations — offering practical guidance leaders can apply immediately.

If you’re a manager, senior leader, or aspiring changemaker, this episode will challenge you, stretch you and give you the tools to lead with courage, curiosity and humanity.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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Subscribe for more conversations that move inclusion from theory to action and please share this episode if you found it valuable

To find out more about the services available from Diverse Matters please visit www.diversematters.co.uk

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