What happens when you know there’s more in you than others see? Mark Freed, cofounder of Men for Inclusion, shares how undiagnosed dyslexia, class identity, and gender roles shaped his journey.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Dyslexia: struggles, strengths, and how school support has changed

• Masking to fit in at work — and the cost of it

• The impact of coming from a working-class background

• Building inclusive workplaces that don't ask people to change who they are

• Gender stereotypes, parenting, and why inclusion benefits everyone — especially men

• How Men for Inclusion is helping change the culture

• Why listening to your inner voice can lead to powerful change

💡 For anyone who’s been underestimated — or is parenting someone who has — this is a must-listen.

For more episodes, my blog, books, visit: https://theintersectionalhub.com

Elizabeth Willetts, founder of Investing in Women, opens up about her fertility journey, the identity shifts of motherhood, and why returning to work after maternity leave is so often misunderstood. We talk about the lack of flexible job options for parents, how being made redundant led Elizabeth to create a platform empowering others, and how flexibility at work can help close the gender pay gap.

If you’ve ever struggled to conceive, felt lost in the return to work, or wondered how to balance career and caregiving — this one’s for you.

In this episode of Intersecting Voices, I’m joined by Dr. Andy Cope—founder of The Art of Brilliance and “Doctor of Happiness.” We explore what it really means to live a brilliant life, even through challenge, trauma, and neurodivergence.

We talk about:

• Andy’s journey from psychologist to wellbeing speaker and author

• His transformational trip to India and why he built The Art of Brilliance

• The 90/10 rule and how mindset shapes experience

• The science of post-traumatic growth

• Short-term happiness vs. long-term fulfilment

• How positivity and resilience can be consciously cultivated

• Making positive psychology more inclusive for neurodivergent people

I also share my personal story—how I use these tools as a neurodivergent person and trauma survivor to grow through difficulty and find joy in the messiness of life.

🎧 Hit follow so you never miss an episode—just search Intersecting Voices wherever you get your podcasts.

For more on my work - blog, writing and other collaboration opportunities - visit my web at https://theintersectionalhub.com

In this episode of Intersecting Voices, I sit down with Natalie Collins, writer, speaker, activist, and creator of the Own My Life course — a ground-breaking programme that helps women make sense of and recover from abuse.

We dive deep into coercive control, an often invisible form of domestic abuse that affects millions of women. This isn’t just about violence — it’s about emotional, psychological, financial, and sexual control that slowly isolates and breaks down a person’s sense of self.

Together, we explore why it’s so difficult for victims to leave abusive relationships — looking at traumatic bonding, cognitive dissonance, isolation, financial control, and the failure of systems that are supposed to protect. We also explore the societal myths that tell us controlling behaviour is “romantic,” the generational trauma that can condition us to accept abuse, and how abusers often exploit our deepest insecurities.

I also share my own personal journey — from not recognising the abuse I experienced to understanding the dynamics at play in my own life. Abuse doesn’t have one face. There is no single type of victim or perpetrator. It can happen to anyone, and understanding why it happens is the first step toward healing.

This episode is for you if:

• You suspect you might be or have been in an abusive relationship

• You’re struggling to understand why someone you loved treated you this way

• You want to know why it was so hard to leave — and why that’s not your fault

• You’re seeking clarity, connection, and peace with your story

• You want to support someone you love who may be experiencing abuse

• You want to learn what a healthy relationship truly looks like

We talk about:

• How coercive control works and what it looks like

• How abuse affects your brain, your reality, and your sense of self

• Why society still doesn't understand abuse — and how that causes more harm

• What systems should do better to support victims and children

• The healing power of knowledge, community, and self-compassion

• How the Own My Life course helps women rebuild their identity after abuse

Natalie also shares the growth of Own My Life, how it’s helping women across the UK and internationally, and what we can all do to support this vital work.

📌 Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic abuse, coercive control, and sexual trauma.

🌍 To learn more about the Own My Life course, visit: ownmylifecourse.org

💜 You are not alone. This episode may help you name what happened, begin to make sense of it, and take one step closer to freedom.

Visit my website to catch up on past episodes, dive into my writing, or reach out for collaborations: https://theintersectionalhub.com

In this intimate and eye-opening episode, I speak with psychic medium Karen Docherty about spiritual awakening, trauma, and what it really means to connect with the spirit world.

We explore why some people are more spiritually attuned—through gender, neurodivergence, or trauma—and how emotionally abusive relationships can block our intuition and connection to spirit.

We also talk about:

• Signs, synchronicities, and how spirits communicate

• Intuition vs. intrusive thoughts

• The impact of harmful or ungrounded psychic advice on vulnerable people

• Guides, angels, ancestors & higher selves

• Why awakening can feel lonely—and how to keep going

Karen shares wisdom from her mentorship program, and we get real about the challenges and beauty of walking a spiritual path.

✨ This episode is close to my heart, and I hope it brings you clarity, validation, and hope.

In this powerful first episode of Intersecting Voices, host Sonia Perez sits down with Bobby Rubio — story artist, director, and creator of Pixar’s Float — to talk about the deep, personal journey of parenting a neurodivergent child. Bobby shares the emotional experience of his son’s autism diagnosis, the grief that followed, and how he struggled with depression and isolation before finding healing through creativity, therapy, and community.

We explore how outdated gender stereotypes can make it harder for men to express their mental health challenges, and how art became Bobby’s way of processing pain and telling untold stories. He opens up about the judgment many parents face, and how acceptance and perspective changed everything for him.

We also dive into the importance of cultural and Filipino representation in film and comics, especially for children, and Bobby gives us an exciting glimpse of his upcoming comic book Neighborhood Legend, set to launch this October.

🟡 Why you should listen

• If you're parenting a neurodivergent child and want honest insight into the emotional journey

• If you're grieving the future you thought you'd have and need perspective and support

• If you're feeling judged or isolated in your parenting or mental health journey

• If you're struggling to express your mental health challenges because of outdated gender stereotypes

• If you believe in the power of representation in media to change lives and perspectives

🟡 Topics covered

• The emotional and mental health impact of raising a child with autism

• Grief, healing, and the importance of asking for help

• How gender stereotypes shape emotional expression

• Cultural and Filipino representation in media

• Bobby's creative work past and present, including Float and Neighborhood Legend

• Finding purpose and community through storytelling

✨ Bobby Rubio is a director, animator, and story artist who has worked on iconic films like Up, Inside Out, and Incredibles 2. He is currently a story artist at Sony Entertainment and continues to champion diversity in entertainment through his storytelling and art.

🎧 Tune in, feel seen, and know you're not alone.

Whether you want to catch up on past episodes, dive into my writing, or reach out for collaborations, everything is just a click away! https://theintersectionalhub.com

Welcome to Intersecting Voices! In this short teaser, I share the heart behind the podcast — a space for stories shaped by identity, lived experience, and intersectionality. I invite you to explore with me as I speak with guests and reflect on my own journey. The full podcast premieres on July 9, and you can start reading the first blog post about my personal intersectionality journey on July 2 at theintersectionalhub.com. Join me at the intersection — your voice belongs here too.