Pull up a chair - this is where research meets relationships, and we explore what belonging, mattering, and pursuing social justice really look like in education.

In this first episode of The Kitchen Table, we share our stories: from growing up, feeling forgotten and the power teachers have to change everything. We unpack why belonging isn't just a buzzword - it's the foundation for thriving communities and how our personal journeys fuel the work we do.

What We Explore

- Personal Paths to Belonging: We each share our own journeys from childhood roots and formative moments to the people and places that shaped our sense of belonging and why it drives our work today.

- Identity and Place: How roots, people, and spaces shape who we are and why feeling "at home wherever you are" is the ultimate goal.

- Building Communities: The role of relationships, vulnerability, and cultural agency in creating spaces where everyone feels they matter.

This conversation reminded us why belonging drives everything we do - if you're in education or just care about people connecting, pull up a chair and join us at The Kitchen Table.

Connect with Phil Banks

thebelongingcollective.blog

Connect with Mohamed Abdallah

Drawbridge Collective | Mohamed Abdallah | Substack

Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Danielle Lewis-Egonu | Substack

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.

Welcome to The Kitchen Table, with Phil, Mohamed, and Danielle. A space where research meets relationships, and where we slow things down to talk about what really matters.

This is where you’ll get to know us - our journeys through education, the questions we’re still wrestling with, and why belonging, mattering, and social justice sit at the heart of the work we do.

We’ll also be joined by friends from across education and beyond, people who are committed to building communities that are rooted in care, courage, and the belief that everyone matters.

So grab a cup of tea, a coffee, or whatever comfort food you’d have at arm’s reach, pull up a chair, and spend some time with us at The Kitchen Table.

Connect with Phil Banks

thebelongingcollective.blog

Connect with Mohamed Abdallah

Drawbridge Collective | Mohamed Abdallah | Substack

Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Danielle Lewis-Egonu | Substack

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.