Off the top of your head podcast - Ep 8: Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

Ep 8: Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

12/10/19 • 52 min

For the final episode of the series Simon caught up with long-time friend, activist, writer and the 'Queen of Kindness' Phyll Opoku-Gyimah.
Phyll, who you may know as Lady Phyll, is the Co-Founder and Director of UK Black Pride, and currently the Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, an international charity working to uphold and advance human rights for LGBT+ people. Before that, Phyll spent years working for trade unions fighting for equality in the workplace and beyond.
Phyll and Simon had an honest and emotional chat about:

The power of kindness and how to really listen to someone
Why Phyll no longer uses the word 'normalise'
The journey of UK Black Pride from 200 to 10,000 attendees
Why equality and mental health and wellbeing go hand in hand
The best advice Phyll has ever been given

Make sure to stay right to the end for a bonus story about the time Phyll met Whoopi Goldberg!
We'd love to know what you think! If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast!
More on Lady Phyll: twitter.com/MsLadyPhyllUK Black Pride: ukblackpride.org.uk
The Kaleidoscope Trust: kaleidoscopetrust.com
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]

The power of kindness and how to really listen to someone
Why Phyll no longer uses the word 'normalise'
The journey of UK Black Pride from 200 to 10,000 attendees
Why equality and mental health and wellbeing go hand in hand
The best advice Phyll has ever been given

Previous Episode

Ep 7: Tony Piper

Tony Piper is a stress, burnout and leadership coach. After 27 years in the IT profession, Tony shared with Simon his expertise on stress in the workplace, why it happens, and looked at this year's WHO definition of burnout as an 'occupational phenomenon'.
Simon and Tony touched on:

What burnout physically looks like, and how to spot it in yourself
The importance of line managers in preventing burnout
Why Chief Executives are not superheroes and the power of vulnerable leadership

Tony only shared his top tips on the best ways to properly switch off and some of his best self-care tips.
We'd love to know what you think! If you could take a moment to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts we would very much appreciate your feedback. You can do this on most platforms including:

Don't forget to get involved on social media using #JACPodcast!
More on Tony: twitter.com/tonypiperTony's coaching: tonypiper.coach/burnout
WHO definition on burnout: who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en
Article referenced by Simon: hrreview.co.uk/analysis/simon-blake-tackling-summer-burnout-in-the-workplace/119260
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
More on #JACPodcast:
MHFA England: mhfaengland.org
Email: [email protected]

Next Episode

Series Two trailer: My Whole Self

Simon Blake OBE returns for a second series of Just About Coping with more discussion of self-care, workplace wellbeing, and the future of mental health.
This series will look at a new campaign by MHFA England; My Whole Self. To create mentally healthy workplaces, people need to feel safe to be their ‘whole self’ at work. When people can be their whole self, they are empowered to think bigger, bolder, and work more effectively together, whether in person or virtually.
So how can we create workplaces where everyone has the freedom to do this? And what's the impact on our mental health when we are able to be authentic? Simon has gathered leaders from across the worlds of business, sport, and more, to try and answer these questions.
The new series launches on Wednesday 18 March with Managing Director of Twitter UK, Dara Nasr. Wherever you are working, you can also join us in celebrating My Whole Self Day. Find out more about the campaign here: mhfaengland.org/my-whole-self
Happy listening, and thanks for coping with us!
More on Simon: twitter.com/SimonablakeSimon Blake OBE is the Chief Executive of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. His mission is to improve the mental health of the nation and help build an inclusive and society where attitudes and behaviours around mental health are normalised. Simon received an OBE in 2011, is Deputy Chair at Stonewall, and enjoys running, equestrian eventing, and walks with his dog.
mhfaengland.org

Off the top of your head podcast - Ep 8: Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

Transcript

spk_0: 0:04
wait, She's This could be a little out. Take. I'm Simon and this is just about coping stays Guest is Phil Poku Jim, often known as Miss Lady Phil. Phil is the director off the Kaleidoscope Trust. Previously a trade unionist on DH, founder of UK Black. Right, I've known Phil for several years now. We served on the board of Stone Andi I absolutely adore the work that she does her attitude and al become life on the way that she just really tackles equality and div