Season 5, episode 6.
This week we are joined by Dr Dom Jackson-Cole and Joris Lechêne to explore the concept of intersectionality, discussing its origins, evolution, and relevance in education and LGBTQ+ inclusion. The conversation traces the term back to Kimberlé Crenshaw’s foundational legal scholarship and expands into its broader applications, critiques, and misuses.
Resources discussed in this episode:
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 5, Episode 6
In this episode we are exploring the brilliant new documentary 'Queering Blackpool', which premiered earlier this year. We speak with the researcher behind the film, Helen Eadon-Sinkinson, before sharing a Q&A recorded LIVE at one of the film's sold-out premier events earlier this year, including:
🎙 Host, Jo Brassington
🎥 Researcher & Filmmaker, Helen Eadon-Sinkinson
🎥 Filmmaker, Alexander Blackburn
⭐️ Star of the film, Adrian Thornton-Coats (aka DJ Zoe)
We'll be sure to update these show notes when more screenings are available for Queering Blackpool, but for now, connect with the filmmakers at:
📱Helen Eadon-Sinkinson @helen.eadon
📱Alexander Blackburn @alexanderblackburn
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 5, Episode 5
This week we are joined by the brilliant Dr Finn Mackay (they/them) to discuss radical feminism, masculinity, trans inclusion, and the power of bridging activism with academia. Drawing on their work in education, public engagement, and gender research, Finn shares practical insights for creating inclusive spaces, navigating polarised debates, and supporting LGBTQ+ young people.
Recommendations shared in this episode:
📺 What’s Feminist About Equality? Finn’s TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVB7BWHaUT4
📃 Positive humanity, when? Is masculinity worth saving? https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09589236.2025.2502679
📕 The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love, by bell hooks
Question to consider: Look out for how gender works in your life
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 5, Special Episode
In this episode we take a break from our research focussed series to share a special interview with Kacey DeGroot, who is standing to be elected as the Deputy General Secretary of the National Education Union.
Kacey, who uses she/her pronouns, is a trans woman and a secondary school Drama teacher. She transitioned quite visibly in the school she still teaches at full time, and she says it was that process that brought her to the trade union movement. Since joining the NEU, Kacey was a founding member of the NEU Trans and non-binary network and in 2020 was elected onto the national executive of the union representing, what is now, 21,000 LGBT+ members. Kacey won Role Model of the Year at the Queer Student Awards 2025 and is now taking the huge step of standing for the elected Deputy General Secretary of the NEU. If successful Kacey will be a trans woman co-leading the biggest education union in Europe.
You can find out more about Kacey's campaign on her website:
https://www.kaceydegroot.org
@kaceydegroot_for_dgs
Thanks for listening!
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Photo Credit: Jess Hurd
Season 5, Episode 4
This week we are joined by Dr Kevin Guyan to discuss his new book Rainbow Trap: Queer Lives, Classifications, and the Dangers of Inclusion.
Kevin is a writer and researcher whose work explores the intersection of data and identity. He is the author of Rainbow Trap and the brilliant Queer Data: Using Gender, Sex and Sexuality Data for Action. Kevin is a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the Gender + Sexuality Data Lab.
Recommendations discussed in this episode:
📘 Rainbow Trap, by Kevin Guyan
📘 Queer Data, by Kevin Guyan
📘 Sex is as Sex does, by Paisley Currah
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 5, Episode 3
This week we are joined by Dr Jack Bryne Stothard and Dr Ben Johnson to discuss the life and work of Michel Foucault.
Michel Foucault (1926–1984) was a French philosopher, historian, social theorist, and literary critic, widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. His work explored the relationship between power, knowledge, and social institutions, and he challenged many traditional ideas about how societies function.
Recommendations discussed in this episode:
📘 Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault
📘 The History of Sexuality, Volume 1 by Michel Foucault
📘 The Force of Truth by Daniele Lorenzini
📘 Foucault, Power, and Education by Stephen J. Ball
📘 The Joy of Foucault by Ben Johnson (in The Guide to LGBTQ+ Research)
📘 Introducing Foucault: A Graphic Guide
🎧 Philosophize This! podcast
📺 Beyond Good and Evil (1993) – Documentary on YouTube
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 5, Episode 2
This week we are joined by the incredible Professor Eleanor Formby.
Eleanor is Professor of Sociology and Youth Studies at Sheffield Hallam University and joins us to discuss her extensive research into LGBTQ+ inclusive education, youth work, and the challenges and opportunities within school environments.
Eleanor's new book is available to buy here: Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic Bullying and LGBT Inclusion in English Schools.
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 5, Episode 1
This new season of Pride and Progress is going to focus on LGBTQ+ research, and there is no better place to begin than with the newly-published book: 'The Guide to LGBTQ+ Research'.
In this episode we discuss the value of LGBTQ+ research, and reflect with the editors of the book Dr Adam Brett and Professor Catherine Lee, as well as contributors to the book Dr Alex Baird, Lis Bundock, and Dr Kayden J. Schumacher.
If you found this episode interesting, you may want to join the LGBTQ+ Research Network, or sign up to the Pride & Progress mailing list.
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can find out more about Pride & Progress on our website: www.prideprogress.co.uk
Thanks for listening!
Season 4, Episode 11
This special live episode was recorded at our virtual event: Celebrating 20 Years of LGBT+ History Month UK.
The event was hosted by Pride & Progress, in collaboration with founders of LGBT+ History Month UK, Schools OUT. During the event, we hear how LGBT+ History Month was founded from co-founder and Chair of Schools OUT Sue Sanders; how it has developed and grown over 20 years from Chair of Trustees for Schools OUT Lynne Nicholls; and we explore the theme for 2025 with Schools OUT Project worker Sarah Cosgriff.
Season 4, Episode 10
In our final episode of the series, we share a conversation recorded earlier in the year with the wonderful Bennie Kara on behalf of Myatt & Co and Diverse Educators.
In this discussion, Bennie asks us about the work of Pride & Progress, exploring how the podcast has grown to become a book and wider network of support. We end the discussion by sharing some of the exciting changes coming to the podcast next year!
Please note this podcast was recorded a while ago, and our discussion about Trans school guidance is rooted in that time. Please listen to other episodes or look at our website to get more up to date information on this topic.
You can learn more about Myatt and Co and Diverse Educators here: https://www.myattandco.com, https://www.diverseeducators.co.uk.
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can also follow us on socials @PrideProgress.
Thanks for listening!
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 9
This week we bring to you an episode exploring Faith, Religion, & LGBT+ Identity. To explore this theme we are joined by three LGBT+ people of faith: Sabah, Natasha, & George (you can read their full bios below).
In this conversation we explore the strength of LGBT+ people of faith, the tensions that can occur between LGBT+ people and faith communities, and how we can work through compassionate conversations towards a greater understanding of each other.
We recognise the topic is very broad, and this is just one short conversation. It would not have been possible to represent all faiths in one episode, but we'd love to hear from you if you'd like to share your own experience. Furthermore, if you have a faith related resource you'd like us to add to these show notes then please let us know.
Episode Guests -
Sabah Choudrey (he/they) is an Award-winning, experienced senior practitioner, DEI consultant and proud leader for community-led and inclusive practice with 10+ years of work within corporate and charity sectors. Find out more here.
Natasha Brandon (she/her) is a proudly queer, neurodivergent, Jewish woman whose intersectional identity gives her a unique and intersectional approach to teaching. With background in theater and costume she has extensive experience working with children both as a secondary art and DT teacher and as a youth worker within the Jewish community.
George White (he/him) is a is a transgender man and catholic teacher of religious education at the catholic school he attended as a child. George is also a consultant and training provider supporting a huge variety of settings with making catholic schools more inclusive for the LGBT+ community. He is a published writer, and was shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards 2023 as positive role model for race, religion, and faith . Find out more here.
Episode Resources -
Supporting Trans People of Colour Book
Trans Life & The Catholic Church Today
Diverse Educators - Religion & Belief Directory
In this episode you heard a promotion for LGBT+ History Month, organised by Schools Out UK. You can find out more on their website:
https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. Thanks for listening!
hello@prideprogress.co.uk
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 8
This week we bring you an episode that was recorded live at the University of Nottingham. Adam is joined by Dr Jake Hodder and Dr Kieran Phelan to discuss the topic of culture wars and the work of Pride & Progress.
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can also follow us on socials @PrideProgress.
Thanks for listening!
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 7
This week we are talking all things Heartstopper Season 3 with friend of the show Aisling Walters (she/her). We discuss our favourite characters, favourite moments, and some of the deeper themes of the new season.
In this episode we revisit our interview with Fisayo Akinade (her/him), who plays Mr Ajayi in Heartstopper, and we share a brand new interview with Ash Self (he/him), who plays Felix in the show.
We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can also follow us on socials @PrideProgress.
Thanks for listening!
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 6
This week we bring to you a special episode of Pride & Progress recorded live at the Just Like Us Awards in London. We were invited by Just Like Us to capture the event in this special podcast episode where we will be talking about the work of Just Like Us, and why celebrations like this awards night are so important.
In this episode you will hear from a range of guests and speakers, below are the details for each of them.
Laura MacKay, CEO Just Like Us
https://www.justlikeus.org
DBH, Organiser for LGBT+ Educators with NEU
https://neu.org.uk/get-involved/neu-networks/lgbt-networks
Sophie Duker, Comedian and Writer https://sophieduker.com
Dr Ronx Ikharia, Doctor and Presenter
www.independenttalent.com/corporate/dr-ronx-ikharia/
Logan Brown, Activist and Author
https://biggerpicturebooks.com/?page_id=274
Jordan, Director at TIE
https://tie.scot
Ben Peachy, Speaker and Author
www.benpechey.com
Jude Guaitamacchi
www.instagram.com/becomingjude/?hl=en
Thanks for listening!
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 5
This week we are joined by Professor Catherine Lee (MBE) (she/her) and Dr Ben Johnson (he/him) to discuss the topic of LGBT+ Research.
Ben and Catherine are both former teachers and now academics who research a variety of LGBT+ topics including panoptic heteronormativity, Section 28 and its impact, and LGBT+ teacher professional identity.
In this fascinating conversation, we discuss the importance of LGBT+ research, what the latest census tells us, the emancipatory potential of research, the academics that inspired us, and so much more.
You can find reading lists of Ben, Catherine, and Adam's academic work here:
Ben: https://www.newman.ac.uk/staff/benjamin-johnson/
Catherine: https://www.aru.ac.uk/people/catherine-lee
Adam: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8273-9420
Thanks for listening!
www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 4
This week we are trying something a bit different and have invited four fantastic guests to take over the show to discuss the topic of allyship and advocacy.
We are joined by Claire Bale (she/her), author of the racial diversity and inclusion blog, https://thatsabitracey.com/, and EDI lead for a large Trust; Shonagh Reid (she/her), former teacher and senior leader and now director of Spotlight Inclusion, https://spotlightinclusion.co.uk; Adrian McLean (he/him) an EDI speaker and trainer and executive school leader; and Becky Carter (she/her), a secondary History leader and EDI advocate.
You can follow our guests on X using @bale_claire; @_ShonaghReid; @Character_guy; @missrcarter89.
Thanks for listening!
Season 4, Episode 3
This week we discuss the important topic of positive representation in inclusive books and stories. We are joined by a brilliant panel of experts including authors Dean Atta (he/him), Sarah Hagger-Holt (she/her), and Ollie Pike (he/him) as well as educator Becky Shewell (she/her) - the creator of the Shewell Intersectionalitree database. During the episode we explore representation, how this has changed over time, and what we hope to see next. You can find out more about our guests and their work using the links below. Thanks for listening! www.prideprogress.co.uk-Dean Atta: https://sites.google.com/site/deanatta/Olly Pike: https://www.popnolly.comSarah Hagger-Holt: https://www.sarahhaggerholt.comBecky Shewell: https://www.theshewellintersectionalitree.co.uk (you can receive 50% off using code PRIDE&PROGRESS50)
Season 4, Episode 2
This week we discuss the important topic of Pride Groups, exploring the impact they can have, and the logistics of successfully running one.We are joined by a brilliant panel made up of Frankie Cowper (she/they) from Just Like Us, Edel Cronin (she/her) and Lois Nethersell-Webb (she/her), authors of the upcoming book 'The Secondary School Guide to Pride', and Charlotte Clark (she/they) who runs a successful Pride Group.You can learn more about Just Like Us's Pride Groups Programme here: https://www.justlikeus.org/home/get-involved/pride-groups/ and you can follow @GuideToPride on X to keep up to date with the book's progress.Thanks for listening!www.prideprogress.co.uk
Season 4, Episode 1
We were invited to join the NEU's LGBT+ Educators' Conference 2024 in Birmingham. The theme for the conference this year was 'Celebrate, Educate, and Protect Together'. In this episode we capture the conference by speaking with organisers, guests, and stall holders about the importance of each word in that theme. Thanks for listening to this Pride & Progress special episode!(During this episode we reference Becky's resource for intersectional representation in books - you can find this resource at www.theshewellintersectionalitree.co.uk)
Season 3, Episode 14
Section 28 was an amendment to the Local Government Act of 1988, which prohibited local authorities from intentionally 'promoting homosexuality', or promoting the 'acceptibility of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship'. This legislation came into place in 1988, and planted fear into our educational spaces. For years, Section 28 created a culture of silence around LGBT+ identities in our schools, and for many LGBT+ people, this silence became shame. Section 28 was in place for 15 years, and had an immeasurable impact on generations of LGBT+ young people, as well as limiting the education around LGBT+ identities for all young people. November 18th 2023 marks 20 years since Section 28 was fully repealed. This Pride & Progress special event explores what Section 28 looked like in our past, its legacy in our present, and how we can learn from it to create a more inclusive future. Our incredible speakers: · Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders, Chair of Schools Out UK, and co-founder of LGBT+ History Month UK (X @suesanders03).· Professor Paul Baker, author of 'OUTRAGEOUS!: The Story of Section 28 and Britian's Battle for LGBT Education' (X @_paulbaker_).· Professor Catherine Lee, author of 'Pretended: Schools and Section 28' (including her story, which helped inform the film 'Blue Jean') (X @DrCatherineLee).