This has been the best three years of our lives so far, and to everyone who’s listened, contributed, written in and even given us criticism, we want to send you a HUGE and resounding thank you!

During the last 150 weeks our lives have been forever changed by the people we’ve met or spoken to on this podcast, and if you’ve joined us along the way by listening or watching, we hope you’ve enjoyed them too.

We have no idea if or when we’ll be coming back to the world of podcasting, but in the meantime, make sure you have a fantastic day and thanks for listening!

Timestamps for the clips we chose to highlight are as follows:

00:07:48 - The Best and Worst Thing That Ever Happened to Me w/ Sandy Lewis (Ep #13)

00:12:05 - Relentless IVF w/ Lewis Vaughan-Jones (Ep #19)

00:21:32 - Closing Ranks w/ Leroy Logan (Ep #36)

00:28:25 - Adventure and Aviation w/ Amanda Harrison (Ep #77)

00:35:31 - Plastic Surgery and The American Dream w/ Dr Sheila Nazarian (Ep #87)

00:41:30 - Surviving Domestic Abuse w/ Abi Blake (Ep #134)

00:45:15 - Surviving the Indian Ocean Tsunami w/ Ani Naqvi (Ep #137)

00:55:12 - Trauma, Rinse and Repeat w/ Mike Herz (Ep #6)

00:57:46 - Cancer and Creativity w/ Jeffrey Knopf (Ep #17)

01:02:05 - CANcer not CAN’Tcer w/ Iain Ward (Ep #41)

01:06:08 - Cancer, Euthanasia and Existential Rage w/ Josh Linz (Ep #91)

01:20:09 - It’s Okay Not to Be Okay w/ Esther Marshall (Ep #73)

01:25:03 - Reclaiming My Story w/ Ben M Freeman (Ep #148)

01:26:43 - Run, Orange, Run! w/ Sally Orange (Ep #99)

01:34:59 - Trying to Be OK w/ Shiggi Pakter (Ep #50)

01:46:03 - Acting and Accidental Activism w/ Tracy-Ann Oberman (Ep #84)

01:50:09 - The Last Nazi Hunter w/ Efraim Zuroff (Ep #49)

01:55:29 - Postcard to a Little Boy: A Kindertransport Story w/ Henry Foner (Ep #62)

02:01:46 - The Jewish Palestinian w/ Mark Halawa (Ep #74)

02:08:26 - The Long Night w/ Noemie Lopian (Ep #111)

02:19:11 - Fighting Monsters w/ Major Andrew Fox (Ep #140)

02:23:12 - Behind Enemy Lines w/ Daniel Berke (Ep #90)

02:25:05 - The Afghan Interpreter w/ Rafi Hottak (Ep #147)

02:32:15 - Supporting Ukrainian Refugees w/ Tzvi Sperber (Ep #120)

02:38:57 - Injustice and Immigration w/ Hillary Walsh (Ep #143)

02:44:24 - Strictly Choreography w/ Dame Arlene Phillips (Ep #20)

02:50:12 - Theatre and Breaking the Mould w/ Louis Hartshorn (Ep #11)

02:52:36 - Musical Royalty w/ John Altman (Ep #39)

02:56:10 - Acting and Accidental Activism w/ Tracy-Ann Oberman (Ep #84)

03:00:20 - Capturing Rock and Roll History w/ Danny Clifford (Ep #24)

03:02:31 - Rock Stars Don't F**king Smile! w/ Danny Clifford (Ep #65)

03:17:57 - Freestyle Rap God w/ Chris Turner (Ep #3)

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David is an English comedian, presenter, screenwriter, author and self described Jewish atheist, who as well as being the co-writer of the de facto anthem of English football, has written a highly acclaimed book, Jews Don't Count, that largely highlights the double standards extensively employed (either knowingly or unknowingly) by anti-racists or progressives when dealing with antisemitism.

For the last 30 years or so, if it wasn’t his regular appearances on top UK comedy shows like Taskmaster or 8 Out of 10 Cats, or growing up reading his incredible children's books, or drunkenly singing Three Lions anytime there’s a whiff of the England football team winning a match, you couldn’t not be aware of some aspect of David’s work living in the UK.

Twitter - @Baddiel

Instagram - @therealbaddiel

Amazon.co.uk - Jews Don't Count

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Ben is a Scottish, gay, Jewish educator and prominent thought-leader on Jewish education, history and identity, and he came on the podcast exactly one year ago to talk about his tremendous book, Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People, that I’ve quoted and referenced ever since!

Ben’s latest book, Reclaiming our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride, the second in a Ben M. Freeman trilogy, comes out on 24th of October 2022, anywhere you get books.

Reclaiming Our Story explores the impact of Jew-hate on Jews, and the long history of internalised anti-Jewishness - it’s powerful stuff and you can pre-order it NOW!

benmfreeman.com

Twitter - @benmfreeman

IG - @benmfreeman

Amazon Preorder - Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride

Poem referenced at 1:30:11 is Diaspora Blues by Ijeoma Umebinyuo

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Rafi is a former Afghan interpreter who severely injured whilst working with British forces in Afghanistan.

Rafi served as an interpreter for 5 years on the front lines of the volatile Helmand province, and in 2007 was seriously injured in an explosion that killed a senior British officer.

He suffered shrapnel wounds to the head, neck, arms and chest, and after it was made clear he was being targeted by the Taliban, he fled his home country to the UK in 2011.

Instead of being welcomed by the Home Office, he was accused of fabricating his service as an interpreter, and went through a battle to have his failed bid for asylum overturned - an embarrassing U-turn for the Home Office.

Since being granted refugees status and being allowed to live and work in the UK, Rafi has completed multiple qualifications and dedicates his free time to campaigning for members of the Afghan special forces who served alongside the British to be acknowledged and assisted by the Home Office.

Rafi is also a volunteer case worker for Azadi - a charity that assisted, and continues to assist, in the rescue and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the wake of the catastrophic Taliban takeover of Afghanistan just over a year ago.

Twitter - @MHottak

Support Azadi - azadicharity.com

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Claudia is one of the world’s most unique cookbook writers and cultural anthropologists.

She grew up in Cairo as an Egyptian Jew, studied in Paris and London, and every step of her career so far has been beyond fascinating!

Over the years she has published multiple bestsellers, including the international award-winning The Book of Jewish Food, which has just been re-released as a special 25th anniversary edition, available anywhere you get your books!

As a result of 16 years of research and world travel, The Book of Jewish Food was originally released in 1997 when Jewish food was overlooked by the food industry, instead only being enjoyed behind closed doors.

In this book Claudia shone a light on the diverse flavours and cultural origins of those dishes, revealing the beauty and simplicity of traditional Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrahi food on the page for the first time.

In doing so she put Jewish food on the map, and changed the modern culinary landscape for good.

This new 25th anniversary edition includes new content and recipes, and it’d make the perfect gift for any home cook!

The Book of Jewish Food, 25th Anniversary Edition, published by Penguin

Other books by Claudia Roden:

Med, A Cookbook

A New Book of Middle Eastern Food

The Food of Italy

Photo credit ⓒ Stuart Simpson

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Stu is an award-winning standup comic and former street-performer who is best known to many as the host of the Comedian’s Comedian Podcast, where he interviews the top names in global stand up comedy...

He’s also an Edinburgh Fringe festival veteran, has performed at Melbourne Comedy Festival, Just for Laughs in Montreal and has performed live on CONAN… 

stuartgoldsmith.com

comedianscomedian.com

Instagram - @stuartgoldsmithcomedy

Twitter - @comcompod

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Pete is the co-founder and managing director of Planit-IE, one of the UK's most highly regarded inter-disciplinary design & landscape architecture practices.

His life story so far is one of endeavour, adventure and sustainability. His company, Planit-IE, is now a B Corp company… meaning that they are held to a standard, requiring they act with the understanding that we as humans are each dependent upon another, and therefore responsible for each other and future generations.

This doesn't stop at business - the day this comes out, Pete will be a couple of days into a solo 1,000 mile bike ride from Liverpool, UK to Oslo, Norway (Expedition to The Plus), to both raise money for a series of charities and to make a point: That running a successful business need not mean you can’t be as carbon positive as possible…

I also have to say, that my connection to Pete is none other than Victoria, my wife and co-producer on this podcast!

She’s worked for Planit-IE now for going on a decade and before recording I’ll admit to being a tad nervous…

This could have been a SERIES of podcasts, it was so interesting to me, and I know you’ll find it interesting too…

planit-ie.com

Expedition to The Plus:

planit-ie.com/news/expedition-to-the-plus

Fundraiser - justgiving.com/fundraising/dransfield-foundation

Instagram - @planitie & @peteswiftysan

Twitter - @PlanitIE & @peteswiftysan

bcorporation.uk

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Hillary is a former foster-care and juvi kid who grew up on the edges of society in white Midwestern America.

After extensive travel in her 20s, she discovered that US immigration law was where she could do the work she cared most about. Now a top US immigration attorney, Hillary is at the bleeding edge of challenging the way asylum seekers are viewed in America today…

newfrontier.us

Immigration Law Made Easy Podcast

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Julian is a serial creator, with a wealth of experience in TV and film, photography and food, working with clients worldwide to deliver solutions in order to communicate their message to a wider audience in memorable and bold style. 

Julian has founded a number of companies, namely Made by Humans; a creative house of visual storytellers, and The Future Plate; the coming together of African & Caribbean chefs to form a support network for each other, to share ideas and collaborate, out of a shared burning passion to celebrate and showcase African and Caribbean cuisine to the world.

thefutureplate.com

@the_futureplate

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Paul has worked in social care for over 20 years, and has a PhD in social work, with his thesis title being “What matters to children in living in kinship care: another way of being a normal family”.

He is committed to public service and to the idea that social work and academia have a responsibility to instigate change and give back. 

We didn’t just talk about his own personal story and his career, but about psychology, critical realism and just a smattering of anti-antisemitism...

Paul's Twitter - @pshuttle3

Sarah and Paul Do Do Social Work podcast

Research:

What matters to children living in kinship care: “Another way of being a normal family”

Recognition of family life by children living in kinship care arrangements

Youtube breakdown of thesis

Blogs:

"Antisemitism is still here"

"LGBTQ+ people are not deviants"

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Andrew a retired paratrooper in the British Armed Forces who is a strategic, leadership and boardroom advisor drawing on 30+ years' experience leading military and inter-agency teams at home and in international crises from Sarajevo to Raqqah.

He is also understood to be the most senior army officer yet to disclose his struggles with mental health after returning from war.

The main reason I had the opportunity to speak to Andrew is due to his involvement in a charity, called Azadi, which was formed as an urgent crisis response to the brutal Taliban takeover of Afghanistan exactly one year ago.

In the last year Azadi have assisted thousands of targeted Afghans to evacuate and resettle, taking a tailored approach to each person or family.

Twitter - @Mr_Andrew_Fox

azadicharity.com

greenonenterprises.com

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Coco is a Nigerian woman who has albinism, the congenital condition that causes partial or complete absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes, as well as the possibility of different vision defects.

Coco is an online advocate for people with albinism, and we talk about various things: Diversity of representation in the media, the misconceptions people have around albinism, what it’s like to live in an African country where there’s a long standing cultural superstition around people with the condition… and more…

IG - @albimazing & @heycocopops

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Jo is an adventurer, expedition leader, outdoor instructor and public speaker who used to be the least adventurous person you could imagine, but after some encouragement from a friend started to wander outside her comfort zone.

After a few years of trying out some cycling challenges she turned her life upside down... halving her salary, selling her fancy car, rented out her house and went from suits and business events to walking boots and a new way of life!

Most recently, she’s tackling the highest mountains on each of the 7 continents, raising money for Place2Be - the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity that provides counselling and mental health support and training in UK schools. 

We talk about her whole trajectory from working in equine care, retail, leading Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and becoming the 3rd British woman to reach the true summit of Manaslu (the world’s 8th highest mountain)!

jobradshaw.co.uk

justgiving.com/fundraising/josmighty90

IG - @_jobradshaw

FB - facebook.com/jobradshawadventurer

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Links mentioned in the intro re Roma Holocaust Memorial Day - holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antigypsyism-anti-roma-discrimination

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Romani_sentiment

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Ani is a former BBC journalist and now transformational life coach who, whilst on holiday with a friend in Sri Lanka, was almost drowned in the 2004 Indian Ocean Boxing Day Tsunami that killed almost 228,000 people across 15 countries.

It took 15 years of struggling with PTSD, depression and other crises for Ani to be able to utilise her experiences in order to assist others.

anicoaching.com

IG - @anicoaching

FB - facebook.com/anicoaching

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Ilan is the CEO of Bioharvest Sciences, an Israeli company that marries science and technology with the power of nature to develop proprietary biofarming technology, which invariably will change the landscape of the pharmaceutical and health supplements industries.

Prior to joining Bioharvest, Ilan’s story is fascinating: From working for the Coca Cola company for 18 years, developing new health brands in places such as Mongolia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and more, to building a disruptive BIG Data, IOT & software company servicing major beverage brands, which was ultimately purchased by one of the world’s largest brewing companies.

In short… he’s an entrepreneurial powerhouse with a focus on bringing GOOD into the world, and it was my absolute pleasure to talk with him.

bioharvest.com

vinia.com

Twitter - @BioHarvestBHSC

Facebook - facebook.com/BioHarvestSciences

YouTube - youtube.com/c/BioHarvestSciences

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Drew is a musician and author from Melbourne, Australia, and he’s recently released a book, called After Party, which tells the story of his life-long struggles with drugs and alcohol, and his eventual path to sobriety.

The whole purpose of writing After Party was to draw attention to the damaging effects drugs and alcohol can have on a range of people from all kinds of backgrounds. Drew’s mission is to break the stigma of addiction and share his story in the hopes that it promotes more open discussions of the very real problems of alcohol and drug dependance, or overuse in modern societies. 

This chat hit home with me - Whilst I’ve never had an issue with drugs, there are many parallels between Drew’s story and mine...

After Party on Amazon.co.uk - here

Facebook - facebook.com/DrewCharlesAF

Instagram - @drewcharlesaf

drewcharles.net

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Abi is a mum of two who was nearly killed by her abusive husband.

She was left with permanent spinal cord damage, constant chronic pain, severe PTSD, scars across her neck and much, much more that we get into.

And if that wasn’t horrendous enough, her husband, due to a little legal loophole, was free to walk the streets after serving only six months of a three year sentence.

Abi’s story isn’t just about what happened to her - it’s also about calling for better support from the British criminal justice system for victims of domestic abuse.

My Cheshire Without Abuse - mycwa.org.uk

Women's Aid - womensaid.org.uk

Domestic Violence Assist - dvassist.org.uk

headstogether.org.uk

youngminds.org.uk

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Jordan is a world-renowned strength and nutrition coach, a 5 x World Record holder in powerlifting and personal trainer to entrepreneur/internet mogul Gary Vaynerchuk.

For all his success to date, Jordan hasn’t done it the typical way.

He flies in the face of health trends and fads, focussing on promoting research-based information.

Jordan is on a mission to help people incorporate the best possible training and nutrition into their lifestyle, in order to gain strength and build the body they’ve always wanted.

syattfitness.com

sfinnercircle.com

IG - @syattfitness

FB - facebook.com/syattfitness

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Yonatan, born Lutz, was for a number of years a member of a Neo-Nazi movement in Berlin. This group would dispute or justify the Holocaust/WWII, idolise the likes of Adolf Hitler and ultimately plot to overthrow the German government.

After a ten year period of transformation, he not only left his extremist, far-right ideologies and allegiances behind, but subsequently converted to Orthodox Judaism. Now Yonatan lives in Israel working for The Kabbalah Centre in Tel Aviv, which teaches the ancient discipline of Jewish mysticism.

Yonatan's Facebook - facebook.com/transforminghate

Yonatan's IG - @transforminghate

kabbalah.com

Support Yonatan's documentary project - gofund.me/5f801659

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Joe is a podcaster and YouTuber who lives with an extremely rare genetic condition, called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, or FOP, in which fibrous connective tissue such as muscle, tendons, and ligaments turn into bone tissue.

It’s progressive, meaning it gets worse over time, it’s the only known medical condition where one organ system changes into another and it’s so rare that only around 800 cases have been confirmed worldwide.

Joe is only 29, but he’s now at the point where most of his major joints have fused, losing 95% of his ability to move. This means he now needs round-the-clock care.

Joe hasn’t let living with a progressive, chronic condition stop him live life; he has a growing YouTube channel, a podcast called Two Mics One Joe Sooch and he connects with people all over the world to raise awareness of other disabilities and rare diseases.

Joe's YouTube Channel - youtube.com/c/JoeSoochh

Joe's Podcast - Two Mics One Joe Sooch

Joe's Instagram - @joesoochh

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Eve is a Glasgow-born, LA-based music journalist and Jewish activist.

She has written pieces for some of the world’s most prestigious publications, both in print and online, and recently has become one of the biggest names in the fight against antisemitism.

Eve is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to the written word, and her Substack, Blacklisted, is something I can’t recommend highly enough:- evebarlow.substack.com

Eve's Twitter - @Eve_Barlow

Eve's IG - @evebarlow

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Cromwell and his team have been working as part of a 22-year breeding programme to regenerate the Spix’s Macaw, a bird that has been extinct in the wild since 2000 due to illegal trade, hunting and the destruction of its natural habitat.

On 11 June 2022, the Spix’s Macaw will become the first-ever species to be made “unextinct”, when the first eight birds of Dr Purchase’s breeding programme will be released back into their ancestral home: the Brazilian Caatinga.

The release of the first eight birds will be immortalised through the launch of the UNEXTINCT NFT project: a collection of exclusive digital artworks designed by award-winning and world-renowned wildlife photographer Tim Flach. The collection will be launched on 11th June 2022 at 6.30pm ET / 11.30pm GMT on curated NFT platform Nifty Gateway.

UNEXTINCT Official Site - unextinct.earth

IG - @unextinct_project

Twitter - @atlaslabs_

spixs-macaw.org

blue-sky-global.com

getatlas.xyz

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Sara is an Ethiopian Jew who was raised in Israel, after her parents travelled across East Africa & the Middle East over a period of years to arrive there, with a journey hampered by famine, forced displacement, loss of friends and family members.

This is not just Sara’s story, but her family’s too.

We’re releasing this episode today for a reason. Yesterday, 29th May 2022, is a national holiday in Israel, called Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), that commemorates both the reunifications of Jerusalem after the Six Day War of 1967.

On Yom Yerushalayim, another national holiday is held; Ethiopian Jew’s Memorial Day, created in around 2004 to commemorate the Ethiopian Jews who perished on their journey to Israel in the various mass exoduses from 1984 onwards.

Sara is in the UK as an emissary for both the UJIA and the Jewish Agency, so thank you to those organisations for letting us record in their North Manchester offices!

ujia.org

jewishagency.org

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We talk their two very different backgrounds, how they came to form one of the hottest bands you’ve not yet heard of and what it’s like taking a months-old baby with them on a world tour!

We'd like to give a HUGE thank you to our friend (and 1st ever SodsPod guest) Eli Portnoy for putting us in touch with Southern Avenue, and also for being kind enough to let us use one of his offices to record this chat.

Southern Avenue's latest album Be the Love You Want is available anywhere you get music, and they are playing more European & US dates all the way to the end of 2022 - check them out at southernavenuemusic.com!

IG - @southernavenuemusic

Twitter - @SoAveMusic

Facebook - facebook.com/SouthernAvenueMusic

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Bex is an adventurer, conservationist and founder of the UK’s largest women’s adventure community, Love Her Wild.

In 2016, desperate for a drastic change in her life, Bex decided to walk the 1,000km length of Israel with her husband. Having never done anything like it before, the experience changed her life, giving her confidence and self-esteem. 

Since then she has made adventuring her full time career - She has kick-scooted the length of the USA as well as crossed the Jordan desert!

Bex launched Love Her Wild in 2017 to provide support and opportunities for women in adventure. Now with over 11,000 members, Love Her Wild has taken over 1,000 women on life changing expeditions around the world. As well as having an online forum, the community runs a mentoring program and funding schemes to break down financial and social barriers holding women back from getting outdoors. 

She believes that everyone should be able to access adventure as it builds confidence and connects people to the natural world.

theOrdinaryAdventurer.com

loveherwild.com

facebook.com/BexBand

Insta - @bex_Band

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Eyal served in the IDF for 24 years, the majority of which in coordination units working with the Palestinian population. In 2016 he established and commanded the "Good Neighbor" Unit, which managed the humanitarian aid given to civilian victims of the Syrian Civil War.

Operation Good Neighbor carried out ~700 humanitarian aid operations on a hostile border controlled by terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah.

In collaboration with Christian and Muslim organisations, he helped shape a different reality across the border and created, for the first time, an independent collaboration with Syrian citizens who had spent their lives being taught to hate Israelis.

This is a deep chat into a world most people know very little about, yet still take it upon themselves to voice an opinion.

Eyal has an incredible outlook - that this never-ending conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is actually not a conflict between Israeli and Palestinian people, but between governments or political groups.

Eyal’s message at its core is that dialogue is the most effective path to peace, and we should always strive to build dialogue whenever we can.

Twitter - @LTCEyalDror

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/eyal-dror-722436183/

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Nicole was born with a condition called congenital primary lymphedema - the swelling of parts of the body due to a failure in the development and/or function of the lymphatic system.

I came across Nicole on Instagram after seeing some of her posts raising awareness for lymphedema and living with chronic illness.

Her story is fascinating and inspiring - she has swelling almost everywhere in her body, lymphatic abnormalities in her organs and a collapsed lung due to fluid build-up.

She also has a podcast, called Normal Adjustments, that highlights stories of people that have gone through a unique journey that forced them to live life differently from what society has deemed 'normal'. 

Nicole's IG - @facciolita

Normal Adjustments Podcast - normaladjustments.com

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Gina has spent most of her life in uniform; from the Army cadets at 13 to serving in the Royal Signals in places like Kosovo, Bosnia and East Timor.

After leaving the armed forces, and following a series of traumatic events including the death of her brother to cancer, she undertook a challenge to complete 100 miles for each week of the year, raising money for SSAFA, the armed forces charity that supported her after being knocked off her bike in a hit & run.

After the loss of her brother, Gina began to write poetry, and in the years since has created and curated a book of poems, called Military Memories, written by veterans, serving personnel and their families which tell the stories of their lives in the services, to raise money for SSAFA.

Instagram - @militarymemories2021

Buy Military Memories on Amazon here

ssafa.org.uk/about-us/ssafa-stories/gina-allsop

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Ally is an ambassador for charity YouOkayDoc, set up by doctors to support doctors’ mental health and has been open about her experience of living with depression.

Ally, like all NHS junior doctors is working within a British institution that we’re all proud of, but in recent years has been financially gutted by the non-medically minded top brass. She’s doing a job that deserves the utmost respect and admiration, that sadly I feel at this point isn’t being appropriately given out.

IG: @drallyjaffee

IG - @nutritank_official

Twitter: @drallyjaffee

Twitter: @nutritank_info

LinkedIn: Dr Ally Jaffee

nutritank.com

Nutritank Podcast

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Sarah was just 34 with a young family when her husband discovered he had a brain tumour. As he pursued a shamanic path to fight the cancer, they were both catapulted into a world of ritual and ceremony. As he entered his last weeks of life, Sarah ended up in a coma on life-support for four weeks, where she experienced what she describes as other realms and worlds.

She has written about this journey in her latest book, called Love and Above, and this is not a world I know anything about, or have any experience in. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’d say that from conversations like this I’m learning to be less cynical, less likely to disregard the stories of others because they don’t align with my own understanding of the world.

This was fascinating, and I’m delighted I had the chance to chat with Sarah.

thewritingroom.co.za/loveandabove

Love and Above on Amazon

Sarah's FB - facebook.com/thewritingroomcommunity

Sarah's IG - @thewritingroom.sarahbullen

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One place I visited was a hotel in Kraków city centre called Hotel Wilga, owned by a guy called Adam.

From the very start of the war, Adam donated a number of his rooms to Ukrainian refugees and their families, providing them with food that meets their specific dietary requirements and more.

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Rabbi Eliezer Gurary is the shaliach at the Kraków Chabad House, and like everyone else I’d spoken to had upended his and his family’s life in the last month.

They provide shelter, food, clothing and various other kinds of support for Ukrainian refugees whilst staying or stopping off in Kraków.

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I had the chance for a proper sit down chat with Jakub, the director of the Galicia Jewish Museum, which had been converted into a daycare for refugee children, to get a better sense of how their lives had changed since the Russian invasion.

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This is Valentina, a Ukrainian teacher and now refugee living in Kraków.

After the start of the war, Valentina helped to convert the Galicia Jewish Museum in Kraków into a kindergarten for refugee children, supported by JRoots.

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Tzvi Sperber of JRoots took me to one of their refugee centres to see what they had set up over the last few weeks.

Tzvi and his team were going from room to room checking everyone had everything they needed, and in one room there was a young lady who couldn’t have been older than 20, looking much younger. She was lying on a blow-up mattress with a weeks-old baby across her chest, to whom she’d given birth during the war. When asked if we could provide her with anything such as food, clothing or anything else, she said all she needed was a stroller/pram for her baby.

The response was an immediate, “We will try and find you one, and if we can’t find one, we’ll buy one.”

Within the hour Tzvi had sourced a bassinet within their distribution centre, and delivered it to the mother and child.

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This is Zhanna, a refugee from Kyiv who had arrived at the JRoots refugee centre in the early hours of the morning. She had traveled from Kyiv to Kraków over 6-7 days, stopping off in Lviv.

She was clearly exhausted and shaken, but was adamant to tell a piece of her story.

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Tzvi Sperber of JRoots gave me a tour of the one of their refugee centres in Kraków where around 30 or so women & children were being sheltered.

They had gone to the extra effort of making sure that every person staying there had a proper mattress, access to toiletries, medical supplies, anything they needed - a far cry away from what would be considered a typical refugee camp.

As I arrived the children were being handed chocolate by foreign volunteers.

We're supporting the JRoots Ukraine Campaign, and if you'd like to donate, please head to jroots.org/donate.

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This is Ala, a Scout volunteer from Kraków, who along with many others has spent most of the last four weeks volunteering at Kraków train station to greet Ukrainian refugees with food, water, blankets, essential items and advice.

Ala was kind enough to give me a tour of Kraków train station, telling me how things have changed since the start of the war, how people from all areas of Polish society are assisting Ukrainian refugees and the stark risk of refugee women and children being snatched by human traffickers - definitely NOT a conversation being published by the likes of BBC News.

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This is Izabela, a Scout leader from Kraków, who along with many others has spent most of the last four weeks volunteering at Kraków train station to greet Ukrainian refugees with food, water, blankets, essential items and advice.

I was lucky to record this - it was around 8:30am and the station wasn’t yet heaving. As we talked, a number of trains from the Polish/Ukrainian border arrived, and Izabela was needed again at the aid post she was running.

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JRoots lead Jewish heritage tours of Europe, and in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine found themselves switching their Poland operation into a full-blown humanitarian aid organisation supporting the millions of Ukrainian refugees flooding into Poland.

About two weeks into the war, I asked if they needed volunteers, and they asked if I could help spread the word of what they and others are doing, because they need support. They need more resources, and very few eyes and ears are honed in on what’s going on.

This was recorded on March 24th 2022 in Kraków, Poland and over the next 24hrs Tzvi gave me a tour of JRoots' refugee centres, and I was able to record a further 9 mini podcasts, which will be released throughout the rest of this week.

JRoots has a "Ukraine Campaign" page so if you want to donate, you can head to jroots.org/donate, and that money goes directly to supporting not only refugees in Poland, but also supplies aid, food and medical equipment to the people still stuck in Ukraine.

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Brooke has been described by many as a woman on a mission, and that’s no joke.

As a young law student she traveled to the West Bank to make a documentary about coerced Palestinian suicide bombers.

She’s founded nonprofits such as the Children’s Rights institute that legally combats violations of children's basic human rights, with a special focus on child suicide bombers, and the Lawfare project which serves as a legal think tank and litigation fund to uphold the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and pro-Israel community worldwide.

She has recently founded the grassroots civil rights movement #endjewhatred to do just that...

Twitter - @GoldsteinBrooke

linktr.ee/BrookeGoldstein

endjewhatred.com

thelawfareproject.org

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Lara’s got a fascinating career trajectory from nightclub promotions in 80s London, to the top of the PR world to creating her own business during COVID lockdowns that specialises in helping people find love!

She's a real character - and on top of her incredible story, what’s really inspiring is how she’s handled the lows as much as the highs...

thematchmaker.uk

Instagram - @thematchmakeruk

Facebook - facebook.com/TheMatchmakerUK

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/lara-besbrode-thematchmakeruk

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After leaving the Royal Engineers and running his own successful business for decades, he started Veterans in Action to help armed forces veterans discover a sense of achievement, aiding them to rebuild their confidence, self-esteem and self-belief. 

What evolved was a charity that played a key role in the Coronavirus Pandemic response, delivering essential goods to vulnerable people throughout the UK and more recently providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees and those still trapped by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Due to his incredible work, Billy was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2020 birthday honours.

At the time of release, Billy and members of his team were in Poland distributing aid and medical supplies.

If you'd like to donate medical supplies, food or other items to be taken to aid Ukrainian refugees in Poland, you can send them the following address:

Veterans In Action, The Old Grain Store, Home Farm Lane, Redenham Park, Andover, Hants, SP11 9AQ, UK

veteransinaction.org.uk

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Since a very young age Rudy has been battling the rising tide of Jew Hatred and wherever he may have lived or worked. Not with anger or violence, but by exploring commonalities and finding reasons to bond.

He talks about Jews’ indigenous rights to what is now the modern state of Israel AND Palestinian people’s liberation in the same breath.

He also is on a mission to shed a light on communities of Jews that have been considered “lost” by the majority of world Jewry, currently making a Netflix-style documentary called We Were Never Lost.

I’d been trying to record with Rudy for a long time, and we had it pencilled in.

Whilst in Africa filming his documentary he and his film crew were arrested by Nigeria's secret police, suspected to be politically involved with the conflict between Biafran separatists and the Nigerian government. They were held for 20 days in horrendous conditions, and whilst that isn’t the bulk of this chat, how Rudy dealt with it and how he doesn’t want this experience to take the focus away from the African communities he’s working with all add to what a unique individual he truly is.

Once the dust had settled, Rudy began touring all over the world to raise awareness of this project and I managed to catch him during a quick stopover in London. I’m extremely grateful that we managed to sit down in person to talk.

wewereneverlost.com

@rudy_israel

linktr.ee/rudyrochman

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Ivan operates within a world I must admit I know bugger all about: economics.

But to be honest, it was right up my street - We talk about his background, career, then got sidetracked by Brexit, Russia and antisemitism in football and overall I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!

You can order a copy of Ivan’s book, Economics for Business, by clicking the link below:

Economics for Business

Ivan's Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/ivcohen

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Raz is an Israeli former Special Operations infantry combatant and senior military Krav Maga instructor based in New York City, and has taught over 10,000 soldiers, including top special forces counter-terrorism and US Marines.

He currently teaches classes and seminars for the army, police, and civilians in topics like counter-terrorism, rape prevention, Krav Maga instructor certification, Krav Maga combat and fitness. 

He is the creator of AVIIR, a company dedicated to functional training, protection, regeneration and longevity.

This was a fascinating chat about his life and career, as well as about the importance of self defence and empowerment.

Raz's IG - @raz.maga

aviir.net

kravmagaexperts.com

gsdadvisers.com

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This has to have been one of my favourite conversations so far…

Jon is a professor of Brand Strategy and Culture at Regent's University in London, he has featured in LinkedIn’s annual Top Voices awards list for four consecutive years, he produced music for the first three Grand Theft Auto games, he’s a world expert on Halal Branding AND like me, is an Old Mancunian (we both attended Manchester Grammar School)!

Jon’s book Halal Branding is available anywhere you get books:

Amazon.co.uk

drjonwilson.com

Twitter - @drjonwilson

Insta - @drjonwilson

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Riz came on the podcast back in October 2021 to talk about how he and his team at Pixeleyed have been working on a ground-breaking anti-terrorism campaign in order to connect religious communities from all over the UK.- called Uniting Communities.

They had planned to do screenings of the Uniting Communities short films months ago - Rizwan mentioned it last time and I had the pleasure of being invited. Then the Colleyville, TX Synagogue happened, and the news of the attacker's Blackburnian roots rocked the local community.

In the attack's aftermath Riz set up a screening with members of the Blackburn/Darwen community from various backgrounds, and it was incredible.

Many people in the room had never met a Jew before, and I can say for certain it was one of the most refreshing series of conversations I’ve ever been involved in.

After everyone had left, Riz and I sat down to record this episode, and I really think you’ll like it as much as I did.

Links to the Pixeleyed short films:

"Terrorism Has No Religion" Short Film

pixeleyed.co.uk

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Noemie is a former GP-turned world-renowned Holocaust educator, and founder of Holocaustmatters.org, who, as the daughter of two holocaust survivors has dedicated her life to making sure human stories and lessons learned from the Holocaust will never be forgotten.

Noemie’s father, Ernst Israel Bornstein was a survivor of seven Nazi labour and death camps during WW2, and of an extended family of 72 people was one of only 6 that survived.

Ernst died of a heart condition in 1978, leaving behind his wife Renee, three children and a memoir of his experiences… called Der Lange Nacht, or The Long Night.

Noemie has translated The Long Night into many languages and continues to do so in order to bring her father's story to light.

The Long Night - Amazon.co.uk

HolocaustMatters.org

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When Lerona was 5 years old she sustained life-changing, permanent spinal injuries, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. 

In September 2022, in honour of her 40th birthday, Lerona will be attempting the challenge of hand-cycling from London to Amsterdam, over two days and 136 miles, to raise funds for the charity and organisation that’s supported her over the years - the Aspire Leisure Centre based in Stanmore, North London.

For anyone suffering with an injury, Aspire was the first fully accessible fitness centre in Europe to open, back in 1983. It is now proud to say that over 32% of its members are disabled, compared to other gyms, where only 2-3% of disabled people feel there is a space for them to exercise. 

I heard about this challenge via mutual friends of ours and I’d really like to help her out as much as possible.

You can donate to Lerona's Just Giving page using the link here or below, and I implore you, whether it’s one pound or a hundred please donate as generously as you’re able to.

All money raised, in excess of the cost of Lerona’s equipment, will go directly to Aspire’s housing programme. This provides essential equipment to maintain independence, for those living with spinal cord injuries. The money raised will also go to much-needed assisted technology, enabling disabled people to get back their independence and get back to work. 

Donate to Lerona's JustGiving page here - justgiving.com/fundraising/lerona-jayne-goldberg

Aspire - aspire.org.uk

Aspire Leisure Centre - aspireleisurecentre.org.uk

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Carly has a hugely inspiring life trajectory, and in the last 14 years has been at the forefront of fighting for the safeguarding and inclusion of girls and women with autism.

Carly herself was only diagnosed at the age of 32, and has two daughters who were diagnosed as young children. Subsequently Carly strives to demystify autism and help women and girls with the condition to flourish.

Carly has been publicly appointed as a member of the UK Honours Committee, is an independent panel member for the Ministry of Justice, works for the Heathrow Accessibility Advisory Group, was made an MBE in the 2017/18 Queen’s New Years honours list for her services to people with autism AND was the first British autistic woman to address the United Nations on autistic women’s rights. 

Carly's new book, Safeguarding Autistic Girls: Strategies for Professionals is available anywhere you get books:

Safeguarding Autistic Girls - WH Smith

Safeguarding Autistic Girls - Amazon.co.uk

Safeguarding Autistic Girls - Book Depository

Carly's Website

How Can you Report Pain if you Struggle to Recognise it?

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Weightmans hosts these discussions from time to time covering various cultures and honouring different heritages.

They’re a top 45 law firm in the UK, 1300+ people working from their offices all over the country and are experts in a whole range of legal services.

The panel consisted of me, Basiru Terry, Viney Jhalley and Andrea Cohen, and unlike all of our other podcasts episodes on here, this is mostly me answering other people’s questions.

It’s very common nowadays for big companies to put on a facade for corporate social responsibility’s sake but are actually doing no more than pushing for increased sales, increased profits not really giving a toss about the issues they’re "highlighting". Weightmans did the opposite of that and I thank them wholeheartedly for it.

weightmans.com

IG - @weightmans_law

Twitter - @Weightmans

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/weightmans

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

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Dr Levkoff is a thought leader in the field of human sexuality and personal relationships, who’s mission is to empower children, adolescents and adults to embrace their sexuality, and challenge the impractical and often unhealthy messages they're exposed to.

She speaks on a wide range of issues, including sexual health and sexuality education, trends in sexuality, relationship hurdles, and the role of sexuality in pop culture and politics. 

Her work with teens and parents has been profiled in numerous publications, including The New York Times.

loganlevkoff.com

IG - @loganlevkoff

Twitter - @LoganLevkoff

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

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If you’ve heard of Tony’s or tried their products, you’ll know they’re different… not just because their products are delicious (unpaid plug… send me some chocolates please!) but their whole origin story is surrounding the highlighting of the inequities and lack of ethics within the cocoa and chocolate industry.

Tony’s entire mission is to get down the path to making the industry 100% slave & child labour free!

tonyschocolonely.com

IG - @tonyschocolonely_uk_ire

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

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Yuri is a former WBA super welterweight champion of the world who has had a really interesting life trajectory. From being born in the Soviet Union, to moving to Israel as a kid, to losing his mum, to battling against the odds to reach the height of heights in the world of boxing, to rediscovering his family religion to veganism… of all things!

yuriforemanofficial.com

Instagram - @foremanyuri

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

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James is the founder and CEO of Levitex, a company that specialises in creating the optimum surface for sleep.

James’s work is based on the idea that whether it comes to complex neurological patients, elite athletes, home office workers, and everyone in the middle, the impact of sleep quality, and specifically what we sleep on, can’t be underestimated.

levitex.co.uk

James' LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jamesleinhardt/

IG - @levitexsleep

Twitter - @levitexsleep

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

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Joe is a journalist and writer, who covered BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine project in real time as the Financial Times’ correspondent in Frankfurt, where he also reports on German business, tech and innovation.

In March 2021 he wrote the first English-language profile of Uğur Şahin, one of the two German-Turkish scientists responsible for the work, and had regular access to the company throughout the vaccine’s development in Mainz. 

Prior to joining the FT in 2019, Joe spent six years at BBC News and the BBC World Service, working first in the London newsroom, and then as a correspondent in New York, Delhi and Berlin. 

Joe’s book, The Vaccine: Inside the Race to Conquer the COVID-19 Pandemic is being released in English on the 9th of December 2021 anywhere you get books, and I highly recommend preordering it now!

hive.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk

Joe's Twitter - @JoeMillerJr

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

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Amy is a Jewish advocate, educator and digital producer from California. Whilst living in Israel for 6 years, she created The Asian Israeli; a blog where she cataloged her experiences as a Chinese-American Jewish woman.

Through her explorations of her own identity, Amy's goal is to empower young Jews to be unapologetically Jewish, both online and in their everyday lives.

I’d say that her work is important far beyond the confines of the Jewish community, and I think you'll really enjoy this chat as much. as I did!

Amy's IG - @theamyalbertson

Amy's Twitter - @theamyalbertson

amyalbertson.com

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

Daniel is a Clinical Child Psychologist who has worked within the NHS for over a decade. 

Recently he set up CAYP, a private practice in Manchester that specialises in psychological assessment, intervention and support for Children, Adolescents and Young People, and is now moving into this full time.

We talk about his career path (a very long one), his research, his work and the politics around clinical psychology as a speciality both within and outside the NHS…

cayp-psychology.com

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

This week we are indulging ourselves ladies and gents; this is not an interview, there is no agenda!

This is me, talking with my wife Vic about shit we wish we had the time to talk about, and you’re gonna bloody love it!

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

Sally is the only person on the planet to complete a marathon on every continent in fancy dress (as different pieces of fruit!)

She holds multiple Guinness world records and world firsts, has run nearly 70 marathons, completed 8 Ironman triathlons and has completed 22 years’ service in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Physiotherapy Officer, including an tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Sally captained the first British female team to complete the relentless Race Across America, and has also ran the toughest footrace on earth, the Marathon des Sables.

She’s cycled the length of New Zealand, swam the English Channel, climbed mountains in Nepal and Bolivia and even skied 250km across the largest plateau in the Arctic circle!

She’s also been listed as one of the One Hundred Reasons for Hope by the Captain Tom Foundation, in a new book of beautifully illustrated true stories of everyday heroes. One Hundred Reasons for Hope, is available right now anywhere you get books!

Now if this wasn’t enough, Sally also have faced her own challenges with severe depression and chronic anxiety, which she speaks openly about in an attempt to remove the associated stigma. She’s a huge advocate for encouraging people to manage their own mental well being through healthy eating, physical activity and a positive mindset…

AND this was the first podcast we’ve recorded in person in our studio since December 2020 so I am certain you’re going to enjoy this as much as I did…

sallyorange.com

Sally's IG - @Sally0range

Sally's Twitter - @sally0range

Sally's Facebook

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Judith is a singer living in Israel, who’s mix of Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jewish backgrounds, as well as growing up with 80s and 90s British music has informed a unique talent and voice!

Judith has had one hell of a journey from growing up in London, struggling to have children and to being lauded as the “Jewish Adele”, and it’s one of hard work, faith and a sizeable amount of soul.

Judith’s work is labelled as Kol Isha, which literally means “the voice of a woman” meaning that whilst people of all backgrounds, genders and religions are able to enjoy her work, Jewish Law dictates that a woman’s voice would be considered an inappropriate expression for men to engage with.

This means her audience is almost exclusively female, but not limited to Jews, as the subject matter of her songs transcends her own religious beliefs.

Judith's IG - @rebbetzin_judith_gerzi

judithgerzi.com

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Emily's research focuses on people's perception of world, specifically visual perception, and how motivations, goals, and emotions influence it.

She’s also got a fantastic book out - Clearer, Closer, Better: How Successful People See the World - and it’s available anywhere you get books, eBooks and audiobooks.

Emily on Linkedin

Emily's Book on Amazon.co.uk & on Penguin/RandomHouse

Clearer, Closer, Better Workbook

Emily's work in Psychology Today

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

As well as being an accomplished musician, composer and Civil Rights activist, Joshua is the Director of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI); an organisation that’s dedicated to strengthening the relationship between Israel and the Jewish people, and people of African descent through education and advocacy.

Joshua writes and speaks extensively on topics such as Zionism and Civil Rights, seeking to strengthen the black and Jewish relationship in the United States.

We talk all things homeschooling, BLM, Israel and much, much more!

ibsi-now.org

IG - @joshwashibsi / @ibsinow

Twitter - @JoshWashIBSI / @IbsiNow

facebook.com/IBSInow

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

Rizwan is a self-taught camera technician with a passion for providing solutions that extend far beyond revolutionising video stabilisation.

He’s gone from working on some of the British film industry’s most critically acclaimed and successful movies and shows, to focusing on battling against the negative portrayal and use of language about Islam and Muslims within the media industry. 

Since before the pandemic Rizwan and his team have been working on a ground-breaking anti-terrorism campaign in order to connect religious communities from all over the UK.

instagram.com/pixeleyedpictures

pixeleyed.co.uk

britishcinematographer.co.uk/on-screen-misrepresentation-rizwan-wadan

itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-08-05/star-wars-filmmaker-brings-terrorism-and-islamophobia-campaign-to-taunton

lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/18907831.film-makers-prove-blackburn-really-united/

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

Emma’s got a fantastic, inspirational story to tell, from the mystery virus that impaired her mobility as a teenager, to fighting her way to being one of the most respected figures in modern sport, to emboldening others with her incredible performance mindset - she’s just a hugely inspirational person!

emmawiggs.com

IG - @emmawiggs

Twitter - @emwiggsy

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Born in Scotland, Ben is a gay Jewish author and internationally renowned educator focussing on Jewish identity, combating antisemitism and raising awareness of the Holocaust. His first book, Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People, was released in February 2021.

Ben is an incredible force for good in the ongoing conversation around antisemitism, the Israel/Palestine conflict and even Holocaust denial/distortion…

Ben is based in Hong Kong, and heads up the Humanities Team at an American International School, lecturing on antisemitism at Hong Kong universities.

Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People is available on Amazon, the Book Depository or anywhere you get book!

benmfreeman.com

Jewish Pride on Amazon.co.uk

Jewish Pride on Amazon.com

Twitter - @benmfreeman

Instagram - @benmfreeman

Facebook - facebook.com/benmfreeman

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

When Hayley was barely a teenager she had to come to terms with not only going through the mismanaged symptoms of early menopause, but the prospect of never being able to have her own biological children.

I discovered Hayley online as this really positive voice for women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), and we talk about what it was like being on the wrong medication for most of her life, coming to terms with infertility (as a child!) and what it’s like to go through an adoption journey…

#makemenopausematter

Hayley's IG - @prematuremenopause14

The Daisy Network - daisynetwork.org

The Menopause Charity - themenopausecharity.org

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

When Josh was a teen, his mum was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating neurological disease, after which he got heavily into drugs. Then, after a period of drug induced psychosis, got clean, was diagnosed with lymphoma, recovered, cared for a friend who survived after a suicide attempt AND eventually helped his mum travel to the Dignitas assisted suicide clinic in Zurich, Switzerland.

Josh's perspective on life, the universe and everything is really interesting and I think this was a great chat - the longest we’ve released so far!

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED®.

MANSCAPED® are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Always use the right tools for the job with MANSCAPED®!

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Daniel is a lawyer specialising in criminal, professional discipline and regulatory law. 

In a voluntary capacity he has worked on a range of cases, one that is ongoing and particularly sensitive; The assisting of two prominent Afgan women, one an MP, the other a judge, in obtaining entry visas to the UK as they’re currently living in hiding in from the Taliban in Afganistan.

We’ve split this episode into two halves as I’d originally booked Daniel on to talk about a book he’s written about his grandfather, who served in the British special forces in Burma in WWII, enduring two years of captivity at the hands of the Japanese.

It’s called Captured Behind Japanese Lines: With Wingate's Chindits, Burma 1942-45 and it’s available to pre-order NOW on Amazon!

I should also say that Daniel’s lovely wife Carmel has featured on the podcast not once, but twice, and this is definitely one of the most interesting conversations I’ve had to date...

Daniel's Twitter - @danielberke1

Behind Enemy Lines on Amazon

Behind Enemy Lines on Pen & Sword

All royalties from print sales are going to veteransinaction.org.uk.

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Blake is a recent graduate from GWU in Washington DC, co-founder of the New Zionist Congress and a firebrand voice for Jews and Zionists to be safe within progressive left spaces.

We talk about his background and upbringing, how being a Zionist Jew gets you excluded from progressive left and even LGBTQ+ spaces, his attitude towards antisemitism, US politics and much more…

Blake's Twitter - @blakeflayton

Blake's IG - @blakeflayton

New Zionist Congress

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Lauren and I talk about one thing in particular in this conversation… PND…

Now to most people that means Post Natal Depression. In some parts of the world it’s now being called Perinatal Distress.

The reason being is that some women, like Lauren, suffer from PND not just after they’ve given birth, but during the pregnancy as well.

Lauren talks me through what it was like for her to go through, feeling like she was losing her mind, having suicidal ideations, being put through various medical treatments... and somehow coming out the other side.

Lauren’s also written a book, called Through the Window: How I Beat PND which is available as an e-book on Amazon, and all the online e-book places.

facebook.com/LaurenShapiroAuthor/

laurenshapiro.co.za

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Sheila has an incredible story starting at being smuggled out of Iran as a small child, to not speaking any English in school in the US, to being a world-renowned plastic surgeon to being one of the presenters of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series, Skin Decision: Before & After… She’s nothing if not inspiring!

Sheila has also made a name for herself as an advocate against racism, especially antisemitism, using her platform to fight injustice and the spread of misinformation in the social media space.

Dr Nazarian's IG - @drsheilanazarian

nazarianplasticsurgery.com

Skin Decision: Before & After (Netflix)

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Ritch has had a fascinating life and career so far, starting in business with his brother at the age of 16. We talk about his cultural background, the joys and stresses of B2C business in the modern age, as well as raising a family.

Ritch and I have spoken before, on his podcast, Ritch in Life, which I highly recommend you all listen to after this!

@ritchinlife IG

@ritcherani IG

@chuckiesnewyork IG

The Ritch in Life Podcast

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This episode is sponsored by MANSCAPED and Northern Powerhouse Media.

MANSCAPED are the world’s champions in men’s below-the-waist grooming - get 20% off AND free shipping worldwide at manscaped.com using the promo code SODSPOD - Your balls will thank you!

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD25 for a 25% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Michaela has a condition called endometriosis, something that affects 1 in 10 women, but barely anyone, even medical professionals, know much about what it is, why it occurs and even worse… how to effectively treat or cure it…

In that last episode Michaela talks about what it’s been like to have endo, to go through numerous surgeries, the impact it’s had on her life, her ability to work and the stress of having a daughter who may one day suffer from it herself… We ended that chat with Michaela about to have a life-changing surgery that would supposedly change everything… 

It did, but not in the way she expected, and we talk about what things are like now almost a year later.

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Tracy’s an actress, writer and activist who has graced stage, screen and radio alike, working on TV shows such as Eastenders, Doctor Who, Friday Night Dinner, It’s a Sin…. dozens of Radio plays, countless stage plays…. she’s a British institution!

Tracy and I talk about her life, her career, and about how she fights against antisemitism in the UK, using her voice to stand up against injustice and oppression in its many forms...

Tracy-Ann's IG: @tracyanno

Tracy-Ann's Twitter: @TracyAnnO

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Aviad is a marine biologist with an expertise in Mediterranean sharks and dolphins, is head of the Marine Apex Lab at the University of Haifa and has recently been named by National Geographic as one of the 15 Emerging Explorers of 2021.

University of Haifa Site

Aviad's Facebook

Dolphin and Sea Centre Facebook

Delphis.ngo

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

A substantial aspect of Chava’s work as an artist is being involved in the community, using art as a tool to help people cope with trauma, mental health issues, dementia and anxiety. 

Over the last 10 years, Chava has delivered Therapeutic Art workshops to Holocaust survivors and refugees, whilst also documenting their stories. After the pandemic started, this translated into doing the same alongside the NHS to record people’s COVID stories, not just as a therapy, but for historical purposes too.

nhs70.org.uk/story/nhs-73

chavaerlanger.com/online-store

Chava's IG - @chavasart

Chava's Twitter - @chavasart

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Noa and I connected after I posted a podcast clip ranting about antisemitism a month or so ago, and since I would say that connection changed my life.

Noa recently released a book, called Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, and boy oh boy, was it an incredible thing to read.

I’d say to anyone from any background who wants to learn more about the history of the State of Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza - READ THIS BOOK - it approaches the subject from a liberal perspective. It’s not all about how perfect Israel and the settlements are - but I’d say it’s an invaluable tool that’s helped me talk to people about this insanely charged and complicated topic.

Noa didn’t just talk to me about the book; we discuss her background and how that led her to where she is now. It was an absolute pleasure to have her on the show.

Amazon Link to the Book

Twitter - @noatishby

IG - @noatishby

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Natalie has had an amazing career so far working on British hit TV series such as Shameless, Line of Duty, Gentleman Jack, and Time, countless theatre productions as well as lending her lovely West Yorkshire lilt to voiceover work for the BBC!

Natalie also has dyslexia which for a number of years was an insurmountable obstacle. She’s managed to see this as not only a positive thing, but a superpower…

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Aside from being critically acclaimed across every type of media you can imagine, she’s also got a fire in her belly about how Jews are treated worldwide, and about the ongoing situation between the State of Israel and the Arab world.

Maureen and I connected online talking about the rise in antisemitism in the UK, and this is the first time I’ve travelled to meet someone to record since before the pandemic started! You’ll also hear that Victoria came along for good measure - the first time she's ever sat in on an interview with a guest!

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Eleanor was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age and since has been living with it, as well as severe social anxiety, writing about it and helping others by promoting mental health awareness.

After the success of her blog, Be Ur Own Light, which can be found at beurownlight.com she released a book called Bring Me to Light: Embracing my Bipolar and Social Anxiety which I can’t recommend highly enough - it’s available on Amazon.co.uk and all good book sellers RIGHT NOW!

Twitter - @EleanorSegall

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

Amanda is incredibly passionate about promoting women to work more in STEM fields and aviation, showing them that the sky's the limit!

Amanda is in the process of attempting to fly solo in a 1940s biplane from the UK to Darwin in Australia… covering over 9,200 nautical miles, 23 countries over 30 days… all in honour of 1920s aviation pioneer, Amy Johnson.

A documentary of Amanda's attempts, Solo2Darwin, is currently in production.

Amanda’s also a huge voice for dyslexia advocacy and an all-round BADASS!

amandajharrison.com/solo2darwin

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Carmel, as some of you may remember from our International Women’s Day episode, was brought up in both Israel and Finland, and is the Nutrition Programme Director for AGE UK Salford.

We talk about how her unique upbringing led to her career in nutrition, what it was like serving in the Israeli Air Force, as well as the incredible work she’s involved in to improve malnutrition in Greater Manchester's older population with a fantastic initiative called The Paperweight Armband.

ageuk.org.uk/salford

paperweightarmband.org.uk

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

For Tony, storytelling has always been of prime importance - He grew up with his father Michael being one of the most influential British film producers of the 20th century, and has spent his career working on some of the most incredible projects.

Tony’s also the founder of Give Get Go, a company designed to work with people under the age of 25 and over the age of 55, giving them a fair chance to be productive in the creative and other sectors of society.

tonydklinger.com

give-get-go.com

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

It wasn’t planned to have Mark on the show at the same time as an ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, but it's a fantastic conversation from a unique perspective.

Mark was born in Kuwait to Palestinian secular muslim parents and whilst he always new his maternal grandmother was originally Jewish, he thought this made no difference to his own identity.

After meeting a Jew in Canada in his early twenties, he was told that this made his mother and therefore him and his siblings all Jews according to Jewish Law - a strange thing to hear when you’ve been brought up to despise Israel, its people and everything it stands for...

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Esther’s an incredible person whose whole life had been dedicated to asking questions around diversity and inclusion.

After the terrible loss of her younger sister to suicide after a long battle with mental illness, she’s managed to not just pick herself, but has used her sister’s memory as an inspiration to help others in a variety of ways.

Esther is also the author of the Sophie Says... series of children’s books, the latest of which to be released is called Sophie Says It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, which encourages parents & teachers to talk about feelings with children from an early age… You can find the Sophie Says books on Amazon.co.uk and also sophiesaysofficial.com!

Sophie Says Education Hub

FB - @officialsophiesays

IG - @sophiesaysofficial

ORT UK Interview w/ Claudia Winkleman

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Gill has come on to talk about her breast cancer journey, how it affected her and how she’s using these experiences to help others.

Everyone knows or is related to someone who’s been affected by breast cancer, and every experience is different. I think Gill’s outlook is absolutely fantastic and I’m beyond grateful that she came on to share her story.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

If you were one of the few people who didn’t tune in for our International Women's Day episode back at the start of March '21, I’ll tell you that Nici came on for a brief chat about herself then, and 10 minutes wasn't enough. So we invited her back to give us a more in-depth look into her life and story.

In addition to being in a senior role at one of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious sweet manufacturers, Swizzels Matlow, Nici is currently trustee and regional chair of the UJIA, a mum and many other things in between.

This was a fantastic chat, and we talk about how she manages to juggle all the things in her life.

swizzels.com

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Sephanyahu and I met whilst on the set of a TV show we were both filming on, and we got talking about me being a Jew and his recent discovery about being of Eʋe (pronounced Erverh) descent - an African ethnic group thought to be descended from one or more of the lost tribes of Israel - and how this has led him down an even deeper path to one day soon return to the land of his ancestors.

Please bear in mind, this is an hour distilled from close to 10+ hours of conversation in between being called to film scenes whilst in a very noisy space - you can hear the production staff clattering around in the background - also there are many things we discussed that just didn’t make it into the recording, but the point is, I met this incredibly interesting guy who’s someone I hope I’ll keep chatting with as time goes on.

Facebook

Youtube

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

We talk how she became a roadie - a calling that was 100% male until very recently and about working with some of the 20th century’s biggest icons of music including Neil Diamond, AC/DC, Status Quo and more!

Tana has also released a book, LOUD, which details 30 years of her career in the music industry from coiling cables after a show covered in puke, to wearing the wrong shoes when meeting the Queen of England, to rescuing Malcolm Young’s precious Gretch guitar from a pack of rabid AC/DC fans - it’s available on Bookdepository.com and any eBook store NOW, and I highly recommend giving it a read.

tanadouglas.com

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

That's traditions within our lives pre-, during and maybe post-COVID, Jewish traditions with a run-down for ye all of alternative faiths out there and what positive takeaways we’ve had as a family from a year of pandemic life all together.

Celebrate everything worth celebrating!

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

This was an eye opening one for me - I know nothing about this world, and Luis gives me the lowdown of a thing that started as a business idea and has now transformed into a groundbreaking charity that supports people from all walks of life, men, women, children, anyone who is being subjected to domestic abuse.

Unfortunately it seems that Luis’s work is in high demand right now - we discuss some recent cases, some of which have been high-profile and others that I wouldn't have thought possible.

Find out more about Domestic Violence Assist online at dvassist.org.uk.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Lee was the producer and co-host of one of the craziest and most notorious comedy podcasts, The Church of What’s Happening Now with Joey Diaz.

We talk his career trajectory so far, THC-induced hilarity and sitting in on conversations with mammoths of comedy and music.

Lee has got a couple of podcasts out there himself - What Was I Thinking with Lee Syatt and his BRAND new show The Waistline Podcast.

Lee’s also now runs a Podcast Consultation Service on Fiverr from which I’ve benefited TREMENDOUSLY!

What Was I Thinking with Lee Syatt

The Waistline Podcast

Lee Syatt's Podcast Consultation Service

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Danny is one of the world's most in-demand fine art music photographers, and he's back to talk more crazy encounters with legends in music and film and how he managed to capture ICONIC moments others could only dream of.

dannyclifford.com

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SodsPod.com

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See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

Carmel Berke - A Finnish/Israeli nutritionist, former Director of Age UK, soon to be the new Regional Chair of the UJIA.

Nicola Basger - A psychotherapist and trainer at SPACE Therapies who specialises in assisting with burnout and work-related stress.

Nici Wertheim - Director and Head of HR at Swizzels Matlow, UJIA Trustee & Current Regional Chair.

Kate Moryoussef - A well-being and emotional freedom coach who runs The Ambitious Mum Podcast.

Emily Pater - The UJIA Regional Director in Israel who specialises in women’s and young girls' projects that provide equality for women of all backgrounds.

ujia.org

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

JR is operating under a pseudonym, the one under which he has published a book called "Sharing Seeds: A Donor Sperm Story for Mummy, Daddy & Children" which is designed to open the conversation about conceiving via sperm donation.

After finding out he carried not only the breast-cancer gene, he discovered that he also suffers from a condition making him unable to have children.

JR and his wife then went on to have two children, via sperm donation, which although is something they’re proud of and are advocates for, is something they’ve not yet told many people about openly.

This first book was released in November 2020, and is the first in a planned series of Sharing Seeds books which aim to address a number of different fertility issues, breaking taboos and progressing the conversations with children about how they came into the world.

JR is also an ambassador and contributing writer for the online fertility magazine IVF Babble.

sharingseeds.co.uk

IG: @sharingseedsbooks

ivfbabble.com

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Henry was born Heinz Lichtwitz in 1932 in Berlin, and with WW2 looming, was taken in by the UK as part of a unique relief effort to rescue ~10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Western Europe - called the Kindertransport. 

Henry, like all of these children, said goodbye to his family in 1938 not knowing when or if they’d see each other again.

Henry’s father Max sent him postcards, all of which have been compiled into a book called, “Postcards to a Little Boy”, published by Yad Vashem.

It's a heartbreaking and enlighting story that to date has never been told within the medium of podcasting - one that unfortunately is now just on the cusp of living memory.

“Postcards to a Little Boy” is available on Amazon or at the Yad Vashem webstore - store.yadvashem.org

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

I first discovered James when I was doing research for Episode 7, back before the Sod’s Law had been launched, as I was about to interview someone about the Armenian Genocide and James had released a podcast called The Great Crime: A Podcast History of the Armenian Genocide. It was really well put together, and made it easy for me to engage with the subject matter.

James has released a book; When we Dead Awaken: Australia, New Zealand and The Armenian Genocide, and so I learnt more, not just about the subject but how it relates to a historic point of pride within Australia and New Zealand and how the view on that may be skewed. We talk about all of this in the conversation as well as what James calls Holocaust Kitsch and the over-sentimentality within film portrayals of historic events or trauma.

The Great Crime Podcast

When We Dead Awaken Book

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

He’s truly one-of-a-kind, in person and on stage, and we talk about the difference between the two. He’s enjoyed residencies at the Savoy Hotel and the Cafe de Paris in London and he’s an audience and critics' favourite at comedy festivals all over the world.

We talk his background, his career, queerness, sexuality, comedy and much much more…

Check out his tour dates on reubenkaye.com!

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All episodes are available as video, exclusively on the SodsPod YouTube channel - youtube.com/c/TheSodsLawPodcast

See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

7 years ago, after only a few months of marriage, he lost his wife, Nava, after a tragic car accident. We talk about what happened and how it has impacted his life and mental health.

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Jude lived a life where their identity was in the hands of others; with regard to being forced to adopt certain religious practices and forced into a marriage and having children at a young age.

Then after going through therapy, Jude was, for the first time, able to actually think about their desires and wants out of life. Not long later Jude came out as gay, the marriage came to an end, and most recently has been able to come out as non-binary, living as authentic a life as they want.

This is a conversation that I came to with some trepidation as I’ve never spoken to a non-binary person before and wanted to come at it from as naive an angle as possible, without being offensive, and Jude made this very easy…

Jude's Blog on QueerMunity

Jude's Insta

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

I linked up with Rob after chatting with Yad Vashem, who were putting me in touch with a Holocaust survivor, and I strongly recommend you give them a Google if you don’t know what they do and what they’re about - check out yadvashem.org or @yadvashem on all the social media places.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

I invited Pietro on the show to talk about the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh or Artsakh war that started last summer and has barely been covered by the Western mainstream media..

Between the 27th September and the 10th November 2020 over 100,000 Armenians have been displaced, nearly 4000 killed, and many sites of Armenian cultural and historical significance have been taken, damaged or destroyed. 

Pietro was kind enough to come on to talk me through the history of not only the region where the conflict has taken place, but the why’s and the how’s and also the implications on the people who have lived there for generations who are now refugees.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

YES it’s finally here - the episode that should’ve come out three weeks ago but due to facial surgery, being disorganised and many other rubbish excuses is now here for your listening pleasure!

We have for you our first year of the Sod’s Law Podcast in review, that will be unsponsored, unfettered AND with the most special of special guests; None other than my partner in life and podcasting, my wife, my significant other, my favourite person on the planet - Victoria Ellenrosenbogenberg!

It was the perfect opportunity to change things up a bit - you’ll notice the new intro music which will be staying going forward. Also from next week a completely different sponsors format will be introduced, which will make the episodes even more enjoyable to listen to.

This was a lot of fun for to record, as Victoria’s been swearing for over a year that she’d never come on the mics. Not only did she agree to come on for this special episode, I think she enjoyed it enough to be a regular feature!

Thank you so much for supporting us throughout our first year on the airwaves!

SodsPod.com

DMR Insta

SodsPod Insta

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Steph grew up as an only child has her father had cancer as a young man, which meant to start a family he and his wife had to use a sperm donor to conceive. 

Years later Steph discovered that not only did she have biological siblings out in the world, but that there were literally dozens of them, all from the same donor…

FB: facebook.com/insym

Twitter: twitter.com/SCannonwrites and twitter.com/InsymCreations

Website: insymmetrycreations.com

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

I didn’t really know much about James before this conversation, although we’ve seen each other pretty much every morning dropping our kids at nursery, or at the school bus stop for the last couple of years now. With this in mind he’s always come across as a unique fella.

He’s been through many traumas in his life, like the suicide of his father or struggles with mental health, yet has somehow come out with a positive attitude and his head held high. 

This is one of the conversations that I feel really grateful for having - it’s raw, it’s honest, and I hope that this will help anyone struggling with mental health issues see that there can be a light at the end of tunnel.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Ally is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met, which as his big brother over the years was more than a little frustrating! As if it wasn’t enough for him to be an incredible artist and sculptor with a background in neuroscience research, he’s a wonderful musician, he's bloody hilarious and is an unimaginably amazing uncle to my kids.

All in all, a fantastic way to cap off one whole year of the Sod’s Law Podcast - Happy 1st Birthday to us!

allyrosenberg.com

Insta - @allyrosenbergartist

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

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Sophie has an interesting approach to family - not having any particular desire to have a partner, but wanting to have her own kids for whom she could create the perfect childhood.

Sophie has now got two kids, conceived by sperm donor, and is very passionate about the concept that a woman should not have to conform to social pressures, waiting until she has found the perfect man or partner before starting her family.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Shiggi is a vivacious, multi-disciplinary person, who’s personal and professional ups and downs have given her an interesting perspective on life.

In addition to being a martial artist, multi instrumentalist, DJ and pro sound engineer, Shiggi has her own podcast, Getting Shiggi With… which I urge you to seek out and listen to - you can find it anywhere you get podcasts.

**Trigger warning**: In this episode we talk about self harm and suicide - you can contact the Samaritans by going to samaritans.org, or if you're in the UK you can call them on 116 123 for free, any time.

Check Shiggi out online:

instagram.com/elshig

twitter.com/elshig

facebook.com/Shiggimus

shiggi.co.uk

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Efraim is the Chief Nazi Hunter at The Simon Wiesenthal Centre, and the director of the Centre’s Israel office, and Eastern European Affairs.

For the last four decades, he’s played a major role in facilitating the prosecution of many Nazi war criminals and collaborators, leading the fight against Holocaust distortion.

****At 34:29 Efraim talks about a colleague from the OSI called Bob Crane, but meant to say Bill Crane.****

Follow Efraim on Twitter - @EZuroff

Books:

Operation Last Chance - Efraim Zuroff

Our People: Discovering Lithuania's Hidden Holocaust - Efraim Zuroff and Rūta Vanagaitė

Photo Credit ©Yaakov Israel

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Sophie and I grew up not far from one another in North Manchester, and after settling down and deciding to start a family with her husband Alex, started to suffer from a condition that affects 1% of all pregnant women; Hyperemesis gravidarum… Translation… Severe excessive vomiting during pregnancy.

pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

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We talk about his life and his journey, the hard times that he went through and how he developed a simple approach to living life, called The WONDER Technique, that helps the people he works with to have more beneficial control over their lives. 

thewondertechnique.com/membership/

thewondertechnique.com/wonderful-community-gifts/

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Lauren has been described as the mouthpiece for criminals and the voiceless, having to accurately interpret for both sides and remain impartial. One day she might be interpreting at a Premier League Football Club, the next maybe sitting in a high-security prison.

This was a particularly interesting one for us to record as not only does it get exciting talking about working with human-trafficking charities, criminal cases and high stakes contracts, it also gets emotional; talking about interpreting for people going through horrendous medical situations, trauma and loss.

Lauren was also the recipient of the 2020 Institute of Translation & Interpreting’s (ITI) award for Best Performance on an interpreting assignment, which we talk about a little bit in the episode.

I think it’s important to note that Lauren had to be guarded throughout this conversation due to professional confidentiality, and despite this I think it’s one of the more unique episodes we’ve recorded to date.

Lauren's Website - givemeyourword.co.uk

Lauren's LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/lauren-shadi/

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Martin is genuinely lovely guy, and early on in his life struggled with addiction. After a number of stints in different rehab or addiction support facilities Martin was revitalised but with a sense that the sector was in significant need of a revamp.

After a number of years, hard graft and with a commercially-minded head on his shoulders, Martin opened the Delamere Clinic; a £7m purpose-built rehab residential clinic based in leafy Cheshire.

We talk about Martin’s path and discuss some mutual aspects of our lives like schooling and sobriety, and I think it’s a really important conversation with regard to a new clear vision, taking addiction care and support to a new level.

delamere.com

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Now, I’m going to be honest with you - I’m trying not to have as many business-related guests on the show, mainly because I’m trying to talk to people who tie in more with my own interests... and making money is not a skill I’ve ever shown much of a proficiency for…

However, what Brian is a very interest guy - what he’s gone on to create is a business that pushes young, vivacious business minds to be more successful in a way that goes against the grain of the Venture Capital market.

His tagline, which was what got me interested in having him on, was, “Being a startup business is a lonely and difficult path to navigate… Why do it alone?”

So in this chat, we run through Brian’s life to find out how he got to where he is today and at times he really puts me through my paces!

expertdojo.com

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

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This is a different kind of episode - it started this off as a type of interview and very quickly, due to how disarming Taylor is to talk to, turned into something really special for me.

Taylor created the Waffle Shop as a part of his therapy for his anxiety and PTSD after nearly losing his mum to a surgery gone horribly wrong. In a matter of hours his life was turned upside down, leading him down a very dark path. After going to therapy was scuppered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor launched the Waffle Shop in attempt to get the help he needed, but found he was helping others in turn, blowing up in a way he never expected.

We both talk about things in this episode that we’ve never discussed publicly before and I really hope you get as much listening to Taylor as I did talking to him.

Listen to the Waffle Shop Podcast anywhere you get podcasts or click the link below:

linktr.ee/TheWaffleShopPodcast

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Michaela suffers from a condition called endometriosis, that despite affecting 1 in 10 women in the UK and costs the UK economy roughly £8.2billion a year, is rarely discussed openly and there is no known cure.

Since suffering from endometriosis as a 12 year old and only getting diagnosed at 18, her life has been fraught with agonising pain, fertility issues and multiple surgeries, one of which she’ll have had in between recording and releasing this conversation.

We recorded this quite a few weeks ago, in person at a distance from one another, and it’s a heartfelt conversation that I hope you’ll find enlightening and inspiring.

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Michaela's social media can be found here:

Facebook - facebook.com/PrettyInPain2/

Instagram - instagram.com/pretty.in_pain/

You can find more information about Endometriosis UK at endometriosis-uk.org and the Jewish fertility charity Kivisi at kivisi.com.

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

Iain is, in his own words, the luckiest unluckiest person in the world. He’s a fitness instructor, a comedian, a gamer AND has recently been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Iain is one of the most interesting people I’ve spoken to so far, in that after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year, instead of crumpling into a wallowing mess like I would, without skipping a beat he set out to do good with whatever time he has left in order to break a Guiness World record in fundraising - raising more than £2.7million in an individual marathon event, whilst running dressed as a video game character!

Iain’s raising the dosh in aid of Cancer Research and it was an absolute pleasure to have him on!

Iain's YouTube Page

justgiving.com/fundraising/iain-ward2

justgiving.com/fundraising/iain-ward3

justgiving.com/fundraising/iain-ward4

justgiving.com/fundraising/iain-ward5

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

If you recognise the names of these companies… yes… UTC and now Northern Powerhouse are sponsors of the podcast as well as being who who we work with to edit and produce Sod’s Law…

Adam’s been a friend of mine for years and I’ve watched him grow his businesses from working as a one-man-band in his front room, to running award-winning internationally-recognised events and entertainment companies serving hundreds of events a year ranging from weddings to corporate functions, even being the voice of the Dr. Oetker adverts that play in between episodes of the Great British Bake Off on Channel 4, and being one of the founding members of the legendary Manchester skiffle band, Asparagus & the Kilburn Habit!!

The reason why we’ve had Adam on today is due to the current times, whereby even though businesses all over the country are now starting to open up again, one sector is woefully being left to dangle in the wind - the events and live entertainment industry…

Over the last few weeks there have been a number of high profile movements to promote the events industry and the lack of support they’ve had from the UK government, the most famous of which is #WEMAKEEVENTS, that was trending on social media. Adam has a fair few opinions on the situation and is bloody eloquent in talking about it...

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This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

John has been described as a musician’s musician and as musical royalty. He’s won BAFTAs and EMMYs, been given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the film industry AND an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Sussex in the UK.

I could genuinely spend the length of this episode just listing the projects this one guy has worked on, ranging from TV Shows to films, arranging the music for commercials to performing on hit records for some of the biggest names in popular and contemporary music - it’s mind boggling how prolific John has been throughout his career and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

John is also an Ambassador for Alopecia UK, the main British charity that work to improve the lives of those affected by alopecia - alopecia.org.uk

Photo of John Altman © Danny Clifford - dannyclifford.com

--

This episode is sponsored by Northern Powerhouse Media.

To find out more about Northern Powerhouse Media’s extensive range of products, go to npmedia.co.uk. Use promo code SODSPOD for a 50% introductory discount on your first order.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Mark made a name for himself working on some of the UK’s most high profile libel and media cases over the last decade or two.

Mark represented the family of murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler after it was reported that News of the World Journalists had accessed her voicemail after she was reported missing giving her family false hope that she was still alive. Widely known as the Phone Hacking Scandal, the resulting outcry alongside Mark’s work contributed to the closure of the newspaper and led to a range of investigations into the ethics of British media.

Mark also represented food-writer and activist Jack Monroe against far-right social media commentator Katie Hopkins which led to an unprecedented ruling of libel in the modern age of social media.

Most recently Mark has turned his expertise to fight Jew-hatred in as many ways as his resources allow, including against the Labour Party in the UK.

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Michelle is one of most delightful people I’ve had the good fortune to talk to, and her positivity is infectious.

Since reinventing her life in 2016, Michelle started Elevate Life Coaching in order to help people reclaim their power and find clarity in their own lives. Her focus on removing illusion and ignorance allows the people she works with to focus on what they can do rather than on what they can’t, abandoning the fear that holds them back - something I’ve only recently been able to understand myself.

She’s released a book recently called Perfectly Normal: An Immigrant’s Story of Making it in America that details her personal story that you can order from elevatelifecoaching.org or Amazon.

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I think it’s fair to say that Leroy’s no average Joe - he was awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2001 for his role in developing anti-racist policies for the police and after working on some of the UK’s most high profile race-related cases.

And after retiring as a Superintendent in 2013 after 30 years of service in The Met, his fire is still burning strong. He’s a frequent commentator on the current state of the relationship between the police and the public in London, acting as an adviser to politicians AND has got a book coming out next month - Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop (Amazon.co.uk) - that describes his incredible career and acts as a history lesson in race-relations in modern day Britain. It’s available for pre-order NOW on Amazon and will be released in all good book retailers on the 17th of September!

This Autumn, Oscar winning movie director Steve McQueen is releasing Small Axe, a BBC anthology drama highlighting the experience of Black people in Britain, with one of the series focussing on Leroy’s life and career, with Star Wars actor John Boyega playing Leroy Logan.

leroylogan.com

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John and I connected through my brother, as the two of them both went to Uni together at Central St. Martins to study Art.

John’s life now couldn’t be more different compared to how it was growing up in the gang culture of North London, or spending three years in Feltham prison for a series of offences including armed robbery.

John talks to me about how art genuinely saved him from that life and how he now creates, communicates and collaborates with others in his own unique way.

Find John on Instagram with the handle @bapou_costi and his website is johncostiart.com.

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So, instead of leaving a black hole in our episode roster, we’ve replaced it with this - which is just an altered version of the monologue that was already at the beginning of the original episode 34… and because of all of that, this weeks episode is unsponsored, free and easy with no ads, no frills, just me…

www.sodspod.com

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I connected with them on Instagram a few months ago and started listening to The Family, and right away was hooked. They’re funny, down to earth and bloody insightful.

We recorded this at the end of June, when the death of George Floyd was still in the headlines, and even though it wasn’t my intention at the time, it seems fortuitous to release this now. This ones a bit different to my usual style, and I think you’re gonna like it!

Follow The Family Podcast here - linktr.ee/s_isforsammy

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

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Nir has a new book that comes out on 4th August 2020, available on Amazon - it’s called The Creator Mindset: 92 Tools to Unlock the Secrets to Innovation, Growth & Sustainability.

Nir’s a lovely chappie, humble, driven and, funnily enough, creative and it was an absolute pleasure to have him on.

You can pre-order The Creator Mindset in the UK here or the US here.

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

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Adam has a fantastic drive, which he’s used to create and run businesses in a variety of markets, interview and connect with some of the most inspiring people ranging from army generals to athletes, focusing on leadership and mentoring.

I really enjoyed this chat, and Adam has a great attitude towards success which I hope you’ll be able to draw something from.

You can find more information about Adam Mendler by visting adammendler.com.

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

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Ian was one of the Surmasters or Deputy High Masters at Manchester Grammar School whilst I was a pupil there, and has a fantastic story of how his career progressed.

His focus was inspiring - to help boys like himself, from financially constrained backgrounds, gain access to the best possible education after government funding ceased to support them.

Since Ian set up the MGS Bursary Appeal in the late 90s after the withdrawal of the Assisted Places Scheme, hundreds of boys from all over the Greater Manchester and the North West UK have benefited from the fund, now called the MGS Trust.

Some of you will know that Manchester Grammar is a huge part of my history and it was a pleasure to catch up with Ian as I’d not spoken to him in around 13 years.

You can find more information about Manchester Grammar School and the MGS Trust by visiting mgs.org.

--

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

See podcast.co/privacy for privacy information.

I’ve known Raphi for many years through family, but to be honest prior to speaking to him about the podcast I didn’t know he was adopted. If any of you listened to my podcast conversation with Mark Adlestone OBE DL a few weeks ago you may have head about what The FED does, but if not, in brief - The FED is the leading social care charity for the Greater Manchester Jewish Community.

Raphi has been able to use his life experiences to dedicate his time to helping others; whether it’s children in need of a loving home, those in need of Residential Dementia Care or helping people within the community to engage with one another or be free from isolation.

I think you’ll love this conversation with Raphi - his story is fascinating and inspiring, and overall a great guy to chat with.

You can find out what The FED do by visiting thefed.org.uk.

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

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Melissa has created and run a series of mind-blowing companies which include the multi-award winning 3D printed, sugar free vitamin manufacturer, Nourished - ranked 15th in the Top 100 UK Start-Ups 2020.

Melissa is force to be reckoned with, and her story about how she’s got to where she is today is damn interesting. She’s all about personalisation of what we put in our bodies whether it’s sugar free vegan gummy sweets, vitamins and supplements and now is on the way to create the first personalised pharmaceutical products with another of her brands - Scripted.

Get £30 off your first two boxes of Nourished Vitamin Stacks when you subscribe to a monthly plan using the promo code SODSPOD15 - valid until 31/07/2020 at get-nourished.com

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

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If you’ve been following the news for the last few weeks you’ll know that until the 9th of June 2020, zoos and safari parks around the UK had a very uncertain future. Chester Zoo in particular was highlighted as one that may never be able to open if the lockdown restrictions were extended for much longer, and launched a fundraising campaign to fill the multimillion pound hole in its finances caused by being closed for over 3 months..

For those of you who don’t know of Chester Zoo; where I’m from in the North West of England you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t visit Chester Zoo at some point in their childhood. It’s the most visited wildlife attraction in the UK, with over 2m visitors in 2019. Consistently ranked as one of the top zoos on the planet, for its high welfare animal care, the wide open landscapes and its hugely successful conservation efforts around the world.

For me, it’s Our Zoo. It’s where I came as a kid with my family, with friends for birthday parties, brought my wife on dates before we were married and a place my kids know intimately. The prospect of Chester Zoo no longer existing would be heartbreaking.

So we reached out to them to see if we could give them a bit of publicity, and were blown away that Mark was willing to come on and talk to us. In between booking and recording the podcast, it was announced that zoos and safari parks could reopen on the 15th of June - the day Mark and I recorded this conversation, so it’s all very fresh and raw, and by no means are they out of the woods yet.

Support Chester Zoo by heading to chesterzoo.org/supportus or buy donating to their JustGiving page here.

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

Head over to utcevents.co.uk/techservices today to see how UTC can help your podcast.

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Now there’s a reason why this is the longest episode we’ve done so far… Amal has had a long and winding path to where she is now.

We talk about the history of her Somali upbringing and Yemenite culture. We discuss her conflict with Islam and being able to set boundaries for herself to lead a free life without oppression and how her grandmother, inspired her to not only be proud of her cultural heritage through food and feeding, but to transform it into joy that can be shared with others.

Amal has recently launched a fantastic website, amalspantry.com where you can find her range of mind blowing sauces, and she’s in the process of launching her first cookbook!

Find Amal on social media with the handle @amalspantry.

This episode is sponsored by UTC Events.

utcevents.co.uk/techservices

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Mark is one of the most interesting people I’ve had the fortune to meet so far, as he has unique perspective on what someone should do with their time if they have the resources available.

Since the year 2000, Beaverbrooks, under Mark, have donated over £14.5m to over 750 different charities via the Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust and has been consistently listed as a Times Top 100 Companies to Work For since 2004.

Like me, Mark is Jewish, and we talk a bit about what that means to him both spiritually and culturally, and the responsibility he feels to do good in the world; not just within the community we live in, but the wider community as well.

Beaverbrooks the Jewellers - beaverbrooks.co.uk

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Danny has spent his incredible career as a fly on the wall to the most iconic musical artists of the last half century.

We talk about what started his passion for photography, how he progressed from getting literally thrown out of music venues as a teen to jet-setting around the world as Bob Dylans’s official tour photographer in the late 1970s.

Since then Danny has worked with the likes of Elton John, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Beyonce and so many more legendary artists.

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Now those of you who’ve listened to the podcast for a while will know that our first ever episode back in December 2019 featured a conversation with a very close friend of mine, Eli Portnoy. Eli and Israel are brothers.

So to gauge a sense of what their family background was like, what it was like being one of 9 siblings, the son of a Rabbi living in Hale, Cheshire, I’d recommend skipping back to Ep #1 and hear Eli talk about that.

My chat with Israel is a little more focussed on his musical life, where that stems from, his partnership with his younger brother Mendy to form The Portnoy Brothers and the fact that this week on May 23rd 2020, Israel is releasing his single, Facing Flames, with a full album due for release at the end of July 2020.

Now this single and album have a distinct meaning behind them as exactly a year ago, on May 23rd 2019, Israel’s home, recording studio, guitar collection and all his belongings were destroyed in a forest fire, leaving him with nothing but the clothes on his back and his Guild 12-string acoustic guitar, called Guilda.

We talk about that experience in detail, and at the very end he very kindly gives me a Zoom rendition of Facing Flames.

Preorder your copy of Facing Flames on CD or limited edition Vinyl now at israelportnoymusic.com!

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Now, full disclosure, this podcast was recorded on the understanding that we’d be talking about Yehudis’s journey to where she is today, rather than delve into the specifics of the abuse she was subjected to as a teenager - Yehudis has spoken and written about that extensively and there’s more than enough available online to find if you’d like to learn more for context.

We talk here about her background as a Charedi Jew, the coverup of the abuse by the community who should have protected her and how that has led her to fight extremism not only within Ultra Orthodox jewry but within the wider community as well. We discuss the parallels between her experiences & the recent Netflix tv phenomenon, Unorthodox and she quite rightly smashes some misconceptions I had about both her background and the work she now does so well, within organisations such as Migdal Emunah - a support service for survivors of sexual abuse - and Nahamu - an organisation Yehudis founded to ensure that members of all religious communities have access to education, autonomous choice & the ability to exercise this choice without intimidation, coercion or undue influence.

The poem we discuss can be found here - nahamu.org/kinah-from-a-survivor-of-child-sexual-abuse/

Migdal Emunah, the support service for survivors of sexual abuse & their families is migdalemunah.org.uk

Nahamu, Yehudis’s organisation that battles extremism within religious communities is nahamu.org

and Yehudis has also shared the website for Women’s Aid, who work to make women & children safe - it’s womensaid.org.uk

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I was introduced to Raj at his brand new £1.5m restaurant, GUPSHUP, back at the beginning of 2020 shortly after it opened. Ten weeks later, the whole country and all of Raj’s businesses were effectively shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We probably could've done more than one episode on Raj to be honest - he's got some great stories to tell. We talk about his upbringing, his experiences with racism at school, running businesses and become one of the world’s most high-profile Asian events planners.

Now, we recorded this the day after the Queen’s Speech at the beginning of March 2020, and the two of us, both proud British citizens and descendants of immigrants to the UK, found it equally compelling and moving.

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Arlene was kind enough to make time to come on the podcast remotely and I had a fantastic time talking to her - learning about her humble beginnings in North Manchester, to becoming one of the most sought after choreographers world wide - it’s an absolute treat I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did talking to her.

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Over the Xmas holiday this year our whole family was staying in a gorgeous cottage in North Wales in front of a roaring fire, when a news piece came up on the TV saying that BBC News presenter Lewis and his wife Hannah, also a news presenter, had after more than 15 rounds of IVF, succeeded in having their first child - called Sonny.

Now for those of you who’ve listened to some of the previous episodes of the podcast, you may already know that my wife Victoria and I had a rough couple of years when it came to growing our family. And unless you know us personally, you wouldn’t know that our son, now four, is called Samson - known as Sonny.

Within minutes of seeing this news piece I had contacted Lewis over social media and asked if they’d be open to talking to me about what they’d been through.

This is one of my favourite episodes so far in that Lewis is a delight to talk to, and if you hang on until near the end I reveal some personal news that until this recording we hadn’t intended to make public on the podcast!

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Dr Sam, amongst other things, co-created a game-changing website designed to support the fight against Corona virus - fightcovid.info.

This site, with its built in chat-bots, allows anybody to self-report their daily symptoms, even if they’re fit and well, which feeds into the understanding of the disease, how it’s spread, and helps researchers better understand how to make decisions.

In addition to talking about fightcovid.info, we discuss his background and why he chose not to pursue a career in clinical medicine.

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A couple of years ago Jeff lost his wife Tara to cancer, and we talk about this from his perspective; spending your life looking for love, finding it and then having it brutally ripped away in one of the most drawn out painful processes one could imagine.

We’ve all heard of or known people who have lost their partner or spouse to cancer, but Jeff talks about this in a way I don’t think many people have heard before.

This is one of the most profound conversations I’ve had so far and I hope you’re able to draw positivity from it.

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Because of the Covid-19 pandemic we ended up recording this remotely on Zoom - the first of now many that we’ve recorded, even though we still have some face-to-face ones in the bank - and to be honest I was apprehensive. I didn’t know if the conversation would flow well not being in person but I’m chuffed with how it came out.

Charles has some great stories to tell about his enterprising youth, his time on The Apprentice, the ventures he’s currently working on, and we touch on something that has been particularly prevalent in the news recently; what starring on a reality TV show can do to one's personal life and mental health.

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We talk about her whole career, her fertility journey and how it led her to where she is now; running an absolutely amazing venture, the Fertility Podcast.

The Fertility Podcast has been going for over 5 years now, which is veteran standard for UK podcasts at this point, and has been downloaded over half a million times so far - with expert interviews, and real-life stories of men & women sharing their TTC (trying to conceive) stories from around the world.

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Tom is a professional musician who’s spent the majority of his career touring the world, and has now co-created one of the most amazing charities I’ve ever heard of - Electric Umbrella.

Find out more about Electric Umbrella and how they're challenging the perception of people with learning disabilities by empowering and enriching lives through music by visiting electricumbrella.co.uk!

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I got in touch with Sandy for this podcast as she speaks so well about her experiences raising a child with Down Syndrome, even writing a book a number of years ago, Living with Max, and I’m really grateful she took the time to talk with me.

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This episode is sponsored by FixMyWatch.

fixmywatch.co.uk

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Simon’s a cousin of one of my oldest pal’s, and when he got in touch I jumped at the chance to have him on the podcast.

Talking to him was an absolute treat - Simon’s career has progressed jumping from opportunity to opportunity. Running businesses, launching innovations and new ideas, becoming a Lord as a teenager and even creating his own religion!

This is definitely one of my favourite episodes so far - I’m pretty sure I haven’t laughed this much on the microphone before, so I hope you have as much fun listening as I did talking to Simon.

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Louis was in the year above me at Manchester Grammar School and was always to be found in the drama and music departments. Since leaving school he’s tracked a path that’s not frequently followed by those who leave the grammar school system and one that even fewer have become successful upon.

This conversation was an absolute delight to have - we actually recorded this sitting in Jay Gatsby’s office on the set of the Immersive Theatre production of the Great Gatsby, so you might hear some goings-on in the background.

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It was a huge mistake on my part to release this episode in the first place, as I gave a platform to a one-sided argument without giving any consideration to the existence of a second side.

With that in mind we have completely removed this episode from all platforms as of the 30th of June 2020.

We started the Sod’s Law Podcast to highlight stories that would be positive for those who told them, but also those who heard them. The last thing we would have wanted would be to have caused pain, let alone the type of pain releasing this particular episode has caused.

Thanks for listening.

We talk the importance of family, fertility and something that isn’t frequently discussed; men’s mental health issues and the stigma associated with being open about it.

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This week's episode is sponsored by FixMyWatch

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

We talk roots, education, creativity and growing up in and around Manchester.

His debut novel The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney is available on Amazon and all major book retailers and is a must-read.

Amazon Link to The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney

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This episode is sponsored by FixMyWatch.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Ara has spent his whole professional career uncovering the truth behind the Armenian Genocide with the view to open people’s eyes. To challenge Turkey’s denialist stance. He is the founding director of the Gomidas Institute in London, which sponsors and publishes books on modern Armenian and regional studies.

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This episode is sponsored by FixMyWatch.

If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

After losing his mum and little brother in a car accident when he was a child, years later after only 2 months of marriage, Mike’s wife Saima suddenly fell ill and died after contracting encephalitis.

Mike has to be one of most inspirational people I’ve spoken to. His resilience, his attitude towards life and how he sees his future path - I really hope you’re able to draw positivity from our conversation.

We discussed the charity that he’s supporting - The Encephalitis Society - on the 24th April 2020, Mike and dozens of others with be cycling from Manchester to London aiming to raise £50,000 for the charity in memory of Saima.

Please head over to the JustGiving Page (www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michael-herz) and the Encephalitis Society’s website (www.encephalitis.info) to support the cause!

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We talk schooling, film-making and the path that led her to be nominated for a BAFTA for Best Short Film for her debut movie, Wale.

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Laura, a clinical psychologist, and Sergio, a corporate finance lawyer turned business executive, until recently had a picture perfect life; three gorgeous healthy kids, a beautiful home, surrounded by friends and family.

And then about two years ago, their eldest son Freddie fell ill. After nearly 12 months of countless tests and investigations, Freddie was diagnosed with narcolepsy. Since then, and even after the diagnosis, their entire life has been turned upside down.

We talk about what they as a family have endured, how they have coped and how they work towards giving all of their children the best possible chance at a normal life.

Please do support Laura & Sergio's chosen charity, Narcolepsy UK by going to www.narcolepsy.org.uk.

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If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

We talk about the path that led Chris to the international stand-up stage, his unique attitude to success and how he's become lauded as one of the best freestyle rappers in the world!

Find out more about the Sod's Law Podcast at sodspod.com.

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If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Andrew discusses the ordeal that he and his wife Rachel have been through with infertility. This is by no means a problem that is unique to them, but it's a story that is rarely shared openly.

We talk fertility treatment, the trials that some people have to go through to start a family and what toll that can take on relationships.

On the podcast we discuss a men's fertility support Facebook page that can be found here.

Find out more about the Sod's Law Podcast at sodspod.com.

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If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

Find out more at sodspod.com.

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If you'd like to support Sod's Law you can become a Sod's Law patron at patreon.com/sodspod from as little as £1 /$1 a month - there are different tiers including ad-free episodes, giveaways and more!

A bit about me:

I’m a husband, father of three, hobbyist but also a master of none.

This podcast is about people and their stories - everyone has their own to tell and Sod’s Law is about giving people a new platform to tell them.

In a world fragmented by social media and politics, my aim is to connect people, inspire, & even provide a cathartic experience.

So… why Sod’s Law? Sod’s Law is almost a character trait of mine, but one that has always been my good luck charm.

My life is a success story of failing upwards; call it luck, or call it determination - but it’s how you pick yourself up from being knocked down that makes you succeed in life.

Subscribe, download and stream Sod's Law anywhere you get podcasts or follow to handle @sodspod on all social media!

Have a fantastic day, and thanks for listening!

www.sodspod.com