ONEOFTHE8

We talk to remarkable New Zealand based businesswoman, and solo mother of two, Jennifer Del Bel. We hear how a meeting with a father and his daughter Emma, a young woman with Down’s Syndrome, would change everything and lead to the launch of a whole new business called Downlights. We also hear how, through that business, Jennifer is setting a powerful and inspirational example to others for the introduction of more inclusion and diversity into the workplace.

We talk to former NFL player and founder of the Adaptive Training Foundation, David Vobora. We hear how a career curtailing injury, and a chance meeting with a man who had lost parts of both arms and both legs, altered the trajectory of David’s life. We also hear how that chance meeting led to David developing ground-breaking work that builds physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength in those who need it most.

We talk to Tokyo-born, London-based artist and graphic designer, June Mineyama-Smithson (aka Mamimu), a true creative soul on a mission to inject optimism into the world through her art. We hear about June’s collaboration with neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart on a project for ITV Creates that is designed to mark Mental Health Awareness Month.

We talk to Andy Young, founder and inspiration behind ‘My Outsourced IT’ and a man with a noble vision to equip disadvantaged homes with free laptops and tablets. We hear how Andy is connecting the disconnected by repurposing donated equipment, and at the same time looking after the planet by off-setting his carbon footprint.

We talk to Dutch designer, innovator and nature lover Matilde Boelhouwer. We hear how she has merged creativity with entomology and engineering to develop ‘Insectology: Food for Buzz’. We also hear how her awareness of a declining insect population has motivated Matilde to create a stunning collection of artificial flowers that also act as emergency feeding stations for our all-important pollinators.

We talk to Marie, founder and CEO of ‘The Choir With No Name’, and with Sal, Liverpool choir member and ambassador. We hear how their work is giving many homeless people a much-needed sense of identity, community and belonging. We also hear how the choir has grown since first founded in London, with the successful model now replicated in Birmingham, Liverpool, Brighton, and soon to be Cardiff.

We talk to local gym owner and community-driven philanthropist, Adam McCreevy. We hear about the life stories and personal experiences that have inspired him to make a life-changing impact on other people’s lives, including moving from his family home in Ireland to the Wirral at the pivotal age of 11, and losing his idol to suicide. Adam tells us about why he started the Wirral Health CIC Project, how he managed to help feed 2,000 children during lockdown, and why he believes it’s so important to invest in your immediate economy. In Adam’s own words, “the most valuable thing you can give somebody is your time”, so press play and join us in giving this admirable human being some of ours.

We talk to best-selling author and keynote speaker Marc Wallert. We hear how Marc and his parents were taken at gun point and held hostage by a terror group for 140 days in the Philippine jungle. We also hear how Marc survived this ordeal through a strategy of positive visualisation, self-efficacy, gallows humour, and the strength gained from helping others.

We talk to plane crash survivor, motivational speaker, humanitarian and spiritual guru, Tulsi Vagjiani. We hear about the tragic incident that took the lives of Tulsi’s family and left her with 45% burns to the face and body at such a young age. We also hear how discovering spirituality and realising her purpose lead Tulsi to becoming an advocate for others with a visible difference. We learn more about how she plans to change the dialogue of the future around beauty and self-acceptance.

We talk to Will and Denia, two members of an exceptional organisation, Free Movement Skateboarding. We hear how Will, Denia and this Athens based team are using skateboarding to support and integrate refugees and marginalised young people. We also hear how they reach isolated communities in the city and around the outskirts of Athens by packing a portable skatepark into the back of their van

We talk to a remarkable young woman who is paralleling her studies with a project to combat loneliness. We hear how Nina Andersen is connecting pupils in schools with care home residents through ‘Community Senior Letters’. We also hear how this fabulous initiative has now reached far and wide, with students from all around the world sending letters to residents of more than 230 UK care homes.

We talk to Trewin Restorick, founder and CEO of environmental change charity ‘Hubbub’. We hear how he is revolutionising the way environmental messages our communicated to all of us, in our everyday lives. We also hear about three of Trewin’s favourite campaigns, and how they are putting smiles on people’s faces as well as tackling problems like litter, plastic pollution and food waste. Creative campaigns and everyday inspiration for greener living. If you’re looking for inspiration and practical actions that are good for you and the environment, you’ve come to the right place.

We talk to Sarah Common, co-founder of ‘Hives for Humanity’. We hear how this Vancouver based not-for-profit society is connecting people to nature, community and themselves, through bees and the culture of the hive. We also hear from two members of this diverse community, Ali and Horace, about how for them ‘Hives for Humanity’ is a source of human connection they treasure most deeply.

On this episode we do things a little differently by talking with our own team to bring you our review of the first year of ONEOFTHE8 and the real-life stories we’ve shared from 28 inspirational guests from all across the globe. Artists, artisans, adventurers, creatives, makers, philanthropists, thinkers, travellers, seekers, survivors, warriors, winners – we share the valuable lessons we’ve learned from them and discuss the many ways in which they have inspired us.

We talk to a man whose appetite for new cultures and fresh experiences led him from Europe to Australia, where he began to combine his passion for people and their human stories with his love of photography. We hear how Dino Serrao is making the invisible visible, through his stunning street photography, capturing the portraits of ordinary people and helping us to see the extraordinary within them.

We talk to a man whose love of the natural world means that he is dedicated to giving something back to his beloved ocean. We hear how Naude Dreyer is doing this by rescuing hundreds of injured Cape fur seals in his native Namibia. We also hear how Naude and his wife have now set up a non-profit organisation to support their incredible work, and how worldwide interest in their social media and videos is helping to raise the funds that they need to continue.

We talk to a gifted sportsman whose talent for tennis not only shaped his childhood, but also led him to venture from his loving family home in Germany to take up a university scholarship in Atlanta, Georgia. We also hear how he overcame his struggles with the mental health issues that affected him, and how his six years in the USA amongst a melting pot of different cultures, taught him many of his life’s most valuable lessons.

We talk to a man who has endured untold setbacks and even tried to take his own life, yet David Tovey has come through it all to become an independent artist, campaigner and founder of One Festival of Homeless Arts. We hear how a chance meeting with a man on a bench changed the course of David’s life, and how he went on to exhibit his work in the Tate Modern and on the covers of The Pavement Magazine and The Big Issue.

We talk to London based businessman, and one of the small number of people to have walked to the North Pole, Joey Worlidge. We hear about his epic adventure, and how he prepared for it mentally and physically. We also hear how Joey and his team mates on the walk, including international rugby player Will Greenwood, raised over £1 million for premature birth prevention charity ‘Borne’.

We talk to a young man who became the best in the world at his sport at the tender age of just 16. We hear how Alex Mason turned his hobby into his profession and became crowned Slackline World Champion. We also hear how Alex believes fear and excitement are the same thing, and how by internalising both, he has been able to reach such incredible heights.

We talk to director, designer, animator, filmmaker, author and speaker Gavin Strange. We hear how his love of toys, his fascination with characters, and his belief in ‘side-projects’ are living proof that with true dedication, passion can become profession. We also hear how popping into Aardman Animations for a chat and a ‘cup of tea’ led to something much more permanent and the title sequence of A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon.

We talk to former US college tennis player, now writer, rapper and musician Ravi Patel. We hear how the sound of his native London resonated with the young Ravi, and how after his spell in the US, he returned home to launch his career in music. We also hear how his love of tennis, and his love of music, came together brilliantly when he wrote and performed a rap as part of BBC TV’s coverage of Wimbledon.

We talk to International Divers Hall of Fame member, cave diver, photographer, writer and speaker Jill Heinerth. We hear how this intrepid explorer became one of the first ever to dive inside an Antarctic iceberg, and how she almost didn’t live to tell the tale. We also how her passion for exploration has led to Jill discovering secrets of the ancient Mayan civilisation that could influence a better future for our planet and the people on it.

We talk to helicopter pilot and member of ‘The Flying Bulls’, the Red Bull aerobatics team, Aaron Fitzgerald. We hear how as a young boy growing up in Wenatchee he developed a fascination with flying that would lead to a spectacular career. We also hear how his pursuit of perfection has led to Aaron taking part in block-buster movies and working on projects including Felix Baumgartner’s incredible free fall from the stratosphere.

We talk to PR Director, podcast host and expat resident of Dubai, Kelly Harvarde. We hear how, after going in search of the beach, sea and sunshine, she found her true spiritual home, and a multicultural environment in which to raise her daughter. We also hear how Kelly and her family united a community for Ramadan Sharing Fridges, feeding over 1,000 people per night during the 30 days in the Islamic calendar.

We talk to slackliner, base jumper, extreme sports athlete and stunt man Andy Lewis. We hear about his Superbowl performance with Madonna, and how total commitment to his art created a moonwalk like no other. We also hear about the philosophy on life that this Guinness World Record holder lives by, that there’s no better place than here, and there’s no better time than now.

We talk to speaker, strategic thinker and award-winning creative leader, Tim Hughes. We hear how his journey into global television marketing led to becoming an international speaker and to ‘finding a genius’ of his own. We also hear how Tim helped a controversial British artist stop traffic on New York’s 5th Avenue for a famous stunt with the future President of the USA (or someone very like him).

We talk to creative writer and lover of all forms of language, Sandra Quarcoo. We hear how, after moving to the UK from Ghana at the age of 9, Sandra went on to gain a first-class degree in creative writing at the University of Manchester. We also hear how, by grabbing life by the horns, Sandra has turned the twists, turns and challenges of her life into opportunities that have made her who she is today.

We talk to independent designer, strategist, speaker and lecturer, Ben Mottershead. We hear how this talented and award-winning creative believes his early failures helped define him as a person and allowed him to ‘find his water’. We also hear about Ben’s struggles with ADHD and how, by opening up about his disorder, he has seen his support network strengthen and witnessed a transformation in his work.

We talk to a Liverpool based mural artist whose sunny disposition is as colourful as the incredible work she creates. We hear how, by letting her arm do the talking, Jazz Stan has transformed her craft into a burgeoning career. We hear how Jazz draws inspiration from her beloved home city, and how, far from being a tortured artist, she does her best when she’s most happy and content.

We talk to surfer, creator, business owner and devoted family man, Peter Brennan. We hear how an incredible series of life-events have shaped and inspired Pete and led him to where he is today in Sydney, Australia. We hear how Pete’s life story stretches across four continents, how he literally stared death in the face, and why he believes that everything happens for a reason.

We talk to designer, lettering artist and typographer Craig Black. We hear how the exceptional work of this native of Gourock in the West of Scotland has led to him travelling far and wide to speak about his work and his story. We also hear about Craig’s inspirational approach to life, and how he believes that by helping others and making a difference, we can change the world.

We talk to veteran, counter-poacher and Team USA Paralympic athlete Seth Jahn. We learn about his time in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we hear the powerful story of how the ‘beautiful game’ saved his life. We also hear about Seth's transition into counter-poaching, and how he took the lessons he's learnt protecting innocent humans into the protection of animals.

We talk to Kurtis Powers, creative director, modernist and exec director of NYC’s ‘The Face Radio’. We hear about his journey into design through his love of music and the creation of cut and paste fanzines. We also hear how this scooter riding DJ hosts ‘The Rendezvous with Kurtis Powers’ and shares music ‘From The Soul of Brooklyn’ that connects people all around the world.

We talk to New Jersey based actor and photographer Shirin Tinati. We hear about her acting career and membership of a New York acting group, and how after unexpectedly picking up a camera one day, she became a professional photographer.  We also hear how this remarkable woman’s warrior spirit has helped her to take on and win the toughest battle of her life.

We talk to ONEOFTHE8 Co-Founder and branding specialist John Whalley. We hear about some of the life experiences that have lead John to create a movement looking to inspire positive change. We also discuss creativity as a powerhouse platform, the innate human inclination to share stories, and what we can expect from ONEOFTHE8. 

We talk to tennis coach and Ted talker Sam Jalloh. We hear how he defied the odds, growing up in Sierra Leone during a period of brutal civil war yet going on to be his countries flag bearer at the All African Games.

We also hear about his life now, where Sam uses his experiences to help others through sport, and has become an author with the publishing of his book ‘Tennis Saved My Life’.

We talk to mum and start-up business founder Nathalie Gibbins. We hear how, inspired by the philosophies of her dad, she took the brave and bold decision to ‘just go for it’ and do her own thing.

We also hear about Nathalie’s journey from journalist to entrepreneur and motherhood, and about the things that inspire her to bring joy into peoples homes through her business, Pow Pots.