Travelling Through... London, the World and Life

004 Be Patient, And You Will Discover How Wonderful London Can Be - STEPHEN HOLDER talks about The London Pull

STEPHEN HOLDER is an artist and also a Tai Chi and Qigong instructor. Steve has established his own branch of the Mei Quan Academy in Waterloo SE1. It has become one of the many popular and successful branches operating in London. During this unprecedented lockdown period, the Academy has moved quickly and creatively to bring all its classes live online, and while benefiting both students and instructors, Steve shares some thoughts and concerns on how online teaching may have lasting implications for those already struggling to interact in groups and in public generally.
Steve is also a flourishing artist, creating illustrations, designs and geometrics on a range of mixed media including bespoke commissions for skateboards. A link to his Etsy site is below.
BACKGROUND
Steve is originally from Johannesburg in South Africa. He has immediate British family connections in Stroud and after a number of unpleasant experiences in his home city of Johannesburg while in his early twenties, he headed first to Stroud but ultimately to London for a change of scene. Steve fell in love with London and has now lived here for 20 years. His travels beyond South Africa have included Berlin, Beijing and Tokyo. Although Steve still visits family in Johannesburg, he prefers Cape Town which he considers to be the jewel of South Africa.
THIS IS STEVE'S UNIQUE STORY ABOUT LONDON, THE WORLD AND LIFE.
“Be patient… it’s (London) is a very big city,
there’s lots of people, it can be very confusing and strange,
you can find yourself living by yourself in a room,
and maybe feeling a little bit separate from people,
but just have patience,
because once you establish yourself, and start to know your way around,
London is wonderful,
it has loads of opportunity,
loads of beautiful, amazing things to see and do.”
 
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS relating to STEVE'S ARTWORK:
Steve can be found on these links: Instagram
Steve’s website is: https://www.stephenholder-art.com
Check out Steve’s ETSY SITE here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StephenHolderArt
 
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS relating to TAI CHI and QIGONG COURSES
Steve's Waterloo Branch can be found on the Tai Chi website link: http://www.taichinews.com
Mei Quan Academy of Tai Chi  Facebook Instagram Twitter
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Information About Your Podcast Host Emma, and Travelling Through can be found at: https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/
The Travelling Through Jingle was written and produced by the lovely Mariska Martina
Show notes can be found at this link https://travellingthrough.podbean.com
 

003 Let The Spirit Of The Land Guide You - JINI REDDY talks about The London Pull

JINI REDDY is a journalist, travel features writer and author. Her most recent book Wanderland has been inspired by her fascination with how indigenous people she met on her world travels seemed to have such a connection with the natural world, a relationship which was reciprocal and deeply spiritual. In our conversation, Jini touches on some of the places she visited while on her journey across the UK following her intuition and using synchronicities and encounters to guide her in the hope of catching at least a glimpse of spiritual magic in the landscape, and at the same time, as a woman from a multi-cultural background, hoping to connect with her otherness.
BACKGROUND
Jini came to London as a young woman in her twenties. She was born in London but grew up in Montreal, Canada and studied English Literature in France. She was in book publishing, has travelled to over 60 countries, and has finally settled in London where she was born - although left for Canada when only 7 years old.
This is her unique story about London, the world, and life.
"Make sure you visit London’s neighbourhoods,
London's green spaces, and London's diverse communities,
because we have the whole world in London."
 
WANDERLAND is published by Bloomsbury. Please, if you can, support independent bookshops, they need your continuing support and loyalty during these particularly challenging times.
Her other book WILD TIMES is published by Bradt Guides.
She recently filmed a little promotion of her book with Stanfords
 
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Jini can be found on these links: Instagram Twitter
Jini's website is https://www.jinireddy.co.uk/
You can find links to all her articles here, including those mentioned on the podcast about Iran and Pakistan.
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Information About Your Podcast Host Emma, and Travelling Through can be found at: https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/
The Travelling Through Jingle was written and produced by the lovely Mariska Martina
 

002 You Are Not Born with Culture in Your DNA - CALVIN NILES talks about The London Pull

CALVIN NILES is all about living in the present and being on his “A” game. He is the mastermind behind the project start-up Discover TOME, a tool to encourage down time from your tech, so as to find some balance in what is a digitally dependent world. Calvin also works freelance as an Empowerment Coach and consultant for corporates, individuals and charities. He moved to London from Barbados when he was 16 years old to discover new life opportunities.
 
This is CALVIN NILES' UNIQUE STORY about LONDON, THE WORLD AND LIFE...
 
“Cultural disassociation was one of the challenges (coming to London)
and on reflection I have realised that culture is a social conditioning,
you are not born with culture in your DNA, it is something you learn,
there is an attachment to a culture, then it becomes your identity.
One of the benefits and challenges of travelling is to work out who am I, what is my identity?"
 
CALVIN’S MEDIA LINKS:
Instagram Twitter Facebook
Empowerment Coach/Consultant: https://calvinniles.com/
Discover TOME Start-Up Project: https://www.discovertome.com/
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Information About Your Podcast Host Emma, and Travelling Through can be found at: https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/
The Travelling Through Jingle was written and produced by the lovely Mariska Martina

001 Do What You Love, And Make Sure You Love What You Do - MARGIT MULDER talks about The London Pull

MARGIT MULDER worked for the Body Shop, Saatchi & Saatchi, the GOOD Agency and after some intense re-training and experience with The Kids Company, she is a qualified freelance therapeutic, creative and well-being practitioner for children. She is also a freelance graphic designer. In collaboration with the writer Simon Frank, they have written, illustrated and published four children's books in the I Am Squarehead series which also form part of a Lessons for Life learning series for schools. Two of the books were launched at the Travelling Through... bookshop, cafe-bar.  "IT IS OK TO BE YOU" is the I Am Squarehead slogan.
 
This is MARGIT MULDER'S UNIQUE STORY about LONDON, THE WORLD AND LIFE...
“Do what you love, and make sure you love what you do...,
and if you don’t, (then) MOVE … you are not a tree, you are not stuck, you need to move on.
It’s hard some times, but do it, it is worth it.
Change the rainbow and make your dreams come true.”
 
MARGIT'S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:  Pinterest Instagram Twitter Facebook
As a graphic designer, she creates logos, and identities for people or companies. hello@margiting.co.uk
Information about the Lessons for Life teaching series for schools can be found at https://iamsquarehead.com/
Follow Peckham Bird’s inspirational board @peckhambird: Instagram Twitter Facebook
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Information About Your Podcast Host Emma, and Travelling Through can be found at: https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/
The Travelling Through Jingle was written and produced by the lovely Mariska Martina

000 THE LONDON PULL: What Makes You Stay and What Makes You Leave? (The Trailer)

Hello, and welcome to the Travelling Through… podcast. I’m Emma and in this first podcast season, I’ll be exploring how the more ordinary folk, like you and I, find their way through London, the world and life.
I have caught up with some of the aspiring authors, musicians, artists and customers who used to come to my bookshop-café until it closed almost a year ago. I am talking with them about THE LONDON PULL, that imaginary magnet which draws people from all parts of the world to this city. What were their challenges? What do they miss about their childhood home? What do they love about London? Where do they like to eat? Where would they go on a sunny summer’s day? and... What advice would they give someone moving here for the first time?
Each WEEKLY episode contains a unique human story which they want to share with you the listener.
So, wherever you are in the world, get ready to escape with me and my guests, for a dose of the Travelling Through… spirit!
If you'd like to become a part of the Travelling Through community, checkout my website Travelling Through with Emma for more information. You can subscribe to the Newsletter and learn more about what we'll be up to (post the lockdown...) and about the Travelling Through bookclub meets.
If you think these podcasts will interest you, please subscribe to the Travelling Through podcast and be the first to know when the next weekly podcast goes live.
And finally, a big thanks to Mariska Martina for creating the Travelling Through... podcast jingle. :)
Ciao, anon, à bientôt, vidimo se, cheers - until next time!
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Information About Your Podcast Host Emma, and Travelling Through can be found at: https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/
The Travelling Through Jingle was written and prodcued by the lovely Mariska Martina