“I thought at that time it definitely will get better. You'll be able to escape the situation, and I had a feeling within myself even at the time. I said, you will be able to escape it.”

This was one of many deep reflections from this week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ when thinking about their younger self at just 12 years old.

Tolu Osinubi (she/her) is a Director at Deloitte, passionate public speaker & an incredible advocate & ally for the inclusion, intersectionality & the LGBTQ+ community.

Little Tolu moved from Lagos to Greater Manchester and whilst she was initially wowed by this huge change, it wasn’t long before experiences of racism & feelings of otherness. Growing up was further compounded by a challenging home life & strict expectations. Her strained relationship with her parents went through additional friction especially after coming out.

Not feeling like she fit in has massively shaped Tolu’s journey in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Upon the topics of discrimination & exclusion, she straight up says “not on my watch.”

We discuss our mutual experiences of burnout & this coupled with a serious health complication has informed Tolu’s insistence on self-care, boundaries & empathy for others. It has also led to a firm commitment to appreciate all of life’s moments, including the hard parts. Tolu loves travelling & beams when talking about her recent trip to South Africa, including an appreciation for South African soap dramas!

There’s a beautiful moment in this chat where Tolu reflects on the fact she’s grown into someone that would have protected her as a child - something she feels truly proud of. And with it being Pride month, this feels very poignant.

PLEASE NOTE | We cover some potentially triggering moments during this conversation related to Tolu’s upbringing, growing up queer & estrangement. Please take care of yourself whilst listening.

“Don't forget luck. I think everyone feels like they're in control, and they can do it all. And if you just slog it out hard enough it will come to you. Sometimes, it’s just luck. Let go and see what comes.”

Calling your company ‘The Unmistakables’ is a bold move but when it’s grounded in science & rigour plus a touch of cheekiness with a truly innovative leader in charge, it just makes sense. It was founded by this week’s guest Asad Dhunna (he/him) back in 2018 and as consultancy specialising in DEI, it boasts an incredibly committed & skilled team doing transformational work when it comes to creativity, culture & positive change.

I’m a fan of both Asad & his work so I was so thrilled when Asad said yes to appearing on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’. We chat a lot about the story behind The Unmistakables and what makes it just that. We explore his mischievous side & how he’s learned to harness that over the years which really is evident in what he puts out there.

Coming out was a challenge and his first time in a gay venue - the iconic Ghetto which I used to go to weekly - was a conflicting experience of ‘I’m going to hell’ vs ‘This is fun’ running through his mind.

Asad shares he is still finding his destination in inclusion and his work has evolved as the DEI industry has shifted. His insistence on ‘trading off lived expertise vs lived experience’ and being able to back that up are all part of his deep insights, leadership & skills.

We dive into the difference between secrecy & privacy and how as queer people we often play a role that can undermine our seriousness - a point in the conversation that really stuck with me.

I loved getting to know Asad more & I am sure you will too. Plus there’s exciting stuff coming up from The Unmistakables so stay tuned!

“I have the community that I never ever in a million years would I have dreamed of when I was a kid.”

Season 3 of ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ gets off to a CRACKING start with this conversation! I’m chatting to Jua O’Kane (they/he). Jua is the Marketing Manager for We Create Space and Communications Director for Trans Pride Plymouth as well as being an illustrator, creator, creative researcher & author of their recently published graphic novella, Road to Chimera. It’s a virtually stunning piece of work that explores a life navigating transness as a spiritual journey.

Jua is also my colleague & I relish our chats - this one especially! From chatting about & reconnecting with ‘Little Jua’ to challenging mental health issues as a teenager through to what’s been a crazy last few years, Jua shares their story in such a powerful & punchy way.

Self-care, community & creativity are core to how Jua shows up in the world as they state “I made the things that I needed happen.” That’s just one of the mic drop moments & realisations you can expect to hear along with Jua’s love for Plymouth & its thriving Trans+ community, the influence of their girlfriend’s ability to channel hope & optimism and their top surgery adventure being “a hero’s journey moment”.

Isolation. Creation. Transcendence. These are the three words Jua uses to describe themselves & their origin story & deliberately in that order.

Jua truly sets the tempo. On the dance floor. Through the work they do & the world they’ve created. In life. You’re going to love this episode as much as I did.

We cover some challenging topics so please take care of yourself whilst listening.

Visit Jua's website, check out their work & buy a copy of 'Road to Chimera' here.

Trans Pride Plymouth takes place on Saturday 14 June 2025. Follow them here.