Nothing Without Us

This week, we're reissuing a solo episode from April 2024, where Angie shares an essay on allyship and advocacy in the context of global atrocities and the war in Gaza, and how these events intersect with educators’ roles and school conversations about the Middle East. She argues that passive allyship and apathy have catastrophic impacts, urging listeners to face the horror of dehumanisation—citing events including the Hamas killing of 1,200 Israeli civilians, the Tigray War, ethnic cleansing in Sudan, mass killings in Syria and Ukraine, and the Israeli invasion of Gaza with at least 30,000 killed—and to respond with rehumanising advocacy. Angie offers examples of advocacy from personal check-ins to organisational policy reviews and public speech, and connects international conflict to rising UK Islamophobic and antisemitic hate crimes, calling for solidarity and strategies to mitigate faith-based discrimination.

Angie Browne reflects on International Women’s Day and how it has shifted from its socialist, working-class origins into a more corporate, marketing-friendly celebration, using narrative literacy to examine which stories are told and which are erased. Browne then applies narrative and relational literacy to Theresa May’s 2011 Violence Against Women Action Plan, acknowledging policy advances while also naming the harms of austerity, cuts to specialist services, refuges, and a hostile environment, and offers questions for how organisations mark IWD and who is centred or excluded.

Angie Browne shares an essay written in response to the BAFTAs and the BBC broadcasting the N word during a time-delayed edit, while reportedly editing out an acceptance speech that included “Free Palestine.” She argues for lineage consciousness, urging listeners to see the incident not as a one-off but as part of a long pattern of institutional behavior by BAFTA and the BBC, citing previous controversies involving racism, disability, and organisational culture. Angie explores how unclear values and a lack of a lived culture of care create spectated lawlessness, and introduces relational literacy and Sarah Ahmed’s Sticky Emotions to explain how shame, fear, anger, and disgust circulate and attach to people, fueling pile-ons that distract from institutional accountability. To read the article in full, subscribe to Angie's Substack at https://beingluminary.substack.com/p/tending-emotional-currents-and-sovereignty?r=51drxi

Angie Browne reflects on Minette Batters becoming the first female president of the UK National Farmers Union in 2018, and uses her story to explore women’s exclusion from land, farming, and decision-making. She outlines Batters’ path from being discouraged by her father, to building a tenant farming business and leading the NFU, and considers what tenant farming reveals about wealth, power, and concentrated land ownership in England. Angie connects these dynamics to colonisation, imperialism, and the narratives that positioned men as rightful owners and lawmakers while relegating women to unpaid domestic and farm labour. Drawing on her ideas of lineage consciousness and legacy consciousness (including “seven generations” thinking), she celebrates women’s longstanding relationships with growing and stewardship, questions why women farmers are treated as unusual in the UK, and imagines a future where women and girls have secure, collective access to land and are no longer bearing the burden of others’ profit.

In this episode Angie Browne discusses the 2018 Haiti earthquake scandal involving Oxfam, highlighting moral failings and institutional accountability. Angie explores themes such as spiritual literacy, dignitary authority, and liberatory literacy, while analyzing Oxfam's internal culture and response. She questions the organisation's moral superiority, temporal sovereignty, and how they handle harm. The importance of learning from past mistakes and prioritising the dignity of impacted communities over institutional reputation is emphasised. Angie invites listeners to reflect on their own organisations' values and practices.You can sign up for Angie's Substack newsletter here https://beingluminary.substack.com/

Angie Browne delves into the complex history of women's suffrage in the UK, particularly focusing on the centenary in February 2018, which marked 100 years since some women were granted the vote. Browne critiques the celebratory narrative by exploring how the 1918 Representation of the People Act still excluded many women, especially working-class and marginalized groups. Using narrative literacy and relational literacy, she analyses the interwoven stories of policy, power, and social hierarchies. She encourages listeners to reflect on modern narratives and examine who is truly included in triumphant stories of progression.

In this episode, Angie Browne analyses the events of the infamous Handforth Parish Council meeting from December 2020, which went viral in February 2021. Browne explores the chaotic Zoom meeting where Jackie Weaver, an external facilitator, faced backlash from council members for attempting to restore order. The episode delves into the background of the conflict, the roles of key figures, and the subsequent investigation. Additionally, Browne introduces the concept of 'rules as stories,' urging listeners to consider the narratives behind organisational rules and their impacts on authority and dignity. The episode emphasises the importance of interrelational humility and explores how viewing rules as negotiable stories might lead to more equitable practices in organisations.

In this week's episode, Angie Browne explores the myth of Blue Monday, allegedly the most depressing day of the year, and its origins as a marketing ploy by British Travel Agency Sky Travel in 2005. She delves into how narrative intelligence can be used to critically examine and deconstruct this and other pervasive societal narratives. By highlighting multiple perspectives, including historical context and lived experiences, Angie challenges the simplistic equation driving Blue Monday and underscores the importance of recognising the true complexities behind mental health and societal well-being.

In this episode, Angie discusses the 2017 Women's March and its implications on equity, feminism, womanism and social justice. She explores the origins and purposes of the march, which arose as a response to Donald Trump's rhetoric and policies. Browne highlights the march's focus on unity and inclusivity across various identities and struggles, despite criticisms regarding unequal representation and accessibility. She introduces the concept of liberatory literacy, emphasising the importance of understanding power dynamics and ensuring safety and inclusion for all participants. The episode calls for designing events with a keen awareness of diverse positionalities to better share risks and promote true equity.

In this episode, Angie Browne discusses the importance of relational humility and humanity during crises, using the Capitol Hill insurrection on January 6, 2021, as a case study. Browne emphasises the need to approach news stories with detachment and empathy, explores various key events of the insurrection, and introduces concepts from her book 'Re-Enchanted.' She also shares insights from public defender Heather Shana's experiences with January 6 defendants to advocate for understanding and education over judgment. Angie encourages listeners to practice relational humility in their interactions, stressing the importance of recognising humanity even in extreme circumstances.

Angie Browne reflects on the challenges and accomplishments in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) during 2025. She highlights the importance Being Luminary's consistent commitment to equity work, even when attendance at community calls is low and the DEI market cools. Angie discusses her move towards making the Excellence in Equity award more accessible and meaningful, the deepening of partnerships with committed organisations, and the reduction in business expenses to focus on core values. She also emphasises the need for a supportive community among DEI practitioners, particularly women of color, and plans to co-construct a guild for mutual nourishment and shared practice in 2026. Despite a smaller client base, the depth and clarity of Being Luminary's work has increased, setting the stage for a promising year ahead.

In this episode Angie Browne reflects on the social and political climate of 2025. She discusses the challenges and setbacks facing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid ongoing global conflicts, political shifts, and public apathy. Angie criticizes the DEI industry's focus on softer language like 'belonging' over substantive equity work, and emphasizes the need for new leadership approaches. She highlights the importance of narrative and relational intelligence in navigating complex social issues and how institutions can better support marginalized communities. Throughout, Angie shares her thoughts on maintaining integrity and dignity in social justice work, urging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and engage in meaningful discourse.

In these last few episodes of the year, Angie shares her insights and experiences from 2025. She reflects on the past year, discussing the challenges faced in equity work, the personal and professional changes she underwent, and the shift in public interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. Angie narrates her journey towards developing deeper, more sustainable practices, including a focus on spiritual intelligence, redemptive practice, and the shift from impact to influence. She also discusses the evolution of her upcoming book 'Re Enchanted' and its focus on deeper aspects of equity work. Despite facing a difficult year, Angie provides an optimistic outlook for 2026 and leaves listeners with a practice to embrace the discomfort of unanswered complex questions.

In this episode Angie discusses the concept of joy as a form of relational literacy, emphasisng its importance in equity work. She elaborates on shifting from emotional intelligence to relational literacy, critiquing traditional frameworks and proposing a deeper, more somatic and interrelational approach. Angie breaks down four anchors of relational literacy: somatic awareness, emotional presence, positionality, and interrelational humility, providing actionable micro-practices for each. She stresses the ongoing practice of right relationship, maintaining dignity, and recognising the value of differing perspectives.

In this episode, Angie Browne discusses the importance of aesthetic literacy as a means of bringing joy and humanity back into institutional spaces. Angie shares her personal journey of enhancing spaces throughout her career in education, emphasizing the role of aesthetics in fostering dignity and equity. She contrasts two school building projects to illustrate how design decisions can impact the psychological and emotional well-being of occupants. The episode also explores the political nature of aesthetic choices and how social movements use aesthetic interventions to resist systemic oppression. Angie invites listeners to reflect on spaces in their own lives that evoke feelings of dignity and joy.

This week Angie explores the concept of joy as a form of resistance and praxis rather than mere performance or escapism. She delves into the role of joy in social justice work, emphasizing its importance as a political and communal tool. She discusses 'joy as praxis,' advocating for the deliberate recognition and integration of joy in daily life and leadership. The episode highlights how joy can disrupt dehumanising systems and serve as a powerful agent of change, calling on listeners to practice and share moments of joy as a means of collective resistance and humanity.

In this second episode, Angie Browne and Dr Claire Stewart-Hall discuss the aftermath and responses to a race hate crime Angie experienced.Angie shares her motivation for creating social media videos to document her feelings and the incident. She contrasts the differing responses from LinkedIn and Instagram users, noting the lack of engagement on LinkedIn versus the outpouring of care on Instagram. They also delve into the institutional challenges of recognizing and addressing racism, highlighting the problematic nature of excuses made for perpetrators. They emphasise the importance of documenting and speaking out about racism to acknowledge its horrors and drive societal and institutional change.

In this week's episode, Angie Browne discusses her recent traumatic experience of a race hate crime. Joined by Dr. Claire Stewart-Hall, a race researcher and friend, Angie explores the broader impact of such personal and institutional racism on Black women's lives.Angie describes receiving hundreds of aggressive, racist messages through her business website, perpetrated by an individual she briefly dated 17 years ago. She shares her frustration with the complex, ineffective process of reporting a hate crime to the Metropolitan Police and other organisations. As a Black woman and a professional in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Angie reflects on the emotional and administrative toll of the incident, the lack of institutional support, and the systemic racism embedded in these responses.

In this episode, Angie is in conversation with Sue Mulholland, Deputy Head Teacher for enrichment at the British International School of Ho Chi Minh City. They delve into Sue's journey from an art teacher to a leader in education, her experiences in different schools, and her work in equity, diversity, and inclusion. Sue shares her upbringing in Belfast, the impact of the Troubles, and her evolution in the teaching profession, emphasizing the role of creativity and art in fostering equity. They also discuss the importance of sustained EDI efforts in education and Sue's plans for advancing EDI initiatives at her school.

In this episode Angie delves into the complex terrain of despair faced by those engaged in equity work. Angie discusses the predictability of betrayal and retreat within equity movements. She references the work of thinkers like Audre Lorde and Leah Mani VIN to explain how capitalist patriarchy inherently demands the fragmentation and depletion of marginalized groups. Angie argues that DEI work often fails because it is reactionary and maintains power structures. She calls for a reimagining of equity work, emphasizing the importance of communal practices, resisting fragmentation, and creating spaces that honor diversity and collective well-being. By offering practical steps and encouraging reflection, Angie advocates for a generative and creative approach to equity that addresses structural exhaustion and fosters sustainable change.Find out more about Audre Lorde https://alp.org/about/audreand Leah Manaema Avene on her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/co_cu1tur3?igsh=b3p6emNiYTBwZHlz