HERVOICE BLANK

“HER Voice” A Podcast for Women & Girls

We are excited to announce the launch of our new podcast, “Her Voice,” which is dedicated to creating a supportive and open environment for women and girls of all ages and backgrounds. 

Our aim is to provide a space where they can comfortably share their challenges, experiences, and emotions. “Her Voice” offers a platform for discussing a wide range of topics related to relationships, mental health, personal growth, and more. 

Through honest conversations and storytelling, we hope to foster a sense of community and understanding among our listeners.

What to Expect from “Her Voice”

  • Authentic Conversations: Our podcast will feature women presenters and guests who openly discuss their struggles with mental health, emotional difficulties, and life experiences. These candid discussions aim to reduce stigma and encourage listeners to seek the support they need.

  • Community and Support: By sharing their stories, our guests will help listeners feel less alone and more understood. The podcast aims to create a sense of solidarity and support among women and girls who may be facing similar challenges.

  • Resource Guidance: While podcasting alone may not solve all issues, “Her Voice” aims to provide listeners with valuable information and signposting to appropriate resources for further guidance and help. We will regularly invite professionals to share their expertise and offer practical advice.

  • Diverse Topics: Our episodes will cover a broad spectrum of topics, ensuring that there is something for everyone. From relationship advice to mental health awareness and personal development tips, “Her Voice” is here to address the issues that matter most to women and girls.

We are committed to making “Her Voice” a safe and welcoming space where women and girls can come together to share, listen, and grow. Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes, and join us on this journey of empowerment and connection.

Thank you for your support as we embark on this exciting new project.

This project is made possible by the funding support from MIND West Essex

Studio microphone for recording podcasts on a white background.

BSix College
Podcasting Workshops

Podcasting is not just a medium for entertainment;
it's a powerful tool for education, empowerment, and community building.

Starting April 17th 

Podcasting workshops tailored for young people 16+ offer an exciting and educational journey into the world of digital storytelling. These workshops provide a creative platform for participants to explore their voices and share their unique perspectives. Through hands-on activities, young podcasters learn the basics of storytelling, scriptwriting, and audio editing in a fun and engaging environment.

The workshops cover fundamental podcasting skills, including microphone techniques, voice modulation, and sound editing. Participants also gain insights into the art of interviewing, allowing them to conduct conversations and share compelling narratives. Emphasis is placed on digital citizenship, promoting responsible and ethical podcasting practices.

In addition to technical skills, these workshops foster critical thinking as young podcasters explore diverse topics and learn to express their thoughts and opinions effectively. Collaborative activities encourage teamwork and communication, enhancing both creativity and interpersonal skills.

Week 1: Introduction to Podcasting

  • Overview of podcasting: history, impact, and popular genres
  • Discussion on the importance of storytelling in podcasts
  • Introduction to different podcast formats (interviews, storytelling, panel discussions)
  • Assignment: Choose a podcast format and brainstorm ideas for a podcast episode

Week 2: Recording Techniques and Equipment

  • Basics of audio recording equipment (microphones, recording software)
  • Hands-on practice with microphone techniques and voice modulation
  • Introduction to background noise reduction and audio quality enhancement
  • Assignment: Record a short practice segment using provided equipment

Week 3: Editing and Post-Production

  • Introduction to audio editing software
  • Hands-on practice with cutting, splicing, and enhancing audio
  • Tips for seamless transitions and adding music/effects
  • Assignment: Edit the recorded practice segment and enhance audio quality

Week 4: Branding and Promotion

  • Importance of branding and creating a podcast identity
  • Strategies for writing compelling descriptions and creating cover art
  • Introduction to podcast promotion techniques and social media marketing
  • Assignment: Create cover art and write a podcast description for the planned episode

Week 5: Legal and Ethical Considerations

  • Discussion on copyright issues, permissions, and fair use
  • Understanding privacy considerations and obtaining necessary permissions
  • Introduction to music licensing and avoiding copyright infringement
  • Assignment: Research and prepare a brief on legal and ethical considerations for podcasting

Week 6: Distribution and Launch

  • Introduction to podcast hosting platforms and RSS feeds
  • Step-by-step guide to uploading and distributing podcast episodes
  • Strategies for maximising reach through popular podcast directories
  • Finalisation of podcast episode and launch plan
  • Assignment: Upload and distribute the finalised podcast episode

Throughout the workshop series:

  • Collaborative activities and discussions on various podcasting topics
  • Encouragement of teamwork and communication skills through group projects
  • Continuous feedback and support from facilitators and peers
  • Q&A sessions to address any questions or challenges faced during the workshop

By the end of the six-week workshop series, participants should feel confident in their ability to plan, record, edit, and promote their own podcast episodes. They will have practical skills and a deeper understanding of podcasting, ready to embark on their journey as young podcasters.

The essence of embracing challenges, personal growth, and finding meaning in life by overcoming obstacles

Limitless Minds: Redefining Abilities with Nick Wilson … Podcast

Nick Wilson is a Speaker, Presenter and Content Creator, aka Disabled Adventurer, an Ambassador for Purple Tuesday, and the Disability Expo, who Champions suicide survivors and abilities over disabilities, through his talks and adventures. He openly, and very frankly, shares his lived experiences with mental illness, physical disability and surviving a suicide attempt to; inform society, encourage change, and inspire and empower others, with authenticity and a message of hope.

He is also an Army Veteran with an impactful story to tell. After 14 years of service, Nick left the military, with a spinal injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, as a result of multiple deployments across the globe such as, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Through his battle with both physical and mental disabilities, surviving attempted suicide and managing suicidal ideation, Nick continually demonstrates resilience and the ability to overcome adversity, whilst forging a new career as a successful public speaker, budding presenter, video producer and an adventurer always looking for his next challenge.

Through finding ways to better manage his health conditions and environment, Nick prevents his disabilities from dictating his life or fulfilling his purpose of selflessly helping others. This is clear to see by his commitment to supporting the local community and wider society, with the many achievements he’s obtained being recognised, locally and nationally, winning him an award at the prestigious “English Veterans Awards” and being named “Male Role Model of the Year” ‘21 and “Changemaker” of the Year ‘22.

In a bid to understand the workings of the mind, Nick studied Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mental Health First Aid and Neuro-Linguistics Programming, becoming a trainer and practitioner in all three. Armed with his lived experiences, professional skills in mental health and life lessons learned, Nick founded Talk Mental Health CIC, a social enterprise to; champion men’s mental health and advocating for the sharing of our lived experiences. From launching in May 2020, TMH has directly helped over 250 guys locally and hundreds of thousands, nationally and globally, through the videos Nick creates for social media. As someone who promotes hope through his messaging and embracing abilities over disabilities, Nick has completed countless charity fundraising work throughout his career raising over £125,000 for charities, through organising events such as; 1000-mile cycle for D-Day commemorations and the first Basra half marathon. Nick also ran successful mental health campaigns during 2018/19, creating hashtags #Realmentalk and #Timetolisten reaching over 250,000 around the world.

Through his challenges Nick has:

  1. Ascended Mount Snowden in a powered wheelchair, creating the first ever VR experience of doing so from a wheelchair user perspective
  2. Became the first disabled person to complete 96km of the Ridgeway National Trail in a wheelchair
  3. Completed a 385mile cycle on his specialised recumbent trike, from Margate to Lands End, Spent 10 days travelling Route66 with, Bike Tours for the Wounded, on a Harley Goldwing.

During these he’s had to overcome; heat exhaustion, debilitating chronic pain, mental struggles, failure, and homelessness, whilst navigating Covid and a severe lack of funding, however, regardless of this he has still found ways to
achieve them.

Nick runs countless presentations that train both the public and private sectors on the importance of mental health, disability and suicide awareness, accessibility, and inclusion, through sharing his own journey of overcoming adversity, adjusting to new challenges, recovery and beginning to learn how to best live his life once more.

He has gained experience and a respected reputation, through his previously delivering to; businesses large and small, global and regional, universities, networking events and small local community functions. The feedback he receives, always includes words such as, Authentic, Inspirational, Thought Provoking, Empowering, Life Changing and Educational/Informative; demonstrating that Nick’s talks are suitable for a wide range of demographic groups and can always be made relatable to the specific audience.

Public Speaking
From surviving suicide attempts, learning to manage with Complex PTSD, Depression, Suicidal thoughts, and physical disabilities, to his personal growth, development, and journey of recovery. Nick can adapt these lived experiences to speak on a multitude of topics, more specifically connected to Suicide, Mental Health, Change, EDI, Disability and

Post Traumatic Growth, ensuring to meet all your specific requirements.

Mental Health and Disability – Providing a general overview of mental health and disability, the impact they have on the individual, the workplace and how others can best support someone with mental ill health and/or a disability, plus the importance of us as individuals, accepting responsibility for and taking ownership of, our own wellbeing and how we manage it.

Disability in the Workplace – Helping organisations to benefit from embracing inclusion, what this looks like and how to identify the strengths and abilities of someone who has a disability. Talking specifically about how to make the necessary adjustments in your organisation, ensuring you implement any specific training correctly, to benefit from maximum effectiveness, and how to best communicate and support those with mental ill health and a disability.

Suicide Awareness and Prevention – Suicide remains to be one of the most challenging and taboo topics in the workplace and wider society, where arguably the associated stigma still results in the loss of life. Each death is one too many and can impact 135 people on average and attempted suicide numbers are estimated by the NHS to be 140,000 and so much work remains to be done. Nick has unique knowledge which any organisation would benefit from, with lived experience of attempted suicide and battling with suicidal thoughts, in addition to experience of helping others, whilst navigating the system.

Transition & Change – Following a successful 14-year career in the military, Nick faced a traumatic decade long journey of transition, within a society which had become alien to him compared to the military. Then on becoming “newly disabled”, has once again had to adapt to life being in a wheelchair and the restrictions which come with this. However,
he has become a successful and integral part of society, a well-known and respected member of his local community and entrepreneur.

My Journey – Nick has had a tumultuous life to date, from living on the streets at the age of 16, starting his first business at the age of 17 and joining the Army, to building two successful businesses on leaving the military, launching a men’s support group and forging a new career as a speaker and presenter.

Nick’s ‘cheeky chappy’ persona reflects a friendly, humble guy whose speaking style is authentic, open and powerful. His wealth of personal, practical, and professional experiences over 25 years guarantees a direct impact on those he speaks to, inspiring and empowering everyone he meets.

Nick’s ‘cheeky chappy’ persona reflects a friendly, humble guy whose speaking style is authentic, open and powerful. His wealth of personal, practical and professional experiences over 25 years guarantees a direct impact on those he speaks to, inspiring and empowering everyone he meets.