In the third episode of our second podcast series, Katherine and Paul welcome Bristol-based poet, theatre-maker and powerful storyteller, Muneera Pilgrim.
We hear about Muneera’s experiences growing up as a black woman in Bristol – and what it means for her to finally see the statue of you-know-who toppled. We also talk about Muneera’s unexpected faith journey: from repeatedly falling in and out of love with her Caribbean Christian roots, to eventually finding her home in Islam.
Above all else, Muneera’s infectious belief in the ability for art and storytelling to transform our lives gives us a much-needed shot of hope.
Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul can’t help but laugh over the absurdity that is ‘Four Seasons Total Landscaping’, and we find out what Shakespeare, crosswords and scripture have in common.
Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.
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ABOUT MUNEERA
Muneera Pilgrim is a poet, cultural producer, writer and broadcaster, as well as co-founder of the Muslim female spoken word and hip-hop duos Poetic Pilgrimage and Nana Collective. Muneera conducts expressive-based, purpose-driven workshops, shares art, guest lectures, hosts and finds alternative ways to educate and exchange ideas. She regularly contributes to Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, and she is currently an Associate Artist with The English Touring Theatre where she contributed to The Othello Project, and is writing a project that will be revealed in 2020.
Instagram: @muneera_pilgrim
Twitter: @MuniPilgrim
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LINKS AND RESOURCES
Edward Colston statue toppled in Bristol https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/14/the-day-bristol-dumped-its-hated-slave-trader-in-the-docks-and-a-nation-began-to-search-its-soul
Unicorns Have Nothing On Us by Muneera Pilgrim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJjWGcCUqU
Marlon Thomas https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/marlon-thomas-family-bristols-stephen-2735642
Amal http://amal.org.uk/
Othello Creative Response https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/talks/othello-creative-response/
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00:00 – Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In
00:20 – Katherine and Paul catch up
09:35 – Introducing Muneera Pilgrim and her work
10:24 – Muneera joins the conversation
10:35 – Muneera on Bristol
15:00 – Muneera on lockdown and inequality
18:13 – Muneera on storytelling
20:40 – Muneera on her influences
24:10 – Muneera on creativity
25:35 – Muneera on Marlon Thomas
29:18 – Muneera on faith and race
34:33 – Muneera on Islam
38:05 – Muneera on spirituality
40:40 – Muneera on Greenbelt
44:26 – Muneera on Othello
47:18 – Muneera on art
51:58 – Muneera on hope and motivation
55:00 – Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Muneera
01:05:39 – Coming up next week
01:06:18 – How to get in touch with us
01:06:55 – Thank you’s
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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.
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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/
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