Positive Solace with Attika Choudhary

All Episodes (37)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new

1. 

   1. Reframing Relationships with Ismael Gomez III

   In this season finale of Positive Solace Attika opens the conversation to see how men see and view women.Ever found yourself checking in to the Heartbreak Hotel? Maybe a past relationship has broken down, and you're still experiencing the pain long afterward?Attika turns to Speaker, Author and Film Director, Ismael Gomez III, whose advice-type videos on relationships, dating and emotional intimacy have amassed millions of views on Instagram and TikTok. Ismael holds the view that every relationsh

   May 09,2023 01:15:57
2. 

   2. Breaking the trauma cycle with Dr Mariel Buqué

   In this thought-provoking and stirring episode, Attika gets to the bottom of overcoming trauma. Dr Mariel Buqué is a successful, black, psychologist originally from the Dominican Republic; she is also an author and world-renowned in the treatment of intergenerational trauma - the concept of generational challenges within families. Attika questions Dr Buqué about trauma and how to heal.  Dr Buqué has integrated holistic methods into her work, along with indigenous healing practices which have hel

   Apr 18,2023 01:15:40
3. 

   3. Laughter, Grief and Identity with Eshaan Akbar

   In this funny and energising episode Attika reconnects with Eshaan Akbar, a British comedian, writer and actor of Bangladeshi-Pakistani heritage. Eshaan's story is quite unique - working initially as a banker, he found his true calling in stand-up comedy after suddenly losing his mother, and has been steadily growing in stature from performing at open mic nights, leading to appearances on prime time BBC shows on QI and Mock The Week, to now having his very own tour - 'The Pretender' and playing

   Apr 11,2023 01:40:54
4. 

   4. Belonging to Kashmir with Ahmer Khan

   This week, Attika explores freedom and fulfilment with two time Emmy nominated journalist Ahmer Khan. Growing up in the region of Jammu and Kashmir, Ahmer has seen his paradisiacal homeland be the epicentre of a conflict between India and Pakistan, which has been ongoing since the partition of India in 1947. Despite these troubles at home, and the lack of resources and contacts, Ahmer has become an award-winning journalist, telling stories of humanitarian crisis, conflict, human rights issues an

   Apr 04,2023 01:11:56
5. 

   5. Finding Love after Divorce with Nadia Ali

   In this raw episode, Attika speaks with a married woman, divorcee and a mum and explores the judgements behind us women, as well as the healing process when faced with life’s challenges. Attika catches up with close friend and fellow BBC broadcaster Nadia Ali who, through her own experiences, supports people through social enterprise. In this candid chat, Nadia opens up in about her past reflecting on the breakdown of her first marriage, the stigmas she faced in her community and the solace she'

   Mar 28,2023 51:57
6. 

   6. Decoding Brain Health with Kevin Hines

   TW: This episode contains themes some may find upsetting.Attika dives into an in-depth and raw conversation with Kevin Hines who has dedicated his life to suicide prevention.In 2000, Kevin's life changed forever, when he attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. He is only one of the few to have ever survived.Kevin has used his experience, to help provide education on brain health, widely known as mental health and help those grappling with suici

   Mar 21,2023 01:06:46
7. 

   7. Take the Best of Every Situation with Mo Jannah

   In Season 3 Episode 5 on Positive Solace, Attika speaks to Mo Jannah, BAFTA nominee and social philanthropist, who is also a life-coach. He is gearing up for his first TEDx talk in April 2023 on “Representation”.Mo talks about his background, his father and his heritage and how it contributed to his progression in life, his experiences working with young offenders and his later work with the BBC in development and production. He struggle with death and loss for a while but found healing partly i

   Mar 14,2023 58:52
8. 

   8. One’s Spiritual Journey with Jeff Brown

   After reading his insightful book of quotations, 'Hearticulations', Attika's exploration into the themes of love and healing have led to an enlightening talk with a popular Canadian author, 'grounded spiritualist,' and former criminal lawyer, Jeff Brown.  The two ponder the true meaning of life and the existence of 'sacred purpose': the voice inside you that acts as a spiritual guide. They talk about the culture that prevents people from being able to heal and find solace, after experiencing tra

   Feb 28,2023 01:14:44
9. 

   9. A Woman of Many Parts with Mahira Khan

   Positive Solace: Women of Vision concludes with an interview with Mahira Khan, a multiple award winning actress and film producer. Mahira has just finished an intense period of filming for her latest film Aik Hai Nigar based on the first female Lieutenant General in Pakistan. Mahira achieved global fame when she portrayed the role of Khirad Ashar Hussain in the TV series Humsafar. Other than her TV work Mahira is passionate about her film roles - she lives through them - and about the difficult

   Sep 07,2021 51:53
10. 

    10. Villains are Cooler with Nabil Abdul Rashid

    Nabil Abdul Rashid is a comedian a private and carefree soul who sees his comedy more than just a job. In 2010, at the age of 25, he became the youngest black comedian to perform stand-up at the Hammersmith Apollo. Currently a semi-finalist for Britain’s Got Talent, he has been married to his South Asian wife for ten years. Nabil although born in England spent some time in Nigeria before returning in 2006. His father spent time in Soviet Russia, training in the medical profession, before moving

    Jul 21,2020 01:16:33
11. 

    11. Constellations of Love with Marwani Hassan

    In this, the penultimate episode of Season 3, Attika speaks with Mawarni Hassan, in what is an undoctored and revealing conversation about her experiences of love, pain and loss.After suffering the pain of losing her first love, in 2022, Mawarni had even more poignant and powerful perspective from which to view her journey of love in all its different facets: the twists, turns and, in her case, the ultimate, unforeseeable, final resting point.Mawarni is a very successful entrepreneur based in Ma

    Apr 25,2023 01:11:49
12. 

    12. Kashmir’s Fight for Justice with Mir Urfi

    In the penultimate Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika speaks to Mir Urfi, a Kashmiri lawyer and human rights activist, who faces a constant struggle for justice and freedom of movement, not just for her clients. She is often stopped and made to identify herself by the Indian security forces in her own state: Jammu and Kashmir.When Urfi began her work as a lawyer she was a woman in a man's world, and even today there are very few female lawyers, especially those willing to take on cases of

    Aug 03,2021 54:54
13. 

    13. Expressing One’s Feelings is Important to Actor and Singer Suyyash Rai

    Suyyash Rai is an actor and singer. He came to Mumbai 11 years ago from Punjab, and he started his acting career on the popular Indian show Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani as Neil Khurana. That was where he met his wife, Kishwer, only for her to murder him in the episode! “In my first show, Kishwer killed me, but we've been working together since. I love capturing her. I can do that better than anyone else!”He has appeared on many popular tv series like Kya Hua Tera Vaada, and is in the Bollywood film,

    Jul 14,2020 01:00:23
14. 

    14. Football Hijabis Tackle Prejudice with Les Hijabeuses

    In the latest episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika chats to Founé Diawara and Leïla Kellou, who are members of Les Hijabeuses, a collective of women who are campaigning against the French Football Federation (FFF)’s ban on the wearing of a hijab in official matches and international games.Despite FIFA, the world governing body of football lifting their ban on hijabs in 2014, the FFF have stood fast, citing that the sport must comply with Laïcité, (secularism), which is derived fro

    Jul 27,2021 01:03:00
15. 

    15. In Conversation with Filmmaker James Bamford

    This week, BBC's Attika Choudhary is joined by Hollywood director/producer and stunt coordinator James Bamford. The two discuss a range of current issues the world is grappling with right now, from racism to Covid-19 and television and film production. James, who has directed episodes of TV smashes, Arrow and Batwoman, had an early career as a Juvenile Corrections Officer in Canada, before switching to film and TV through his love of martial arts. He touches upon his work in Bollywood with film

    Jul 07,2020 01:49:40
16. 

    16. Kenya’s Eco-Warrior with Dr Paula Kahumbu

    In the latest instalment of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika chats with Dr Paula Kahumbu, a multiple award-winning wildlife conservationist, well-known presenter of Kenya's Wildlife Warriors and Chief Executive Officer of WildlifeDirect, a conservation programme launched by Richard Leakey.She is well known for spearheading the "Hands Off Our Elephants" campaign, which has been successful in reducing the poaching of elephants, but now the campaign is focusing on change in the behaviour an

    Jul 20,2021 01:18:56
17. 

    17. Steve Baker, the Man Behind the MP

    Steve Baker MP, member of Parliament for Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, former Brexit Secretary, Royal Air Force engineer, and darling of the Conservative Party sits down with Attika Choudhary, host of PositiveSolace, to discuss the realities of being an MP – from the day to day pressures and the impact on home life, to the unique challenges andstruggles thrown up by Covid-19 for his constituents.Steve also shows his personal side, with his love of extreme sports, only having been skydiving three t

    Jun 30,2020 56:19
18. 

    18. Force for Change with Siobhan Baillie MP

    In this week’s episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika interviews Siobhan Baillie, the first ever woman MP for Stroud.Becoming an MP for the first time already has its challenges, but for Siobhan, the challenges were complicated by the fact that she was pregnant at the time of the election. Three months later, the Coronavirus pandemic forced people into lockdown and MPs had to do business from home. But Siobhan is no novice as far as the Internet is concerned.Leaving home at the age

    Jul 13,2021 52:57
19. 

    19. A Mother’s Grief Losing Her Daughter to Cancer

    Attika Choudhary, and Babs Withers who is a mother and a district nursing sister, delve into the realities of grief, before, during and after the pandemic. This is all in a heartfelt episode, that might bring you to tears, but will resonate with anyone who has ever lost someone and those who are trying to support their friends, family, and loved ones, hit by grief in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.Babs lost her daughter to Metastatic bowel cancer in November last year. One year before her daugh

    Jun 23,2020 48:54
20. 

    20. Motherhood Lost with Jessica Hepburn

    In this episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika meets Jessica Hepburn, one of the UK's leading voices on fertility and family.Jessica has one of the most remarkable and inspiring stories to tell - overcoming adversity and going on to swim the channel to climbing Mount Everest more recently.While trying to become a mother, she went through 11 rounds of IVF treatment, and an ectopic pregnancy that almost proved fatal, she was down and out and staring into the abyss. Her long cherished

    Jul 06,2021 01:02:56
21. 

    21. Suicide, Biopolar Disorder and Racism with Steve Gilbert OBE

    This week is Loneliness Awareness Week and as lock-down eases for some lock-down is normality. In this episode of Positive Solace Attika Choudhary talks to Steve Gilbert OBE FRSA about mental illness. Steve is what is described as a living experience consultant and is a suicide survivor. He was a vice chair of the UK government’s recent mental health act review. He suffers from bipolar disorder and depression. Steve & Attika discuss the struggles people with mental health problems face on a dail

    Jun 16,2020 58:51
22. 

    22. The Afghan Dreamers with Roya Mahboob

    In this episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika talks to Roya Mahboob, the CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund that helps students through digital education. In fact Roya is championing the cause of education for girls and women, and works with the Afghan government to create STEM schools where Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are made available to all students.Roya started the group of robotics specialists known as The Afghan Dreamers, who also join Attika in this podcas

    Jun 29,2021 01:01:04
23. 

    23. Showing Up Against Racism

    Attika Choudhary discusses the extraordinary project of a white woman, Melissa DePino, and a black woman, Michelle Saahene, who met through the Starbucks incident in 2018 and founded “From Privilege to Progress”.Their aim is to change the way white people think from a position of privilege to understanding things from a black person’s point of view, and how we, as a community of all colours, have a duty to tackle racism by calling it out whenever we see it.They discuss the current Black Lives Ma

    Jun 09,2020 01:02:00
24. 

    24. Women beyond War with Iman Humaydan

    In this week’s episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision – 'Women beyond War' - Attika speaks with Iman Humaydan, an award-winning Lebanese writer who says she uses words to alleviate her pain: her pain from the devastating civil war that ended in 1990: her pain for the disintegration of her beloved Lebanon; her pain for women trying to operate in a man's world where men write all the rules.She puts into her fiction, which is close to fact, all her own experiences and those of other Lebanese w

    Jun 22,2021 53:12
25. 

    25. Choosing Love for the victims with Josie Naughton

    A month ago, in the night of 6th February, a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria, affecting the lives of millions of people. It was followed by a second quake of 7.5 magnitude. So far, the death toll has exceeded 50,000 with 116,000 injured and millions who have been made homeless. Thousands of aftershocks and two more recent quakes have left many people fearing to go back inside buildings: they sleep in tents or out of doors. Aid has come from all over the

    Mar 07,2023 59:56
26. 

    26. Sisters in Motion with Branwen Summers & Elisha Applebaum

    In this week’s episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision - 'Sisters in Motion'Attika speaks to Branwen Summers and Elisha Applebaum, two young actresses who are great friends and are making strides in helping women wanting to work in the entertainment industry.Aside from their individual careers, together they present a podcast called ‘Woman Waves’ where they talk about the entertainment industry and the challenges women face within it.This is in partnership with The Girls Network, an organisa

    Jun 15,2021 01:06:26
27. 

    27. Syrian refugee doctor helps fight Covid-19 in the UK

    Dr Mohamed Kajouj arrived from Syria as a refugee speaking very basic English. He had to learn the language and re-qualify in order to practise medicine in the UK. He now works on the COVID-19 wards in York Teaching Hospital. There are a number of doctors who have come to the UK as refugees but cannot practice because their qualification is not recognised here. Dr Kajouj is campaigning to get this re-qualification process made easier and quicker. Doctors are so needed at this time because the NH

    May 19,2020 50:50
28. 

    28. Unbecoming a Woman with Aline Boblin

    In this episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika speaks to Aline Boblin and her journey into menopause.Aline is a passionate campaigner for menopause awareness, and is the director of the Transformation in Action CIC: an organization driven to support women’s health issues such as the menopause. Aline is someone who has experienced the menopause herself. She has been misdiagnosed by GPs on several occasions, and as a result suffered long-term mental and physical pain.She is finding wa

    Jun 08,2021 52:57
29. 

    29. An Actor’s Mind with Christian Brassington

    In the third episode of Positive Solace, BBC journalist Attika Choudhary goes on a journey of discovery with Poldark actor Christian Brassington who grew up in a nearby town in Hampshire. Currently living in London, he is a successful professional actor, a humanitarian and an avid supporter of Manchester United FC.They explore ways of keeping oneself focused during lockdown, and ready to seize opportunities and chart one’s best path, and discuss what life is like in the spotlight and what events

    May 12,2020 01:15:15
30. 

    30. Finding Healing after Abuse with Sarah Jane Dias

    As we continue Season 3 of Positive Solace, in Episode 2, the discussion examines how important it is to involve love in the healing process: Attika speaks candidly with her close friend, actress Sarah Jane Dias, a yoga instructor and podcaster. Sarah Jane opens up in an unprecedented conversation about how she was abused as a child, and the impact this has had on her life: depression, anxiety, and grieving the loss of a loved one all threatened to impede her journey towards healing. Sarah expla

    Feb 21,2023 01:04:36
31. 

    31. Indian Village Girl gets to Harvard with Seema Kumari

    In this instalment of “Positive Solace: Women of Vision - Indian Village Girl gets to Havard", Attika meets Seema Kumari, a 17-year-old, who comes from the village of Dahu in Northeast India.Young girls in Dahu and the Jharkhand region of India face unimaginable challenges – education is very limited, and not seen as a priority for young women. As a result of this, over 50% of young women in the State drop out early or do not attend school at all, and are at extreme risk of human trafficking. Th

    Jun 01,2021 46:01
32. 

    32. Ramadan Reflection in Lockdown with Ali Zafar

    In the second episode of Positive Solace, BBC presenter Attika Choudhary goes on a spiritual journey with Ali Zafar, actor, singer-songwriter, and humanitarian, currently in lockdown, in Lahore, Pakistan. They consider the effects of the pandemic and Ali explains his foundation which distributes needy meals to many families. Link here: https://www.alizafarfoundation.org/They discuss finding inner peace, and consider the effect of the lockdown and how Ramadan is affecting communities. Their conve

    May 05,2020 41:07
33. 

    33. The Perils of Pregnancy with Armeena Khan

    Welcome back to Positive Solace! After a hiatus, we're back with Season 3.In the next 12 episodes, Attika Choudhary will be exploring the themes of love and healing in an endeavour to discover more of what it means to be human. By hearing her guests' contributions on these subjects, we hope to learn the importance of healing, the things we need to heal and how we can improve our lives with love, knowing the right way to act and be. To begin our exploration of these words, Attika talks candidly w

    Feb 14,2023 01:02:56
34. 

    34. Never Just A Number with Zainab Basheer

    Positive Solace with Attika Choudhary returns with its second season – “Women of Vision”.In this opening episode, 'Never Just A Number', Attika talks to Zainab Basheer, a student and a writer who lives in the Gaza Strip, which has been under blockade from Israeli and Egyptian military forces since 2007. Zainab writes for “We Are Not Numbers” – an organisation that allows young Palestinians to tell the stories behind the numbers that are often reported in the world’s media.Despite the latest vio

    May 25,2021 37:58
35. 

    35. Mental health during the pandemic: psychiatrist Dr Kamran Ahmed talks of how we can improve living in lockdown.

    In this first episode, Positive Solace host Attika Choudhary speaks with Dr Kamran Ahmed, a psychiatrist, writer, and media contributor, who works in Sydney, Australia. They consider the effects of the pandemic and lockdown and explore ways of coping with the mental stress.They explore positive strategies to overcome anxiety, negativity and one's inner critic, which Dr Ahmed wrote about recently, in The Guardian. Their unscripted, honest talk ranges from the world-wide situation to the in

    Apr 28,2020 01:04:59
36. 

    36. Positive Solace with Attika Choudhary Trailer

    Positive Solace, with Attika Choudhary, is a podcast about finding inspiration during the difficult time of COVID-19 and lockdown. How do we remain up-beat? How can we be authentic and there for one another during this time?Each week, presenter and journalist, Attika talks with her guests, unscripted, raw and real, such as how people are coping with the lock down, the Coronavirus itself, and how their lives have changed and what they have learnt during this process.Positive Solace with Attika Ch

    Apr 20,2020 01:14
37. 

    37. Mental Challenges of Nursing Inside a Care Home

    In the fifth episode of Positive Solace, host Attika Choudhary speaks with Devina Guyton, a nurse in a care home in Sussex. They consider the effects of the pandemic and lockdown on care homes and explore ways of coping with the mental stress, as well as the positives that the lockdown has brought to the UK.They discuss society today, the impacts of the virus on work-life balance and also the impact on elderly residents. Their unscripted, honest talk ranges from the situation in Sussex, to the e

    May 26,2020 36:52