Have A Kind Word With Yourself: The Podcast

"Poetry comes from that kind act of observation."
I chat with Nick Barley, founding Director of the National Poetry Centre. We talk about facilitating other peoples’ creativity, the value of modelling kindness, meeting angelic cyclists in Spain, and how we write poetry to make sense of ourselves in the world.
National Poetry Centre: www.nationalpoetrycentre.org.uk
Edinburgh International Book Festival: www.edbookfest.co.uk
International Booker Prize: www.thebookerprizes.com/international-booker-prize
Joséphine Bacon: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/josephine-bacon 
We recorded in May 2026 at Amped as part of the 20th Anniversary Huddersfield Literature Festival.
www.ampedhudd.co.uk 
www.huddlitfest.org.uk 
 
About Rose:
Website: www.rosecondo.net
Website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts
Podcast music by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca

Hey listeners, it's Rose from Have A Kind Word With Yourself: The Podcast. It's June 2026. It's Pride Month. It's raining a lot in Manchester, and it's pretty tough in the world.
So, perhaps Season Two of Have A Kind Word With Yourself: The Podcast can offer a bit of soothing space where you can listen to chats about creativity, kindness, and connection.
This season, I'll speak with amazing people working in poetry, theatre, broadcast journalism, law, writing, community development, and more. We've got award-winning creatives and emerging artists, and loads in between.
New episodes will be coming out on Mondays, which you can find on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and YouTube. Take care, and talk to you soon.

It's the final episode of Season One ... and what a treat it is! I chat with the wonderful Eleonora Rosca - a musician and music therapist from Romania. Ellie and I have been friends and creative collaborators for years, and she's making huge strides in her music therapy work.
We recorded in January -- when Ellie was fresh off of a supervision course in Bristol -- and the ripples of vulnerability, empathy and kindness from the course were so present in our discussion.
We chat through the importance of safety, gentleness, and self-care. We explore the therapeutic benefits of music, particularly in fostering a state of flow and self-expression. She recommends the importance of staying curious and deeply listening to yourself and others.
What a nourishing way to finish this first season. Links are below, and more episodes will be coming later this year!
About Ellie and her work:
Ellie’s website: https://muzicoterapie.org/ 
Ellie on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/eleonora-rosca-509874209/
CoMusica Oradea: https://www.musicastherapy.org/news-item/a-new-romanian-association-joins-the-distance-learning-programme-in-romania/ 
World Congress of Music Therapy: https://wcmt2026.org/ 
Elaine Aron - The Highly Sensitive Person: https://hsperson.com/ 
Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy: https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/ 
How we met:
Westwood Centre: https://westwood-centre.org.uk/ 
Moonraking Festival: https://www.slaithwaitemoonraking.org.uk/ 
About me:
Attic Stories at the Lawrence Batley Theatre: https://www.thelbt.org/what-s-on/spoken-word-and-talks/attic-stories/ 
My website: www.rosecondo.net 
Website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca 

What an honour to speak with Ivan Wadeson, Executive Director of Manchester City of Literature! I'm so grateful for the time we had to reflect on art, audience connections, community and kindness! We relate about being library-loving kids, and how we’ve gotta keep libraries as kind and democratic spaces. Plus, hear Ivan promote the upcoming Festival of Libraries in Greater Manchester, June 10-14, 2026. 
 
Below are links that we discussed:
 
Take 10 to Read in Manchester: https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/manchester/take-10-to-read-manchester/
Creative Care - GMCA: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/culture/great-place-social-glue-and-creative-care-kits/ 
Poetry Pharmacy: https://poetrypharmacy.co.uk/ 
Carol Ann Duffy: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/carol-ann-duffy/ 
Cities of Literature: https://www.citiesoflit.com/ 
Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals 
Manchester City of Literature: https://www.manchestercityofliterature.com/ 
Virden Library: https://www.borderregionallibrary.ca/about/virden/ 
My website: www.rosecondo.net 
Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca 
 

Can a podcast be delicious? This episode definitely is! I chat with Constance Menzies, owner of Chocolatier Constance Popp in Winnipeg, Canada. Her shop is the first cacao-bean-to-bar maker and her scrumptious food has featured at prestigious events (and in my suitcase every time I visit Winnipeg!) We discuss her journey into chocolate making, and how important relationships and community have been along the way. We highlight how significant kindness is in personal interactions and in creative endeavours. And we’ll definitely visit a chocolate shop together next time she’s in England!
 
Below are links from our chat:
 
Chocolatier Constance Popp:
Website: https://constancepopp.com/ 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/poppchocolates/ 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/constance.popp   
 
Melanie Wesley: https://melaniewesley.com/
 
Prairie Originals: https://www.prairieoriginals.com/ 
 
Rose’s website: www.rosecondo.net 
 
Rose’s website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca 

The incredible Griot Gabriel joins the Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast chat! Winner of the 2025 Forward Prize for the performance of his poem ‘Where I’m From’ Gabriel is a Manchester-based poet and youth worker. We talk about his journey into poetry, inspired by figures like Malcolm X and Tupac Shakur, and his work with diverse communities. We delve into the importance of faith, community, and creativity (including in sports!). We talk of poetry shining a light into dark places, and how he wants to use poetry to bridge gaps between opposing views and spark dialogue for empathy. Listen up about info on his upcoming eight-week poetry workshop at Contact Theatre. 
 
Below are links for organisations and projects that we discussed:
‘Where I’m From’ (Griot Gabriel’s Forward Prize winning performance): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv_TYFFGNSc 
Forward Prize: https://forwardartsfoundation.org/poem/where-im-from/ 
The Poetry Place: https://www.the-poetryplace.com/ 
Contact Theatre: https://contactmcr.com/get-involved 
Rose’s website: www.rosecondo.net 
Rose’s website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca

Tune in for this delightful chat with Carys Nelkon, a senior leader in climate justice and youth development. A self-proclaimed creative problem-solver, Carys shares her experiences at Arts Emergency and her current work in education. We discuss the power of storytelling, the importance of nuance in activism, the joy of crafting, and the significance of rest.
Below are links for organisations and projects that we discussed:
 
Arts Emergency: https://www.arts-emergency.org/ 
Morecambe Bay Curriculum: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/morecambe-bay-curriculum/ 
Energy Saving Trust Foundation: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/the-foundation/ 
HOME Manchester: https://homemcr.org/ 
Carys on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woolntrouble/ 
Mike Myers - site specific extrovert quote: https://www.gq.com/story/mike-myers 
Shouldless Day: https://slate.com/podcasts/death-sex-money/2017/10/ellen-burstyns-lessons-on-survival 
Danny Wallace books: https://www.hive.co.uk/Search/Search?Author=Danny%20Wallace 
Rose’s website: www.rosecondo.net 
Rose’s website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca 
 

I speak with the wonderful Sharena Lee Satti, a Bradford-based poet and educator who is aiming to be unapologetically herself this year! We chat about her journey, starting with Simon Widdop's support at a Wakefield festival, and her current work with the Sisterverse Festival. We celebrate small acts of kindness, like pausing for self-care and connecting with others, and taking a moment to breathe.
 
Below are links for organisations and projects that we discussed:
Sharena’s website: www.sharenaleesatti.com/ 
Sharena’s books:
www.vervepoetrybookshop.com/product-page/shhhhhhhh-sharena-lee-satti 
www.vervepoetrybookshop.com/product-page/she-sharena-lee-satti 
Sisterverse: www.instagram.com/sisterversefestival/ 
Rose’s website: www.rosecondo.net 
Rose’s website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca

This episode brings a joyful chat with Blue Saint, a Liverpool-based rapper and poet from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We delve into our creative processes, and the importance of storytelling and curiosity. Blue speaks enthusiastically about intentional kindness, and how honesty (with consideration and care) is a powerful tool for connection.
 
Below are links for organisations and projects that we discussed:
Blue’s website (it’s under construction but has links to ALL his platforms!): https://store.bluesaint.co.uk/about 
Curious Minds: https://curiousminds.org.uk/ 
Rhyme & Reason Project: https://curiousminds.org.uk/rhyme-and-reason-69nb 
Brené Brown: https://brenebrown.com/articles/2018/10/15/clear-is-kind-unclear-is-unkind/ 
Rose’s website: www.rosecondo.net 
Rose’s website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca 

In this episode, I’m joined by two guests - acclaimed poets / creative practitioners Tina Sederholm and Ciarán Hodgers. We explore self-compassion, curiosity, and using kindness as a tool for overcoming challenges. Tina and Ciarán share highlights of their ‘Mourning Pages’ programme, and they share a few phrases that are gems of reminders for self care. 
 
Below are links for some of the things that we discussed:
Tina’s Substack: https://tinasederholm.substack.com/ 
Everything’s Working Out Poetically, 30 April 2026: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/whats-on/everythings-working-out-poetically-5/ 
Ciarán’s website: https://ciaranhodgers.sumupstore.com/ 
(follow Tina and Ciarán for updates on The Mourning Pages programme)
Willow Defebaugh’s chat with Maggie Rogers: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OUQhJKVFn2HwlLilv7CMZ?si=ae2a1f93282748b3 
Mary Oliver: www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-oliver 
Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way / Morning Pages): https://juliacameronlive.com/ 
Tap with Brad: www.youtube.com/tapwithbrad 
David Whyte: https://davidwhyte.com/ 
Rose’s website: www.rosecondo.net 
Rose’s website artwork is by Niamh Wood: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBadgerArts 
Have A Kind Word With Yourself podcast music was composed and recorded by Eleonora Rosca: www.instagram.com/eleonorarosca