Departmentoftalkingsense (D.O.T.S)

Can social services simply take your child? Who actually makes the decision to remove a child from their family, and where is the line between protecting a child and unnecessarily breaking a family apart?

In this episode of Department of Talking Sense, Sham sits down with Abdulaziz for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities of frontline social work and the child protection system.

They unpack some of the biggest misconc...

I Was on the Verge of Quitting My Job, That's When I Took the risk. Every creative career has a moment where it almost doesn't happen. For Imaan Islow founder of IslowStudio that moment came in bed, on the verge of quitting her job, realising she'd spent years pouring into everyone else and forgotten her own craft in the process.In this Season 1 finale, Sham traces the full arc that led there: growing up the only girl among five br...

What happens when you combine discipline, faith, purpose, and a love for running?

In this episode of Department of Talking Sense, Sham sits down with Nafs, founder of Dimensions Running Club, to explore a journey that goes far beyond fitness.

From growing up between Germany and Birmingham, working with Nike, discovering running, building one of Birmingham's fastest-growing communities, overcoming personal challenges, navigating marri...

Burale joins Department of Talking Sense to discuss his remarkable journey from poetry and music to becoming the founder of After Hours and co-founder of Aspiring Young Minds.

We explore football media, sports journalism, youth mentoring, entrepreneurship and the importance of documenting communities and building opportunities for the next generation.

Burale also shares stories from his past, lessons learned through hardship, and exp...

What does it really take to leave the UK, move abroad and build a life in the Middle East?

In this episode, Sham sits down with Maryam from Ventured Teaching to discuss her journey from Birmingham teacher to entrepreneur helping educators secure opportunities abroad.

We explore the realities of teaching in Dubai and Qatar, career progression overseas, international school culture, entrepreneurship, social media growth and the lessons...

We need more people doing positive content - Waviest In this episode of Department of Talking Sense, I sits down with Ahmed, better known as Waviest, for a powerful, funny and honest conversation about identity, Muay Thai, social media, personal growth, London vs Birmingham, faith, content creation and the pressure of becoming someone worth watching.Ahmed opens up about where the name “Waviest” came from, why Muay Thai ...

Gatekeeping is for haters - Jabril Aden CEO and Co-Founder of Centauri.

In this episode we go through the story of a young CEO and Co-Founder of a thriving company that has quickly secured itself many clients and grew like wildfire. we discuss his childhood days and what made him take the jump into starting Centauri, we discuss the ups and downs of the business moments he felt like it couldn't continue anymore. and what drives him ...

Youth and Community Advocate The Story of a Mother on a Mission.In this episode we speak with Nimo a teacher, headmaster and a youth and community advocate, having worked in several schools and played many different roles today we hear her story and why she does what she does. If anything said in this episode you find useful we are glad to hear and always be off help. Episodes will be coming out every other week so drop a follow to...

D’s Kitchen Story: From the Streets to the Stove | DOTS PodcastIn this gripping episode of the Department of Talking Sense, we sit down with the founder of D’s Kitchen — the viral Somali-infused fast food sensation.From his early days of hustling through Snapchat food orders to building physical locations in London, Bristol, and now Birmingham, he shares the real story behind the journey — raw, unfiltered, a...

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Department of Talking Sense (DOTS) Podcast — the unapologetically honest podcast that dives into the chaos of life with common sense, sarcasm, and unfiltered truth.In this powerful episode, we explore the raw realities of motherhood, womanhood, and the vital importance of self-care.Joining us is the incredible Nasra, Co-founder and co-host of Entry Level Mums Podcast and Founder of HanaCodes and Br...

In this powerful episode of Department of Talking Sense (DOTS), we sit down with Hana Abdi, also known as HanaCodes—a leading voice in tech, diversity, and digital empowerment. From working with global giants like Google and Uber to founding her own platform aimed at breaking down systemic barriers, Hana shares her journey as a Black Muslim woman in tech, her thoughts on inclusion, and how she’s building a legacy throug...