Twenties Questions

A couple of weeks ago I went to Cambridge to see Max Turner, a school friend who lives there now. I asked him to be on the podcast (yes, now if I meet up with you I’ll probably force you to be on it). Thankfully, he agreed. As the title implies, we spent most of the episode talking about art and David Attenborough. Might seem like an odd pairing at first, but they are linked, I promise. Quitting can be more powerful than sticking with something you don’t enjoy, as I find out in our chat, as Max quit his masters at Cambridge. When one door closes, another door opens: Max is now a manager at a successful art gallery in the centre of Cambridge. We also discuss the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), as art adapts to the digital age.

Last week I said that the vibe on Zoom isn’t quite the same. I stand by that statement buuuut we all have to admit Zoom is incredible in that it allows us to meet people on the other side of the planet and record it all too. And that’s exactly what I did for this week’s episode, as I talk to the fabulous Ayesha Kalyaniwalla, Mumbai-based fashion designer and co-founder of Indian occasionwear brand U/A. India is famous for its colourful clothing and extravagant weddings. Not even coronavirus can stop Indians getting married, she explains to me. Ayesha details the trials and tribulations of having her own company and embracing sustainability in a rapidly evolving sector.

This week’s episode is with my childhood bestie, so you’re all in for a treat: you get two Francescas! It was so fun to record this in person with her, particularly since the last couple of episodes have been over Zoom and the vibe just isn’t quite the same. We hadn’t seen each other in so long so it was all part of one big catch up. We talk about everything from her job in trading, sexism in the banking industry and which of the world’s richest men is husband material. We also try to tackle the tricky question of whether chivalry is sexist.

In this episode I talk to someone whose story I find particularly inspiring. Food poverty in the UK is a very real problem. University of Oxford graduate Josh Tulloch founded Because We Can, an organisation that aims to fight food poverty. Their latest campaign, aimed at Oxbridge students, showed how everyone can all play a part to help tackle this crisis. He talks to me about his personal experiences with food insecurity, gives me his thoughts on Oriel College’s controversial Cecil Rhodes statue and says he views his education as a stepping stone to help others. A changemaker and all round great human.

This week I have a chat with the lovely and wonderfully eloquent Dyutideepta Banerjee. She gives me her thoughts on issues relating to women’s rights and sexual violence in her home country of India and elsewhere. Her liberal studies background informs her explanation of the difference between gender equality and equity. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that took the time to listen to the first episode last week. I’ve been touched by the amount of people that have got in touch. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the second episode.

Welcome to my new podcast! I’m thrilled to announce my new podcast: Twenties Questions. We’re living through such uncertain times that have profoundly shaken us all. But with the pandemic increasing social and economic inequalities, many young people are finding themselves bearing the brunt of much of the fallout. With Twenties Questions, I want to create a platform for young people from all walks of life to share their stories and experiences. In every episode I want to create an honest and open conversation to hear their thoughts on how they are affected by the social, political and digital evolutions of today. In my first episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Chelsea Owen to discuss some of the issues young people face today. In between friendly banter and jokey asides, the conversation spans social problems such as youth unemployment, gender stereotypes and the role of social media.