Episode 1 – Starting over, second chances, stretching into new life, and bunions

Hi ya’ll! Hi everybody! Trey Hall hosts Emma Goswell, Nadia Bolz-Weber and Soheyl Astangi for the first episode of Hope & Anchor, a brand new podcast about inclusive conversations that change things. This episode we discuss picking up new things, starting over, second chances, stretching into new life and bunions.

We discuss our place on the spirituality spectrum, U-turns within politics of Theresa May and Rishi Sunak, and our own chaotic U-turns in life. Emma talks about growing up some homophobic thoughts and moving towards being an out and proud lesbian. Nadia discusses the impact of social media, the dopamine effect and how that has played into her view of herself and others in the world. Soheyl talks about the effect on modern manhood and how reaching rock bottom gave him some answers to the bigger questions of his life.

We also discuss the coming out movement and Emma shares her story of being forced out of the closet and how isolated she felt because of the culture she lived in. Nadia talks about her son’s joy in creating amazing costumes like Lord Gaga, Colourboy and Top Boy Flame and her pride in him.

We also head over to meet some of our incredible friends in Bradford at the Peacock pub, including barmaid Leone, and Graham Dutton who shares how he got into the work with the two communities: his local pub and the local church.

Our guests around the Hope and Anchor table in this episode are:

Emma Goswell who began her broadcasting career in 2002 working for a string of commercial radio stations as a broadcast journalist before joining the BBC as a news reader and producer. She then turned her hand to presenting – co-hosting the Gaydio breakfast show for 5 years between 2013 and 2018 and again in 2020. She is a superhero fighting homophobia, a new mum and all around superstar. She hosted the podcast Coming Out Stories.

Nadia Bolz-Weber is an ordained Lutheran Pastor, founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, Co, the creator and host of The Confessional and the author of three NYT bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint (2013 and re-released in 2021), Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People (2015) and SHAMELESS; A Sexual Reformation (2019).

Soheyl Astangi started tattooing in 2016 but his love for the art started way before. He always loved art and photography and it was just an easy transition to tattooing. ​His stylistic journey has developed over the past few years and has now led him to realism. He always believed in being a good all rounder artist. He has been spending most of his free time creating new concepts that I would love to do and push the standers of the industry.

Why not join join the family and listen to more episodes.