In this episode of Speaking Through My World, titled “Conversations on the Spirituality of the Land, Women, and Reclaiming What Is Ours,” we journey deep into the soil, into our roots, and into the enduring wisdom the land holds for us as African people.

My guest is the remarkable Michelle Festus, a powerful voice in the land justice movement. Michelle has worked extensively on land rights, policy, and advocacy, ensuring that the historical dispossession of African people, particularly women remains at the centre of our struggles for justice. Beyond legal frameworks and activism, Michelle embodies a profound spiritual connection to the land, one that calls us to remember, reclaim, and heal.

In our conversation, Michelle shares her journey of learning to listen to the land, reclaiming ancestral rights and heritage, and nurturing connection. She reflects on the inspirations, challenges, and vulnerabilities that have shaped her path, offering listeners insight into the courage and care required to work intimately with the land.
This episode is a meditation on ancestral wisdom, reclamation, and the transformative power of the land, and an invitation to engage with the world and our heritage, with awareness, reverence, and responsibility.

Connect with Michelle Festus: https://www.instagram.com/michellefestus/

Learn more about Aba Te Farm: https://www.instagram.com/aba.te.home/

In this episode, I sit down with Frankie Murrey, the heart and programme coordinator behind the Open Book Festival, a space that, since 2011, has created room for brave, bold, and necessary conversations through literature.

We explore the festival’s beginnings, its evolution, and the critical funding crisis it now faces. Frankie speaks with passion and clarity about what’s at stake, not just for Open Book, but for the future of South African literary culture as a whole.

This conversation is both a reflection on what’s been built and a call to action for what must be protected. If you believe in the power of stories, cultural spaces, and collective imaginatio, this one is for you.

This episode is proudly supported by the Open Book Festival.

To support the festival’s future, visit https://openbookfestival.co.za

Speaking Through Trouble — Series Introduction
Speaking Through My World has joined forces with the powerful TROUBLEMAKERS podcast, a global space that celebrates creative resistance, radical imagination, and unapologetic truth-telling.

Together, we’re diving deep into the tools, tactics, and principles of nonviolent activism. From poetic protest to strategic disruption, TROUBLEMAKERS dares to explore what it means to rebel in a world where power is held by too few.

Birthed by the brilliant minds at Beautiful Trouble, this transcontinental podcast brings together rebels, healers, artists, and organisers who are transforming the world through bold, intentional action.

Episode: JAIL SOLIDARITY with Céline Lebrun-Shaath

What does solidarity look like when comrades are behind bars?

In this episode, we explore jail solidarity through the eyes of Céline Lebrun-Shaath, a committed internationalist and organiser. Céline speaks on the moral and political imperative of standing with those imprisoned, not just advocating for their freedom, but carrying forward the movements they helped build.

She shares her own experience of abduction and deportation from Egypt, and the years-long campaign for the release of her husband, Ramy Shaath.

This episode also spotlights the ongoing campaign to free Alaa Abdel Fattah, a renowned Egyptian activist who remains unjustly detained. His mother has been on hunger strike for over five months.

Follow the Free Alaa campaign for updates and action steps.

Céline challenges us to see imprisonment not as an endpoint, but as a call to action. A demand to carry the torch of resistance forward.

Listen, Lead, and Follow
Troublemakers Podcast: https://linktr.ee/troublemakers.podcast
Rosie Motene: https://linktr.ee/rosiemotene

Host: Phil Wilmot
Producer: Rodgers George
Guest: Céline Lebrun-Shaath
Jingles: Mwaduga Salum & Beautiful Trouble

#SpeakingThroughMyWorld #TroublemakersPodcast #JailSolidarity #FreeRamyShaath #FreeAlaa #BeautifulTrouble #PanAfricanFeminist #CreativeResistance #StorytellingAsActivism #PodcastSeries #DecoloniseEverything #NonviolentResistance

Amplifying Activist Voices Through Writing with Amber French

In this episode, we are joined by Amber French, Senior Editorial Advisor at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC), Managing Editor of the Minds of the Movement blog, and Co-Lead of REACT (Research-in-Action)—a groundbreaking project in partnership with ActionAid Denmark that supports activist-led writing and research on civil resistance. Currently based in Paris, Amber has played a pivotal role in shaping platforms that elevate frontline voices and build bridges between activism and academia.

This episode is proudly sponsored by ICNC and ActionAid Denmark, organizations deeply committed to advancing nonviolent action and strengthening the power of people-led movements around the world.

Together, we explore:

• The vision behind the REACT platform and its mission to center activist knowledge.
• How REACT is structured, who it’s for, and how it supports activists who may not see themselves as traditional writers.
• The unique editorial process that works closely with contributors to ensure their voices are heard authentically.
• The early signs of REACT’s impact, from meaningful collaborations to growing global conversations.
• Specific examples of REACT contributors whose work is driving change and expanding the reach of civil resistance.

This episode also reflects on my own experience as a contributor to REACT, where I witnessed firsthand the positive feedback and collaborative opportunities that can emerge from sharing activist writing.

If you’re interested in learning more about REACT or the broader work of ICNC, you can visit their website: www.nonviolent-conflict.org

Tune in, get inspired, and discover how writing can be a powerful tool for resistance, connection, and change.

I also reflect on my personal contribution to the platform. You can read my article:
Writing about Activism: A Tactic, a Lesson, a Refuge and a Right!
https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/blog_post/writing-about-activism-tactic-lesson-refuge-right/

I was also honoured to participate in this global webinar alongside eight REACT Activist Bloggers:
REACT Activist Writing: “Open Mic” + Story Pitches
https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/react-activist-writing-open-mic-story-pitches-scene-ouverte-ecriture-militante-propositions-darticles/

I am in conversation with Zoey Black, a queer renaissance and culture documentarian based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her work is focused on telling authentic and engaging queer stories through film and photography.

Zoey is the founder & director of Gamut 1

Gamut 1 is a trans, queer, black, indigenous, women-led organisation,
which produces original, high-quality, queer-focussed, rights-based media
that aims to develop inclusive social values and empathy in local and global audiences for the promotion of trans and queer human rights and wellbeing.

@zoeyblackza

www.zoeyblack.com

@gamut1org

www.gamut1.org

Marylize is a Kenyan intersectional feminist and activist, whose focus is on gender inequality, while their feminism is intersectional and directed towards human rights. They are black and a non-binary lesbian and use they/them pronouns.

The Queer Republic is a border less nation of queers and allies that advance the rights and lives of the LGBTQ x in Africa and across the globe. They are rebuilding the African queer legacy and reuniting queers across Africa and the globe.

The team is made up of Marylize Biubwa and Zawadi Mashego (Co-Executive Director).
Kathy Githui- people and culture expert
Jay Skosana - marketing manager
Arya Karijo Queer republic ambassador

www.queer-republic.africa

info@queer-republic.africa

Beautiful Trouble- A book, strategy card deck, online toolbox, and creative campaign incubator.

An international network of artist-activist-trainers helping grassroots movements become more creative and effective.

I am in conversation with the impact amplifier, Ashley Waudo.
Ashley is a community organizer and project manager based in Nairobi. She is deeply committed to changing people's lives through service to others. She is passionate about movement building and nonviolent conflict resolution. Ashley has worked with movements to help them realize their power!

You can see them here:
https://beautifultrouble.org/fuel (https://beautifultrouble.org/fuel)

The fantastic new BeautifulTrouble’s Strategy Card Deck https://beautifultrouble.org/strategy-cards

The toolbox
https://beautifultrouble.org/toolbox

Trainer’s Modules (BATMo!)
https://beautifultrouble.org/training/for-trainers

Get Up Rise Up Direct (GURU) action fund
https://beautifultrouble.org/directaction

I am in conversation with MONICAH KAMANDAU- The Social Movements Learning Specialist with the MOVE team at MS TCDC

MS TCDC is a renowned Pan-African training centre situated in Arusha, Tanzania. It is unique in its dedication to high-quality capacity development for social transformation.
For more than 50 years, they have delivered high-quality capacity development in areas such as democratic governance, human rights, transformational leadership, gender equality, youth participation, and climate change governance.

https://www.mstcdc.or.tz/