
Here's Hoping with Jayda G
Here’s Hoping, hosted by Grammy nominate music producer and DJ Jayda G is a podcast that explores the theme of hope, when we need it, how we find it and why we still have reasons to feel it. We explore guests’ personal journeys with hope, how they’ve formed and navigated the three pillars of having hope - goals, agency and pathway. An environmental toxicologist scientist as well, Jayda recently released her first documentary Blue Carbon on CNN and identified the need to dive further into the theme of hope, with this podcast coming at a time when it is needed most. In the series, Jayda will be speaking to a range of amazing guests, from sustainable fashion pioneers, Ocean conservation scientists, community-focused Grime artists, to people living on the frontlines of climate change, her own family and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Nov 22, 2024 • 16min
BONUS: Here's Thinking x Ixta Belfrage
In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible Chef and author of book 'MEZCLA', Ixta Belfrage - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…Follow us on InstagramIxta BelfrageJayda GMia Zur-SzpiroHere's Hoping Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 20, 2024 • 53min
Cooking For Yourself, Food as Self Care & Tasting the World with Ixta Belfrage
In this mouth watering episode, Ixta shares with Jayda some phenomenal food stories including learning about indigenous cooking in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, but also goes deep into her personal relationship with food, and how she learned to avoid the pressure to cook for social media and make viral recipes, but actually listening to her own body and developing food that truly nourishes her. Ixta also shares how she first learned to cook and how she draws on her unbelievable mix of cultural heritages of Mexico, Brazil and Italy, and the beauty of fusion. Ixta breaks down how to make cooking delicious food more easy, and why she wants people to feel more empowered to follow their own senses and tastes rather than recipes have to be dogmatic. Lastly Jayda and Ixta share the role food and eating plays in bringing people together. Follow Ixta BelfrageFollow Jayda GFollow Here's Hoping PodcastMore on our guest MEZCLA Book Fusion Chef Ixta Belfrage rose to prominence as the co-author of the recipe book FLAVOUR alongside the GOAT, Yotam Ottolenghi. Her own acclaimed solo cookbook Mezcla, features in ELLE UK and restaurant residencies, draw on her own multicultural heritage and culinary inspirations of Brazil, Italy, and Mexico, and has affirmed her as one of the most exciting food writers and cook’s today. Ixta is currently working on her next cookbook all about Brazil. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 15, 2024 • 15min
BONUS: Here's Thinking x Ben Hurst
In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible activist, educator, host, presenter, model and Director of Facilitation and Training at Beyond Equality - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…Follow us on InstagramBen HurstJayda GMia Zur-SzpiroHere's Hoping Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 13, 2024 • 49min
Defining Healthy Masculinity & Raising Boys with Ben Hurst
In this insightful conversation, Ben shares with Jayda how he works with boys and men to explore what masculinity means to them, and why Ben doesn’t have the answer but instead has the questions that help them define their own perspectives. Jayda and Ben discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for boys and men to have vulnerable conversations but also discuss the complexity of being vulnerable and feeling unsafe to many men considering how they have been socialised and the realities for many men. Ben also gives his powerful insight into why many boys and men gravitate towards men like Andrew Tate and how it connects to many boys needing role models of what it means to be a man, and so the importance of more healthy male role models in boys’ lives. Jayda also talks about being pregnant with a baby boy and together with Ben, discusses their thoughts around parenting and raising young boys to be as healthy and loved as possible.Content Warnings: SuicideFollow Ben HurstFollow Jayda GFollow Here's Hoping PodcastMore on our guestBeyond Equality Beyond Equality WebsiteTEDx Talk - Boys will be boysBen Hurst is an activist, educator, host, presenter, podcaster, model, public speaker and the Director of Facilitation and Training at Beyond Equality, a UK-based organisation that engages men and boys in the gender equality conversation across Schools, Universities and Corporate spaces, rethinking masculinities and promoting positive personhood and healthy relationships.Ben discusses these topics online, most notably in his TEDx Talk, ‘Boys won’t be boys. Boys will be what we teach them to be’, and in print, with features in Stylist magazine, Postscript, GQ and many more.Ben is also the co-host of TED x London’s Climate Curious podcast where he lifts the lid on the climate emergency by speaking to the world’s leading and most relatable climate pioneers. Ben’s focus is on making important conversations accessible for young people and adults from all walks of life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 8, 2024 • 11min
BONUS: Here's Thinking x Xiye Bastida
In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible climate justice activist and mobilizer Xiye Bastida - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…Follow us on InstagramXiye BastidaJayda GMia Zur-SzpiroHere's Hoping Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 6, 2024 • 60min
Environmental Teenage Defenders & Indigenous Stewarding of Nature with Xiye Bastida
We meet the truly impressive young coinage activist Xiye who shares with Jayda how living on the frontlines of climate change in her native Mexico led to her becoming a climate activist, how this was always a part of her parents and her Indigenous activists parent’s life, but how moving to New York after her home was flooded and getting involved with Fridays for Future and connecting to Greta Thurnberg cemented her destiny. Xiye talks about her indigenous identity and the values that are a core part of her and how that drives her activism work and why she thinks the number one thing western activists can do is listen to the communities affected by climate issues. Xiye also explains why she and her family call themselves environmental defendants and what stewarding land and the amazon means and how it shows that indigenous people and the land like the Amazon are inseparable. She also talks about the absolute necessity of hope, and why hope cannot be an option, but has to be a priority for people on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and why started the re-earth initiative to embody her values. Follow Xiye Bastida Follow Jayda GFollow Here's Hoping PodcastMore on our guestRe-Earth Initiative IGRe-Earth Initiative WebsiteXiye Bastida is a 22-year-old Mexican climate justice activist and mobilizer. Through her Otomi roots, she champions Indigenous worldviews as a solution for the climate crisis. She was an organiser with Fridays For Future and is the co-founder of Re-Earth Initiative, an international youth-led organisation that supports frontline youth across 27 countries. Xiye was the recipient of the 2018 UN Spirit Award and was named TIME100 Next in 2023. She earned her degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 1, 2024 • 11min
BONUS: Here's Thinking x MINA
In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible music artist, producer and DJ, Mina - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…Follow us on InstagramMINAJayda GMia Zur-SzpiroHere's Hoping Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2024 • 51min
Alcohol-Free Raving & When To Scale Careers Down with MINA
MINA shares with Jayda how she came up through the Leeds music scene and was influenced by its DIY attitude that anyone could start anything, talking more about how she created her career and connected with people like her around the world, onto when and why she chose to go sober. MINA talks about what it’s been like as a sober DJ and music lover, why people react more weirdly when you say no to alcohol versus any other drug, misconceptions about alcohol and people who don’t drink and why the most fun people she knows don’t drink. Jayda asks MINA more about why she created an alcohol-free event, Club Soft, hearing the different reasons she started it, from creating a safe space for people in recovery, people of different religions, people who also just want to be able to rave and get up the next day without a hangover, and creating a generally safer space for women and minority genders. Jayda and MINA also get into when they actually choose not try to level up and expand one’s career, and sometimes why getting bigger isn’t always better. As well as the importance to always ask yourself the question if something is going to nourish you. *****Make sure you catch Club Soft this Saturday 2nd November to join the alcohol-free rave in London. Link below!*****Follow MINAFollow Jayda GFollow Here's Hoping PodcastMore on our guest Club SoftRA: Club Soft Tickets This week’s guest is the music artist, producer and DJ, Mina. Mina has received a devoted following for her vibrant and melodic productions which connects the dots between diverse styles, fusing together sounds from the UK, with rhythms from around the world. Mina has collaborated with vocalists and producers from Brazil, Jamaica and Ghana, most notably the vocalist and MC Bryte, who she tours internationally with and she has released her high energy, highly danceable EPs through Portuguese label Enchufada, as well as her own label, Earth Kicks, founded in 2019. Alongside producing, Mina has a monthly residency on NTS radio, and is also part of the DJ collective Boko! Boko! with Tash LC and Juba. Mina has performed at prestigious venues and festivals around the world including Berghain, MoMA PS1, Nyege Nyege Festival and Primavera, and her tracks have been supported by key tastemakers such as Branko, Ben UFO and Jamz Supernova. Mina has also launched a service working closely with other artists to support grant writing and applications to help more independent artists receive creative grants and launched her new alcohol-free club night, Club Soft, with residencies in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 25, 2024 • 18min
BONUS: Here's Thinking x Emma Slade Edmonson
In Here's Thinking, Jayda and her producer Mia discuss this week's episode! We share our thoughts on our episode with the incredible sustainable fashion strategist and ethical brand consultant, Emma Slade Edmonson - what we loved, what we learnt and what we’re taking away from her guest for hope.If you haven’t listened to the latest episode, make sure you go do that first! Then come back and debrief with us…Follow us on InstagramEmma Slade EdmonsonJayda GMia Zur-SzpiroHere's Hoping Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 23, 2024 • 36min
Slow Fashion & Mixed-Race Identity with Emma Slade Edmonson
In this episode Emma and Jayda share their own experiences of being mixed-race and why being able to talk about their experiences and creating the space to do so as Emma is with her podcast and book is so important. As well as how creating a platform around talking about mixed race identities and bringing people together connects to cultivating hope for her, through making people feel less alone. Emma also shares what it was like being raised by white parents as a mixed-race kid and shares a lot of fascinating, and hard-hitting, information around past adoption policies and how they were racistly motivated. Jayda and Emma go deep into the theme of adoption and whether kids being adopted should be only adopted by families who reflect their same race and how they look. Jayda also asks Emma more about slow fashion and how she was able to make the changes to practice it as part of her everyday life. Emma shares really interesting insights into how tapping into slow fashion can help you slow down in general and live more mindfully, and why she thinks we must reconnect to humanity to appreciate everyone and everything involved in creating clothing and to then buy and wear more ethically. Emma discusses how her work around both race, identity and fashion all intersect around the theme of existentialism.Follow Emma Slade EdmonsonFollow Jayda GFollow Here's Hoping PodcastMore on our guest Emma Slade Edmonson website The Half Of It Book Emma Slade Edmonson is a slow fashion OG, a sustainable fashion strategist, and an ethical brand consultant. Emma launched her own ESE consultancy business to work with brands to help refocus their businesses for positive impact and social and environmental good, working with some of the UK’s biggest brands, charities and social enterprises such as Cancer Research UK, Shelter, Westfield, Universal and Mayamiko and is regularly featured in international press, including The Guardian, Huffington Post, Vogue, Grazia, Telegraph and many more. Emma is also the creative strategist behind successful campaigns that celebrate thoughtful fashion consumption, including Charity Fashion Live & The Love Not Landfill pop-up stores and campaign. Emma is also the co-host of the podcast Mixed Up and the co-author of the book, The Half of It, both which explore the mixed-race identity and taking a deeper look at race and identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.