Pause. And Rewind...
I’m Neil (he/him) - host of my podcast, Pause. And Rewind… I’ll be chatting to change makers, thought leaders & role models who all share a common goal. They’re striving to make the world a more inclusive place. And let’s face, we need it!
Each guest has a unique story when it comes to doing their thing. We often know who people are in the now. But how much do we really know about them?
Pause. And Rewind… takes a moment to explore the experiences in my guests’ lives that led them to where & who they are now. Cos’ everyone loves an origin story!
We’ll dive into tales, anecdotes and what makes our guests tick. So, are you ready to Pause. And Rewind… ?
Pause. And Rewind...
Pause. And Rewind... with Zee Monteiro | Resilience. Grace. Keep Moving.
“It's like I'm not crazy. What I'm saying is correct. And it's correct for people who are Black, like myself, who are trying to find themselves in not 'the man and woman' but are trying to find themselves in the energy.”
I first came across Zee Monteiro (them/them) via a We Create Space article, written in 2022, entitled ‘Being both Non-Binary and a Black Woman’ - a powerful piece of writing & deeply personal self reflection that challenges assumptions around Trans+ experiences. I now gratefully get to work with Zee & share many spaces with them so it was brilliant to chat with them for ‘Pause. And Rewind…’
Zee is a multi-faceted & multi-talented writer, speaker, consultant & facilitator whose work centres largely around anti-racism, intersectionality, queerness & neurodivergence. As a highly-skilled storyteller, Zee used their lived experience & expertise to educate audiences on everything from inclusion, culture & representation.
Little Zee was a very free & active child who loved everyone with an affinity to run towards water. In their teens, they often felt isolated, sad & angry and this led to Zee struggling academically and experiencing periods of depression. And despite failing exams due to personal circumstances, Zee actually undertook an MA purely to piss their teachers off! Their Blackness was centred growing up yet they felt there was a missing focus on their gender - which undoubtedly something Zee now channels through their work.
At 22 wheb starting university, Zee started to come into their own when surrounded by others who also felt different. Their early venture into social work & delving into the community projects shaped the trajectory of Zee’s professional output & grounding in inclusion as they reflect “Inclusion was always at the centre of my work - I just didn’t include myself in it.”
We chat about the moment Zee first applied testosterone on their skin and how their transition has been the best journey of their life so far. During the conversation, Zee emphasises the need to “dance with fear”, reveals a big ambition of theirs & explains how rest brings them joy - largely through a love of the outdoors & saunas.
Zee is one of the coolest, wisest people I know - you’ll understand why when you listen in. ENJOY!