Growing up with gal-dem

Leah Johnson on love in all its forms

This episode of season 5 we’re joined by the incredible and award-winning author Leah Johnson. Reflecting (and cringing) back on a Facebook 30 day challenge post (remember those?!!), Leah talks us through growing up as a queer black girl. Reflecting on self-esteem, early relationships and romantic versus familial love and coming out, Leah shares invaluable life lessons for teenagers, encouraging us to love and allow ourselves freedom and room to grow.  Leah has two incredible books out now, <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/books/you-should-see-me-in-a-crown/9780702304323" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">You Should See Me In A Crown</a> won the Stonewall book honor, and is available from all good bookshops. Her latest novel <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/books/rise-to-the-sun/9780702309502" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rise to the Sun</a> was released earlier this summer, and is available now! Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Welcome to <a href="https://www.gal-dem.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gal-dem</a>'s first ever podcast, Growing up with gal-dem. Over the course of the series Natty Kasambala and Niellah Arboine invite a different guest to respond to old diary entries, text messages, or letters from their younger selves - nurturing important conversations about growing up. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.