Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.

Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered people. Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting (that's me), and more. Join me for this wellbeing series as we share our struggles,and super powers alike.

In this episode I have a colorful conversation with DJ Elley Phunk about her work as a Therapeutic Mentor, being a mixed-race transracial adoptee with Zambian roots, dysregulation, early memories of being forced to read-out the 'N word', and her early introduction to Black Music and resistance. Wait!t She raps too!

DJ Elley Phunk Bio

DJ Elley Phunk has 28 Years of experience behind the turntables. She's been involved in the dance scene since the early 90's. Elley, originally a vinyl DJ, started mixing in 1995. She swiftly became a well-known house and Breakbeat DJ around the Southwest. Elley quickly picked up a tight and original style as she cuts with confidence. Elley went on to join an all women hip-hop collective named Dutty Girl, which is Bristol, based, playing old-school Hip-hop, getting the chance to support DJ Jazzy Jeff.

She runs DJ workshops supporting hard-to-reach youth and students, and works as a Therapeutic Mentor/ Student Support Worker. Her most recent achievement involved her writing an MA dissertation on the benefits of DJing on mental health, community, and self-empowerment. Her style is original and ranges through many inspirational genres that are fundamentally MOBO (Music of Black Origin)

DJ Elley Phunk also plays festivals, including: Boomtown, Glastonbury Festival.She has a residency at The Plough Inn, Easton, Bristol

Show references:

(The song mentioned at the top of the show) Burning Spear / Columbus https://youtu.be/7qXHU6wla8A?si=jTMErRbCR53NkKaE

The Boy Who was Raised As a Dog - Bruce Perry https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Who-Raised-Psychiatrists-Notebook-What/dp/0465094457

Elley's contact details:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/djelleyphunk/

Website: https://djelleyphunk.wordpress.com/

You can also check out Elley Phunk's latest sounds on Mixcloud

https://www.mixcloud.com/elleyphunk/

Dionne Draper's info:

This year DAWTA has partnered with Black led mental health charity Nilaari https://nilaari.co.uk funded by Quartet donors the Celtic Connection Fund. With this funding DAWTA is delivering activities and workshops for transracial adoptee and fostered adults (in-person and online). For more information about how you can get involved email me at dionne@singwithsoul.com or message me on insta at soullife05.

Website: www.dionnedraper.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/soullife05/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/dionne.draper.79/

Finally, I have one small ask…if you enjoyed this episode please rate it with 5 stars, wherever you get your podcasts, and even a comment too - I love reading them! Ratings are essential to raise the profile of the podcast, get it heard, and recognised.

I hope this podcast offers you comfort, knowledge and support, however, it is not meant to serve as a substitute for a relationship with a trained counselor or therapist.

Thanks for listening, be well, and see you soon!

TRIGGER WARNING: Self Harm is discussed in this episode.

Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.

Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered people. Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting (that's me), and more. Join me for this wellbeing series as we share our struggles,and super powers alike.

In this episode I have an in-depth conversation with Music Pyschotherapist Alexis Wreathall about his work. We talk about the primary trauma of separation from the mother, to music therapists's practices to create a safe environment through routine, and predictable behaviours for clients. To facing anxiety and identity crisis head-on, seeing it as a cross cultural issue not simply a transracial adoptee or looked-after children experience, but also something many people suffer. It is hoped that this episode is one that everyone can relate to, providing knowledge and interest in the benefits of music therapy.

Alexis Wreathall Bio

Alexis Wreathall is a music psychotherapist who qualified in 2018 from the University of the West of England, and he practices in Bristol, Avon, Gloucester and North Somerset. Alexis has worked in a variety of different settings with different people, and his most recent clinical experience has been with young people who are within the adoption process, or who are looked after.

Contact details:

Email: alexiswreathall@gmail.com or info@naos.org.uk

Advice - signposting British Association of Music Therapists - https://www.bamt.org/

This year DAWTA has partnered with Black led mental health charity Nilaari https://nilaari.co.uk funded by Quartet donors the Celtic Connection Fund. With this funding DAWTA is delivering activities and workshops for transracial adoptee and fostered adults (in-person and online). For more information about how you can get involved email me at dionne@singwithsoul.com or message me on insta at soullife05.

Website: www.dionnedraper.com

Finally, I have one small ask…if you enjoyed this episode please rate it with 5 stars, wherever you get your podcasts, and even a comment too - I love reading them! Ratings are essential to raise the profile of the podcast, get it heard, and recognised.

I hope this podcast offers you comfort, knowledge and support, however, it is not meant to serve as a substitute for a relationship with a trained counselor or therapist.

Thanks for listening, be well, and see you soon!

DAWTA The Podcast Season 2 Episode 2 - Pat Tru Fitness 'When Women Lift'

Main Intro

Hello, my name is Dionne Draper and I am the writer, actor and producer of DAWTA a semi-autobiographical one woman musical, the roots of this podcast series, and I live with the complex transracial adoptee experience.

Self regulation, or put simply the ability to manage our emotions and impulses is a particular challenge for transracial adoptee and fostered adults. So, Season 2 is full of interviews with members of the community about wellbeing activities that support our self-regulation. From Djing to climbing to weightlifting (that's me), and more. Join me for this wellbeing series as we share our struggles,and super powers alike.

I hope this podcast offers you comfort, knowledge and support, however, it is not meant to serve as a substitute for a relationship with a trained counselor or therapist.

Pat Tru Fitness Bio

Pat Tru Fitness is a personal trainer and coach resident in Bristol, UK where she hosts women's weightlifting small groups, and one to one coaching in person and online. In this episode we talk about women, strength, confidence in the gym, the weights area and making sure we take up our space. We talk about how Pat got into fitness, my fitness journey, lashes, nails and much more.

References:

• British Menopause Society, Paper - Menopause in Ethnic Minority Women 2023 Distinctive characteristics of the major UK ethnic minority groups Women of Afro-Caribbean origin

• The mean age of natural menopause is 49.6 years.

• Women experience a longer duration of menopause transition.

• These women have the highest prevalence and longest duration of vasomotor symptoms, and they are also more severe.

• They are more likely to experience shorter sleep duration, more frequent awakenings and less efficient sleep.

• Weight gain and mental health issues may be prominent.

• They display a smaller decline in sexual function and report a greater importance of sex

• Social prescribing - https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/

• Grounding - 30 Grounding Techniques to Quiet Distressing Thoughts, 2024 https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding-techniques#mental-techniques

Pat info:

• Pat Tru Fitness Socials https://www.instagram.com/pattrufitness/?hl=en

• Pat Tru Fitness website https://www.trufitnessbristol.co.uk/

• Email: patvan11@yahoo.co.uk

This year DAWTA has partnered with Black led mental health charity Nilaari https://nilaari.co.uk/

funded by Quartet donors the Celtic Connection Fund. With this funding DAWTA is delivering activities and workshops for transracial adoptee and fostered adults (in-person and online). For more information about how you can get involved email me at dionne@singwithsoul.com or message me on insta at soullife05.

Website: www.dionnedraper.com

Finally, I have one small ask…if you enjoyed this episode please rate it with 5 stars, wherever you get your podcasts, and even a comment too - I love reading them! Ratings are essential to raise the profile of the podcast, get it heard, and recognised.

Thanks for listening, be well, and see you soon!