It’s October, which means it’s Black History Month, and this year’s theme is Honouring Our Community. In this episode of the Youth Unity podcast, our panel gets real about what community means to us, from African parties full of aunties and uncles to Easter and Christmas traditions from back home.

We talk about the Black figures who inspire us, from Rosa Parks and Malcolm X to Yaa Asantewaa, the Ashanti queen mother who led the War of the Golden Stool against British colonial rule in 1900. Then we ask the big question: is Black History Month itself a form of racism? Our answers might surprise you.

We also dig into how Black History Month began in the UK in 1987*, whether schools are still living up to its original purpose, and why so many of us keep learning about “the same three people” while struggling to name a single Black British hero. Plus, Ruby Bridges and the New Orleans Four, personal experiences of racism, and an honest conversation about policing, stereotypes and the murder of George Floyd.

Our conclusion? Black excellence shouldn’t be confined to one month. It deserves to be celebrated all year round.

Content note: this episode includes discussion of racism, racial slurs and police violence.

The views expressed are the panel’s own and do not reflect those of Euphony.

*Correction: In the episode, we describe the founder of Black History Month in the UK as a Ghanaian woman. The founder is actually Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanaian man who organised the first UK celebration in 1987 while working at the Greater London Council. Apologies for the mix-up, and for the pronunciation!

🎙️ Unity Voices | Failing Forwards – Episode 7: Social Media: Too Much, Too Soon?

Failing Forwards is the newest series from Unity Voices: bold, unfiltered conversations that put young people’s real experiences front and centre. No sugarcoating, just honest talk about education, life’s struggles and the fight to be heard.

In this episode, the group takes on one of the biggest issues facing their generation: social media. They cover the pressure to perform online and the blurred line between real life and filtered perfection, and they hold nothing back.

The standout moment? They all agree that access to social media should be capped at 16. They ask whether today’s age limits actually protect anyone, and whether the platforms are doing enough.

It’s real, reflective and at times uncomfortable, but it’s a conversation that needs to happen. Understanding the risks is the first step to changing the game.

📱💬 Too Much, Too Soon? Let’s talk about it.

🎧 Failing Forwards: From Struggles to Success, One Story at a Time.

📻 Catch it on air too! Failing Forwards is broadcast every Tuesday at 3pm on Bedrock Radio, Romford’s local community station for East London and West Essex. Tune in on DAB+, the Bedrock Radio app, online at bedrockradio.org.uk, or on smart speakers.

Sources: Bedrock Radio

In this episode of the Youth Unity podcast, our panel takes on a big question: are traditional ideas of marriage and monogamy outdated in today's society?

The conversation starts with relationships. Some of the panel feel monogamy is still the right way, while others say that what other people do isn't their business, even if it isn't for them. On traditional gender roles, most of the group agree that what matters is having the choice. Women shouldn't be shamed for wanting to stay at home, and men shouldn't be shamed for wanting to either. It's interesting to hear how differently the girls and the boys see it.

From there, we move on to gay and trans rights, including the history of same-sex marriage in the UK and the 2025 Supreme Court ruling. Views differed here, and things got honest. The discussion turned to stereotypes, why putting people into boxes doesn't work, and why you can respect someone even if you don't share their views.

We also talk about the idea that "boys don't cry," how different people deal with their emotions, and healthier ways to express yourself, like writing or making music. Finally, we discuss people using drugs and alcohol to cope, and why it matters to be educated about the risks.

The panel's final message: you have the free will to live your life, but do everything in moderation and stay in control of yourself.

The views and opinions shared in this episode belong to the individual speakers and do not reflect those of Youth Unity.

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next one!

The facts mentioned in the podcast are not accurate and would like to highlight them here.

The claim that trans people were "only allowed to be trans" last year isn't quite right. The 2025 Supreme Court ruling decided that "sex" in the Equality Act means biological sex. The boxer mentioned in the episode is also often wrongly described as trans. You might want to fix those points in the edit or add a short correction.

Since the episode discusses drugs and your listeners are young, it's worth ending the description with a line pointing to support, like Talk to FRANK (talktofrank.com) or Childline (0800 1111). I'd also cut the "trust your source" part from the final edit if you can.