Reimagining futures and living without limitations starts with us. So where do we start? We chat to Researcher, Creative and Business owner Beverley. Beverley is a full-time PhD researcher based within the School of English, at the University of Sheffield. She is doing a creative writing doctorate that delves into identity, particularly Black British, Caribbean, and African descendants. Her research also focusses on identity through the prism of trauma, double consciousness, homosexuality, family secrets, slavery, the supernatural, the mystical and Afro-futurism. She has been published in several magazines, including Bad Form and the Dream Catcher’s Magazine. Her poetry was exhibited in the ‘Being Human’ national festival November 2021: His House to Our Home - 3D virtual exhibition by Public Engagement Sheffield | art.spaces | KUNSTMATRIX. She has guest lectured on Octavia Butler, spoken to an international audience for the Daring to Dare developmental programme and was a speaker at the University of Sheffield English Colloquium 2022.She is currently the CEO of BDT Creatives, a grant writing and editing company. Mentions:Connect with Beverley:Website: bdtcreativeservices.weebly.com, creativewakefield.net/beverley-thomasTwitter: @BDT_ServicesDavid LammyAndrea LevyRyan CooglerYCEDE Board: Dedicated to equity at doctoral level by improving access for graduates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgroundsThe Booker PrizeTade Thompson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tade_ThompsonBob Marley: Free our mindsPowerUp! Episode: Play is a State of Mind with Adele Cleaver https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ztXYkpBV3gwctuNVNwthj?si=bd990b4ce8ee4fdbAudre Lorde: Self care is revolutionaryIn the Black Fantastic: Southbank Centre Hayward GalleryBarbican Exhibitionhttps://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/series/journeys-across-afro-futurismThe Rainbow Butterfly, Ella Mesma Company: https://ellamesma.co.uk/Connect with us:Ama Rouge Website: www.wearewildwithin.comIG: @powerup.podcast @ama.rouge @wearewildwithin @readwithrougebookclub @rougedoesfoodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ama-rouge-870b60138FB: AmaRougemovesTwitter: @podcastpowerupElla Mesma Website: www.ellamesma.co.uk, www.mayagandaia.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-mesma-b6071320/IG: @powerup.podcast @Ellamesma FB:@EllaMesma Twitter: @podcastpowerupMusic by Tomo Carter IG: @tomocarterEverything else brought to you by us, the PowerUp! power team