126: Phil Young/On Allyship

Let’s be honest – the Looking Sideways podcast is a pretty white and none-diverse space, reflecting as it does the action sports and outdoor community as a whole. I think this is why my first episode with Phil Young, broadcast back in November 2019, struck such a chord with listeners and very quickly went on to become one of my most popular episodes ever.
The fact is it is still rare for BAME people to be given a voice or a platform in our industry. So to hear Phil outline his experiences as a person of colour in our insular little world was eye-opening for many listeners, as the feedback I received demonstrated.

Since that interview, myself and Phil have kept talking and kept sharing views and experiences on this topic. And now, obviously, recent events mean the issue is front and centre like never before. So I gave Phil a shout to see if he was up for coming back on the show and continuing our conversation. I was interested in getting his take on the events of the last few weeks, and understanding his hopes for the future.

Like any conversation around this topic, it can be challenging to find the right words, and I certainly struggled at points during our chat. I left all that in though, because I think it’s important to openly and honestly discuss these things and embrace the challenges that come with it. After all, this isn’t about me or my fragility. This is about learning how to become a better ally.
Listen to the episode in full here:
Connect with Phil
Show Notes
- Black Lives Matter
- Phil’s lockdown
- Mountain biking
- The pitfalls of social media
- Race in the UK
- The debate around the Colston statue
- The 2011 London riots
- Holding companies to a higher standard
- People not knowing where to start in dealing with this
- The concept of systemic racism
- Opportunists
- Actions speak louder than words
- How British systemic racism has its roots in imperialism
- The White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling
- Brexit as a symptom of British exceptionalism
- The idea of Britishness
- Black British alternative identity
- The secret history of British slavery
- Why you have to call people out
- Racism in the outdoor industry
- Diversity provides different perspectives
People Mentioned
- Charlie Dark
- Mark Duggan
- Rudyard Kipling
- Nick Ferrari
- Afua Hirsch
- Nicolas Muller
- Tara Dakides
- Rihanna
Places Mentioned
- America
- UK
- Amsterdam
- Paris
- Denmark
- Copenhagen
- Wales
- Southerndown, Wales
- Cardiff, Wales
- Swansea, Wales
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
- Brecon Beacons, Wales
- Tennessee
- Enfield, Wales
- London
Companies/Brands Mentioned
- Lidl
- MPORA