Lemn Sissay is a poet, a thinker, a rebel. His mother thought she was putting him into temporary foster care as a baby. But he was swallowed up by the system. Then aged 12, he was sent back into it when his adoptive parents kicked him out. Lemn grew up alone in so many ways. But alongside this pain there was beauty and light in the form of creativity. Lemn has built an impressive career, but more importantly, he’s a truly soulful man. This conversation hit me powerfully – and Lemn is a true Beautiful Misfit. As he says, the question anyone who identifies as “unique” should ask is, “do you give yourself the permission to explore that?”
Follow Mary Portas on:
And to get in touch with team Portas, email us at: beautifulmisfits@portasagency.com and you can subscribe to the Portas POV Newsletter for musings, provocation insights and inspiration.
TKE: Creating a truly inclusive beauty brand, with Simi Lindgren, founder of Yuty
TKE: Developing healthy food relationships with Mark Cuddigan, CEO of Ella's Kitchen
TKE: How sports can help save the planet, with Michael Doughty, Hylo
TKE: Meat isn’t the problem it’s industrial farming methods, with Glen Burrows, The Ethical Butcher
TKE: How to make our homes kinder, with Frieda Gormley, House of Hackney co-founder
TKE: Finding tomorrow’s Black entrepreneurs, with Eric Collins, Impact X CEO
TKE: Creativity and risk in brand building, with John Schoolcraft, Oatly
TKE: Supermarkets and sustainability with Richard Walker, Iceland MD
TKE: Greenwashing in the energy industry, with Juliet Davenport, founder Good Energy
TKE: How kindness builds the bottom line, with Anna Blackburn, Beaverbrooks managing director
TKE: Fashioning a greener future, with Edzard van der Wyck, Sheep Inc co-founder
TKE: Building a community, with Simon Mottram, Rapha founder
TKE: How food can build a better future with Rosie Brown, Cook co-founder
TKE: We're back...
TKE: Measuring progress with Michael Green & a Portas round table
TKE: Building the future with Amanda Levete
TKE: Kate Raworth and Doughnut Economics
TKE: Your money can change the world - with Bevis Watts
TKE: Fashion gets a conscience with Fanny Moizant
TKE: World-altering herbs, with Sebastian Pole
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Greece Travel Secrets Podcast
That Park Life: a Disney World Podcast
Ghostlore of Hawaii: Paranormal Paradise
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL