Lemn Sissay: Foster care, belonging, and snake charming

“Am I mad, or did it happen?” This is a question that poet Lemn Sissay regularly finds himself asking. Having grown up in care, he has no family members to bear witness to his life experiences; is his understanding of his own identity correct?
In this chat with Fearne, Lemn talks through why it’s important for us not to compare trauma, that everything’s relative, and no one deserves more or less empathy. He also exposes the reality of the care system in the UK, and offers practical ways for all of us to help those who’ve been in care better integrate into society.
Between them, they suggest how to watch out for when you’re performing to a crowd, rather than being present - that’s where a true feeling of belonging lies - and how to mitigate the negative voices that want to knock your confidence.
Lemn’s book of Poetry is called Let The Light Pour In and his memoir is My Name Is Why published by Canongate.
ABOUT FEARNE COTTON
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter, mother, broadcaster, writer and founder of Happy Place, a place where Fearne holds difficult but important conversations to encourage self-care and self-appreciation, creating a positive impact on the world, giving everyone a voice and actively listening.
CONNECT WITH FEARNE COTTON
Instagram: / fearnecotton
Facebook: / fearnecotton
Twitter: / fearnecotton

[@FRASERMCGREGOR72]

This is the most captivated I've been listening to Happy Place. What a wonderful storyteller. Lemn is full of warmth and wisdom. Beautiful interview. Thank you Fearne. Fx

[@Roxanne670]

Love Lemn. I remember he gave a talk at my college when I was 18. He is so engaging and likeable. Could listen to him all day long! ❤

[@MissSLC81]

Thank you both for such a thought provoking episode. I've contacted my company's HR department to suggest the Care Leaver's Covenant scheme x

[@janswimwild]

What profound insight, a wonderful interview. Lemn has such compassion ❤️‍🩹 ❤

[@sarahdean6441]

Love this....what beautiful, authentic beings. ❤

[@demeritdea]

በአማርኛ ‹‹ለምን›› በሁለት መልኩ ይነበባል፡፡ አንድም ጠብቆ - አንድም ላልቶ፡፡ ሲላላ ‹‹ለምን›› በእንግሊዝኛው ‹‹why›› ይሆናል ሲጠብቅ ግን ትርጉሙ ሌላ ይሆናል፡፡ ይኸው የጠበቀ አነባብ ከባለታሪኩ አባት ስም ጋር ሲቆራኝ ደግሞ የተለየ ትርጉም ይሰጣል - ‹‹ለምን ሲሳይ›› (beg for something better, wealth, prosperity, fortune, riches) የእኔ ጥያቄ ባለታሪኩ ስሙ ከየትኛው ወገን እንደሆነ በምን አወቀ የሚለው ነው፡፡

[@kebedetegegn1802]

Dear my friend Lemn, I apologize in advice, when you wear a glass I felt you became an old man that's why you wear your sweater up side down unless and otherwise it's a fashion, am curious about you because we were the same. Anyways, I grab your poetic book from Barnes and Noble here in the US.