Today’s conversation is powerful, moving, and deeply human.
My guest is Councillor Professor Bharat Pankhania — the 798th Mayor of Bath — and a leading expert in communicable disease control. Many of you will recognise him as one of the calm, trusted medical voices who helped the public make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But this episode goes far beyond titles.
Bharat shares his journey from a childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, to arriving in the UK at fourteen — a sudden departure, a new life, and experiences that left lasting scars. He speaks honestly about racism, belonging and what it means to keep going when the world feels hostile.
And running through everything is one clear message: education is empowerment — a lifeline, a doorway, a way forward. We also talk about his love of nature and gardening, his passion for cooking vegetarian Gujarati food for charity and his determination to help make the UK a fairer, kinder place for everyone.
It’s an episode about resilience, identity and hope. I really hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed talking to Bharat.
Right… on with the show.
Thanks for listening!
Music thanks to John Bartmann
