Episode #106 with Carl & Karla (Two's a Duo)

The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

*Content Warning: This episode contains issues relating to substance abuse, knife crime, violence & trauma.*
"...I had to just walk away...It was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made because it was the only time that Carl actually had to go out and get it out of his system and work on himself, for himself."
In today's episode I chat with couple Carl & Karla, founders of Project Youth Official. Carl shares details about his tough upbringing, which included his battles with substance addiction, being a gang member, childhood abuse & domestic violence, how he lost his best friend to a knife stabbing and how he decided to change his life around. Karla talks about her relationship with Carl and why they both decided to use their experiences to create 'Project Youth Official', a social enterprise which includes awareness of knife crimes, offering Youth support to communities, and working with the local police constabulary. We discuss issues including stigma, peer pressure, budget cuts, lived experiences, and what the future holds. Carl and Karla also share why they call themselves 'Two's a Duo', and the quotes that continually inspire them.
@twosaduo have fought the stigma from a turbulent lifestyle to now making a big difference to their local community and beating the odds against them, hitting the media starring in tv shows to co-founding their own youth project.
For more information about Project Youth Official, you can contact them here:
https://projectyouth.co.uk/
https://www.tiktok.com/@twosaduoofficial
For further information or help about issues discussed in this episode, the following websites can be of assistance:
https://benkinsella.org.uk/
https://www.livesnotknives.org/

Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!
I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.
If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [e-mail].
Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!