Two voices; One reckoning 

By Stephen Lewis - a Depths of Paradise blog 1^st October 2025

When the MP Clive Lewis and former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan launched the Heirs of Enslavement podcast, they did more than trace the legacies of slavery, they modelled what it means to reckon, repair, and reimagine. One descends from the enslaved, the other from enslavers. Together, they walk the emotional and political terrain of reparative justice, from Grenada’s soil to Britain’s conscience. 

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Clive about the podcast in a meeting that felt more like a conversation. You can watch it here, though I’ll warn you: it’s not a passive viewing. It asks something of you and compels you to reflect on their findings. 

What the Podcast Offers

 Over six powerful episodes, Clive and Laura take you on a deeply personal and thought-provoking journey through the legacy of slavery.  Together, they explore Britain’s colonial past and its lasting impact.   It’s not a history lesson with lectures or polished narratives, but rather a raw, honest conversation about Britain’s colonial past and the ripple effects that can still be felt today. 

They reflect on what reparatory justice means, who they’re for, and how they could work. They allow themselves to be vulnerable and don’t shy away from the hard questions. The series brings in voices from Grenada, adding powerful lived experience to the mix, and features expert interviews that help unpack the historical, emotional, and political layers of the topic. 

What makes the podcast series so compelling is that Clive and Laura bring nuances in a rare collaboration between two people from opposite sides of history. It’s a masterclass in ethical storytelling, and a blueprint for how descendants on both sides of history might move forward together, even when that path is full of tension.  Heirs of Enslavement will challenge you to think differently and I was keen to speak to Clive after I listened to the podcast. 

You can still listen to the podcast series yourself on the following link. 

My Exchange with Clive

 In our dialogue, Clive spoke candidly about the emotional toll of visiting historical sites of slavery, describing one plantation as feeling like a “crime scene.”  He acknowledged political tensions, especially around who should bear the cost of reparations, emphasising that the burden should not fall on the poorest in society.  A pivotal moment for him came when a Caribbean reparations advocate told him that reparations should be funded by the wealthy, not by working-class Britons.  This reframed Clive’s understanding: reparatory justice is not just about race, but also about class and systemic inequality. 

Clive pointed out the UK's tendency to forget or sanitise its colonial past, noting how empire and slavery are often omitted from mainstream narratives.  He argued that honest historical reckoning is essential to national healing and progress.  He stressed that genuine apologies, not just acknowledgments, are foundational to healing.  Without sincere contrition, he felt that efforts at reconciliation remain superficial. 

Clive advocated starting with the CARICOM 10-point plan, which includes cultural, educational, and economic initiatives. He proposed wealth taxes as a potential funding source, emphasising that reparations should benefit civil society rather than individuals. 

While the podcast received positive media attention, Clive noted some skepticism from long-time activists who felt sidelined.  He acknowledged that Laura’s aristocratic background made the topic more palatable to some media outlets, but emphasised their shared commitment to truth and justice. 

Looking ahead, Clive expressed concern about geopolitical shifts and climate change exacerbating inequalities in the Caribbean. He reaffirmed the importance of education, storytelling, and continued advocacy to prevent history from repeating itself. 

Clive’s reflections were deeply personal, politically astute, and historically grounded. He didn’t shy away from complexity and that’s what made the conversation so compelling. 

On reflection…

 Heirs of Enslavement is a bold, emotionally charged podcast that brought the legacy of slavery into public conversation through the voices of Clive Lewis and Laura Trevelyan. It offers a rare and vulnerable exchange between descendants of the enslaved and the enslavers, setting a precedent for how historical reckoning and reparatory justice can be approached with integrity. 

Depths of Paradise complements this foundation by exploring these contrasting experiences across the whole island of Grenada drawing from archival, and cultural perspectives to deepen the narrative. 

The Heirs of Enslavement podcast resonates deeply to the Depths of Paradise project because it brings emotional clarity, historical truth, and a model for ethical storytelling that aligns with the project's core mission. 

Depths of Paradise is about uncovering hidden histories, amplifying Caribbean voices, and reimagining justice through cultural memory. That’s exactly what Heirs of Enslavement does. 

Clive and Laura’s conversations with Caribbean historians, activists, and leaders offer the kind of lived insight that Depths of Paradise seeks to elevate. Both of these programmes gives a voice to the past, confronts uncomfortable truths, and dares to imagine a shared future in a fairer society.