The idea of Kate’s Debates
The idea of Kate’s debates came to Kate after taking part in a public speaking course. Following an intensive weekend of speaking in front of others and pushing herself outside of her comfort zone, she realised that if she wanted to continue developing this skill, she needed to keep practicing it in a meaningful way.
Kate is currently studying for an undergraduate law degree with the aim of becoming a barrister. Advocacy will one day form a significant part of her career, so she wanted to find a way to strengthen the skills that come with it — speaking clearly and confidently, thinking on her feet, structuring an argument and learning how to keep going when her mind suddenly goes blank.
The podcast became a natural way to work on those skills. The debating element came from joining the Open University Debate Club, where Kate discovered how much she enjoyed exploring different sides of an argument. From there, the idea developed to combine podcasting and debating into one format.
Each week, the audience will be given three possible debate topics to choose from. The winning topic will then become the focus of the next episode, with Kate exploring and arguing the different sides of the issue.
But the final decision does not belong to Kate.
It belongs to the audience.
Viewers take on the role of the judge, deciding which argument was the strongest, most persuasive and best presented.
About Kate
Kate, also known as Katie, began her career at the age of 17, undertaking an apprenticeship with a world-renowned hairdressing company, Toni & Guy, after leaving school at the age of 17. In 2019, she went on to establish her own business, Headkandy Hair and Beauty LTD, successfully navigating the challenges of keeping afloat during the covid-19 pandemic.
Despite building a successful career in hairdressing and business, the ambition of becoming a barrister never quite disappeared. In 2022, Kate enrolled with the Open University, to study for an LLB part -time, alongside running her business and raising her daughter.
Kate aspires not simply to become a barrister, but to become an excellent advocate — someone who can communicate clearly, think critically under pressure and give a persuasive voice to others,
Her journey into law has been anything but conventional, but that is precisely what she believes gives her something different to bring to the profession. Years spent working with people, running a business and navigating real-life challenges have shaped the way she communicates and understands others.
Kate’s Debates is another part of that journey: a space to develop her voice, challenge her thinking and continue building the skills she hopes one day to bring into the courtroom.
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