Image description: Photo of Jordan Stephens

What does it mean to be a man in 2025? On Saturday 15 November, WOW – Women of the World and activist-artist Jordan Stephens will open up that question with humour, honesty, and heart at Shoreditch Town Hall. WOW Presents… An Evening with Jordan Stephens brings together some of the most dynamic voices redefining masculinity today – from comedian Asim Chaudhry and rapper-chef Big Zuu to economist and author Gary Stevenson, educator Ben Hurst, and poet Maureen Onwunalimo. Hosted by Stephens alongside WOW founder Jude Kelly CBE, and joined by Jameela Jamil, the actor, writer and outspoken advocate for mental health and body liberation, it promises a night that’s part talk-show, part live happening – and all about connection, care and courageous conversation.

Let’s face it – the conversation about men, boys, and masculinity has never felt more urgent. From the pressures of money and mental health to fatherhood, power and vulnerability, the landscape is shifting fast. So when WOW – Women of the World invited Jordan Stephens to curate a one-off event digging deep into those themes, it felt like the right person at exactly the right moment.

Stephens – best known as one half of the chart-topping duo Rizzle Kicks – has spent the last decade evolving from pop star to one of the UK’s most candid cultural commentators. He’s written frankly about his own struggles with fame, identity and mental health, and continues to challenge outdated ideas of manhood through his music, books and activism. His 2017 Guardian essay on toxic masculinity still resonates: “Only by confronting our privilege and opening up our emotions will we live a more positive life.”

Image description: Photo of Big Zuu

That spirit of openness runs through WOW Presents… An Evening with Jordan Stephens, a live experiment in conversation, performance and possibility. Stephens will be joined on stage by WOW’s founder Jude Kelly CBE, whose trailblazing work has made WOW – Women of the World the largest platform celebrating gender equity across six continents. Together they’ll guide a line-up of guests who each, in their own way, are reshaping how we think about masculinity.

Comedy fans will recognise Asim Chaudhry, the BAFTA-winning actor and writer best known for his cult role as Chabuddy G in People Just Do Nothing. Expect his trademark mix of warmth and mischief as he brings humour to the night’s heavier moments. Big Zuu, the rapper, chef and TV presenter whose natural charisma has made him a household name, adds another layer – he’s never been afraid to discuss vulnerability alongside success.

Image description: Photo of Ben Hurst

Adding economic insight and social conscience to the mix is Gary Stevenson, the former City trader turned inequality economist, author and YouTuber. Stevenson has become one of the UK’s most original voices on money, class and mental health, drawing from his own experience of financial success and burnout. In his memoir The Trading Game, he wrote: “I made millions betting on disaster, but I was miserable. The richer I became, the more I saw how broken the system was.” His presence at WOW feels timely, adding an unflinching perspective on how our ideas of masculinity are shaped by wealth, competition and social status.

Joining them are other powerful voices from activism and social change. Gary Barker, founder and CEO of Equimundo, brings an international perspective on engaging men and boys in gender equality and violence prevention. Ben Hurst, Director of Facilitation at Beyond Equality, is known for his workshops that help men challenge limiting gender norms in schools and workplaces. And poet Maureen Onwunalimo will deliver a performance of raw, resonant wordcraft, while Sam Browne returns with new work exploring emotion and identity through verse.

Image description: Photo of Gary Stevenson

Adding to this already dazzling mix is Jameela Jamil – actor, writer, and the founder of the I Weigh movement. Jamil has built a global platform encouraging self-acceptance and accountability in the media. Speaking recently about men and vulnerability, she said: “We don’t give men enough space to have feelings. We tell them not to cry, then wonder why they explode. It’s time to let them be whole humans.” Her appearance promises to bring both compassion and fire to the discussion.

And because no WOW evening would be complete without artistry, the night also features a live performance from Saied Silbak, the London-based Palestinian composer and oud player whose music bridges tradition and modernity. His soundscape will weave through the conversations, reminding us that culture and creativity are essential to understanding one another.

For Jude Kelly, this new strand of programming marks a bold expansion for WOW. “It’s vital that men and boys are invited into conversations exploring how to achieve gender equality – both as part of our audiences and on stage,” she says. “Throughout WOW’s 15-year history we’ve explored what it means to be a man in the 21st century, and the issues that are stopping progress for everyone. Working with Equimundo to propel a new chapter of work will create tangible change.”

Image description: Photo of Sam Browne

That new chapter is the MenCare Changemakers Journey, a global partnership between WOW and Equimundo that aims to mobilise over a hundred stakeholders from across business, media, culture and government. Their mission: to explore how caring manhood can help solve some of the biggest challenges facing men and boys – and by extension, everyone. The initiative will culminate in a global summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2026, followed by another in Australia in 2027. And arts and storytelling will be central to it all – a perfect fit for Stephens, whose own creative career is rooted in empathy and expression.

“I’ve supported and collaborated with WOW for a long time,” Stephens says. “It has always been such a powerful voice for gender equity, creating a space for difficult conversations, but also joy and fun. I can’t wait to bring more men and boys into the conversation in bold, creative ways. This is about sparking energy, connection and real change together.”

If that sounds ambitious, it’s because it is – but ambition is what WOW does best. Since 2010, Kelly’s festival has reached millions across six continents, uniting voices from Malala Yousafzai to Angela Davis, and sparking everything from local campaigns to the founding of the Women’s Equality Party. With An Evening with Jordan Stephens, the movement turns its lens towards men – inviting them not just to listen, but to join in, reflect and redefine.

Expect laughter, vulnerability, poetry and power in equal measure – the kind of night where conversations spill into the bar and stay with you for weeks. As Stephens himself recently put it: “Men calling each other beautiful is a reclamation of authentic masculinity in my eyes.” Here’s to a future where that beauty – in all its complex, caring, creative forms – takes centre stage.

WOW Presents… An evening with Jordan Stephens and Friends
Shoreditch Townhall
Saturday 15 Nov, 7:30pm
Tickets and info: thewowfoundation.com

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WOW Presents… An evening with Jordan Stephens and Friends is commissioned and produced by WOW – Women of the World in partnership with Equimundo.