This episode feels like a conversation you didn’t know you needed.

I’m joined by the incredible confidence mentor Megan Nicola, and we dive into what confidence actually means—and why so many of us struggle with it.

We talk about the idea that confidence isn’t about discipline, motivation, or “fixing” yourself… but about feeling safe enough to be seen as you are.

This conversation covers everything from procrastination and fear to rejection, self-doubt, and the pressure to have your life figured out in your twenties. It’s honest, emotional, and at times feels like a therapy session between friends.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re “not doing enough,” this episode will change how you see yourself.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Where to find Meg:

Where to find Seat at My Table:

Ever felt lonely and struggled to find your people? Turns out, you are not alone. In fact, you are the majority.

In this episode, I sit down with Holly Cooke, the founder and driving force behind The Lonely Girls Club — one of the UK’s most powerful communities for women seeking connection, friendship, and support. Born from Holly’s own experience of loneliness after moving to London, what began as a small Facebook group has grown into a nationwide organisation with over 150,000 members and seven branches across the UK. 

We dive deep into the mission behind the club, Holly’s personal journey, and how the Lonely Girls Club is changing what it means to find “your people.” Whether you’ve felt disconnected, shy about making new friends, or just want to surround yourself with a fun community of amazing women — this conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone.

In this episode, we talk about:

This chat feels like a warm hug from a big sister. By the end of our chat, I hope you feel less lonely, empowered to reach out, and inspired to create something amazing like The Lonely Girls Club Community.

Find Holly and the Lonely Girls Club at:

If you’ve ever felt held back by old patterns or self-doubt, and wondered why your life is not how you imagined, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, I dive into the incredible power of identity and the stories we tell ourselves. I unpack how subconscious beliefs shape who we become and how the simple yet transformative “I Am” exercise can help you redefine your sense of self.

Through my own personal experiences, psychology, and practical examples, I explored how to rewrite my inner narrative, anchor empowering emotions, and step into the version of myself I wanted to be. So, of course, I had to share the outcome and method with you all.

This is a reminder that your words — and your beliefs — hold the power to change everything.

What does it mean to be truly mission-driven, and how can changing someone’s environment transform the course of their life?

Today’s guest, Sharla-Jaye Duncan, is a social entrepreneur and fierce advocate for educational and career equity. Growing up in South London surrounded by more people who were going to jail than finishing school, Sharla-Jaye could not see a future for herself — until a pivotal friendship showed her the power of support, perspective, and opportunity. 

That moment set her on a path to founding Team Up, Journi, and Day One — organisations that have helped thousands of young people from underrepresented communities unlock opportunity and redefine what’s possible.

In this episode, Sharla-Jaye shares her story with remarkable honesty and wisdom. From confronting racism and sexism, to navigating cycles of fear and hope in the global economy, to advice on actionable steps when starting a business — she reveals how we can all challenge the odds stacked against us, find the right people to lift us higher, and step into the rooms where change happens.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that we are more powerful than we think we are.

In this episode, we discuss:

Find Sharla-Jaye Duncan:

Why, as adults, do we become so serious, stop playing, and forget to make time for joy? Imagine how different the world would look if we spent more time laughing, and less time being so hard on ourselves.

Today’s guest, Em Stroud, is on a mission to bring back joy, laughter and play into adult lives. In this episode Em opens up about the challenging times in her childhood that left little room for joy and forced her to grow up too quickly. Luckily for us, this experience led her on a journey to become the incredible comedian she is today, fighting to bring more happiness into adulthood. 

From comedy shows, podcast, and books, to executive coaching, retreats, and speaking, Em really is one of the most multifaceted people I have ever met, while being driven by her inspiring purpose. This conversation left me inspired, uplifted and reminding myself that this life ‘is not a rehearsal’.

In this episode, we discuss:

Get tickets to see Em’s show ‘Tales from a Little Laughing Lesbian’ - https://emstroud.com/tour/

Find out about everything that Em does - https://emstroud.com/

The Comic Coach Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/6YalzRBYpB8mZ6M5FAAuTj?si=e31ecb7b7d314500

Instagram - @emrstroud

What does building wealth look like when you are on the wrong side of Capitalism? Is there hope to decrease inequality and thrive in the current economic system? 

In this conversation, Rachel Laryea shares her journey. From watching her mum work around the clock and instilling the same work ethic into her children, to becoming a successful author and entrepreneur.

In this insightful conversation, we discuss the complexities of navigating identity, being surrounded by privilege without the safety net, the reality of being black on Wall Street, and the mission for financial security. Rachel emphasises the dual nature of capitalism, highlighting both its exploitative aspects and the potential for empowerment within it. She advocates for a Black Capitalist framework that prioritises community and purpose in business, while also reflecting on the importance of self-care in her personal and professional life. 

Having succeeded in Wall Street, Academia, Entrepreneurship, and now Authorship with her incredible book Black Capitalist, there could not be a better role model to bring to Seat at My Table. 

In this conversation we talk about:

Most importantly, please go and read Rachel’s Incredible (!!) book Black Capitalists:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746827/black-capitalists-by-rachel-laryea-phd/

Find Rachel here: https://rachellaryea.com

Visit Kelewele’s website: https://www.kelewelenyc.com

Instagram:

Working 2 jobs while pursuing her passion as an R&B singer-songwriter, Samantha Toms, a.k.a Mantha, opens up about the reality of working towards her dream.

This episode is an open and honest conversation about Mantha’s journey that brought her to the London R&B scene, the set backs along the way, and exciting unknown yet to come. Lucky enough to say that she is an old friend I have watched grow and shine, I was so to excited to have her on the podcast to share her incredible mindset, manifestation tips, and a peak behind the scenes of the music industry.

In this episode we talk about:

Listen to new song ‘The Man' - https://ditto.fm/the-man-mantha

Follow Mantha:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/mantha/

TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@itsmantha 

Youtube - www.youtube.com/@manthasworld

What if true leadership looked less like boys clubs and bravado — and more like mindfulness, motherhood, and meaningful relationships?

Today’s guest, Tingting Peng, redefines what it means to be in the C-Suite and provides a role model of leadership that we are all seeking but struggle to find. 

Tingting is the Chief Transformation Officer at Moove, a global mobility fintech reimagining access to vehicle ownership that closed a $100 million Series B round in March 2024. She’s also an angel investor, advisor to startups, international yoga teacher, and mother. Recognised as one of the Top 100 Women in Fintech and a Top 25 Women Leader in Financial Technology, Tingting’s journey spans Wall Street boardrooms to yoga studios — and everything in between.

In this conversation, we go deep into the beginning of Tingting’s career, the reality of being an Investment Banking Analyst, and where her determination to prove people wrong began. We delve into how a period of personal crisis became the catalyst to change and a yoga qualification that saved her life and continues to be the key to her corporate success.

We explore the power of curiosity, leadership through authenticity, and why the courage to be a student again might just be the key to your next breakthrough.

In this conversation we cover:

Book discussed in this conversation: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, By Eckhart Tolle

Find Tingting: 

The Compound Effect, the idea that small, consistent actions over time lead to big results.

It is the difference between the top 1% and everyone else, it is what helps people become stupidly rich, or the reason that the existence of one person can echo throughout history. 

For the 10th episode of the Seat at My Table Podcast, I wanted to do something a bit different, and share my first solo episode. I provide some exciting updates on the podcast and my life, but most importantly, I dive into a concept that I have recently become fascinated by. The Compound Effect. The more I looked into it, the more convinced I became that we could all leverage it to completely up-level our lives. We just need to understand the simply formula: consistency + time = unbelievable results.

So of course, I had to share this with you all, just like I have to share the wisdom from my usual guests. I use a range of examples from the Ice Age and The Magic Penny Scenario, to Greta Thunberg and her Global Movement at the age of 15.

Sources and media mentioned in this episode is below:

Imagine a world where there are no barriers to innovation, everyone has the ability to bring their ideas to life, and the world in which we live looks completely different as a result. 

Today’s guest, Cecil Adjalo, is working towards this vision as the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Foundervine which was recently recognised as one of Europe’s leading start up hubs. 

Cecil is on a mission. His wisdom as a founder as well as a leader who is shaping the start-up ecosystem is boundless. His passion, determination and discipline, has always inspired me and so I had to bring him on and share it with you. Giving you a peak behind the curtain of what it is like to be the COO of a growing startup from someone who was listed by the Financial Times as one of the top 100 most influential BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) Leaders in the UK Tech sector. 

In this conversation we cover:

Find Cecil here - linkedin.com/in/adjalo

Learn more about Foundervine - https://www.foundervine.com/#

The book recommendation - Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss