The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode my guest is Tara Akindele, founder of Flo Haven, a non-profit organisation that aims at eradicating period poverty and also providing menstrual health to underprivileged women in Nigeria.  Tara shares with me what led her to start Flo Haven during the 2020 global pandemic, how it initially started off as an initiative, and how it has developed in its outreach.   We chat about the challenges she and her team face including the stigma surrounding menstruation, the lack of government involvement, access to quality health products and changing mindsets.  We also discuss period poverty in Western countries including The UK, how policies should be addressed and mental wellbeing.  Tara also shares with us her background in  Biomedical Sciences and her interest in dermatology.  And of course, we look at the quotes and sayings that have inspired her.

For more information about Flo Haven, you can go to the following  site:
https://flohaven.org/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, my guest is Christopher M. Anthony of kayfabefilms.  We chat about film and his love for all things animatronics, building rigs and special effects.  We chart how he started his career, including  interning at The Jim Henson Company,  to working at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM).  Chris delves behind the scenes of the technical side of  film making including his part in the award winning 'The Jungle Book', and we geek out over classic movies such as 'Jurassic Park', 'Metropolis', 'Nosferatu' and 'The Red Shoes'.  Our conversation also involves discussing the challenges of film distribution and other areas within the industry.  We  talk about his passion for the martial arts of BJJ and his work as a stuntman and also his uncredited directorial work in certain mainstream films .  We also delve into his heritage and why he is a proud Nigerian-Lebanese. 

Christopher has worked in film for over two decades. From the Harry Potter movies to Marvel productions, he was a part of the development of the visual effects industry, working between VFX, SFX, stunts and camera. He is now entering the next chapter of his career, with his debut feature, ‘Heavyweight,’ set to film early 2023.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with florist, Jen.  We talk about how she transitioned from a career in the corporate world to that of flora.  We discuss how genius is in each of us, going against the grain, work ethic, and how her new work life has brought out the real her.  Jen also shares the challenges and rewards to being a florist; how her shop is her creative sanctuary; sustainability, and of course, a line that continually inspires her life.

From Business Analyst to plant Mum and Florist, Jen loves floral design and making wonderful Bespoke Floral arrangements for her lovely customers.

For more information about Jen and more of her work, you can visit her website:

https://jensplantsandflorist.com/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with writer, producer, director and medical physician Roshan Sethi. 

We talk about his creative and medical sides and how he started out.  Roshan discusses why writing is important to him, who inspired him to write, how he managed his time at Harvard while studying, how he got fired from one of his early writing gigs, and how the TV series, 'The Resident' came about.  We also talk about his directorial debut with '7 Days' that was shot during the covid pandemic.  We also discuss the movie 'Call Jane', and the over-ruling of Roe v. Wade. 

Roshan also honestly shares his struggles when he Came out, and of course, tells us the quote that continually inspires him.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode I chat with the editor-in-chief of Total Film, Jane Crowther.  

We geek out over the films that inspired her to get into the industry; we discuss what the medium of film means to her, and what her favourite genre is.  Jane also walks us through what a 'normal' working day in the office is like; the challenges of being an editor in publishing; the misogyny within the industry; producing content during covid;  the importance of film critiquing and the rise of social media and influencers.  Jane also discusses her thoughts on the  films she has on repeat, particular film directors, film villains, and her love for a particular 'King'.  And of course, Jane shares a line that continually inspires her


Jane Crowther is the editor-in-chief of Total Film, head of Film at Future publishing, Vice Chair of the Critics' Circle film section and a member of BAFTA. She writes, edits and broadcasts across print and digital and is the host of the Inside Total Film Podcast and Total Film's Last Picture Show Podcast. 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with music composer Alessandro about his career.  We explore how he started in the industry, and what alternative career he would have taken. had it not been music.  We discuss the people who influenced him, the decisions he made to enhance his career, and his musical instrument of choice.  We talk about his film scores, compositions, the challenges within the industry, and why it is important to let musical notes breathe, and not to get hung up on the theory of music.   We also look at the importance of understanding the clients and the musical vision for their projects;  musical signatures and certain music composers including Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri and Gustavo Santaolalla, and why certain soundtracks are sacred and should not be re-imagined.  And of course, we talk about the quotes that continually inspire Alessandro and his musical journey.

Alessandro Giovanetto is a musician and composer for Film, TV, Theatre and Web Media.  He is also a touring musician and part of  The Collective Remembrance.   For more information on Alessandro, you can check his website out:

https://www.alessandro-giovanetto.com/index.php

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with Pirashanna about his musical career as a percussionist. 

We talk about his formal training at the Bhavan Centre in London and the gurus that taught him  how to play the Carnatic (South Indian) instruments such as the Mridangam, Kanjira, Ghatam, and also the Jew's Harp.  

Pirashanna shares memories of his Arangetram (‘official’ debut performance of a musician after undertaking years of training in the Carnatic system) in Chennai, India, that was also attended by musical greats including M. Balamuralikrishna.  Pirashanna talks about how he came to the attention of Pandit Ravi Shankar and began touring with him, and how eventually began to tour with the legendary maestro's daughter, Anoushka Shankar.  

Pirashanna and I discuss the art of collaborating, rhythm and timing, South Indian Konnakol, what's in his musical tour bag, a particular band he would like to work with, and of course, the quote that continually inspires him.

For more information about Pirshanna and upcoming tours, please visit his website:

http://www.tpirashanna.com/about/

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with Brianna about celebrating the joy of Blackness and how she came about creating 'The Black Project'.  We discuss issues of identity, Race, discrimination, and the distinction between diversity and representation. 

We delve into her heritage of being Irish and Nigerian, and the challenges of growing up Black in a White family, and yet her pride in being Irish; we look at the perception of Blackness and identity.  We also discuss about what she would change within the education curriculum.  Brianna also shares with us the hidden medical conditions that she has to manage, but how a trait she possesses sees her through the tough times.  We also discuss poetry, novels, her fascination with mythology, and of course, we look a the quote that continually inspires her.   

Oh, there's a bonus clip right at the outro of this episode, so wait until the very end. :-)

Brianna O’Reilly is the founder of media platform The Black Project, a platform that focuses on celebrating and amplifying Black Life, Arts, Culture and Knowledge. She also works with The Black Fund, is studying Liberal Arts and works as a photographer in her spare time. 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with film director, writer, producer, and all round nice person Madhumita about her career.

She shares how she began her creative path with a short film she wrote and directed in College in Singapore which led to an award, and her time in within the film industry in Los Angeles while she studied her Masters.  Madhumita also talks about her film directorial debut in Chennai at the age of 22 with 'Vallamai Tharayo'.  We discuss  the challenges of film making within the Indian film industry, including the successes and failures.  We also chat about her other film projects including 'KD (a) Karuppudurai'; her short 'Mouname Paarvayaai', from the Amazon Prime anthology 'Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa'; her adaption in Hindi  of 'Angamaly Diaries'.  Madhumita also reveals the directors and films that have influenced her, and of course, she shares a line that continually inspires her

Madhumita is a filmmaker born in Chennai, bred in Indonesia, educated in Singapore and baked in Los Angeles. Currently based out of Mumbai, she has directed 6 feature films and 2 non scripted shows. Her most recent works are KD (a) Karuppudurai on Netflix and Amazon and Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyadha (Ep - 3 Mouname Paarvayaai) on Amazon Prime. Madhumita is currently in the post production of her first Hindi film and the prep of her next Tamil film. She aspires to be genre agnostic with one unifying theme across all her films, the emotion in human relationships.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with Katherine Dibona about her life and hidden health conditions.  

She shares how she was medically misdiagnosed since the age of 17 up until recent years when she found out has non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.  She also goes into detail the medical challenges she has had to face with Medical pracitioners and experts, being medically gaslit, gender bias, medical insurance in America, in particuar In-Network Insurance.  

Yet, despite all the struggles Katherine has faced, we also celebrate her successes in life, her passion for Ballet and what she teaches her students, the importance of mindset and conditioning, and why the actor Alan Alda is special to her.   And of course, we talk about the quotes and adages that continually inspire her.

Katherine DiBona had a happy, healthy childhood growing up outside of Boston,
Massachusetts, USA. An involved student and ballerina, she had dreams of
entering the medical profession. Everything was on track…until it wasn’t. A week
after her 17th birthday she became sick with an unknown viral infection and
never fully recovered. What ensued was almost 20 years of pain, fatigue, and
dismissals by healthcare providers while searching for answers. It wasn’t until
age 34 that she received a diagnosis of Non-Radiographic Axial
Spondyloarthritis: an auto-inflammatory condition that affects joints, eyes,
hormones, the GI tract, etc. and can severely impact quality of life.
Katherine learned the hard way that the U.S. healthcare system isn’t all that it’s
cracked up to be. Instead of a career in medicine, she became a full-time patient,
struggling through college and beyond until finally seeing some improvement in
her mid-30s. Katherine shares the lessons she’s learned along the way in her
journey toward a new version of a happy, healthy life with a chronic invisible
illness.

**Please be aware that due to technical issues during recording, some of the interview has electrical interferences which could not be resolved, so please lower the volume while listening.  My sincere apologies and I hope you still enjoy the episode.**

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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 [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on Instagram
Keep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!