The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On the latest episode of the podcast, I chat with Akin,  the creator of Ibilecoin, a decentralized financial payment network within cryptocurrency that rebuilds the traditional payment stack on the blockchain.  Akin discusses why he decided on creating an indigenous token and why it was built on the Cardano blockchain.  We delve into the historical and cultural importance of the Benin Ivory mask, the visual inspiration behind the 'Ibile' face. 

We talk about the importance of financial decentralisation, recreating value within blockchain.  We also talk about Charles Hoskinson, Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin, and the devaluation of Fiat currencies.  Akin is also on a mission in educating people, especially within Africa to adopt crypto.  

With a background in Political Science & diplomacy History, Akin shares his passion when it comes to educating people of the tragic cost of post and neo-colonialism, but also the relevance of Pan-Africanism.  We also bring up certain socio-economic issues affecting Nigeria, and of course, he shares with us a quote that continually inspires him. 

In his own words, Akin is a Pan- African at heart and in deeds. 

For information about the ibilecoin, please click the link here.

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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 have a chat with Nick about geekdom, reviews and Ancestral roots.  Nick shares how he got into the entertainment industry, and how he started Kidzcoolit and its ethos, and why it's important to appreciate childrens' opinions.  We also take a deep-dive into certain films, and Nick recounts certain encounters with Ridley Scott, Johnny Rotten, Ron Perlman and Paul Rudd. Nick also shares how he managed to wrangle a  voice over gig on a  particular classic TV show from the 70s.  And, of course, we talk about the quote that has continually inspired him.

Nick also chats about his involvement with 'Frightfest', and we come up with our own horror idea for a future length film. 

Nick also shares which is the best Guinness out there (spoiler: it's not the Irish variety)!

Nick Gibbs-McNeil has worked in the Publishing and Entertainment industry for nearly twenty five years and describes himself as a 'Jack of all Trades and Master of Nothing', but apparently good at what I do. . 

In recent years he has focused his career on the running and publishing of websites Kidzcoolit and Youth #Gottit as well as having a role with the horror festival FrightFest, DC Thomson's 110% Gaming Magazine and The Outdoor Toy Awards.  "I've had a very blessed career and done some incredible things. I don't know how I got so lucky!!!"

One day he dreams of being an 'old skool village postman' where everyone knows his name!!!

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!

"The culture (Japanese) really fascinated me.  I've been to quite a lot of countries. I've been to all the continents except for South America.  I'm used to African culture and the Western culture, and some Asian countries as well.  But with Japan, it was kind of like the mix of the West, with technology and such, but then you've got the traditions which I found I connected with, similar to some African traditions."

On today's 52nd episode, I play catch up with Mr '52 Weeks Later' Dennis Mensa.  He shares on the podcast his time in Japan and how he is in the process of writing his book about his experiences spending 52 weeks there.  He talks about his fascination for Japanese culture, travelling through the Prefectures, experiencing his first earthquake, what the Japanese word 'gaikokujin' actually entails and being a black person travelling through Japan. Also, it wouldn't come to anyone's surprise to know which African he met in a village in Japan playing the music of a famous African!

Dennis and I also talk about his passion for skipping and running, the inevitable debate on which is the better Jollof rice between Ghana and Nigeria, and of course, Dennis shares the quote that continually inspires him.

Dennis aka '52 Weeks Later' is a connoisseur of cool life experiences, through the medium of travel, food, dancing, skipping, running, being a husband and being a dad! Adding writer to that list, he is currently in the process of writing his travel memoirs regarding his adventure around mainly Japan for 52 Weeks. 

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!

"What organisations sometimes fail to get right is recognising that they are responsible for creating the conditions in which those people (employees) stay well and resilient.  And so, if you are asking people to do more, with less resources, or achieve more with less budget...then you are not creating the conditions for people to remain well and stay resilient because they are under excessive stress."

On today's episode, Dr Aarti Anhal brings my attention to the world of organisational resilience.    We talk about how she began her career including a stint within Risk management and Security, and her journey thus far.  We discuss world issues including the question of whether the world will ever have peace.  Aarti shares on the podcast her deep interest in Tibetan issues, including when she got to meet and spend time with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Rinpoche.   

Aarti also explains what a resilience coach is, the difference between fixed and growth mindset and why wellbeing is essential.  We also talk languages, gin, marmite and dishwashing!  And of course, we examine the quote that continually inspires her.

Dr Aarti Anhal is founder of before nine, a consultancy that integrates positive psychology and behavioural techniques with organisational resilience and transformation strategies to bring out the best in people, optimise their ways of working and enable organisations to sustain success, whatever the world throws at them.

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!

"Nowadays, to be an Actuary, you need to be more rounded as an individual; we're trying to break the stereotype of people who tend to be stuck behind their desk, not really looking up or talking to anyone, or just writing reports, or pencil-pushers, essentially.  We're trying to change the public perception of the Actuary profession."

On today's episode, I chat with Actuarial scientist and Mathematics geek Gayathiri Pathmabaskaran about all things numbers and Actuary.  Gaya shares how her love for numbers has brought her to this profession.  She breaks down for newbies such as myself the difference between an Actuarial scientist and Actuary, the fundamentals of Pure Math and the application of Life Math; correlating information & figures during global events and explains what a 'Black Swan ' event is.  Gaya also discusses 'Realistic Disaster Scenarios' and Reinsurance brokerage, and why Actuaries have to predict downside risks.  We also talk about her family in medicine, her love for Hercule Poirot, and her deep love for a particular Bollywood film legend.  And of course, we talk about the quote that always inspires her.

Gaya is an Actuarial Analyst working in the London Insurance Market and is on her way to becoming an qualified actuary . While being a maths nerd by day, Gaya is a huge Bollywood cinephile (and is particularly a fan of a certain actor ).

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!

"My official kind of tagline, if you like, is to help women get more out of their lives, whatever that means to them, and I think that the last bit  is the most important part because a lot of coaches could help my clients, but it's that 'whatever that means to them' because I have come to learn that it's not what I think or my agenda what that 'more is' to my clients...I am here to listen."

On today's episode, I get into deep conversations with Life & Mindset coach Catrin Atkins.  We delve into how & why she got into life coaching, and why she wants to get her clientele to get the most out of life.  We discuss the issues of Imposter Syndrome, and why there is still somewhat of a stigma of shame & embarrassment attached to coaching within some quarters.  We look at the importance of mindset and listening, and coaching in the Welsh Language. 

Catrin also shares with me her adaptability to situations as a person with spina bifida, and why this disability has not and will not stop her having a zest for life.  We also geek out over all things 'X-Files' and Hitchcock related.  And of course, we look at the saying that continually inspires her.

If you'd like to chat with Catrin, you can contact her: https://geekygirlcoaching.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 producer, writer and director Tobi Kyeremateng.  She shares on the podcast how she started her career, what she has learnt working within theatre, becoming a producer, and working on various projects within the industry.  She also shares why she started 'The Black Ticket Project'.   

We also chat about her writing, including essays that have been published in The Guardian, The Independent & Gal-Dem.  We talk about issues of Race, and the discrimination and misogyny towards women.   

We chat about her Nigerian/Ghanaian heritage, influences and her directorial debut, Ówàmbè, (roughly translated from the Yorùbá language as 'It's happening there') about the Uniqueness of African parties, in particular Nigerian Hall parties and celebrations.  Tobi also shares on the podcast what one of her favourite sayings is.

Tobi Kyeremateng is a multi-award-winning producer and writer from South London.

As a producer working across film, liveness and audio, Tobi has curated an impressive portfolio of work for organisations including BBC, British Vogue, Horniman Museum, Institute of Contemporary Arts, National Theatre, No Signal, Priority at O2, Roundhouse, Royal Court Theatre, Tate Modern, PUMA, Sony Music and more, and has had her work platformed on BBC Three, BBC Four, Complex, FACT Magazine and NOWNESS to name a few. As a writer, Tobi has written for media outlets including Black Ballad, Blavity, gal-dem, Howlround, The Guardian, The Independent and LOVE Magazine, and has had essays published in Black Joy (Penguin, 2021) and Making Hip Hop Theatre (Bloomsbury, 2021). In 2021, she released her debut audio-documentary, RAVE RITUALS, on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 6.

Tobi has won several awards including: 'Creative Award' (Industry Minds UK 2021), 'Special Award: Producer' (Off West-End Theatre Awards 2020),  ‘Arts & Culture’ Award (Women Of The Future Awards 2019), ‘Best Producer’ (inaugural Black British Theatre Awards 2019), and ‘Inspiration of the Year’ (Stylist Magazine’s inaugural Remarkable Women Awards 2019). Tobi has led workshops, guest lectures and panel talks for a number of institutions including Oxford University and Goldsmiths University, and has hosted in-conversations with the likes of Diane Abbott and Malorie Blackman.

Tobi is a Senior Artistic Associate at the Bush Theatre, Board Trustee for Peckham Platform, Diversity School Initiative and National Youth Theatre, and mentor for Sour Lemons and I LIKE NETWORKING. In 2020 she was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and was nominated by BBC presenter Clara Amfo in the Duke and Duchess' inaugural Black History Month Next Generation Trailblazers, as well as being included in ELLE Magazine's '10 Trailblazing Women Changing The Future You Need To Know' alongside Koffee, Holly Fischer, Celeste and Margaret Busby. In 2020, she featured on the cover of gal-dem as part of their Community Issue.  Tobi's directorial debut docu-fiction film, OWAMBE, is showing on Netflix as one of 10 recipients of the inaugural Netflix Documentary Talent Fund, and she is writing her debut non-fiction book, THEATRE SH*T (Jacaranda Books), celebrating contemporary Black British Theatre.

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!

"I think people forget that journalism is a craft and you learn and you hone your craft, and there are people  who write their opinions and their views and they don't actually have anything to back it up with, and a lot of it got replaced by salacious gossip rather than the craft of the music."

On today's episode, I have a good, overdue chat with Music Journalist Angharad Williams.  We talk about her journey into this profession, artists that she has met within her career, the changing landscape of the industry, and she shares some pearls of wisdom to any aspiring musicians and journalists.  We also talk about all things Hip-Hop, Irish, and naturally Welsh, and in particular, certain pronunciations.  And of course, we discuss the quote and saying that continually inspires and influences her.

Angharad Williams is a half Welsh / half Irish journalist. She grew up in a small village in boryh Wales, then spent the first few years of her career working as a music journalist in London. Angharad now lives and work in Dublin and has worked for titles including the Metro Herald, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Independent, The Irish Sun and Welsh language publications. Angharad is a fluent Welsh speaker and is a regular contributor to the Welsh language radio station BBC Radio Cymru.

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!

 'I am one of those people who likes to try and explore; like it's never just enough, and,  is there more that there is available to me; and that question prompted a thought, and that thought was 'Masterchef', and I'm thinking ...before my brain scares me out I act on a thought!   So before my brain gets a chance to say "woah, woah, we can't go there!",   I immediately got my ipad, googled 'MasterChef', saw that they were still taking applications and went for it.'

On today's episode, I talk about food, cooking, Yoruba dishes and 'MasterChef' with the semi-finalist on the show, Olayemi Adelekan.  We chat about her upbringing in Nigeria to  living in St.Kitts & Nevis and settling in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.  We discuss her culinary influences, and why she decided to compete on the competitive cooking show MasterChef.  And naturally, we discuss the saying that continually inspires and influences her.

You can watch Yemi and her culinary progress on BBC One or on BBC Iplayer.

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 South Korean expat Juwon and her life in Dakar, Senegal.  We talk about all things Korean, including her beloved city of Busan ("Shout out to 'Train to Busan"), the Korean language and its musicality, nuances and it's alphabet.  She tells me how she met her husband,  her move to Dakar and how she has adapted.   We also touch on the O.G of Jollof rice made by the Wolof, and what her signature dishes are.  We also discuss  the cultural similarities between Africans and Koreans, addressing stereotypes, and of course, we talk about the saying that continually inspires her.

To know more about Juwon's life in Dakar, you can check her blog out.

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!