The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode, I chat with uber-talented musician Olugbenga (the first 'g' is silent) about his career in music as a producer, dj and bassist, his heritage, collaborations with family and friends,  chatting with producer Brian Eno while on a bus in Bamako, and how Pounded Yam with okra stew pounds Mashed potato & pie.

Born in Lagos to a Kenyan mother and Nigerian father, OLUGBENGA now resides by the sea in Brighton. His childhood was split between Nigeria and the Netherlands, before moving to the UK where he finished school in South London and then studied at King's College, Cambridge.  These cultures and experiences are a never-ending inspiration for OLUGBENGA and feed his unique ‘epic & blues’ sound.

He has travelled the world working as a bass player and vocalist, lending his talents to groups such as Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, Paloma Faith and La Roux. He is best known for his long-standing association with Metronomy, but OLUGBENGA has also lent his talents as a remixer to the likes of Laura Marling, Janelle Monae, Mew, Alt-J, Depeche Mode and the Scissor Sisters.  

September 2016 saw the release of Solange Knowles’ A Seat At The Table, an album OLUGBENGA had been flown out to New Orleans to write music for. His track Don’t You Wait (co-produced by Sampha, Kwes and Adam Bainbridge) garnered positive comments from fans and reviewers alike and the album flew to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 off the back of 36 million streams in a single week.  

OLUGBENGA’s DJ skills have taken him to events and festivals across the UK and worldwide, performing in the USA, Australia, Japan, Russia, Italy, Norway and more. His undoubted ability to work a crowd also caught the attention of the Red Bull Music Academy, who recorded a live session with him at the Rockness Festival in Scotland. He has also scored a much-coveted Boiler Room session and had DJ mixes featured on such prestigious sites as Dummy, i-D, Okayafrica, Clashmusic, XLR8R and many more. 

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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, Ram talks about his Tamil immigrant story: from growing up in Western Nigeria to arriving on the shores of Canada.  We also chat about his activism within Human Rights issues, being a proud Canadian Tamil and how he believes good policy can make a difference in people's lives.  We also discuss music, anecdotes about his time in Nigeria, family heirlooms, why he gives his telephone number out to people and who wins whenever he has a discussion with his kids.

Ram Selvarajah was born in Sri Lanka, raised in Nigeria and lives in Canada.  He works as a Senior Systems Analyst with the Government of Ontario, in Canada and is a Labour Activist.  He serves as the First Vice President of the Peel Regional Labour Council in addition to several other roles in the Union Movement.  He is a Free Mason and a life-long learner.

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, Nigerian linguist, writer and cultural activist Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún talks most things Yorùbá and why he is on a mission to keep the language in written form, including his campaign in bringing the language to a wider audience.

We also talk about how he became a linguist and his love for languages;
how he was invited to meet Nobel laureate Professor Wo̩lé S̩óyíinká and his
favourite work by said legend. Kọ́lá  also discusses poetry and why you may
never, ever get to read his earlier stuff.  You'll even be surprised to hear what his favourite quote is!

Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún is renowned for his work in linguistics and language advocacy. His work within the field is so extensive, he has an in-depth  wikipedia page.  Kọ́lá is the recipient of the 2016 Premio Ostana "Special Prize" for Writings in the Mother Tongue.    He is the founder of Yorùbá Names Project, amongst many other projects. 

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 consult with the 'Oracle' Amrita,
about all things books, Tolkien & Tolstoy, her time in New York & her unique career path.

We also talk about dinner guests, podcasts and how to pronounce 'Khandaan'.

If you love books and like a good recommendation, then head over
to Amrita's Youtube page, 'Amrita by the Book'.  She also co-hosts
Khandaan-A Bollywood 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, entrepreneur Mark discusses yoga and it's benefits.
We also talk about his enthusiasm for cycling, business ventures,
cinema and what music to listen to while making a cup of coffee.

We also touch upon the controversial topic that every Ghanaian &
Nigerian argue over:  who makes the better jollof rice!
 
Mark Sarfo-Kantanka is a director at Cellar Door Group.  He is also co-founder of Coffee Shotter, and a founder of Nexus Creative HQ.  He's also a Yoga instructer and teaches on the 'Akwaabayoga' platform.

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!

In today's episode, Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula & 
Somatic Psychotherapist Sangheetha has a chat with me
about her career change from the corporate world
to the birthing world.  We discuss mental health & 
mindsets, midwivery, dismantling the patriarchy,
and empowerment.  We also talk about her love for music, 
including her favourite raagas, and much more.

Sangheetha Parthasarathy is a Harvard Med School and MIT entrepreneurship graduate who runs worldoula.com, a birth and trauma focused platform. She has been recognized as one of the “Top 100 Global Healthcare Leaders” at the International Forum for Advancements in Healthcare (IFAH) in 2019. She is also a UPenn social strategy fellow, and co-founded  a not-for-profit “Chennai Birth Network” focussed on pregnancy and birth choices.  

After a very successful tech and strategy consulting career in the US and UK at Oracle, Accenture, and Adobe, Sangheetha found her life’s calling through the births of her own daughters, one of which was a homebirth. A passionate feminist, she trained under the world renowned Dr. Michel Odent to become a birth doula, a childbirth educator. She then studied to become a Somatic Experiencing practitioner and has advanced training in attachment, complex trauma, eating disorders, sexual issues and more.

All of Sangheetha’s work sits at the intersection of systemic issues - race, caste, gender,privilege  individual. She facilitates the healing of women’s bodies in the realms of relationships, sex, pregnancy and postpartum, careers, and weight loss. 

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, creative entrepreneur and consultant
Bhavna Malkani talks football, including 'She's Got Skills',
a platform dedicated to women in football, and her
undying loyalty to Tottenham Hotspurs F.C.

Bhavna also delves into her Indian heitage,
and why Busta Rhymes would always have a seat at
her dinner parties.

Bhavna is co-founder of 'She's Got Skills'-a global female football platform,
and also co-founder of Meebox Nails.  
If she's not at a Tottenham Hotspurs match, then you can probably 
find her at a hip-hop concert!

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, Ade talks about mental health,
self-study & well being, plus his time in Greece
 and growing up in Nigeria.

Ade is an author, entrepreneur, and a mean cook!

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!

Thespian.  Owner of Museum Heritage Interpretation company.
Foodie. Traveller. Experiential Interpretation specialist.
Storyteller. Lover of life. Life coach!  Janine is doing it all. 

Janine talks about the many facets of her life,
including her stint working with Benedict Cumberbatch,
the ups and downs of auditioning,
and how to make the perfect cup of tea!

Janine Marsh (@marshjanine) is also the host of The Little Nun's Room.

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 have a chat with Elibinayi, who, in 
her own words, is ' a young millennial trying her
hand at adulting'.

Eli talks about her favourite poem, and the verse
that continually inspires her.  She also talks about 
her heritage and uniqueness of her name, and why 
she loves action movies.

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!