The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode I chat with Julie Talbot, property investor and travelling nomad.  Julie shares how she and her husband were expats working in The Middle East and how they decided to explore the world with their daughters through travel.   Julie talks about what she defines as financial freedom, the challenges of being a property owner, nomadic investing, what life and travel have taught her so far, and of course, she shares the quotes that continually inspire her.

Julie is a UK business owner and worldschooling mum, running her business remotely while travelling full-time with her family. She’s passionate about ethical property investing, time & location freedom and is dedicated to addressing homelessness through her work. 

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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'm in conversation with former Sky Sports News Producer Tejas Kotecha.  Tejas shares how he started in the media at the age of 23 as a Sky News graduate trainee and worked in a variety of roles in the newsroom and out ‘on the road’.  We also talk about his time at Sky Sports, his role as a producer and his career highlights. We discuss the evolution and devolution of news in today's ever-changing media landscape, fake news, and with his passion for politics how the media hold governments accountable.

Tejas also chaired the Ethnicity and Inclusion Network at Sky Sports and he talks about his upbringing in Bolton, his heritage and how he fell into becoming a wedding Toastmaster.

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 filmmaker and actor Ashley Tabatabai.  We talk about his Oscar® qualified short film 'Hamdardi' and why it was important for him to make, and the technical challenges he and his team had to navigate during production. We chat about issues of Identity, heritage, storytelling and how political policies have far reaching consequences.  

Ashley and I geek out over Superman, Batman, The Teenage Mutant Turtles, and discuss our shared interests in the Filipino Martial Art of Kali, and of course, Ashley shares the quote that continually inspires him. 

Writer/co-director and producer Ashley Tabatabai is an award-winning international actor and filmmaker from a culturally diverse background. He has appeared in various series and independent films, including AVENUE 5 (HBO) and BANK OF DAVE 2: THE LOAN RANGER (Netflix). He produced, wrote and starred in the award-winning short film FALSIFIED which was long-listed for the 2018 Oscars®, this was also his first project under his production company Taba Productions.

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, I'm in conversation with British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter Deborah McLeod.  Deborah talks about how she started off as an interpreter and why it has now become her calling in life. We discuss various aspects within her career including her role as a medium between medical professionals and patients by interpreting complex medical terminology and procedures during appointments, surgeries, and consultations to interpreting events and concerts.  

Deborah also shares what language means to her, and the different variations of Sign Language.  She also talks about the importance of her faith, the traits she believes a person should have to be an interpreter, her with The Crown Boyes Mentoring programme and of course, she shares the quote that continually inspires her. 

For more information about The Crown Boys: 

https://www.crownboymentors.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 I chat with Charlie Lamdin, an entrepreneur, pilot and founder of BestAgent.  We chat in-depth about the property market including new builds and house prices, the right time to invest, and what he believes is one, among many, of the great legal scams in the housing market.  Charlie is also an advocate for ending homelessness, and shares what he believes the government and charities ought to be focusing on to remedy the issue.  

Charlie talks about life, his heritage, what his passions are including his love for aviation, home-parenting, and of course, he shares with us the quote that continually inspires him.

Charlie Lamdin's career mission is to help fix the housing market, end homelessness while raising his 3 home-schooled kids and indulging his passion for flying, especially seaplanes, and film making. 

He's the host of the most-viewed housing market podcast, Moving Home with Charlie, and the founder of BestAgent, the home-movers site.

Moving Home with Charlie: https://mhwc.co.uk/

Best Agent: https://bestagent.co.uk/

Short film: https://vimeo.com/750760327/6c885e6120

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'm in conversation with Professor Mia Mask and talk about her book 'Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western', and why she wrote this book.  We discuss the film genre of the Westerns and look at issues of whitewashing and changing narratives including revisionist Westerns and critiques. We also chat about the portrayal of masculinity in film, the female cowboy, Pam Grier, and of course, the quote that continually inspires her.

Mia Mask is a Professor of Film at Vassar College.  She is the author of Divas on Screens; Black Women in American Film.  She edited the anthology Contemporary Black American Cinema. And, she published the jointly edited collection, Poitier Revisited: Reconsidering a Black Icon in the Obama Age.  Her commentary has been featured on National Public Radio, the Criterion Channel and CNN’s The Movies.   In 2023, she published Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western.  

Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western takes place at BFI Southbank from 1 February – 18 March, including Mario Van Peebles in conversation on 9 February and the illustrated discussion Introduction to Black Rodeo on 10 February. For tickets visit whatson.bfi.org.uk

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,  director and actor Mario Van Peebles takes some time out to come on the podcast to chat about his career and life.  We talk about the great influence his father, Melvin Van Peebles, has had in his career;  his passion for the Western genre and why he made the film 'Posse', and 'Outlaw Posse'.  We discuss the importance of telling the right story, legacy, heritage and representation, issues of whitewashing and other issues.  We also chat about his classic film 'Swing Jack City', and of course, Mr. Van Peebles shares the quote that continually inspires him.

Actor, writer, filmmaker and activist Mario Van Peebles will be in Conversation on Sunday 9th of February 2025 at the BFI's 'Black Rodeo: A History of the Black American Western,  to talk about his career to date, including his contribution to the western genre. Whether it be as an actor in Clint Eastwood’s Heartbreak Ridge and his father Melvin Van Peebles’ Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song or directing New Jack City, Baadasssss!, Posse and Panther, he has proved to be one of the US’s leading filmmakers and has the ability to write, act, produce and direct strong, independent work simultaneously.

 In conversation: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=mario-van-peebles-in-conversation&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

Outlaw Posse preview: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=outlaw-posse-preview&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

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'm in conversation with Allison Shadock, an advocate for Glioblastoma (GBM) awareness and research.  Recently her husband John sadly passed away from this malignant brain tumour. With Ali's consent, we made this episode to celebrate John's life and talk about how they both met, their lives together and how they both fought this cancer.  

Allison Shadock is the widow to John, a Glioblastoma (GBM) warrior for over 5 1/2 years. John, a very healthy and active person, was given a terminal diagnosis with only six months to a year to live in 2019 at the young age of 35. As the couple navigated the brain cancer world, they found ways to enjoy a low key life and still find the positives in the situation. A diagnosis that can tear people apart, they realized they were a tight couple and became even closer! 

There is no cure for this cancer, with less than 2% of total cancer research funding going towards brain cancer combined with the unfortunate low life expectancy, Ali told John early on, we don’t need a cure today. We just have to get to the next step. Time after time and set back after setback, they kept finding ways to continue the fight, staying “Strong All Along” on their journey! Although no time will ever be enough, they cherished every extra day together and knew their love and positivity helped them immensely along the way! 

From having no clue to what GBM was and turning their lives completely upside down in every way imaginable and having limited  people that could relate to them, they knew they didn’t want that for others on this journey.  Ali and John wanted to share their experiences and hopefully shed light on GBM so they could support others going through the unimaginable and unknown so they started the Instagram page “Strong All Along” Thus, Ali and John began to document their battle with GBM as a way to share their day to day as a cancer patient and spouse and bring awareness to others. Through this, they began to connect with others having gone through or currently going through a similar battle. Hoping to help them stay “Strong All Along” on their journey as well.

*This episode is dedicated to the memory of my friend, Claire Echavarry, who sadly passed away from GBM.  I miss you, boss.*

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'm in conversation with wife and husband medical practitioners Sarah and Ata Anane-Adusei.  Sarah shares her career as a radiologist and  why she chose this career path.  She also stresses the importance for women and men to have regular breast screening checks.  Ata talks about his career as a psychiatrist, why mental health and well-being is vital, and he gives his reasons why he believes certain communities do not subscribe to the idea of mental health checks.  

The couple discuss their experiences of racism in their careers, the importance of representation within their respective career fields and  encouraging an interest in STEM to young students.  Sarah and Ata also talk about ongoing projects for communities, raising a family, their Ghanaian heritage and of course, they share the quote and saying that continually inspires them.

Dr Sarah Anane-Adusei's (FRCR, MBBS, MPharm) journey into medicine was far from conventional. From an early age, she was passionate about science, which initially led her to pursue pharmacy. However, her aspirations evolved, and she later embarked on a graduate-entry medical program, successfully gaining admission in Wales.  During her early years as a junior doctor, she discovered a strong interest in Radiology, a field that uses imaging to diagnose and treat diseases. She is now proud to be a Breast Radiologist, a role that allows her to combine her technical expertise with compassionate patient care.  Throughout this journey, she has been fortunate to have the support of family and friends. However, she recognises that many aspiring individuals may not have access to similar support systems. Together with her husband, she has co-founded MedAspire, a company dedicated to guiding and mentoring individuals pursuing careers in medicine and dentistry.

Dr. Ata Anane-Adusei (MRCPsych, MBBS, PGCert, LLM, BSc) specializes in Forensic Psychiatry. He has thoroughly enjoyed his training journey and the opportunities it has provided.  Ata earned his medical degree at St. George’s, University of London, where he received world-class training in a diverse environment. He spent his early years as a junior doctor in Northampton and Somerset, gaining invaluable experience across various medical and surgical specialties.

Before his medical career, he taught Chemistry in South London, helping talented students secure places at prestigious universities. He also holds an LL.M in Medical Law and Ethics from the University of Kent, as well as a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Manchester.

He aspires to work as a consultant in Forensic Psychiatry with a focus on Neurodiversity, particularly within black and ethnic minority communities.

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!

With the upcoming release of Season 2 of 'Squid Game',  on today's episode I chat with BAFTA Award winning Executive Producer Stephen Yemoh.  We talk about his work on the Squid Game: The Challenge TV series, how he started off his career within the entertainment industry and also the importance of representation.  We also talk about his heritage, his love for music, Liverpool F.C and of course, Stephen shares the quote that continually inspires him. 

Stephen began his career working at Sky Sports on Soccer AM before moving on to work on a range of shows at Endemol including Fame Academy, The Match and Soccer Aid.

As a freelance producer he’s worked on many reality and entertainment shows including Comic Relief, Love Island, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and two series of The Circle, and now currently works at Studio Lambert.

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!