The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode, Rishma Dhaliwal has a sit-down with me to nerd out over most things Hip-Hop related. Rishma shares her immense love for the music, why its cultural importance and influence is of continual importance and significance in society, and what, in her opinion, is insightful Hip-Hop.  From the Old Guard to the up and coming talent of Hip-Hop, we chat about it all including whom she would like to interview for her magazine, and what one of her pet peeves is within the music industry.  Rishma also talks about her experience working within the media industry as a PR specialist, the importance of inclusion and diversity, and tips for those wanting to succeed within the competitive industry of music. Rishma also reveals whom she would like in her line-up for a Block Party, and of course, she talks about the quote that continually inspires her.

Rishma Dhaliwal is the founder of 'I am Hip-Hop' magazine, and is also a PR and marketing specialist with over 15 years of experience working in media and PR.

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 talk with writer and film director Nick Rizzini.  Nick talks about how he started his career and why he believes directing is his true calling rather than acting.  We also discuss in depth of our shared passion for NFTs, and talk about his new documentary, "Deep Down The Rabbit Hole"- a documentary about NFTs, community, hope and despair. Nick also discusses the importance of good branding, his favourite director, and shares the quote that continually inspires him.

Nick is a writer/director based in the UK.  He  founded The Queen Mab Company, an independent film and video production company in 2017. After studying classical acting at LAMDA, he wrote and directed his first short movie “Shhh” that has been screened both nationally and internationally, through international distributors. His most recent work is “Framed”, a micro-budget feature film he self produced.

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 actor Enva Lewis.  Enva chats about her film acting debut in 'How to Have Sex', and why the film is important in exploring issues of consent and relationships.    Enva also shares how her heritage has shaped her identity, the importance of being grounded and being true to oneself, and her pride for being a Birmingham native.  Enva and I also talk about her upcoming projects, and we also geek out over the works of  John Hughes including her personal favourite.  Enva recounts on which film-set she worked on that also happened to be the set of her favourite film director.  And of course, she shares the quote that continually inspires her. 

Enva Lewis starred in the much-lauded & critically acclaimed 'How to have Sex'.  She will next be seen in Amazon Prime's 'My Fault: London', a film based on the novel by Mercedes Ron.  She will also be appearing in Lena Dunham’s upcoming Netflix series 'TOO MUCH'.

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, producer and writer Zarrar Kahn.  Zarrar shares with us how he started his career including his passion for theatre.  We also talk about his debut feature film, 'In Flames', which was Pakistan's official submission for Best International Film at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, and also premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. We chat about the topic of identity and cultural heritage, the themes of relationships, issues of trauma, society and the male gaze. Zarrar also shares 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 Radio Producer, Photographer and Filmmaker Anthony Cheng.  Anthony shares his story about his musical education as a classically trained pianist,  how he started within the industry, and also talks about his podcast, FORTE, where he has conversations with musicians, artists and musicians about their lives and philosophies. We also discuss his upcoming independently-made feature length documentary called 'Hidden Music', which explores the life and works of renowned art-song composer Ian Venables.

Anthony and I also have an in-depth conversation about heritage and cultural Identity, and of course, Anthony shares with us the quote that continually inspires him.

Anthony Cheng started out his visual exploration in digital photography for over a decade before venturing into filmmaking at the start of 2022. Both his extensive experience in classical music (studied under a piano scholarship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) and in radio production have informed his passion for storytelling. It is this privilege to understand the nature of being human and how we operate in this world that makes a career in journalism, in the most general sense, exhilarating. When not filmmaking, he is producing political and cultural programmes with John Pienaar and Alexis Conran at Times Radio, a national broadcasting arm of the Times and Sunday Times newspaper in London, 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!

**Trigger warning*: contains descriptions of domestic violence**.

In today's episode, I talk with entrepreneur and Revenue Consultant Jeya Sivans.  Jeya talks about her career and what it takes to sustain a business in today's climate.  We chat about what she encounters as a woman working within the Tech industry, and how she strives for equality within a male dominated industry.  She also chats about her other projects including owning a catering enterprise as a restaurateur, and what it takes to make a good chicken curry.  Jeya also shares her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse and violence, and why it is important to bring awareness of such issues to communities within the diaspora.  Jeya discusses what it means to be a proud Tamil woman, her love for saris, and of course, she shares the quotes that continually inspire her.

You can contact Jeya via her website: https://perpus.co/

If you or anyone you know is going through domestic abuse, be it mental or physical,  please reach out to the following:

https://southallblacksisters.org.uk/
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
https://refuge.org.uk/

Alternatively, please reach out to organisations in your region for help. 

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 Farmer, educator and musician Krishna Mckenzie.  Krishna shares with us his journey from childhood in England including his time at The Jiddu Krishnamurti School,  to The Auroville Farms and setting up Solitude Farm in Tamil Nadu, South India. Krishna talks about the importance of Permaculture, understanding local foods including the importance of food, culture and music. We discuss issues of urbanisation, the impact of industralisation, carbon footprints, GM Foods, and the ecological & economical costs. Krishna also shares with us his philosophy, his music with his band 'Emergence' and their latest studio album sessions, and of course, he shares the quotes and sayings that continually inspire him.

For the last 30 years at Solitude Farm, Auroville (India) Krishna McKenzie has been reconnecting with the local food and relationship to food through community, education, celebration. Krishna Mckenzie is also an actor and musician with his group “Emergence” formed here in India. As an educator and public speaker Krishna has been part of many TEDX and University events.

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, documentary filmmaker Valérie Osouf talks about her role as co-curator on 'Tigritudes'- a Pan-African cycle of 128 films from 42 countries produced between 1956 and 2023. Valérie discusses the relevance of Tigritudes, the lack of respect and knowledge towards Pan-African cinema. We discuss issues surrounding heritage, the legacy of colonialism, including France's colonial history, language,  and also the challenges that African filmmakers face when sharing their stories to a wider audience. Valérie  also talks about her career, topics that fascinate her, and also shares the quote that continually inspires her. 

Valérie Osouf is a French visual artist / documentary filmmaker / curator / activist.
Currently, she’s preparing the shoot of her third feature length documentary, Towards the Night, set in Kigali and starting in two weeks.
She’s also working on an installation through The School of Mutants collective, about Jonas Mekas and Ousmane Sembene and on another one with Congolese artists Cromix Onana and Bryan Batupe, Kinshasa capital of the whole-world.

Since 2020, with filmmaker Dyana Gaye, she co-curates Tigritudes, a Pan-African cycle of 128 films from 42 countries produced between 1956 and 2023.
Exhibitions now in CCA Glasgow and Merana Kunst
https://www.cca-glasgow.com/programme/you-have-not-yet-been-defeated
https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/The-School-of-Mutants/EA99F7FF9CE7E616/Exhibitions

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!

*Trigger warning*: Due to the nature of Christiana's job as a lawyer, sensitive issues come up in the conversation that some listeners may find disturbing.

In today's episode, I talk with lawyer and entrepreneur Christiana Ajilore.  Christiana discusses why she took up the profession of law and the field she specialises in.  She shares the challenges and rewards that come from her career and  the importance of mental health and well-being.  We discuss issues surrounding unconscious bias, the interpretation of the law and other topics.  Christiana also talks about her passion for event management, and for the supperclub that she runs and  her love for music and food. We chat about her Yorùbá heritage, British identity and we try to unravel what it means to 'have tea'.  And of course, Christiana shares the quote and saying that continually inspires her.

Christiana Ajilore is a Child Protection & Education Lawyer by day.  On the side she runs 'Eats & Beats',  a supperclub which launched in 2017 to deliver on three key fronts: (I) to celebrate the diversity of London with refreshing food fusions over a 3 course meal, (II) provide entertainment, and (III) raise money for local charities.  

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 Consumer Rights champion Helen Dewdney, otherwise known as 'The Complaining Cow'.  Helen talks about the importance of understanding your rights as a consumer especially within the UK, topical consumer issues and why it's important for companies to invest in customer services.  Helen discusses how local council budget cuts can have a lasting impact on trading standards and the issues that have arisen due to this .  Helen also shares tips on how to make an effective and valid legal complaint and other points.

Helen is a Best-selling author, blogger, consultant, consumer champion, journalist, speaker and presenter.  You can check her website for more information.

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!