Send us a text

There is always a question around sisterhoods in the workplace and how effective are allegiances and alliances with people in the office that look like you. In this episode I explore allegiances & alliances, when they go wrong and exploring the root of some of the unhealthy competition between black women.

Email me:  [email protected]

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)

Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

'On Blast' - Is a new segment I will be introducing periodically to the Podcast, I will put on blast those who have been exceptional in moving mad.

Email me: [email protected]

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)

Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Some employment agencies are like lone rangers, mannerless, instilling fear into candidates and bullying them into taking roles that are obviously not suitable for them, all in the pursuit of their commission.

In this episode I share my experiences with employment agencies and offer practical advice on how to manage them. I also share with you agencies to avoid.

Email me on [email protected]

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Many underestimate the effects of anxiety in the workplace. But how do you work through and deal with anxiety in a professional environment? Let's explore this topic, in this latest episode of Toya Talks.

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Email: [email protected]

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Travelling to work via public transport is a sport and increasingly becoming a contact sport. The aggression encountered on the way to and from work are often laced with undertones of racism and sexism. This then sets the tone for ones work day. 

I was recently sent an article by Erika Stallings 'When Black Women Go From Office Pet to Office Threat'. This is something we as black women encounter in the office when we are ambitious and wanting to progress, it's at this point we go from office pet to office threat. We are then met with tension, microaggression, racism the list goes on. I use this episode to explain and address 'Office pet to office threat' and provide some practical solutions, drawing upon my own experiences of this in the workplace.

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Email: [email protected]

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Most of us watched the video recently circulating on social media of a young lady Gracie looking stunning at work with her beautiful natural afro hair. In the video we saw her white colleagues touching prodding ummming and arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring fascinated about her natural hair admitting they had never seen natural hair on a black woman before. What was more uncomfortable is Gracies facial expressions. It was undeniable that she looked uncomfortable. So many questions. Did they ask permission before touching her hair? If so did she say yes? If she said yes did she feel under pressure to say yes? 

The video went viral. Watching this video several times and reading the reactions of fellow black women it caused me to step back and unpack my hair choices when going to work, including how I wear my hair to interviews etc. In this Episode I share with you my hair choices for work and why. I will also be sharing my views on the Gracie video and answer the question 'Do Black Women Have A Social Responsibility To Explain Natural Hair In the Workplace?;

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Email: [email protected]

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

In my younger years I believed the key to my success in the workplace was my line manager. A string of road blocks, incompetent managers and a large dose of office politics soon made me realise that success is a choice and the choice sits with me. Too much responsibility is placed on our managers when in fact a manager owes you nothing. We are often raised with the mindset to be grateful to have a job but this shouldn't then make us so grateful that we talk ourselves out of growing and developing in an organisation, or in our careers. The responsibility of progression, growth and success is yours. Managers manage a department they do not manage your career that's your responsibility. 

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Email: [email protected]

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Bullying in the work place is often masqueraded as banter or disguised in the all too familiar quote of 'you're being sensitive'. Many experience bullying in the workplace and often not know what to do and how to deal with it. As a black women the stereotypes that continues to be placed on us often serves as a deterrent in preventing us from speaking up when faced with bullying in the workplace. ITV's recent 3 part episode 'Sticks and Stones' follows a black man, Sales Associate Thomas Benson who is bullied at work. As the bullying intensifies we watch Thomas deteriorate and we see how the bullying effects his mental health, his home life and of course his work life.

Watching 'Sticks and Stones' was uncomfortable. In the early stages of my career I was bullied by colleagues, management and in different organisations. As i became more senior the bullying was overt but was still effective in crushing my confidence and self-esteem. As I began to understand the social aspects of work and grow as a person I very quickly understood the need to set boundaries with my colleagues and how to then deal with and speak up when I was bullied or treated unfairly. Often the bullying was motivated by the colour of my skin. Irrespective of how black women assert themselves, in comparison to our white counterparts we will be considered as aggressive or even the aggressor, however I refuse to accept this as a deterrent from speaking up. There are different ways of asserting yourself and understanding how to use the office politics, and workplace rules/regulations, and grievance procedure has made asserting myself at work easier. We are use to being the minority in the workplace and that and sometimes is uncomfortable in itself so if asserting ones self means we will have to be uncomfortable while doing so, then its' a feeling we are already use too. In this Episode I discuss workplace bullying advise on how to deal with bullying at work and also I share a recent example of an ex-colleague who is being bullied at work.

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks

Email: [email protected]

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Asserting yourself as a black women is often perceived as aggression. This in-turn puts us off asserting ourselves and builds up resentment towards our employers. I am an advocate of using the governance process and strategically understanding how to communicate with Human Resources and senior management. I have been sworn at, had things thrown at me, ignored, humiliated and in every situation I have known that a legitimate display of anger could change the narrative. Instead of focusing on the situation where we have been wronged and treated badly, the focus then turns to our reaction. Knowing this I have developed my superpower in being a black woman. Weaponising our tears is never an option for us,  the stereotype of 'angry black woman' is the narrative developed by those who use this to oppress black woman. You cannot put black women in the corner.

*New episodes will be uploaded every Tuesday.

Follow me on the following social media platforms:

*Instagram: toya_washington & toya_talks
*Snapchat: toyawashington

*Youtube: Ms Washington
*Twitter: toya_w

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com

Send us a text

Welcome to Toya Talks — the podcast where culture, courage, and career collide.

This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a movement for truth-telling, strategy, and unapologetic brilliance in the world of work.

Created for Black Women first, and inclusive of allies, Toya Talks unpacks global issues, culture, and life — always bringing it back to the workplace and what it means for us all.

If you’ve ever questioned your place, your power, or your path at work, start here. Bold truths, necessary conversations, and lessons that shape not just how we work but how we live.

Hit play. Step into the conversation.

*New episodes uploaded weekly, every Wednesday.

Follow on our social media platforms:

*Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks
*Snapchat: @toyawashington

*Youtube: Ms Washington
*Twitter: @toya_w

Sponsorships - Email me: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

TikTok: toya_washington

Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast)

Snapchat: @toyawashington

Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks

www.toyatalks.com
https://toyatalks.com/

Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

• Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble
• Instagram: @sistahscribble
• Website: www.sistahscribble.com