Glocal Citizens

April Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week, we’re venturing west from Ghana along the coast to Sierra Leone by way of the US to settle here in Accra. My guest, Joannes “Joe” Hotagua is a Sierra Leonian-American, Strategic Advisor with 16 years of professional experience helping startups monetize their digital assets and Fortune 500 brands reach their target customers through digital media advertising. He’s a modern-day iteration of the Ad Man. Early in his career, Joe was responsible for using email marketing and affiliate advertising to drive product purchases and lead generation for direct-to-consumer companies. In 2012, he began his investment career by personally investing in PeepsOut, a minority-run Livestream mobile app, allowing users to see the crowd size at bars and restaurants in real time. At its peak, there were 90 restaurants and bars (in two cities) on the service, and $350K was raised in funding. His current business, based in Freetown, focuses on improving the lives of underrepresented and underserved populations and operates in four sectors: African Startup Advisory, African Film Production, E-commerce, and Real Estate. Joe’s e-commerce platform, Authentic African, is both an e-commerce store and social media broadcast. The e-commerce mission is to connect the diaspora with their African roots through African handmade products while helping local African entrepreneurs build their businesses internationally. The @Authentic_African social media broadcast delivers history, news, and culture to the African diaspora. This conversation was another great opportunity to reflect on the shared mission many of us African content creators have around manifesting a new Africa, a new world. Where to find Joannes? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube On TikTok What’s Joannes reading? Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Huntington Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari The Silk Roads: New History of the World by Peter Frankopan Silk Road by Eileen Ormsby American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton Other topics of interest: Lungi, Sierra Leone About Sierra Leone’s Mende and Mandingo people Sierra Leonean Creole or Krio On Ebonics On Pidgin languages About Roc-A-Fella Records Kazaa, LimeWire and the evolution of MP3 streaming platforms On Programmatic Advertising Boomerang, the film On Frederick W. Smith of Fed ExSpecial Guest: Joannes Hotagua.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast, rather than one last guest rounding out our March 2023 herstories series, I went into our archives with a specific goal of putting together a salon of sorts about craft. I think of craft as how vocation, location, persistence and passion fulfill us. According to Merriam-Webster, it is skill in planning, making, or executing. I always ask this question because I feel it allows my guest to share more than what they do on a day-to-day basis for economic returns i.e. work, and gets closer to the heart of who they are and how they go about manifesting a new world. So, this week we’re re-visiting with: Jamaican-American, Nydia Swaby a Black feminist researcher, writer, and curator based in London about Archives, Art and Freedom Dreams; Filipino-Jamaican-American, Zee Clarke an author, mindfulness practitioner and racial healing professional about Healing in Breathing; Ghanaian-Afro-German, Ekua Yankah a thought leader in international development on being a Polyglot, Professor, Policy Advisor and Art Patron; Ghanaian-Brit, Esther Armah an author, journalist and entrepreneur on storytelling for structural change; Nigerian, Sarah Adeyinka a humanitarian researcher and author on Humanitarian CoCreating; and and Detroit Native, Dereca Blackmon an inclusion innovator, speaker and spiritual activist about Uncommon Conversations. Be sure to check out full episodes using the links above, there’s a wealth of valuable, craft-inspired insights from each of these audacious women!Special Guests: Dereca Blackmon, Ekua Yankah, Esther Armah, Nydia Swaby, Sarah Adeyinka, and Zhalisa "Zee" Clarke.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s herstory comes to us from southern Africa. We’re exploring Zambia in a big way, especially the role that women have played in forward movement in the country. My guest is award-winning journalist, communications specialist and cultural curator, Samba Yonga. She is Founder and Head Communications Strategist at Ku-Atenga Media and co-founder of the Women’s History Museum of Zambia, established in 2017, with the mandate to research and restore African indigenous narratives, knowledge and 'living histories' focused on women. She has curated exhibitions and written papers focused on indigenous African knowledge systems and narratives in Zambia but also for art spaces, museums and universities such as National Musuems of World Cultures in Sweden, Yale University in USA, Windybrow Centre in South Africa and many others. In fact, she joined me in conversation just as she was headed to Shanghai University to present her works in the museum space at Museums, Decolonisation and Restitution: A Global Conversation. Samba has been recognized as 100 most influential Africans by Quartz, New York, and one of 40 most influential Africans. She is also a Google Podcast Creator, TEDx Lusaka speaker and a Museum Lab Fellow for 2022. It’s always a treat to connect with other podcasters and after you have a listen, be sure to head over to the museum’s Youtube channel to check out the Leading Ladies animated podcast! Where to find Samba? www.whmzambia.org On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What’s Samba reading? Of Water and the Spirit: Ritual, Magic, and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman by Malidoma Patrice Some 491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69 by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Wallpaper Magazine Vanity Fair Magazine What’s Samba watching? Luther on Netflix Chef’s Table on Netflix East Asian Dramas on Netflix What’s Samba listening to? Ratchet & Respectable Podcast The Comb on BBC Hidden Brain Podcast The Moth Podcast Selam & Hello Podcast Other topics of interest: The Old Drift: A Novel by Namwali Serpell Lusaka, Zambia About Trendsetters Magazine On Settler Societies Glocally Speaking in Zambian Languages Mass Design Group Third Culture KidsSpecial Guest: Samba Yonga.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s herstory comes to us from New York, via France, Benin and Nigeria. Yasmina F. Edwards, born in France, and spending summers traveling to Africa including her homelands in Benin and Nigeria, is the founder of the YFE Agency. In both corporate work and entrepreneurship, Yasmina is best known for her cultural awareness and savvy. She has worked with award-winning creatives, activists, and CEOs, notably women and members of underrepresented communities. She has secured more than 300 media placements globally from CNN, Vogue, Le Figaro, Jeune Afrique, MSNBC, and the Hollywood Reporter, as well as partnering with well-known Festivals such as the Toronto Film Festival and Afropunk. In nine years, she has been instrumental in helping transition creatives and public personalities from their local markets to a global audience. She single-handedly helps them build their brands in the US using social media platforms, shaping their messages in order to connect with new audiences. She provides connections with the relationships she’s built over the years and uses these connections to successfully initiate key brand partnerships that continue to be the cornerstone of her work and her clients’ careers. She firmly believes that access is what stands between a person and an opportunity; she is committed to providing the keys that open the doors to her clients' success. Where to find Yasmina? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube On TikTok What’s Yasmina reading? Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrahms No Disrespect by Sistah Souljah Le Cri de L'innocence by Gabriel Soulyeka What’s Yasmina listening to? The Diary of a CEO 3jaj Podcast Other topics of interest: Where is Poitier, France Oyo Empire The Berlin Conference Bigger Than Africa ImanSpecial Guest: Yasmina Fagbemi.

March Greetings Glocal Citizens! ICMYI it's Women’s History Month! As is our tradition here on the podcast, all month we’re featuring herstories of women moving and shaking around the world. This week, my guest is a Global Ghanaian based in Los Angeles, California. Alua Arthur is a death doula, recovering attorney, and the founder of Going with Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization that exists to support people as they answer the question, “What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?” Going with Grace works to improve and redefine the end-of-life experience for people rooted in every community using the individual lived experience as the foundation. Alua was a keynote speaker at EndWell 2019 and featured in the LA Times, Vogue, Refinery29, The Doctors, and InStyle. She is inspired by the gift of LIFE itself and is always on the quest for the best donuts and fried plantains! This conversation offers so much in terms of not only insight into the work that is Alua’s professional calling, but it is also an opportunity for listeners to consider what is often a difficult topic as a truly expansive experience. Where to find Alua? www.goingwithgrace.com On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What’s Alua reading? Grit and Grace: Uncommon Wisdom for Inspiring Leaders Designed to Make You Think What’s Alua watching? Love after Lock-up 90 Day Fiancé Other topics of interest: Hilla Limann Leimert Park National End-of-Life Doula Alliance The Art of Death Midwifery Training Burkitt’s Lymphoma Everyday People and DJ Moma Limitless with Chris HemsworthSpecial Guest: Alua Arthur.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! As February comes to a close, and with it the annual call to attention, remembrance, and action that is Black History Month in North America, I decided to curate a Black Progress episode drawing on the research of Dr. T.J Desch-Obi in the historical ethnography of pre-colonial Africa and the African Diaspora and Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo in African Philanthropy, snapshots of pre- and post-colonial Senegal with Bara Diokhane, evolving systems and training leaders with Mustapha Njie and the lived experience of Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz, as a creative, as a woman, as Black American navigating career, marriage, and self-discovery in parallel with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Each week here on the podcast we’re doing our part to share stories of Black presence that are indeed manifesting a new world so I hope this compilation of Dynamic Diasporans making local and global impact will inspire you, your presence, your progress, and your passion. Where to find this week's guests? Dr. T.J Desch-Obi Bara Diokhane Dr. Bhekinkosi Moyo Mustapha Njie Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz Cover art: https://akoncity.com/Special Guests: Bara Diokhané , Bhekinkosi Moyo, Elizabeth Rollins-Moskowitz, Mustapha Njie, and T.J. Desch-Obi.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast I’m taking you along with me on one of the stops on my winter tour in the US. Last month my travels took me to Missoula, Montana for the state rivalry game to see my nephew’s team, the University of Montana Grizzlies taking on Montana State. The Grizzlies were unable to overcome their rivals, but all was not lost. I met a fellow Ghanaian, Gabriel Ansah and his family and through this interview I get to share yet another glocal perspective on living, working and playing in a home away from “home.” Gabriel Ansah is a fitness trainer and proud owner of 406AMCREW, a brand promoting positivity through fitness. Gabriel spent the first 17 years of his life in his native Tema, Ghana before traveling to the United States for a high school exchange program in Missoula where he currently resides with his wife and two sons. After graduating from the University of Montana where studied management information systems, he discovered that his true passion was in the pursuit of fitness and motivating others to achieve their fitness goals. While leading the 406AMCREW, Gabe is also part of the coaching staff for local soccer team Missoula Surf. He’s the director of player development for the club and the coach of its U9 team. In the summer of 2022, he also joined the University of Montana soccer coaching staff. As a Lululemon Ambassador, Gabe is able to extend his reach into communities as a representative of the brand, helping to build a community of like-minded individuals who share the company's values and vision for a healthy and active lifestyle. Be sure to listen in and learn how this partnership with Lululemon afforded Gabe the opportunity to give back in a big way to his community in Tema last December. Where to find Gabe? On LinkedIn On Instagram What’s Gabe reading? The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why by Eric Thomas Other topics of interest: History of Tema, Ghana About Missoula, Montana About Lululemon in communitiesSpecial Guest: Gabriel Ansah.

Valentine’s Day Greetings Glocal Citizens! It’s happy hearts day and this week's episode is especially close to my heart because we’re talking learning and language, culture and heritage in multigenerational diaspora communities across the globe. Dr. Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji, a Nigerian-American Pharmacist and recently the CEO of her publishing company, Taikun Publishing, is the author of the innovative, educational and interactive Yoruba-English bilingual book titled, The Yoruba Sound Book for Children, which was successfully launched in April 2022. Currently based in Maryland, Dr. Taiye earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, a top institution in the U.S. Although she migrated to the US at a relatively young age, she is fortunate to have spent her early formative years in Nigeria where she was truly able to gain appreciation for the Yoruba culture and language. As a mother wanting her own children to also value their cultural heritage, she is even more resolute about finding innovative ways to pass on the rich culture and instilling in them a sense of pride about their great ancestry, cultural heritage and identity. Dr. Taiye is passionate about preserving and promoting the Yoruba language and culture, particularly in the diaspora where comprehensive resources to teach or learn the tonal Yoruba language are limited. We say cheers to continued success with works in Yoruba and other African languages! Special thanks to GC 83, Ivonne Cameron for making the connection. Where to find Taiye? www.yortones.com On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On Youtube What's Taiye reading? Principles and Power of Vision by Dr. Myles Monroe History of the Yoruba People by S. Adebanji Akintoye Yoruba Proverbs by Oyekan Owomoyela I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi Will by Will Smith Other Books On Bookshelf: Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson Finding Me by Viola Davis Don’t Drop the Mic by TD Jakes Other topics of interest: About Prince George’s County, Maryland Omoluwabi About Oriki and more King Sunny AdéSpecial Guest: Taiye Ayoola-Adedeji.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we have Part 2 of the Black Mixcellence duet. Ghanaian-Brit Colin Asare-Appiah joins me to talk the history of the term “mixology,” his journey from bar hand to head of Trade Director of Multi-Cultural and LGBTQ+ Advocacy at one of the world’s leading spirit bands--Bacardi, and the importance of getting involved. Colin has worked with numerous spirit brands, celebrity chefs, cocktail bars and industry experts across the globe. He starred in the “The Cocktail Kings” on the DISCOVERY Channel where he travelled around the world creating bespoke cocktails to reflect their destinations. In his current role, Colin oversees fostering brand advocacy for the Bacardi USA Brand Portfolio. His expertise and spirits knowledge have been featured in Imbibe, Complex, WSJ, TIME and Cocktail Lovers Magazine to name a few. If you haven’t bought the book yet, what are you waiting for? #GetInvolvedBruv! Get yours here. Where to find Colin? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What’s Colin reading? The Real Pepsi Challenge: The Inspirational Story of Breaking the Color Barrier in American Business by Stephanie Capparell The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America by Nikesh Shukl [Natives](http://%22%E2%80%8C%22) by Akala Afro-Vegan Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry The cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty Other topics of interest: About celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver Douglas Ankrah and the Porn Star Martini The LAB About sobolo Cocktail Kings About the BAFTA Awards Tales of the Cocktail Tom Bullock Caperitif High on the Hog Cocktails: Shaken & Stirred Ariel Contreras-Fox The Howard Theatre Ian Burrell Front/Back in Accra Lagos Cocktail Week 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop About Julep Cocktails About Ashtin BerrySpecial Guest: Colin Asare-Appiah.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I have the first of a “spirited” two-part conversation with the authors of Black Mixcellence--Cuban-Jamaican-American writer, Tamika Hall and another fellow countryman, Ghanaian mixologist, Colin Asare-Appiah. First up is Tamika who is is a mom, freelance writer & content strategy manager. She has created editorial content and marketing strategies for The Vitamin Shoppe, Mass Appeal, The Examiner, Mommynoire/MadameNoire, stupidDOPE.com, ICONIX, and Yellowbrick.co. She’s written branded content for a variety of brands including Bacardi, Maker’s Mark, PepsiCo, Anheusur-Busch, and Viniq. in addition to her commercial portfolio, she co-created the curriculum for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry Essentials online course with NYU’s Jonathan Tisch Center of Hospitality and was the winner of the 2021 Budweiser Hashtag Sports Award for Black Storytelling honoring her work on the pilot program for The Sneaker Essentials K-12 initiative. I had a wonderful time getting to know more about Tamika and her explorations of black culture plus some of her inspirations. I look forward to sharing more insights on the global impact of the spirit industry on cultures across diasporas in Part 2 with Colin. Where to find Tamika? Buy Black Mixcellence! On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook What’s Tamika reading? Will by Will Smith The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz Sometimes I Trip on How Happy we Could Be by Nichole Perkins Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis All About Love by Bell Hooks What's Tamika watching? Sex and the City New York Undercover Works by Spike Lee What’s Tamika listening to? Deep Purple Teddy Pendergrass Prince Other topics of interest: Sylvia’s Soul Food Restaurant Women’s Day Magazine Nkiru Books Black Wall Street Tom BullockSpecial Guest: Tamika Hall.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast, it’s another gem of a conversation that started at the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. My guest, Nigerian geologist turned journalist, Pelu Awofeso and I met in passing between his moderating sessions and communing with fellow writers. Pelu has made it his mission to promote local and international awareness of Nigerian arts, culture and traditional architecture, among other national assets, especially as they relate to or impact on domestic tourism. His writings have appeared in the Sunday Mirror, Lonely Planet,_ Kinfolk_,_ World Policy Journal_,_ Africa Today_,_ Africa in Words_, LOJEL, 234Next and The Sowetan, among many others. He has published five travel books all focused on his experiences traveling in Nigeria (and Africa). A winner of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalists Awards in tourism reporting, in late 2019, Pelu was also named the Best Travel Journalist in Nigeria by Nigeria Travel Week. He is currently at work on a documentary on one of Africa's pioneer indigenous missionaries and first Black bishop of the Anglican Church, Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1809-91). When he is not traveling or writing, he divides his time between attending creative arts events in Lagos or working as a city guide to tourists. Where to find Pelu? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What’s Pelu reading? Steal Like an Artist: 10 Thing Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi Other topics of interest: Nigeria’s National Youth Services Corps About Jos, Nigeria Yoruba History Resource On Pelu’s forthcoming project about Samuel Ajayi CrowtherSpecial Guest: Pelu Awofeso.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week is a flashback to October 2022 when I spent a weekend with writers at the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. I met Nigerian writer and cofounder of Narrative Landscape Press Limited, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen at the first panel I attended, “Can the African Book Industry Thrive?” For Eghosa the answer must be yes, especially as a firm that believes that owning the means of production is essential to a vibrant publishing industry. Narrative Landscapes Press is committed to more than simply printing physical books they also bring editorial and book design expertise to the fore while developing a cadre of excellent writers. Eghosa’s second novel, Fine Boys, a coming-of-age novel, received wide acclaim in 2012 and was published in America by the Ohio University Press’ Modern African Writers Series in 2021. When he’s not writing or publishing, Eghosa teaches creative writing at the annual Chimamanda Adichie Creative Writing Workshop. Prior to launching into his literary career, he graduated with a medical degree from the University of Benin. In this feel good and insightful conversation, Dr. Eghosa shares tips on how to work with publishers and about the how business of bringing books to the people promises to change the narrative on literacy, lifestyle and literary careers all over Africa. Where to find Eghosa? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What’s Eghosa reading? Truth is a Flightless Bird by Akbar Hussain My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite What’s Eghosa watching? Andor Other topics of interest: About Benin City About the Benin Massacre About Warri, Nigeria Purple Hibiscus David Hymar Masobe Books Nearly all the Men in Lagos are Mad The Black Axe Wole Soyinka By Nike CampbellSpecial Guest: Eghosa Imasuen.

Holiday greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast is the first of a two part conversations with architect, artist and multi-faceted creative, Robertson Ahomka-Lindsay. Until returning back to Ghana in 2020, Robertson spent the majority of his life in the UK where he practiced architecture and explored his many other talents. He is the CEO and founder of Vivarco Studio, a multimedia and architectural design studio specializing in Tropical Modernism embracing eco and sustainable technologies. His interest in tropical modernism embraces the concept of using traditional Ghanaian creative heritage and materials to influence one’s creative approach and execution of design. After years in the making, in 2019 Ghana emerge as the official return destination, not only for African Diasporans, also for Ghanaians as well. This conversation is a reality check of sorts spotlighting how to manage the start-up and sustaining a life lived in Africa. As 2023 starts, surely this week and next are a great resource for introspection and exploration of what could be for a life abroad. Where to find Robertson: On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter What's Robertson reading? Dear Nana: A Letter to My Ancestor by Peter Sarpong Fear No Man: Living Without Compromise in an Intimidating World by George Reed and David Hunt Other topics of interest: Paradigm Network Clifton College, Bristol UK Ignatius Acheampong Nkrumahism Royal Institute of British Architects Ghana's National Cathedral Project About Kwesi Kwarteng

Holiday greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast is the first of a two part conversations with architect, artist and multi-faceted creative, Robertson Ahomka-Lindsay. Until returning back to Ghana in 2020, Robertson spent the majority of his life in the UK where he practiced architecture and explored his many other talents. He is the CEO and founder of Vivarco Studio, a multimedia and architectural design studio specializing in Tropical Modernism embracing eco and sustainable technologies. His interest in tropical modernism embraces the concept of using traditional Ghanaian creative heritage and materials to influence one’s creative approach and execution of design. After years in the making, in 2019 Ghana emerge as the official return destination, not only for African Diasporans, also for Ghanaians as well. This conversation is a reality check of sorts spotlighting how to manage the start-up and sustaining a life lived in Africa. As 2023 approaches, surely this week and next are a great resource for introspection and exploration of what could be for a life abroad. Where to find Robertson: On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter What's Robertson reading? Dear Nana: A Letter to My Ancestor by Peter Sarpong Fear No Man: Living Without Compromise in an Intimidating World by George Reed and David Hunt Other topics of interest: Paradigm Network Clifton College, Bristol UK Ignatius Acheampong Nkrumahism Royal Institute of British Architects Ghana's National Cathedral Project About Kwesi Kwarteng

Greetings Glocal Citizens! 'Tis the season of gift giving, and have I got a wonderful gift for you in this week's episode. As an entrepreneur, Agile Transformation Coach, and speaker, my guest, Jamaican-American, Stacy Kirk has championed for quality and process innovation in software development for over 20 years. After graduating from Stanford University’s School of Computer Science (Yes, another boss #ChocolateCardinal on the mic!), she gained experience as a developer, tester, and leader in diverse industries, including entertainment, security, finance, and healthcare. In 2010, he founded QualityWorks Consulting Group, an app development firm focused on enabling companies to build higher quality software, creating diverse future-ready teams, and accelerating software delivery. Her company was recognized in 2020 as Inc.’s Best in Business for its social impact driving measurable value to clients such as Comcast, AT&T, Truist, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, and Fox. She leads a 50+ and growing team of brilliant technologists located across the US and Jamaica, representing diverse backgrounds, including over 60% women of color. Her team is responsible for creating QualityWatcher, the first AI test case management platform designed to upskill testers while simplifying app quality. In 2020, she launched Posture, a SaaS platform that leverages intelligence and automation to assess and guide small and midsize enterprises to affordably develop a cyber-resilient organization prepared for the competitive advantages of compliance. I thoroughly enjoyed this insightful conversation with Stacy, from a serious discussion about the business of techpreneurship on a global scale to tips for successful start-up and a lots of laughs long the way, I'm sure you too will learn something new (with a smile)! Where to find Stacy? @ Posture @ Quality Works Consulting Group On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram What's Stacy reading? The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah I Can't Make This Up: life Lessons by Kevin Hart What's Stacy listening to? Revisionist History Podcast Other topics of interest: About Radio Shack About Windsor Hills, California Jamaica's Technology Innovation Centre "..we tallawah" About the Dot-Com BubbleSpecial Guest: Stacy Kirk.

Greeting Glocal Citizens! As we ease into the last month of 2022, we're adding another country to our Glocal Citizens tour with a trip to Malawi. My guest this week is Malawian-American, Michelle Alipao Chikaonda. Michelle and I crossed paths in Accra at the sixth edition of the Pa Gya! Literary Festival. She is an award winning nonfiction writer, teacher and avid traveller. A graduate student at the University of East Anglia School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing studying biography and creative nonfiction, Michelle is currently based in the United Kingdom, and at the same time keeping an eye toward the next place she'll call "home." Michelle has won the Literary Award for Narrative Nonfiction of the Tucson Festival of Books, the Stephen J. Meringoff Award for Nonfiction of the Association of Literary Scholars, Critics and Writers, and the Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Scholarship for writers of color from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. In 2015 she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by the Oracle Fine Arts Review, and in 2020 she was longlisted for the inaugural Toyin Falola Prize for emerging African writers, and was published in the prize’s anthology, “In the Sands of Time” (2022). In addition to being a 2019 resident at The Seventh Wave’s Rhinebeck Residency, she is a Voices of Our Nations [VONA] Workshop fellow, a Tin House Summer Workshop alumna, and has presented at several Association of Writing and Writing Programs [AWP] conferences. A contributing editor for nonfiction at Electric Literature, she is also currently published at Al Jazeera, The Globe and Mail, Catapult, the Broad Street Review, Business Insider, and Africa is A Country, among others. Be sure to check out Michelle's website links so you can catch up on Michelle's works across platforms. Where to find Michelle? michellechikaonda.work On Twitter On Facebook On Instagram What's Michelle reading? The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté MD with Daniel Maté When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection by Gabor Maté MD In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté MD What's Michelle watching? The Crown From Scratch Other topics of interest: About Dedza, Malawi About Zomba, Malawi About the Lobolo System Ngoni People United World College International Baccalaureate Kusesa, sweeping US Family Medical Leave Act Song of SongsSpecial Guest: Michelle Alipao Chikaonda.

Greeting Glocal Citizens! As we ease into the last month of 2022, we're adding another country to our Glocal Citizens tour with a trip to Malawi. My guest this week is Malawian-American, Michelle Alipao Chikaonda. Michelle and I crossed paths in Accra at the sixth edition of the Pa Gya! Literary Festival. She is an award winning nonfiction writer, teacher and avid traveller. A graduate student at the University of East Anglia School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing studying biography and creative nonfiction, Michelle is currently based in the United Kingdom, and at the same time keeping an eye toward the next place she'll call "home." Michelle has won the Literary Award for Narrative Nonfiction of the Tucson Festival of Books, the Stephen J. Meringoff Award for Nonfiction of the Association of Literary Scholars, Critics and Writers, and the Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Scholarship for writers of color from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. In 2015 she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by the Oracle Fine Arts Review, and in 2020 she was longlisted for the inaugural Toyin Falola Prize for emerging African writers, and was published in the prize’s anthology, “In the Sands of Time” (2022). In addition to being a 2019 resident at The Seventh Wave’s Rhinebeck Residency, she is a Voices of Our Nations [VONA] Workshop fellow, a Tin House Summer Workshop alumna, and has presented at several Association of Writing and Writing Programs [AWP] conferences. A contributing editor for nonfiction at Electric Literature, she is also currently published at Al Jazeera, The Globe and Mail, Catapult, the Broad Street Review, Business Insider, and Africa is A Country, among others. Be sure to check out Michelle's website links so you can catch up on Michelle's works across platforms. Where to find Michelle? michellechikaonda.work On Twitter On Facebook On Instagram What's Michelle reading? The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté MD with Daniel Maté When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection by Gabor Maté MD In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté MD What's Michelle watching? The Crown From Scratch Other topics of interest: About Dedza, Malawi About Zomba, Malawi About the Lobolo System Ngoni People United World College International Baccalaureate Kusesa, sweeping US Family Medical Leave Act Song of SongsSpecial Guest: Michelle Alipao Chikaonda.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! We have another two part in depth conversation with a very dynamic Diasporan. Part 1 goes live the week of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. The genesis of the holiday has much to do with food--It was a harvest festival celebrated by America's first European immigrant settlers. So, my guest is our own celebration of food--food science and innovation. Born and raised in the US, now based in Accra, Dr. Wanida Lewis is the CEO and Co-founder of non-profit Crescendo Foods, Ghana’s first shared commercial kitchen space and culinary hub. She has over ten years’ experience leading programs, strategic partnerships, and economic evaluation initiatives throughout the African continent. Previously, she wasa Senior Economic Program Advisor in the US Department of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. During her first stint living in Accra in 2018, she founded Young, Gifted, & Brown, LLC, a pipeline program supporting young Ghanaian women and entrepreneurs in STEM. A Food Science Fellowship Award Endowment in her name was established in 2013 to provide fellowship funding for underrepresented graduate students in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University. Another fun fact about Wanida is that she's a certified yoga instructor and can be found working with Glocal Citizens guest, Nana Amoako-Anin at Bliss Yoga Accra training yogis in yin and restorative yoga. Where to find Wanida? Wanida's website On LinkedIn cresendogh.com On Facebook On Instagram On Twitter What's Wanida reading? Terminal Romance: How to Find Love in Cyberspace by Niki Aguirre The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi What's Wanida watching? Abbot Elementary Atlanta From Scratch What's Wanida listening to? J.ill Podcast Africa Daily Podcast Other topics of interest: Theia Coffee House Accra American Association for the Advancement of Science US Foreign Service German Marshall Fund About Historically Black Colleges and Universities Delta Sigma theta Sorority, Inc. Faith Hunter Arianna Elizabeth The Pilates Studio Accra Online Dating Sites, A HistorySpecial Guest: Wanida Lewis.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! We have another two part in-depth conversation with a very dynamic Diasporan. Part 1 goes live the week of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. The genesis of the holiday has much to do with food; it was a harvest festival celebrated by America's first European immigrant settlers. So, my guest is our own celebration of food--food science and innovation. Born and raised in the US, now based in Accra, Dr. Wanida Lewis is the CEO and Co-founder of non-profit Crescendo Foods, Ghana’s first shared commercial kitchen space and culinary hub. She has over ten years’ experience leading programs, strategic partnerships, and economic evaluation initiatives throughout the African continent. Previously, she wasa Senior Economic Program Advisor in the US Department of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. During her first stint living in Accra in 2018, she founded Young, Gifted, & Brown, LLC, a pipeline program supporting young Ghanaian women and entrepreneurs in STEM. A Food Science Fellowship Award Endowment in her name was established in 2013 to provide fellowship funding for underrepresented graduate students in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University. Another fun fact about Wanida is that she's a certified yoga instructor and can be found working with Glocal Citizens guest, Nana Amoako-Anin at Bliss Yoga Accra training yogis in yin and restorative yoga. Where to find Wanida? Wanida's website On LinkedIn crescendogh.com On Facebook On Instagram On Twitter What's Wanida reading? Terminal Romance: How to Find Love in Cyberspace by Niki Aguirre The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi What's Wanida watching? Abbot Elementary Atlanta From Scratch What's Wanida listening to? J.ill Podcast Africa Daily Podcast Other topics of interest: Theia Coffee House Accra American Association for the Advancement of Science US Foreign Service German Marshall Fund About Historically Black Colleges and Universities Delta Sigma theta Sorority, Inc. Faith Hunter Arianna Elizabeth The Pilates Studio Accra Online Dating Sites, A HistorySpecial Guest: Wanida Lewis.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week is another long-time friend with a transformational vocation--helping leaders meet the challenges of high impact leadership. A British-Ghanaian, Michelle Awuku-Tatum has been based in the US for the majority of her professional career, particular in New York City. From her early school days managing fitting in when her family moved to Ghana from the UK and then back again, Michelle has always been fascinated by mysteries. She loves decoding situations and analyzing people. As a Professionally Certified, Executive Coach, every day she finds herself conversing with amazing leaders and executives, as they gather clues to help reshape their leadership approach and improve their skills. During her corporate career, she honed her detective skills; creating innovative processes, customer experiences, business strategies and models for global companies in Biotechnology (@lonza), Energy ( @bp Oil & Gas) and Financial Services (@Citigroup). Working with different personalities and cultures in companies that were sometimes slow to embrace change or undergoing rapid transformation, enables her to share lessons learned and relate to what her clients may be experiencing. As founder of myfactor Coaching & Consulting which she founded in 2007 her firm is contributing to a world where high-achieving leaders can show up as their best selves and create workspaces that inspire, motivate, include, develop and show care for the teams they lead. I'm certain that you'll enjoy this two part conversation filled with tangible leadership insights and lots of laughs too! Where to find Michelle? www.myfactorcoach.com On LinkedIn On Instagram What's Michelle reading? The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, Kaley Klemp The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters by Peter Block Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live Your Highest Purpose, and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good by leet Maull Ph.D. and Daniel Siegel M.D. What's Michelle watching? Grey's Anatomy Transplant Other topics of interest: About High Wycombe About the Mitchell-Lama Program in NYC About Robert C. Weaver Kellog Business School @ Northwestern University Check out these resources from myfactor Coaching: [Crafting Your Personal Leadership Vision]((https://www.myfactorcoach.com/visionguide) - you can download our free step-by-step guide to crafting your leadership vision today. Click here to learn more about pact: a high impact, experiential leadership development program specifically for high-achieving mid-level Black women. Special Guest: MIchelle Awuku-Tatum.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week is another long-time friend with a transformational vocation--helping leaders meet the challenges of high impact leadership. A British-Ghanaian, Michelle Awuku-Tatum has been based in the US for the majority of her professional career, particular in New York City. From her early school days managing fitting in when her family moved to Ghana from the UK and then back again, Michelle has always been fascinated by mysteries. She loves decoding situations and analyzing people. As a Professionally Certified, Executive Coach, every day she finds herself conversing with amazing leaders and executives, as they gather clues to help reshape their leadership approach and improve their skills. During her corporate career, she honed her detective skills; creating innovative processes, customer experiences, business strategies and models for global companies in Biotechnology (@lonza), Energy ( @bp Oil & Gas) and Financial Services (@Citigroup). Working with different personalities and cultures in companies that were sometimes slow to embrace change or undergoing rapid transformation, enables her to share lessons learned and relate to what her clients may be experiencing. As founder of myfactor Coaching & Consulting which she founded in 2007 her firm is contributing to a world where high-achieving leaders can show up as their best selves and create workspaces that inspire, motivate, include, develop and show care for the teams they lead. I'm certain that you'll enjoy this two part conversation filled with tangible leadership insights and lots of laughs too! Where to find Michelle? www.myfactorcoach.com On LinkedIn On Instagram What's Michelle reading? The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, Kaley Klemp The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters by Peter Block Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live Your Highest Purpose, and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good by leet Maull Ph.D. and Daniel Siegel M.D. What's Michelle watching? Grey's Anatomy Transplant Other topics of interest: About High Wycombe About the Mitchell-Lama Program in NYC About Robert C. Weaver Kellog Business School @ Northwestern University Check out these resources from myfactor Coaching: [Crafting Your Personal Leadership Vision]((https://www.myfactorcoach.com/visionguide) - you can download our free step-by-step guide to crafting your leadership vision today. Click here to learn more about pact: a high impact, experiential leadership development program specifically for high-achieving mid-level Black women. Special Guest: MIchelle Awuku-Tatum.

New month greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode is all about roots and rooting. I've known my guest for more than half my life going back to our roots in Denver, Colorado. From our Angelic days walking the halls of East High High School to living in the lanes in and around Accra, Hasira Soul Ashemu and I have been able to stay connected thanks to social media and a spirit of inspiring and ushering change for marginalized people. Hasira, a community organizer, writer and entrepreneur, is the founder and chief visionary officer for Righteous Rage Institute. Born and raised in Northeast Denver, Colorado, he attended Howard University, “The Mecca,” and later travelled the world spending a decade living in Africa raising his family in Ghana. Hasira is a prolific writer, speaker, facilitator, communications professional who has been using his talents, experience and skills to create and support stimulating, engaging and innovative community initiatives that usher in social change. He is dedicated to the pursuit for social, equity, education and healing justice for society’s most vulnerable children; Black, Brown, Indigenous, Special Needs and those living in poverty. And, his work includes organizing healing and learning journeys, consulting and coaching at the individual, community, national and international levels for nonprofit, corporate, governments, public school districts and higher learning institutions across the US and five African nations. Hasira is also a fellow podcaster; after you take in our conversation, make your way over to his podcast To Heal a People! Where to find Hasira? www.righteousrageinstitute.org On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook What's Hasira reading? The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The 5 Principles: A Revolutionary Path to Health, Inner Wealth, and Knowledge of Self by Khnum "Stic" Ibomu You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience by Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown What's Hasira watching? Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am Other topics of interest: About Denver Black Panther Party Founder Lauren Watson The meaning of Oborɔnyi YFM Ghana About Reggie Rockstone One Africa Health Resort About Blue Zones About the Sloth and Pura Vida in Costa Rica About Buckminster Fuller On African Stateswomen On Marcus Aurelius On Freedom Schools *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Hasira Soul Ashemu.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! I'm back in Accra, hurray for endless summer living! Each year as the summer fades in the northeastern hemisphere, I make my way back to the equatorial region to meet the sun again and recharge my creative self. Similarly, my guest this week, one of my oldest and dearest friends, found her recharge in her relocation from the US to Nairobi, Kenya. Born and raised in New York, Dr. Michelle Donald is an experienced business-minded physician, with expertise in pediatric medicine, preventative medicine and public health, she is passionate about developing and implementing clinical programs that merge technology and healthcare delivery systems to improve health outcomes. In her last role as the Medical Director of Value Based Care at New York’s Northwell Health, she established an innovative care model utilizing healthcare analytics, payer data and strategic clinical partnerships to proactively assess and identify vulnerable populations needing medical attention. A trip to Tanzania in 2018 changed the course of her life, it was during that trip that she decided to move to East Africa and develop digital health programs expanding access to quality healthcare. In February of 2020, she resigned from Northwell to pursue her dream of democratizing healthcare for all by building an effective, affordable, digital health platform that can be used to improve care delivery across a variety of health care settings. Michelle is also seeding a social movement that she calls The Ungrind which is an outgrowth of the years-long creative evolution that continues to be her unfolding global lifestyle. Where to find Michelle? On LinkedIn On Instagram On YouTube What's Michelle reading? Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your Power by Lalah Delia What's Michelle listening to? Toni Jones Vibrate Higher | Londrelle What's Michelle watching? Atlanta The Handmaid's Tale Other topics of interest: HEDIS Healthcare Effectiveness Data Information Set Google Health Amazon Care MedxTek Podcast Better Help About Bobi Wine in detention Karura Forest *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Michelle Donald.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This two part experience will takes us on a journey through multiple planes of being and thought with my guest, fashion designer and trend setter, Terry Singh. Born and raised in Guyana to parents of Indian heritage, Terry has called New York City, home for most of his life. After a life changing journey to the country of his heritage, he has since bloomed into his current creative flow as the visionary behind his Terry Singh NYC fashion label. As a former adman of who is now the vision behind his own fashion brand, Terry's aim is to translate the practicality and elegance of the traditional Indian dhoti for a Western consumer. With multiple shows appearing at New York Fashion Week and features at this year’s New York Men’s Day, he’s created a buzz on the pages of the New York Times, Vogue, and WWD, to name a few. When asked about his aesthetic he shares, “I used to be inhibited about what I wore,” “I kept my head down because I felt people were staring. Then I realized I don’t know what’s in people’s minds, and I started to dress for myself. A question I always ask people is, ‘If today were your last day on earth, what would you wear?’ Dress like that.” Terry's fashions are also blooming with his leisurewear brand I AM U TOO. Where to find Terry? www.terrysomghnyc.com On linktr.ee On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube What's Terry reading/listening to? Works by J. Krishnamurti Mooji Osho Ram Dass Alan Watts Other topics of interest: Jobbers Indian Designer Tarun Tahiliani Brooklyn's Soul Summit in Fort Greene Park Terry @ Maison 10 Blue Ribbon Restaurants Gramercy Tavern Indochine Raoul's Off White Episode #144 photo credit: Robbie QuinnSpecial Guest: Terry Singh.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This two part experience will takes us on a journey through multiple planes of being and thought with my guest, fashion designer and trendsetter, Terry Singh. Born and raised in Guyana to parents of Indian heritage, Terry has called New York City, home for most of his life. After a life changing journey to the country of his heritage, he has since bloomed into his current creative flow as the visionary behind his Terry Singh NYC fashion label. As a former adman, Terry's aim is to leverage all of his talents in translating the practicality and elegance of the traditional Indian dhoti for a Western consumer. With multiple shows appearing at New York Fashion Week and features at this year’s New York Men’s Day, he’s created a buzz on the pages of The New York Times, Vogue, and WWD, to name a few. When asked about his aesthetic he shares, “I used to be inhibited about what I wore,” “I kept my head down because I felt people were staring. Then I realized I don’t know what’s in people’s minds, and I started to dress for myself. A question I always ask people is, ‘If today were your last day on earth, what would you wear?’ Dress like that.” Terry's fashions are also blooming with his leisurewear brand I AM U TOO. Where to find Terry? www.terrysomghnyc.com On linktr.ee On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube What's Terry reading/listening to? Works by J. Krishnamurti Mooji Osho Ram Dass Alan Watts Other topics of interest: Jobbers Indian Designer Tarun Tahiliani Brooklyn's Soul Summit in Fort Greene Park Terry @ Maison 10 Blue Ribbon Restaurants Gramercy Tavern Indochine Raoul's Off White Episode #144 photo credit: Robbie QuinnSpecial Guest: Terry Singh.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week my guest and I cross paths not only as fellow Stanford Alums, but also as Ghanaians. Born in Mexico and raised around the world, a Ghanaian-American, Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs holds a Ph.D in Sociology and Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge in addition to a Bachelors in Anthropology from Stanford University. Anna’s research, writing, and talks are centered on gender and race issues in the U.S., especially as these relate to the pervasive erasure of Black women. Anna’s debut book, The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation is a New York Times Bestseller as well as a New York Times Editor’s Choice and an Amazon Editor’s Pick. Anna was also previously the First Partner of Stockton. In her role, she co-authored the “Report on the Status of Women in Stockton” to help guide future policy decisions with the experiences of diverse women in mind. As a result of this work she was named one of six pivotal powerbrokers in the Bay Area by San Francisco Magazine in 2019. Anna has published articles on topics ranging from the importance of inclusivity and feminism to addressing the unique burden Black mothers carry in the U.S. for Time Magazine, New York Magazine, The Guardian, CNN, Motherly, Blavity, Huffington Post, Darling Magazine, and For Harriet. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two children, where she is discovering a new chapter in her creative career with multiple writing projects in the works which you'll learn more about as you listen to our lively conversation. Where to find Anna? www.annamalaikatubbs.com On Instagram On Twitter What's Anna reading? Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet What's Anna watching? Ted Lasso Other topics of interest: Hiking in Cold Spring, New York Kokrobite, Ghana Oshiyie, Ghana About Isabel Wilkerson About Margot Lee Shetterly About Brit Bennet About Melissa Harris-Perry About Marc Lamont Hill About Alicia Garza About Bryn Clark About Peleton Remy Ma Music *When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Anna Malaika Tubbs.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's guest fully embraces glocal citizenship; she has a place called "home" on three continents. A Brooklyn native, Tiambi Simms' passion lies in building solutions that matter by diving into customer problems and solving them with modern technology. Her expertise is in creating, scaling, and optimizing products and services that are impactful. She realizes this passion as a business designer, product manager and in her role as a co-founder of social enterprise, SheFarms. As a social entrepreneur her guiding question is how are we going to feed 9.7 Billion people by 2050? This drives her work in the agri-fintech sector, bringing the power of tech to the lives of smallholder farmers, particularly for women. Tiambi's global perspective in management, marketing, business development, product management, fundraising, and entrepreneurship are at the core of her ability to cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders across their value chains, allowing her to connect and grow alongside of them. Where to find Tiambi? www.tiambi.com On LinkedIn On Instagram What's Tiambi reading? Will by Will Smith (Author), Mark Manson The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle What's Tiambi listening to? The Science of Getting Rich Podcast Dissect Podcast Other topics of interest: On Water Management in the Netherlands EIT Climate-KIC ClimateLanuchpad Mfoum, Central Region, Ghana On Matrilineal Societies On Design ThinkingSpecial Guest: Tiambi Simms.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode is home grown in a sense as I had the chance to chat with long-time friend and collaborator, Farai Malianga. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Farai's journey to the US found him at the University in Colorado in Boulder where our stories connect. He is a Videographer, Composer, and Musician who began his career in African Dance in Colorado with Leticia Williams’ Harambee and Musical Director Judy “Fatu” Henderson. He later relocated to New York where he began studying dance and drum with pioneers Yousouf Koumbasa, Mbemba Bangoura and Ronald K. Brown. He has performed with creative Masters such as Chuck Davis in BAMs ‘Dance Africa’, Reginald Yates and Heritage O.P. for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s their 40th Anniversary season; with musicians such as Roy Ayers, Wunmi Olaiya,, Manchild Black, and Akua Allrich to name a few. He has also performed on and off broadway in the musical 'Fela!' and “Darker Faces of the Earth” directed by Trezana Beverley, respectively. As a videographer, most recent projects include editing the archival documentary for “Kumbuka” the longest active New Orleans-based West African Dance troupe. This fall he joins Florida State University as a tenure track Professor with a focus on music for dance and choreography. He will be teaching Rhythmic Analysis, Music for Choreography, and Digital Audio Recording while also providing music support for African, Dunham and Contemporary classes. We definitely have something to look forward to seeing Farai's work flourish on a whole new level in this role! Where to find Farai? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Farai reading? Octavia E. Butler What's Farai listening to? Kendrick Lamar J. Cole Pharoahe Monch Other topics of interest: Regional Dance America Ronald K. Brown Scott Russel Sanders Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Beatrice Capote Onye P. Ozuzu Camille A. Brown Christal Brown The Shift Network Amiri Baraka The Lay Out About LEAP TransmediaSpecial Guest: Farai Malianga.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode is home grown in a sense as I had the chance to chat with long-time friend and collaborator, Farai Malianga. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Farai's journey to the US found him at the University in Colorado in Boulder where our stories connect. He is a Videographer, Composer, and Musician who began his career in African Dance in Colorado with Leticia Williams’ Harambee and Musical Director Judy “Fatu” Henderson. He later relocated to New York where he began studying dance and drum with pioneers Yousouf Koumbasa, Mbemba Bangoura and Ronald K. Brown. He has performed with creative Masters such as Chuck Davis in BAMs ‘Dance Africa’, Reginald Yates and Heritage O.P. for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s their 40th Anniversary season; with musicians such as Roy Ayers, Wunmi Olaiya,, Manchild Black, and Akua Allrich to name a few. He has also performed on and off broadway in the musical 'Fela!' and “Darker Faces of the Earth” directed by Trezana Beverley, respectively. As a videographer, most recent projects include editing the archival documentary for “Kumbuka” the longest active New Orleans-based West African Dance troupe. This fall he joins Florida State University as a tenure track Professor with a focus on music for dance and choreography. He will be teaching Rhythmic Analysis, Music for Choreography, and Digital Audio Recording while also providing music support for African, Dunham and Contemporary classes. We definitely have something to look forward to seeing Farai's work flourish on a whole new level in this role! Where to find Farai? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Farai reading? Octavia E. Butler What's Farai listening to? Kendrick Lamar J. Cole Pharoahe Monch Other topics of interest: Regional Dance America Ronald K. Brown Scott Russel Sanders Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Beatrice Capote Onye P. Ozuzu Camille A. Brown Christal Brown The Shift Network Amiri Baraka The Lay Out About LEAP TransmediaSpecial Guest: Farai Malianga.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week is all about the "local" in glocal. I'm hosting longtime friend, neighbor and soon to be public official, Asmeret Berhe-Lumax. Asmeret was born in Asmara, Eritrea, raised in Stockholm, Sweden and now calls Brooklyn, New York home. She is a dynamic team player with extensive domestic and international experience, she is a hands-on leader in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings developing and executing strategic plans encompassing client goals and translating them into an efficient and profitable production structure. She channels these skills as founder of the One Love Community Fridge project, a community-based response to the long lines at food banks that began during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. The project is a purpose-driven initiative that supports community fridges, local businesses and framers by addressing immediate hunger needs, minimizing food waste and ensuring access to healthy, fresh foods. Asmeret is also co-founder of The Black Beauty Club, is a social enterprise focused on community building; driving cultural and solutions-oriented conversation across the diaspora; and impactful thought leadership within the Black Beauty space. A community grown on Clubhouse to drive insightful thought leadership and cultural conversations around the Black Beauty space, the Black Beauty Club member is a beauty consumer, aspiring or established founder, beauty critic, or member of the beauty industry. With a mission to galvanize and quantify the economic and cultural impact of Black businesses and consumers driving a stronger ecosystem, the Black Beauty Club and its members are invested in the Black Beauty zeitgeist and seek to bolster community support and through greater industry knowledge. Listen in to find out more about how Asmeret is manifesting a new world view on food, beauty and civic engagement. Where to find Asmeret? www.onelovecommunityfridge.com](https://www.onelovecommunityfridge.org) On LinkedIn On Instagram What's Asmeret reading? The New York Times The New Yorker The Atlantic Other topics of interest: Fort Greene Park Flashback to Glocal Citizen Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo's Episodes The Campaign Against Hunger Ami Cole 54 Thrones Rosen Skincare Nike Air Pegasus HistorySpecial Guest: Asmeret Berhe-Lumax.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! As the August moon is now on the wane, we're taking in the moon's full splendor from beginning to end in conversation with professional astrologer, empowerment alchemist, and the author of the highly anticipated book and oracle deck: Black Moon Lilith™ Rising (HayHouse Inc. Fall '23), Adama Sesay. Adama, a Sierra Leonian-American, is also the creator and founder of LilithAstrology.com and the private streaming platform Black Moon Lilith™ Collective. Shadow work, self-empowerment, alchemy, and self-realization through the birth chart and knowledge of Black Moon Lilith are her specialties. Her work has been featured in top media outlets like Cosmopolitan Magazine, Well + Good, Buzzfeed, and BYRDIE. Whether you're a stargazer, have your feet planted firmly here on earth, or both, this conversation is full of empowering nudges to help guide you into your full energetic self. Where to find Adama? www.lilithastrology.com On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On YouTube On TikTok What's Adama reading? Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas African Goddess Rising Oracle: A 44-Card Deck and Guidebook by Abiola Abrams Books by Kim Krans What's Adama watching? The Handmaid's Tale Ozark What's Adama listening to? Ancient Wisdom Today With Shaman Durek Dr. Deepak Chopra Dr. Joe Dispenza Other topics of interest: Tropical vs. Vedic Astrology Babylonian Astrology National Council for Geocosmic Research Haus of Hoodoo Pluto Return A Modern Textbook of Astrology Saturn ReturnSpecial Guest: Adama Sesay.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's a new month, my favorite of the year, and we're kicking it off with a two part conversation that bloomed during the Dakar leg of my spring tour. Joining me for this conversation between kindred spirits is Senagalese-American, Adja Maymouna Sakho. She is an educator, advocate, leader, supporter and connector of people and ideas, who is passionate about serving others through education and social justice - particularly women and children. She has over 10 years experience in education, finance, DEIJ - and has had roles ranging from trainer, advisor, evaluator, board representative, director, committee chair and most important to her - agent of change in the lives of young women and girls. She is also an Africanist and believes that Africans must lead the charge to change the narrative and the current state of affairs of many African countries. She is building on this mission as the host of 221 Afrique, a podcast focused on telling stories of Africans returning home to the continent. From our common experiences as children of West African immigrants to attending the same graduate school at New York University, this conversation offers great insights into the rich culture and lifestyle transitions that are possible in designing a global existence. Where to find Adja? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Adja reading? Finding Me by Viola Davis What's Adja watching? On Senegalese "Telenovelas" Other topics of interest: Yoff in Dakar Senegambia Upward Bound Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority New York City Teaching Fellows About Third Culture Kids On the latest Senegalese Musicians About Eid Al Adha Special Guest: Adja Maymouna Sakho .

Greetings Glocal Citizens! It's a new month, my favorite of the year, and we're kicking it off with a two part conversation that bloomed during the Dakar leg of my spring tour. Joining me for this conversation between kindred spirits is Senagalese-American, Adja Maymouna Sakho. She is an educator, advocate, leader, supporter and connector of people and ideas, who is passionate about serving others through education and social justice - particularly women and children. She has over 10 years experience in education, finance, DEIJ - and has had roles ranging from trainer, advisor, evaluator, board representative, director, committee chair and most important to her - agent of change in the lives of young women and girls. She is also an Africanist and believes that Africans must lead the charge to change the narrative and the current state of affairs of many African countries. She is building on this mission as the host of 221 Afrique, a podcast focused on telling stories of Africans returning home to the continent. From our common experiences as children of West African immigrants to attending the same graduate school at New York University, this conversation offers great insights into the rich culture and lifestyle transitions that are possible in designing a global existence. Where to find Adja? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On Twitter On YouTube What's Adja reading? Finding Me by Viola Davis What's Adja watching? On Senegalese "Telenovelas" Other topics of interest: Yoff in Dakar Senegambia Upward Bound Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority New York City Teaching Fellows About Third Culture Kids On the latest Senegalese Musicians About Eid Al Adha Special Guest: Adja Maymouna Sakho .

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's conversation is a great complement to a favorite summer past-time and what many consider delicacy--Barbecue. My guest is fellow Coloradan and Stanford Alum, Adrian Miller - The Soul Food Scholar. He is an award winning food writer, attorney, and certified barbecue judge. Two of his books, his first in 2014, Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time and most recent in 2022, Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue are the James Beard Foundation Award for Reference, History, and Scholarship winners. His second book, The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas was a finalist for a 2018 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction.” He is also featured in the Netflix hit docu-series, "High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America." He is currently the executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches and, as such, is the first African American, and the first layperson, to hold that position. As well, he is the co-project director and lead curator for the forthcoming “Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History” exhibit at the Museum of Boulder. In addition to fascinating anecdotes about foods common on three sides of the Atlantic Ocean, you'll get a sense of how this lawyer by training found himself on a career path in service not only to his dreams, but to the uncovering, elevation and preservation of narratives about culture defining foods and food practices. Where to find Adrian? www.adrianemiller.com On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook What's Adrian watching? Star Trek Law and Order Other topics of interest: One America Initiative John Egerton's Soul Food Cookbook Southern Foodways Alliance Red Drinks in Black Culture Edna Lewis Ultimate Braai Master Kebab, Suya, Shawarma, Yakatori, Asada Special Guest: Adrian Miller.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast you're in for a real treat. We're journeying to Namibia in Southern Africa by way of Morocco in North Africa where my guest and I recently met. As a Namibian patriot, Daisry Mathias was appointed Advisor to the President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, in June 2015. In this role, she advises on policy and programme priorities to harness a Demographic Dividend and create an enabling environment for sustainable entrepreneurship in Namibia, under the overarching goals of poverty eradication, economic inclusion and shared prosperity. Daisry's professional experience ranges from public policy formulation, national development planning, programme monitoring and multi-stakeholder coordination. In her preceding role as an under 30 Chief Executive Officer of Team Namibia; she led a business support organisation promoting local industry by advocating the preferential consumption of Namibian goods and services. In 2019 she was selected as an Obama Leader, joining 200 young Africans in a Leadership Development Programme by former U.S. President Barack Obama. Fully committed in her passion for public service, Daisry is also Founder & Director, Oyayone Foundation which works with and for under-resourced single mothers in Namibia to break the cycle of poverty by addressing basic needs and tackling asset poverty toward achieving social mobility. The Foundation is “Building an enduring inheritance for our children’s children” by facilitating the ownership and management of economic assets by more Namibian women. Trust me when I say that this is a conversation that will inform, inspire and activate your spirit to connect with the Pan-African movements that are manifesting a new world! Where to find Daisry? www.daisrymathias.com On LinkedIn On Twitter On YouTube What's Dairsy reading? Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah Other topics of interest: Namibian Languages AAA School of Advertising Team Namibia About the African Peer Review Mechanism Symposium Green Hydrogen Namibia Visit SwakopmundSpecial Guest: Daisry Obal.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week had to opportunity to reconnect with another of my children's educational content brethren. Abuja-based creative, Adamu Waziri is the creator of the popular Bino and Fino African educational cartoon series. He is one of the founders of EVCL, a company focused on developing African based children’s and family entertainment brands. Prior to setting up EVCL he had over a decade of international 3D animation experience at award-winning animation studios working on projects for clients including Disney, HP and Sony. I always enjoy talking shop with my like-minded colleagues and I hope you too will find inspiration and new understanding around the work of innovating in the African content and brand-building space focused on nurturing the hearts and minds of children in the African Diaspora. Where to find Adamu and Bino & Fino? www.binoandfinoshop.com On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On YouTube On Facebook What's Adamu listening to? Ambient Relaxation Liquid Drum and Bass Other topics of interest: See Maitama, Abuja Nairaland Super Sema Flaneuarz Skates Where to skate in Abuja What is DISCOP On Animation Special Guest: Adamu Waziri.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast I have the first of a handful of interviews that came about in a back to the future-esque way. This spring, the Stanford National Black Alumni Association biennale summit took place in Washington, D.C. and I organized my spring trip back to the U.S. around reconnecting with my fellow friends and alum and sharing my insights as a Glocal Citizen on a panel entitled, "Africa: Bridging the Diasporic Divide." A propos, my guest, Detroit native, Dereca Blackmon has career-wide experience bridging divides. As Co-Founder and President of the Inclusion Design Group, she is also head trainer and responsible for the creation of the dynamic set of workshops and follow-up activities used by her team. Her experiential training models cut through “diversity fatigue” and allow participants to engage in deep, authentic, and meaningful dialogues. Among her prior positions, she served as the Assistant Vice Provost, Associate Dean and Director of the Diversity and First-Generation Office at Stanford University where she introduced groundbreaking work on authentic engagement, intergroup dialogue, and unconscious bias to over 30,000 students, staff, faculty and alumni. She also taught several courses at Stanford including Intergroup Communication with renowned cultural psychologist Hazel Markus Reverend Deborah L. Johnson. For over 25 years, Dereca has consulted with a wide variety of corporate, educational, nonprofit, and community-based groups to facilitate “uncommon conversations” on issues of race, gender, class, and social justice. I hope this two part conversation brings you closer to understanding and embodying your own inclusion mindset. Where to find Dereca? www.derecespeaks.com On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube What's Dereca reading? Booksl by Toni Morrison Books by Stephen King The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks Other topics of interest: On Black Detroit St. Thomas US Virgin Islands On Oak-Town About the [Black Panther Party] What happened to Oscar Grant (https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/workers/black-panthers/) BICOP Shawn Ginwright Flourish Agenda/Leadership Excellence Carol Dweck and the Growth Mindset Dr. Melanie Tervalon and Cultural Humility What is Neurodivergent When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Dereca Blackmon.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast I have the first of a handful of interviews that came about in a back to the future-esque way. This spring, the Stanford National Black Alumni Association biennale summit took place in Washington, D.C. and I organized my spring trip back to the U.S. around reconnecting with my fellow friends and alum and sharing my insights as a Glocal Citizen on a panel entitled, "Africa: Bridging the Diasporic Divide." A propos, my guest, Detroit native, Dereca Blackmon has career-wide experience bridging divides. As Co-Founder and President of the Inclusion Design Group, she is also head trainer and responsible for the creation of the dynamic set of workshops and follow-up activities used by her team. Her experiential training models cut through “diversity fatigue” and allow participants to engage in deep, authentic, and meaningful dialogues. Among her prior positions, she served as the Assistant Vice Provost, Associate Dean and Director of the Diversity and First-Generation Office at Stanford University where she introduced groundbreaking work on authentic engagement, intergroup dialogue, and unconscious bias to over 30,000 students, staff, faculty and alumni. She also taught several courses at Stanford including Intergroup Communication with renowned cultural psychologist Hazel Markus Reverend Deborah L. Johnson. For over 25 years, Dereca has consulted with a wide variety of corporate, educational, nonprofit, and community-based groups to facilitate “uncommon conversations” on issues of race, gender, class, and social justice. I hope this two part conversation brings you closer to understanding and embodying your own inclusion mindset. Where to find Dereca? www.derecespeaks.com On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube What's Dereca reading? Books by Toni Morrison Books by Stephen King The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks Other topics of interest: On Black Detroit St. Thomas US Virgin Islands On Oak-Town About the Black Panther Party What happened to Oscar Grant BICOP Shawn Ginwright Flourish Agenda/Leadership Excellence Carol Dweck and the Growth Mindset Dr. Melanie Tervalon and Cultural Humility What is Neurodivergent? When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Dereca Blackmon.

Summer Solstice Greetings Glocal Citizens! This year, we're saying so long to spring with a bit of a bang as here in the US--yes, I'm back in Brooklyn for the summer, the Juneteenth holiday and Father's Day start the week. In observation or tribute to these events, for this week's episode I've curated a "Glocally Speaking" conversation as an expression of thoughts, sentiments and realities around citizenship, education, fatherhood, activism, history and culture. Ronda Železný-Green from EP 92 kicks off the conversation with ideas on the necessary framework for the most global citizenship of all - digital citizenship. Next is father, yogi and capoeirista, Salim Rollins from EP 37. He guides us in experience and in language from Kenya, back to the US and finally settling in Kenya with his family. Closing out this spring remix is Nyamal Tutdeal from EP 102 with a glocally speaking potpourri from communications during times of conflict to a lesson in what is probably Africa's most common lingua franka - food. No passport required! Grab a snack, relax and let the sound be your transport. Where to find Ronda? Where to find Salim? Where to find Nyamal? Other topics of interest: Seyi Akiwowo and Glitch On Intersectionality Glocal Citizen Asare Adjei Barbados, the newest republic Anatomy of the Conflict in Ethiopia Asida Genfo BankuSpecial Guests: Nyamal Tutdeal, Ronda Zelezny-Green, and Salim Rollins.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week the podcast is coming to you from my recent trip to the Dakar Biennale where I met my guest, Bara Diokhané, thanks to Muhammida El Muhajir from EP27 (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/27). Bara was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. In 2018 he returned after an interesting career journey in New York. A lawyer by training, Bara Diokhané, started creating works of art at the start of the the 21st century, while living in Harlem, New York as an immigrant. In 2002 he was a participating artist to the MagnetDiaspora exhibit hosted during the 2002 Dakar Biennale by Yassine Arts Gallery. His first exhibition in New York City was hosted in 2003 by Steve Cannon's Tribes Gallery in Manhattan's Lower East Side. In 2004 he designed the backdrop for the scene of the Afropop music festival at Virginia University. In 2005 he was selected at the Diversity Project, curated by Danny Simmons and Rush Arts, which was an event showcasing the works of 200 New York artists in 16 different galleries. In 2006, I showed 10 paintings at the Dakar Off Biennale where most of the show was sold out. He has also showed at the State Black Archives Museum, in Huntsville, Alabama; Kiaca Gallery, in Columbus, Ohio; Columbia University; and the Schomburg Center for research in black culture. In 2007, he was selected for the Black Madonna Millenium exhibit hosted at the Museum for Contemporary African and Diaspora Art (MOCADA) in Brooklyn. That year, he also showed at Princeton University's Rockefeller Art Gallery. In 2010 Bara was invited to select one artwork from the collection of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and couple it with one of his own works to make a pair during the "African Rythms, American Echoes" exhibit. Bara is presently writing a script about an African human experience of 50 years of arts, politics and academics. Where to find Bara? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What's Bara reading? The African Origin of Civilization by Cheikh Anta Diop Other topics of interest: Mor Faye KoToa Coffee in Dakar Doudou N'Diaye Rose On Senegal's BDS party First World Festival of Negro Arts Spike Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule FilmworksSpecial Guest: Bara Diokhané .

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the program we're daring to imagine a world where justice prevails and particularly where the aspirations of young athletes in Africa is concerned. My guest, Eddie Mensah, is the Managing Director of Right to Dream Academy in Ghana. Born and raised in Ghana, at 16 he received a scholarship to attend boarding school in Canada where he earned an IB diploma. He later moved to the United States to attend university at Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania where he was a varsity athlete as a member of the soccer/football team. Passionate about education, he has been in various academic positions for the last 25 years. Prior to joining Right to Dream, he was the Head of School at Charlotte Prep School in North Carolina. Eddie holds a masters degree in Education Leadership from the university of Pennsylvania and certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University. Eddie's work with young people truly shines a light on a the fruits of a purpose-driven career. Listen and learn more about how he sees choosing purpose over profit as a necessary walk in life's journey. Where to find Eddie? On LinkedIn On YouTube What's Eddie watching? Abbott Elementary What's Eddie reading? The Quran In English Other topics of interest: About Nyakrom, Ghana About Tema, Ghana United World Colleges Stepping Stone Scholars Global Livability IndexSpecial Guest: Eddie Mensah.

Greeting Glocal Citizens! In our conversation this week, I am inspired by the work of this high growth serial entrepreneur with experience building businesses in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. As a strong believer in constant learning, building and improving on existing solutions Nana Opoku Agyeman-Prempeh is excited about the church, aviation, technology and agriculture. Born and raised in Ghana, he has an academic background in Technology and Entrepreneurship from Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) and an MPhiL. Agricultural Engineering (Machine Systems) from the University of Ghana, Legon. He has been afforded the opportunity to lead teams in building the following: Asoriba a Church CRM and donation platform, MybusinessPay a Fintech that processes millions of payments across the world into Ghana for local businesses. Fusion Point, a Technology Consulting Company and CCTVCam Live a security business building an AI solution to identify criminals via regular CCTV Cameras. Nana is currently CEO of tech startup Grow For Me (GFM) which is a web and mobile based crowdfunding and crowd farming platform that sponsors farmers in growing more crops to solve hunger and poverty problems in Africa. Using drone and satellite imagery, they are able to update sponsors on the progress of the farms they’ve invested in, while providing the best Agronomic advice to optimize farm production. They are solving for global sustainable development goals (SDG) 1 and 2 by creating wealth and producing more food at the same time. GFM aims to contribute to the food production in Africa by helping feed 2.2 billion young Africans by 2050. The ultimate goal is to keep people out of poverty by bringing back young Africans into the aging Agricultural industry. Where to find Nana? www.growforme.com On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube Other topics of interest: On Nana's bamboo bike ride Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Check out Episode 10 with Mandela Fellow Valerie LabiSpecial Guest: Nana Opuku Agyeman-Prempeh.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week is Zhalisa "Zee" Clarke founder of Reclaiming Flow, where she leverages her toolkit of meditation, breathwork, yoga, and much more, to teach others how mindfulness can improve their well being at work despite any challenges that race, gender, or sexuality might present. Prior to transitioning to a life more grounded, Zee, a Washington, D.C. native, by way of Filipino and Jamaican via Panama parentage, spent over 20 years leading teams at Fortune 500 companies and tech startups in Silicon Valley. After experiencing a number of challenges in the workplace from microaggressions from colleagues, to disparate treatment around salary and promotions, she pursued extensive mindfulness training in India to help her manage these challenges. She is a Harvard Business School graduate who applies holistic healing practices to corporate environments. You can follow her on her socials for weekly breathwork practices and tools. You'll also get to experience a sample breathing exercise as you listen in now. Breathing is believing! Where to find Zee? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube On TikTok Pre-order Black People Breathe! What's Zee listening to? Balanced Black Girl Podcast What's Zee reading? About Octavia Raheem Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown Other topics of interest: DC Youth Orchestra On Ayurvedic Medicine Swan Yoga Retreat - Goa Trap Yoga BICOP The Principles of Pleasure Episode 118 with Nydia SwabySpecial Guest: Zhalisa "Zee" Clarke.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast we're talking innovation in migration. My guest, serial entrepreneur, Sam Baddoo joins me from his current base in Columbus Ohio, shortly after a recent trip back home to Accra, Ghana where he was born and raised. Sam is all about empowering immigrants everywhere to show love with intention starting with healthcare. He is the founder and CEO of the healthcare insurtech start-up Fleri which ensures that the money immigrants send back home goes exactly where they intended while getting quality healthcare for loved ones in Africa and eliminating money transfer fees. Many words define who he is, but none more so than “immigrant” - and his story represents the stories of millions of brave, hopeful and selfless individuals, many giving up the comfort of familiar spaces to create a new life and future for themselves and those who depend on them. He is all “IMMIGRANTS” and his life’s work is to see his us live more authentically - flourishing and thriving, not just surviving. This was such an inspiring conversation offering a thoughtful perspective on the type of agility that defines successful entrepreneurship. Tune in and for those of you migrants with loved ones check out Fleri, there's a plan for your needs and the peace of mind we all seek when we can't always be a physical presence. Where to find Sam? On LinkedIn On Twitter On Instagram On Facebook Fleri on YouTube What's Sam listening to? Tim Ferriss Brene Brown Esther Perel Other topics of interest: Oujda, Morocco Grameen Bank Heel the World Luxury Accessories Makola Market Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana Bohten Eyewear Sankofa More on Self-talk Nguvu Health

May Greetings Glocal Citizens! With May Day just behind us, in this two-part conversation, my guest and I touch on topics very related to the evolving nature of work and especially the role that his organization LEAP Africa is playing in preparing African youth for roles and responsibilities in all forms and on all levels of leadership. Born and raised in Nigeria, Femi Taiwo is currently the Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Nigeria’s foremost youth leadership development organization. Prior to this position at LEAP, Femi was the founding Executive Director of Eagles HOPE Foundation, a non-profit initiated by the Covenant University Alumni Association, where he led the organisation to create and execute award-winning youth programmes. Internationally, he has worked with GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals and at a social research consultancy both in the United Kingdom. He has extensive skills in programme design and management, learning & development design and delivery, business development, strategy, organisational development, stakeholder management, and innovation management. With a personal mission of facilitating the transformation of individuals, organisations and nations, he is extremely passionate about leadership and enterprise development, youth development and youth-led development. Where to find Femi? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter What's Femi watching? Bridgerton Unauthorized Living Friends The John Wayne Gacy Tapes Queen and Slim What's Femi listening to? Maxwell Leadership Podcat Dr. Myles Munroe How I Builth This Podcast I Said What I Said Podcast Other topics of interest: Youth Day of Service Bariga Olamide Chibok Girls Ritual Killings in Lagos 2014Special Guest: Femi Taiwo.

May Greetings Glocal Citizens! With May Day just behind us, in this two-part conversation, my guest and I touch on topics very related to the evolving nature of work and especially the role that his organization LEAP Africa is playing in preparing African youth for roles and responsibilities in all forms and on all levels of leadership. Born and raised in Nigeria, Femi Taiwo is currently the Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Nigeria’s foremost youth leadership development organization. Prior to this position at LEAP, Femi was the founding Executive Director of Eagles HOPE Foundation, a non-profit initiated by the Covenant University Alumni Association, where he led the organisation to create and execute award-winning youth programmes. Internationally, he has worked with GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals and at a social research consultancy both in the United Kingdom. He has extensive skills in programme design and management, learning & development design and delivery, business development, strategy, organisational development, stakeholder management, and innovation management. With a personal mission of facilitating the transformation of individuals, organisations and nations, he is extremely passionate about leadership and enterprise development, youth development and youth-led development. Where to find Femi? On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter What's Femi watching? Bridgerton Unauthorized Living Friends The John Wayne Gacy Tapes Queen and Slim What's Femi listening to? Maxwell Leadership Podcat Dr. Myles Munroe How I Builth This Podcast I Said What I Said Podcast Other topics of interest: Youth Day of Service Bariga Olamide Chibok Girls Ritual Killings in Lagos 2014Special Guest: Femi Taiwo.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week my guest, Jamaican-born Natasha Moore, is a longtime friend that blessed me with a visit to Ghana over the recent Easter holidays. Our relocation stories synced in the same timezone (sometimes) as she relocated to London from Sydney around the same time that I began my journey in Accra. A stamped and sealed Glocal Citizen, Natasha is a success-driven leader with 20 years of experience delivering results across multiple industries and is currently the Global Head of Talent Development at Christie’s. She is a performance–driven, human capital and organisational development professional, with a successful track record delivering talent development strategies and programmes that are directly aligned with a firm’s overall objectives such that the specific skills and capabilities meet the demands of clients and changing market conditions. Natasha has worked in global roles throughout her career and has extensive experience working with senior executives to develop their workforce with a global agenda in mind. Her experience is anchored in aligning talent development with organizational profitability objectives and as a thought leader, trusted advisor, consultant, and mentor to clients and peers which has prepared her perfectly for her current role and the next phase of growing both personally and professionally. We'll hear about this and much more in this multi-continental journey with Natasha. Where to find Natasha? On Linkedin On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook What's Natasha reading? Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Paperback by Greg McKeown The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz Books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by J. Nozipo Maraire God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours by Regina Brett Other topics of interest: What is a Matrix Project? Borough Market London Out and about in Manly 9 with a Barefoot Coffee Take a drive around Washington Gardens, Kingston Charlestina Beach Resort and Ko-sa Beach near Elmina, Ghana NourishLAB Smoothy's *When you click and purchase books using the links above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!Special Guest: Natasha Moore.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! As many struggle with increasing food prices and potential shortages, many Africans, particularly urban dwellers have been at the whim of markets and failed policies. As a tried and true problem solver, my guest for the week, Luther Lawoyin, is keen on simple solutions. Born and raised in Nigeria, he is an entrepreneur with a passion for social impact. He is leveraging technology to build innovative business models and platforms to serve the next one billion people in Africa's burgeoning digital economy. He is the founder and CEO of Pricepally, a sharing economy e-commerce platform enabling people to shop for food and daily essentials together so they can leverage their collective bargaining power buying in bulk. Luther has built four revenue-generating businesses from the ground up including passjamb.com.ng (http://passjamb.com.ng/) an exam prep platform and Lucy.ng, a trusted platform supplying B2C and B2B branded merchandise, Lucy has sold over a million products with over a million USD in sales. Listen in and find out the mechanics of pushing the art and science of problem solving forward on an everyday basis. Where to find Luther? On Linkedin On Instagram On Twitter On Facebook On YouTube What's Luther reading? 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Animal Farm by George Orwell Other topics of Interest: Oyo State Maryland in Lagos Naira Marley x Young Jonn - MafoSpecial Guest: Luther Lawoyin.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode brings to mind a lot of "What nexts?" in the context of conflicts, wars across the globe. My guest has his mind on this as a matter of everyday practice. Makmid Kamara, a Sierra Leonean human rights leader, researcher and development communications practitioner has over 18years’ experience working with national and international development and human rights organizations in Africa and the United Kingdom. He is the Director of the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) based in Accra, Ghana. Prior to joining the ATJLF, Makmid worked at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London as Deputy Director of Global Issues and (Ag.) Head of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) Team; and served as interim Country Director for Amnesty International Nigeria and West Africa Researcher. As you'll learn in our two-part conversation, Makmid's lived encounters and life works are in many ways culminating the initiatives he is now spearheading which is a testament to the impact that focused attention on the importance of putting people at the center of solutions. Where to find Makmid? On LinkedIn On Twitter What's Makmid listening to? Fela Kuti Bob Marley Morgan Heritage Out and about in Accra: +233 Jazz Bar & Grill and the Lipstick Band Santoku Restaurant Sky Bar Other topics of interest: Campaign for Good Governance Day of the African Child Human Rights Clinic-University of Sierra Leone MacArthur Foundation Truth and Reconciliation Commission Center for Memory and Reparations Civil War Memorial HumAngle - Nigeria WAVE - Gambia Ahmad Tehan Kabbah wartime president of Sierra Leone Manchester United Hearts of Oak Old Edwardians FCSpecial Guest: Makmid Kamara.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week's episode brings to mind a lot of "What nexts?" in the context of conflicts, wars across the globe. My guest has his mind on this as a matter of everyday practice. Makmid Kamara, a Sierra Leonean human rights leader, researcher and development communications practitioner has over 18years’ experience working with national and international development and human rights organizations in Africa and the United Kingdom. He is the Director of the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) based in Accra, Ghana. Prior to joining the ATJLF, Makmid worked at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London as Deputy Director of Global Issues and (Ag.) Head of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) Team; and served as interim Country Director for Amnesty International Nigeria and West Africa Researcher. As you'll learn in our two-part conversation, Makmid's lived encounters and life works are in many ways culminating the initiatives he is now spearheading which is a testament to the impact that focused attention on the importance of putting people at the center of solutions. Where to find Makmid? On LinkedIn On Twitter What's Makmid listening to? Fela Kuti Bob Marley Morgan Heritage Out and about in Accra: +233 Jazz Bar & Grill and the Lipstick Band Santoku Restaurant Sky Bar Other topics of interest: Campaign for Good Governance Day of the African Child Human Rights Clinic-University of Sierra Leone MacArthur Foundation Truth and Reconciliation Commission Center for Memory and Reparations Civil War Memorial HumAngle - Nigeria WAVE - Gambia Ahmad Tehan Kabbah wartime president of Sierra Leone Manchester United Hearts of Oak Old Edwardians FCSpecial Guest: Makmid Kamara.