The Circle

Not even two months from its release, and fresh off the news of a season 2, we are joined by Sheila Nortley and Michael Salami, producer and actor for Netflix fan favourite, Supacell. The duo step into the circle to talk respective journeys in the build up to joining the global no1 hit show, including a 13-year gap between their first project together 'Illegal Activity' created by Supacell director Sebastian Thiel, the misconceptions both had getting into the industry, Michael giving it all up if he never got the call from Rapman, Sheila having to decided between Supacell and another show to produce, the keys to gaining respect to the industry and more. Join us for our final traditional episode of Season 3 as we gear up for a new season this autumn, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Supa Weekender continues wIth an interview with man of the moment Rapman. The Writer/Director joins us at Acast Studios this week to speak candidly on his humble upbringings in Lewisham, finding passion and purpose in storytelling, how his viral Youtube series introduced him to Jeymes Samuel and Jay-Z/Roc Nation, music videos being the gateway into directing, what happened to that remake of Un Prophet he was attached to, how the success of Blue Story got him free dinner at Novikov with Netflix Execs, and the success of his number 1 series on global Netlfix 'Supacell'. A great episode if we do say so ourselves! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week actress Adelayo Adedayo steps inside The Circle with Leon and Akua to wax lyrical over a storied career. The East London native speaks on her love for theatre and literature, giving up law for her acting career, her breakthrough role in BBC Three's 'Some Girls', working with Tosin Cole across three different projects, scrutinising her own work, the importance of her team and behind the scenes, auditioning process and success of her starring role in Supacell - the number 1 show on Netflix. Another great ep! But what else would you expect? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of The Circle, Leon teams up with guest co-host and actress Dani Moseley to speak with Adrian Lester and Enyi Okoronkwo - stars of Disney Plus series Renegade Nell. On the eve of it's release, we all waxed lyrical on the actors' approach to their respective roles, navigating accuracy and sensitivities of black citizens in the historical backdrop, merging genres and themes including action, supernatural, adventure, period, family, patriarchy and slavery, what's next for both talent at different stages of their career, and working with the talented writing and directorial team. After you listen to the episode, tune straight in to Disney Plus to catch the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mid-season finale! Award-winning Actor and Writer Kiell Smith-Bynoe steps inside the circle with Leon and Akua. In between performances of his recent theatre project 'Kool Story bro' the prolific comedic juggernaut took time to wax lyrical with us over a storied career that has seen him seamlessly slide through cultural webseries classics including 'Hood Documentary' and 'Diary Of A Bad Man', to reputational comedy including 'Enterprice' and 'Man Like Mobeen', to institutions such as 'Death In Paradise' and 'Friday Night Dinner' to BAFTA royalty projects 'Stath Lets Flats' and 'Ghosts'. Kiell is a one-stop shop for eclectic comedy series, and he has no plans of slowing down. A fun episode to say the least! Sound issues from the game onwards but we've drawn you in by then! Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IAG Talent Agent Nina Malone joins Leon and Akua in the circle. Celebrating seven years as an agent, she reminisces on her transition from modelling to managing talent. We talk demystifying the myth of pretty privilege, tips to becoming a competent agent, why she reps so many clients but never discloses how many, her working relationship with Femi Oguns, a love for tap dancing and the dos and don'ts of acting talent. Tune in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Director, Writer and Producer Abdou Cisse joins Leon and Akua to wax lyrical on an astonishing start to his career. From transitioning from Architecture to Advertising to Filmmaking, wanting to put the mandem on the global map, paying it forward with his crossover production company with long time friend Akwasi Poku, shadowing on Season 2 of Gangs Of London, writing and directing award winning shorts including 'Serious Tingz', his key to pitching himself as a director for a project, gaining his first television director credit for BBC3 series 'Grime Kids', being BAFTA nominated for his film 'Festival Of Slaps' and more! Another inspirational episode - we're giving you gold here! Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Executive Producer/Producer Dominic Buchanan steps inside the circle in our longest and perhaps most honest episode to date to wax lyrical on a storied journey that has seen him premiere and win awards at Tribeca and Sundance respectively. Further stories include how a deal offer from Paramount let him know his worth, the origin story of his multi-award winning series 'The End Of The F***ing World, what led him to team up with a previous guest Bennett McGhee to form his production company Home Team, why he was ready to give on the industry as recent as last year, the hardships that come with being a black-led indie, the BAFTA debacle that nearly cost him a much deserved award and so much more! A special episode that will lead a lasting impression. Tune in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In between episodes, Leon and Akua discuss random but poignant topics usually reserved for their WhatsApp. This week we speak on Kenya Barris and the ongoing discourse around representation of dark-skinned women in his successful output of Film and TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally! We've landed on 30 episodes. To celebrate we have put together a few soundbites from some of our guests so far. A massive thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in. More to come! Special thanks to Theresa Ikoko, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Sherie Myers, Tahirah Sharif, Destiny Ekaragha, Zackary Momoh, Jade Anouka, Danielle Scott-Haughton, Damson Idris, Naomi Ackie, Paapa Essiedu, Kharmel Cochrane, Luti Fagbenle, Aml Ameen, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Aisha Bywaters, Deborah Ayorinde, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Nida Manzoor, Sebastian Thiel, Sheila Nortley, Thalissa Teixeira, Jimmy Akingbola, Adjani Salmon, Dani Moseley, Joelle Mae David, Nicola Gregory, Koby Adom, Bennett Mcghee, Nicole Lecky, Franklin Leonard and Kibwe Tavares Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Director Kibwe Tavares jumps into the hot seat with Leon and Akua this week. We speak on his transition from architecture to filmmaking, starting his own production company Factory Fifteen, his love for design and how it informs his style, a storied career that spans across a sundance winning short film, to directing a ballet run at Royal Opera House, to exec producing a book adaptation for BBC. We also speak on a long running working relationship with Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya that has resulted in their feature directorial debut The Kitchen on netflix! Another good'un! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by producer, cultural commentator and founder of The Blacklist, Franklin Leonard. As we enter year 20 of his groundbreaking company which celebrates and supports screenwriters, Franklin reflects on a storied journey that brought him from Harvard all the way to stints at the Trinidad Guardian, Mckinzey & Company, and CAA, before a whirlwind jump into the industry via Mirage Entertainment, John Goldwyn Productions, Leonard Di Caprio's Appian Way Productions, Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment, and Universal Pictures. As a conduit for over 400 produced scripts garnering over $30 billion in the box office, and 50 academy award wins with 40 golden globe wins, Franklin is both passionate and proud of his service. This episode is both eye-opening and educational, listen now and listen good! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaaand we're back! Our Season 3 opener is with writer, showrunner, executive producer and South East London native Lauren Sequeira. Three days off the premiere of her debut original series 'Domino Day' on BBC Three, Lauren speaks with Leon & Akua on a storied journey so far including penning a BAFTA nominated spin-off of The Dumping Ground, two episodes of Sky phenomenon Gangs Of London, a scheme that actually brought early success, and numerous milestones that saw her grow from budding director to prolific writer and the join the list of a golden generation of black British female showrunners. Come Through! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your favourite carpenter and plagiarist are back with a special prelude before season 3 hits the airwaves. Akua and Leon talk award season, the controversy behind the Barbie nominations, black talent making waves at the Oscars and BAFTAs, and introducing a new segment in between guest episodes. Stick with us, we're back! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress, Writer, Producer, Artist...oxygen, Nicôle Lecky joins us on this week's episode. After the release of her multi award-winning drama series 'Mood' on BBC Three, Nicôle waxed lyrical with Leon and Akua, of the series' origin in theatre as the previously titled 'Superhoe', how her upbringing in East London shaped her, the era of the writer/performer, advocating for black female writers, juggling so many titles on her debut series, why she doesn't read reviews anymore and more! We've got ourselves another dope episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Producer Bennett McGhee steps into the hot seat with Leon and Akua as he discusses early cinema trips forging his passion for film, his love for UK garage, forming a long time friendship with his now business partner Dominic Buchanan for production company Home Team, his first ever feature lock 'VS' written by Ed Lily, his method for chasing down Dionne Edwards to Executive produce on standout project 'Pretty Red Dress' and the future of cinema and TV. Another dope episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back with a special episode as Leon and Akua are joined by the cast and crew of BBC & A24 series 'Dreaming Whilst Black'. Ahead of the series release, the duo wax lyrical with the show's creator and lead Adjani Salmon, producer Nicola Gregory, directors Joelle Mae David & Koby Adom, and lead actress Dani Moseley. Episode highlights include the origin of the lead character's name, the new black British TV renaissance, casting a black love interest, how to direct a director and the journey from webseries to television. Another dope episode, but would you expect anything less? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multitalented Actor, Producer and Presenter Jimmy Akingbola joins the circle to wax lyrical on a career that started playing Elvis in theatre, honing his screen skills on BBC sitcom 'The Crouches', how he has managed to stay relevant and working in the industry on both sides of the Atlantic, breaking ground in playing the first black gay character on British television, the impact his company Tri-Force has made in inclusion and diversity in different fields and on screen, and of course his current groundbreaking run in ITV's The Tower, hosting projects 'Sorry I Didn't Know' and 'Handle With Care', and starring as Geoffrey in Peacock's 'Bel-Air'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress and Director Thalissa Teixeira steps inside the circle to wax lyrical on her dual British and Brazilian heritage, the positives of creativity when dealing with mental health, colourblind casting, working alongside good friend Paapa Essiedu in Anne Bolelyn, her experience in groundbreaking BBC Drama 'Trigonometry', her directorial short film debut 'We Met Before' and more! And you finally get to hear where that game show theme song came from! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Producer and Writer Sheila Nortley joins Leon and Akua this week to speak on a storied journey which spawned award-winning short films, collaborations with talent including Aml Ameen, Shola Amoo, and Ashley Walters, gaining a three series development deal with Sky, producing two Netflix series 'Stay Close' and upcoming drama 'Supacell' and so much more! She also made history this episode with the most unique score on the game. Another dope one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.