Common Sense with Mike Omoniyi

Sharon Foulston grew up in an ordinary home until the day her father's company went public and the family became extraordinarily wealthy almost overnight. The private jets, the doors that suddenly opened, the kind of life most people only ever watch from a distance, all of it arrived at once. Then, on her first day of university at 17, her father was killed in a crash while testing a car at Silver...

Everyone wants the Dubai photo. Almost nobody wants the years of unglamorous work that are supposed to come first. Austin Okolo started in football, moved into fashion, then fell into building the Gen Z Club, partly by accident and partly by luck. These days he runs a recruitment agency focused on upskilling young, diverse talent, having walked away from the fast, "sexy" business models...

Kelechi Okafor joins Mike Omoniyi on The Common Sense Podcast for an honest conversation about doubt, identity and why she refuses to be worshipped. We get into her path from high-achieving air cadet to writer and podcaster, the "beautifully chaotic" childhood that shaped her, faith without certainty, the case against the monarchy, the adultification of Black children in schools, regiona...

We're told that if we just get the thing, the followers, the money, the recognition, we'll finally feel settled. Nelson got all of it by 23 and found the opposite waiting for him. In this conversation, he's honest about the year he streamed to nobody, the success that felt like a trap, and what actually started to fill the gap. Worth a listen if you've ever hit a goal and felt stra...

You asked, I answered. From who'll lead Britain after Starmer to whether the two-party system is finished, this Q&A goes through the questions you've been sending in. Reform's rise, Burnham vs Streeting, the death of identity politics, faith in public life, and what the next Prime Minister should actually say on day one. No talking points. No press lines. Just honest answers to the...

In this Q&A episode, Mike takes on some of the biggest questions shaping UK politics right now. We get into the rise of figures like Zohran Mamdani and Peter Mandelson, unpack what’s really happening ahead of the May elections, and ask whether the growth of Reform UK and the Green Party signals a deeper shift in British political identity. Is this just another political cycle, or are we watching s...

He got replaced at church… and it changed his life. From that moment to witnessing Stanley Clarke live, Jon Onabowu's journey into jazz was built on pressure, passion, and purpose. Now with a debut album on the way, he’s redefining jazz—not as something old, but something alive, evolving, and deeply human. This isn’t just music… it’s an invitation. Turn your notification bells on so you are first...

In this episode, I sat down to answer your questions, and nothing was off limits. From Trump and Farage to the state of politics today, I share my honest thoughts on the issues people are often too careful to speak about openly. We also get into my personal life, how I think about leadership, pressure, and what it actually looks like to navigate public conversations without losing yourself.

In this episode of the Common Sense Podcast, Mike sits down with an artist who made a decision most people only talk about. She walked away from a stable career in finance and chose the uncertain path of building a life in the arts. What began as a creative outlet eventually became a calling she could not ignore, forcing her to confront one of the hardest questions many professionals face. What ha...

In this episode, Mike sits down with actor Tobi Bakare for a raw and thoughtful conversation about masculinity, identity, and the quiet pressures Black men navigate in British society. From expectations around strength and success to the realities of code switching, the conversation explores the experiences that often go unspoken. Tobi also shares insights from his role in the powerful theatre pro...

In this episode of The Common Sense Podcast, Mike sits down with financial expert Rotimi Merriman-Johnson to unpack one of the most uncomfortable questions in modern Britain. From the wealth gap and home ownership to culture, migration patterns and financial literacy, this conversation goes beyond surface level explanations. We explore whether the issue is structural, cultural, behavioural, politi...

Mike is joined by Orthodox Rabbi Pesach Wolicki as they discuss the American right, Israel, and the future of MAGA after Trump. In this episode, they explore Israel in the news and an ongoing PR problem Israel may have. Turn your notification bells on so you are first to know when new episodes come out.

Small changes can transform your financial life. In this episode of Editor’s Desk, Mike sits down with Ken Okoroafor from The Humble Penny to explore how ordinary people build wealth through better habits, smarter planning, and practical money decisions. They discuss investing, entrepreneurship, financial independence, and the mindset shifts that make long-term wealth possible. Watch, learn, and s...

In this episode, we sit down with a former Special Forces operator to unpack why so much of our public conversation around Islamist radicalisation misses the mark. Drawing on real-world experience rather than theory or headlines, he explains how radicalisation actually happens, where Western policy and media narratives go wrong, and what we keep overlooking. It is a sober, nuanced conversation abo...

In this episode, poet and storyteller Sophia Thakur joins us for a powerful conversation about what it really means to reinvent yourself and find purpose in a world that often feels chaotic. We talk about the messy process of change, the pressure to always “have it together,” and the deeper questions around meaning that many of us avoid. Sophia shares her own journey of reinvention, the lessons sh...

In this episode, I sit down with David Elikwu — writer, strategist, and author of the new book Sovereign. We talk about what it really means to take control of your time, build systems that last, and stop falling into the trap of “being busy” without making progress. David breaks down the biggest productivity myths, shares the tools and routines that actually work, and unpacks why sovereignty over...

But that’s just one of the big questions in this audience-led Q&A episode . You sent in the topics, we tackled them all: Is Starmer politically “done”? Could Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage actually become Prime Minister? What’s really going on inside Labour after the Rayner and Mandelson scandals? Should Trump’s second UK state visit matter to us? Has Israel gone too far in Gaza? Plus: What Cha...

What could a multimillionaire entrepreneur possibly learn from a book written thousands of years ago? In this episode, I sit down with Mark Gerson to find out. Mark has built companies, made millions, and invested in some of the most innovative ventures of our time. Yet the deepest lessons he draws on for life, business, and relationships come from the oldest book in the world. We talk about the s...

What does it really cost to live your life online? In this episode, we sit down with Josiah Hyacinth — digital storyteller, creator, and social media native — to uncover the untold realities of hyper-visibility. From the pressure of always being “on” to the toll it takes on mental health, Josiah opens up about his journey through the highs and lows of social media, and how he’s learning to rebuild...

In this episode of The Common Sense Podcast , journalist and political analyst Catherine Perez-Shakdam shares her extraordinary story of gaining access inside Iran’s regime, where she moved through some of the highest circles of power. She unpacks what she saw and learned, offering rare insights into the realities of extremism, propaganda, and political maneuvering in the Middle East. The conversa...

In this episode, we sit down with Suli Breaks , the poet and storyteller whose words have reached millions and shaped conversations on education, identity, and creativity. From his viral video “Why I Hate School but Love Education” to delivering keynotes for Google and The Times, Suli has become a sought-after voice across stages and screens worldwide. We go beyond the headlines and the viral mome...

In this special Q&A episode, Mike Omoniyi answers your questions — unfiltered and unscripted. From leadership to politics, philosophy to personal growth, nothing’s off-limits. This is the first of our monthly audience Q&As — raw, honest, and full of gems. 💬 Got a question for next time? Drop it in the comments.

Andre Coggins isn’t your typical influencer. From personal lows to becoming one of the UK’s most influential running coaches, this is a story of grit, discipline, and purpose. If you’ve ever struggled to stay consistent with anything, watch this.🏃‍♂️ Topics We Cover:- How running transformed Andre’s life- Discipline, coaching, and community- Mental health and movement- Building a platform through...

This one’s personal. Dr. China joins us for a vulnerable conversation about grief, trauma, and the complicated relationship Christians often have with therapy. If you’ve ever wondered “can I trust God AND go to therapy?” — this one is for you. What We Get Into:- Grief and the pressure to “be strong”- Why Christians fear therapy- Breaking free from shame and silence- Where God meets us in our pain

Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Chama Mechtaly is a trailblazing force working at the intersections of policy, culture and activismBorn into a Muslim-Jewish family in Morocco, Chama is deeply rooted in the values of faith-based dialogue, reconciliation, and positive transformation between Muslims and Jews, as well as Eastern and Western values. In this podcast, Mike and Chama discuss...