Steps I Took Podcast w/ Jevanni Letford & Achasah

What does it really take to build a personal brand people actually care about? Raj Kotecha didn’t just build a career in content, media and community by chance. In this episode, he shares the steps he took to turn curiosity, consistency and connection into a personal brand that has opened doors across business, events and the creative world. We get into the reality of standing out online, why most...

In this special episode, the hosts become the guests. Harleigh Reid steps in to interview Jevanni Letford and Achasah Weinreb , the voices behind Steps I Took , giving listeners a chance to hear their personal journeys for the first time. They talk about their childhoods, their experiences growing up Black in the UK, and the very different parenting styles that shaped who they are today. Jevanni r...

Scottie B takes us back to where it all started, from pirate radio and silent bedroom mixes at his grandparents house, to finding his sound and stepping into the UK club scene. In this episode, he shares how a connection with artist Ironik played a key role in getting his name out there, eventually leading to international gigs, production work and building a business. He also reflects on the quie...

Gemma Ashworth has built a career and a community that spans continents. In this episode, she shares how her love for sport and desire to learn new things, saw her transition from a school teacher to leading global social media content for major fitness brands and events. She talks about the power of acting quickly on ideas, and the lessons learned from building Girls Lift Girls, a strength-based...

Welcome to the podcast, Adil Hussain . For years, he chased attention and external validation, avoiding the inner work he truly needed. A life-changing meditation retreat in Morocco helped shift everything. In this episode, Adil reflects on overcoming insecurity, unlearning toxic masculinity, and how that journey led him to create ManCave Project , a space for men to connect, heal and grow in Duba...

Aamir Kapadia grew up between two worlds, attending private school in the UK while his parents worked hard in the UAE to build a future for their family. Years later, that foundation made it easier for him to start Liftdex, a gym equipment company that took off during the 2020 lockdown. With a family-run manufacturing business behind him, his first client came easily, and social media helped him g...

Two founders who both started in sport but left it behind for different reasons, and eventually built something new together in Dubai. They are the team behind Precision Events, the company running The Precision Games, the UAE’s biggest and most talked-about fitness competition. Follow Precision Events: https://www.instagram.com/precision.events/?hl=en https://www.team-aretas.com/competitions/2301

The moral of this story? Go wherever your passion takes you. When DJ Charlsey started following in his brother’s footsteps as a teenager, he had no idea where it would lead. From support act DJ to record label executive, then radio host to international tour manager and events director, he’s experienced almost every side of the music industry. This episode is a reminder of how powerful it is to ha...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects women. It usually starts during adolescence, but symptoms may fluctuate over time. Georgina first experienced her symptoms in her early teens and has spent every day since learning, battling and healing her body. It led her to study nutrition then build her coaching and nutritionist business, 'It's a PCOS Party'. Listen t...

Dr. Ilham Sebah saw an advert for a PhD, picked up the phone, called the supervisor and started an incredible journey she never imagined she would be on. Ilham is a psychologist with a doctorate in resilience and a passion for helping people build confidence. In this episode, she talks about her research on phone anxiety, how resilience shows up in everyday life, and what she learned from giving a...

Matthew Jones is the founder of world famous Bread Ahead, the bakery that started in London’s Borough Market and makes Achasah's favourite doughnut in the world! In this episode, he talks about his journey from being a young chef to building a global bakery brand. It’s all about good bread, big risks, and doing what you love. Subscribe and stream full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.you...

Naz Moustafa is a senior marketing manager at Sony Music (Middle East) who has truly mastered mind over matter. She has decided what is important to her, isn't pushing that onto anyone else, but is willing to share the blueprint. Naz' recommendations:📚 Who Says You Can't? You Do: The life-changing self help book that's empowering people around the world to live an extraordinary li...

Deborah Stokoe has taken her life in more directions than most. She almost joined the Navy, then packed up and moved to Australia with no real plan. Discovering CrossFit led her to her husband. Now she is channeling everything she has learned into building her own clothing brand. In this episode, Deborah reflects on trusting her instincts, backing herself, and how all the steps she has taken, both...

Do you really need 10,000 steps a day? Should you choose cardio or weights? And what’s the deal with your knees clicking every time you move? Rajbir Kaur ( Physiotherapist of the Year two years running!) is here to unpack some of the biggest myths around movement, recovery and training. Rajbir shares why the body loves muscle loading, how movement is medicine, and why clicking knees are usually no...

Jack of all trades... master of some! There's not much Kieran hasn't tried along his journey to becoming one of the most well connected legacy names in Dubai. From what business can do to friendships, to the true toll on family when you start a new life in the sun, and as the man who had the first boat party in Dubai; Kieran's got a lot to share! Follow Kieran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.c...

If you build it, they will come... or so they say. Ciaran prefers not to rely on that and has poured hundreds of hours into customer and market research in building Hundo: The Home Of Meal Plans. 6 years in finance, a trusted business partner and a Careem bike later, Hundo is solving a huge problem that the UAE meal prep market had and this is only the beginning. Check out Hundo here and listeners...

It's not often you meet someone in Dubai who has spent their entire life in the UAE, but Manal has. There was something about her from her earliest years that made her save every dirham she had, that would grow and enable her to be the businesswoman she is today. Follow here for Cozy Pets Furniture and here for MHomeDXB To watch the full episodes on YouTube, subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com...

Kairo Rahman is the Video & Creative Manager at Lovin Dubai, shaping the city's visual storytelling. He hustled through his teens in London and it made him fearless, but creativity gave him purpose. His breakthrough came with a D-Block Europe music video and he never looked back. Now, he crafts bold content for global brands, pushing creative boundaries in Dubai and beyond. Find Kairo on I...

This week, ex-professional golfer Amy Boulden shares her journey from growing up in North Wales to making it as a pro on the Ladies European Tour. She talks about what it takes to go pro, losing her pro status and what it's really like balancing life on the tour. Amy opens up about the ups and downs of her journey and where the sport will take her next... Follow Amy on Instagram here to see wh...

Meet the woman behind 'the best burger' in the UAE. Nadia Shah grew up far from the city she now calls home, in Ireland, to Pakistani and English parents at a time when there was one other mixed child on the street. After years of seeking external validation, she's changing her story. The next steps of Nadia are just as interesting as the ones that got her here and we look forward to seeing how sh...

A thriving business, a loving daughter and a life in the sun; some would say Hannah has it all. But does she feel that the journey she's taken to her incredible achievements has been worth the tough decisions along the way? Join us for a deep dive into a squiggly career path that is far from where it began, but exactly where it's meant to be. Follow Hannah on Instagram and her business here: https...

Imagine being a newly married doctor with a young family, moving halfway across the world and you finally get the call up from your dream job... at Arsenal. Listen to Dr. Ali's journey to practicing family medicine in the UAE, from navigating the lack of diversity at Cambridge University, marriage, parenthood and his health advice we should all follow. For updates from Jevanni, Achasah and the pod...

As a 13-year-old her father was driving her around the neighbourhood to grow her very first graphic design and marketing business. Maybe she knew then the woman in business she would become, but the journey has been was no linear and not always smooth. Join us with Amoye Henry or her career through design and healthcare, to funding and consulting superstar. Follow Amoye Henry on Instagram and visi...

Happy New Year! We’re kicking off the year with an amazing guest, Natassia DSouza. In this episode, Natassia lays it all bare, sharing the raw and emotional details of her journey. From navigating the complexities of a strained relationship with her parents, the emotional challenges of regaining 30kg after initially losing it, and how her clients motivate her to stay strong, face her own battles,...

In this episode of Kelly shares her remarkable journey from being adopted at three to building a thriving business empire in Dubai. From managing 52 hostesses at the Abu Dhabi F1 to launching numerous ventures, Kelly reveals the resilience, passion, and communication skills that have fueled her success. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration to overcome challenges and achieve their g...