Talking Tech With Creatives

What happens when anyone can generate beautiful images? In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I speak with London-based director and VFX artist Anthony Rubinstein about AI, filmmaking, visual effects and the future of creative work. Anthony describes AI as a third way of making pixels. First, we captured images with cameras. Then we built worlds through CGI and VFX. Now, we can generate...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, Stella Oni speaks with Ugandan writer and filmmaker Dilman Dila about storytelling, African folklore, speculative futures, filmmaking, and creative independence. Dilman shares how oral storytelling, Ugandan myths, night dancers, African knowledge systems and self-taught filmmaking shaped his work. He also discusses why he prefers independent platform...

In this episode, I speak with Melody Nehemiah, CEO and founder of Songdis, a platform helping African artists and labels get their music onto global streaming services and collect royalties. Melody shares how he sold CDs as a child, produced beats, and managed artists before identifying a major gap in the music ecosystem. He experienced how hard it was for African artists to distribute music, with...

In this solo episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I share what stood out to me from attending the London Book Fair, especially around publishing, technology, discoverability, and the future of books. I reflect on the UK government’s controversial AI copyright proposal, the strong pushback from the creative industries, and why this matters so much for writers and anyone building an audience. I a...

Dr Kadija George Sesay has spent decades championing Black writers, preserving overlooked stories, and building Pan-African literary networks that stretch across continents. In this rich conversation, I sit down with her to explore what it really means to decolonise the bookshelf and ensure that our stories are not only published, but preserved for future generations. Kadija speaks about founding...

In this episode, I speak with Hamid Ibrahim, creator and production designer of Iwaju, the groundbreaking Afro-futuristic series produced in collaboration between Kugali Media and Disney. We dive into his journey from portrait artist, to Hollywood VFX work on films such as The Lion King, Dumbo and Doctor Dolittle, to building one of the most important African creative IP houses of our time. Hamid...

This week I have a lively conversation with author and literary activist Rasheda Ashanti Malcolm about building platforms for women of colour from the 1990s to today. Rasheda traces her path from founding Candace magazine to writing fiction, creating the WILDE Foundation, running writing retreats in Jamaica, and launching the H&F Writers’ Festival in West London. We explore how technology and...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit down with my literary agent, Francesca Riccardi of Kate Nash Literary Agency, to unpack how publishing really works. Drawing on her 15 years at publishers like Harper Collins, Atlantic Books, and Canelo, Francesca explains the differences between traditional, indie, and self-publishing; what agents actually do; and how deals, rights, and market...

In this powerful episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I’m joined by Dr. Carlton Brown, founder of the UK Black Business Entrepreneurs Conference (BBEC), business strategist, and author of the Black Entrepreneurs Report. Dr. Brown shares his personal journey from watching his Jamaican mother run blues parties and the community padner financial schemes to becoming a leading voice for change in UK...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit down with prize winning crime fiction author and tech entrepreneur Ajay Chowdhury. His career journey spans co-founding Shazam, leading innovative tech ventures, and writing the  Kamal Rahman series. Ajay shares how his early years in India shaped his creative and business mindset, why food, culture, and immigrant experiences run through his fi...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit down with the dynamic Nana S Soenya, founder of Omega Seven Global Limited. Nanna shares her powerful journey—from her early life in Ghana to becoming a passionate advocate for women’s rights in Mexico. We talk openly about the systemic challenges black and brown women face when trying to secure funding for their ventures. Nana breaks down how...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, host Stella Oni speaks with Dr. Chenai Gondo—a British-Zimbabwean award-winning business strategist and entrepreneur. With a rich background in real estate, PropTech, sustainability, and corporate leadership, Dr. Gondo shares her unconventional journey from synthetic chemist to tech-savvy executive leading multimillion-pound M&A deals and digital...

In this fascinating episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, host Stella Oni sits down with Corina Goetz, founder of Star-CaT and a leading Middle East business strategist, to explore Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, cultural intelligence in business, and the evolving role of technology in Gulf economies.   Corina shares her personal journey from luxury hospitality to becoming a sought-after cultural ad...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I had the pleasure of sitting down with internationally acclaimed bespoke designer Yemi Osunkoya of Kosibah. From sketching bridal dresses as a young boy in Nigeria to becoming a sought-after name in fashion, Yemi shared his remarkable journey—and the mindset that’s carried him through every stage.  We talked about how he blends traditional technique...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I speak with Sandra Johnson, a communications and policy expert with a fascinating career journey that spans Whitehall, digital transformation, and creative writing. Sandra, a second-generation Windrush professional, shares insights into building a meaningful career, navigating imposter syndrome, and developing a strong personal brand. We talk about...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit down with Micallar Walker, founder of Dark Matter Agency, to discuss digital marketing strategies, AI in creativity, and marketing to Black audiences. Micallar shares her journey from working in cinema and film distribution to launching her innovative marketing agency, which specializes in community-driven campaigns and brand storytelling. We e...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit with Ope Oduwole, Editor-in-Chief of Floor Magazine, to explore the intersection of creativity, technology, and community-building.  The conversation kicks off with a discussion on the UK government’s current AI consultations and the potential impact on creatives. Ope shares his journey in launching Floor Magazine, a platform dedicated to uplif...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit down with Jendella Benson—author, editor, speaker, and head of editorial at Black Ballad, a digital platform amplifying Black women’s voices in Britain. We dive deep into her journey as an author, her work in media, and how technology is shaping representation in publishing.   We also discuss the rapid changes in AI, the impact of social media...

In this solo episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, host Stella Oni delves into the podcast's mission and her unique journey as a crime fiction author with a career in technology. She explores the impact of AI on creative industries. She outlines the podcast's goals: educating creatives on emerging tech trends, highlighting success stories through interviews, and offering interactive masterclasse...

In this episode of the Talking Tech with Creative Podcast, I sit down with Alex Bainbridge, a specialist in tourism and technology, to discuss the fascinating ways artificial intelligence is transforming the tourism industry. Together, we explore how AI enhances creativity in travel experiences, from personalized tours to autonomous vehicles. Alex takes us through his journey in travel technology,...

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I welcome Abidemi Sanusi, an accomplished author and SEO expert. We dive into her journey from working in human rights to becoming a multi-faceted professional in writing and technology. I also share insights from the recent World Travel Market show in Excel, London, focusing on how AI is influencing the tourism industry. Abidemi offers her expertise...

We interview Tony Abulu, an Nigerian filmmaker and CEO of Black Ivory Communications, whose extensive career spans over 30 years in film, publishing, and international marketing. Abulu discusses his journey, from his storytelling roots inspired by his grandmother in Edo state to the business lessons learned from his uncle. Despite early societal expectations to pursue sciences, Tony followed his p...

In this episode, Izu Okafor, a filmmaker passionate about bringing authentic Nigerian stories to the screen, joins us. Izu shares his creative journey, explaining how he started producing and is now making strides toward directing, with an exciting upcoming Israeli-Nollywood project in the works. He talks about the balance between formal education and practical experience, sharing how self-educati...

In this exciting episode of the Talking Tech With Creatives podcast, I welcome Bee Kapitan, an augmented reality (AR) expert and a creative technologist. Bee shares her fascinating journey from web design to becoming a leader in AR, virtual reality (VR), and XR (Extended Reality) development. We dive deep into augmented reality, discussing its applications in storytelling and marketing and how aut...

Join Stella Oni on the latest episode of "Talking Tech with Creatives" as she sits down with Gbenga Shokefun, a multi-talented Nigerian-American author, lawyer, and industrialist. Gbenga shares his fascinating journey from an influential creative family to his pivotal role in the Afrobeat genre and the founding of Question Mark Records. Discover his insights on the intersection of technology, crea...