The Black Circle

In 2014, long before conversations around representation became mainstream, Tobi Oredein saw a gap in British media and decided to build what didn't exist. As the founder of Black Ballad, she's spent the last decade creating a platform dedicated to telling the stories of Black women in Britain with the nuance, honesty and care they deserve. What began as a digital publication has since gro...

Nigerian visual artist and storyteller Anthony Azekwoh joins The Black Circle Podcast for a conversation about art, mythology, memory and cultural preservation. Known for his viral series The Wedding and his striking visual interpretations of African folklore, Anthony has built a global reputation for creating work that sits at the intersection of contemporary culture, history and imagination. In...

In this episode of The Black Circle Podcast, Zoe Cornibert sits down with BAFTA-winning writer, poet and storyteller Dean Atta. Best known for The Black Flamingo and the award-winning short film Two Black Boys in Paradise, Dean has built a body of work that explores identity, belonging, race, masculinity and queerness with honesty, tenderness and depth. Together, they discuss growing up as a mixed...

What does it mean to build a beauty brand that truly understands Black women? This week, Zoe sits down with Jamelia Donaldson, founder of TreasureTress, Europe’s first and largest natural hair product discovery platform, for a conversation that goes far beyond haircare. From growing up in a world where textured hair was often framed negatively, to building a platform rooted in representation, sist...

From the early days of grime and pirate radio to building globally recognised brands like Crep Protect and HYPHNT, Jason Black aka J2K joins me for a conversation on culture, entrepreneurship, sneaker/trainer culture, community and building with real intention. We also get into SOLE INTENT, his upcoming initiative supporting hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica through creativity, community and act...

Can you really say anything anymore… or are there lines you just don’t cross? This week, I’m joined by comedian Dane Baptiste for a conversation that goes beyond the stage. From starting out in comedy to building a career across TV, live shows and podcasting, Dane shares what it actually takes to last in the industry. We get into the reality behind the laughs, whether the industry has truly moved...

What does it really take to build a career in media when the doors aren’t opening for you? This week on The Black Circle, I’m joined by Remel London, presenter, producer and founder of The Mainstream, a platform creating real access for the next generation of creatives in TV, film and media. Hosting major red carpets and becoming the only UK press at ESSENCE Fest, Remel’s journey is a masterclass...

Property is often sold as the end goal. But in reality, it’s just the vehicle. In this episode, I sit down with Kazy, a developer with over a decade in the game, to break down what it actually takes to build something that lasts. We talk about why cash flow is everything, how credibility is built over time, and why the industry is less forgiving than it used to be. The shortcuts don’t work anymore...

In this episode of the podcast, Zoe sits down with multidisciplinary creative Jade Pearl to explore the deeper meaning behind creativity, colour and wearable art. Drawing from colour psychology, intuition and lived experience, she creates pieces designed to shift how people feel when they wear them. The conversation explores creativity as identity, the power of recommendation in creative industrie...

In this episode of The Black Circle, we’re joined by financial educator and founder of The Savvy Wallet, Ato Jay. Known for breaking down money in a way that is practical, relatable, and actionable, Ato has built a platform that empowers people to think differently about wealth, ownership, and long term security.

Season 3 of The Black Circle starts here. In this episode, TV presenter and founder Ria Hebden shares how she built her career in television without waiting for permission, including getting herself onto BBC One and ITV without an agent. We talk about backing yourself before anyone else does, shaping representation from within the industry, why playing it safe is the real risk, and what it truly m...

What happens when we stop whispering about sex and start learning through play? In this season two finale, Zoe sits down with Kangwa Saili designer, storyteller and co-founder of Clits, Tits & Other Bits (CTOB) the bold card game turning taboo topics into open, empowering conversations. Kangwa shares how she’s using creativity to reframe sex education, close the pleasure gap and push for femal...

When Christina Okorocha co-founded VAMP back in 2017, she and her partners set out to change an industry that had overlooked Black digital talent for too long. Nearly eight years later, their agency has redefined how brands like Disney, Netflix, and Spotify engage with culture. In this episode of The Black Circle Podcast, Christina sits down with Zoe to talk about building VAMP from the ground up,...

From a pencil and sketchbook in Uganda to creating Disney’s first African sci-fi series, Hamid Ibrahim’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. In this episode of The Black Circle Podcast, I sit down with Hamid Emmy-nominated filmmaker, CEO of Kugali, and one of the leading voices in African storytelling. We talk about his early years in Uganda and Kenya, the culture shock of moving to the UK, br...

This episode is close to my heart. ❤️I sit down with my stepdad, Chris Peckings Price co-owner of Peckings Records, One of London’s oldest reggae record shop, and son of the legendary George Peckings Price. We talk about 60+ years of legacy, culture and community, from Studio One in Jamaica to Shepherd’s Bush in West London, from sound systems to Notting Hill Carnival, and how reggae has shaped Br...

Black women are often called the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs but what’s the truth behind that stat? In this episode, we sit down with Jo Wong, CEO and Founder of Let’s GROW Black Female Founders (BFF), to unpack the realities of Black women in business and why building spaces designed by us and for us is essential. Jo shares her journey as a neurodivergent, Black, mother and expat, and...

At 23, Shannie Mears co-founded The Elephant Room and flipped the advertising industry on its head. From Birmingham to global brands, she’s built space for Black creatives, launched The Blacklist & Guestlist, and is rewriting the rules on culture, community and ownership. In this episode we dive into DEI in 2025, building a creative agency from scratch, and balancing leadership with motherhood...

What happens when you stop waiting on the system and start building your own? In this episode, we sit down with Darren Miller CEO and Founder of the Black British Initiative (BBI) to talk executive education, funding, and the real reason Black entrepreneurs are still locked out of mainstream opportunity. From his early days growing up in Nunhead to creating a Mini MBA with SOAS, Darren’s mission i...

What does it really take to build a legacy in the creative industry without waiting for permission? From launching campaigns with Complex Media and Idris Elba, to creating a platform that bridges the gap between brands, artists and real community, Ade drops blueprint-level gems on longevity, superfan strategy, and making culture undeniable. In this episode, we sit down with Ade Sanusi cultural str...

What does it really take to go from life-altering challenges to building a top 1% ecommerce business? In this powerful episode, we sit down with NyesWorld founder of TheAmazonSecrets and host of the NyesWorld Podcast to uncover the real story behind his rise in the UK’s Amazon FBA scene. He shares the exact mindset shifts, wholesale and private label strategies, and hard-won lessons that helped hi...

In this episode, we sit down with Ronke Lawal, award-winning PR and communications strategist, founder of Ariatu PR. From her roots in East London to the boardrooms of Britain’s top comms institutions, Ronke shares her journey of building a business, amplifying Black voices, and redefining what it means to lead with purpose. We talk about:How to build an authentic personal brandThe power of public...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Rhael 'LionHeart' Cape Hon FRIBA — a multidisciplinary artist, poet, visionary director and the first-ever Poet-in-Residence at legendary architecture firms like Grimshaw, Snohetta, and Saatchi Gallery. LionHeart opens up about the emotional blueprints behind his debut exhibition, “Duppy Kno Who Fi Frighten,” unpacking the Caribbean proverb that inspired...

In this episode, I’m joined by Adwoa Amankona geographer, environmental advocate, and all-round powerhouse to explore how race, space, and privilege shape the climate conversation. We talk Black Geographies, decolonising education, who gets to be seen as an “environmentalist,” and how environmental spaces in the UK often exclude the very communities most impacted. Adwoa also shares her personal jo...

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Farrah Charles producer, industry powerhouse, and co-host of the unapologetically brilliant podcast Your Aunties Could Never. Farrah takes us on a journey from working behind the scenes at some of the UK’s biggest studios (BBC, Warner Bros, Garden Studios) to co-creating one of the most beloved Black British podcasts today.

In this episode, we sit down with Jenny, a lead psychiatric occupational therapist, mental health advocate, and TEDx speaker. She shares insights into workplace wellbeing, neurodiversity, and mental health, particularly within the criminal justice sector.