The Qonnect

Welcome to the final episode of Season 4 of The Qonnect Podcast! Join me as I reflect on the enriching and grounding conversations we've had this season, exploring themes like storytelling, community building, new narratives for Africa, and the importance of adaptability. From inspiring stories with Aashni Shah about resilience and self-advocacy to discussing the power of art in activism, we&...

In this episode of The Qonnect, I dive into the significance of storytelling in bridging cultural divides and fostering a sense of belonging and humanity. I share personal experiences and reflections on how our interconnectedness can combat divisiveness, bigotry, and fear. Highlighting concepts like 'Ubuntu' and 'Sawubona' I emphasise the importance of seeing and valuing each o...

In this episode of The Qonnect, I sit down with Brandon E. Campbell, the founder of Extended Family, to explore his journey to building this platform and what it means to cultivate a global community.  We delve into the significance of empathy, meaningful conversations, and the rewarding challenge of living a nomadic life. Brandon shares his journey from a legal career in New York to building a pl...

In this episode, I’m revisiting a powerful conversation I had with Ras Mutabaruka—a Rwandan-Canadian entrepreneur, media maker, and community builder whose ingenuity, creativity, and faith in humanity have driven him to carve out a life of passion and vision. From experiences of struggle and migration, Ras has developed an enduring, inexhaustible love for the continent of his birth. Frustrated wit...

In this episode of The Qonnect Podcast, I explore the profound impact of art in driving social change. I reflect on the legacies of music icons like Nina Simone and Michael Jackson, as well as Ai Weiwei’s bold political commentary and visual artist JR’s transformative murals.  This episode underscores the responsibility of artists to use their platforms for advocacy, fostering empathy, and bridgin...

In this episode of The Qonnect, I speak with my friend Aashni Shah, founder of HypeDocs, about the importance of celebrating achievements, self-advocacy, and gaining confidence in the workplace. Aashni shares her personal journey, touching on topics such as imposter syndrome, challenges in STEM as a woman of colour, and the need for strong support systems. She talks candidly about her experiences...

In this episode, I talk about the importance of adapting when life doesn't go according to plan. Drawing from my personal experiences and insights from figures like Bozoma Saint John, Elizabeth Gilbert and Steve Jobs, I talk of the importance of flexibility over rigid planning and some of the strategies that have helped me along the way like reframing setbacks, leaning into curiosities and em...

In this episode of The Qonnect, we speak with storyteller, poet, and archivist Ibraheem Leone. We get into Ibraheem's journey of documenting poetry and cultural heritage in Sierra Leone, the importance of oral traditions, and the use of technology, particularly blockchain, for cultural preservation. Ibraheem also shares his personal experiences of homecoming, his diverse upbringing, and the i...

Allow me to reintroduce myself! In this episode of The Qonnect Podcast, I talk about the podcast's mission to feature deep, real conversations with global changemakers, highlighting the importance of cultural diversity, human connection, and inspiring stories. I also share my personal motivations and experiences that led me to star this podcast, and what I want this podcast to be. Have though...

In this episode of the Qonnect Podcast, we delve deep into a conversation with Maïmouna Elle Traore, the creator behind the Instagram community 'Romanticizing African Countries,' which has garnered over 126,000 followers in less than a year. Maïmouna shares her journey from pursuing a surgical residency to embracing her passions for writing and filming everyday moments in Africa. She she...

On the final episode of this season of The Qonnect, Qali looks back on some of her favourite moments and what she learnt from them. --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Twitter or Instagram accounts below: Follow @theqonnect on Instagram . Find Qali on Instagram & Twitter . Check out her website Being Qaali Have though...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks with Ras Mutabaruka, Rwandan Canadian entrepreneur, media maker, and community-builder whose ingenuity, creativity and faith in humanity have allowed him to carve, from circumstances of struggle and migration, a life of passion, vision and enduring, Inexhaustible love for the continent of his birth. Moses has founded TAP Media Ltd (TAP Magazine Parent Co...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali talks about the importance of telling your story, cementing our identities into history, building resilience and all the ways that writing can have psychological benefits. --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Twitter or Instagram accounts below: Follow @theqonnect on Instagram Follow @q...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali gets into failing, pivoting and making that leap. It's something we all will face multiple times in our lives, but how can we rewire it to see it as an opportunity, create meaning in our lives through experimenting. --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Twitter or Instagram accounts...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali gets into the pressure of having things figured out, mid-year highlight reels, regrets of the dying and running your own race. --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Twitter or Instagram accounts below: Follow @theqonnect on Instagram Follow @qaaliciid on Instagram & Twitter . Check o...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks with Araika-Zawadhafsa Mkulo, a cognitive psychologist and founder of Safe Space Africa, an entity dedicated to improving mental health for Africans through individual therapy, group workshops and digital products. Araika is a published researcher in the 2017 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems and The Gender Equality...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali gets into community and belonging, their importance and how we can encourage it in our lives. Desmond Tutu Video Why I have coffee with people who send me hate mail | Özlem Cekic --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Twitter or Instagram accounts below: Follow @qaaliciid on Instagram &am...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks with Idil Farah, a Registered Nutritionist, Health Educator and Ancestral Foodie. Fundamental to Idil’s practice is making nutrition accessible to all by providing culturally sensitive nutrition advice that honours her clients diverse backgrounds and values around food. Her customized approach to nutrition counselling and holistic wellness is a unique bl...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks with songwriter, musician, abstract painter and writer Wanja Wohoro.  With a focus on intimate storytelling, all of her artistic work investigates identity, relationships, love and history within the feminine and Black/African experience through a personal lens. In 2018 she released her debut album Matriarch which is a 9 track ode to both womanhood, home...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali gets into the importance of showing up, commitment and being present. Episode referred to in this episode: Boundaries & Burnout - S2 E8 (https://bit.ly/3LNE3PI) Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect and tagging @theqonnect on Instagram and @qaaliciid on Instagram and X.  Follow @qaaliciid & @theqon...

On the final episode of this season of The Qonnect, Qali looks back on some of her favourite moments and what she learnt from them. --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Instagram & Twitter (@qaaliciid). Check out her website Being Qaali Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks with London's own Nooriyah, a DJ, presenter and filmmaker.  Noor has also been the Features Editor at AZEEMA magazine, focusing on underrepresented womxn globally. As a DJ, she is known for playing upbeat popular records infused with Middle Eastern and North African sounds. She occupied the River Stage at the National Theatre, taught DJ classes for...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali talks about why 2021 hasn't started off as smoothly as expected and how boundaries, being easily accessible to people thanks to technology and burnout are all things that have been on her mind. --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Instagram & Twitter (@qaaliciid). Check out her...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks with Amahle, a South African entrepreneur who owns & founded LUNTU, an online marketplace that sells a wide range of products from up-cycled skateboards to Black owned coffee. LUNTU gives customers the opportunity to buy products from businesses that matter to them, in easy way. This is done with the use of the LUNTU index, a information card that id...

On this episode of The Qonnect, Qali speaks about some philosophies and history around self care away from the billions of dollars that are exchanged every year in the commercial aspects of it. She explores the surprising links between Socrates and Audre Lorde .  --- Have thoughts about this episode? Share on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect or post at Qali's Instagram & Twitter...