The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode I chat with actor, writer and cinematographer in the making, Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo.  She shares with us how she got into theatre, her time at RADA, her first acting gig and her career on stage and on screen so far.  Ronkẹ also discusses her Yorùbá heritage and lineage, the meaning and correct pronunciation of her name, and what she defines as her identity.  We touch on issues of...

My guest today is film critic and broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon.  She shares with me her love for films and how she started off within the industry. We discuss what it means to her being a critic, and her opinions.  Rhianna also talks about her role as a moderator at industry events, the tips she has learned and the guests who have left a lasting impression on her.  We chat about the challenges of a...

On today's episode, my guest is restaurateur & entrepreneur Aji Akokomi.  On the menu today we talk about what Pan-West African fine dining is all about, and the importance of the experience  reaching a wider and diverse clientele.  Aji discusses the importance of customer service, recipes & experimentations, sourcing condiments and mental health and well-being in a pressurised kitche...

On today's episode, artist MURUGIAH shares his story about his career and how he started out.  We talk about his formal education in Architecture  and he has repurposed these skills to his advantage as an artist. We talk about what's currently in his sketchbook and his first piece of work as a child.  Murugiah discusses his unique style and personality in relation to his artwork, includi...

On today's episode, my guest is Certified Wellness coach and author David Greenwalt.  David talks about his interest in exercise started at a  young age; his time as a State Trooper in the State of Illinois and how he took up powerlifting and bodybuilding.  We talk about how he pivoted into the fitness industry and how he founded the Leanness Lifestyle University.  David and I delve into calo...

My guest on today's episode is Healthcare Practitioner Nkem Ndefo.  Nkem shares with me how she began her career within this field, including how she trained as a midwife to her current role as founder of Lumos Transforms and creator of The Resilience Toolkit and how she helps people build a sense of resilience. We chat about issues surrounding healthy boundaries, marginalised identity, appea...

My guest on today's episode is film curator and author Nadia Denton.  We discuss Nigeria film making and why she coined the term 'Beyond Nollywood.  We talk about the Nigeria film space, her visits to Nigeria, content coming out from the region, storytelling from Africa and the challenges of bringing said stories to streaming platforms for a wider audience.  We also delve into what she w...

On today's episode, my guest is former British Army commando, author and entrepreneur Mark Llewhellin.  Mark gives an insight to why he joined the army and specifically his reasons for wanting to become a commando and earning his 'Green lid'.  Mark also talks about his time in the army, from reading personal development books,  his entrepreneurial spirit and his transition to civili...

On this episode, my guest is veteran broadcaster and journalist Kadaria Ahmed.  Kadaria shares how she started her journey into journalism, from growing up listening to The BBC in Nigeria to ending up working for the corporation, and why she decided to leave and move back home to establish her career.   Kadaria talks about her deep passion for Current Affairs and News, and the challenges of workin...

On today's episode, my guest is Ayo Norman-Williams, a games designer and Computer Scientist.  Ayo shares his love for computer games, including the very first title that placed him on his current career path.  We geek out and argue over a few titles, his dream of wanting to work at a famous animation studio at age seven, the games he has created so far and how he was nominated for the BAFTA...

On today's episode, it's all about the joys of good food & cooking as I chat with Aida Khan, the co-founder and Creative Director of Shola- Karachi Kitchen.  I describe her as a 'culinary ambassador for Pakistani cuisine', which is evident from her  deep love and passion for cooking.  She shares with me how she started her career and  her first dish she made as a child.  We...

My guest on the latest episode is  Eva Chukwunelo, a poet, writer and digital marketer.  Eva chats about her interests in the arts, in particular creative writing and dancing.  We actually created a short story during our conversation!  Eva discusses why she left the teaching world for a career within the digital sphere and the opportunities that have since presented themselves.   We also touch up...

My guest on today's episode is filmmaker Clarence Peters.  We talk about his new TV series called 'Inside Life', which is his own small take about life in Lagos, Nigeria, that no one really talks about.  We discuss various mediums of storytelling and the need for making content for a core Nigerian audience, which in turn triggers  much needed conversations within Nigeria.  We look a...

On today's episode my guest is music producer and Technopreneur Charles Bosco.   He shares with us how his musical journey started from going to Tamil School, to producing music and collaborating with musicians from all over the world.  We chat about his musical influences, the intricacies of Copyright and music rights and ownership.  Charles also talks about why he started to create his &apo...

On today's episode my guest is Tara Akindele, founder of Flo Haven, a non-profit organisation that aims at eradicating period poverty and also providing menstrual health to underprivileged women in Nigeria.  Tara shares with me what led her to start Flo Haven during the 2020 global pandemic, how it initially started off as an initiative, and how it has developed in its outreach.   We chat abo...

On today's episode, my guest is Christopher M. Anthony of kayfabefilms.  We chat about film and his love for all things animatronics, building rigs and special effects.  We chart how he started his career, including  interning at The Jim Henson Company ,  to working at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM).   Chris delves behind the scenes of the technical side of  film making including his part i...

On today's episode, I chat with florist, Jen.  We talk about how she transitioned from a career in the corporate world to that of flora.  We discuss how genius is in each of us, going against the grain, work ethic, and how her new work life has brought out the real her.  Jen also shares the challenges and rewards to being a florist; how her shop is her creative sanctuary; sustainability, and...

On today's episode, I chat with writer, producer, director and medical physician Roshan Sethi.  We talk about his creative and medical sides and how he started out.  Roshan discusses why writing is important to him, who inspired him to write, how he managed his time at Harvard while studying, how he got fired from one of his early writing gigs, and how the TV series, 'The Resident'...

On today's episode I chat with the editor-in-chief of Total Film, Jane Crowther.   We geek out over the films that inspired her to get into the industry; we discuss what the medium of film means to her, and what her favourite genre is.  Jane also walks us through what a 'normal' working day in the office is like; the challenges of being an editor in publishing; the misogyny within t...

On today's episode, I chat with music composer Alessandro about his career.  We explore how he started in the industry, and what alternative career he would have taken. had it not been music.  We discuss the people who influenced him, the decisions he made to enhance his career, and his musical instrument of choice.  We talk about his film scores, compositions, the challenges within the indus...

On today's episode, I chat with Pirashanna about his musical career as a percussionist.  We talk about his formal training at the Bhavan Centre in London and the gurus that taught him  how to play the Carnatic (South Indian) instruments such as the Mridangam, Kanjira, Ghatam, and also the Jew's Harp.   Pirashanna shares memories of his Arangetram (‘official’ debut performance of a musici...

On today's episode, I chat with Brianna about celebrating the joy of Blackness and how she came about creating ' The Black Project '.  We discuss issues of identity, Race, discrimination, and the distinction between diversity and representation.  We delve into her heritage of being Irish and Nigerian, and the challenges of growing up Black in a White family, and yet her pride in bei...

On today's episode, I chat with film director, writer, producer, and all round nice person Madhumita about her career. She shares how she began her creative path with a short film she wrote and directed in College in Singapore which led to an award, and her time in within the film industry in Los Angeles while she studied her Masters.  Madhumita also talks about her film directorial debut in...

On today's episode, I chat with Katherine Dibona about her life and hidden health conditions.   She shares how she was medically misdiagnosed since the age of 17 up until recent years when she found out has non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.  She also goes into detail the medical challenges she has had to face with Medical pracitioners and experts, being medically gaslit, gender bias,...

On the latest episode of the podcast, I chat with Akin,  the creator of Ibilecoin, a decentralized financial payment network within cryptocurrency that rebuilds the traditional payment stack on the blockchain.  Akin discusses why he decided on creating an indigenous token and why it was built on the Cardano blockchain.  We delve into the historical and cultural importance of the Benin Ivory mask,...