The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode, I have a chat with Nick about geekdom, reviews and Ancestral roots.  Nick shares how he got into the entertainment industry, and how he started Kidzcoolit and its ethos, and why it's important to appreciate childrens' opinions.  We also take a deep-dive into certain films, and Nick recounts certain encounters with Ridley Scott, Johnny Rotten, Ron Perlman and Paul...

"The culture (Japanese) really fascinated me.  I've been to quite a lot of countries. I've been to all the continents except for South America.  I'm used to African culture and the Western culture, and some Asian countries as well.  But with Japan, it was kind of like the mix of the West, with technology and such, but then you've got the traditions which I found I connecte...

" What organisations sometimes fail to get right is recognising that they are responsible for creating the conditions in which those people (employees) stay well and resilient.  And so, if you are asking people to do more, with less resources, or achieve more with less budget...then you are not creating the conditions for people to remain well and stay resilient because they are under excessi...

"Nowadays, to be an Actuary, you need to be more rounded as an individual; we're trying to break the stereotype of people who tend to be stuck behind their desk, not really looking up or talking to anyone, or just writing reports, or pencil-pushers, essentially.  We're trying to change the public perception of the Actuary profession." On today's episode, I chat with Actuar...

"My official kind of tagline, if you like, is to help women get more out of their lives, whatever that means to them, and I think that the last bit  is the most important part because a lot of coaches could help my clients, but it's that 'whatever that means to them' because I have come to learn that it's not what I think or my agenda what that 'more is' to my cl...

On today's episode I chat with producer, writer and director Tobi Kyeremateng .  She shares on the podcast how she started her career, what she has learnt working within theatre, becoming a producer, and working on various projects within the industry.  She also shares why she started ' The Black Ticket Project' .    We also chat about her writing, including essays that have been pu...

"I think people forget that journalism is a craft and you learn and you hone your craft, and there are people  who write their opinions and their views and they don't actually have anything to back it up with, and a lot of it got replaced by salacious gossip rather than the craft of the music." On today's episode, I have a good, overdue chat with Music Journalist Angharad Willi...

 'I am one of those people who likes to try and explore; like it's never just enough, and,  is there more that there is available to me; and that question prompted a thought, and that thought was 'Masterchef', and I'm thinking ...before my brain scares me out I act on a thought!   So before my brain gets a chance to say "woah, woah, we can't go there!",   I...

On today's episode, I chat with South Korean expat Juwon and her life in Dakar, Senegal.  We talk about all things Korean, including her beloved city of Busan ("Shout out to 'Train to Busan"), the Korean language and its musicality, nuances and it's alphabet.  She tells me how she met her husband ,  her move to Dakar and how she has adapted.   We also touch on the O.G of J...

"We're looking into things that were not even imagined before, like with  The James Webb (telescope)that was just launched, you're going to be able to peer further into the galaxy than we were before, and now who knows what that's going to open up.  I feel like, at the dawn of the space age, we were just looking at earth and how to get to the moon; I feel like now is a perfect...

' Obviously, kids in care are there because they've had something that's gone on in their lives, either from birth or if they're five or six, or even in their teens.  That's not to make excuses for them but they are normal kids and you can't let them get away with things that other children wouldn't get away with.  All the time, though, you're trying to expl...

"To photograph is to frame, and to frame is to exclude". On today's episdode, I chat with Zimbabwean Fine Art photographer & Sony World Photography (Open World Photographer Category 2021) winner Tamary Kudita. We chat about what influenced her to enter this creative field, the challenges and the inspiration behind many of her series.  We talk about the legacy of colonialism, &am...

 "The thing about it, my journey to date, is that I always like to tell the story to encourage others in the sense that, achieving success, or, (let me) take it back: fulfilling your dream, your vision, it comes with a lot of obstacles, with trials, with stumbling blocks.  You have to make up your mind,  see where you are going...not that I'm saying that it's easy, or there won&apos...

"Endometriosis cannot be cured and it cannot be prevented. It's not your fault & don't let anyone make you think otherwise." In the month of March we celebrate International Women's Day, and  on today's episode, I chat with Nicole Flanagan , who is using her platform to engage with people about her experiences dealing with the debilitating & chronic condition,...

"I'm not really here to have a conversation about cancel culture, but I do think that we have to be as gracious and merciful as possible when possible, and sometimes that's missing from the conversation, and I hope to introduce that, while also still being clear that "no, no: this is bad; this is wrong", but introducing as well a certain sense of healing.  And I tie that t...

'...So when you ask me "why are some governments against crypto?", is because, it's a new space, it's a strange space  and everyone fears change, and of course, at least they think that their  status quo is threatened;...the idea that anyone can spawn up their own version of a currency, I think governments cannot wrap their heads around the fact that they cannot have contr...

 "It's not just a scientific problem, it's also that there are huge socio-economic factors that play into the reason that trauma happens." On today's episode I chat with Veena Naganathar about her career as a medical practitioner, how her parents and being born during the civil war in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, shaped career path, and why she is passionate about the field of traum...

"I always consider myself to be more of a people person maybe, so the photography almost comes second hand; I try to understand the people & what their reservations are for being in front of the camera or what they enjoy about it & I try to build on those qualities that they show." On today's episode, I chat with one of London's nicest & most published photographers...

"It's hard, it just is.  There's no easy way to do it.  Even when you do understand what you want to do and how you want to get there, there are lots of 'no's',  there are a lot of 'who you know ' settings and scenarios..." On today's episode, I chat with film aficionado and events producer Toyin about her career in the film industry thus far.  We...

"You really need to push yourself; pressure can be validated positively and negatively, but it's up to you on how you take it.  Nobody's going to spoon-feed you in this world, so it's very important on how you get through, but with determination and motivation, You can get to your goal." On today's episode, I chat with one of the youngest General Managers of a restaur...

"But one of the fundamentals of designing any home, be it a single family home dwelling, or an apartment block, is fire safety.   It's literally the way firefighters get in and fight fires, and the way people get out;  it's one of the fundamental pieces of the puzzle that you have to solve, especially in Housing blocks." On today's episode, I chat with architect and my Jol...

" There are some people, in the South Asian community, that will hold lighter skin above everything else.  But there are some people in the world who truly, & I think it's an individual thing, that sees beauty through the heart, rather than your appearance ." On today's episode, I chat with mathematician, fashion designer, singer and new mother Thakshayini about equations,...

"Identity is something that is needed to help ground people." On today's episode, I chat with my 'brah', Josh, who describes himself, in his own words,  as   "South African, Jewish, flaming homosexual, ex-military, ex-banking, financier; confused from the get-go till I go to sleep!" I talk to Josh about his upbringing in South Africa, to his time with the Special...

"The way the industry is changing, you are learning on the job!" On today's episode, I talk with producer and podcaster Ada about her career in the media.  We delve into soundtracks and tv shows, the female gaze,  and one of her favourite movies: ' Rocks' .  We chat about life and cultural heritage,  and it goes without saying that Jollof rice comes into the equation,  and...

On today's episode, I chat with the lovely and soft-spoken Glen (or 'MrGlen', as he is popularly known) shares his wisdom from his career as an art director, and those who have influenced his work. We also chat about typefaces & fonts, magazine designs, photo-shoots, and what the difference is between an art director and designer.  MrGlen also candidly talks about depression and...