The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast Hosted by Akin

"I grew up seeing people on TV and being like, wow, that's amazing, I would love to do that! And it was also the excitement of seeing a black person on TV. I literally heard my mum be like 'Oh, I need to call my sisters. I need to make sure they're watching.  There's a black person on TV, 6pm tonight!' And it's like...it was such an amazing feeling to feel represented whenever we did see someone.  I actually feel like that buzz has actually gone a bit now because we actually expect not to see black people on TV...back then, it was just  like, we're just proud.  And as a young person growing up, I saw Oprah.  My mom watched The Oprah Winfrey Show on Channel 4.  We saw Trevor McDonald. We saw Moira Stewart doing the news and it was like, you know, my Guyanese nanny used to be like 'Moira's on telly tonight!' And it's like, yes, I love seeing that celebration of talent. So I knew growing up that I wanted to tap into that world of being on screen."

On today's episode, I chat with Broadcaster & Live Host Remel London.    She shares how her enthusiasm for all things media related spurred her into a career in broadcasting.  Remel talks about the challenges she has encountered within the industry, the importance of representation within the media, being true to one's self, and how having a strong work ethic can make all the difference.  Remel and I also discuss her mixed heritage and what identity means to her, mental wellbeing and what keeps her anchored and of course, she shares the quote that continually inspires her. 

Passionate, driven and at the very forefront of innovation within entertainment, Remel London is one of the most exciting breakout names in British broadcasting.  Already the face of Sky One’s What’s Up TV and host of her own radio show on Capital Xtra, Remel is also the founder of much celebrated creative platform The Mainstream which provides key networking opportunities, live events, workshops/seminars and podcasts to support exceptional diverse talent in developing their career in the mainstream media space. 
A defining voice within the culture, she’s played key roles in the development of the iconic music platform Link Up TV, working as lead presenter and producer to win partnerships with Footasylum and Boiler Room TV as well as being weekly host of London’s top live music event ILUVLIVE. 
Her extensive knowledge of music and entertainment led to her joining the MOBO Awards panel before going on to host the MOBOs official Red Carpet. A passionate advocate for young creatives, she has hosted the Music For Youth Proms at the Royal Albert Hall a record seven times and is resident host of the Rocking Ur Teens Girls Conference. 
As a former semi-pro athlete, Remel is also a Nike Ambassador with several branded partnerships including Puma, Spotify, Wagamamas and Apprentice Nation. She is also Notting Hill Carnival’s official annual host. 



Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!

I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.

If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.

Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!

"I can speak from a marketing perspective, and one of the things that's really helpful for us is that the author wants to be front and centre of the campaign.  It's really helpful if the author is prepared to come out and meet the audience, whether it's through Q&A's or panels, doing little video snippets for social media.  Those little things are really amazing and helpful.  Also, I think it's important for authors to be really clear with their publishers, that it's important for them to reach a diverse audience because sometimes publishers rest on their laurels and will just do exactly the same thing."

On today's episode I have a conversation with Micallar Walker, founder at Dark Matter.  Micallar talks about how she moved from a career in film marketing to starting a collaborative marketing agency, catering in particular for  Black audiences.  We chat about some of the campaigns that she has worked on, the importance of telling and sharing Black stories to wider audiences through the mediums of books and cinema.  We also discuss issues of cultural identities, mental health and wellbeing, what, in her opinion, is a genre Black readers crave when it comes to reading, the importance of collaborations,  the importance of literary work and why book publishing will continue to thrive.  

Micallar also shares what her film passions are, and of course, the quotes that continually inspire her. 

Micallar (Mi-kay-la) is a marketer, event producer and audience development consultant with expertise delivering impactful campaigns in the UK, Middle East and North Africa.  Formerly Head of Marketing for Front Row Filmed Entertainment, and Head of Events for Picturehouse Cinemas prior to that, she brings over 20 years of marketing experience to inform strategies and shape authentic campaigns.
In 2020, Micallar founded inclusive marketing agency Dark Matter to connect culture with Black audiences. Highlights for Micallar and the agency include being nominated for a Screen International award for Diversity and Inclusion and presenting a case study of her work at Faber's Independent Alliance Conference.
In 2021 and 2022, Dark Matter contributed to three winning campaigns at the Book Marketing Society Awards and produced events for two books nominated in the Best Marketing Campaign category at the 2023 British Book Awards.

Micallar's consultancy work includes working with Fane Productions, as well as Picturehouse Cinemas where she provides ongoing support to reach and develop Black audiences.
Micallar divides her time between her hometown of London and Dubai, where she currently lives with her husband and two children.
Instagram: @darkmattermktg @micallarwalker
www.darkmatteragency.co.uk





Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!

I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.

If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.

Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!

"And what ZSL and other senior NGOs do is we do conservation by consent.  So the indigenous people, the local communities, it's their country, it's their forest,  they have those rights. So we do it by consent and actually it's a really mature way to talk about it because there's a huge amount of old knowledge within that community about how it's been managed over the years and how we can learn.  So, yes, we bring our science, we bring our ideas, we sit down, we talk them through what we propose doing, but we get the community to sign up to that because without their buy-in, without their commitment to it, you're wasting your time."

On today's episode I chat with Grant Miller MBE, Counter trafficking and law enforcement advisor with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).  Grant talks about his passion for the environment, including his career experiences and encounters during his travels across the globe within his current role within the ZSL, how he and his team approach cultural sensitivity within communities;  issues surrounding trauma and mental health within the line of duty;  the vital work that the local rangers conduct including the challenges of  dealing with poachers and the illegal activity of trafficking; what's on the endangered species list, and other topics. Grant also talks about his time in the military and law enforcement, his Scottish heritage, and of course, he shares the quote that continually inspires him. 

Grant has over 30 years’ experience working within UK Law enforcement structures. He rose from the uniformed ranks to a senior leadership role within the UK Border Force. His final ten years of service saw him lead the UK CITES enforcement controls at the UK Border. This entailed providing the strategic leadership to the Internationally recognised UK Border force Cites enforcement team.

In 2017 Grant was elected Chair of the INTERPOL wildlife crime working group, the first non police officer to hold this position. He was a co-founder of the globally recognised IWT enforcement operations under the “Thunder” brand. He has provided training for the World Customs organisation, Interpol, UNoDC, CITES Secretariat, EU life, The Durrell Institute and WWF.  In 2019 Grant was appointed a member of the British Empire for services to the international protection of wildlife and wider border security. In 2016 Grant was awarded a World Customs Organisation
commendation from the Secretary general for his lead in the enforcement of the CITES Convention.

In 2014 Grant and his team won the WWF wildlife crime operation of the year, for the detection, investigation and subsequent successful prosecution of two offenders involved in the smuggling of San Salvador rock Iguanas from the Bahamas through the UK. Grant has trained on IWT Issues in over 20 countries globally.



Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!

I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.

If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.

Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I chat with Kunle Falodun, Vice President Distribution & Networks, Africa at Sony Pictures Television. Kunle shares stories about his upbringing in Nigeria including his NYSC stint and how he started his career in media.  We talk about the content creation within the visual sphere, the reality behind distribution to wider markets and investing in particular regions.  We also delve into his passion for the
growth of the African media industry.  Kunle also talks about his faith, what interests him, and of course, he shares the quote that continually inspires him.  

Kunle Falodun is currently the Vice President Distribution & Networks, Africa at
Sony Pictures Television. He is currently responsible for the distribution of Sony’s
Television Series, Feature films as well as Scripted and Unscripted formats in Sub-
Sahara Africa.

Kunle joined Sony Pictures in 2017 from Econet Media where he was the Group
Head of Business Development for Kwese Free to Air TV. At Econet Media, he
helped to set up or acquire Free TV Channels in more than 8 African countries as
well as a network of affiliate broadcasters in more than 30 African countries.
He previously spent more than 10 years at Optima Sports Management Int’l (OSMI)
where he rose to the post of Managing Director before co-founding Africa Sports
Content Syndicate in the UK. At OSMI, Kunle had the opportunity of distributing
premium sports content to broadcasters in more than 33 countries in Sub-Sahara
Africa consistently for many years.

Kunle has an MBA from The Bradford School of Management and serves on the
Board of Trustee of three (3) Charity organisations.



Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!

I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.

If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.

Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!

"I really wanted to create a magical world that would again bring these beings to attention and bring some respect to the fact because I think like, whatever religion they have, they can appreciate the sophistication of that system, you know what I mean? Most Italians are Christian, right? But they don't denounce their old gods.  They would respect them. Whereas for us, we're taught to kind of hate what our ancestors believed in.  We're taught that there's no sophistication in it, that there's no knowledge in it, that there's no sense in it.  And that's really, really sad."

On today's episode, I chat with children's author and adventure fantasy writer, Maria Motúnráyo Adébísí, and she talks about her new novel 'Kòkú Àkànbí and the Heart of Midnight', part of the Jujuland series. Maria shares with me why her love of her Yorùbá heritage, fantasy and celebration of Black joy were a few of the reasons behind writing this book.  We discuss themes of belonging and identity, the hypermasculinity of young black boys, tradition and cultural nuances, creating an awareness about Sickle Cell anemia.  We also chat about the power behind names, Oríkì (Yorùbá) praise poetry, Mythology from West Africa, and readdressing history from Nigeria.

Maria also shares with us her time at college in Oxford, her love for Japanese animation, which old fable character she would like to re-imagine, and of course, she also discusses the quote that continually inspires her. 

Maria Motúnráyo Adébísí graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature. Writing her middle grade fantasy Jujuland: Kòkú Ákánbí and the Heart of Midnight helped Maria Motunrayo on her journey to fully embracing identity as a British Nigerian. Maria Motúnráyo’s critically acclaimed novel Kòkú Ákánbí and the Heart of Midnight has been described as “sharp, witty and thrilling” by the Guardian. It was longlisted for the Spark Book Awards 2024 and is currently up for the Jhalak Prize which recognises outstanding literary talent from writers of colour. The sequel, Kòkú Ákánbí and the King of Lost Souls is available for pre-order, and will be out in August this year.


Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!

I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.

If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.

Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!

*Content/Trigger Warning: This episode contains issues relating to  knife crime & violence.*

"It's really important (for young people to be intentional with what they plan to do with themselves). A digital project I'm working on now is really geared towards doing that and empowering young people through their phones to, as you said, kind of find that purpose and sense of pride.  Because I think it's important.  There's loads of theory around hope and the fact that hope enables you to be less susceptible to, you know, health challenges and criminality and all of these things and kind of push through and be more resilient. So, I think it is super important."

In this episode, I talk to award-winning youth coach, speaker and filmmaker Amani Simpson.  Amani kindly shares chapters about his life including how a violent, traumatic encounter changed his life and gave him purpose and a new direction in serving others.  Amani talks about the importance of his faith, stewardship, mindset & work ethic, and working with the youth in communities via social enterprises.  We discuss the importance of intention, mentorship and also look at social & health issues including youth crime, poverty and mental wellbeing.  I also chat with Amani about film career as a director, writer and producer.  We also talk about music, The Hunger Games franchise, and of course, Amani shares the quote that continually inspires him. 

AMANI SIMPSON is a gifted youth coach, filmmaker and campaigner with a calling to empower current and future generations. He uses his inspirational story of transformation, creativity, and expertise in youth engagement to challenge, uplift and enrich. Most notably he is the producer and protagonist of the acclaimed short film 'AMANI' starring Hollywood actor, Joivan Wade, which has now been watched over 4 million times. Amani is also founder and CEO of social enterprise, AVIARD Inspires which has produced impactful youth initiatives alongside The Mayor of London, Goldman Sachs and former 2x Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.




Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!

I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.

If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.

Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!