Roots, Routes and Real Talk (R3T) Podcast

Roots, Routes and Real Talk (R3T)
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Roots, Routes & Real Talk (R3T) is a podcast about navigating work, life, and leadership with humour, honesty, and music. Hosted by Serufusa Sekidde and Hewan Wole, we share real stories of identity, purpose, and growth. Each episode is playful, thoughtful, and grounded in what shapes us: the roots that anchor us, the routes that change us, and the real talk that connects us. Produced by: Nil Oztas

Episodes

  1. Oct 6

    What If the Path No Longer Fits? R3T with Dr Mark Shrime

    What happens when the path you worked so hard to build no longer feels like yours? Dr Mark Shrime has been a surgeon, researcher, decision scientist, author, coach and, for a brief and unexpected chapter, an American Ninja Warrior contestant. But underneath all of that is a much more interesting story about expectation, identity, burnout, purpose and changing your mind. In this episode, Mark talks about growing up as the firstborn son of an immigrant family, feeling like his options were “doctor, lawyer or failure”, and spending years pursuing a career he never really wanted. We get into the moment things started to shift, why purpose can change as we do, and how to make big life decisions when there is no obvious right answer. We also talk honestly about global health, the difference between doing good and doing good sustainably, and the uncomfortable questions that come with trying to make an impact. If you have ever looked at your career, your choices or the life you have built and wondered, “Is this still what I want?”, this episode is for you. There are plenty of laughs along the way too. Because apparently a midlife rethink can include hospital ships, decision science, three untouched guitars and Ninja Warrior. And if this conversation gets you thinking about your own path, check out Mark’s book, Solving for Why, where he explores purpose, decision-making and what it really means to build a life that fits.

    What If the Path No Longer Fits? R3T with Dr Mark Shrime

  2. Aug 13

    Write Your Own Trajectory with Dr Rehana Sidat

    Dr Rehana Sidat joins us for a deeply personal conversation about ambition, identity, faith, grief, leadership and what it means to write your own trajectory. She reflects on being the first woman in her family to go to university, building a long career across science and healthcare, learning to own her seat in rooms where few people looked like her, and the courage it took to show up more visibly in her faith and identity. We also talk about the losses that shaped her, the importance of kindness in leadership, why she sees failure as a life lesson, and how staying grounded can matter just as much as moving forward. There is real vulnerability in this one, but also plenty of warmth, humour, family stories, 300 headscarves, Buckingham Palace cucumber sandwiches, and the kind of wisdom that stays with you after the episode ends...

    Write Your Own Trajectory with Dr Rehana Sidat

  3. May 28

    A Few Career Pivots and One Existential Crisis Later wit Kari Selander

    Kari Selander came into this conversation with stories about consulting life, sustainability, motherhood, ambition, identity shifts, moving countries, burnout, reinvention, and the challenge of trying to hold everything together while still figuring yourself out. In this episode of Roots, Routes & Real Talk, Kari joins Hewan and Serufusa for a very honest conversation about career pivots, parenting, trade-offs, and the many versions of ourselves we grow through over time. Kari and Serufusa first met during their consulting days and stayed in touch through all the different chapters that followed, which made this episode feel more like an honest catch-up than a formal interview. We talk about stepping off the gas pedal professionally after becoming a mother, questioning traditional ideas of success, sustainability, identity, and the pressure of trying to balance ambition with real life. At one point, the conversation turns to DJs, music, and the people brave enough to completely reinvent themselves publicly, which somehow became the perfect example of what this whole episode is really about: having the courage to evolve, even when the path no longer looks linear. If you’ve ever questioned your path, changed direction, tried to reinvent yourself, or wondered whether everyone else secretly also feels like they’re figuring things out as they go, this episode is for you. If you loved this episode, you can find Kari on instagram: @mutha.life and make sure to listen to her podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/0RxtIzl1CBPrvxNkwARoxj

    A Few Career Pivots and One Existential Crisis Later wit Kari Selander

  4. Feb 19

    Winging It and Making It Work: Nil Takes the Mic

    What does it look like to move to a new country at 17, start university, build your confidence, and produce a podcast at the same time? In this special Producer’s Cut episode, Nil steps out from behind the scenes and takes the mic. We talk about first-year university pressure, procrastination, rejection, LinkedIn, big dreams, burnout, TikTok trends, and why the universe is not on a budget. This is not a polished, scripted interview. It’s real, honest, slightly chaotic, and full of heart. If you are at the beginning of your journey, figuring things out, doubting yourself sometimes but still dreaming big, this episode is for you. Press play. You might leave feeling braver than when you started. Follow Nil Oztas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niloztas/

    Winging It and Making It Work: Nil Takes the Mic

  5. Jan 16

    No Diggity, No Doubt. And a Few Truth Bombs

    What does success really cost, and who gets to define it? In this episode of Roots, Routes & Real Talk, we sit down with Belinda Brown, a senior finance leader whose career spans Deloitte, L’Oréal, Diageo, and most recently Chief Financial Officer of Sephora UK. From growing up as a working-class immigrant in Northern Ireland to navigating global boardrooms, Belinda shares the reality behind the titles. We talk candidly about ambition, social mobility, grief, motherhood, and what it means to lead when you are often the only one in the room. Belinda reflects on pivotal moments including loss, divorce, and career turning points, and why success without alignment can be deeply costly. This episode explores: Rising from bursaries and scholarships to senior global leadership The truth about resilience, privilege, and access Why “bringing your whole self to work” is more complicated than it sounds Leadership, culture, and the loneliness that can come with the top Choosing courage over comfort, again and again Honest, thoughtful, and unapologetically real, this conversation is for anyone questioning the path they are on, redefining success, or building a career without a roadmap. Listen now and take what resonates. Follow Belinda @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/belinda-l-brown/

    No Diggity, No Doubt. And a Few Truth Bombs

  6. 12/14/2025

    A Servant Leaders Perspective: R3T with Omar L. Harris

    In this second episode of Roots, Routes & Real Talk, we sit down with Omar L. Harris for a candid conversation about leadership, identity, and the long road of figuring things out. Omar is a leadership coach, author, and Founder of Intent Consulting. He is a Gallup Certified Coach and J.E.D.I. Leadership Expert with over 20 years of experience building high performance organizations across four continents. In this episode, Omar reflects on career detours, rebuilding after loss, and why leadership should stretch you without drowning you. We explore servant leadership not as a buzzword, but as a daily discipline rooted in humility, culture, and care for people. If your career has ever felt uncertain or nonlinear, this conversation is for you. Hosted by Hewan Wole and Serufusa Sekidde Learn more at OmarLHarris.com Check out Omar's latest book, Hire the Write W.H.O.M: https://amzn.eu/d/9QoqpKU

    A Servant Leaders Perspective: R3T with Omar L. Harris

  7. 11/01/2025

    Why We’re Here (and Still Figuring It Out)

    Roots, Routes & Real Talk (R3T) kicks off with Hewan and Serufusa interviewing each other about why this podcast exists and what keeps them grounded. They unpack the meaning behind Roots, Routes & Real Talk, share laughs, and open up about purpose, identity, and the stories that shaped them. Honest, funny, and refreshingly real. Hosted by Serufusa Sekidde and Hewan Wole. Produced by Nil Oztas. 🎵 Listen to Serufusa’s music on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0k8D17tcrMwvxqp9tdG7mZ?si=3rhxH7RzTc6o1tz0PlC4mQ 💼 Connect with us on LinkedIn:Serufusa Sekidde – https://www.linkedin.com/in/serufusasekiddeHewan Wole – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hewanwoleFollow our page – https://www.linkedin.com/company/roots-routes-real-talk 📱 Find us on Instagram and TikTok: @rootsroutesrealtalk📧 Email us: rootsroutesrealtalk@gmail.com #RootsRoutesRealTalk #R3TPodcast #Storytelling #Authenticity #Leadership #Growth

  • 7 Episodes

About

Roots, Routes & Real Talk (R3T) is a podcast about navigating work, life, and leadership with humour, honesty, and music. Hosted by Serufusa Sekidde and Hewan Wole, we share real stories of identity, purpose, and growth. Each episode is playful, thoughtful, and grounded in what shapes us: the roots that anchor us, the routes that change us, and the real talk that connects us. Produced by: Nil Oztas

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