Sense Only

Sense Only

Have you ever wondered how to cut through the noise, find real clarity, and make sense of everything life throws your way? That’s what this podcast is all about.Hosted by Alicia Mullings, Sense Only is a space for honest, thought-provoking conversations that go waaaaaaaayy beyond the surface. Each episode gives you practical insights, fresh perspectives, and the kind of wisdom that helps you grow, heal, and transform.This isn’t just a podcast, it’s a collective and a solid community. A place where truth-seekers take action and become Transmuters, and where personal transformation becomes reality.Subscribe today and start making sense of the world, one conversation at a time.

  1. Oct 7

    Trauma Is Not Who You Are: How to Heal What Happened to You | Jacob Modak - Ep 27

    Send us Fan Mail What if the things that happened to you are not actually who you are? In this powerful conversation, Alicia Mullings sits down with holistic health practitioner Jacob Modak to explore unresolved trauma, healing, identity, the nervous system, family patterns, boundaries, spirituality and the possibility of transforming what we've lived through. Jacob's own journey began in adolescence, when he became conscious that something within his home environment was deeply challenging. Rather than simply accepting what he was experiencing, he spent years trying to understand why he felt the way he did — eventually turning that personal journey into professional work helping others navigate unresolved trauma. One of the central ideas Jacob shares is simple but profound: Trauma may cover who you are, but it does not become who you are. Using the analogy of a beautiful statue covered in mud, Jacob explains why the residue of our experiences can sometimes become so dominant that we lose sight of what exists underneath it. The conversation explores: • Why unresolved trauma can become part of someone's identity • The difference between setting a boundary and holding resentment • Why healing does not mean simply "getting over it" • How our mental, emotional and physical experiences can be interconnected • Why understanding can change our relationship with painful memories • How childhood and generational patterns can shape us • The importance of having healthy outlets when you're young • Why some people resist healing even when they know they need it • How language can influence the way we understand ourselves • Why you cannot heal trauma from the same perspective in which you experienced it • The connection between self-perception, self-expression and daily behaviour • What it means to "love from a safe distance" • How Jacob transformed his relationship with the word "business" • Why healing can become a journey from pain towards purpose • And, most importantly, why Jacob believes that healing is possible. Jacob also shares a deeply personal account of his relationship with his parents and how years of difficult family patterns eventually gave way to sobriety, accountability, compassion, forgiveness and healthier relationships. This isn't a conversation about pretending difficult things didn't happen. It's about asking: What if what happened to you isn't the truth of who you are? And if it isn't… Who are you beneath it? 🎙️ Welcome to the Sense Only Podcast. If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who may need to hear it. Find Jacob: JacobModak.com #SenseOnly #JacobModak #TraumaHealing #HealingJourney #PersonalDevelopment #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #HolisticHealth #Healing #Trauma

    Trauma Is Not Who You Are: How to Heal What Happened to You | Jacob Modak - Ep 27
  2. Sep 23

    Leo Muhammad on Black Unity, Self-Repair & The Real McCoy, Ep 26

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when we stop looking outside ourselves — and start asking what needs to change within us? In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Alicia Mullings sits down with Leo Muhammad known to many through the legendary British sketch show *The Real McCoy* to explore identity, Black unity, self-repair, history, education, Africa, imagination, comedy, service and legacy. Leo reflects on his journey from stand-up comedy to *The Real McCoy*, the creation of Mr Fraser, his philosophy of “edutainment” and why he believes comedy can make people laugh while making them think. The conversation then goes much deeper. We talk about what it means to know who you are, the importance of learning from our elders, the role of education and knowledge, the power of unity, returning to Africa, building for ourselves, and the responsibility each of us has to contribute something meaningful. Leo argues that: **“That process of reparations begins with self-repair.”** We also explore what self-repair actually means, why he believes knowledge, wisdom, understanding and unity are essential, and why he lives by a simple philosophy: **Leave people a little better than when you found them.** This conversation is not about giving you every answer. It's about asking better questions. Who are we? What have we been taught? What do we need to repair? What are we building? And what will we leave behind? Watch, listen and tell us what stayed with you. --- ### CHAPTERS 00:00 — Leo Muhammad: Finding His Voice 03:41 — From Leo X Chester to Leo Muhammad 08:32 — What Makes Us Proud? 10:14 — Africa, Elders & Generational Wisdom 13:35 — The Power of Black Unity 15:35 — Beyond Labels: What Unites Us? 18:56 — “If I Change, You Change, The World Changes” 21:21 — Reclaiming Our Education 23:04 — Re-Education & Becoming a Student 26:34 — Humility, Growth & Unity 30:21 — Marcus Garvey & Leo’s Awakening 34:24 — Why Struggle Is Part of the Process 35:01 — “Anything You Can Conceive…” 37:38 — Preparing for an Uncertain Future 38:46 — Security, Unity & Building for Ourselves 40:44 — Empire, History & Power 43:45 — Who Are We? Identity & Civilization 45:28 — Envy, Jealousy & Human Behaviour 49:57 — “We Don’t Die, We Multiply” 53:16 — Difference, Unity & The Bigger Picture 58:31 — What Can We Actually Control? 1:02:49 — How The Real McCoy Began 1:05:13 — Finding His Voice Through Comedy 1:08:04 — Writing With Purpose 1:14:34 — Creating Mr Fraser 1:15:58 — The Real McCoy & Leo’s Public Life 1:19:20 — Why Did The Real McCoy End? 1:22:59 — Black Men, Identity & “Staying Small” 1:25:18 — The Messages We Are Sold 1:26:36 — Music, Culture & Who Controls The Narrative? 1:27:43 — Building Our Own & “Doing For Self” 1:31:00 — A Changing World 1:33:19 — Africa As A Place Of Possibility 1:34:14 — “The Continent Is A Blank Canvas” 1:35:10 — Coming Home & Telling The Truth 1:37:10 — Black Consciousness & Identity 1:39:30 — Relationships, Identity & Community 1:40:43 — White Supremacy & Black Inferiority 1:43:08 — “Knowledge Is Power” 1:44:09 — Debt, Consumption & Modern Slavery 1:45:10 — Community, Loyalty & Betrayal 1:47:49 — The Race We’re Running 1:49:19 — Black Excellence & The Even Playing Field 1:50:18 — Surveillance & Power 1:54:20 — Image A Nation & The Power Of Imagination 1:57:07 — Final Words --- ## THE QUESTION FOR YOU Leo said: **“That process of reparations begins with self-repair.”** What does **self-repair** mean to you? Personally. Professionally. Collectively. Tell us in the comments. --- ## CONNECT WITH SENSE ONLY Subscribe for conversations with thinkers and builders who care about purpose, service, community and legacy. This is Sense Only. A space for those who are tired of the noise, distraction and disconnection in the world — and who know that change begins within, and is expressed through how we show up, serve and lead. --- Leo Muhammad, Leo Muhammad interview, Leo Muhammad Real McCoy, The Real McCoy, Sense Only Podcast, Alicia Mullings, Black unity, Black identity, self repair, self-repair, Black consciousness, Black British history, Black history UK, African diaspora, Africa, African diaspora business, Black culture, Black British culture, Marcus Garvey, edutainment, purpose, legacy, community, service, knowledge is power, reparations, Black empowerment, Black British podcast, Black podcast UK, British Black history, Windrush, Nation of Islam, Image A Nation #SenseOnly #LeoMuhammad #BlackUnity #SelfRepair #BlackIdentity #TheRealMcCoy #BlackHistory #AfricanDiaspora #BlackBritish #Legacy #AliciaMullings

    Leo Muhammad on Black Unity, Self-Repair & The Real McCoy, Ep 26
  3. Sep 11

    The Cost of Not Asking: Why Rejection Shouldn't Stop You

    Send us Fan Mail One year ago, on my birthday, I launched the Sense Only Podcast. I had no idea what would happen next. I simply knew that I had a calling to do something, and I knew I had to stop hiding. One year later, I’m sitting here reflecting on a journey that has taken me further than I could ever have imagined. From travelling to Atlanta and New York to interview incredible people, to the many unexpected YESes, to opportunities I never thought would come my way, this year has taught me something powerful: Sometimes the biggest thing standing between you and what you want isn't rejection. It’s your assumption that you’ll be rejected. This episode is a personal reflection on my first year of Sense Only — the people who said yes, the conversations that changed lives, the moments of divine alignment, the lessons, the nerves, the growth, the people who believed in me, and the woman I am becoming through this work. I also reflect on the moment I realised that Sense Only had become bigger than me. From the messages following my conversation with my uncle Leroy about Black men's mental health and suicide, to the response to my conversation with Kate, I began to see that these conversations weren't simply episodes. They were creating change. And that is what means the most to me. This year has also pushed me far beyond the private person I once was. I've travelled internationally, approached people I admire, built teams, started producing documentaries, created new projects and learned to step into my calling with much more courage. I've learned: • You don't ask, you don't get. • Sometimes you have to stop getting in your own way. • Being of service matters. • The right people will show up. • Your network can be more powerful than you realise. • You cannot allow people who don't know you to dictate the life you're meant to live. • And sometimes you simply have to begin. Most importantly, I’ve learned that we all have the power to make a difference. So as Sense Only turns one, this isn't the end. We're only just getting started. Thank you to everyone who has watched, listened, shared, commented, supported, appeared on the podcast, opened a door, said YES, believed in the vision or simply sent a message. And a very special thank you to my big cousin Derrick, aka Flash, for believing in me from the very beginning and helping me build the space in which so many of these conversations have taken place. Thank you. Here's to year one. And here's to everything still to come. Stay blessed. Alicia Mullings CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:42 One year of Sense Only 01:30 The power of YES 02:40 When Sense Only became bigger than me 03:30 Uncle Leroy: Black men's mental health & suicide 05:30 The messages that changed everything 06:50 Kate and the impact of the conversation 08:00 The woman I'm becoming 09:00 From private person to travelling the world 10:00 Learning to ask 11:00 Creating again 12:00 Becoming a documentary producer 13:00 The importance of being of service 13:45 The people who helped me get here 14:30 My mentors and accountability partner 15:30 My biggest thank you 16:00 My cousin Derek and believing in the vision 18:00 Why relationships matter 19:00 Overcoming nerves 20:00 Learning to live with the trolls 21:30 If you never ask, you'll never know 22:30 Divine alignment and AJ McQueen 24:00 The vision gets bigger 25:00 Sense Only is becoming more than a podcast 26:00 The course, community and SenseOnly.com 27:00 We all have the power to make a difference 28:00 Sense Only turns one 29:00 We're only just getting started If this episode speaks to you, please don't keep it to yourself. SHARE IT. Subscribe to the Sense Only Podcast and join the conversation. What would happen if you finally stopped getting in your own way? #SenseOnly #Podcast #PersonalGrowth #Purpose #SelfDevelopment #MakeADifference #Entrepreneurship #BlackPodcast

    The Cost of Not Asking: Why Rejection Shouldn't Stop You
  4. Sep 9

    Tinder Changed His Life… Then He Built a 50,000-Person Empire | David Dacosta - Ep 25

    Send us Fan Mail What if the connection that changed your life came from the last place you expected? For David DaCosta, it came from Tinder. What started as an unexpected conversation on a dating app eventually connected David to the mentor who helped transform his life — taking him from earning around £900 a month as a cameraman to around £8,000 a month within a year. Today, David has built a huge community around travel, entrepreneurship and personal development, and he joins Alicia Mullings on the Sense Only Podcast for a conversation that goes WAY beyond travel. We talk about: ✈️ Why David believes travel is “medicine” 💰 The mindset shift that completely changed his relationship with money 📱 How Tinder unexpectedly led him to his mentor 🔥 Why he stopped chasing people who weren't aligned with him 🌍 How travel can challenge stereotypes and change the way we see the world 👨‍👧 Why being present for his daughter is one of the things he's most proud of 🏠 “It doesn't matter who's in the White House, it matters who's in your house” 📈 Entrepreneurship, financial freedom and building a 50,000+ person network 🗣️ The controversial conversation around network marketing and the “pyramid scheme” label 📱 Why David says, “If you're not making money from your smartphone, it's not a smartphone, it's a dumb phone” ❤️ Relationships, emotional intelligence and choosing the right people 🎒 Why sometimes the best way to experience a country is to leave the five-star resort behind 🤝 The power of community especially when travelling solo 🌎 And why Alicia believes we shouldn't allow borders to stop us from experiencing this incredible planet This is a conversation about travel. But it's also a conversation about freedom, mindset, money, relationships, community and choosing the life you actually want to live. David's story is a reminder that sometimes the biggest changes in our lives begin with one unexpected connection, one decision or one willingness to think differently. If something in this conversation resonates with you, don't just watch it. Share it with somebody who needs to hear it. 🎙️ Welcome to Sense Only a podcast for people who know that we need to be the change we want to see in the world. Subscribe, comment and join the conversation. Where can you find David? Instagram: @MrGoTravel Facebook: David DaCosta #SenseOnly #DavidDaCosta #Travel #Entrepreneurship #Mindset #FinancialFreedom #TravelTheWorld #NetworkMarketing #PersonalDevelopment #TravelIsMedicine

    Tinder Changed His Life… Then He Built a 50,000-Person Empire | David Dacosta - Ep 25
  5. Aug 26

    AJ McQueen: Godbody Weekend Is More Than an Event, It’s a Movement - Ep 24

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop running from your gifts and start using them for something greater? In this episode of Sense Only, I sit down with AJ McQueen for a conversation that goes far beyond music. AJ is the creator of Godbody Weekend, an intentionally curated experience centred around community, service, wellbeing, opportunity and transformation. What began as an idea has grown into a movement — one AJ hopes will continue long after he is gone. In our conversation, AJ opens up about: ✨ Why he believes nothing in life is accidental  ✨ What it means to live with intention and purpose  ✨ Why he describes his gifts as something he once tried to run from  ✨ The sacrifices behind building Godbody Weekend  ✨ Why community is at the heart of the experience  ✨ His vision for the Free Food Program  ✨ Creating spaces for people who feel overlooked or disconnected  ✨ His journey from politics and community activism into music and philanthropy  ✨ Being recognised with his own day in Houston  ✨ Why he wants Godbody Weekend to outlive him  ✨ And what he hopes someone will say about the experience 20 years from now AJ describes Godbody Weekend as a place where people can encounter community, friends, opportunity and a world of possibilities they may never have known existed.  And perhaps one of the most powerful ideas he shares is this: “Anything that we do with that purpose should do something. It should cause something. It should shift something.”This is a conversation about purpose, service, courage, community, transformation and using your existence to create something meaningful. If you're ready to stop simply observing the world and start thinking about how you can become the change you want to see in it, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Listen. Think. Feel. Sense Only.

    AJ McQueen: Godbody Weekend Is More Than an Event, It’s a Movement - Ep 24
  6. Aug 12

    Are We Rewarding the Wrong Behaviour? | Stephan Speaks - Ep 23

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the behaviour we say we don't want is the behaviour we keep rewarding? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Alicia Mullings sits down with **Stephan Speaks** for a conversation that goes far beyond relationships. They explore masculinity, modern dating, social media, discipline, accountability, ambition, purpose, vulnerability, faith, healing and the uncomfortable ways our environment can shape the behaviour we eventually complain about. Stephan challenges us to look beyond the surface. Why are some men withdrawing from traditional ideas of courtship? Why aren't conversations in places like the barbershop what they once were? Are men and women being influenced by what they see rewarded online? Why can two people face the same temptation but experience completely different levels of difficulty? Is discipline really just about willpower or are our circumstances shaping us more than we realise? And what happens when ambitious women struggle to find partners who can genuinely align with their purpose? Alicia also puts herself in the hot seat, asking Stephan for honest advice about relationships, ambition and what it means to make yourself approachable when you're living a purpose-driven life. Stephan shares practical advice on giving clearer signals of interest, approaching relationships differently, letting go of unrealistic checklists — and why sometimes you simply need to bring uncertainty to resolution. But the conversation ultimately goes somewhere deeper. Healing. Fear. Disappointment. Faith. And the decision to actually LIVE rather than spend your life trying to protect yourself from getting hurt. Stephan's message is simple but challenging: We cannot control everything that happens to us. We cannot guarantee that people won't disappoint us. And we cannot avoid every painful experience. So perhaps the question isn't: “How do I avoid getting hurt?” Perhaps it's: “How do I live fully anyway?” This is a conversation about taking responsibility for the culture we create, the behaviour we reward, the choices we make and the life we are brave enough to live. 💭 **What part of this conversation challenged your thinking most?** Tell us in the comments. And if this conversation made you think differently about relationships, masculinity, femininity, purpose, discipline or healing, share it with someone who needs to hear it. --- 00:00 — Are We Rewarding the Wrong Behaviour? 01:00 — The Barbershop, Masculinity & Community 03:00 — Why Men's Spaces Have Changed 05:30 — Social Media & The Reward System 08:00 — Are We Rewarding Bad Behaviour? 10:30 — Why Discipline Is Circumstantial 13:00 — Stop Judging People You Don't Understand 15:00 — The Chocolate Analogy: What Discipline Really Means 17:00 — Ambitious Women & Finding the Right Partner 20:00 — The Trade-Offs of Purpose & Relationships 22:00 — Why Some Men Compete With Ambitious Women 24:00 — Where Are The "Regular Guys"? 25:00 — Why High-Achieving Men Value Availability 26:30 — Why Men Aren't Approaching Women Anymore 27:30 — How Women Can Give Clearer Signals 29:00 — Four Ways To Show You're Interested 30:00 — Stop Letting Crushes Drag On 31:00 — Healing, Fear & Actually Living 33:00 — You Can't Avoid Being Hurt 34:00 — Everyone Is Capable Of Disappointing You 35:00 — Don't Let 1% Define The Other 99% 36:00 — Live Your Life To The Fullest 36:30 — Final Thoughts --- 🎙️ **ABOUT SENSE ONLY** Sense Only is a podcast for people who are tired of noise, distraction and disconnection. We have conversations with people who are questioning the status quo, identifying problems and doing something about them. Because change begins within and then shows up in how we live, serve, lead and contribute. If you're ready to think deeper, question more and make sense of the world around you... **Welcome to Sense Only.** Subscribe and join the conversation. --- 🎙️ **GUEST** Stephan Speaks Relationship & Personal Development Creator Find Stefan: stephanspeakshop.com --- ⚠️ This conversation contains opinions and perspectives intended to encourage discussion and reflection. You don't have to agree with everything you hear to find something worth thinking about. #SenseOnly #StephanSpeaks #Relationships

    Are We Rewarding the Wrong Behaviour? | Stephan Speaks - Ep 23

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About

Have you ever wondered how to cut through the noise, find real clarity, and make sense of everything life throws your way? That’s what this podcast is all about.Hosted by Alicia Mullings, Sense Only is a space for honest, thought-provoking conversations that go waaaaaaaayy beyond the surface. Each episode gives you practical insights, fresh perspectives, and the kind of wisdom that helps you grow, heal, and transform.This isn’t just a podcast, it’s a collective and a solid community. A place where truth-seekers take action and become Transmuters, and where personal transformation becomes reality.Subscribe today and start making sense of the world, one conversation at a time.