Swurl Radio

Ayka Williams, Eric Williams
  • 5.0 (1)
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Welcome to the Swurl community, find us at swurl.io (https://swurl.io/). This is the podcast where real people come together to share, connect, and just talk. Swurl Radio is hosted by Eric and Ayka Williams. Each episode we interview a tech or creative leader and get into the real story. The pivot after failure. The decision nobody understood. The years of figuring it out that didn't make it to LinkedIn. We focus on backstory, failures, and process. We ask about childhood, culture, identity, and the hard truths that shaped how our guests build and create today. Every episode is different but the core stays the same: what do you do when it doesn't work out? This is for international professionals in transition. People who feel like they're in the dumps and need a real human story. Not another course. Not another ten tips video. Just honest conversations with people who've been there.

  1. From immunology to information design, and why sense making is a responsibility w/ Gabrielle Mérite | Ep 22

    7h ago

    From immunology to information design, and why sense making is a responsibility w/ Gabrielle Mérite | Ep 22

    Gabrielle Mérite grew up the second of five kids in a small French town, with doctor parents who told her she could always do art on the side, but if she gave up science that young, she'd never get it back. So she followed the science all the way to a master's in immunology, through a top school she compares to making foie gras: they pour information down your throat, you memorize it, and you regurgitate it. In this episode, she takes us from making her first infographics at the French equivalent of the NIH, to a forced visa detour designing cosmetics and ghost kitchens, to the day the UN knocked on her door with a project and she almost refused the call because she didn't feel good enough. She called her mom to say she was quitting her job. Her mom said don't. She did it anyway. We talk about what Pentagram taught her, why the chart is an output but not the goal, and the room full of climate philanthropists who went from screaming at each other to realizing they only disagreed on five percent, once someone finally mapped what they agreed on. Her mission with Figures & Figures: make life-saving information land and stick. Because sense making, not chart making, is a responsibility. And her advice for anyone stuck between the practical and the creative: you don't have to choose. There are millions of jobs that don't exist yet that will let you do both. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    52 min
  2. You Fall Off, You Cry, You Get Back On the Next Day w/ Kristy Campbell | Ep 21

    Jun 28

    You Fall Off, You Cry, You Get Back On the Next Day w/ Kristy Campbell | Ep 21

    Kristy Campbell didn’t set out to build a global creative agency. She started by posting her work online for 100 days while bored at her day job, and that simple habit snowballed into Pink Pony Creative. In this episode, Kristy shares how growing up on a farm in New Zealand, competitive horse riding, and a willingness to put herself out there shaped her entrepreneurial journey. She opens up about hiring her first employees, handling difficult clients with grace, becoming a new mom while running a business, and why learning to market yourself is often more valuable than being the most talented designer. If you're building a creative career or business, this conversation is full of practical lessons on resilience, storytelling, leadership, and confidence. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    50 min
  3. What Designers Need to Learn About Power, Politics & Influence w/ James Hsu | Ep 20

    May 28

    What Designers Need to Learn About Power, Politics & Influence w/ James Hsu | Ep 20

    James Hsu spent years watching talented designers get ignored while less talented people moved ahead simply because they understood visibility, influence, and business. In this episode, the Dark UX Academy founder breaks down the hidden side of design leadership: office politics, business acumen, negotiation, AI, and why “good work speaks for itself” is one of the biggest lies creatives believe. This isn’t just a design conversation. It’s about power, communication, survival, and learning how to actually get a seat at the table. ⁠https://www.darkuxacademy.com Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    48 min
  4. The Hardest Pivot: Walking Away from Something That Works w/ Dan Mall | Ep 19

    Apr 18

    The Hardest Pivot: Walking Away from Something That Works w/ Dan Mall | Ep 19

    Dan Mall built SuperFriendly into a successful agency, working with brands like Google and scaling a network of 700+ freelancers. Then he walked away, not because it failed, but because it no longer aligned with the life he wanted. This episode goes deeper than business. Dan opens up about leadership mistakes, letting people down, navigating tough decisions, identity, and what it really means to build and walk away from something meaningful. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    1h 16m
  5. Identity Shifts, Failure, and Pricing Your Worth w/ Jonathan Stark| Ep 18

    Apr 6

    Identity Shifts, Failure, and Pricing Your Worth w/ Jonathan Stark| Ep 18

    Jonathan Stark didn’t start as a pricing expert—he started as a musician chasing a dream, then pivoted into software, and eventually rebuilt his entire career around one idea: hourly billing is broken. In this episode, he shares the real journey behind that transformation—identity shifts, failed projects, career pivots, and the moment he realized businesses reward value, not effort. This is a conversation about unlearning, reinvention, and building a career that actually works. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    1h 5m
  6. From Building a Computer From Scratch to Scaling a Business w/ Maestro Stevens | Ep 17

    Mar 27

    From Building a Computer From Scratch to Scaling a Business w/ Maestro Stevens | Ep 17

    Maestro Stevens, founder of Iconic Expressions, shares how he went from failed ventures to building a scalable business. This episode breaks down branding vs marketing, using AI to automate workflows, choosing the right clients, and the real sacrifices behind entrepreneurship. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    52 min
  7. Building a Business From Scratch: Storytelling, Burnout, and Side Hustles That Scale w/ Melody Beuzelin | Ep 16

    Mar 20

    Building a Business From Scratch: Storytelling, Burnout, and Side Hustles That Scale w/ Melody Beuzelin | Ep 16

    Melody Beuzelin joins Swurl Radio to talk about building a career from scratch storytelling, startup lessons, burnout, and when a side hustle deserves your full attention. We get into identity, resilience, client boundaries, and why “failure” is just data. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    51 min
  8. Why Discipline Beats Talent w/ Amit Patel | Ep 15

    Feb 1

    Why Discipline Beats Talent w/ Amit Patel | Ep 15

    What actually separates good from great when titles, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles disappear? In this episode of Swurl Radio, Eric and Ayka sit down with Amit, a visionary educator who has shaped the careers of over 3,000 tech professionals, trained teams at Spotify, the United Nations, PwC, and built one of London’s most respected design schools from a side project into a global consultancy. Together, they explore the intangibles that don’t show up on a resume: discipline, curiosity, presence, coachability, and the willingness to put in the reps when no one is watching. Drawing from sports, design, education, and Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality, Amit breaks down why hard work consistently outpaces raw talent, how great coaches create growth environments, and why “learning by doing” is the only path to real mastery. This conversation is for anyone navigating a career pivot, building a company, mentoring others, or trying to stand out in a crowded, AI-driven job market — without losing their humanity. Support Swurl  Swurl is building a new kind of networking platform focused on real connections, not self-promotion.   "Music by Vlvt. If you are working on a podcast, get your Swurl Radio discount code and save 20% on anything at Vlvt.fm"

    46 min
See All (22)

About

Welcome to the Swurl community, find us at swurl.io (https://swurl.io/). This is the podcast where real people come together to share, connect, and just talk. Swurl Radio is hosted by Eric and Ayka Williams. Each episode we interview a tech or creative leader and get into the real story. The pivot after failure. The decision nobody understood. The years of figuring it out that didn't make it to LinkedIn. We focus on backstory, failures, and process. We ask about childhood, culture, identity, and the hard truths that shaped how our guests build and create today. Every episode is different but the core stays the same: what do you do when it doesn't work out? This is for international professionals in transition. People who feel like they're in the dumps and need a real human story. Not another course. Not another ten tips video. Just honest conversations with people who've been there.

Information

  • Creator
    Ayka Williams, Eric Williams
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2025 Level Up
  • Show Website
    Swurl Radio