Toya Talks Podcast

Toya Washington
  • 5.0 (14)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Toya Talks is where culture, courage, and career collide. Created for Black Women first and inclusive of allies, this podcast unpacks the realities of the workplace through the lens of culture, life, and global events. From pay gaps and strikes to leadership, politics, and authenticity, each episode explores how the world around us shapes the way we live and the way we work. Toya goes beyond surface conversations to deliver bold truths, necessary lessons, and unapologetic strategies that empower listeners to navigate the workplace with clarity and courage. If you’re ready to rethink work, reclaim your brilliance, and be part of conversations that matter, this is your space. Toya Talks: Bold truths. Real strategy. For us all.

  1. 4D AGO

    Golden Handcuffs Part II: The Grown Woman Remix.

    Send us a text Headlines collide when you put workers’ rights, political power, and culture on the same table. We start with UK TikTok moderators who say they faced harassment, punishing KPIs, and union busting while screening the content the rest of us never have to see. From there we unpack Pat McGrath Labs entering Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in the US and what it reveals about cash flow, innovation, and the realities of scaling an iconic beauty brand. Then we go straight at the BBC’s move to explore licence fees tied to streaming services like Netflix, asking who benefits, who pays, and what accountability looks like when public funding models lose trust. The latest Epstein file releases expose how institutions decide who gets grace and who gets the door. We lay out Peter Mandelson’s rehabilitation arc beside Diane Abbott’s treatment to show how power redistributes consequences then follow the fallout from Starmer’s short-lived plan to send Mandelson to Washington. Across the pond, Don Lemon’s arrest after reporting on a protest raises hard questions about press freedom and political optics, while Bad Bunny’s integrity-led choices demonstrate how representation becomes strategy when safety and voice are at stake. Finally, we turn the lens inward. Golden handcuffs hurt, but leaving in a contracting market can be costlier than staying. We reframe stillness as positioning: stay with terms, build leverage, and set a timed plan to move when the market and your momentum align. If power protects itself, we protect our agency through unions, smart consumer choices, and career strategy that compounds. Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    1h 29m

  2. JAN 21

    Golden Handcuffs

    Send us a text Power makes itself felt in our bills, our jobs, and our beliefs and this week we trace that line from Arctic ice to everyday life. We unpack why Greenland has become a pressure point, how tariff threats could ripple through British businesses, and what a fraying “special relationship” means for a post‑Brexit UK with less leverage at the table. It’s not just geopolitics; it’s the cost of silence, the value of sovereignty, and the real climate stakes as ice sheets melt and shipping routes open to new competition. Culture mirrors power too. Drewski’s viral church skit hits because it spotlights a truth many have lived: pastors dressed in luxury while congregations struggle to eat. We share raw personal stories of seeking refuge and finding exploitation, and we ask what modesty, stewardship, and care should look like when faith is put into practice. The point isn’t to sneer at belief; it’s to defend community against grift and to reclaim the simple standard that leadership serves people first. Then we shift to the world of work and name a trap many high earners won’t admit: golden handcuffs. When a salary outpaces learning, mobility shrinks and fear grows. We offer a practical path forward extract skills that translate across industries, win visible outcomes tied to money or risk, build a small parallel income stream, and document impact so you hold leverage before burnout hits. For women, especially Black women navigating under promotion and overexposure, that strategy is protection. Pair it with urgent up-skilling in AI and data to avoid a new divide: technological inequality layered on top of pay gaps. If this resonated, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more listeners find the show and join the conversation. Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    1 hr

  3. JAN 7

    Job Hugging: Because Hopping May Land You Nowhere

    Send us a text A hard truth set the tone for the new year: a fatal accident in Nigeria and the stark reminder that infrastructure and governance shape lives. I share why that grief paused my urge to create and how honesty, not forced optimism, can be the smartest way to start January. From there, we move straight into the UK job market, where rising employer costs, higher NI, and a punishing tax reality are shrinking vacancies and closing adverts early. Job hopping has stalled; job hugging is the new survival skill. And no, AI didn’t replace everyone misfired attempts exposed the gap between hype and capability, while smart teams now use AI to augment real work. When growth outside slows, the inside strategy matters. I walk through how I anchor development to manager-owned objectives, build a feedback folder that proves outcomes, and keep a burn folder that captures patterns of harm. That combo turned a workplace bully into an unlikely conduit for opportunity: I secured sign-off, delivered for another team, and gained high-stakes exposure. He still doesn’t like me, but he respects me an equation that matters when you’re a Black Woman navigating power, perception, and limited tolerance for your tears. Respect lasts longer than likability; receipts speak when rooms turn cold. We also zoom out to geopolitics shaping markets and risk: Nigeria’s insecurity, pressure across the Sahel, and the power play around Venezuela’s oil. These forces affect hiring cycles, investor sentiment, and the anxiety many of us feel about timing a move. So I’m easing into 2026 with deliberate pace, quarter by quarter goals, renewed focus on public speaking and subject expertise, and a commitment to consistency on TikTok, blending the world of work with practical fashion and “wear your wardrobe” thinking. If the market says hold, use the hold to sharpen your edge, negotiate the package that actually pays, and make your progress unavoidable. Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    52 min

  4. 12/10/2025

    Reclaiming The Narrative.

    Send us a text Policy shapes pay packets, childcare, heating bills, and even how we move around our cities. We break down Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget without jargon, showing how frozen thresholds create fiscal drag, why dividend and property tax hikes shift the balance toward taxing wealth, and how ISA changes nudge under 65s into risk. We look at the upside too, scrapping the two child cap, targeted help on energy bills, a rare freeze on rail fares, and what the new EV per‑mile charge means for the future of funding our roads and the reality of going electric. Power is shifting in entertainment as well. With Paramount Skydance launching a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery and outbidding Netflix, we explore what consolidation means for the streaming wars, catalogue control, and your monthly subscriptions. Culture isn’t only created; it’s distributed, priced, and fenced off, and those decisions ripple through what stories get made and who gets to see them. Safety and dignity are non negotiable. We spotlight the British Transport Police’s silent text service 61016 so you can discreetly report harassment on the Tube, and we talk candidly about luxury retail bias versus glossy representation, even as A$AP Rocky fronts Chanel. In the workplace, we share a tactical playbook for handling an aggressive senior colleague: set boundaries, document meticulously, build public advocates, and use policy to protect yourself. We also preview a practical series on starting a UK business the right way trademarks, bookkeeping, HMRC timelines and celebrate Sister Scribble’s sell out momentum and what it takes to scale a young brand with intention. If this conversation helps you see your money, career, and safety with clearer eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us the moment that hit home most. Your feedback keeps this community sharp and growing. Referenced Podcast Episode: The New skills Economy https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jdXWn8DpFgiER9nVVILa2?si=bgRbofTVTTO7572fUajLmw Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    1h 44m

  5. 11/26/2025

    What Does Justice Look Like When History Still Bleeds?

    Send us a text A superstar stopped a show to eject a sleepy fan, and the crowd divided. We look past the memes to the real duty of care at live events, the difference between standards and humiliation, and why humility travels further than hype. That contrast sets the stage for a wider theme: how power is used in public, at work and in culture. From Lupita Nyong’o’s choice to refuse typecasting to the labels black women still face in offices, we unpack how stereotypes take root and how to push back with clarity, documentation and policy. I share a candid story about dealing with a disruptive senior, why governance protects your career, and how to use relationship capital without losing your peace. We also dig into Spotify’s unwavering approach to flexible work, separating outcomes from optics and treating adults like adults. Creativity gets its own spotlight as I introduce Sister Scribble, a 90s-inspired premium stationery brand built for people who still believe in pen, paper and ideas with weight. We talk about what real support looks like, why community matters more than clout, and how to keep building when the hours are long and the room is loud. A listener dilemma on postpartum psychosis at work brings practical steps on occupational health, boundaries and dignity. A look at Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction through the lens of the Biafra War 2 years, 6 months and 9 days that still shape Igbo memory and justice today. We close with history that still breathes: a clear, grounded primer on Biafra, Igbo identity and Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction. Beyond the legal language sit questions about self-determination, state power and what justice means when memory is raw. If you’re here for honest talk, useful frameworks and stories with heart, you’re in the right place. If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support keeps these conversations alive. Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    1h 43m

  6. 11/19/2025

    The Blueprint to Audacity

    Send us a text Ready to name the fear behind a big career leap? We start with the uncomfortable truth: stepping into leadership is hard when you’ve rarely seen anyone who looks like you survive and thrive there. That honesty opens a wide-angle look at credibility, negotiation, and why “director” should be a strategic choice, not a trap. You’ll hear practical pay tactics, a clear-eyed read on gender politics, and a call to claim the audacity usually reserved for the loudest voices in the room while anchoring everything in real delivery. We pivot into brand strategy with a surgical breakdown of Fenty Beauty, LVMH, and the “core asset test.” What happens when a revolutionary launch becomes industry standard and the parent company cares most about Sephora and Dior? The answer matters to every founder: positioning must live beyond a single hook, and product lines should pass the test of whether they strengthen your core. Still, Rihanna’s two-billion-dollar empire stands as a masterclass in ownership, reminding us that downside cycles don’t erase value when you build for longevity. Authenticity in entrepreneurship gets a frank treatment access, capital, and networks change the starting line. We separate story from spin so creators can plan with clarity. Then we look outward: a UN spotlight on persecution in Nigeria, the Sahel’s power realignment, and why humanitarian language can mask resource strategy. Closer to home, we press on London’s EV congestion charge and how shifting justifications erode policy trust. Finally, we talk about the UK’s curriculum overhaul AI literacy, oracy, and media scepticism to prepare young people for a world where synthesis beats rote learning. And yes, we celebrate the launch of Sister Scribble, a premium stationery brand designed to bring back tactile creativity and intention. If this conversation pushes you to ask better questions about your next move career, company, or community hit follow, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your audacity might be someone else’s blueprint. Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    1h 27m

  7. 11/05/2025

    The Power Audit

    Send us a text A cold November forecast isn’t just about the weather. We unpack the rumoured tax rises and talk plainly about value: why working people are told to pay more while getting less from basics like transport and the NHS. From there, we zoom in on power dynamics how leadership shields or exposes you and what it really means when institutions police tone instead of tackling racism. If you’ve ever been told “it was the situation, not you,” this conversation gives you language, strategy, and a line in the sand. The business runway is packed with lessons. Toys R Us shows what happens when you outsource the customer relationship and “win” money but lose time. Plant Made’s new ownership underlines the hard rules of capital, fulfilment, and scaling at a pace your operations can actually serve. And there’s a masterclass in talent placement as Skims taps Diarrha N'Diaye to build beauty and fragrance proof that cultural fluency and product excellence win globally. We also track MAC’s push into Sephora US and what legacy brands must do to earn attention in a Fenty shaped market. Money talks, and sometimes it walks. The Target boycott demonstrates how collective spending choices force corporate pivots, while “courses without capital” feel like optics. On the career front, we challenge the trap that trades flexibility for lower-skilled work. The better path, make them fall in love with your impact, then negotiate time, place, and scope without downgrading pay or progression. You’ll leave with practical framing to assess managers, hold boundaries, and architect your next move like a business protecting its core. Enjoyed this conversation? Follow, rate, and share with a friend who needs renewed leverage this month. Drop your thoughts in the reviews and tell us where you’re drawing the line. Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    1h 38m

  8. 10/29/2025

    The Polite Faces of Power

    Send us a text Pressure has a way of revealing what systems are really made of. We start with a bruising week and widen the lens: from alleged deodorant burns and the surge in hair relaxer lawsuits, to NHS resident doctors preparing to strike for pay and staffing, to the silent epidemic of “polite” horrible bosses who weaponise calm and call it leadership. The through line is accountability—of brands, employers, and all of us—to act with care when our choices touch other people’s bodies, budgets, and futures. I share why our website will go offline briefly as we rebuild the back end, refresh masterclasses, and add guidance on using AI well. Too many of us try to outsource thinking to ChatGPT and get caught out; I’ll show you how to use AI as an assistant, not a replacement. We speak frankly about the real cost of creating quality products as a small business, why discounts aren’t a birthright, and how fair pricing keeps the lights on. If you love great stationery and practical career tools, you’ll see how that vision is taking shape. Then we get tactical about work. The shouty boss is out; the nice-nasty manager is in. They smile, check on wellbeing, and quietly move the goalposts. Here’s how to protect yourself: keep a burn folder, track patterns, mirror the politeness while holding firm boundaries, and use precise language when you push back. Employment protections are expanding, but your evidence is the bridge between harm and remedy. I also open up about ADHD and dyslexia—time blindness, memory gaps, and the systems that help me build: tightly scoped lists, device-based reminders, visual planners, and long blocks for deep work. We close with a sober look at a fatal hit-and-run and the duty that comes with a licence: if you’re impaired, don’t drive; if you hit anything or anyone, stop. Let the courts weigh evidence, not viral clips. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs these tools, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your support helps us keep building smarter careers and kinder workplaces. Justice for Yubin GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-yubin Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.com TikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

    55 min
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About

Toya Talks is where culture, courage, and career collide. Created for Black Women first and inclusive of allies, this podcast unpacks the realities of the workplace through the lens of culture, life, and global events. From pay gaps and strikes to leadership, politics, and authenticity, each episode explores how the world around us shapes the way we live and the way we work. Toya goes beyond surface conversations to deliver bold truths, necessary lessons, and unapologetic strategies that empower listeners to navigate the workplace with clarity and courage. If you’re ready to rethink work, reclaim your brilliance, and be part of conversations that matter, this is your space. Toya Talks: Bold truths. Real strategy. For us all.

Information

  • Creator
    Toya Washington
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    204
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Toya Talks Podcast
  • Show Website
    Toya Talks Podcast

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