The L8 Bloomers Podcast

This solo episode is a bit personal as I delve into what's been keeping me occupied the past 6 months and how I've navigated through it.I've been writing a lot recently, probably too much to share in an IG caption, so I thought it would be great to use this as an opportunity to kick off Season 2 whilst I'm based out here in Lagos.This episode is all about the journey and whats been inspiring me recently:1) Amanda Seales - Small Doses2) Kadeem Tyrell - As Time Goes By 3) Halftime -NetflixSo make sure you listen, subscribe and share with a fellow Bloomer. Also would like to connect with creatives and entrepreneurs in Lagos, we'd love to hear your stories! #stillwebloom

Tiwalola Ogunlesi is a globally recognised coach specialising in positive psychology, Master Neuro-linguistic Practitioner, international speaker and the founder of Confident and Killing It. Confident and Killing It is a purpose driven organisation and community that wakes women up to their worth so they can be confident, unstoppable and dare to live the life they truly desire. Through engaging workshops, coaching sessions and podcasts, Tiwalola equips women with the tools they need to overcome fear and self-doubt, programme their minds for success and take action in life. Since starting in 2018 she's upskilled over 7000 women in London, NYC, Lagos and delivered engaging experiences for brands/organisations such as Google, Facebook, The Times,  Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, UN Women UK,  The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy and many more. We bond on the fact that we are both self-development junkies! In this episode we talk about her why. How she started her career doing marketing at an engineering company but quickly realised her heart was in the work she does with women: Confident and Killing it. We also discuss how she went about posting content online and the difference between coaching and therapy. So listen, share and subscribe.If you have any ideas on who you like us to interview next please let me know. Still we bloom!Web: www.confidentandkillingit.com IG: @Confidentandkillingit Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiwalolaogunlesi111/Podcast: https://www.confidentandkillingit.com/podcast

TRIGGER WARNING This is a powerful episode with many deep healing points from the guest journey which and also be trigger points for some. The episode looks into healing as a daily, sometimes painful and all-encompassing experience and not a one-stop shop for solving your problems.  Many times we hear of these stories and the trauma that they leave behind but we never much about how people cope or survive on a day-to-day basis. In this episode, Penny shares her story with us and how she decided to make the most out of the struggles.Penny Jarrett, also known as Penny Belle is a Christian writer, speaker, youth leader and mentor on a journey to help people understand their brains and break free from the crippling mental battles and blocks that they are feared with.She was diagnosed with adult ADHD and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at 30 with no prior knowledge of her condition or even what mental illnesses were, after this discovery, she decided to learn more about mental health and has now devoted her life to helping others deal with these similar situations as a wellness coach. If you think you struggle with your mental health please be sure to seek professional advice through the following platforms: @psychologytoday @betterhelp

In this week's episode, I sit with Denequa Williams-Clarke, the founder of LIT Brooklyn, a luxury, eco-friendly candle company. I actually kinda stalked Denequa after hearing her speak at an event I attended in NYC back in 2019. She was on the panel after being featured in She Did That a Netflix documentary exploring the passionate pursuits of black women who are building legacies and making history. We recorded this episode prior to the pandemic and I know that since then her business has catapulted into new and inspiring territories.After deciding she wanted to launch a candle company, Denequa taught herself how to make candles, and since then, has been able to partner with top brands and has grown her passion into a profitable business.We discuss Her quitting her job as an assistant manager at a luxury fashion house, her Caribbean upbringing, How she started her business with the support of a great partner, losing her dad and how navigating grief impacted her as an entrepreneur. And we spoke about rest and what that looks like. Seeing as rest is our them for the month we'd love to know how you rest. So drop us a note after listening to this. As usual like, share, rate and subscribe. Still, we bloom.

This Milestone Episode features Life Coach and Founder of The L8 Bloomers_Okemena Emuh in a solo sit down as she reviews the beginning of her journey to creating The L8 Bloomers, the ever-present daunting challenges of being a female entrepreneur in the 21st century, and the wins that come with the process of self-actualization.  The episode speaks into the inner thoughts and deliberations of what passion means, the elements that grow or frustrate it and the highs and lows of being a dream caser. Mena Emuh is a part-time storyteller, full-time change agent, entrepreneur and Mental Health Activist. In 2016, having completed a Masters in Marketing from Cranfield University, Mena struggled to find a job in London on a level with her experience, qualifications and capability, so she boldly picked herself up and moved to Lagos Nigeria. Within a year she was Managing Director of Cececa Nigeria, which she has grown into the preeminent luxury Air-Care brand in Lagos. In 2017, she also founded The L8 Bloomers - a global platform for millennials navigating the complexities of adulting in the 21st Century. What began as a personal pain point of rejection and racism in the UK, the platform has since then transformed into the global community she has built. The platform provides both on and offline interactions and services to this community through content, events and coaching.  As a coach and millennial consultant, Mena who specialises in supporting individuals and organisations as they address issues of mental health and well-being continues to explore life unfiltered and beyond social construct; where things gradually fall into place, albeit just a little bit later than anticipated.

Ore Runsewe is the Founder of Arami Essentials, a natural beauty brand based in Lagos, Nigeria.Arami was born in 2016, out of a strong desire to see real improvement and make tangible impact in Africa's beauty and wellness sector.Even though Ore was born and raised in the UK, she has always been curious about her home country Nigeria and the opportunities that abound on the African continent. In 2014, she decided to move to Nigeria. As a long-time beauty enthusiast, she didn't anticipate the repeated challenges she had to face with accessing trusted beauty essentials in Nigeria.Ore was forced to very quickly adapt, and build on some of her existing DIY routines which amazingly led her to discover a whole new world of natural, African beauty solutions. Coupled with the ease of accessing raw materials and their affordability in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, Ore identified an entrepreneurial opportunity.She is changing face of manufacturing in Nigeria by defining her own standards with uncompromising quality and differentiated branding.In this episode I sit with Ore to discuss her journey thus far, her first job and humble beginnings, living in Lagos for the very first time, juggling her 9-5 whilst Arami was a side hustle. We discuss female entrepreneurship and the resourcefulness it takes delving into how to find and secure a good mentor. If you're from the diaspora and considering a move back home or thinking of starting a product based business, this episode is definitely for you. So rate share and subscribe #stillwebloom

Of all the powerful roles women seamlessly function in, being a mother must be one of the most powerful. Today, we celebrate mothers all over the world not only for their nurturing and femininity but for their grit and courage in the difficult situations they may find themselves and the hard decisions they have to make for themselves and their children despite the unbelievable drawbacks society and religion have against mothers married or unmarried.In this week's episode, my sister Kome and I, sit down with my Mama @carolcampayne and listen as she lets us into her journey thus far and shares her bloom story. This is probably the most candid conversation we've recorded before. We talk about what life was like for my mum growing up in Scotland and how she struggled with her identity being the only black girl in her school. She then describes the different times she found her voice and her move to Nigeria by boat at 14 years old and the impact that had on shaping the woman that she is. We talk about her toxic relationship and divorce and God granting her a second chance to find her soulmate. We talk about her mothering style and how it has grown and stretched her in many ways as well as the hard task of blending a family. We also discuss how her relationship with her own mother has shifted over the years. I love my mama, so it was a real honour to have her as a guest on The L8 Bloomers Podcast to talk about real-life ish!! This is a very raw and real episode that many will be able to relate too and hopefully learn from. So listen, share and subscribe for more of our amazing podcast content. #stillwebloom.

We continue with Mariano's Vivanco story, his travels with his family from a very early age, before eventually settling down in New Zealand at the age of ten. Since then he has gone to create some of the most iconic imagery of the last two decades. His work is marked by a skilled use of colours and light, and has been featured in some of the world's leading publications, including the American, Japanese, Russian and Spanish editions of Vogue, Dazed & Confused, Hero/Heroine, GQ, Man About Town and King Kong among others.His subjects have included through the year the most renown singers, actors, designers, athletes and acclaimed celebrities such as Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Cardi B, Naomi Campbell, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jennifer Lopez, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Lady Gaga, Damien Hirst, Giorgio Armani and Donatella Versace. He has also been working for the past ten years with Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana helping shape the visual identity of the brand.Mariano Vivanco has published several books and Three of his portraits are in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London.In this episode we speak about his life and career  journey  from the first time he picked up a camera to taking a leap of faith and uprooting himself from New Zealand to London to pursue a career in fashion photography. We speak about his sexual indemnity and his newfound joy in fatherhood. We delve deep into the mastermind of the man behind the lens. I listened back and it almost sounds like a therapy session. I think anyone in the creative industry will definitely benefit from hearing his experience. So listen, share and subscribe guys. #stillwebloom 

Born in Lima in the late 70's Mariano Vivanco travelled the world with his family from a very early age, before eventually settling down in New Zealand at the age of ten. Since then he has gone to create some of the most iconic imagery of the last two decades. His work is marked by a skilled use of colours and light, and has been featured in some of the world's leading publications, including the American, Japanese, Russian and Spanish editions of Vogue, Dazed & Confused, Hero/Heroine, GQ, Man About Town and King Kong among others.His subjects have included through the year the most renown singers, actors, designers, athletes and acclaimed celebrities such as Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Cardi B, Naomi Campbell, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jennifer Lopez, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Lady Gaga, Damien Hirst, Giorgio Armani and Donatella Versace. He has also been working for the past ten years with Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana helping shape the visual identity of the brand.Mariano Vivanco has published several books and Three of his portraits are in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London.In this episode we speak about his life and career  journey  from the first time he picked up a camera to taking a leap of faith and uprooting himself from New Zealand to London to pursue a career in fashion photography. We speak about his sexual indemnity and his newfound joy in fatherhood. We delve deep into the mastermind of the man behind the lens. I listened back and it almost sounds like a therapy session. I think anyone in the creative industry will definitely benefit from hearing his experience. So listen, share and subscribe guys. #stillwebloom 

In this episode, I sit with my sis singer/songwriter Rebecca Garton to have a very open and intimate discussion about her journey thus far.Born and raised in Nigeria Rebecca moved to London for her A-levels and attended University to study PR after which she took up corporate jobs in addition to working at the doors of nightclubs in order to fund her music career. She's collaborated with artists such as Jeremih , Krept & Konan, Chipmunk, Ling Hussle and more and has a brand new EP of her work that was just released this month.Stay tuned to hear more about Rebecca's journey and how her personal life has influenced who she is as an artist. We talk about a lot in this episode; from heartbreaks to grief and everything in between. So make sure you listen, share and subscribe to hear more stories like this. #stillwebloom

In this episode, I sit down with one of the most self-determined men I've come across . This episode was recorded at Afrotech last year in San Francisco. He made managing director in 2017 at one of the worlds leading investment banks finding solutions to everyday technology programs. Raised in Nigeria,  Leke Osinubi came from a family of engineers. He started his career in tech selling sneakers on campus and found a way to hack websites, get sneakers at lower prices and sell them on to friends not knowing he'd go into doing technology for a living. We spoke about how it started his career not really knowing what he wanted to do but morphing into his role, how your gift can open doors, What satisfies his soul and impacts the things he cares about the most. We spoke about purpose and pain, his old dreams of wanting to become a musician, self-doubt and having to leave people behind. I loved how Leke was able to show up as a truly multifaceted individual showing that even if you do take a traditional and corporate route you can still keep your creativity alive in other areas of your life. So, read, share and subscribe!  Enjoy the episode

In this week's episode we sit down with Jade Douse a London based stylist, creative director and fashion consultant. Jade started her styling career assisting celebrity stylist Avigail and Damian Collins, working with the likes of Rihanna, Sam Smith, Lorde and more. Jade later went on to work with stylist Victoria Young, assisting on editorial and commercial campaigns for titles such as Vogue Italia, and brands like Jo Malone, H&M.in 2016 Jade created her own  brand OH HEY GIRL, with business partner. OH HEY GIRL was an online fashion brand heavily influnced by East Asian street style.  Jade was the brains behind all things creative, from visual brand idenity, styling to creative direction. Now this episode is as real as it gets as we discuss Jade's tough upbringing and some of her adulting struggles, including having to liquidate her company last year. For anyone who's thinking of starting a business this episode and Jade's invaluable advice will be music to you ears so rate, share and subscribe, enjoy guys!

Today, I'm joined by an old friend of mine, who I've known since I was 17. Nicholas Amfo also known as Nicholas Dex. Having broken the mould as an enterprising creative, specializing in lifestyle products such as his award-winning lifestyle brand ODF which focuses heavily on spreading the message of diversity. ODF has featured in GQ magazine and the metro newspaper, his luxury menswear brand ‘Nicholas Kingsley', including Aromatherapy Home fragrances and have also been featured in Forbes Magazine and Polo Lifestyle. He is also responsible for starting the independent fashion show platform RIP the runway UK. Nicholas has illustrated his influence by being an ambassador for Croydon's 6.5 Million Legacy Youth Zone, a foundation dedicated to creating better opportunities for young people aged 8-19. He has been a key figure in encouraging the youth to identify their creative side and thrive with motivational speeches and one-to-one workshops. To compliment his work in the community, Nicholas has founded a mentoring programme titled L.I.F.T. (Learn. Improve. Focus. Transform.), that is committed to guiding young people to integrate into society.In his episode, we speak about Nicholas' journey thus far and how he set out to become an entrepreneur from a young age. What some of his motivations are and how he has kept his dream alive despite the odds.Instagram & Twitter:  @nicholasdex

In this episode you will hear from an remarkable woman named Rachel Aschalew. Who I met last summer in New York. She is a highly sought-after luxury real estate broker, and founder of the RARE boutique real estate firm. she has helped countless residents and businesses find a home in New York City.She arrived in the US with her mother as an Ethiopian refugee just after She was born and, together with her younger brother they moved around New York. Despite these challenges of constantly uprooting, Rachel learned to build strong relationships pretty quickly, a skill that has served her well in her career today. Prior to real estate, she briefly attended Pace University in New York City and got a job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. she learned first hand that in business, the power of your network is often the best indicator of success. She's currently working on a video series where over a good meal — and even better wine — Rachel will speak with clients, celebrities, restaurateurs about what makes them RARE.In this episode, we really get to know Rachel. She talks about the importance of building community, and what life was like for her growing up. She openly discusses her struggles of having to prove herself and what it's taken to make her mark and be seen in the world. You'll hear stories of abusive work culture and how she stumbled into her career as a real estate broker. She also discusses going into business with her former boyfriend, unpacking how their relationship painfully unravelled. We really got to hear Rachel's heart in this episode as she takes us along a beautiful journey of her bloom story and reveals that just like all of us, she's figuring it out one step at a time, and killing it in the process. So please enjoy, and if you want to keep hearing more stories, please be sure to subscribe to our tribe, rate this podcast share with another bloomer. #stillwebloom

In this week's episode we sit down with The Queen Hadassah, the most talented make-up artist you'll ever meet. Starting her career at only 17 years-old, she went from working at MAC to beating the faces of some of your favourite artists and growing a platform to shape the beauty industry not just on the outside but also from within. Stay tuned as she takes us on her journey of growing up and discloses her hard battles with depression along the way. We're passionate about the mental health and wellbeing of all Bloomers, so If you know anyone suffering from Depression or Anxiety at this time, please share this episode with them. Like, share and subscribe. #letsbloomtogether