#WithChude

Mike Afolarin became famous for a role. But what he shared with me on set may be the most powerful thing he has ever done.He said many actors are suffering and smiling.Even though Far From Home made him a breakout star, the weight he carries behind the scenes is softer, sadder, and far more complex.He found photography through heartbreak. Work became a way to outrun the pain. One day, he picked up a camera — and that became his healing.He said the women in his life often call him emotionally detached.And right there on set, it clicked.Maybe it wasn't just about heartbreak. Maybe it began with an absent father.He became the emotional rock for his mother. Somewhere along the way, he forgot how to let others hold him too.He is open to reconciliation. But his father has not reached out.Still, he says everyone needs a father's love. Not having it made him grow up fast.It shaped his heart. His relationships. His silence.This is Mike Afolarin like you have never seen him before.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.comDonate to the work here: partner.withchude.comPlease subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You need to forgive God.”In this episode, my guests opened up about faith, pain, and the complicated relationship many people have with religion.They shared what it's like to grow up loving a God you're told to fear—a God who feels so far away when life hits hard. From the sting of loss, to the scars of abuse, to the heavy weight of grief, they opened up about wrestling with a God who didn't seem to show up when they needed Him most. It's raw, it's real, and it's a conversation that'll make you think deeply and see God in a way that's beyond what you have been taught. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She's 73. A Nigerian woman. A fighter in every sense of the word.Rosalind Umar didn't go looking for fame — but somehow, fame found her. And now the internet can't get enough of her.In her words: “I'm not the stereotypical woman that the average man want to marry. I box. I do martial arts. And I hate the word ‘submissive.'”She speaks with unfiltered truth about life, about aging, about marriage, and about battling a degenerative disease that no amount of gym time, swimming, or exercise could stop — until surgery became her only option.But even in pain, she laughs. She speaks. She lives fully.This is not just a viral moment. It's a woman reclaiming her story. And it's one of the most powerful conversations I've had.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“My father was jailed when I was one years old, my mother died in an accident on her way to visit him in prison when I was 4” I spoke with one of Nigeria's finest actors, and he shared stories from his life that have deeply shaped him—how he loves, how he shows up for the people he cares about, and what motivates him to work.This episode peels off layers beyond the fine actor who is loved in all his films. He shares stories of hurt and injustice his family has faced and why he is very inspired to fight injustice and tell stories. He tells me the reason he married his wife, and why he would advice everyone to marry.He tells me about that time he was falsely accused of being a cult member in university and that event that made him depressed after he was expelled helped him find acting and he's grateful for that. This episode is deep, raw, honest and exciting and  is now up on withChude.comWatch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I bled for 127 days, I was the woman with the issue of blood”“I lost 55kg in 14 months and I found God”This episode will show you strength, courage, and peace amidst great adversity. Bunmi George tells me deep truths that have formed her to become the person she is from bleeding for days to losing weight, and how that shaped her faith even as a Pastors' kid. She shares with me the story of losing three of the most important men in her life within 3 weeks her brother, her pastor and her father. This episode is deep and is now up on withChude.com.  Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.comDonate to the work here: partner.withchude.comPlease subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean… to be told you will never have children?To pray, to hope, to fight—and then, finally, to hold the miracle in your hands.And then—less than 21 months later—they tell you she has cancer. Aggressive. Spreading fast. But this is not a story of death.This is the story of survival.The miracle baby they said was impossible.The one they said wouldn't come. The one they said wouldn't stay.And yet, here she is.Still standing. Still smiling. Still fighting.With her mother, Hilda Dickson—who never gave up, even when everything said she should.We sit with a testimony. A miracle. A warrior.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I threatened God, and something told me to jump into the water instead of threatening Him.”Popular hit song "Able God" singer, Chinko Ekun—once signed under Olamide's record label— shares with me how he lost it all.He talks about having one of the biggest hits in Nigerian music history with Able God, and how he never imagined it would blow the way it did. A few years later, the fame turned quiet, and  everything around him fell apart.He moved from a Lagos-based label to a Dubai-based one, searching for a fresh start. But instead of breakthrough, he lost the deal, his money to an investment scam, and his relationship. He talks about how he threatened God at the beach, he said “if you don't do something, I will bow to another god” and a voice told him to jump into the water instead.From chart-topping glory to silent heartbreak, from threatening God to rediscovering hope.This is a beautiful interview with Chinko Ekun we have never seen him before.And today, he shares how he's fine despite the loss.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply personal conversation, Desmond Elliot, actor and politician, sets the record straight, and it's not what you expect.He opens up about how finding work back then was an extreme sport. “I did a lot of ‘waka pass' roles,” he says, laughing. But the grind was real and the rejection was even more real.Desmond also shares how a chance introduction to Asiwaju by Adams Oshiomhole completely changed the course of his life. “For some reason, Asiwaju just liked me,” he says, still surprised.He speaks with clarity about being contested against by Olumide Oworu during the 2023 elections. “I wasn't angry with him,” he says. “I was hurt by the veterans who endorsed him.”From the screen to the streets, from heartbreak to hope, this is Desmond Elliot that you will fall in love with again.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

—Be a part of Africa's biggest talk concert on Sunday, April 27, 2025. #WithChudeLive - with Chimamanda Adichie, Pastor Jerry Eze, Funke Akindele, Falz and Bovi Ugboma! Register now on https://www.felefun.com/events/with-chude-live.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

—Be a part of Africa's biggest talk concert on Sunday, April 27, 2025. #WithChudeLive - with Chimamanda Adichie, Pastor Jerry Eze, Funke Akindele, Falz and Bovi Ugboma! Register now on https://www.felefun.com/events/with-chude-live.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I celebrate 50 Nigerian TV icons that paved the way for me.Frank Olize Levi AjuonumaYinka Craig Sadiq DabaAbike Dabiri Funmi Iyanda Agatha Amata Cyril Stober Gina Harry John Momoh Teni Aofiyebi Kenny ‘Keke' Ogungbe Dayo ‘D-One' AdeneyeAlero EduAdesuwa Onyenokwe Ohi AlegbeNonye Osi Chukwudi Okolie-Ugbaja  Elaine Otuije Mariam Anazodo Jumobi AdegbesanAdaobi of MBITosin Dokpesi Emma UgoleeComfort OkoronkwoLilian Agbaso Eyiyemi Pratt Kehinde Young-HarryIreti DoyleTosin Ajayi Isaac Moses Nneka Moses Frank EdohoNamure EdoimioyaEugenia AbuSegun Arinze Tonnie Iredia Modele Sarafa-YusufSiene Alwell-BrownNgozi AlaegbuID Ogungbe Yori Folarin Charles ‘Charly Boy' Oputa Bene Uche Mo Abudu Kathleen ObiangIsreal EdjerenPatrick DoyleBimbo OloyedePatrick Oke I am here as a product of your talent, your sacrifice and your brilliance. As I celebrate 25 years in the media and 5 years of #WithChude, It has been the great honour of my life to be led and taught by all of you. Watch the full episode right now on www.withchude.com. And share your memories of them in the comment section! —Be a part of Africa's biggest talk concert on Sunday, April 27, 2025. #WithChudeLive - with Chimamanda Adichie, Pastor Jerry Eze, Funke Akindele, Falz and Bovi Ugboma! Register now on https://www.felefun.com/events/with-chude-live.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I spent 40,000 dollars on IVF only to lose the baby. I wanted to die!”“I had a couple of miscarriages and I got a surrogate, I was tired of trying.”Where else would you hear these kinds of truths about ‘infertility'? These kinds of deep vulnerability and authenticity and raw, unfiltered honesty?This special episode to help men and women struggling with having kids is now up on withChude.com.  These guests are doing a service. They are sharing deep truths that connect with people facing these issues and let them know they are not alone. I thank them deeply for trusting me with their stories - and for helping others in their journeys. Watch the full conversation right now on WithChude.com. Share your experiences or the experiences of others you know in the comments below. ❤—Be a part of Africa's biggest talk concert on Sunday, April 27, 2025. #WithChudeLive - with Chimamanda Adichie, Pastor Jerry Eze, Funke Akindele, Falz and Bovi Ugboma! Register now on https://www.felefun.com/events/with-chude-live.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I ask myself sometimes if I am going to live long… whenever God decides that I am going to die, I am going to die and I am cool with that.”This is a 19-year-old talking. It's the Afrobeats star, Khaid - who was signed by content creator, Sidney Talker in 2022. For the first time ever, he speaks (even if with a lot of fear) about the gang war in his hood that almost killed him last year and left him in the hospital for a long time after life-threatening internal bleeding. Those dramatic photos in the hospital weren't a stunt. It wasn't content. This young man - one of fastest rising music stars in the country today - almost died. Khaid's life has been shaped by pain, tension, and then deep reflection. He tells me first about life as a mechanic and how he quit that job due to hints of intimate abuse from his mentor. He talks about his battle against depression. And then for the first time ever, he opens up about the conflicts he's faced in the hood, even showing me the scars.He recounts the harrowing moment—being hospitalized while someone broke into his car downstairs. For his safety, he had to continue his treatment at home. But Khaid tells me he's not afraid of death, and that his new faith (he left Islam for Christianity a few years ago) assures him of a full life.I ask him, if his life continues to be in danger - why does he continue to visit the hood that makes it so? Why can't he leave his old life behind with all the money and fame he has accomplished? You have to watch to understand why this brilliant, talented young man - one of the deepest, wisest teenagers I ever sat with - is haunted by the ghosts of his past.Watch the full conversation right on WithChude.com. And I'd like to know what you think in the comment.

Everyone loves Chimezie Imo. A love cemented after Breath of Life and the AMVCA Trailblazer of 2024 prize that everyone was rooting for him for … after he wasn't nominated for any of the prizes at all. But Chimezie tells me he doesn't care about these accolades—he just wants to act and make money. He recalls how his first acting role as a child left an entire room in tears at his RCCG parish in Abuja. He ran to his mom and declared, “I want to be an actor.” From that moment on, he never looked back— even through the many times he almost gave up, and the many times industry has disrespected him, He opens up about the years squatting with a family member in FESTAC because he couldn't afford rent, the directors who have tried to black list him, the insecurities that have tormented him, and the movie crew member who told him to bleach his skin. I have known Chimezie from his first tentative days in this industry - I have witnessed the pain and the doubt, the push and the climb, and to see his sweet success today is to see a man who has earned everything accolade he has received.Today, he finally shares that story in public with me. And it's a story that will inspire you deeply. Watch the full conversation right now on WithChude. Then tell me what you think in the comments. ❤—Be a part of Africa's biggest talk concert on Sunday, April 27, 2025. #WithChudeLive - with Chimamanda Adichie, Jerry Eze Funke Akindele and Bovi Ugboma! Register now on https://www.felefun.com/events/with-chude-live.Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most powerful women in African media shares her story with me today. This is the woman who broke major Chibok stories, amplifying it to the world via CNN, and has since continued to give life to countless stories—including EndSARS and many more.But Stephanie Busari tells me her life hasn't been all rosy. Yes, she has won every highly coveted journalism award, including an Emmy, but she has also faced immense tribulations.She lost her mother in 2022 - rushing to London to watch her slowly fade away. Her brother was trapped in a building collapse in Lagos—a tragedy she was reporting for CNN, not knowing he was trapped within. She opens up about finding love again ten years after her divorce, why the Chibok story consumed her, and how the resilience of Nigerians continues to inspire her every day. She also shares her hopes that people will connect with the stories of extraordinary women in her book—and why, after 16 years, she decided to leave CNN.Let me know your thoughts in the comments. ❤Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The powerful, viral-before-the-internet praise song ‘Today' came from a place of pain and hurt and tribulations - and the singer, Pastor Wale Adenuga tells me the story today. He is the singer of hits songs including - — Olowogbogboro with Nathaniel Bassey — You alone are worthy, Lord — Lord because of me And many others. He tells me how he learnt to have faith in God even when he lost everything - and what he thinks about Nigerians changing the lyrics from ‘when trouble comes my way' to ‘when success comes my way, I will praise the Lord.”He tells me why he resigned as a pastor - and what he thinks about he promises many pastors make that Jesus wouldn't make. He also tells me about ‘Worship 4 Change' where he has over the past 15 years raised hundreds of millions of naira for orphans, widows, the homeless and more across several states off Nigeria.Pastor Wale is one of the best human beings I know and it's a delight to have him share his wisdom with us today. Watch the full conversation now on withChude.com, with a 15-minute cut available on YouTube today - search for ‘With Chude'.Share your thoughts in the comment section.❤Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.com Donate to the work here: partner.withchude.com Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brightest stars working in the media today - not entertainment, not content creation; but my one true love, media - join me in this stemwinder of a panel to ask me questions from the 25 years of my career.From Jay On-Air who everybody knows to Flourish Ubanyi who you may not have heard of but who hosts the biggest faith-based podcast from Nigeria, they came loaded. It is a masterclass in building a career, making a success and staying relevant in the media - and in life. Part 1 of the full conversational is now up on withChude.com. We had… a BLAST!Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.comDonate to the work here: partner.withchude.comPlease subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brightest stars working in the media today - not entertainment, not content creation; but my one true love, media - join me in this stemwinder of a panel to ask me questions from the 25 years of my career.From Jay On-Air who everybody knows to Flourish Ubanyi who you may not have heard of but who hosts the biggest faith-based podcast from Nigeria, they came loaded. It is a masterclass in building a career, making a success and staying relevant in the media - and in life. Part 1 of the full conversational is now up on withChude.com. We had… a BLAST!Watch all new and old full episodes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.comDonate to the work here: partner.withchude.comPlease subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Babangida a Bad Man?I spoke with one of Nollywood's most critically acclaimed producers—known for hits like Mirror Boy, Last Flight to Abuja, and Badamasi—about Nigerian's former head of state Ibrahim Babangida, and he insists Babangida is a good man.Born in 1985 when IBB took over office, I've long held a grudge against Babangida, the man who annulled Nigeria's most peaceful election, “democratized corruption” and ordered the killing of his best friend. And why own up to his biggest mistakes now? Emelonye says it is his film that forced IBB into reflection and led directly to his apologies and confessions in his new book. From the lips of one of Nollywood's most decorated and fearless directors, I heard stories of friendship, love, and business.We also talk about how he convinced Genevieve to do Mirror Boy movie after Omotola said no, and how Omotola said yes to Last Flight to Abuja the year after.This is one of the very best conversations I have ever had! Watch or listen to the full episode at WithChude.com.Tell me what you think in the comments below. ❤Watch all new and old fill epsidoes here: www.withchude.comBuy ‘How Depression Saved My Life', #TheDailyJoy and #TheDailyVulnerable books here: shop.withchude.comDonate to the work here: partner.withchude.comPlease subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/chude Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yale, Harvard, LSE, Oxford and others.Working on presidential elections in Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone and others. Big Brother, The Apprentice, Idols, Got Talent. And CNN, Aljazeera, BBC. The Future Awards reaching 26 countries across Africa over the past 19 editions. From the Nigeria Media Merit Awards to African Business of the Year. Forbes 30 under 30 to the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. 20 years, this year, of RED | For Africa, with its group of companies that includes one of the region's top 5 PR companies.Handing over as chief executive officer in 2016 to pursue my vision for content across Africa, and establishing one of the brightest examples of succession planning in my industry across several of my companies - with non-founder, non-family CEOs. My aunty, the iconic Mo Abudu sat down with me to review the global reach of my career over the past 25 years in the media. I am grateful to her for this conversation - and grateful to God for a rich, full life. Watch or listen to the full episode on withChude.com.❤#ChudeIsCelebrating Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Anywhere my ex-husband saw me he would beat me.“He beat me so much, I became an alcoholic - but I couldn't leave because of the shame that people will say I couldn't keep a man.”For the first time on TV, veteran actor Ayo Adesanya - who was so big she was already lead star on Most Wanted, where Genevieve had her first minor role - finally speaks in detail about her abusive relationship that made her leave the industry for a very long time - and how she found the courage and the will to return to the industry and rebuild her career. We also discuss:- How she stayed in this relationship for 10 years - ⁠How Bimbo Akintola and her other colleagues got angry because she couldn't leave this man - ⁠How her ex threatened to pluck out her eyes with a knife - ⁠How he sent her son away to Ibadan at just 1 years old because he was jealous of the attention she was giving her son- ⁠Why her next relationship didn't work out- ⁠Her long, hard journey back to Nollywood  All pain, the shame, the destruction and the recovery. For the first time on TV, #WithChude.Let me know what you think in the comment section. ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was an incredible honour.To have the legendary newscaster and TV host, Cyril Stober sit down to interview me for my celebration of 25 years in the media, and my 40th birthday. I have worked in the media since I was 15 - from my first job on the NTA - and in this conversation we go deep into a career across print, radio, online, film and television; working from the NTA to MBI to Channels TV, and from TEMPO Magazine to Thisday to NEXT. He grilled me o! - Why did I start so young - what was driving me? - How writing my first book at 13 kicked off my career? - Why did I leave my law degree to practice journalism?- Was I afraid being on TV as a presenter at 16 the first time? What was it like working with icons like Levi Ajuonuma, Funmi Iyanda, Comfort Okoronkwo, Agatha Amata and others? - When did I have time to do ‘young things'? - How did I meet my first girlfriend - on the job?- What led to a nervous breakdown in my 20s?- Why did I choose the lowest paying job out of 5 job offer after NYSC?- Why did I join NEXT newspaper's even when they were already owing 3 months salaries?- Why I am not fazed by being ‘rave of the moment' because of all the icons that I have seen go before me - What's my vision for my work and the next 25 years?From a starry/eyed young couch potato to the host of the most watched talk show on the continent, I stand on the shoulders of giants like Stober and other greats who have shone the path for me. This conversation truly helped me unravel a life of so many highs and so many dreams come true. ❤#ChudeIsCelebrating Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After his contract with Naira Marley's label expired in 2022, Fabian Blu disappeared from the public space after releasing four singles under Marlian Records. He is speaking for the first time to the media about his time at the label and royalties over the past five years that he says he is owed. He says he has not been paid a penny and when he threatened to sue them to court, Naira Marley laughed in his face. He tells me about the suffering and punishments he said endured during his time under the label—how he was called a lazy artist and sidelined because he wasn't Yoruba or Muslim. How he was maltreated in the accommodation provided, marched out of the studio and ignored when he asked for help for his mother. He says he was introduced to drugs after signing with Marlian Music and to a dangerous lifestyle that he has to escape from. Then I ask him: Why did he reach out to me to speak out just now, when Naira Marley is making a comeback with his music?Hear him tell his story exclusively on withChude.com right away and on @WithChude YouTube at 5pm today. Let me know what you think in the comment section.  Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the very first time, Mohbad's wife Omowunmi Aloba is granting an interview. She says the bullying her husband suffered, her son Liam is now suffering it. From Naira Marley to her father-in-law. She speaks of death threats and attempted poison. She also fully explains why the DNA test has not been done to verify the father of her child. Today. 5pm. YouTube. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the release of the monster hit ‘Caro' with Wizkid, L.A.X (Damilola Afolabi) became a huge star. And he was only 18.He tells me the story of how he got that big break, how Wizkid changed his life… and why everything slowed down because his parents insisted he finish school and does his NYSC. Whatever that may have done to his momentum, he says he has no regrets. Returning to Nigeria, growing up with his grandmother taught him wisdom. We talk about: ● Why he left Wizkid, and why his leaving made Wizkid worried ● Why he continues to call Wizkid his Big Brother and why he thinks Wizkid has been on the attack in the past one year ● Why people think his energy and his career have slowed down, even though he is cleaning out concerts across Europe ● The heartbreaking story of how he found out his ex-girlfriend was cheating on him - and why he still begged her to stay ● How he paid her back for the cruelty he suffered - and what he learnt from that entire experience ● Why he sued the anonymous lady who accused him of sexual abuse and then recanted ● Why he takes life easy, no matter what other people are doing in the industry or on social media L.A.X. says he is a huge fan of the show and that's a big compliment, because he is without any doubt from one of the coolest guests I have ever interviewed on this show. Watch the full 1-hour episode now on withChude.com.And let me know what you think in the comments section below. ❤   Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I watched Teniola in Unbroken and immediately I knew she was a star, from then she's gone on to feature in some of my favorite movies.But in December, she finally had a global star vehicle befitting of her massive talent with ‘Christmas in Lagos'.In this interview she talked about the journey from being behind the camera, wanting desperately to be in front where she knew she belonged but having little opportunity - especially because very few people believed in her talent. How she got here is a powerful story of fighting - to be seen, to be heard, to be believed.We also talk about Losing her ex-boyfriend, and why this made her tear up on the show How her ex-boyfriend completely changed her life and her relationship with God What his death taught her The story of her AMVCA Trailblazer Award and what that moment meant to herHow she managed to survive the intense pressure of social media, seeing others succeed while her career stalled Why acting matters so much to her You've never seen Teniola like this before. Watch the full 1-hour episode now on withChude.com. Let me know your thoughts below. ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I would like to judge my father (Sir Shina Peters) for how he treated my mother (Clarion Chukwurah Abiola), but I'm not in the position to.”“The newer generation of Afrobeats artistes saw me as the old guard and was just like ‘we are tired of you'.”—With these two statements, you already see how deep we got in this conversation.For the very first time ever, the greatest music video director of my generation - who avoids interviews like the plague - opens up like he has never done ever before. He says #WithChude was the only show where he would go this deep or speak this openly. Just after he premiered his revolutionary series ‘Inside Life' on Netflix, he sat with me and spoke with incredible depth and an open heart. It was well worth the 5-year wait.We also discuss:● How he really feels about how his father treated his mother as the tabloids hit her hard ● Why he learnt to stop judging and forgive his father when he became an adult and had his own relationships ● How his mother resisted the intense pressure to abort him● Why the pressure of being child to two superstars led to impostor syndrome ● The helplessness and fear he experienced as he moved from doing 3 music videos-a-week to the industry ‘rejecting him'● Why he didn't make his Netflix film ‘Inside Life' for the world. This was a masterclass - on life, on growth and on how to re-invent yourself after you feel like everything has fallen apart. Please watch or listen to the full 1-hour episode on withChude.com. Let me know your thoughts below. ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes people think of suicide? What makes even a successful, famous person consider committing suicide?How do you avoid getting to this point? How do you recover if you get to this point?And how can you help people you love or know who have arrived at this terrible point?My guests over the years have shared deeply and honestly about this - and we have a special YouTube episode with some of the most powerful stories.It's now up on @WithChude on YouTube and on withChude.com.Let me know your thoughts below.❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“They were contemplating cutting off my legs in the hospital emergency room.”Victony (Anthony Ebuka Victor) says as a child, his parents were away all the time, they left him on his own, and he was very lonely. That, he says, has completely reshaped his life.He has had to rely on himself to take care of himself emotionally and mentally, but it has also helped him build the resilience to face life - including the infamous accident that landed him in a wheelchair.In this conversation, he shares:— The real possibility in the emergency room that his leg was going to be cut off and how he survived that ordeal.— Why he had to answer those who said he was using his wheelchair for sympathy - and how he grew out of the deep frustration of that incident.— Why he feels his heart cannot be broken because of how he has trained himself to be, based on the loneliness of his childhood.Pensive, reflective and wise - Victony's clarity will soothe your spirit.Watch the full one-hour version on withChude.com.Let me know what you think in the comment section ❤. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years people have been asking me: What's your own story?This year, I am finally saying yes and sharing a part of my story. The part I think the world needs to hear today.When my show hit its stride, I stopped saying yes to interviews because I wanted to focus on listening, on hearing, on being a channel for others. I wanted to have something significant to say to the world before speaking again.I believe that time has come. My book ‘How Depression Saved My Life' will be out in April 2025 and it is a memoir of my life from 2014-2024 - a journey that led me through depression, heartbreak, thoughts of suicide, quitting my job as CEO and landing here as host and creator of #WithChude. It tells a story I believe the world urgently needs to hear today. To help me prepare for the release of the book, I have some heavy hitters starring as guest-hosts on this show - with me as guest. I am honoured by all the people who either offered or said yes.The first special is with my sister and friend, the chart-bursting actor, producer and director — Omoni Oboli.She reached out to me last year to say ‘you need to tell your story and I want to interview you' and it's because of her that we came up with this special series.This is one of the deepest, truest, most heart-felt conversations I ever did. We cried, both of us, as I told never-before-heard stories about my life, my emotions, my mother, my career, and the moments when I thought it was all over and I wanted to end it all.This interview will move and bless you deeply. ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don't have guests twice on my show - unless there is a deeply compelling reason. Pastor Bolaji Idowu is only the second guest I have gotten back on the show.Because, I attended the Next Level Prayer Conference in London last year and I was blown away. He has been a brother for over a decade, but to actually see him on stage minister to tens of thousands of souls who had come for freedom and healing was to see a man transformed.Today, on the eve of the NLP Conference in Lagos, I sat with him to talk about how much the ministry has grown in the two years since our last interview.We talk about:Why he is called a celebrity pastor - and why celebrities flock to his church.The shocking stories of emotional healing he has heard - including that of a married woman who was impregnated four times by her own father.The dramatic stories of healings from cancer, near death experiences and what he says to people who disbelieve these miracles.His answer to critics who think he is “doing too much” on the internet.How his focus on emotional healing comes from his own childhood - where he didn't feel the love of his father and grew up being taken advantage of by others.The level of truth and vulnerability in this interview will blow you away.This one is a MUST WATCH. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After leaving Nigeria in 2017 to make a better life for himself in America, Tolu Michael suddenly collapsed from a heart condition. The doctor said if he had been just 5 minutes late, he would have died.That literally life-changing situation made him realise how short and fleeting life is.Because of it, he has written 8 books in the past four years, and he has developed a business that transforms the lives of people like who immigrate to America and don't know the first thing to do.This is a man in a hurry to make his life count - and in this interview, he tells you exactly how you can do the same in your own life.The full interview is now up on withChude.com.I'd love to hear your comments below ❤. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The enfant terrible of the food industry is my guest today!The fear of Opeyemi Famakin is the beginning of wisdom for chefs, restaurants, food bloggers and content creators everywhere.But how he got here is incredibly inspiring.He tells me that he heard the voice of God literally and clearly telling him this is his path, and so he quit his job as a senior editor in his twenties to do this thing that no one else had ever done on this scale before.After saying no to one high-paying job, he went home and cried. Because he was so afraid he was making a mistake.We also talk about:● Why he regrets criticising Don Jazzy's burger brand and what he would do differently now.● The fight with his mom that has led them to not speak for several years.● Why he feels hurt when people who know him personally in the food industry attack him on social media.● Why he is sad only his negative content gets the most virality when he lifts up countless brands - and how he eventually learnt to stop caring about that.● How he has handled being laughed at, belittled, criticised and cancelled - including how his Instagram page was “permanently disabled” because of his criticism of Igbo ‘oha soup' and how he survived that scary period and got his page back.It's Opeyemi Famakin like you've never heard him never before.Let me know your thoughts below ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I give you one year and you will fail in this industry.”That's what the man who trained Lateef Adedimeji in the Yoruba movie industry told him after his training.Today, on our show, Lateef has a message for that man, who is still alive and still in the industry.He face; that same lack of faith for his viral Lisabi movie. Lateef says all the people whopromised to support him, the ones he actually expected to support him, all abandoned him.“There was nobody.”But his wife Mobimpe stood by him like a rock.We also talk about:— How he and his wife have responded to the people who call her barren. — Why he spent months denying a relationship with his wife and the shocking way he finally proposed to her.— How his father went from locking him out of the house for being an actor to investing in his very first film (which then failed woefully!).— How he often has no confidence in himself, and how his wife stands in to remind him of who he is and what he can do. Without her, he doesn't know what would have happened to him.Today, as the epic sequel, Lisabi: A Legend is Born is released on Netflix, Lateef is here to share his testimony.Watch the 30 minutes interview version this evening at 5pm on YouTube and the full 1-hour version on withChude.com.Let me know your thoughts below after watching ❤. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“People say we are barren because we've been dating for 10 years and don't have a child” — Kassia and KellyRae #BBNaijaPromo caption #BBNaija's Kassia broke up with the winner winner Kelly Rae because he wasn't being responsible about money. Then later he tried to break up with her because he thought she deserved better and he couldn't provide for her. Little did he know that in 2024, both of them would enter the Big Brother house and become millionaires in a matter of months. They talk about - Going through thick and thin together - death, cancer, a gambling addiction, a cheating incident, being thrown out of his friend's house, accusations that he was being frisky in the house, and having to hide the fact that they were married in the house. Her desperately wanting to be married to him for years and he didn't propose, and then when she decided she no longer cared about marriage fulfilling her - he proposed, just weeks before the house. How they respond to people who attack them for being barren today because they have no children after 10 years together. They smiled when people said their marriage wouldn't survive the house. They are still smiling today. Because underneath all of the drama and the face and the money is a great, great love story.Let me know your thoughts below after watching. ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Edoho is regarded by many as the greatest TV host alive - but this interview was not about ‘Who Wants To Be A Billionaire?'It's about the Frank Edoho you've never heard about - and the exclusive stories he has never told anyone anywhere. Like the details of how the sponsors of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' called him to a meeting in Ikoyi, Lagos to fire him because his wife had accused him of being a wife-better. Frank says that never happened, he was in fact the victim, and till today he hasn't said a complimentary word to his ex-wife because he can't understand why she did that. He tells me about: - the depression and loneliness he has dealt with since his childhood - and that he continues to deal with today.- ⁠his parents' divorce and how it shattered his sense of sense - and why he fought against it when they tried to get back together. The trauma was too hard to relive. - ⁠how he has learnt not to depend on anyone emotionally apart from his children - because people break your heart and people leave. One must know how to stand alone.- ⁠why he began to buy shoes and why he began to play football - and how his hard comebacks to errant people on Twitter are actually quite therapeutic for him. And so much more. The Essential Frank Edoho - like you've never seen or heard him before.  Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you escape a toxic relationship or marriage?How do you even identify it in the first place? What are the signs? What do you do when you are in it? And how do you rebuild your life when you come out of it?My guests over the years have shared deeply and honestly about this - and we have a special YouTube episode with some of the most powerful stories. It's now up on @WithChude on YouTube and on withChude.com. Let me know your thoughts below. ❤ Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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I stumbled upon a Steve Hills (Stephen Ogbonna Orijinta) live worship session on YouTube a few months ago after watching a video of EbukaSongz - and I caught the fire! Immersing myself in viral hit ‘Fire and Light (The Supernatural Anthem)' was like jumping two-feet first into Heaven on Earth. I am Fire! I am Light! I am Glory, oh! The Supernatural!I immediately changed all my plans for our annual The Music Playlist episode - I wanted to experience this fire live; and to experience this special anointing that I am certain will take over the world next year. The full worship session is up on @WithChude YouTube and the session plus interview are exclusively on withChude.com!This is my Christmas gift to myself - and to you ❤. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Shopsydoo's (Adesope Olajide) father came to visit him in the UK he couldn't believe the life his son was living. He asked him - “You left a life as a prince to come and live like a pauper here?”But he stuck with his dreams for himself and his family. Now, no major Afrobeats concert in Europe and the United Kingdom is complete without Adesope. He is of the country's biggest hype men and MCs.  We talk about how that industry and that sound has changed over the years - from 2face and Psquare to Rema and Fireboy - changed the world and changed his life. “Black women didn't want to date us because we had Nigerian accents,” he tells me. “But now, because of Afrobeats it is now mainstream to be African, to come from Africa, to be part of the culture.”He says he will forgive Tiwa Savage and Wizkid because these pioneers made it possible for this change to happen.And he tells me the greatest lessons he has learnt from the great successes and great failures of Nigeria's music industry. Consider this a masterclass. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a ‘hard guy' get vulnerable and open hearted. Blaqbonez (Emeka Akumefule) is one of Nigeria's brightest rappers and he has often been called controversial. But this interview we see a side we have never seen before, as this ‘hard guy' gets vulnerable and open hearted.We start from his dad who simply disappeared from the house while he was young and hasn't apologised or explained since then.He tells me about how his mother survived the stigma of being a single parent, and worked a maid to help him get a good life. He says he has forgiven his father, but then he sees that influence from his in his life - breaking up a relationship despite being in love because he doesn't think he can be monogamous and he didn't want to ruin the perfect life of his girlfriend.  That influence also scares him from making any woman pregnant - making his take extreme measures to avoid that. Underneath all it is in an introverted, thoughtful, sensitive young man who wants to avoid the mistake of his parents, build a life of happiness was and make those around him happy if he can. In between the talk of Don Jazzy, Victor, MI, Terry Tha Raman, his missing Headies plaque, stream farms and controversy, this is the beauty of Blaqbonez that shine through. It's one of my best conversations yet.  Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Titi Oyinsan (known then as ‘Titi Fanta') was famous as one of hottest models in Nigeria. But while she was working hard as a model, there were the rumours that her trips and lifestyle were being funded by men. Titi says she didn't care - she was focused on building a life for herself and her family, who had been duped by the man who they sent money to while they were in the UK. They were so badly duped that when they returned to Nigeria, they could only afford a place in Mushin, Lagos. That focus has led to building a sparkling 20-year career as a TV host, a radio host, producer and author. Then exclusively, she shares for the first time ever a harrowing experience of sexual abuse while she was in school, and how she overcame that dark experience and built a marriage and a home over the past 10 years.She also shares why she can never deny that the TV icon, Denrele Edun was her boyfriend for over two years - because he absolutely changed her life. This, was a beautiful conversation. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pastors Emmanuel and Laju Iren are a gospel power couple. They are one of the most influential pastors for the Gen Z generation and one of Nigeria's most influential gospel figures today. And this year marks 10 years of their marriage. Laju says she is a fan of our work here at #WithChude, but I told her I am a bigger fan of hers. She is a pioneer - pushing the boundaries of gospel content from Nigeria. Her films have been on Amazon Prime, she has built a solid community on YouTube, and she has built a powerful technology-driven independent distributor for her films, making tens of millions in the process. This is a woman fully aware of her place and power in the world today.We talk about how she and her husband have built their marriage - struggling with how to communicate at first, but learning how to do it. She says her husband may not be the kind that does her breakfast in the morning, but he is her biggest champion.She tells me practically how she manages her work as a filmmaker, her calling as a pastor (and a pastor's wife) and the not-small task of raising four children. She says - do not be deceived, she gets a lot of help. Her honesty is striking. She tells me how she learnt to separate God's word from her own peculiar experiences - the first cannot be moved, but the second depends on your life and circumstances and should not be imposed on others. I ask for her response to those who accuse them of running a business while being pastors, I ask her if they have any regrets for the times they have ‘clapped back' at critics on social media and we talk about “the darkness in the world today.” Ah, this conversation was sweet. Too many shekere moments. She is a delight. Exclusive Patron-only Content Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.