About this episode

Matt Gibberd talks with Charlene Prempeh about her childhood, the concept of home, and the importance of solitude.

Matt Gibberd visits writer and creative consultant Charlene Prempeh at her home in North London. Charlene is the founder of A Vibe Called Tech , a creative studio that champions Black culture. She’s a columnist for the Financial Times , and curator of an upcoming exhibition at the Design Museum called The Nue Black Aesthetic . Charlene grew up in a small council house in Canning Town that was, in her words, "teeming with people". She was the youngest of four children, raised by a single mother, with cousins, friends and members of the Ghanaian community constantly coming and going. In this conversation, we talk about how that crowded childhood left her with a love of solitude. We explore why she doesn't believe that more space necessarily makes a happier home, and how, despite having very little money growing up, the dinner table always felt like a place of abundance. We also discuss why she found herself shape-shifting when she arrived at Oxford University, the importance of books and beautiful objects, and what it means to be truly at home with yourself. Join us over on Patreon to watch the full home tour. Patreon: http://patreon.com/HomingWithMatt To hear more from us…

People in this episode

Host: Matt Gibberd

Guest: Charlene Prempeh

Topics covered

• home design
• childhood experiences
• solitude
• Black culture
• personal growth
• abundance

Keywords

• Charlene Prempeh
• Matt Gibberd
• home
• solitude
• Black culture
• Design Museum
• abundance
• childhood

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: A Vibe Called Tech, Financial Times, Design Museum

Products: A Modern Way to Live

Books & works: The Nue Black Aesthetic

Places: North London, Canning Town

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• Lemn Sissay: What Happens When Home Rejects You? · August 19, 2026 · 49 min
• Anna Jones: Why Home Is an Act of Care · August 13, 2026 · 1h 15m
• Martha Beck: What Happens When Home Isn’t Safe? · August 6, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Jinny Blom: Why We All Need Somewhere to Hide · July 30, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Poet Jackie Kay on Adoption, Identity and the Long Search for Belonging · July 22, 2026 · 55 min

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