ValidThoughts Podcast

On today’s episode, I’m in conversation with my friend Ferlin.We recently discovered that we both lived in India. Not at the same time, but close enough to share certain experiences. That connection made us ease into this conversation even more.What I appreciate about Ferlin is his intentionality. He works at a bank. He sings. But more importantly, he has built a system for himself. A structure that keeps him moving toward his purpose instead of drifting through life.We spoke about trusting the process. And also about how to even figure out what that process is in the first place.About staying steady. About not panicking when things feel slow. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Today on the pod, I’m talking to Yawo. I think we first started hanging out because our mutual friends were out of town, and we were both pretty new to Abidjan. Plus, we’d both lived in Germany so there was an easy connection there, too.Honestly, I’m so grateful this podcast gives me a chance to reconnect with the people around me, again and again.I hope you enjoy listening to Yawo geek out while trying very hard to convince us he’s not a geek just as much as I did!

I haven’t shared much about my life in India on the podcast, so I’m changing that now. I’m excited to introduce you to two incredible people in Delhi who are shaping the scene and representing the Black community here: Fatou and Chanda. They’re building communities, organizing parties and changing the narrative about what people expect from Black people in the subcontinent India. I'm so glad I met them because they really helped me enjoy Delhi. We had some of the best times together.I hope you enjoy this glimpse into what it’s like to be Black in India.Bisous and until next time ;)

Hello everyone! I’m back with Demilade on the pod today. There wasn’t any agenda for this episode but I truly enjoyed it. I truly love how having a podcast brings me closer to my friends. On this episode, we talk about how I need to stop being a party pooper, safe spaces, the idea of home and building some sort of a legacy. I don’t know if anyone reads the description but anyone hopefully enjoys it because they aren’t easy to write 😅 It’s a long listen but it’s also a fun one, I promise!

Sabine and I first met through our mutual friend, Phidelia. A big shoutout to Phidelia for introducing me to some really cool people! 😊I’m not sure if it was our first or second meeting, but I remember Sabine bringing Eddie along, and from the start, I could tell what a cool and intentional couple they are. So, when I began planning for the new season of this podcast, having them on the pod was a no-brainer. Honestly, I was also excited to get to know them better.We could’ve kept the conversation going all day—it was that much fun! I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it. My hope is that it serves as a reminder that love can be simple yet intentional, and it’s not always about grand gestures. I also hope it inspires you to trust your instincts.Until next time, Bisou! 😘

I met Kevine and Demilade at a trail run, and somehow, that turned into weekly meetups and checking in on each other. In this episode of ValidThoughts Podcast, we talk about growing up, what we love about Babi, and where life is taking us right now. It’s a long one, but just like our real-life conversations, it’s filled with laughter, random tangents, and those small moments that make friendships special.I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording.

It’s been a while, but ValidThoughts is finally returning with a fresh season! In this intro episode, I’m reflecting on what’s happened since the last episode and giving you a sneak peek of what’s to come. I’m excited to introduce new guests, share updates about my life in Abidjan, and give you a glimpse of what I have planned for this year. Whether you’ve been here since the start or are just tuning in, I’m so grateful to have you along for this new chapter of ValidThoughts.

For the third episode of validThoughts I speak to writer and Poet, Joshua Muyiwa about African men, India and representation. Read about Joshua's work Follow us: Instagram: @validthoughts_creative Twitter: @validthoughtCS Production: @titonlit Music (Intro and Outro): Celeste Ojatula - Black