Banana Island Living Podcasts

With nearly 30 years as an international civil servant working with the UN, Yewande Odia has been in all the hotspots - Somalia, Haiti, Goma, Tchad and yes, even New York (the original hotspot)! In this episode, we discuss: Yewande finds a joke, a pun that needs some thinking about but that, surely, is the point. This episode will get you thinking about resilience, perseverance and the changing nature of friendships as we grow older. Links Mentioned: Barack Obama - A Promised Land D' Angelo- How Does it Feel? Robin Thicke - Lost Without You Her Private Life - the movie Sponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/ Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel

As if Sarah Boulos’s backstory (past imperfect?) was not epic enough, her present continuous one merits its own Hollywood (or is it Nollywood?) biopic. Born in Burkina Faso, schooled in France and US, Lebanese father and French mother; living in Nigeria for many decades, Sarah has truly bloomed where she was planted. Vibrant, passionate and a muse, Sarah’s life has been one of great highs and horrible lows, heady peaks and shattering troughs, filled with sublime moments and truly ridiculous phases. And still she rises. In this episode, we discuss: Between Chat GPT and Google’s Bard, Sarah tells a joke, or rather, finds a joke and tells it sweetly. This episode will give you a whole new respect for that delicate high wire oxymoronic space between supreme confidence and touching humility. Yes, the future is conditional. Links Mentioned: Clint White - Tattoos, not Brands T Y Bello - The Morning Songbook Chevalier - the movie. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitvah - the movie Sponsored by https://www.bananaislandschool.com/ Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

Blessing Adesiyan established WorkLife Africa, a think-tank focussed on transforming the continent's workforce and work spaces. She has made quite a journey from tech to care, not the first pivot that springs to mind but as the mistress of making lemonade from lemons, she now sits comfortably in her own skin. In this episode, we discuss: Blessing tells a joke, actually a true story but an absolute cracker. This episode is a close up of a mega motivated person and one that just might get you lifting weights. Links Mentioned: Peter Attia - Outlive Asake - Work of Art Adekunle Gold - Ogaranya Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

Ugoma Ebilah is a polymath - she has been an economist, successful financier, clothes designer, art dealer and now, one word which might just work when trying to box the unboxable would be 'creative entrepreneur'. In this episode, we discuss: Ugoma's joke is smutty, graphic, laugh out loud but, thankfully, coded - you have been warned! This episode is a mega eavesdrop - it will get you turning up the volume. Links Mentioned: I. E. Echeruo - Expert in all Styles Nina Simone - Ain't got no/I got life Davido - Feel Warning by Jenny Joseph Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living Banana Island Living's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/yIS0FwNp1I8

Only the paranoid survive! Only the paranoid survive? Yes! Tokunboh George - Taylor lives by that mantra and she really should know. She is THE foremost PR strategist in Nigeria and founding Managing Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Nigeria. Served her and her clients well (very well) and in this episode, we discuss: And Snoop Dog!! Nope, that's one we definitely didn't see coming! Sponsored by Banana Island School Check out: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living

Uzo Nzeogu, a talented artist who studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with greats like Bruce Onobrakpeya and El Anatsui seemed all set to claim his place as a fine artist. But then, he did the maths, ditched paint and chose pragmatism. Pragmatism led him to Newswatch, to Dele Giwa, to Ray Ekpu, to Dan Agbese and to 'the happiest time of my life'. The newsroom rush, the boardroom manoeuvring, the tragic, shocking murder of Dele Giwa, Uzo was in the thick of it. In this episode, we discuss: And choosing to ditch the Nigeria project.... and here we agree to disagree. Nope, no jokes in this episode but Uzo admits to listening to BIL podcast. What a gent! Sponsored by Banana Island School Check out: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living

Helen took a short trip away from university and came back as Miss Nigeria 1979! Sharp, shrewd and always impeccably turned out, Helen Prest Ajayi neatly turned the beauty currency into entrepreneurship, into businesses way ahead of the times. In this episode, we discuss: And Helen tells a joke - a good, groan-inducing joke. This episode will have you upping your glam game and then start spotting trends. Sponsored by Banana Island School Check out: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living

Eku Edewor is many things but one thing she definitely is not is a slacker. Not just a pretty face (and what a pretty face), she believes in grafting and earning her flowers. In this episode, we discuss: Eku is versatile and her funny ha ha joke shows just how versatile. This episode will have you surfing the net - to catch one more glimpse. Links Mentioned: 53 Extra Castle & Castle Britain's Next Top Model Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living

A lion in the den who has made his mark on the property landscape. Paul Onwuanibe is group chief executive officer of Landmark Africa Group. With formal education in Architecture, Property Development and Construction Management, together with a London Business School MBA with a merit in “Value Engineering” Paul is one of the renowned lions on the Nigerian business reality show "Lion's Den" and in this episode, we discuss: Paul tells jokes too. Self deprecating and good news ones. This lion is a nice and warm tabby. A thoroughly nice one. Check out: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

For years, Dr. Ayo Aderinwale lived and breathed African political science. He has been in exile fleeing Abacha's regime, been a key figure in the plans and preparations for the United States of Africa, been Deputy President, Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, established and became executive director of the African Leadership Forum... and then on a flight from Addis, after a particularly frustrating episode, he had his damascene moment. He was done! Bye bye political science. Hello private sector. And boy has he made his mark! Now with 19 stores in South West Nigeria, Dr. Aderinwale is chairman and owner (along with his wife) of Justrite chain of stores. With turnover in billions of Naira, he brings his formidable intellect to retail and the landscape changed for ever. In this episode, we discuss: And Ayo does jokes, tells a great one and we share a cracking one from one of our regular listeners. This episode will get you doubling your hustle (and saving the jokes for Christmas lunch). Check out: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

Old Gregorian, avid Banana Island Living listener and serial entrepreneur, Adeyemo Sodipo, has embedded himself in the community he migrated into - St. Louis, Missouri. He has set up businesses, serves as a trustee of that most WASP of WASP American institutions, the private Prep school, been a union employer and sits on the board of his local Crime Victim Advocacy Centre. Adeyemo represents that most conflicted of individuals - the diaspora Nigerian. In this episode we discuss: QI!

Continuing our series unveiling the experiences and memories of the generation before ours, how they lived, loved and explored, our guest is none other than The Original Original, the legend in her own lifetime, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye. An absolute one-off in the art and craft space and an all-round wonderful personality, Mama Nike shares incredible awe-inspiring stories spanning six decades. In this episode, we discuss: This is one heck of a life journey. Absolutely riveting! Nike Art Gallery on Instagram Visit Nike Art Foundation Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter See More of Banana Island Living Available on all audio listening platforms.

The fourth in our series of conversations with people 75 years and over, our conversation with the musical octogenarian is one that uplifts and serenades. We speak with Edna Jane Deinyo Soyanwo (EJD). Born on Sunday January 7th, 1934, EJD holds a BA (Dunelm) degree, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of London, Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) and a Masters in Education from the University of North Wales (Bangor). She has had a long successful teaching career in the UK, Ghana and Nigeria. In this episode, we talk about: Love in G minuet.Blooming where you are planted.Living in the Empire, loving the Queen and KC3Netflix's The Crown.'Ghana Must Go' with nuance (history really does need context).Life as a foreigner during the Nigerian civil war.SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) - an ode or a dirge?The power of relationships, friendships and warmth.And yesLove ALWAYS wins.This episode absolutely exudes positivity and joy. A truly joyful rom-com. Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

The third in our series of conversations with people 75 years and over, our conversation with the royal professor could not have come at a better time - a week after Queen Elizabeth's passing. We speak with Emeritus Professor Osato Frank Giwa-Osagie, Cambridge educated obstetrician-gynaecologist and educator. Professor Giwa-Osagie is a recipient of the Adrian Stokes Memorial award from Guys Hospital Medical School, London, 1975, Chevalier du Lion, Republic of Senegal, Dakar, and a truly worthy person to walk us through the story of medical practice in Nigeria - the peaks, the troughs, and the bits in between. In this episode, we talk about: The bucket list.The old school tie (if you know you know).The real (Benin people's version) story of the sacking of the Benin Kingdom.The King (Charles) and IWhat Princess Diana saidBeing controversial and hanging the consequences - it's the age privilege thing.and then - the joke - the medical (ever so slightly smutty) joke. This episode will get you hitting the clubs - if it works so well for Prof..... Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

The second in our series of conversations with people 75 years and over, this episode is a truly special one. We meet two Agbaje sisters (82 and 91 years old) who have lived their best lives and lived to tell the tale. Mrs. Moulin Ashake Agbaje - Anozie and Ms. Wule Agbaje (the Agbajes) are special, and boy, do let us know it! In this episode, we talk about: life as children of a millionaire in pre-independence Nigeriapolygamy and family lifela dolce vita in 50s EnglandCliff Richard (of all things)the Nigerian civil warcounting your blessingsabove everything else, the Agbaje Oriki (poignant, deep, rich, incredibly moving)and then, the joke - the side-splitting joke. This one requires Google Translate but absolutely worth the effort. A moving, wistful tribute to an incredible generation. Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

Hers was the generation that saw the best of times and, arguably, the worst of times. The heady, optimistic pre Nigerian independence days and then, the abyss of the Civil War. Mrs. Eugenia Arinola Afolabi has seen it all, done it all and wears the robes with a twinkle in her eye. In this episode we discuss: and, ah - that special, special thing close to the heart of every Yoruba person - her 'Oriki' (Google is the friend you need for this:) This really is one for the history books. Check out: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

The big C, the dreaded C, that soul destroying word we do everything possible (or at least try) to avoid. Yes, Cancer! In seeking to find some cause for optimism, no matter how faint, we speak to Moji Animashaun, an experienced cancer treatment professional with over 30 years' experience as a radiation therapist. Moji retired as a Deputy Director in the Oncology unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in 2018 after practising in 5 different hospitals on 3 different continents. She has also spent several years teaching and constructing radiation therapy curricula in both the United States and Nigeria. In 2013, Moji founded St. Cyril Cancer Treatment Foundation, an organization whose mission is to provide quality cancer treatment to Africans, starting in Nigeria. We discuss: This episode will get you thinking, and evaluating. Enjoy! Links: Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

Sade Doherty works hard - at being a business lawyer, family court assessor, school governor, Musical Society of Nigeria trustee, Centre for Contemporary Arts trustee, and at that most social of High Church communities, The Pink Ladies of the Cathedral Church of Christ. In this episode, we talk about: wearing many hats being 'se kari' or in English - strategichard workObamaNigerian politics todayand groan, the joke - never smutty but not clean either. A light, soufflé of an episode. You'll love it. See Sade Doherty on LinkedIn: FOLASADE DOHERTY | LinkedIn Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

'The diet starts tomorrow!' Yeah, sure. We've all been there, said that, got the oversized tee shirt. Olamide Balogun, the 'awakening lifestyles' guru and certified wellness coach, puts us through our paces and tells us a few home truths about those healthy choices. We discuss: Check out Olamide Balogun on Instagram: @awakenlifestyles Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living

Children have a voice, they should be encouraged to use it and people should be encouraged to listen (with apologies to the Duchess of Sussex). Tsemaye, Kwezi, Alicia and Tom from Nigeria, South Africa, France and the United Kingdom share their thoughts. We talk about: A totally charming International Children's Day episode. Will make your week. Tsemaye, Kwezi, Alicia and Tom are all students at Banana Island School. Check out Banana Island School's website: www.bananaislandschool.com Banana Island Living’s Instagram Banana Island Living's Twitter Sponsored by Banana Island School See More of Banana Island Living