ValidThoughts Podcast

Happy Easter everyone! My conversation with Kiyani was super refreshing. She reminded me of my little dreams that I had locked up at the back of my head. Kiyani is such a go getter and continues to create wherever she sees a gap. I really enjoy that about her. I hope you enjoy the conversation and also check out her community Tech Republic , where talents in the tech eco system come together regularly. I hope you enjoy the episode :)

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.

Hello everyone, I am struggling giving this podcast a title so if you come up with a better one that me then let me know please. I know I'm sneaking up on you all and quietly releasing an episode but possibly disappearing again after but please just manage this for now.

Like all the episodes on this podcast I really had a good time speaking to Dayo about studying Geology, living in Germany and then now life in Australia. I'm super proud of Dayo. He reminds me that I can absolutely do whatever I set my mind to by living his best life and putting in the work. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Until we see next time,

Bisous!

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!

Hello lovelies, I´m so excited to bring you guys Keren. Keren describes herself as an aesthete and I think that is so cool. You will have to listen to the episode to understand it fully :)

As always, I love my guests and I learn so much from our conversations. I learn a lot about them but I also learn new things about my environment and new areas of life.

Enjoy the conversation ;)

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 ;)

I first met Ayomidotun in 2016, shortly after I moved to Nigeria. Not long after, I met Oyinda—back when they had just started dating—and it’s been such a joy watching their journey unfold. I had the best time celebrating them at their wedding, and now, every time I’m in town, I love stopping by to see the triplets.

I’ve been wanting to hear them share their story—especially from Oyinda’s perspective. These two are raising the coolest set of triplets in Nigeria, and their love and partnership truly shine through.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording this episode.

Hello my people, I hope you’re all doing well. I finally got my friend Faruq on the pod today — and I’ve been wanting to make this happen for a while! I’m genuinely fascinated by the Ivorian-Yoruba community he comes from, and the fact that he’s also a filmmaker? Such a great combo, if you ask me.

We talk about what it’s like growing up in Côte d'Ivoire with Yoruba roots—and how those two cultures have shaped his identity. And somehow, we ended up chatting about dating and finding the right partner. I even got a little shy! I hope you enjoy hanging out with us in this episode.

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!

Hey ValidThoughts listeners, I hope you're doing well. Work has been quite busy, but I'm grateful that the podcast always reminds me to take a breather. We're back with a shorter episode this week, and I hope it offers you a little pause too.

Now, onto my guest – the first time I came across Mariette’s work was through La Nich. Then I finally met the artist behind the page, and I've been fascinated by her ever since. Mariette is calm and collected, and I really enjoyed getting a deeper glimpse into her life through our conversation.

As always, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed recording it. See you soon!

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! 😘

From the vibrant streets of Abidjan to the rich and diverse food culture of the U.S., Yasmine’s journey is a beautiful blend of adventure, identity, and passion.

In this episode, we dive into her story—growing up in Côte d’Ivoire, navigating life in a new country, and how her love for food inspired Afrofoodie, a platform celebrating African cuisine and culture.

Yasmine and I talk about comfort food, the restaurant scene in Abidjan and many other things. If you’ve ever found comfort in the flavors of home or wondered how food connects us across borders, this episode is for you.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording this conversation! 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 Valentine’s Day, and what better way to celebrate than with good friends, great conversation, and a little wine? 🍷 In this Galentine episode, I am joined by Apie, Elise and Sabine — we are four women with different stories but a shared love for real talk. From relationships and breakups to marriage and everything in between, we’re diving into it all with honesty and a lot of laughs.

So whether you’re spending the day with a partner, your best friends, or just a great glass of wine—this one’s for you.

Happy Valentine’s to all the lovers of love out there! ❤️

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.

We made it to another season finale!  

This time Abi and S sit down and talk about rejection, heartbreak, or the absence of, and their journeys with being vulnerable. 

Enjoy listening to this tea-filled episode, and thank you for sticking around once again for season 2. 

We will be back with season 3 soon.

The Zikoko Love Life article: https://www.zikoko.com/life/love-life/love-life-how-another-woman-almost-ruined-us/ 

Jerrie Rotimi and FK Abudu (LOVE): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIeGOwonxKt/?igshid=1u6bh1wup09c6

Valid Thoughts, hosted by S., is a bi-monthly podcast that initiates conversations on the realities of economic migrants in the West. It examines the experiences of these migrants whose destination countries speak a different language from their natal countries, and how it impacts their previous notions, norms, mores, and languages.