Explore every episode of the podcast Toya Talks Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for Toya Talks Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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What Does Justice Look Like When History Still Bleeds?
A superstar stopped a show to eject a sleepy fan, and the crowd divided. We look past the memes to the real duty of care at live events, the difference between standards and humiliation, and why humility travels further than hype. That contrast sets the stage for a wider theme: how power is used in public, at work and in culture.
From Lupita Nyong’o’s choice to refuse typecasting to the labels black women still face in offices, we unpack how stereotypes take root and how to push back with clarity, documentation and policy. I share a candid story about dealing with a disruptive senior, why governance protects your career, and how to use relationship capital without losing your peace. We also dig into Spotify’s unwavering approach to flexible work, separating outcomes from optics and treating adults like adults.
Creativity gets its own spotlight as I introduce Sister Scribble, a 90s-inspired premium stationery brand built for people who still believe in pen, paper and ideas with weight. We talk about what real support looks like, why community matters more than clout, and how to keep building when the hours are long and the room is loud. A listener dilemma on postpartum psychosis at work brings practical steps on occupational health, boundaries and dignity.
A look at Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction through the lens of the Biafra War 2 years, 6 months and 9 days that still shape Igbo memory and justice today. We close with history that still breathes: a clear, grounded primer on Biafra, Igbo identity and Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction. Beyond the legal language sit questions about self-determination, state power and what justice means when memory is raw. If you’re here for honest talk, useful frameworks and stories with heart, you’re in the right place.
If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your support keeps these conversations alive.
Ready to name the fear behind a big career leap? We start with the uncomfortable truth: stepping into leadership is hard when you’ve rarely seen anyone who looks like you survive and thrive there. That honesty opens a wide-angle look at credibility, negotiation, and why “director” should be a strategic choice, not a trap. You’ll hear practical pay tactics, a clear-eyed read on gender politics, and a call to claim the audacity usually reserved for the loudest voices in the room while anchoring everything in real delivery.
We pivot into brand strategy with a surgical breakdown of Fenty Beauty, LVMH, and the “core asset test.” What happens when a revolutionary launch becomes industry standard and the parent company cares most about Sephora and Dior? The answer matters to every founder: positioning must live beyond a single hook, and product lines should pass the test of whether they strengthen your core. Still, Rihanna’s two-billion-dollar empire stands as a masterclass in ownership, reminding us that downside cycles don’t erase value when you build for longevity.
Authenticity in entrepreneurship gets a frank treatment access, capital, and networks change the starting line. We separate story from spin so creators can plan with clarity. Then we look outward: a UN spotlight on persecution in Nigeria, the Sahel’s power realignment, and why humanitarian language can mask resource strategy. Closer to home, we press on London’s EV congestion charge and how shifting justifications erode policy trust. Finally, we talk about the UK’s curriculum overhaul AI literacy, oracy, and media scepticism to prepare young people for a world where synthesis beats rote learning. And yes, we celebrate the launch of Sister Scribble, a premium stationery brand designed to bring back tactile creativity and intention.
If this conversation pushes you to ask better questions about your next move career, company, or community hit follow, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your audacity might be someone else’s blueprint.
Ever notice how Black women are expected to win quietly? In this powerful return episode, I dive into the recent tennis court confrontation between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko that perfectly captures what many of us experience daily – being told we're "low class" or "uneducated" when we succeed, then being praised for our composure when we don't react to blatant disrespect.
The tennis incident serves as a mirror to workplace dynamics where Black women face impossible standards. We're expected to take on additional responsibilities without complaint or compensation, to dim our light when it shines too brightly, and to apologise for achievements that would be celebrated in others. I share personal experiences of being shamed for displaying success or enjoying luxury items – what I now recognise as the systematic policing of Black joy, a pattern so pervasive it deserves to be studied as a psychological phenomenon.
I'm thrilled to announce my new venture, Sister Scribble – a stationery brand celebrating Black creativity through vibrant, 90s hip-hop inspired designs. After finding conventional stationery boring and disconnected from my experience, I've created a line that honors our voices and cultural heritage while providing tools for creative expression. The Origin Edit launches in October 2025, coinciding with UK Black History Month.
The episode also tackles current events including immigration policies, the weaponisation of national symbols, and how Christianity is sometimes used to create hierarchies among women based on marital status. I close with strategic advice for a listener facing the all-too-common dilemma of being asked to take on senior responsibilities without appropriate recognition or compensation.
Ready to stop apologising for your success? Listen now, and remember: you are not here to be manageable. Your wins are only threatening to fragile egos – to the rest of us, they're testimony.
In this episode, I discuss the business of having a business and balancing a 9 to 5 and balancing this with your passion, and then understanding how to protect your business and intellectual property.
I can also announce our collaboration in creating stationery. Two Black Women coming together in business to discuss the inspiration behind the collection working together and respecting each other's creativity.
This episode includes: x2 Dilemmas.
Note: The Black Women Are Winners collection drops Saturday 18th December 2021 Midday (UK Time). www.toyatalks.com www.dreamsandpurpose.com
In this episode, we discuss the recent treatment of Lani Good as she is policed and judged on her reaction to the situation with Tion Wayne. I also discuss Prince Williams's caucasity with regards to his outrageous claims about the growing populations in Africa.
I recently watched 'King Richard' played by Will Smith charting the life (although partially) of the father of Venus and Serena Williams. The power of manifesting greatness and the determination and conviction and fearlessness required to walk the path of success. Mr Richard Williams had a plan, although the path to greatness was not clear he found a lane for his daughters and ensured they dominated, he produced world-class Black female tennis legends from Compton.
Email me: hello@toyatalks.com
Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalks)
Snapchat: @toyawashington
Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks
YouTube: At Home With Toya https://www.youtube.com/c/AtHomeWithToya
Identity is what allows us to have a fundamental understanding of who we are. Race is part of that identity, what isn't discussed enough is misidentifying and then the long-term effects that flow from this.
Love & Hip Hop Miami Season 4 Episode 10 & Episode 11 - The discussion of race is polarised when Shelah (who is Black passing identifies as Black but is mixed race) has a yearly Curly Curvey Conscious Retreat - creating healthy spaces for Black Women. The issue arises when she is questioned as to why her retreat is not inclusive of non-Black Women. I unpack this and further discuss the issue of identity and why Black Women are regularly questioned for creating spaces for Black Women. This being said there is a responsibility for Black Men to educate the non-Black Women they choose to create and/ or build a home with, that having children with Black Men does not mean they are raising Black Children, only Black Women Can Give Birth to Black Children. - Let's discuss.
The irony here is people would debate with me and be unable to understand how being on one of the biggest reality shows, hosting shows, and public speaking that I couldn't suffer from social anxiety. There is also the assumption that if you are bold, confident, and direct this then precludes you from being socially anxious.
Social anxiety includes having an overwhelming fear of social situations like meeting or speaking to people. One of the biggest issues is the perception. that someone who experiences social anxiety is rude when in fact it is often difficult to explain and in fact, what is being mistaken for rudeness is someone merely 'reacting to their symptoms.
In this episode, we also discuss social anxiety in the workplace and how it manifests within different parts of our lives. - Let's discuss.
In the workplace how many of you feel comfortable saying NO. Do you know how to say no when your workload is too much to take on additional work and responsibilities? We have been conditioned to think saying no is obstructive, rude, and not collaborative, this is toxic.
In this episode, we will be discussing how to push back and in turn, set boundaries and manage people's expectations, removing the myth that YES leads to visibility and recognition. I also share my recent experience of saying NO at work and how I used the workplace lingo to make clear that I cannot and will not break my back to take on additional work that then benefits others to my own detriment.
PS White privilege made an appearance last week attempting to call me a name that doesn't below to me. Everyday labour, not everyday violence
We also answer a dilemma regarding hybrid working and a company attempting to force a fellow Black Queen into allowing them to amend her employment contract to align to her colleagues who are hybrid workers. She is in fact a remote worker. - Let's discuss
We cannot talk about the world of work in isolation without discussing other aspects of our lives. We do not live to work we work to live.
In this episode we talk about losing our identity in relationships and forgetting we stand as individuals first. Also, I cannot discuss the loss of identity and not touch on certain relationships that could have completely changed the trajectory of our lives. Dating someone and in some cases not knowing they have engaged in criminal activity. What is clear is that there are not enough conversations on this topic and every now and then here on the Toya Talks podcast we speak on these topics to allow us to have a holistic view of the life that we live. No ones life or decision is perfect in fact, we all are guilty of making questionable decisions. Lets discuss further
I always talk about doing things with a clean heart and clean hands. For Ronald McDonald (Ep 77 'Closet Racist) and Matt Hancock karma has come at them fast. Yes..... The United Nations of Karma.
In this episode, I also discuss Jeanie from The Real who announced she is pregnant with her first child with Jeezy (her second husband). She was previously married and very vocal about not wanting to have children. Fast forward she recently released a youtube video about changing her mind having worked through her trauma and realising she was then open to parenthood. But there is also something to be said about wanting t to have a child with the right person. We don't always talk about that and in this episode, we unpack that.
Negotiation is a topic that I am passionate about because once I understood my value and the concept of leverage, I have been able to negotiate favorable contract terms including financial negotiations that have enabled me to navigate my career and climb the career ladder faster. I have also dedicated a chapter in my book to negotiation. (Book coming soon....)
In this episode, we discuss a Black Queen who commenced negotiating her hourly rate but hit a roadblock when her prospective employer gave her a take it or leave it to offer. Her application of what she learned from the Toya Talks master class was wrong. - let's discuss!
*For those of you who want to also follow me on my YouTube channel, I will be vlogging. Vlogs from November uploaded every Sunday. ‘At Home With Toya’. https://youtube.com/c/AtHomeWithToya
The pendulum swings wildly from political upheaval to celebrity downfalls in this packed episode examining how power, race, and identity shape our experiences in an increasingly chaotic world.
Jeremy Corbyn's dramatic political resurrection with his new "Your Party" has sparked hope for those disillusioned with mainstream UK politics, gaining 200,000 members overnight and highlighting the desperate need for genuine representation. Meanwhile, the shocking ethnicity pay gap statistics revealed by Dawn Butler MP (23.8% less for minorities in London) expose the hollow promises of workplace equality without accountability.
The stark contrast between Rachel Reeves' tearful parliamentary moment and Diane Abbott's relentless scrutiny perfectly illustrates the unspoken rules of emotional expression for Black women in public life. We're permitted no vulnerability, no softness – a reality that extends from Parliament to corporate boardrooms, where "jokes" at our expense are weapons disguised as humor.
Sean Combs conviction serves as a sobering reminder of how power corrupts and silences victims, while Marcus Fakana's imprisonment in Dubai shows how quickly young Black lives can be destroyed when race, culture, and vindictiveness collide. These stories aren't isolated incidents but threads in the same tapestry of inequality.
The episode concludes by examining how even financial success comes with hidden penalties through the "HENRY" phenomenon – where high earners face diminishing returns through aggressive taxation without corresponding benefits. It all points to a system designed to maintain imbalance rather than create true opportunity.
This is the taboo topic that has you thinking this is a you problem rather than appreciating that some of us do have mummy issues, we are shamed into silence and told we are the problem. I have lightly touched on this in previous episodes but haven't had the capacity to dedicate an episode to this topic. I had to speak to my therapist in advance of recording this, it is one thing speaking to my therapist and another recording a podcast but it's time and I know there are women who need to hear this. We are navigating life & work
In this episode, I discuss how mummy issues have dominated my life from how I saw myself to having to unlearn toxic behaviors and learn to recognise and address the flawed mother and daughter relationship society doesn't discuss enough. Culture and religion tell us our mother can do no wrong, recognising this thinking is wrong and toxic in itself.
Not everyone has had or experienced the idyllic mother and daughter relationship. Many of us do not know what that feels like and some of us continue to crave some of us knowing accepting that this may not happen. I have been very honest with my journey with therapy in parenting the younger me. As I now sit in and navigate adulthood I am filled with disappointment that I was not enough and that I haven't had the mother daughter relationship my younger self craved and my adult self needed.
Many think racism is overt and clear discriminatory language, it's easier to prove if racism is overt. However, we know it also exists in disadvantageous treatment. The UK is the architect of racism and is responsible for the evolution and protection of racism.
Many organisations refuse to stand behind their race discrimination and equality policies but would rather maintain the facade of performative support. Leading on from Episode 75 (Season 2) 'No Caller ID', I submitted a formal written grievance complaint against Ronald McDonald on the following grounds
Race Discrimination
Sex Discrimination
Harassment
Bullying
Victimisation
Bullying by coercion.
I made sure to cc Ronald.
In this episode, I read you the grievance complaint and explain the route I took and how HR sought to gaslight me. Despite the clear evidence, I had to ensure HR understood I was willing to go as far as I needed to address my treatment.
In this dilemma episode, we will be discussing x2 dilemmas.
How to inform your employer that you are unwell and unable to work and in the case of the first dilemma unwell having caught covid.
I use to have the mentality that I will work through my sickness to hold onto my job too afraid to call in sick to protect my job. But I soon realised if I dropped dead tomorrow my role will be advertised within 24 hours.
In this global pandemic, it appears organisations are finding new ways to harass employees reporting sickness due to covid.
The suffering of Black Women is not the anthem of our existence. The last two weeks have been a lot and honestly, I recognise that whilst my current workplace is the gift that keeps on giving the gift is heavy.
When we discuss workplace bullying we have a common understanding of the definition of bullying but do you realise that some of these racist white males we work with discriminate and harass and use bullying to further their pursuit of harassing you with the sole objective of breaking you. WHY? Because for them seeing a Woman and a what more a Black Woman in a senior position or Black Women excelling and doing well infuriates them to see us breaking their racist stereotypes and the ceiling of minimum wage.
When we are plagued with the definition of strong Black Women we feel as though if we say something it makes us weak. No, we are tired of being punching bags for racist white men and women who get off on reminding Black Women that they own and control the structures we work in.
There has been a shift in society we are calling out racism we are shaming the devil and we are tired.
The last 2 weeks I have been bullied at work and the harassment and bullying have been all via email. No conversation voice or video exchanges just an email trail and if you know anything about me I have been building the burn folder keeping everything professional not taking the bait... then the ancestors showed up to defend their own. Ronald decided he wanted to die on the hill so we are going to war with my burn folder and email trail in tow.
It is not often that we discuss white MALE fragility. 'Kevin' like his 'Karen' counterpart operates in the same way but as many of our work constructs are white male-dominated their white fragility takes the form of aggression that seeks to dehumanise Black Women in a way that is both dangerous and harmful. In this episode, I discuss 'Kevin' and his labelling of me...., he called me a 'hound'.
I have as many can relate, struggled with centering myself. This has often resulted in not celebrating my wins and then becoming uncomfortable in centering myself. We are never taught to recognise and celebrate our wins because we are preoccupied with the wounds we have endured on the journey.
'Why do white women always 'remind' Nick Minaj how nice & supportive they've been toward her. It's a white privilege power play. They expect her to be grateful & retaliate when she doesn't show the difference they expect. She has every right to check this behavior when it surfaces.' Tweeted by @craigspoplife
Let's discuss and break down what happened last week with Jessie J, it's time we discussed the need to remind us of your 'support' as a weapon to remind us how we got here or where we came from.
P.S some of your allies are not allying, but instead using their one-time invite to the cookout as a license to keep coming back eating all the food, and telling all our business.
Often the fear of standing up, speaking up, and challenging unfair treatment at work is layered in fear, fear of losing our jobs. The reality is very real that often a consequence of challenging poor behaviour and treatment leaves us vulnerable often with a target on our back to be managed out, sacked or made to feel so uncomfortable that you choose to leave.
I will never pretend that speaking up doesn't come with risks but what is the alternative? Remaining silent and accepting oppression, bullying discrimination etc OR be strategic in how you speak up. I will always champion advocating for yourself and understanding how to do so safely.
Whenever a Black Woman challenges racist structures we make ourselves a target but I put it to you that from the point we enter organisations we are targets and as we acquire experience, learn and grow we then become a moving target. Recently I opted not to speak up simply because I didn't want to deal with the aggro, I am tired. I didn't want to expend energy in having to deal with someone who has been attempting to bully me through violent passive-aggressive emails. For a few weeks, I regressed back to how my parents had demonstrated I should be in the workplace. My pursuit for peace made me complicit. Silence is often deemed as acceptance of poor behaviour and then we become complicit through our silence we accept poor behaviour that is rooted in racism, stereotype and prejudice.
We spend a lot of time unlearning harmful things we have been taught and raised to believe, I have spent time and years unlearning, but there is no peace in keeping silent and hoping for the best, sometimes situations will call you to advocate for yourself and in doing so you centre yourself in the pursuit of peace.
My burn folder stays ready and last week I had to advocate for myself and I did so strategically knowing that whilst I may be making myself a moving target the reality is my burn folder houses a catalogue of evidence demonstrating patterns of behaviour from those who continue to use privilege in an attempt to oppress, control and bully purely because I am a woman.... a Black Woman.
How many of us are comfortable admitting mistakes at work? - There is a grace we need to afford ourselves in understanding mistakes doesn't make us any less capable nor does it erode our ability to do our jobs. When we pursue perfection we do not give ourselves the grace to make mistakes and learn from them. We know we are constantly judged and under the microscope, this pressure in itself can cause many of us to dehumanise ourselves.
In this episode, I share with you the mistakes I made in my current role and how I dealt with them. I also share with you Sindys mistakes during the course of her employment, yes I speak about Sindy in the past tense because she has left and has done so shrouded in judgement and disappointment because she built herself up and has fallen flat on her face. Let's get into the episode!
We live in a society that's quick to label inequality as "the way things are" rather than confronting the systemic barriers that keep certain communities locked in cycles of disadvantage. The recent UK High Court ruling that 20% VAT on private school fees is lawful isn't just about taxation – it's about working-class families making extraordinary sacrifices because they've been failed by an educational system that desperately needs complete overhaul, not just additional financial barriers.
This episode dives into how discrimination manifests across different spheres – from education to professional sports to everyday workplace interactions. When I was commanded to "smile" during a meeting, it wasn't an innocent request. It was a loaded directive rooted in racial and gender expectations that police Black women's expressions and demeanor. Similarly, when tennis star Aryna Sabalenka downplayed Coco Gauff's major wins, or when the Grammys suddenly split the Best Country Album category after Beyoncé's success, we're witnessing the same underlying problem: reluctance to celebrate Black excellence on its own terms.
Perhaps most personally revealing is our exploration of friendship in midlife – what I call the "friendship renaissance." After years of giving too much to those who offered little in return, I've learned the value of having just two genuine friends rather than numerous superficial connections. True friendship requires a collective understanding of honesty, loyalty and love that many simply don't share. As we age, we become more intentional about who deserves access to our lives, recognizing that it's better to embrace solitude than accept relationships built on imbalance. What friendships are you nurturing or releasing as you evolve? How are you defining what connection means on your own terms?
When I was rock bottom I looked to the church to save me, I was lost confused, unemployed, and without a clear understanding of self and purpose, the church let me down. Monday to Friday I was suffering at work unclear of where I fitted in struck with grief and unable to navigate properly because then, the workings of the workplace were still a struggle for me. I looked to the church for my salvation and soon realised that the Church was not the Key to my salvation and i had to learn this lesson the hard way.
Honestly, today was a day I was so appreciative to be able to consider myself a remote worker. Many of us did not have the capacity to walk on eggshells during England's 7 days of mourning losing the UEFA Euro. However, it did stop Malcolm and Sindy's macro and microaggression campaign to me on Friday before and Monday after.
'Black people in the workplace may not have thousands of hooligans hurling racist abuse towards them on social media, but there is a certain level of empathy that exists because we know what it feels like to have excellent work ignored and any failings highlighted as an indication of your ability and value.' - By @sixsafespace
'One of the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who you are, what you believe in and where you want to go' - By Sheila Murray Bethel
In developing our identities we are shaped by our upbringing (nature & nurture), culture, and dare I say it society. Many of us Black Women have experienced being questioned at work about the characteristics that make up our identity For Example quietness is mistaken for rudeness, Passion taken as aggression, and then the expectation that we should be a certain way that babysits the fragility of our colleagues/co-workers.
Recently I was sent a Tik-Tok video of a Black Queen discussing her manager informing her that despite her colleagues' efforts he feels she does not like him because she never speaks to him and he has tried everything possible for her to like him. Baring in mind if he speaks to her she responds, she greets him when he greets her. - I was asked for my view, given this episode explores Identity Politics it seems fitting that we then discuss this further within this episode.
Whilst we are discussing identity we cannot ignore Iggy Azaleas' recent Black fishing which seeks to mock our Black identity, reducing our Black Identity to a costume.
The irony of the government questioning privacy and launching an investigation into the recent exposé by The Sun newspaper exposing the extra-marital affair of UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock (he has since resigned).
In this episode, I share my views on Matt Hancock's extra circular activities and breaking covid rules. It cannot be overlooked that the current government thinks that the rules they have imposed on us do not apply to them, much like many employers and organisations who think the rules and organisational policies are reserved only for employees.
I also share the email violence I experienced last week Tuesday at 10 am. Imagine logging onto your computer ready to start your day and without announcement, introduction, or preparation those who seek to oppress us use their power in an attempt to embarrass and humiliate us. Yes, Sandeep from our BAME melting pot showed up wielding his bs, little did he know I am Fully Protected Against the BS.
We are all UNDER-CONSTRUCTION learning and growing through and from our experiences. As we build and grow in character we cannot overlook how we have all been conditioned as Black Women often allowing the constructs of the workplace to use fear to oppress us. As we break through the fear and find our voices our fellow Black sister found her voice following her dilemma on last week's episode 'DILEMMA: Toya Talks I need your help. Less than 6 months after my performance review, my role has been advertised.' - She took the draft marked-up grievance complaint and showed up for herself....
Returning from a 1-week break we have x4 dilemmas that need to be discussed.
In this is a dilemma episode please get a drink, grab a notepad and a chair, our fellow black sisters have written in for advice, and in this episode, we address their work-related dilemmas.
In this episode, we discuss how to use your Burn Folder. Last week Dominic Cummings answering questions in front of a Select committee voluntarily became a whistleblower. He answered every question and sprinkled some of the contents of his burn folder. In doing so he set the tone of single-handedly detailing the inner workings of a sitting government and the mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cumminings understood how to navigate to avoid being the future scapegoat for a possible future inquiry into the handling of the covid pandemic. A former government strategist and chief to staff challenging the decision-making that has cost thousands of lives. In this episode, we discuss his character, credibility, and how he built and used his burn folder in covering himself against his former employer Boris Johnson the current Prime Minister of the UK.
In this episode, we discuss Colin Kaepernick a mixed-race/bi-racial man. He decided to commission, approve, and agreed to put a Black Woman on the front cover of his book in the manner that he did to center us Black Women as a sacrifice on the frontline of his cause. It is violent, dangerous, and irresponsible. Black Women are not human shields.
We also unpack how we cape in the workplace and often find ourselves advocating and allowing our voices to be amplified and used as the face for causes that do not benefit or impact us to create positive change for Black Women.
Society will have you believe you are running out of time. Society will tell you, you are not good enough. Society will attempt to judge you and still use your age as a weapon to control you.
My Black Sisters, grab your helmets of salvation because it's time we speak candidly and honestly about how we navigate dating. Dear Black Women heterosexual, Gay, and Non-Binary in teaching, guiding, and advising you how to navigate work .... and life we need to use some of those transferable skills, tools, and learnings in the dating scene. Kevin Samuels is going up and down telling us about these so-called 'high-value men' meanwhile Mr Samuels is not speaking from the pulpit of high value.
Many of us hide behind our careers to avoid confronting the often uncomfortable topic of dating primarily because some of us do not know how to date and in turn end up with men/women we are not evenly yoked with. I always advise and encourage you to approach your careers as a project with clear objectives and a strategy. Dating is a project too, so le et's talk strategy!
The technological revolution isn't coming—it's already here, dismantling traditional business models and reshaping our economic landscape before our eyes. McKinsey's recent firing of 10% of its workforce, openly blaming AI disruption, signals a profound shift that extends far beyond consultancies.
This episode dives deep into how artificial intelligence is fundamentally altering employment prospects across all sectors. Bill Gates predicts 80% of job losses within a decade, making it essential to understand how these changes will affect your career trajectory—regardless of your industry or position. We explore practical ways to position yourself ahead of this technological wave rather than being swept away by it.
The racial dimension of technological change cannot be ignored, as evidenced by Google's $50 million settlement for bias claims and a shocking LinkedIn experiment where a Black woman changed her profile picture to that of a white woman named "Emily"—immediately receiving interview opportunities previously denied to her. These revelations expose the systemic biases being encoded into the very algorithms meant to streamline hiring processes.
For working parents, particularly mothers, the post-pandemic push to return to office-based work adds yet another layer of complexity in an already challenging economic environment. The dismantling of flexible working arrangements disproportionately impacts women who often serve as primary caregivers, forcing many skilled professionals out of the workforce entirely.
From HMRC's plans to tax interest on savings accounts to the European pharmacy advantages discovered during a Paris trip, this episode offers practical insights for navigating financial challenges in what increasingly feels like a financial police state. The conversation wraps with a comprehensive update on the Diddy trial, examining the testimony and implications of this high-profile case.
Understand the forces reshaping our economic reality and equip yourself with the knowledge to thrive rather than merely survive in this rapidly evolving landscape.
I discuss the new online series 'Blue Therapy'. We work so hard and often use work as an avoidance mechanism to avoid dating. As we navigating the world of work we are navigating life this includes relationships.
In this episode, I discuss the themes in Blue Therapy. We work so hard and have to adapt how we navigate work to attain success but how do we navigate relationships and balance this with our working life?
Blue Therapy Youtube: Trendcentral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjZ_DAQDDYg
It is really important that we accept that although your boss may be crap or incompetent there is a reality ... you do not have to like your boss but you should respect their position. Why I hear you ask,....., well because ultimately someone placed your boss in the position they are in and once you understand this you will navigate accordingly.
My boss recently demonstrated her position via her influence and 'Gary' was on the receiving end. This episode demonstrates how bosses will use their influence to remind you who the boss is, especially when you show them that you do not respect their position, it is then left to your boss to remind you. Gary received a reminder that I doubt he will recover from any time soon.
Another episode to shake the tables and encourage you to explore your relationship with money. As we navigate the world of work and understand the need to position ourselves for success there is the financial aspect that we don't speak about enough because, money remains a taboo subject attached to this is often shame, confusion and a lack of financial education.
This is the first of a 3 part 'Financial Education' series. We navigate work for various reasons which include salary increases and/or promotions. There is the financial aspect to work and often we navigate solely to earn as much as we can, but what is your relationship like with money? Do you understand how to negotiate money and if you don't, why?
To kick start this conversation I will be financially naked and share with you the genesis of my relationship with money and how the world of work shaped my view on money.
Please note in Pt 3 I will discuss how I manage my money why and the sources of financial information I use.
*Please also familiarise yourself with the 'Poverty Mindset' Episode
*Thank you to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. This episode is sponsored by Podcorn https://www.podcorn.com
The irony of this episode title during Easter. I believe Judas was a white man, controversial? Not really. Judas seemingly a non-threat an allie ended up being a double agent. Every office has one and often more than one.
Let me introduce you to a recent Judas I encountered on Good Friday, however, because I know the historical backdrop of how white people operate I was not surprised, I stood my ground. This same man has been cool I've worked with him on various projects a seemingly healthy professional relationship until he called me on Microsoft Teams asking me if I know how to do my job, he began to shout and was so close to the computer screen he was virtually trying to enter my screen. The verbal violence and racial undertones alone, I had to hold myself as I stood my ground refusing to back down from the aggressive weaponisation of white privilege that Judas chose to use against me in an attempt to bully and oppress me. I cannot be bullied, I say that with my chest because in my early 20's I was bullied in the workplace because I was ignorant and unfamiliar with the strategy of operating and navigating white spaces. Judas got the right one on the wrong day.
I realised recently that the reason I have been positioned in my current workplace/contract is to help me finish my book. The content alone from working here is book-worthy. Yes I am writing a book and for those of you that have been expecting it, it will be worth the wait and yes there will be an audio version. The book is coming.....
The use of white fragility is violent because some white people use fragility as an oppressive tool to oppress Black People. White fragility is used to evoke sympathy and protection and villainise Black people. It is the assumption that white people need comfort and protection based on their weaponised and often violent fragility. We have seen Karen do this as part and of her womanhood. White Men's white fragility is their egos.
Last week I was part of several interview panels where white women weaponised their tears and fragility to navigate through their interviews. A white man sought to educate me in his white saviour cape about his experience as a white french man teaching in Congo. You couldn't make last week up it literally felt like I was being attacked by white fragility. I navigated through but ended last week exhausted.
In this episode, I unpack the violence of white fragility and its use within the workplace and in life and how we as Black Women need to strategically navigate through without pandering to the white fragility weaponised against us.
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Gary is the gift that keeps on giving... In this episode, we discuss the results of not aligning yourself correctly and the inevitable consequences of being used as a pawn within a workplace. Remember the episode 'Allegiances & Alliances' , consider this episode a continuation.
I am currently on several interview panels and the weaponisation of tears and white fragility within an interview setting is shamelessly shocking, I break this down within this episode to further demonstrate that as Black Women operating and navigating white spaces and oppressive constructs, being under-estimated is honestly our superpower because they never see us coming and when we do we are experienced and loaded with professionalism and strategy.
Every office has a Martyr and my office is no different only Cindy took her martyrism a step further and has now placed herself in a vulnerable position, her martyrism has been met with judgment. Her objective is to be the deputy director and she thought her martyrism would place her in that position, she calculated wrong and now 'Gary' is sullying her reputation. Cindy gave Gary the ammunition.
This is part 1 as there are degrees of martyrism Cindy is an extreme version, In Part 2 we will look at the other levels of martyrism that we have all been guilty of (me included) but I will provide you the tools to navigate through it because success in the world of the work is the objective.
We cannot have this episode and not touch on the Oprah, Meghan & Harry interview. Meghan asked Human Resources 'The Firm' for help and they said whilst they understand it would not look good. Racism, colorism, and discrimination are entrenched into the fabric of this society. What happened to Meghan is a classic case of, we will let you in but this is the condition in which you will exist.
'Diplomacy is the velvet glove that cloaks the fist of power. All diplomacy is a continuation of war by other means.' By Robin Hobb
Who remembers the Black queen who sent in dilemma to the Toya Talks Podcast, Episode 49 'Poverty Mindset' HR gave her a written warning for something and she applied for an internal promotion/secondment in another government department. When she told her boss, her boss did not saying anything only to find out that HR have blocked her from accepting the new role because of the formal written warning. - We have the follow up in this episode and it is epic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This episode is dedicated to my Black Sisters who are ready to commit to doing the work. What work? SELF-CONFIDENCE. Why is it when it's time to discuss money we become shy, awkward, and uncomfortable but we all find our voices when we realise we are being used and not being paid what we deserve. Some of us are being pursued by self-doubt and as a result, we undervalue ourselves and in turn underpaid and overworked without the financial benefits to show for it. Not negotiating your salary is a form of self-sabotage, through the Negotiation Masterclass on toyatalks.com and this episode we explore our limiting poverty mindset that limits our financial ability to EARN WHAT WE DESERVE. I arm you with the tools to realise your earning potential and NEGOTIATION the salary you deserve
No employer or business will pay you what you are worth (your skills and your ability are priceless), but you should be paid what you deserve.
Ever felt like you're navigating a world that wasn't built for your success? This deeply personal episode unravels the complex journey of achieving professional excellence while wrestling with life's most challenging transitions.
I'm celebrating passing an international certification with distinction – an achievement that came while balancing new motherhood, marriage, and career demands. This victory wasn't just academic; it represented overcoming postpartum depression, therapy struggles, and the persistent pressure to overachieve that many Black women know intimately. Your career can become a lifeline during periods of emotional displacement and loneliness, but there's danger in becoming defined solely by what you do professionally.
The conversation expands beyond personal experience to examine how systems consistently cap Black success – whether through UK taxation policies that punish achievement, workplace cultures that view Black women as threats rather than assets, or the persistent colonial mindset that extracts value without giving credit. Drawing powerful parallels between personal career liberation and the broader decolonisation movements happening across Africa under leaders like Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, we explore what true freedom looks like in both professional and global contexts.
Throughout this episode, we discuss navigating environments not designed for your advancement: understanding organisational politics, recognising your value as a subject matter expert, creating leverage through continuous learning, knowing when to walk away, and strategically planning career moves without revealing all your cards. Whether you're feeling stuck, undervalued or simply seeking a more strategic approach to your professional life, this conversation offers both practical guidance and the emotional validation that your experiences are real.
In this episode, I discuss setting remote worker boundaries. Our colleagues' generally struggle with boundaries in an office environment now we have moved to a remote world colleagues and organisations are using the 'switch on your camera' as a weapon of control. I discuss how to set and how I set boundaries whilst remote working. I also share a dilemma where an organisation presented one of our Black Queens with a 'Remote Working Policy' she tapped in aunty Toya for advice.
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Recorded: 08/02/2021 Black Women have been the backbone of the NHS, the NHS was built on the back and sweat of Black Women. Reading the statistics in the UK, Black Women are 5 times more likely to die during childbirth, the statistics are chilling. To explore this without using Black Women as the mouth-piece undermines the Black Woman experience and erases our experiences. It is beyond me and incomprehensible how a mixed-race woman - Rochelle Humes who is more palatable to her white audience having proximity to whiteness and access to private health care can ever explore, understand, narrate and deliver the experiences that Black Women have had at the hands of the health care system.
Medical racism has sought to negligent and mistreats Black Women ignoring that we also feel pain instead our very existence is filled with trauma and tales of the health care system placing no value on our lives. We are often made to feel that our very existence is intrinsic to pain. Why are all our experiences the same or similar..... because the health care system fails Black Women and we have the statistics and the experiences to prove it.
Candice Braithwaite has been advocating for Black Women raising awareness of the mistreatment of Black Women during childbirth. Candice has done the leg work she has invested knowledge and created awareness in the Black community. Instead of her telling her story and many of ours, it's Rochelle Humes a privileged bi-racial woman who represents a different statistic and has now centered herself in delivering a documentary about Black Women.
Rochelle Humes asked in a recent Instagram post announcing her role in delivering this documentary that she wants our opinion, so in this episode, I give her mine.
We all do it, damn some of us are doing it now. In this episode, I define code-switching and explain where I have code-stitched in the workplace. We will also explore the impact of code-switching and often the obstacles it creates. When is it ok to code-switch? What are the effects of code-switching? How can you code-switch to your advantage?
Code-switching - 'In essence, it's the language, mannerisms, and body language we use when in the company of peers from a different class and/or race.'
Please read: The Financial Diet - 'The Cost Of Code-Switching For Black Women In The Workplace' by Jazmine Reed-Clark published 20th April 2020.