Thank God It's Toby Highlights

Bayley McKenzie is a rising pop artist known for his honest songwriting and soulful, expressive voice. Drawing inspiration from icons like Mariah Carey, Bayley blends personal stories with catchy melodies to create music that connects with people.He started young—at just 17, he wrote, recorded, and produced a song called Crazy entirely on his own. Although it wasn’t released right away, the track found new life when it was included in the rerelease of his debut album, earning over 4,500 streams. By 19, Bayley had fully self-produced that debut album himself, handling everything from the beats to the vocals to the final edits.Now, he’s back with his second album, Charming Doesn’t Always Mean Nice, and promoting its second single, Health. The album tells the story of a tough two-year period in his life—from May 2022 to March 2024—marked by heartbreak, bad decisions, a house fire, struggles with mental health, and even falling for a friend. It’s a bold, pure pop record that captures the lessons he’s learned and the person he’s become along the way.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hamilton Ward is a cinematographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His work has been featured across the Southeast at festivals and platforms like Indie Grits, The Bitter Southerner, and the Southern Documentary Fund, among others. His latest documentary, Smile for the Dead, took him overseas, continuing his passion for capturing powerful stories on camera. Hamilton’s work focuses on storytelling and exploring the unknown, always driven by curiosity and a love for the craft.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oba Dafidi is a Highlife and Afro-fusion gospel musician whose music is rooted in faith, culture, and purpose. From an early age, he found joy in singing and playing instruments like the piano and guitar, drawing inspiration from legends such as Ebenezer Obey and Orlando Owoh. For Oba, music has never just been a hobby—it’s always felt like a calling.He got his start in the church choir, attending rehearsals and vocal training sessions while building his foundation in music. Although his path included a career in nursing and a relocation that took him away from music for a while, the desire to sing never left him. He now sees those life experiences as preparation for the journey he's on today.Oba’s shift into gospel music came after a series of powerful spiritual moments, including being approached by strangers who told him he was meant to sing. Those encounters, along with his reflections, helped him realise that using his gift was part of God’s plan for him.That realisation led to his debut EP, Triumph of Grace, which marked a turning point in his life and music. Since then, Oba has been writing, recording, and performing songs that blend gospel messages with the rich, soulful rhythms of highlife and Afro-fusion.His upcoming album, Between Me and God, is a deeply personal project inspired by quiet moments of prayer and reflection. Set for release on June 20, 2025 (with presales starting June 11), the album captures the heart of what it means to walk closely with God, even when it’s not the easiest path.Oba is also back to learning guitar, pushing himself to grow musically and offer even more excellence in his worship. For him, music isn’t just about sound—it’s about ministry and encouraging others to follow their God-given purpose.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tyler Florence is an award-winning chef, TV personality, and all-around grill master who knows his way around a BBQ. Best known as the longtime host of The Great Food Truck Race, Tyler has spent years exploring bold flavours and sharing his passion for great food with audiences across the country.This summer, he’s bringing his grilling know-how to backyards everywhere with expert tips, global inspiration, and crowd-pleasing recipes straight from his new cookbook, American Grill. Whether it’s mastering heat zones for the perfect char, adding a twist with Mexican or Korean flavours, or turning food truck favourites into at-home hits, Tyler has you covered.He’s passionate about food that tells a story—especially in cities like San Francisco, one of his favourite places to eat—and wants everyone to be able to cook meals that make people say, “I need to try that!”Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Thompson, known by his artist name 7saturns7, is a singer-songwriter from Southwest Florida making waves in the underground anti-pop scene. His music blends catchy melodies with a raw, melancholic edge, creating a sound that’s both modern and emotionally charged.His latest release, COLOROFVIOLET, marks his third single and shows off a shift in style—from the ambient vibe of his 2023 track poison to a more intense, hyperpop-inspired sound full of distortion, dreamy synths, and saturated production. The song tells a hauntingly personal story of heartbreak and betrayal, drawing inspiration from unexpected places, including Michelangelo’s Study of a Mourning Woman.As co-founder of the indie label bønesincali, alongside producer Saint Austin, 7saturns7 is building a growing catalogue of music that’s small but steadily gaining attention for its bold sound and emotional honesty. Fans of artists like Brakence and Glaive will find something to love—but Scott’s voice is all his own.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Fitzwilliams is a distinguished royal commentator, film critic, public relations consultant, and lecturer who has given over a thousand television and radio interviews across the globe. Known for his authoritative insights, crisp delivery, and deep understanding of royal protocol, Richard has become a trusted voice on matters of monarchy and ceremonial tradition.As an expert on the British Honours system, Richard brings timely and informed commentary on key moments such as the King’s Birthday Honours, the latest of which—due to be announced tonight—has already generated headlines with the leaked news of David Beckham’s anticipated knighthood.With the Trooping the Colour set to take place tomorrow, Richard’s expertise will again be in demand. This year’s ceremony is particularly historic, marking the first time King Charles III will review the Coldstream Guards as they troop their colour, coinciding with the regiment’s 375th anniversary. The event will also include a moment of solemn reflection, with royals in uniform wearing black armbands and a one-minute silence observed to honour the 53 British citizens who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171.A former Editor of The International Who’s Who, Richard is renowned for his far-reaching network of contacts and his ability to provide fresh perspectives on both royal affairs and contemporary cinema. He is also a respected obituary writer and an eloquent analyst of the customs that continue to shape British public life.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Torre Lott is a rising voice in hip-hop, known for his raw honesty and boundary-pushing sound. Hailing from the west side of Cleveland, he brings together street-level storytelling and real emotional depth—no gimmicks, just truth. His breakout track Reflections caught the attention of Kevin Abstract (of BROCKHAMPTON), and it’s easy to see why: the beat hits hard, but it’s Torre’s vulnerability that really leaves a mark.Classically trained from a young age, Torre approaches music with a rare mix of discipline and creativity. He draws from hip-hop, metal, classical, and more, crafting songs that feel intentional and alive. His EP Reason One: The Rising Sun, made with longtime collaborator Rex Schirra, is a standout—moody, thoughtful, and made for people who actually want to listen, not just scroll.Torre isn’t chasing trends or clout. He’s been steadily building behind the scenes, forming real connections and letting the music speak for itself. As 2025 unfolds, he’s dropping new singles, visuals, and at least one full project—but don’t expect a formula. Every release is its own world, designed to hit deeper than just surface-level.For Torre, it’s all about connection. “The music’s one thing,” he says, “but what I care about most is that people feel it—like it speaks to something inside them.” With talent, vision, and a relentless work ethic, Torre Lott is carving out his own space in the culture—one track at a time.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legend is a rising hip-hop artist from Arizona with a powerful story to tell. A military veteran who found healing through music, he's bringing his real-life experiences and raw emotion to the mic, blending street smarts with the strength and discipline of a soldier. Now, he's teaming up with Las Vegas favourite DJ CEO for a high-energy album that’s already turning heads.Known for his honest lyrics and gritty delivery, Legend channels everything he’s been through into every verse. His path from the battlefield to the booth has caught the attention of some of the biggest names in the game, and his upcoming project features heavy-hitters like Bizzy Bone, Lil Baby, Gucci Mane, and The Game.“We’re not just putting out an album—we’re sharing something real,” Legend says. “It’s about resilience and turning struggle into strength.”With DJ CEO’s club-shaking beats and Legend’s powerful message, this project is more than just music—it’s a movement. Whether you're a hip-hop head or part of the veteran community, Legend is bringing something fresh, fearless, and full of heart.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Existentialbeing is a creative force based in the music and art world, and a proud member of the artist collective Nappy Hair, which includes artists like Kota the Friend. Outside of music, he runs a clothing brand called just function, born from his own journey of learning about financial stability — something he dove into deeply to help ease the social anxiety that came from financial struggles. He also writes a blog and newsletter where he shares his thoughts, builds SaaS tools, and promotes art he loves. Fans and supporters can subscribe to follow along with his projects, and the website will be live soon — just in time for the updated business cards.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sudheer Amgothu is a seasoned DevOps engineer with over a decade of experience, renowned for his expertise in cloud technologies, infrastructure automation, and DevOps practices. His career spans various industries, where he has implemented DevOps strategies to accelerate software development cycles, improve system reliability, and enhance operational efficiency."I started my career as a traditional systems engineer," Sudheer says, reflecting on his journey. "I was always drawn to automation, seeing the inefficiencies in manual processes, especially around deployments and monitoring. That’s what pulled me into the world of DevOps." His early work in infrastructure automation on AWS laid the foundation for his expertise in the field. "At Elevation, I led efforts to automate the entire infrastructure stack using Terraform and Ansible, which empowered development teams to work faster with less friction."In addition to his technical prowess, Sudheer is an advocate for the cultural transformation DevOps fosters within organizations. "DevOps is more than just automation or tools. It’s a culture that brings development and operations teams together with a shared goal of delivering software faster, more reliably, and with higher quality," he explains. "It emphasizes collaboration, continuous feedback, and a mindset of continuous improvement."Sudheer's new book, Mastering DevOps with Kubernetes and Cloud: A Practical Guide, draws from his vast experience and is designed as a hands-on resource for mastering DevOps. "I wanted to create a practical guide, not a theory-heavy textbook," he says. "It’s loaded with real-world war stories, step-by-step walkthroughs, and diagrams that show how tools like Terraform, Jenkins, and Kubernetes work together in modern DevOps pipelines."His book, which covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques, was inspired by his conversations with junior engineers and site reliability engineers (SREs). "They understood what DevOps is but struggled with the 'why' and 'how,'" he recalls. "I realized the need for a guide that answers those questions and provides actionable insights."Sudheer’s expertise extends beyond DevOps to cloud platforms and Kubernetes, where he has successfully scaled microservices platforms and implemented observability practices. "At Pega, we centralized Prometheus and Grafana dashboards to ensure real-time visibility into production issues," he says. "This proactive approach helped us detect anomalies before they became incidents, improving both system reliability and customer satisfaction."For aspiring DevOps professionals, Sudheer advises, "Don’t rush. Start with the basics. Pick a tool like Jenkins, learn how a CI/CD pipeline works, and build from there. The most important thing is hands-on practice and experimentation." His dedication to mentoring the next generation of engineers is evident in his personal approach to career growth, encouraging others to document their learning and contribute to open-source projects.Sudheer’s passion for DevOps, cloud technologies, and continuous improvement makes him a respected figure in the field, and his book stands as an essential resource for anyone looking to excel in modern IT environments.You read read the full interview transcript here: https://shoutradio.org.uk/RNH/SudheerAmgothuInterview.pdfAnd find his book here: https://a.co/d/ecU0gzEHighlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.