New Roots Podcast

S1 E9: In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Deante Battle, Head Coach of the Warsaw Eagles, to explore what it means to build community, develop people, and create a lasting legacy through football. Deante has made his mark in Poland through American football, taking on a leadership role with one of the country’s established teams while helping develop the players, culture, and community around the sport. His work goes beyond coaching on the field — it is about discipline, leadership, mentorship, and creating an environment where people can grow and find their place.In this conversation, we explore Deante’s journey into coaching, his experience building within Poland’s football community, and the responsibility that comes with leading and developing others. We also look at the role sport can play in connecting people, creating opportunity, and building a sense of belonging in a country that is not necessarily where you began.Deante Battle’s story adds to the New Roots conversation by showing how your skills, passion, and willingness to invest in others can become a pathway to building something meaningful — not only for yourself, but for the community around you. 🇵🇱Subscribe for more conversations exploring the stories of people of diverse roots shaping modern Poland.

S1 E8:In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Remi Ganne, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Board Member at Empik, to explore what it takes to build brands, lead at the highest level, and create lasting impact in a new country.Originally from France, Remi arrived in Poland nearly two decades ago and has since held some of the country's most influential marketing roles—from Central Europe Brand Director at Procter & Gamble, to Head of Brand & Product Marketing at Allegro, before joining Empik's executive leadership.Together, we unpack the thinking behind great marketing, the leadership principles that shape high-performing teams, and how embracing a new culture can become a competitive advantage.Remi's journey adds to the New Roots conversation by showing how world-class expertise, curiosity, and long-term commitment can create extraordinary impact far from where your story began.🇵🇱 Subscribe for more conversations exploring the stories of people of diverse roots shaping modern Poland.

S1 E7:In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Kamal Jahid, host of Warsaw Confidential, to explore a central theme: your story as your greatest asset.Kamal is known for building Warsaw Confidential, a platform that explores Poland through layered, honest, and human storytelling. His work focuses on capturing conversations and identities that reflect the complexity of modern Poland, moving beyond surface-level narratives.Beyond media, Kamal has built identity-driven ventures including Meqnes and Glamorous Pochette, where culture, storytelling, and personal positioning are translated into tangible value through products, experiences, and narrative-driven branding.In this conversation, we explore how personal history, identity, and lived experience can become practical tools for building opportunity, clarity, and long-term direction.Kamal Jahid’s story adds to the New Roots conversation by showing how owning your narrative can become a real advantage in both life and work.🇵🇱 Subscribe for more conversations exploring the stories of people of diverse roots shaping modern Poland.

S1 E6:In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Dr. Amit Lath - entrepreneur, business leader, and one of the key figures in strengthening Indo-Polish economic relations.Originally from India, Dr. Lath has spent decades building businesses, creating investment opportunities, and contributing to the growth of Poland’s international business ecosystem. Through his leadership across multiple industries and his role in fostering stronger ties between India and Poland, he has become an important bridge between both countries.Beyond business, Dr. Lath’s journey is a story of migration, adaptation, long-term vision, and creating value far from home. His experience reflects what it means to not only build a successful career in a new country, but also actively contribute to the society and economy around you.Dr. Amit Lath’s story is important to the New Roots conversation because it highlights how people of diverse roots can help shape Poland’s economic future while building meaningful connections across cultures, industries, and communities.🇵🇱 Subscribe for more conversations exploring the stories of people of diverse roots shaping modern Poland.

In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Oliwia Bosomtwe — journalist, writer, art curator, and lecturer.Born in Kraków and raised in Nowy Sącz with Polish and Ghanaian roots, Oliwia has built a career at the intersection of media, culture, and identity. From leading Noizz Poland as Editor-in-Chief to contributing to major publications and working within cultural institutions, her work consistently explores themes of race, belonging, and representation in Poland.Through her writing, curatorial work, and her book Jak biały człowiek, she challenges traditional ideas of Polish identity and creates space for more inclusive narratives.Oliwia’s voice is important to the New Roots conversation because she helps redefine what it means to belong in Poland especially for people of diverse roots.

In this live launch episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Caleigh Furlogh — the President of Smile Warsaw, a grassroots outreach initiative supporting people experiencing homelessness in Warsaw.Together with an exclusive audience of 40 guests from over 15 countries, this conversation captures the energy of a global community gathered in one room to explore what it means to show up for others in a city like Warsaw.Through Smile Warsaw, Caleigh is part of a team that brings consistent, hands-on support to the streets — offering meals, essentials, and, most importantly, human presence.This episode goes beyond volunteering. It’s about dignity, consistency, and what it means to build real community across borders in modern Poland.🇵🇱 Subscribe for more conversations exploring the stories of people of diverse roots shaping modern Poland.

In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sat down with Myroslava Keryk — a quiet force behind one of the most impactful community movements in Poland today.As the co-founder of the Ukrainian House in Warsaw, Myroslava has been at the center of creating not just support systems, but spaces of belonging. Her work has shaped how Ukrainians arriving in Poland navigate uncertainty, rebuild their lives, and find their footing in a new environment — especially during moments when the need for structure, empathy, and leadership was at its highest.This conversation goes beyond titles and achievements. It explores responsibility, identity, and what it takes to lead in times when the stakes are deeply human. Myroslava reflects on her journey, the weight of the work she carries, and the long-term vision for a more connected and resilient society.

In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sit down with Kurt Scheller — a world-renowned chef, culinary educator, and one of the most influential figures in shaping modern gastronomy in Poland.This conversation explores Kurt’s remarkable journey as a chef — a career that has taken him across five continents and into some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens. From operating at the highest levels of global hospitality with renowned hotel brands such as Bristol and Sheraton, to serving as Executive Chef to the President of Ecuador in 1979, Kurt shares the experiences, discipline, and cultural influences that have shaped his extraordinary culinary path.

In this episode of the New Roots Podcast, Desmond and Ife sat down with Osi Ugonoh — model, dietitian, fitness influencer, media personality, and fashion enthusiast - for an honest conversation about identity, visibility, and building an impactful life beyond labels.Raised in Poland with Nigerian roots, Osi’s story carries strong socio-cultural relevance. Her journey reflects the lived experience of many people of diverse roots in Poland, navigating belonging, representation, and the quiet responsibility that comes with being seen as “the first” or “the exception.”This conversation connects Osi’s professional path across fashion, fitness, and media with deeper questions of who gets to belong, how success is defined, and what it means to create value in a society that is still evolving its understanding of identity.

The New Roots Podcast spotlights and archives the stories of people of diverse roots who have created meaningful, trackable value within Poland’s evolving ecosystem. Some came to Poland to build and grow; others were born here and embody life across cultures — deeply Polish, yet beautifully diverse.Through authentic, human-centered conversations, the podcast captures their journeys as blueprints for others, revealing how their values and contributions continue to shape modern Poland._______________________________________________________________________New Roots Podcast prezentuje i archiwizuje historie osób o różnorodnych korzeniach, które stworzyły realną, mierzalną wartość w rozwijającym się ekosystemie Polski. Niektórzy przyjechali do Polski, aby budować i rozwijać swoje życie; inni urodzili się tutaj i ucieleśniają życie pomiędzy kulturami — głęboko polskie, a jednocześnie pięknie różnorodne.Poprzez autentyczne, skupione na człowieku rozmowy, podcast dokumentuje ich drogi jako inspirujące wzorce dla innych, ukazując, jak ich wartości i wkład nadal kształtują współczesną Polskę.