The Swinging Palm Trees Podcast

On today's episode I'm in conversation with filmmaker Chithra Jeyaram to talk about her latest  film documentary 'LOVE CHAOS KIN', that sees the true story of what an Indian family went through in their adoption process in America of white twins,  and how issues of identity and belonging, and family dynamics are addressed.  Chithra also chats about her career, why she loves storytelling, and she shares the words that have continually shaped her mindset. Chithra Jeyaram is a physical therapist-turned-filmmaker dedicated to exploring the resilience and love within biological and chosen families. Whether it’s reframing menstruation as a broader issue in Rags to Pads or using dance to contrast the brutality of cancer in Foreign Puzzle, her goal is always to move the audience from passive viewing to active conversation. Her recent documentary, LOVE CHAOS KIN, highlights a multicultural family in an open adoption, showcasing an inclusive and connected America. She lead produced the acclaimed short AMMA’S PRIDE (2024), which champions trans rights and marriage equality in India. An adjunct faculty member at NYU, Chithra is an alumna of prestigious programs, including Visions du Réel’s Rough Cut Lab, the Chicken & Egg (Egg)celerator Lab, the BGDM Artist Fellowship, the Gotham Documentary Fellowship, and the Jerome Foundation. She is currently writing her first screenplay, LONGEST SUMMER, and developing a hybrid documentary, THE PRACTICE OF US.A Pay-per-view link of the film can be seen here:  https://kinema.com/films/love-chaos-kin-ktlfhwSend us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I'm in conversation with Peter Schwabach, CEO and Founder of Innovision IP Ltd, and Industrial Robotic Solutions.  Peter talks about his interest in robotics, the importance of its technology and continual evolution; the confluence of robotics and AI, and the ongoing debate surrounding Artificial Intelligence and why it is important for there to be checks in place.  He discusses how breakthroughs in robotics has helped people affected with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).  Peter also talks about his varied career, his passion for history and his heritage, and he shares the words that have shaped his mindset. Peter is a former Goldman Sachs investment banker who founded two successful British technology companies. The son of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany he is a great believer in the UK and its ability to re-invent in the 21st century.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I'm in conversation with actor, producer and creative entrepreneur Vishakha Singh talking about cinema, creativity, taking unconventional paths and finding stories worth telling. She shares with me how she got into acting and why she transitioned into producing, the challenges of being a working woman within the industry, social inequalities and being an empath.  We talk about her latest project, the recently nominated International Emmy for the series 'Real Kashmir Football Club' of which she is the Executive Producer, and why she was interested in telling their story to a wider audience.  Vishakha also talks about classic films, and also shares the words that have continually shaped her mindset. 'Real Kashmir Football Club' can be streamed on Sony Liv.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode I'm in conversation with Sean and Nancy Vu, a husband-and-wife team behind M&S Construction Group, a design-build contracting firm serving homeowners across the Greater Toronto Area in Canada. They share how they started in the industry, the challenges they meet head on, bespoke requirements and importance of maintaining clientele retention.  They also talk about their Vietnamese heritage, their immigrant experience and why they chose to settle in Canada.  The ongoing US-Canadian tariff war also comes up in the conversation and Nancy & Sean chat how it affects the industry and wider market. For more information about M&S Construction Group, you can check out their website.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode I chat with tech enthusiast and generalist Sonney Patel.  The topics we discuss include the rise of Artificial intelligence, its many hidden dangers, digital surveillance, mathematics, equations and intentionality.  Sonney also chats about why gardening and cooking is important to him, what life has taught him so far, and he shares the words that have shaped his mindset. Sonney Patel has been a software engineer for the past 10 years.  He studied Mathematics at University, found a love for computer programming which led to it becoming his career. He has an interest in understanding the intersection of humanity and the advent of AI while noticing his own role evolving, thus reflecting on his sense of purpose and soul searching.You can reach out to Sonney on instagram at @sonneypatel.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode I am deep-diving as a newbie to all things Warhammer 40k with one of the hosts of Worhammer Podcast, Dan.  Dan breaks down what 40k is all about including the lore, the tabletop gameplay and what the miniatures are all about, and the fandom.  We discuss the different factions, terms such as 'Grimdark' and go all in about the Horus Heresy.   We also chat about how popular culture has been influenced by WH40k, how anyone can get into the game and the upcoming film and television adaptations.  Dan also helps how WH40k has helped him through trying times, and he shares the quote that has shaped his mindset. If you're interested in Warhammer 40k, you can hear Dan's Worhammer podcast here."The Emperor protects!"Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode, I am in conversation with Dunsi Bolarinwa, a Cancer pharmacist.  Dunsi shares how she started her career within her field, and what she has learned so far.  She discusses a variety of issues including Myeloma and the Black community, dispelling cancer myths and the importance of reliable knowledge in a world of social media and misinformation.  She talks about her concerns about the role of pharmacists in the future and healthcare in the UK.  We also chat about our Yorùbá heritage, the importance of her faith, and of course, Dunsi shares the words that shape her mindset.Dunsi Bolarinwa is a Senior Haematology Pharmacist with over a decade of experience in cancer services across both NHS and private settings. She holds an MSc in Clinical Oncology and is a non-medical prescriber. Her work spans oncology and haematology, including the EMMBRAce project, which tackles the barriers patients face in accessing novel therapies like bispecifics — with the goal of making advanced treatments equitably available across the UK.  She is passionate about improving cancer care through education, research, and innovation.  Dunsi can be reached on social media via https://linktr.ee/haempharmSend us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

In today's episode, I chat with Farha Jamadar, a Senior Chartered Global Management Accountant & Account Technician.  Farha talks about her career path,  why she enjoys numbers, and what's in her work tool box.  Farha also discusses the challenges she has faced, the importance of having basic accountancy as part of the school curriculum, the importance of apprenticeships, and what humbles her within finance.  We also chat about her faith, overcoming imposter syndrome, her charity work, her love for football and she shares the words that continually inspire her. Farha Jamadar is a finance leader, mentor, and change-maker who has built her career through resilience, ambition, and a determination to challenge the traditional image of leadership within finance. As an Asian woman in a space where there are still very few people who look like her at senior level — and where she definitely does not fit the stereotype of your “typical accountant” — she brings honesty, humour, commercial insight, and authenticity to conversations around leadership, transformation, and career growth. From rebuilding finance functions to influencing at board level, Farha is passionate about showing the next generation that you do not have to change who you are to lead successfully.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode I'm in conversation with Ọmọ́tọ́lá Sodeinde Adéníyì,  a Cultural Connoisseur for all things about the Yorùbá tribe within Nigeria and across the world.  We talk about the language and the tonal system, including the power behind words and what an 'Oríkì' means;  the traditions within the Yorùbá culture & the challenges it faces within the 21st Century and beyond; identity, mental health & wellbeing, pride in one's heritage.  Ọmọ́tọ́lá also shares the words that shapes his mindset.Ọmọ́tọ́lá Sodeinde Adéníyì aka Larhny is a Lagos based Yorùbá culture promoter and the creator of 'Talojẹbi ', a content platform dedicated to educating the world about Yoruba culture, history and tradition. Through short form videos across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, he brings some of the most fascinating and often forgotten aspects of Yorùbá identity to life for a generation that is still finding its connection to its roots. For Ọmọ́tọ́lá, this work is deeply personal rooted in a belief that culture is not just something you inherit, it is something you have a responsibility to protect.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!

On today's episode I'm in conversation with Hilary Salzman, a business storytelling consultant, keynote speaker and author specialising in helping female founders and leaders find and use their real story. Hilary talks about the importance of uncovering and vocalising women's stories, the reoccurring themes and underlying issues that women face including inequality & sexual assault, and her encounters with internet trolls and mansplaining. Hilary also shares how her career started, the challenges and triumphs she has encountered within her personal life, and the words that continually inspire her. Hilary Salzman is a business storytelling consultant, closing the gap between women’s truth and what they say without cost.She's the author of 'The Roar of Her Story' (shortlisted for Business Book Awards 2025) and founder of She Roars Club, an accountability community for women founders.  She spent 20 years in corporate marketing at major tech brands before launching her storytelling consultancy.Hilary doesn't teach women to be louder or more polished. She shows them how to use their real experiences, even the messy bits, to build genuine connections, build a successful business and take up the space they truly deserve.You can find out more about Hilary via her website, Instagram and Substack.Send us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!  I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar,  for all her hard work.If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at [email protected] or @theswingingpalmtrees on InstagramKeep Rising & Thriving.  Aṣẹ!