The Black Circle

Hosted by Zoe Cornibert

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A podcast to platform Black UK based Entrepreneurs, Innovators, Disruptors and Taste Makers. The Black Circle aims to engage guests in informal but nuanced conversations, around work and life and how we contextualise these experiences through the lens of our Blackness.

Listen to episodes

55 recent

August 30, 2026Episode 551 hr 20 min

Windrush, Racism & 60 Years of Carnival | Allyson Williams MBE

Allyson Williams MBE arrived in Britain from Trinidad in 1969 to train as a nurse. She would go on to spend 35 years in the NHS, rising to Deputy Head of Midwifery, while experiencing racism from some of the very patients she was there to care for.But Allyson's contribution to Britain extends far beyond the NHS.Alongside her late husband Vernon "Fellows" Williams, a founding member of Notting Hill Carnival, she helped establish Genesis Mas Band and has dedicated almost four decades to preserving and celebrating the Carnival arts.In this special Carnival episode of The Black Circle Podcast, we talk about the reality of arriving in the "Mother Country", the strength of the Windrush community, confronting racism, why Windrush belongs in the British curriculum and what Notting Hill Carnival truly represents beyond the party.

August 16, 2026Episode 5457 min

Beyond Time: When Luxury Becomes Art | Manny Magno

What does it really take to break into the world of luxury? This week, I sit down with watch dial designer, creative director and entrepreneur Manny Mangno to talk about building a career in one of the world's most exclusive industries. From designing bespoke pieces for ultra-high-net-worth collectors to creating SWRISS, an affordable watch brand built for the 99%, Manny has experienced both ends of the market.We talk about breaking into elite spaces, the power of relationships, bringing culture into luxury, his collaboration with artist Slawn, the growth of Black luxury spaces like Lux Afrique Polo, and why he wants to see the next LVMH built from within our own communities.

August 2, 2026Episode 5351 min

Britain Is Failing Young People | Sayce Holmes-Lewis

What does it really take to build stronger communities?This week on The Black Circle, I'm joined by Sayce Holmes-Lewis, founder and CEO of Mentivity, an award-winning organisation supporting more than 27,000 young people through mentoring, education and community-led initiatives.Growing up on South London's Aylesbury Estate shaped Sayce's mission to create the spaces and opportunities he wished existed as a young person. Since launching Mentivity in 2016, he's built one of the UK's leading youth organisations while challenging conversations around community, parenting, policing, education and social mobility.**Donate to Mentivity** https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sayce-holmes-lewis-mentivity-community-hub

July 19, 2026Episode 5255 min

More Than a Book Club | Why Black Stories Matter with Que The Wolf

What happens when we stop telling our stories?In this episode of The Black Circle, I sit down with Que Wolfe, founder of Dope Readers Club, to explore why reading is making a comeback and why books are about so much more than what's on the page.Since launching Dope Readers Club in 2020, Que has built a thriving community dedicated to celebrating Black and diverse authors through book clubs, community bookcases, book swaps and cultural events. Together, we discuss the resurgence of reading culture, preserving Black stories, the importance of representation in literature, and how storytelling shapes identity, belonging and community.

July 5, 2026Episode 5156 min

Why Black Women Need Joy, Not Just Representation | Tobi Oredein

In 2014, long before conversations around representation became mainstream, Tobi Oredein saw a gap in British media and decided to build what didn't exist.As the founder of Black Ballad, she's spent the last decade creating a platform dedicated to telling the stories of Black women in Britain with the nuance, honesty and care they deserve. What began as a digital publication has since grown into a thriving membership community and the Black Ballad Weekender, a space centred around helping Black women become whole, healthy and happy.

June 21, 2026Episode 5053 min

How a Self-Taught Nigerian Artist Built a Global Following

Nigerian visual artist and storyteller Anthony Azekwoh joins The Black Circle Podcast for a conversation about art, mythology, memory and cultural preservation.Known for his viral series The Wedding and his striking visual interpretations of African folklore, Anthony has built a global reputation for creating work that sits at the intersection of contemporary culture, history and imagination.In this episode, we discuss growing up in Lagos, being a self-taught artist, the influence of Nigerian mythology, Afrofuturism, the role of storytelling in preserving culture, and why artists have a responsibility to document the present for future generations.We also explore the inspiration behind The Wedding, the impact of colonialism on African visual history, the future of creativity in the age of AI, and what it means to be the first in your bloodline to experience opportunities previous generations could only dream of.If you enjoy conversations about Black culture, creativity, entrepreneurship and legacy, subscribe and join the community.

June 7, 2026Episode 491 hr 23 min

Rewriting Black Masculinity with Dean Atta

In this episode of The Black Circle Podcast, Zoe Cornibert sits down with BAFTA-winning writer, poet and storyteller Dean Atta.Best known for The Black Flamingo and the award-winning short film Two Black Boys in Paradise, Dean has built a body of work that explores identity, belonging, race, masculinity and queerness with honesty, tenderness and depth.Together, they discuss growing up as a mixed-race child of Greek Cypriot and Jamaican heritage, navigating identity, the impact of Section 28, the power of storytelling as activism, and why representation still matters.

May 24, 2026Episode 4844 min

Building Beauty For Black Women with Jameila Donaldson

What does it mean to build a beauty brand that truly understands Black women? This week, Zoe sits down with Jamelia Donaldson, founder of TreasureTress, Europe’s first and largest natural hair product discovery platform, for a conversation that goes far beyond haircare. From growing up in a world where textured hair was often framed negatively, to building a platform rooted in representation, sisterhood and community, Jamelia shares the realities of disrupting an industry that was never built with Black women in mind. The two discuss beauty standards, entrepreneurship, identity, community-building, the business behind TreasureTress, and why creating intentional spaces for Black women and girls matters now more than ever. A conversation about culture, care, ownership and redefining Black beauty on our own terms.

May 10, 2026Episode 4744 min

From Grime to Trainer Empire with Jason Black AKA J2K

From the early days of grime and pirate radio to building globally recognised brands like Crep Protect and HYPHNT, Jason Black aka J2K joins me for a conversation on culture, entrepreneurship, sneaker/trainer culture, community and building with real intention. We also get into SOLE INTENT, his upcoming initiative supporting hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica through creativity, community and action.

April 26, 2026Episode 4659 min

Can You Say Anything? The Reality of Comedy Today With Dane Baptiste

Can you really say anything anymore… or are there lines you just don’t cross?This week, I’m joined by comedian Dane Baptiste for a conversation that goes beyond the stage. From starting out in comedy to building a career across TV, live shows and podcasting, Dane shares what it actually takes to last in the industry.We get into the reality behind the laughs, whether the industry has truly moved forward or just improved its optics, and the ongoing conversation around boundaries, cancel culture and who gets to say what.