The Black Circle

Hosted by Zoe Cornibert

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

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

60 recent

November 8, 2026Episode 601 hr 3 min

Pioneering Black British Comedy | Angie Le Mar

For over four decades, Angie Le Mar has been making Britain laugh, breaking barriers and paving the way for generations of Black British entertainers.From her early days on London's emerging Black comedy circuit to becoming the first Black female stand-up comedian to sell out a West End theatre, Angie's journey is one of resilience, reinvention and an unwavering belief in her own ability.We also discuss the evolution of Black women in comedy, the importance of creating our own opportunities, knowing when to pivot and why Angie refuses to entertain imposter syndrome.

October 25, 2026Episode 5956 min

The Double Life of a Corporate Girl | Princess Wonda

This week on The Black Circle Podcast, I'm joined by British-Nigerian Afrofusion artist Princess Wonda, who's proving that you don't have to choose between your passions.With over 15 million career streams, international performances and music featured in hit shows including Harlem and Young Love, Princess is making her mark in the music industry. But away from the stage, she's also a senior STEM professional navigating the corporate world.In this episode, we explore what it really takes to balance two demanding careers, the changing landscape of the music industry and why record labels are increasingly looking at followers rather than talent.

October 11, 2026Episode 5855 min

Interviewing Britain's Biggest Names | Icie The Host & The Sit Down

In this episode of The Black Circle, I'm joined by Tope Chiedozie, better known as Icie The Host, founder of The Sit Down, a platform dedicated to bringing people together through the power of conversation. From an audience of just 23 people at his first event to interviewing some of Britain's most recognisable names, including Mo Gilligan, Paul Brunson, Dean Forbes, Jamelia and Candice Brathwaite, Icie has spent years creating spaces where people can share their experiences, challenge perceptions and inspire others. Icie opens up about the emotional moments that nearly made him walk away, the art of making people feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable, and the responsibility of documenting Black British experiences for future generations.

September 27, 202652 min

From YouTube to SUPACELL: Sebastian Thiel Built His Own Way In

We get into the changing landscape of Black British television, why our stories were never limited to UK audiences, creative ownership and the importance of building infrastructure around the culture we create.Sebastian also takes us inside Dope Black Art, the global platform he founded to champion Black artists, and talks about directing episodes of Fightland, the new boxing crime drama executive-produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.Plus, we ask what success looks like now, what still needs to change in British television and why the next generation of Black filmmakers should be able to go even further.

September 13, 2026Episode 561 hr 38 min

EP56: Seani B: “I’m Not Gonna Code Switch” | Dancehall, Black British Music & Caribbean Culture

From the sound systems of Shepherd’s Bush to becoming a Grammy-winning producer and one of the most recognised voices in dancehall and reggae broadcasting, Seani B has spent decades championing Caribbean music and culture. In this episode of The Black Circle Podcast, Seani takes us back to where it all began, DJing alongside his brothers, turning his bedroom windowsill into a stage and eventually becoming the “Remix Kid”, working with artists including Lauryn Hill, Shaggy and Beverley Knight.

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.