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A poll shock, a policy gamble, a courtroom reckoning, and a boundary that saves a life this episode traces how power, data, culture, and healing collide. We open with a blunt read on fresh numbers putting Nigel Farage within striking distance and ask the tougher question: when the main parties feel unmoored, how do we vote with integrity rather than despair? That thread pulls straight into Keir Starmer’s renewed digital ID push. We unpack the Tony Blair Institute’s influence, the risks of centralising identity, and why “digital by default” without ironclad security and strict limits is a civil liberties problem, not a modernisation plan.

The data story gets painfully real. Cyber attacks have moved from headlines to homes, taking down retailers and even a nursery targeted with stolen images and records. We talk practical defence password managers, multi‑factor authentication, data minimisation and call for sharper laws that fit the crime, especially when perpetrators operate within the UK. Accountability shows up in culture too. Noel Clarke’s failed libel suit against The Guardian leaves a £3m cost order and a clearer message: credible reporting and survivor testimony can stand in court, and industry gatekeepers must stop waiting for the courts to do the safeguarding they should have led.

Not everything is bleak. The Skims x Nike collaboration is a live case study in strategic branding: knowing your value, choosing partners that amplify it, and letting consistent delivery turn into reputation that travels without you. And then there’s the personal work. We share the reality of going no contact with a narcissistic parent after a traumatic birth a choice framed not by bitterness but by the pursuit of peace, therapy, and a safe, joyful home for a child. Boundaries, like encryption, are protective by design.

If you’re here for smart political analysis, digital privacy insight, culture with a backbone, and honest talk about healing, you’re in the right place. Listen, reflect, and tell us where you draw your own lines on data, on votes, on family. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find the conversation.

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Ever wondered why that mentor relationship isn't yielding results? The harsh truth is that many mentoring relationships fail to deliver actual career advancement especially for Black women.

In this candid episode, we unpack why traditional mentorship often falls short and what true strategic mentoring should look like. It's not about inspirational coffee chats or vague encouragement; it's about someone with genuine influence opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to you. As I share from personal experience, "A mentor without contacts or influence is just a friend with opinions."

We also tackle the growing trend of companies mandating three-day office returns and how to negotiate terms that work for your life. Through my own negotiation story, I demonstrate how standing firm on your non-negotiables can actually work in your favour, even in a tough job market. Remember if employers want your talents badly enough, they'll meet your terms.

The episode also explores how neurodivergent individuals are protected under the Equality Act as a disability class, offering important legal insights for workplace accommodations. Plus, I share a personal story about setting boundaries with new friendships and the importance of protecting your kindness from those who would take advantage.

Between renovation chaos and career revelations, this episode delivers practical wisdom for navigating work politics, boundary-setting, and strategic relationship building. Whether you're seeking advancement or simply trying to maintain your sanity in today's workplace, these insights will help you recognize your worth and advocate for yourself effectively.

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In a world where your voice can be weaponized against you, knowing when to speak and when to stand firm in silence becomes a crucial skill. This episode unpacks the delicate balance of self-advocacy in both professional settings and wider society, where particularly for Black women, calculated strategy often proves more powerful than reactive responses.

Toya introduces her groundbreaking "Three Pillars of Career Protection" framework, a comprehensive system of documentation that transforms how professionals can safeguard their careers and advocate for themselves. Through detailed explanations of the Receipts Folder (positive feedback), Burn Folder (policy breaches and micro-aggressions), and Blueprint Folder (measurable impact), she provides listeners with concrete tools to build leverage, gather evidence, and create armour against workplace injustice.

Through powerful personal stories from being clock-watched during bathroom breaks to challenging the adultification of her daughter at nursery – Toya illustrates how systemic issues manifest in daily interactions and offers practical strategies for countering them. She shares how she coached a listener through workplace discrimination, resulting in meaningful change through strategic documentation rather than emotional confrontation.

The episode also examines broader societal tensions, from the TFL and Birmingham bin worker strikes to political turmoil within the Labour Party, connecting these external struggles to workplace dynamics. Toya explores Gen Z's shift toward "career minimalism" separating identity from employment while pursuing passion outside work hours – and considers how this adaptation might better serve professionals in an AI-disrupted future.

With both urgency and compassion, Toya reminds us that establishing and defending our boundaries isn't optional it's essential. "If you start allowing your boundaries to accommodate shit, you will always be presented with shit sandwiches." Her insights empower listeners to build their professional reputation through consistent excellence while creating systems that ensure this excellence can't be overlooked or undervalued.

Remember, advocating for yourself isn't always about being confrontational it's about systematically documenting your value, protecting your boundaries, and ensuring you receive the recognition and compensation you deserve.

What will you do this week to strengthen your career protection toolkit?

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The Transport for London strikes have sparked heated debate, but before rushing to judgment, we need to examine why workers feel forced to take such actions. When peaceful protest options are systematically limited and negotiations fail, strikes become the necessary tool for demanding fair treatment. These workers form the backbone of our infrastructure – shouldn't their compensation reflect that essential role?

This week I share a conversation with a colleague that exposed a £5K bonus disparity despite my heavier workload and responsibilities. The experience highlights how secrecy around compensation creates fertile ground for favoritism and discrimination to flourish unchallenged. What happens when we start having these uncomfortable but necessary conversations about pay transparency? I'm taking you behind the scenes of how I'm navigating this situation strategically rather than emotionally.

The most liberating concept I've encountered recently comes from Stephanie Tyler's article "The Quiet Thrill of Not Being for Everyone." How many of us have spent years performing versions of ourselves, carefully packaging our truths to be palatable to others? This continuous shape-shifting amounts to "a long-form apology for who you are." The freedom that comes from embracing authenticity – even when it means not everyone will like you – represents a profound shift in how we navigate our professional and personal lives.

From Angela Rayner's resignation and the leadership lessons it provides, to disappointments with Apple's innovation, to Cardi B's courtroom victory against frivolous claims – each story offers insights into standing your ground and protecting what matters. I also introduce the concept of "job hugging" and why protecting your business ideas legally has never been more important.

Referenced Article:

The Quiet Thrill of Not Being For Everyone

https://www.wildbarethoughts.com/p/the-quiet-thrill-of-not-being-for

The Toya Talks podcast is evolving with a new logo, consistent Wednesday episodes, and increased social media presence. Follow @toya_talks on Instagram for more career insights, and watch out for the October launch of my new stationery brand, Sister Scribble. Have a workplace dilemma? Email hello@toyatalks.com for confidential advice on the podcast.

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Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

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Ever notice how Black women are expected to win quietly? In this powerful return episode, I dive into the recent tennis court confrontation between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko that perfectly captures what many of us experience daily – being told we're "low class" or "uneducated" when we succeed, then being praised for our composure when we don't react to blatant disrespect.

The tennis incident serves as a mirror to workplace dynamics where Black women face impossible standards. We're expected to take on additional responsibilities without complaint or compensation, to dim our light when it shines too brightly, and to apologise for achievements that would be celebrated in others. I share personal experiences of being shamed for displaying success or enjoying luxury items – what I now recognise as the systematic policing of Black joy, a pattern so pervasive it deserves to be studied as a psychological phenomenon.

I'm thrilled to announce my new venture, Sister Scribble – a stationery brand celebrating Black creativity through vibrant, 90s hip-hop inspired designs. After finding conventional stationery boring and disconnected from my experience, I've created a line that honors our voices and cultural heritage while providing tools for creative expression. The Origin Edit launches in October 2025, coinciding with UK Black History Month.

The episode also tackles current events including immigration policies, the weaponisation of national symbols, and how Christianity is sometimes used to create hierarchies among women based on marital status. I close with strategic advice for a listener facing the all-too-common dilemma of being asked to take on senior responsibilities without appropriate recognition or compensation.

Ready to stop apologising for your success? Listen now, and remember: you are not here to be manageable. Your wins are only threatening to fragile egos – to the rest of us, they're testimony.

Referenced in podcast:

On Becoming by Toke Makinwa

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Becoming-Toke-Makinwa-ebook/dp/B01NAAEILQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22QOYVTIK8XAJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I2kHpBBav2v9SW3ObtJCNw.dR98_87UWyYR5SicIjHVRdapL-tOgl9Zf3WzsDxrtzY&dib_tag=se&keywords=toke+makinwa&qid=1756854169&sprefix=toke+makinwa%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1

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The pendulum swings wildly from political upheaval to celebrity downfalls in this packed episode examining how power, race, and identity shape our experiences in an increasingly chaotic world.

Jeremy Corbyn's dramatic political resurrection with his new "Your Party" has sparked hope for those disillusioned with mainstream UK politics, gaining 200,000 members overnight and highlighting the desperate need for genuine representation. Meanwhile, the shocking ethnicity pay gap statistics revealed by Dawn Butler MP (23.8% less for minorities in London) expose the hollow promises of workplace equality without accountability.

The stark contrast between Rachel Reeves' tearful parliamentary moment and Diane Abbott's relentless scrutiny perfectly illustrates the unspoken rules of emotional expression for Black women in public life. We're permitted no vulnerability, no softness – a reality that extends from Parliament to corporate boardrooms, where "jokes" at our expense are weapons disguised as humor.

Sean Combs conviction serves as a sobering reminder of how power corrupts and silences victims, while Marcus Fakana's imprisonment in Dubai shows how quickly young Black lives can be destroyed when race, culture, and vindictiveness collide. These stories aren't isolated incidents but threads in the same tapestry of inequality.

The episode concludes by examining how even financial success comes with hidden penalties through the "HENRY" phenomenon – where high earners face diminishing returns through aggressive taxation without corresponding benefits. It all points to a system designed to maintain imbalance rather than create true opportunity.

Ralph Lauren - Oak Bluffs

https://youtu.be/UOT8CUBpERE?si=v-k98k9oNBSHqWGr

Referenced Diane Abbott Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMuBazWdE1I

Candace Owen

https://www.youtube.com/live/FDOnxpViQxY?si=7OhdCqQKbLigratg

https://www.youtube.com/live/PKKLk57tcLs?si=FzAcSzmotlK-ZPKG

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Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

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We live in a society that's quick to label inequality as "the way things are" rather than confronting the systemic barriers that keep certain communities locked in cycles of disadvantage. The recent UK High Court ruling that 20% VAT on private school fees is lawful isn't just about taxation – it's about working-class families making extraordinary sacrifices because they've been failed by an educational system that desperately needs complete overhaul, not just additional financial barriers.

This episode dives into how discrimination manifests across different spheres – from education to professional sports to everyday workplace interactions. When I was commanded to "smile" during a meeting, it wasn't an innocent request. It was a loaded directive rooted in racial and gender expectations that police Black women's expressions and demeanor. Similarly, when tennis star Aryna Sabalenka downplayed Coco Gauff's major wins, or when the Grammys suddenly split the Best Country Album category after Beyoncé's success, we're witnessing the same underlying problem: reluctance to celebrate Black excellence on its own terms.

Perhaps most personally revealing is our exploration of friendship in midlife – what I call the "friendship renaissance." After years of giving too much to those who offered little in return, I've learned the value of having just two genuine friends rather than numerous superficial connections. True friendship requires a collective understanding of honesty, loyalty and love that many simply don't share. As we age, we become more intentional about who deserves access to our lives, recognizing that it's better to embrace solitude than accept relationships built on imbalance. What friendships are you nurturing or releasing as you evolve? How are you defining what connection means on your own terms?

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The technological revolution isn't coming—it's already here, dismantling traditional business models and reshaping our economic landscape before our eyes. McKinsey's recent firing of 10% of its workforce, openly blaming AI disruption, signals a profound shift that extends far beyond consultancies.

This episode dives deep into how artificial intelligence is fundamentally altering employment prospects across all sectors. Bill Gates predicts 80% of job losses within a decade, making it essential to understand how these changes will affect your career trajectory—regardless of your industry or position. We explore practical ways to position yourself ahead of this technological wave rather than being swept away by it.

The racial dimension of technological change cannot be ignored, as evidenced by Google's $50 million settlement for bias claims and a shocking LinkedIn experiment where a Black woman changed her profile picture to that of a white woman named "Emily"—immediately receiving interview opportunities previously denied to her. These revelations expose the systemic biases being encoded into the very algorithms meant to streamline hiring processes.

For working parents, particularly mothers, the post-pandemic push to return to office-based work adds yet another layer of complexity in an already challenging economic environment. The dismantling of flexible working arrangements disproportionately impacts women who often serve as primary caregivers, forcing many skilled professionals out of the workforce entirely.

From HMRC's plans to tax interest on savings accounts to the European pharmacy advantages discovered during a Paris trip, this episode offers practical insights for navigating financial challenges in what increasingly feels like a financial police state. The conversation wraps with a comprehensive update on the Diddy trial, examining the testimony and implications of this high-profile case.

Understand the forces reshaping our economic reality and equip yourself with the knowledge to thrive rather than merely survive in this rapidly evolving landscape.

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Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star

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