Episodes

  • Episode 277: Building Biotech Ecosystems for Africans with David Hutchful

    Episode 277: Building Biotech Ecosystems for Africans with David Hutchful
    Jun 24 2025
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! I met this week's guest last month as a fellow AfroTalks 2025 (https://afrotalks.com) speaker. Our collective charge for the event was to present our ideas about the how of Pan-African Progress from mindset, to skills development to migration policy and the future of work. While I shared insights from the future of work salon seried, our guest this week, David Hutchful participated on a panel discussion skills development. Born in Ghana, David is a passionate technologist, entrepreneur, educator, and design thinking expert dedicated to building tech-driven solutions in emerging markets. With over 25 years of experience in software development, he has led teams to create award-winning innovative platforms that drive business and social impact in Ghana and abroad. As Co-Founder/CTO of Yemaachi Biotech (YC21) (https://www.yemaachi.com/company/), he is working to build the most diverse genomic database to advance precision oncology. Previously, he co-founded Bloom Impact, led technology innovation at Grameen Foundation, and worked at Microsoft Research. His expertise spans Fintech, Health tech, and Biotech, with a focus on leveraging technology for meaningful change. All topics we touch on in our conversation. Where to find David? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhutchful/?originalSubdomain=gh) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dkhutchful/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/dhutchful) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz-BUKLGAqE) What’s David watching? Dept. Q (https://www.netflix.com/title/81487660?source=35&fromWatch=true) on Netflix What’s David riding and a few motorcycle clubs in Accra: Yamaha XSR900 (https://yamahamotorsports.com/models/xsr900) Ultimate Riders MC (https://www.instagram.com/ultimate_riders_mc/) Hotwheels Ghana MC (https://www.facebook.com/hotwheelsghanamc/) Biker Girls GH (https://www.instagram.com/bikergirlsgh/?hl=en) Other topics of interest: Apam, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apam) Adukrom, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adukrom) About Abelempke, Accra (https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/abelemkpe-a-tale-of-two-cities-within-a-city) What is the Africa Rising Movement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Rising) about? About Ahaspora (https://www.ahaspora.com) Why did nurses and midwives in Ghana go on strike? (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/BREAKING-Nurses-and-midwives-suspend-nationwide-strike-1987698) Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in Ghana (https://www.modernghana.com/news/849705/community-based-health-planning-and-services-chps-in-ghana.html) About Kasapreko (https://kasapreko.com/our-story/) About WACCBIP - West African Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (https://www.waccbip.org) GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation (https://gdpr-info.eu) +233 Jazz Bar and Grill (https://www.instagram.com/233jazzbarandgrill/) Empire of AI (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743569/empire-of-ai-by-karen-hao/) by Karen Hao Special Guest: David Hutchful.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Episode 1: Coming Soon: Glocal Citizens

    Episode 1: Coming Soon: Glocal Citizens
    Nov 22 2019
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! Let me introduce myself, I'm your host Florence Amerley Adu. I'm CEO and co-founder of LEAP Transmedia. Our vision is to seeds and sows a fertile ground for improving education and economic outcomes for Ghanaians and Africans across the diaspora. Do you dream about “doing something” abroad? Then consider Glocal Citizens required listening in the due diligence, trusted advisor and inspiration department. In each episode, I visit with dynamic diasporans making local and global impact designing and applying their craft. We explore how their passions have rooted them throughout their lives, while at the same time feeding the branches compelling them to keep reaching “beyond.” We also discuss the personal and professional dimensions of glocal citizenship. Then we round out the discussion with a deep dive into to the business of their business, covering the technical and operational components of the work of “doing something.”
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    2 mins
  • Episode 276: On Visual Storytelling as a Language for Activism with Michael Soi

    Episode 276: On Visual Storytelling as a Language for Activism with Michael Soi
    Jun 17 2025
    Greetings from East Africa Glocal Citizens! Well, kind of…this conversation was recorded last weekend from Nairobi on the eve of Father’s Day and a day after the opening of my guest, Michael Soi’s current group exhibition, The Print Press (https://web.facebook.com/michael.soi.7/posts/the-print-press-is-an-exhibit-of-woodcut-prints-by-various-nairobi-based-artist-/10162204021212545/?_rdc=1&_rdr), an exhibit of woodcut prints by various Nairobi based artist at the Alliance Française de Nairobi 13th - 29th of June. I met Michael in his studio at The Go Down Art Centre (https://thegodown.org) when I first visited Kenya in February and after an inspired conversation I wanted to be sure to share his story here. As you’ll hear, he has been working in Nairobi since 1995 after completion of his fine art and art history studies. His distinctive work is inspired by contemporary life in Nairobi providing a photographic diary of Nairobi. It is also a satirical commentary of social, economic and political trends. His work explores relationships – intergenerational, interracial or generally what he calls the economics of love, commercial sex work and popular culture within the context of globalization and consumerism. A wonderful aspect of Michael’s visual storytelling craft is that he’s figured out the hacks that make his art accessible on many levels from the curious observer to the serious collector. Listen and learn more! Where to find Michael? On Artsy (https://www.artsy.net/artist/michael-soi) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/michaelsoistudio/?hl=en) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/michael.soi.7/) What’s Michael watching? About Planetary Parades or Syzygy (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/planetary-alignments-and-planet-parades/) Other topics of interest: About Machakos, Kenya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machakos) About Ancent Soi and the 1972 Munich Olympics (https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/arts-and-culture/article/2000140196/the-great-artiste-who-painted-the-1972-olympics-poster#google_vignette) About the Kuona Trust Residencies (http://kuonatrust.org/who-we-are/programmes/) National Museums of Kenya (https://museums.or.ke) About Kenya’s second President Daniel arap Moi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_arap_Moi) Special Guest: Michael Soi.
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    50 mins
  • Episode 275: Telling Omitted Truths with Lavinya Stennett

    Episode 275: Telling Omitted Truths with Lavinya Stennett
    Jun 10 2025
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! We’re picking up more momentum toward African progress sharing the stories of dynamic diasporans making impact in the reparatory justice space. On the eve of Africa Day, I attended the premier screening of Omitted, a short film exploring reparatory justice and the legacies of colonialism by Lavinya Stennett, founder of The Black Curriculum. Raised in the UK with Jamaican roots, she founded The Black Curriculum in 2019 at age 22 shortly after finishing her studies at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) which included a study abroad program in New Zealand. Her learning and experience with indigenous communities in New Zealand joined with her activism as a student at SOAS are the framework for the craft of truthtelling that is at the core of The Black Curriculum. Believing in the power of education, social impact and youth social entrepreneurship, her work has been recognised globally from Vogue and GQ to the historic Freedom of the City of London Award in 2024. She also has written on social and cultural themes throughout the African diaspora for outlets including the Guardian, Black Ballad, Quartz Africa. Expanding her entrpreneurship journey, in 2024 Lavinya co-founded the Racial Impact Collective, an initiative supporting social entrepreneurs and seeking equity in the grant making world. The future is brighter with knowing that there is a generation fo social innovators with creative talents like Lavinya committed to justice for marginalized peoples. Where to find Lavinya? https://www.lavinyastennett.co.uk TheBlackCurriculum.com (https://theblackcurriculum.com) On LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/lavinya-stennett-frsa-022290104) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/theblackcurriculum/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theblackcurriculum) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ3q6lnCyT5dMgTPbVRjPDw/featured) What’s Lavinya reading? Material World (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703268/material-world-by-ed-conway/) by Ed Conway Free: Coming of Age at the End of History (https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393867732) by Lea Ypi Other topics of interest: Portland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Parish) and Saint Thomas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas_Parish,_Jamaica), Jamaica Barbados (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados) and the Welcome Stamp Visa (https://www.visitbarbados.org/barbados-welcome-stamp) - Note: the capital is Bridgetown, not Christ Church The SOAS Walter Rodney Prize (https://www.facebook.com/SOASHistory/posts/the-walter-rodney-prizethe-walter-rodney-prize-fund-recognises-student-excellenc/2737891912931953/) Dream New Scholarship (https://www.european-funding-guide.eu/scholarship/dream-new-scholarship) Univrsity of Waikato (https://www.waikato.ac.nz/int/) About the Treaty of Waitangi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Waitangi) and the latest on the protest haka in the New Zealand’s Parliament seen around the globe (linkhttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/5/new-zealand-parliament-suspends-maori-mps-who-performed-protest-haka) About Omitted production partner, Transmission (https://www.wearetransmission.com) About Peace First (https://peacefirst.org) Special Guest: Lavinya Stennett.
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    56 mins
  • Episode 274: Navigating Creativity with Wana Udobang

    Episode 274: Navigating Creativity with Wana Udobang
    Jun 3 2025
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! As we hit the halfway mark on 2025 our treat this week is a thought-provoking conversation with Wana Udobang, a multifaceted writer, poet, performer, curator, and storyteller based in Lagos, Nigeria. I met Wana last year during the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra where she faciliated her own unique writing workshop - “Comfort Food” a storytelling and poetry workshop that uses food as a conduit to explore memories, history, joy, and healing which was born out of her culinary quality time during the pandemic. In this lively conversation we cover Wana's extensive body of work which encompasses her journey of becoming a creative professional in Nigeria, her spoken word albums and how she has honed her craft building a framework for entrepreneurship using various storytelling platforms. 00:00:23 Introduction and Opening Remarks 00:04:02 A Short Story About ECG 00:07:56 Introduction and Background 00:11:53 Wana's Creative Journey and Achievements 00:16:00 Life in Lagos and Cultural Insights 00:19:42 The Art of Storytelling and Poetry 00:23:38 Why the Where: Career Path and Returning to Nigeria 00:27:32 Comfort Food Workshops and Creative Collaborations 00:31:43 Glocal Speak 00:35:31 Organizing for Success: Tools and Techniques 00:39:27 Balancing Creativity and Economics 00:43:22 Mindset Hacks as an Ethos 00:47:30 The Role of Fellowships in Professional Growth 00:51:20 What's New and Next? 00:55:15 Reader, Watcher, Listener? 00:59:25 Final Thoughts Where to find Wana? wanaudobang.com (https://www.wanaudobang.com/about) On LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/wana-udobang-16063776) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mswanawana) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/misswanawana) What’s Wana reading? Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun (https://sarahladipomanyika.com/work/like-a-mule-bringing-ice-cream-to-the-sun-book.html) by Sarah Lipado Manyika All Fours (https://mirandajuly.com/all-fours/) by Miranda July The Big Leap (https://hendricks.com/resources/big-leaps/the-big-leap/?v=0b3b97fa6688) by Gay Hendricks What’s Wana watching? Conclave (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclave_(film)) The Substance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Substance) What’s Wana listening to? Florence and the Machine (https://florenceandthemachine.net) Other topics of interest: About the Ibibio people of Nigeria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibibio_people) Def Poetry Jam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Def_Poetry_Jam) About Nnedi Okorafor (https://nnedi.com) and Akata Warrior (https://www.instagram.com/p/DJhM9rQJxFr/) as seen in the new Forever series on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/forever-judy-blume-show-announcement) Special Guest: Wana Udobang.
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    1 hr
  • Episode 273: Pan-African Narratives: Storytelling for High Impact with Ivy Prosper

    Episode 273: Pan-African Narratives: Storytelling for High Impact with Ivy Prosper
    May 27 2025
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week we have another flashback forward episode with experienced television host, reporter, producer, public speaker, published writer, and returning guest, Ivy Prosper (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/ivy-prosper). Since leaving her role working with the Ghana Tourism Authority she’s laser focused on her creative media company, Prosper Creative Group, which produces content, consults with clients and supports projects in the creative industries. As an advocate for empowering women and girls, she’s been outspoken on issues regarding self-esteem, positive body image and gender equality; she recently launched The Ivy Prosper Show (https://www.youtube.com/@IvyProsperShow) as a platform dedicated to telling these stories. Where to find Ivy? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivy-prosper-9872001/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ivyprosper/) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/IvyProsper) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ivyprosper/) On Pintrest (https://www.pinterest.com/ivyprosper/pins/) Listen to Ivy on Farm Radio International’s Nature Answers (https://farmradio.org/natureanswers/) Get your copy of Ivy’s book Your Essential Guide to Moving to Ghana (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Essential-Guide-Moving-Ghana/dp/1983012920/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.96xo_869RMsH7_EQS2VI_kNwLFAcXcvlqdYaskGB8cM.QfilzRyrMJyvbmOqhxsvOBI-HKEEh2Yv9sVXw2gP-Rs&dib_tag=se&qid=1748315972&refinements=p_27%3AIvy+Prosper&s=books&sr=1-1) Other topics of interest: Tema at the Center of the Earth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvMxH5eInW8) Maternal Health Channel (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4kR383ti2AImpDmR1w1Y9z8HxyySQM6z&si=2BUiUONY7FlQnNH6) Founder Kwesi Owusu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwesi_Owusu) About St. Catharine’s and the Underground Railroad (https://www.stcatharines.ca/en/arts-culture-and-events/the-underground-railroad.aspx#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20St.,fleeing%20slavery%20in%20the%201820s.) About Sambra City (https://sanbracityghana.com) About Gated Housing Estates in Ghana (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41107466) Special Guest: Ivy Prosper.
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    59 mins
  • Episode 272: Climate Reparations: A Critical Issue at the Intersection of Racial, Climate and Economic Justice with Hélène Himmer

    Episode 272: Climate Reparations: A Critical Issue at the Intersection of Racial, Climate and Economic Justice with Hélène Himmer
    May 20 2025
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week Hélène Himmer, a French national with roots in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, now based in Portugal joins me in conversation about her current work at African Futures Lab (AfaLab) leading a project on climate reparations. I met Hélène last November at FORGE: Harnessing Creative Arts for Reparatory Justice, a convening of artists, media, cultural workers, civil society, and government leaders across Africa, Europe and the U.S. to further the movement for reparations. The event took place in Accra, Ghana and featured Glocal Citizens Esther Armah (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/esther-armah), Makmid Kamara (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/makmid-kamara), and Nyamal Tutdeal (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nyamal-tutdeal) as facilitators. In addition to meeting so many dynamic diasporans I was introduced to organizations like AfaLab, an international non-profit organization supporting racial justice movements in Europe and Africa through conducting research and developing policy and legal strategies to empower civil society actors and public and private institutions in their fight for justice and reparations. Currently the Policy and Advocacy Officer at AfaLab, Hélène is a committed activist and professional with a diverse background in human rights law, corporate social responsibility and international development. Her activism began in her early teens with a youth organization focused on education, youth rights and inclusion. She then spent several years working for racial justice in France. Moving to the corporate sector, Hélène worked in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in start-ups and technology companies. However, her passion for social impact led her to international organizations where she specialized in advocacy, project management and partnerships. Her work has focused on climate justice, peacebuilding, anti-corruption, women's empowerment, youth cooperation and inclusive societies across Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region. Where to find Hélène? AfaLab Policy Paper "Unlocking Climate Reparations: Key Obstacles in the Emergence of a Climate Reparations Framework" (https://www.afalab.org/news/2024-09-18-unlocking-climate-reparations-key-obstacles-in-the-emergence-of-a-climate-reparations-framework/) Listen in on AfaLab’s Season 3 Podcast Future Perfect | futur antérieur on Climate Reparations (https://www.afalab.org/podcast-future-perfect-futur-anterieur/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hélène-himmer-886037157/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/african_futures_lab/) What’s Hélène reading? REDD-Monitor (https://redd-monitor.org/) Other topics of interest: Brittany, France (linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany) A bit about Guadeloupe (https://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2013/11/guadeloupe-african-descendants-in.html) Who is Dr. Farhana Sultana (https://farhanasultana.com/)? About the Loss and Damage Fund (https://www.undp.org/belarus/stories/loss-and-damage-fund-developing-countries) Center for International Environmental Law (https://www.ciel.org/) Special Guest: Hélène Himmer.
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    49 mins
  • Episode 271: Empowering Youth for Pan-African Progress with Hamzat Lawal

    Episode 271: Empowering Youth for Pan-African Progress with Hamzat Lawal
    May 13 2025
    Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s guest is a dynamic activist that I had the pleasure of working with while distributing a documentary (see other topics of interest) featuring the work that has become his origin story in the world of Pan-African development. Hamzat “Hamzy!” Lawal is a global citizen, community organizer, an award-winning advocate and humanitarian who has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 African countries. He specializes in practical issues associated with climate change, open data, advocacy and development policies affecting rural and deprived communities. He is the Founder of Follow The Money (http://followthemoneyng.org), a home-grown, Pan-African grassroots, data-driven initiative currently in 10 African countries. As the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE) (http://connecteddevelopment.org/), an organization he also founded, CODE won the ONE Africa 2016 Award recognizing, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of African organizations; dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When he is not social entrpreneuring, Hamzy sits on the Executive Board of the largest Youth Movement in Africa: African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) (http://ayicc.net/), and has joined his voice on different platforms and policy influencing coalitions across Africa such as the Not Too Young To Run (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Too_Young_To_Run) movement which drives youth political inclusion. And also serves as an Education Champion with the Malala Fund, organization working for a world where all girls can learn for 12 years and lead without fear. This is definitely a listening and learning opportunity with wonderful insights into the work of empowering the youth that are poised to lead the Continent. Where to find Hamzy? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamzat-lawal-85409129/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/hamzatblawal/?_rdc=1&_rdr#) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hamzycode/) What’s Hamzy reading? Love Does not Win Elections (https://www.narrativelandscape.com/product/love-does-not-win-elections/) by Glocal Citizen Ayisha Osori (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/ayisha-osori) Other topics of interest: The documentary that started it all Perspective (https://vimeo.com/272930033) About Kogi State (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kogi_State), Nigeria and the Ebira (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebira_people) people About #SaveBagega (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagega) Another side of Bauchi State (https://youtu.be/a7KJxxKTVkA?si=VS0FSk157OAF3dSy) Special Guest: Hamzat Lawal.
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    54 mins