Toya Talks Podcast
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© 2026 Toya Talks Podcast
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Toya Talks is where culture, courage, and career collide.
Created for Black Women first and inclusive of allies, this podcast unpacks the realities of the workplace through the lens of culture, life, and global events. From pay gaps and strikes to leadership, politics, and authenticity, each episode explores how the world around us shapes the way we live and the way we work.
Toya goes beyond surface conversations to deliver bold truths, necessary lessons, and unapologetic strategies that empower listeners to navigate the workplace with clarity and courage.
If you’re ready to rethink work, reclaim your brilliance, and be part of conversations that matter, this is your space.
Toya Talks: Bold truths. Real strategy. For us all.
203 Episodes
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Send us a text Power makes itself felt in our bills, our jobs, and our beliefs and this week we trace that line from Arctic ice to everyday life. We unpack why Greenland has become a pressure point, how tariff threats could ripple through British businesses, and what a fraying “special relationship” means for a post‑Brexit UK with less leverage at the table. It’s not just geopolitics; it’s the cost of silence, the value of sovereignty, and the real climate stakes as ice sheets melt and shippi...
Send us a text A hard truth set the tone for the new year: a fatal accident in Nigeria and the stark reminder that infrastructure and governance shape lives. I share why that grief paused my urge to create and how honesty, not forced optimism, can be the smartest way to start January. From there, we move straight into the UK job market, where rising employer costs, higher NI, and a punishing tax reality are shrinking vacancies and closing adverts early. Job hopping has stalled; job hugging is...
Send us a text Policy shapes pay packets, childcare, heating bills, and even how we move around our cities. We break down Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget without jargon, showing how frozen thresholds create fiscal drag, why dividend and property tax hikes shift the balance toward taxing wealth, and how ISA changes nudge under 65s into risk. We look at the upside too, scrapping the two child cap, targeted help on energy bills, a rare freeze on rail fares, and what the new EV per‑mile charge means...
Send us a text A superstar stopped a show to eject a sleepy fan, and the crowd divided. We look past the memes to the real duty of care at live events, the difference between standards and humiliation, and why humility travels further than hype. That contrast sets the stage for a wider theme: how power is used in public, at work and in culture. From Lupita Nyong’o’s choice to refuse typecasting to the labels black women still face in offices, we unpack how stereotypes take root and how to pu...
Send us a text Ready to name the fear behind a big career leap? We start with the uncomfortable truth: stepping into leadership is hard when you’ve rarely seen anyone who looks like you survive and thrive there. That honesty opens a wide-angle look at credibility, negotiation, and why “director” should be a strategic choice, not a trap. You’ll hear practical pay tactics, a clear-eyed read on gender politics, and a call to claim the audacity usually reserved for the loudest voices in the room ...
Send us a text A cold November forecast isn’t just about the weather. We unpack the rumoured tax rises and talk plainly about value: why working people are told to pay more while getting less from basics like transport and the NHS. From there, we zoom in on power dynamics how leadership shields or exposes you and what it really means when institutions police tone instead of tackling racism. If you’ve ever been told “it was the situation, not you,” this conversation gives you language, strateg...
Send us a text Pressure has a way of revealing what systems are really made of. We start with a bruising week and widen the lens: from alleged deodorant burns and the surge in hair relaxer lawsuits, to NHS resident doctors preparing to strike for pay and staffing, to the silent epidemic of “polite” horrible bosses who weaponise calm and call it leadership. The through line is accountability—of brands, employers, and all of us—to act with care when our choices touch other people’s bodies, budg...
Send us a text Power is shifting, and the cracks are showing. We open with a stark look at UK politics and ask why half of Conservative members still reject a Black woman leading then widen the lens to the monarchy’s legitimacy crisis and Sarkozy’s prison sentence for conspiracy, drawing a blunt line between optics, accountability, and who is allowed to hold power without question. From crown jewels to courtrooms, we trace how status shields certain people until it doesn’t, and how public ins...
Send us a text A week off turned into a reset I didn’t know I needed: a solo first-class dash to Paris for skincare and quiet, then a Black Tech Fest panel that cracked open my entire view of leadership. Four Black women drew a bright line between management and leadership, spoke candidly about mental health and neurodiversity, and made the case for sponsorship over mentorship names in rooms, budgets for growth, introductions that move careers. I walked in curious and walked out ready to lead...
Send us a text 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, t...
Send us a text 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 close...
Send us a text 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 th...
Send us a text 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 ...
Send us a text 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 ...
Send us a text 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 stat...
Send us a text 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 financi...
Send us a text 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, mak...
Send us a text Ever felt like you're navigating a world that wasn't built for your success? This deeply personal episode unravels the complex journey of achieving professional excellence while wrestling with life's most challenging transitions. I'm celebrating passing an international certification with distinction – an achievement that came while balancing new motherhood, marriage, and career demands. This victory wasn't just academic; it represented overcoming postpartum depression, therap...
Send us a text The astronomical cost of living in the UK creates a bleak reality for citizens as April brings increased prices for essentials while personal tax allowances remain frozen. Black women face unique challenges navigating workplaces where excellence is met with discrimination and career sabotage from colleagues threatened by our success. • The weight loss journey after childbirth requires discipline and sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes • Natalie B Fitness's wo...
Send us a text The insidious nature of the glass cliff phenomenon stands as a stark reality for Black women in professional spaces, creating a precarious balancing act between opportunity and setup. While many understand the concept of the glass ceiling, fewer recognize how Black women are strategically positioned at the edge of organizational precipices, handed leadership roles specifically during times of crisis when the probability of failure looms large. This episode dissects how organiz...
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