We’re keeping your ears and minds warm between seasons by spotlighting the shows and creators who are moving us, challenging us, and reminding us why we do what we do.

This week, Aiwan shares a pick close to her heart: an episode from The Pursuit Playbook hosted by Aprileen Alexander - a finance powerhouse, creative producer, and former gal-dem team member. Produced by AiAi Studios, the show is a masterclass in navigating corporate spaces as a Black woman. It’s giving honesty, guts, and unapologetic ambition.

The featured episode, Echoes from the C-Suite: Risking It All with Shani Gonzalez, profiles the extraordinary journey of Shani, Executive VP and Managing Director at Warner Chappell Music UK. She’s launched the careers of global icons like Justin Bieber and Travis Scott, built a legacy through fearless risk-taking, and leads with the kind of strategic instinct and heart-first leadership that Aiwan sees as pure Rigour & Flow.

Together, we reflect on what it means to back yourself, trust your gut, and rewrite the playbook for creative and corporate leadership. If you’ve ever wondered how to move with conviction in industries that weren’t built with you in mind — this one’s for you.

Listen to The Pursuit Playbook by Aprileen Alexander on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/48HkvSF1wmEifiM05Nswqy

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We’re back with another Notes from the Margins - our freestyle format where we bring the ideas, tensions, and fragments we’re still sitting with.

This one’s all about the stuff that didn’t feel done. The thoughts that followed us around. And the threads we couldn’t let go of.

First, we return to Episode 1, and our conversation about faith and queerness as Africans. We talk about what it meant to open the podcast with that episode, what we held back at the time, and how the tension between visibility and vulnerability has followed us ever since.

In our second segment, Aiwan returns to our discussion of The Crip Walk from Episode 2 on The Policing of Black Thought, and delves into new insights, learnings, and alternative storytelling around the origins of the dance, including Serena Williams' return to it during her recent Super Bowl performance with Kendrick Lamar. We explore the erasure of this history, what it reveals about disability justice and the Black community, and how we’re trying to deepen our solidarity with Black disabled siblings in our own work.

Finally, Tamanda circles back to Episode 4, What It Costs to Have a Baby, and delves deeper into the data on the availability of Black sperm donors in the UK. Drawing on an article shared by Dr Celestin Okoroji, we also dig deeper into compounding health inequalities faced by Black academic women with chronic reproductive health conditions.

This episode isn’t just a look back. It’s a season wrap. A reckoning. A moment to honour what we carried into Season 1, and what we’re carrying out of it as we head into a new era of the show.

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• Roots & Rigour

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©AiAi Studios 2025

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We decided to do something a little different...

We went LIVE for the very first time. To reflect on the journey so far, answer listener questions, and share a glimpse of life behind the scenes of Rigour & Flow. What followed was a surprising, hilarious, and deeply moving encounter with the people who’ve been with us from the jump.

We were joined by listeners from across our community - some who’ve known us for years, others who found us through the podcast - and we talked about everything from what surprised you most about the show to your favourite moments (including the Naija accent requests?!). You asked for uncut episodes, more behind-the-scenes, and some of you even suggested guests. We shared a few things we haven’t said before - including how we really feel about “weird coupley podcast energy.”

And then, just as things got good... we were booted off Instagram Live. Without warning. But you came back. Nearly every single one of you returned to the second stream - which, someone said, “would be a good crowd in a real-life room.” That moment? It meant everything.

Now we’re back to share our lightly edited version of the LIVE so anyone who couldn’t join can catch up. As it stands, this is an episode about our community. About what it means to think you might end up speaking into the void - only to find the void you imagined actually speaks back. And is absolutely ready to catch you.

It’s messy, unscripted, honest, and full of love. It’s a soft ending and a bold beginning. And we couldn’t be more grateful so many of you joined our little island of magic.

💬 In this episode:

• Season One reflections from Aiwan, Tamanda and you - the fam!
• What surprised us (and you) about making Rigour & Flow
• Behind-the-scenes realities of podcasting as a couple
• What we’ve learned from sharing publicly and showing up consistently
• The tech fail that kicked us off Instagram Live - and what happened next
• Listener feedback: favourite episodes, future guests, and format requests
• Our dreams for community-driven storytelling in Season Two

Community Shout-Out

This live episode wouldn’t have been what it was without the incredible people who showed up and showed out.

Huge love to Hollie (our behind-the-scenes magician) and Ade (our on-screen facilitator) - you held it down with grace, humour, and heart.

And thank you to everyone who joined us live - whether you caught the first stream, came back for part two, or watched the replay. We felt every bit of your presence.

Please leave a rate, review and subscribe for weekly episodes.

Connect with us on:

• Substack
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• AiAi Studios
• Roots & Rigour

This is an AiAi Studios Production

©AiAi Studios 2025

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.