American Rapper and Songwriter, LYRICALMAR, is a Washington, DC native whose love of luxury takes him beyond hip-hop to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with music style icons like Janet Jackson, Grace Jones, and Lil Nas X. His latest EP is called MARCHIVES, and features the songs God’s Gift (My Turn) and On A Roll. His 2020 debut album, Begin, had the single Black Money, which featured Wuhryn Duman. It earned him the PopSmashRadio Award for the socially conscious song. LYRICALMAR is part of the lineup for the 2025 World Pride Music Festival.

British Author and Poet Dean Atta has been described as “the Gil Scott-Heron of his generation”. In 2014, his debut collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. Dean’s other literary works include his 2024 memoir, Person Unlimited: An Ode to My Black Queer Body, the young adult novels The Black Flamingo and Only on the Weekends, and the children’s book, Confetti: A Colourful Celebration of Love and Life. His latest YA novel is I Can’t Even Think Straight. Dean’s 2025 animated short, Two Black Boys in Paradise, is based on a poem and had its UK premiere this past March 2025 at the BFI Flare London: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.

Rashid Owoyele is the Berlin-based Nigerian-American Managing Partner and Transdisciplinary Designer at Transekt Agency in Berlin. They’re also an innovation and career coach whose practice centres around “…a questioning of what exists and how to evaluate that through social practice and envisioning collaborative ways to engage communities and groups in processes of innovation.”

Vernal Scott is a British author and consultant on EDI with over four decades of experience. Vernal was the Head of Equality & Diversity Unit at Oxford University and the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Essex Police. In 1991, he organised the historic Reach Out and Touch HIV/AIDS Procession with Flowers—an event privately financed by George Michael and starring Whitney Houston. Vernal’s upcoming memoir, UK Black, will be published via Amazon on 16 April for the Kindle ebook and on 18 April for the paperback.

(Original Air Date: 20 June 2023) Our Black Gay Diaspora Podcast's creator, host, and producer Erick Taylor Woodby is interviewed by Gamal 'G' Turawa, an ED&I facilitator, transformational storyteller, and the protagonist in the 2022 BAFTA-wining documentary, The Black Cop. Erick shares about his pride in being a Black gay American writer, podcast producer, and digital nomad.

Rinaldo Walcott is a Canadian academic, writer, and a Professor and Chair of Africana and American Studies at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. He holds the Carl V. Granger Chair in Africana and American Studies. Thank you to Episode 98’s guest, Lyndon K. Gill, for connecting us. Rinaldo's published works include “The Long Emancipation: Moving toward Black Freedom and On Property (2021)”, “BlackLife: Post-BLM and the Struggle for Freedom with Idil Abdillahi (2019)”, “Queer Returns: Essays on Multiculturalism, Diaspora and Black Studies (2016)”, and “Black Like Who?: Writing Black Canada (1997 and 2003)”.

Shelley Nicole is an American singer-songwriter, musician, composer, actor, poet, healer, and the frontperson and founder of the band, Shelley Nicole’s blaKbüshe. In a league with artists like Rosetta Tharpe, Nina Simone, Betty Davis, Labelle, Joan Armatrading, and Meshell Ndegeocello, Shelley Nicole’s blaKbüshe is equal parts rock, soul, blues, jazz, and funk. Shelley has collaborated with various artists—including Vernon Reid of the band, Living Colour and the American improvisational band, Burnt Sugar.

Tim Vincent is co-founder and president of Brothers of the Desert, “…a non-profit organization with a mission to support Black gay men and allies through education, advocacy, social networking, volunteerism, philanthropy, and mentorship.” Aigner "Anye Elite" Ellis is a member of Brothers of the Desert and the founder and chief project manager of Icon City Entertainment, LLC, a company that “…embodies a spirit of transformation and empowerment.” On March 22, 2025, Brothers of the Desert’s 6th Annual Wellness Summit will be at The Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs, CA.

Aurora Krotoa Moses is the South African founder and CEO of Aurora Kaleidoscope Movement. She’s also a Global Ambassador for Theirworld, and an alumnus of FutureElect. In 2023, she was the focus of Carl Collison’s documentary, ‘Aurora: Beyond the Boundaries’. Her portrait was one piece featured in Cape Town-based visual artist Selvin November’s December 2023 display at Cape Heritage Hotel.

Nzube Ufodike is a British entrepreneur, investor, and advisor. Thank you to Gamal ‘G’ Turawa for connecting us. Nzube is a co-founder of Amoo Angels, a UK-based angel network. He's a board member and advisor to early and growth-stage businesses in the UK and emerging markets. Nzube is also a fundraising coach / entrepreneur-in-residence for other accelerator programmes. He's a trustee at The Africa Centre, a chair at the BCS Foundation, IoD Emerging NEDs Special Interest Group, and is on the board at Queen Mary University of London.