Life to A Teee

Send us Fan MailTwo months into my sabbatical, and I combined weeks 7 and 8 — because life did not give me a choice. Chest pains. Memory loss. Ten pounds gone in two weeks. A trip to Chicago that my soul needed morethan I realized. And a return to Houston that unlocked something I wasn't prepared for. I also have something to tell you about social media. And something I'm choosing to keep to myself. This one is unfiltered. This one is real. Come sit with me. Support the show

Send us Fan MailWeek 6 of the sabbatical, and this one hit different. Between TED prep, a sermon that made me ugly-cry, a girlfriend's visit, and a gala for a cause I deeply believe in, this week had no chill.We're talking church culture in LA, what it means to truly forgive without reconciling, and the question that stopped me cold: What's your Isaac?Also, I apparently cannot write a TED intro without sobbing. That's a whole thing.Subscribe for weekly real talk on sabbaticals, life transitions, and uninterrupted honesty.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWeek 5 of the Uninterrupted Tee sabbatical series. This week Tope flew her girlfriends to Aruba on 48 hours' notice, and what followed was one of the most healing, emotional, and hilarious weeks of the entire sabbatical. From a gratitude dinner at the Flying Fishbone that turned into unexpected tears, to Flamingo Island, to recreating the Beyoncé 7/11 video — this episode is a full love letter to intentional female friendship and what real community looks like.Then it's off to DC: three events in one night, a 40th birthday celebration where every speaker said the same thing, a gospel concert, and a reminder that showing up for the people in your life, especially as they elevate, is non-negotiable.This week's theme: community is the cheat code. But you have to show up to be in it.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWeek 4 of sabbatical, I did something radical: I disappeared.Not because something was wrong. Because everything finally felt right enough to actually rest. I took a real vacation. I spent time with friends. I stayed offline. And I paid attention to what came up when the noise went quiet.This week's conversation covers a lot of ground, but it's all connected. We talk about what genuine rest looks like for Black women, and why a week offline felt like the most productive thing I've done in years. We talk about the joy of free will, what it actually means to wake up and decide what the day gets to be.Then we go deeper. I'm speaking directly to my Black men — and to anyone who's ever felt that energy shift at work before a layoff is announced. The steps to take before it happens, how to protect yourself if it wasn't fair, and why your value has never lived in that building.We also get into what it looks like to market yourself in a world being reshaped by AI, and why the answer isn't to compete with it. We talk about misinformation and how to protect your thinking. And I share why I've made the intentional switch to Claude, and why I think the ethics behind your AI tools deserve the same consideration as anything else you bring into your life.Week 4 was quiet. And the quiet said a lot.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWeek 3 of sabbatical took me further than I expected — literally and figuratively.I flew to DC to close out my last consulting client. And then I stayed. Because DC is where my people are. And for the first time in years, I gave myself more than 48 hours to actually be with them, no packed agenda, no back-to-back meetings, no performance of availability. Just real, unhurried time with the women who know me best.What followed was one of the most restorative weeks of this entire sabbatical. We're talking pedicures and long lunches and a hotel bar conversation that went on for hours with not a single drink between us. One of my girlfriends booked me a surprise photo shoot, just because she knew I needed to feel like myself again. And in that moment, I understood something I want to talk about in this episode: the right people in your life will see you before you can see yourself.We also get into my very first Amtrak experience, specifically the Acela, which I expected to feel like the Eurostar and did not. My first trip to Philly. And a dinner in New York hosted by Carla Harris that put me in a room full of Black investors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs, and reminded me exactly why intentional network building is one of the most important things you can do for your future and your family's future.And then I landed, went straight to school pickup, and reported back to mom duty. Because that's the duality.This episode is about reconnection. About what real friendship looks like in hard seasons. About carrying things well but not alone. And about the infrastructure,  human infrastructure — that holds you up when titles and calendars no longer define you.If you've been in a season where you needed someone to remind you who you are, this one is for you.Support the show

Send us Fan MailEveryone's been asking the same question since I started this series: how did you afford it?So this week, I'm going there. The real number. The real breakdown. The sacrifices nobody sees and the conversations you have to have before you can actually stop.Week 2 of my sabbatical landed right in the middle of Valentine's Day — and before we get to the money, we have to talk about that. Because I am not a holiday person. Never have been. And watching so many of my friends spend the week in a low-grade anxiety about what someone else was or wasn't going to do for them made me want to say something. Valentine's Day doesn't have to be expensive. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. But it should be intentional. And fellas — a romantic email would go a long way. I'm just saying.Then we get into it. I saved $200,000 for this sabbatical. And I know how that sounds. So let me break it down — what that money actually covers, how long I saved for it, the $5,000 a month I was setting aside with intention as early as 2023, the investments that were quietly working while I was loudly working, and the invisible financial load that comes with being the person so many people depend on.Because as a Black woman who supports her parents, her friends, and a team of about 10 people, the conversation about rest and money is never simple. The privilege of taking a sabbatical is real. And so is the weight of what it took to get here.We also talk about the hard conversations you have to have before you can truly step away. With your family. With the people who depend on you. With yourself. Because you can have the money saved and still not be ready to stop performing availability.And the hardest thing I saved for this sabbatical wasn't $200,000. It was the courage to finally stop.Support the show

Send us Fan MailUnpacking what a rested black woman navigating a sabbatical looks like. Each week, we explore what was learned and how we rest. Join weekly to see where this journey takes us.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFusi joins Life to a Teee to talk about legacy, leadership, and raising future-forward kids in a divided world. From navigating Nigeria's challenges to discussing AI, discipline, and global politics, Fusi opens up about the fears many men don’t speak on: “What happens if I leave nothing behind?” This one is for the builders, dreamers, and doers.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you walk away from music? Nedu talks about reinvention, losing clients, crying over deleted files, and building Quirky Scope—his new creative studio inspired by Tyler Perry. This episode is about knowing when to pivot, protecting your purpose, and being fearless in your next act.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this deeply personal episode, YBB—an executive powerhouse—shares what it means to provide as a woman in both boardrooms and personal spaces. From navigating identity and expectations to confronting what’s at stake when you lead from the front, she explores the tension between impact and self-preservation. This conversation unpacks the emotional weight of success, the vulnerability behind leadership, and the beauty of choosing balance without apology.Support the show

Send us Fan MailGhost from Show Dem Camp gets candid about his journey in music, from touring with 2Face to building Palmwine Fest. He talks about therapy, time management, industry gatekeeping, and staying true to his creative voice. If you’ve ever struggled to find purpose in your passion—this one’s for you.Support the show

Send us Fan MailSerial entrepreneur Ijeoma Okonkwo doesn't hold back in this conversation about financial independence, being married to one of Nigeria's biggest musicians, and building a business empire while raising a family.From shutting down businesses that no longer serve her to moving 82 Nigerian businesses to London for international trade fairs, Ijeoma share the unfiltered truth about doing it all—and why women need to stop apologizing for having their own money👤 ABOUT IJEOMA OKONKWO:Ijeoma Okonkwo is the founder of Pixie World Events, an event management company specializing in corporate events and international trade fairs. Since 2016, she has built multiple successful businesses while navigating marriage to entertainment mogul KCee, motherhood, and personal growth.Her trade fair company has expanded from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, and internationally to London, empowering primarily women-owned businesses to access larger markets and international opportunities.📱 CONNECT WITH IJEOMA:Instagram: @missiejayBusiness: Pixie World Events🎙️ ABOUT LIFE TO A TEEE:Life to a Teee is a podcast for entrepreneurs, creatives, and ambitious individuals navigating the intersection of career, family, and personal growth. Hosted by Tope Ajala, each episode features honest conversations about the real journey—not just the highlight reel.#LifeToATeeePodcast #WomenInBusiness #NigerianEntrepreneur #Marriage #Motherhood #NigerianPodcast #WorkLifeBalance #TradeFair #LagosBusiness #AfricanEntrepreneurThis episode is for every woman who's been told she can't have it all. Spoiler: You can. Just not alone.Support the show

Send us Fan MailFrom auditor to designer, MBN shares how she built a fashion line rooted in faith, integrity, and Lagos excellence. We talk rejection, the grind of pleasing clients, standing firm on your vision, and why corsets might just need to go. An empowering conversation for any creative building with intention.Support the show

Send us Fan MailGodwin Tom gets real about fatherhood, failing more than once, and what it takes to live your dream while juggling the pressures of family and legacy. From marriage confessions to emotional growth, this episode is raw, funny, and deeply relatable. A must-listen for anyone redefining success after setbacks.Support the show

Send us Fan MailSeason 2 of Life to a Teee Podcast kicks off with one of our most emotionally honest episodes yet. 🎙In this conversation, Simi Drey opens up about the realities of motherhood — loving your child deeply but sometimes hating motherhood itself. She shares:✔️ Why boundaries matter for women and mothers✔️ Walking away from toxic relationships✔️ How being misunderstood shaped her journey✔️ Building generational wealth on her own termsThis is motherhood unfiltered — healing, raw, and real for anyone who’s ever felt the same.Simi is the true definition of soft life meets big dreams — a leader who embodies everything she believes in.✨ Listen + subscribe to Life to a Teee Podcast on YouTube, Spotify & Apple.#LifeToATeeePod #MotherhoodUnfiltered #SimiDrey #SoftLife #GenerationalWealthSupport the show

Send us Fan MailAward-winning musician and content creator Alex Duncan shares how he uses music to tell powerful stories. We explore the balance between creativity, authenticity, and purpose, and how creating from a place of truth not only transforms your art but also your life.Support the show

Send us Fan MailCelebrity DJ and event curator DJ Trauma shares his incredible journey from battling imposter syndrome to standing in rooms with Oprah, Tiffany Haddish, and Dave Chappelle. We talk about the price of ambition, recognizing burnout, and why he chose to slow down to save his life.Support the show

Send us Fan MailJoin me and Jason Rosario as we dive into the evolving definition of the modern man. We explore the complex realities Black men face in executive spaces, the importance of accountability among men, and the challenges of leadership in today's world. A necessary conversation about growth, healing, and redefining masculinity.Support the show

Send us Fan MailSex therapist Makando sits with me to unpack how trauma shows up in our bodies. We discuss the importance of somatic awareness, navigating unresolved wounds, and practical tips to realign your body for maximum rest and restoration. A must-watch if you're on a healing journey.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMusical genius Niji Adeleye — jazz artist and band lead for Charlie Puth — joins me to discuss balancing life on and off the stage. We talk about how the entertainment industry can better support jazz musicians, and how to honor your seasons of sowing, growing, and harvest.Support the show