How I Crushed It

BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning producer and director Jo Johnson sits down with Tunde to discuss her rise through the UK television industry. From growing up in Kensal Rise to smashing it on Netflix, she shares hard-won lessons and candid career insights.
Early life in West London and influences on Jo Johnson's work ethic
Breaking into the industry and overcoming setbacks as a Black woman in TV
Key career milestones: Brookside, The Real McCoy, EastEnders, and Coronation Street
Transition from directing to producing, including the story behind hit Netflix show Adolescence
The importance of representation, resilience, and advice for forging your own path in the arts
Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

We revisit our chat with former Senior Director at LinkedIn, Tunji Akintokun. He has also had senior leadership positions at PwC and Cisco.
Since leaving LinkedIn Tunji now focuses his energy as a Non-Executive Director, Trustee, Patron and Angel Investor using technology, sport, and the arts as vehicles for change through his philanthropic efforts to help those with talent who lack the access to opportunity.
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Stay in touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howicrushedit/
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

Dr Samantha Tross is one of the UK's most respected orthopaedic surgeons. In 2005 she made history when she became Britain’s first Black female orthopaedic consultant surgeon. She was the first woman in Europe to use robotic hip surgery in 2018, and she has been regularly recognised as one of Britain's most influential Black Britons in the annual Powerlist.
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Dr Dion Terrelonge: Psychologist and Fashion Stylist
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit
 

Mike Williams is co-founder of Flake Bake – the UK's most successful Jamaican patty business. In 2024 the business won Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Big Thing and in the same year Mike won the Black British Business Awards, Rising Star of the year - Entrepreneur🏆.
 
Website
TV Advert
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Ire Hassan- Odukale - Co-Founder of the fine dining restaurant, Ikoyi
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

Sola Akingbola is a musician, recording artist and band member of the Grammy award winning band, Jamiroquai. Across his career he has performed with the likes of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder and he is also an accomplished composer for the stage and screen.
 
Website
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Kojo Samuel - Music Director
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

With the domestic football season coming to an end over the next week or so and the FIFA World Cup fast approaching in the summer, we revisit our chat with Skysports reporter, Kyle Walker.
 
Kyle Walker is a SJA British Sports Journalism nominated Sky Sports presenter and reporter who also regularly works for Manchester City TV, EA Sports and FIFA. On this episode he talks about growing up in Moss Side, how he got his big break in TV and what interviewing Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp is like. Kyle's Instagram
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Stay in touch:
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit
 

Leon Francis has been a leader and manager in three of the biggest consumer brands in the UK, Mcdonald's, Sainsbury's and Apple. He also has his own male grooming brand called Nuevo Noir which he started in 2021. In 2024 he won the Rising Star award at the Black British Business Awards in the Consumer and Luxury category.
 
Website: Nuevo Noir
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Dion Terrelonge - Pioneer of fashion psychology
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

Welcome to a special edition of How I Crushed It — #TheElevateSeries — created in proud partnership with the Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards). This partnership celebrates past winners and the powerful impact they continue to make across their industries and communities.
 
In this episode, we speak with Dr Serufusa Sekidde, BBBAwards 2025 winner in the Senior Leader – STEM category. Serufusa trained as a medical doctor, has since transitioned to become a healthcare leader and is currently serving as Chief of Staff to the CEO at ViiV Healthcare, part of GSK. He is an advocate for social change and healthcare equity through media outlets like CNN and BBC but also through music and In 2021 he came out with an album called The Solutionary Manifesto.
 
The BBBAwards celebrate outstanding Black professionals and entrepreneurs across the UK, championing excellence, diversity, and leadership in business.
 
Find out more: https://thebbbawards.com/
Email us: howicrushedit@gmail.com
 
Listen back to interviews with other Medical professionals:
Dr Tijion Esho - Cosmetic Doctor

Darryl Edwards is a globally recognised movement coach, author and pioneer in the intersection of health and movement, renowned for his groundbreaking Primal Play Method.  A former IT Consultant in the investment banking world he's since transitioned his career and he is now dedicating his life to helping others to combat chronic lifestyle diseases. His popular TED talk called, “Why Working Out Isn’t Working Out” has over 1.2 million views on Youtube.
 
Website: Primal Play Method
 
Books:
Animal Moves
Intro To Animal Moves
Paleo Fitness
 
Listen back to interviews with:
Tunji Akintokun  - Senior Leader at LinkedIn
 
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Stay in touch:
X/Twitter: @howicrushedit
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Know someone else who is CRUSHING IT? Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on X & Instagram
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast
 
🪙To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit

With the Oscars 2026 taking place this weekend, we revisit our chat with entertainment mogul Femi Oguns. 
 
Femi Oguns is founder and CEO of both Identity School of Acting and Identity Agency Group and he has become one of the most influential people in the British Film and TV industry. He has shaped the careers of the likes of Michaela Cole, Damson Idris, Letitia Wright and John Boyega. He has been named on the Powerlist top 100 most influential figures of African/Caribbean descent in the UK and in 2014 he was appointed MBE for services to the acting industry.
 
Reach Femi at: https://www.instagram.com/mrfemioguns/
Talent Agency
Drama School
 
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Stay in touch:
Instagram: @howicrushedit
Email us at howicrushedit@gmail.com
Use the hashtag #howicrushedit on Twitter & Instagram
To support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/howicrushedit
 
Want some uplifting music to help you CRUSH IT? Check out the playlist
This playlist has been curated by guests that have appeared on the podcast