Shades & Layers
Shades and Layers is a storytelling platform celebrating Black women and women of colour who are building something of their own — on the African continent and across the diaspora.
The podcast launched in 2020 and is now more than 100 episodes strong. In 2025, the show was nominated for Best Long-Time Podcast at the Black Podcasting Awards.
In each conversation, host Kutloano Skosana sits down with founders to explore business ownership, representation, and what sustainability and success really mean in a complex, interconnected world. The conversations are wide-ranging — part masterclass in entrepreneurship, part wisdom for living well — and always a space for women to be fully human: to share the quirks, the doubts, and the vulnerabilities behind the highlight reel.
These days, Shades and Layers is two things woven together. Alongside the podcast, Kutloano — now exploring a new chapter of her own in Italy — sends Life Notes: honest monthly letters on identity, motherhood, reinvention, and the business of building a life.
Shades and Layers’ founding philosophy is: a story well told can change your life, you don't need big accolades for your entrepreneurial journey to matter.
The guests span beauty, fashion, and wellness, North and South: Dr. Theo Mothoa-Frendo on building a science-based African skincare range with USO; Taryn Gill of The Perfect Hair on supply chains and brand-building; Katonya Breux of Unsun Cosmetics on melanin and sunscreen for every skin tone; Abiola Akanni of IYA Well on non-performance in yoga; and designers like the late Maria McCloy of her eponymous fashion label, Nkuli Mlangeni-Berg of The Ninevites, and Candace Lawrence of Modern Gesture, championing handmade, custom, and circular production.
Whether you're here to listen, to read, or to build something of your own — welcome to the circle.
Episodes
104 episodes
A Simple Bank Account System for Business Sustainability
This is an oldie but goodie from the archives. This conversation was recorded in 2024, but its principles and teachings are timeless. Susanne Mariga is an expert in finance and she's been doing taxes for clients since she was a 14-year old in h...
Speak with Confidence, Cash in With Clarity (Magogodi Makhene)
In this episode we connect with Magogodi oaMphela Makhene, author, speaker and founder of Love As A Kind of Cure and thought leadership coach. We trace her entrepreneurial journey from her fo...
Embracing Fear and Following Your Dreams with Bisila Bokoko (S9,E12)
Bisila Bokoko is an international business woman who got her start in the corporate world in Spain and then eventually in the USA. Today she shares her journey from corporate executive to international entrepreneur, wine brand founder, an...
Beyond the Bottom Line with Sundra Essien (S9,E11)
What if business success isn't about endless growth? Sundra Essien, co-founder of Isang's Hair and Body, returns to Shades and Laye...
Introducing: Madame Speaker Says with Magogodi oaMphela Makhene (BONUS)
BONUS EPISODE📣 INTRODUCING our new podcast bestie Madame Speaker Says hosted by Magogodi oaMphela Makhene. For this special bonus episode, we did a podswap and the featured guest is skin educator, beauty editor and fou...
Celebrating 5 Years of Entrepreneurial Wisdom
We celebrate five years of Shades and Layers by reflecting on the top entrepreneurial lessons from dozens of women who have shared their journeys on the podcast. This special birthday episode distills key insights that transcend industry, geogr...
Print in a Digital Age: Isha Gaye on Reconnecting Africa and the Diaspora (S9,E10)
In this week's episode, Isha Gaye shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to founder and CEO of Afrique Noire Magazine, a print publication celebrating African creativity and connecting th...
Sabbatical: The True Cost of Success with Karabo Lediga (S9, E9)
What happens when the dream your mother sacrificed everything for becomes your personal nightmare? Johannesburg-based filmmaker Karabo Lediga joins us to explore this haunting question through her debut feature film "
Mom's Magic Oil: The Bask & Lather Story with Shaina Rainford (S9, E8)
In 2020, then nurse practitioner, Shaina Rainford got seriously ill from COVID. She survived the illness, but lost all her hair and found nothing on store shelves that could help with her condition. Then, she remembered that her younger sister ...
The BASE Framework: How to Achieve Your Dreams with Brandi B. Hudson (S9,E7)
One of the most effective ways to succeed in entrepreneurship is mindset. To help you get in the right frame of mind for your new or existing venture, The SAL Podcast gets you a coach to answer some challenging questions on your jour...
From Passionate Intern to World Class Designer - Palesa Mokubung Part 2 - (S9,E6))
IN CONCLUSIONIn the second part of this conversation with Palesa Mokubung, we discuss some of the challenges facing African designers, particularly when it comes to serving a market that is more and more shopping online. ...
From Passionate Intern to World Class Designer : Palesa Mokubung Part 1 (S9, E6)
This is the first part of a two-part conversation with renowned South African fashion designer Palesa Mokubung. In this conversation, she shares her 20-year journey with Mantsho by Palesa Mokubung, the fashion...
Embracing African Beauty: Amanda Sebolai's Journey with Dignify Afro Beauty (S9, E5)
Amanda Sebolai is the founder of the South African natural haircare brand, Dignify Afro Beauty and my guest in this episode of Shades and Layers. Amanda's personal journey of embra...
Designing Creative Futures: Dialogue and Collective Power with Palesa Segomotso Motsumi (S9, E4)
In this essential episode of, we sit down with Palesa Segomotso Motsumi, a trailblazing creative social entrepreneur and curator. She is the founder of Sematsatsa Library, a creative consultancy and curatorial agency based in South Africa. ...
The Grass Is Not Always Greener: From Zimbabwe to Italy with Serial Startup Founder Tadiwa Mwashita (S9, E3)
Today I'm in conversation with Zimbabwean-born and Italy-based serial startup founder and entrepreneur, Tadiwa Mwashita. Her latest venture is the Italian Social Impact Startup, Feedel Africa. They provide services to innovation hubs and non-pr...
Authenticity and Triumph in the Beauty Industry with Editorial Hairstylist Naeemah LaFond (S9, E2)
Naeemah LaFond, a celebrated editorial hairstylist, is not just styling hair but shaping the future of the beauty industry. Her journey from a court clerk to working alongside icons like Beyoncé and Amapiano singer Tyla is a testament to her pa...
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Serena Williams Made Me Tacos with Barbara Clarke Ruiz (S9, E1)
SUMMARYThis week, I'm speaking to Barbara Clark Ruiz, a multifaceted solopreneur known for her activewear designs and dog treat brand 'Lick You Silly.' Barbara shares her journey from childhood in Portsmouth, Virginia, to design...
Ethnikids: Diversity in children's literature with Khumo Tapfumaneyi (S9, E11)
The books your children read can shape their self-identity and cultural awareness. Join me in conversation with Khumo Tapfumaneyi, Co-Founder and Director of Ethnikids, as we discuss the lif...
Family Roots to Creative Routes - Raha Copenhagen with Nsimire Godman (S8, E10)
In this week's episode, we connect with Nsimire Godman, Founder of Raha Copenhagen. This Denmark-based creative shares how a humble background in Rwanda and a spark of creativity during the pandemic le...
From South Africa to Seattle: Lizzy Hudson's Story (S8, E9)
South African podcaster and social media marketing specialist, Lizzy Hudson is the voice behind the Live to Thrive Podcast. In this episode, she shares her journey into podcasting, inspired by the tragic event of George Floyd's murder in ...
RAINA (Luxury Hats for Natural Hair) with Rachel Osborne (S8, E8)
It all started with a wish for a satin-lined beach hat. When Rachel Osborne could not find one on the market, she set about creating her own. She spent 2023 researching and testing her concept for luxury satin lined, and adjustable hats t...
The Yoga Bar and African Affirmations with Fikile 'Fix' Moeti (S8, E7)
Fikile "Fix" Moeti calls herself a Lightworker and you’ll find out what she means by that in this episode. The Social Entrepreneur is the founder of a pay-it-forward education and women-focused social enterprise, The Fix Scholarship. She is a w...
Nounouche Online and Azania Public with Bonnie Meslane (S8, E6)
Bonnie Meslane is the Founder of the online lifestyle and culture magazine, Nounouche Online. The Johannesburg-based publisher is also the force behind the A-list Public Relations and Communications company, Azania Public, and like all mu...
MWLPR (Fashion & Beauty PR) with Monique Webber (S8, E5)
Monique Webber is the visionary founder of MLWPR Fashion and Beauty PR Agency. Her story isn't just about the sparkle of dressing celebrities in Herve Leger's iconic ensembles; it's a story about ambition, resilience, and a commitment to liftin...
WhatWeCherish with Melaney Oldenhof (S8, E4)
Melaney Oldenhoff, Founder and Creative Director of WhatWeCherish, a curated market place for handmade accessories and home décor from the African continent. Melaney shares how she pivoted from New York-based fashion stylist to j...
