48. The emotional cost of wanting more: Can you be ambitious and happy?

52. On grief, lineage, and writing through chaos, A SEAT WITH... Christina Fonthes

“Nobody is born bitter, sadness is put upon us.” In this deeply moving episode of A SEAT WITH ME, I sit down with author, translator, and truth-teller Christina Fonthes to explore the quiet wounds we inherit, and the ones we choose to heal. Christina’s debut novel, Where You Go, I Will Go, unravels the tangled threads of a mother(s)-daughter relationship shaped by migration, silence, queerness, and love. But this conversation isn’t just about the book, it’s about the life behind the story. Together, we talk about: * Grief, generational trauma, and the emotional cost of being the first daughter * Queerness within African families and diasporic shame * The hidden struggle of working-class writers trying to survive and create * The power of storytelling as resistance, healing, and rebirth * How art gives us permission to speak what silence buried Whether you’re a writer, a daughter, a dreamer, or someone searching for home in your own story… this conversation is for you. So come and take, A Seat With Me. 👤 WHERE TO FIND CHRISTINA: https://christinafonthes.com [https://christinafonthes.com] 📚 GET THE BOOK: Where You Go, I Will Go (available now in English & German) - https://christinafonthes.com [https://christinafonthes.com] 🔗 LINKS: https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter [https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter] 📫 WRITE ME: aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com [aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com] www.aseatwithme.com [http://www.aseatwithme.com] 📚THE BOOKCLUB: https://www.instagram.com/rootsandpagesreads/ [https://www.instagram.com/rootsandpagesreads/] 👤 WHERE TO FIND ME: https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps [https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps] https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps [https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps] With Love, always, Solène ☀️ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

51. It's time to step up and rebrand ! See you soon !

👤 WHERE TO FIND: My bookclub Roots & Pages: IG: https://www.instagram.com/rootsandpagesreads/ [https://www.instagram.com/rootsandpagesreads/] Join the circle: http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages [http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages] 🔗 LINKS: The bookclub Roots & Pages: http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages [http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages] https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter [https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter] 📫 WRITE ME: aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com [aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com] www.aseatwithme.com [http://www.aseatwithme.com] 👤 WHERE TO FIND ME: https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps [https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps] https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps [https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps] With Love, always, Solène ☀️ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

50. You are not failing enough if you want to be successful, A SEAT WITH ME

The road to success is paved with failures. Big failures, small failure, private and public failure. Today we discuss the strength that comes from embracing your failures in public. This week’s episode invites you to explore the crucial lessons learned from failing in front of others. We discuss how putting yourself out there can build resilience, boost your confidence, and attract the right people into your life. You'll also hear about the importance of being visible and the transformative journey some well-known figures took before achieving success. I answer some questions about the fear of public failure and the hidden power it holds in shaping your path to success. So come and take, A Seat With Me 🔗 LINKS https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter [https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter] 📫 WRITE ME: aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com [aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com] www.aseatwithme.com [http://www.aseatwithme.com] 👤 WHERE TO FIND ME: https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps [https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps] https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps [https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps] With Love, always, Solène ☀️ #Motivation #Failure #PublicSpeaking #GrowthMindset #inspiration Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

49. You’re not lost, you’re in transit: Navigating the Messy Middle

When you find yourself stuck between where you've been and where you want to be, how can you navigate these tricky times? This week’s episode explores the concept of the “Messy Middle," a phase of uncertainty that everyone faces. We answer questions about overcoming doubts, sustaining motivation, trusting the journey despite setbacks, and I give you a “Messy Middle Survival Kit”. Gain insights into how to work through moments of chaos and confusion while understanding that your reality is simply a response to past beliefs and patterns. The goal is to learn how to move forward when nothing seems to be changing and how believing in your vision is key to manifesting your goals! So come and take, A Seat With Me 👤 WHERE TO FIND: My bookclub Roots & Pages: http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages [http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages] InterKontinental (bookstore): InterKontinental IG: https://www.instagram.com/ikontinental/ [https://www.instagram.com/ikontinental/] InterKontinental Website: https://interkontinental.org [https://interkontinental.org] InterKontinental Adress: Sonntagstr. 26, 10245 Berlin The African Book Festival: afribanbookfestival.de [http://afribanbookfestival.de] (Come swing by!) 🔗 LINKS: The bookclub Roots & Pages: http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages [http://aseatwithme.com/rootsandpages] https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter [https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter] 📫 WRITE ME: aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com [aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com] www.aseatwithme.com [http://www.aseatwithme.com] 👤 WHERE TO FIND ME: https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps [https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps] https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps [https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps] With Love, always, Solène ☀️ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

48. The emotional cost of wanting more: Can you be ambitious and happy?

Today we are talkings about Ambition. Although I will always promote Ambition, and tell you to be more ambitious, dreams bigger and all, being ambitious comes with an emotional cost. Let’s talk about how ambition can shape your life and what it truly costs. Are you ready to explore the fine line between chasing more and finding fulfilment? In this episode I delve into the impact of ambition on our lives, discussing how wanting more can lead to both achievement and potential pitfalls. We learn about the balance between striving for success and appreciating what you already have (!). Find out how ambition influences your happiness and the decisions you make, and gain insights on how to channel your desire for more in a healthy, productive way. So come and take, A Seat With Me. 📚 BOOK MENTIONED: “The Gap and The Gain” by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy “Atomic Habits” by James Clear 🔗 LINKS: https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter [https://www.aseatwithme.com/newsletter] 📫 WRITE ME: aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com [aseatwithmepodcast@gmail.com] www.aseatwithme.com [http://www.aseatwithme.com] 👤 WHERE TO FIND ME: https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps [https://www.tiktok.com/@soleneallcaps] https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps [https://www.instagram.com/soleneallcaps] With Love, always, Solène ☀️ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.