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A podcast where i and guests share stories from life and leadership to help you lead with courage, clarity and intention
Humility, Hiding & Honesty: Reclaiming What It Means to Lead with Truth
Un-Muddying the waters
24 minutes 38 seconds
5 months ago
Humility, Hiding & Honesty: Reclaiming What It Means to Lead with Truth
🎙️ Unmuddying the Waters – Episode 7
Title: Humility, Hiding & Honesty: Reclaiming What It Means to Lead with TruthGuest: Tonye Mack (Director, Producer, Editor)Host: Joshua OkunlolaDuration: ~24 mins
🔍 Episode Summary
In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Joshua is joined by longtime friend and creative powerhouse Tonye Mak to explore the evolving meaning of humility in leadership and life. Together, they unpack how humility has been misinterpreted as hiding, downplaying, or dimming one's light and reframe it as an act of truth-telling.
From the dual identity of “Tony vs. Sonya” to cultural and faith-based expectations around confidence, they explore how systems of upbringing, race, faith, and professional norms shape how we show up in rooms and what we silence in ourselves to be accepted.
🧭 Key Themes
The myth of humility as invisibility
Confidence vs. arrogance: walking the line
Faith, culture, and the pressure to shrink
Reclaiming voice in professional spaces
Why honesty not hiding is true humility
💬 Quotes to Remember
“Humility is not about being unseen—it’s about telling the truth.”— Joshua Okunlola
“In dimming your light, you’re not being humble. You’re actually lying.”— Tonye Mak
“Jesus was humble—but he was also confident. He knew who he was.”— Tonye Mak
“There’s a cultural system in me that tells me not to shine… and then pats me on the back for staying small.”— Joshua Okunlola
✨ Reflection Prompt
Ask yourself:
Where have I been hiding under the name of humility?
What truths about my gifts and limitations am I afraid to name?
What would it look like to lead with honest presence instead of performative smallness?
🎬 Guest Links
IG: @tonyemak
Latest work: Dating Black Season 3 on BET International
Upcoming: Debut short film in production (stay tuned!)
🎧 Listen + Share
If this episode resonated with you, please:
Share it with a friend who needs this conversation
Tag @joshua_okunlola_ and @tonyemak on Instagram with your takeaways
Rate and review the show—it helps amplify these necessary dialogues
🔁 Closing Words
Lead with clarity.Lead with courage.Start telling the truth.
Un-Muddying the waters
A podcast where i and guests share stories from life and leadership to help you lead with courage, clarity and intention