The Unmistakable Creative Podcast Luvvie Ajayi Jones: Professional Troublemaking and the Power of Making Good Trouble
Feb 2, 2026
Luvvie Ajayi Jones, author and cultural critic known for bold activism and boundary-setting, shares how Nigerian roots and her grandmother shaped her audacity. She defines principled troublemaking, reframes being "too much" as power, and urges asking for what you want, setting boundaries, fair pay, delegation, and showing up authentically.
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Grandmother's Fearless Example
- Luvvie Ajayi Jones describes her grandmother as unapologetically confident and direct, teaching her to take up space gracefully.
- That example showed Luvvie she could be authentic without sacrificing care for her community.
Oriki: A Hype For Destiny
- Oriki is a Yoruba affirmation that greets your destiny and reminds you of your greatness.
- Luvvie links oriki to cultural practices that gas up identity across Black and diasporic traditions.
Make Necessary Good Trouble
- A professional troublemaker speaks truth to flawed systems and accepts the discomfort that comes with it.
- Luvvie reclaims 'good trouble' as a responsibility when facing injustice, not chaos for its own sake.
