Coffee with Ella is a new podcast from Espresso Press, a literary non-profit for Black women writers, exploring creativity not just in what we make but in how we live.

Hosted by writer and Espresso Press founder Ella Achola, the series brings together Black women authors, tastemakers, bookworms and women shaping literary culture for intimate conversations about the creative life itself - the choices, experiments, detours and ordinary days that shape who we become, on and off the page.

Across its first season, Ella is joined by authors and writers L l k nm d , Giselle La Pompe-Moore, Celeste Mohammed and Jendella Benson; Book of Cinz founder Cindy Allman; and children's writer and Being Human Well founder Katie Mantwa George.

The conversations move beyond finished books and career highlights to explore what happens behind the work: leaving established careers, navigating rejection, following unexpected creative paths, making space for creativity alongside motherhood and everyday life, and learning to trust the work that keeps calling to you.

The season closes with a bonus episode in which Giselle La Pompe-Moore turns the microphone around on Ella to explore her own journey from believing she simply wasn't "that kind of girl" to building a life increasingly shaped by creativity, curiosity and following the breadcrumbs.

Coffee with Ella forms part of Espresso Press' programme of publishing, gatherings, conversations and opportunities created around Black women's writing, craft and authorship.

The full first season is available now across major podcast platforms.

Listen: ellaachola.com/the-podcast
Espresso Press: espressopress.org