Popular media personality and storyteller, Chude Jideonwo, has revealed that one of the lowest points of his life led to the birth of his highly successful talk show, With Chude.
In a recent interview with Legit.ng, Chude shared that back in 2016, while battling depression, he stumbled upon an Oprah Winfrey interview that would later transform his life. Inspired by Oprah’s Vision 2020 series where she interviewed global stars like Michelle Obama, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Lady Gaga, Chude saw a new path for himself.
“I thought to myself, I want to do something like this. But if people have observed my work in the past eight years, they will know I waited until I felt like it was time,” Chude explained.
True to his nature of intentional storytelling, Chude patiently waited until 2020 to launch With Chude, which quickly built a massive online following for its raw and honest celebrity interviews.
Now, as he marks five years of the show’s success, Chude is taking things a notch higher with With Chude Live — a three-stage live event featuring intimate interviews and panel discussions on pressing life issues.
Speaking about the preparation, Chude revealed he secured his star-studded lineup early in 2024, locking in celebrated personalities such as Pastor Jerry Eze, Funke Akindele, Falz the Bad Guy, Bovi, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
“My main stage guests were confirmed in March 2024. I confirmed with Pastor Jerry Eze, Funke Akindele, because they’re busy people. I confirmed Bovi, too,” he said.
Aside from the main interviews, With Chude Live will feature two panel sessions focused not on industries, but on relatable, real-life issues that resonate with the audience.
Chude’s journey from battling depression to becoming one of Nigeria’s most thoughtful interviewers is a testament to the power of resilience, purpose, and timing.
