Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the I Said What I Said (ISWIS) podcast, a curious newcomer or someone who’s never even heard of it (seriously, where have you been?), this list is for you.
Hosted by best friends, Feyikemi “FK” Abudu and Jola Ayeye, ISWIS delivers raw and hilarious conversations about friendship, love, money and everything in between. With their signature brand of humour and honesty, a typical ISWIS episode finds FK and Jola breaking down life’s highs and lows — usually joined by special guests with fresh perspectives. The show also features their beloved “Agony Aunt” segment, where they tackle listener-submitted dilemmas with wisdom and chaos.
After a long, long break, the podcast is finally back for season seven, and there’s no better time to dive in. So whether you’re a longtime listener or looking for the perfect starting point, here are the 10 best I Said What I Said episodes that capture the magic of the show.
10. The “I Love This Game” episode (with Patrice Evra)
Securing the final spot on my list was not easy — there were so many standout episodes to choose from. But in the end, this one edged out the competition. And if you know Patrice Evra, you’ll understand why.
Since his retirement from football, Patrice Evra has been about positivity, kindness, fun, and an enviable renewed passion for life. In this episode of the pod, he brought that fun energy with him, connected with the girls, talked about the game of football (of course), and answered questions sent in by fans of the show. You’ll love it.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
9. The “Just Keep Calling” episode (with Falz TheBahdGuy)
The fact that this episode lands at number 9 — even with Falz dropping gems — just shows how stacked this list is.
The first thing I loved about this episode? Obviously, Falz! The second? The conversation covered everything — from the economy to marriage, masturbation, parental expectations, and even holding lawmakers accountable. It was engaging, insightful and just very funny.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
8. The “Bad Bitch on Vibes” episode (with Ashley Okoli)
What I expected to love about this episode was the fact that it featured badass fashion girlie, Ashley Okoli, talking about her rise as a DIY fashionista.
What ended up winning me over was her raw, honest conversation about being the first daughter of a mother who was married off at 18 and her mother’s journey to liberation. Honestly, ranking it at number eight almost feels like a betrayal.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
7. The “All for Mama” episode (with Soji)
This episode sits proudly at my number seven spot because it was an instant favourite, and for good reason. Soji, a name FK and Jola drop in almost every episode, finally came on, and it was lovely to put a voice to all the fun stories.
I know my reason smells like nepotism, but Soji brought his A game — he turned out to be even more fun than the hosts had always described. During the show, he vibed and joked with the girls, talked about the uniqueness of his career as a wedding hypeman and chipped in on the dilemmas of the day. I definitely see why the hosts like him, and I’d vote for him as a returning guest.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
6. The “Papa Lolo” episode (with Chigul)
If there’s one thing this episode guarantees, it’s nonstop laughter and pure entertainment from start to finish. And honestly, that’s no surprise when the guest is none other than comedian and actress, Chigul.
They started off by recounting the events of a mutual friend’s wedding (Youtuber Dimma Umeh), which they all attended. Then Chigul hilariously chatted about evil Lagos landlords, terrible house agents, her dating life, and her desire for an older romantic partner (Papa Lolo). The dilemmas in this episode were also spicy, and Chigul’s takes were fire.
Listen on Spotify
5. The “Agony Aunt” episode (with Taymesan)
I can’t decide if my favourite thing about my number five pick was the listener who genuinely feared she might be a witch, or Taymesan’s iconic response: “Are we not all witches?”
This Agony Aunt episode featuring actor and fellow podcaster, Taymesan was pure gold. From the wild, hilarious dilemmas sent in by listeners to his sharp, witty responses delivered in delightful Warri-Pidgin, every moment was a treat. Honestly, ask me in a couple of weeks, and I might have moved this episode into my top 3.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
4. The “Gbegborun Mid-Year review” (part 2 with Harmony Adenipekun)
First of all, this episode only exists because the featured guest, Lawyer/luxury event planner Harmony Adenipekun and the hosts had so much fun talking that the original episode had to be split in two. And I’m so glad it was.
Part two of the Gbegborun mid-year review was just as fun as the first. They had a refreshingly honest conversation about their religious beliefs and their personal journeys with God.
They also talked about other aspects of their lives, and in the usual Jola and FK fashion, the conversation was effortlessly entertaining.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
3. The ‘Gbegborun mid-year review’ (part 1 with Harmony Adenipekun)
FK and Jola are typically in sync with their guests, but their chemistry with Harmony Adenipekun was literally harmonious (pun very much intended).
As a mid-year review of their lives, the conversation covered everything — from the serere around Lagos’ big weddings to the craziest dilemmas sent in by the listeners. And speaking of dilemmas, the most unhinged one? A dude who went through insane hurdles to secretly join his girlfriend’s all-female WhatsApp group chat.
The episode was so good, it had me digging through the archives for other episodes featuring Harmony. The chemistry was that great.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
2. The ‘Awaken the Tiger in You’ episode (with Tobi)
Whoever came up with the phrase “the truth is madder than fiction” must have had this guest in mind.
This episode marks the return of Tobi, a fan-favourite guest from a previous episode titled Fuji House of Commotion — which, trust me, is better than any Real Housewives franchise you’ve ever watched.
Tobi’s original story was so wild that listeners demanded FK and Jola bring him back. And in this sequel, he delivers again, narrating how his life took an even crazier turn after the death of his polygamous father. From moving in with his rich uncle to dealing with his wicked, stingy wife, Tobi’s life played out like a Nollywood drama.
This episode is so good that even the hosts consider it an all-time favourite.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
1. The ‘Fuji House of Commotion’ episode (with Tobi)
I honestly can’t think of a more deserving episode for my number one spot. It’s so good that I have replayed it multiple times.
The Fuji House of Commotion episode is about the drama surrounding the childhood and upbringing of the show’s guest, Tobi, who was born into polygamy.
I first listened to part two (because I was binging in reverse order), and it was so insane that I wondered if part one would live up to it. From the moment Tobi revealed that his father announced he was taking a second wife on the eve of his naming ceremony, I was hooked.
And that was just the beginning. The second wife? A salesgirl from a beer parlour his dad chills at. Oh, and she was pregnant at the same time Tobi was conceived. His dad even registered both women at the same maternity and had the owner swear never to tell them. And somehow, this isn’t even in the top seven wildest moments of the episode.
If you’re a newcomer to the pod, I recommend you start with this episode. Expect drama, chaos, and laughter — and then expect even more.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
