Amani BayoColumbus Dispatch
Aug. 13, <a href="https://comicvibe.com/whats-new-to-streaming-this-week-aug-14-2026/” title=”What's new to streaming this week? (Aug. 14, 2026)”>2026, 6:03 a.m. ET
- Brenda Agyekum, a star of the reality series “Royal Rules of Ohio,” is featured on the new podcast “Columbus in Color.”
- Agyekum discusses growing up in a strict Ghanaian-American household and the influence of her immigrant parents.
- “Columbus in Color” is a new podcast from The Columbus Dispatch that features long-form conversations with local changemakers.
For many viewers, Brenda Agyekum will always be remembered as one of the stars of “Royal Rules of Ohio,” the reality series that followed a Ghanaian-American family balancing tradition, ambition and life in central Ohio.
But nearly two years after the cameras stopped rolling, Agyekum said the version of herself audiences met was only one chapter of a much bigger story.
The Columbus native joined the debut episode of Columbus in Color, a new podcast from The Columbus Dispatch, to reflect on growing up between two cultures, navigating the expectations of immigrant parents and discovering what success looks like beyond television.
Throughout the conversation, Agyekum spoke candidly about being raised in a strict Ghanaian household, where sleepovers were off limits and social outings often required careful negotiation. While those rules were frustrating as a child, she now credits her parents’ sacrifices and work ethic for shaping her own ambition.
“My parents came to America with not much,” Agyekum said. “I kind of have this chip on my shoulder to do more because I have more re
Now 25, Agyekum is pursuing both a law degree and an MBA while exploring entrepreneurial ventures, advocacy work and new opportunities beyond reality television. Rather than defining success by public recognition, she said she’s focused on staying grounded and remembering why she started.
What is Columbus in Color?
As a reporter for The Columbus Dispatch, I spend much of my time meeting people whose stories reveal the many communities, cultures and ideas that make central Ohio unique. Often, only a small portion of those conversations makes it into a traditional news story.
Columbus in Color was created to change that.
The podcast will feature long-form conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, educators, athletes, advocates and other changemakers whose work is helping shape Columbus. Each episode looks beyond headlines and accomplishments to explore the experiences, challenges and values that influence the people building the city’s future.
The goal isn’t simply to profile notable Columbus residents. It’s to paint a fuller picture of the city itself through the people who bring it to life.
For Agyekum, that picture is one of possibility.
Although she’s traveled throughout the Midwest, she described Columbus as “small but mighty”− a city that has given her room to grow while remaining deeply connected to community. She pointed to neighborhoods like the Short North, the city’s growing diversity and its opportunities for young professionals as reasons she’s proud to call it home.
At the end of every Columbus in Color episode, guests answer one final question: When people think about Columbus 10 years from now, what color do you hope you’ve added to the city?
Agyekum didn’t hesitate.
“Gold,” she said.
Not only because it represents royalty and her family’s Ghanaian heritage, but because “you have to dig for gold”− a reminder that some of Columbus’ brightest stories simply require someone willing to look a little deeper.
You can subscribe to the Columbus In Color podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
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