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This September, Declan Greatness Dex Echeazu launches Ladders. The culture sees Dex as a connector, but what he is building now is less about linking people and more about lifting them. Ladders is the next chapter and the clearest expression of that mission. Ladders, an eight part podcast, is a call to climb together and to stay accountable on the way up. Deeds Magazine spoke with Dex about what greatness means to him, how his Ladder Theory shapes each conversation, and what listeners can expect when the first episode lands.
Dex is no stranger to building bridges. The Nigerian born creative migrated to Britain and became a fixture in UK music, known for a viral MySpace moment that made African pride mainstream and for championing artists such as WizKid, Burna Boy and Odumodublvck. His influence spans club nights, fashion, music collaborations and festivals, earning him the reputation as a voice of the culture. But Dex insists he is not above anyone. “Together we push,” he says. “Two is always better than one.” The Ladders podcast will make that philosophy audible.
At the core of Ladders is what Dex calls the Ladder Theory, the idea that greatness is a climb, not a leap. Each guest will map their ascent through three lenses, the influence of their parents, the first thing they loved and the first time they truly failed. Dex’s questions are direct, informed by his own habits. Asked about the first rung on his own ladder, he recalls running 5Ks. “That is when I understood what it really takes to push in life. Where I am from, we do not rely on luck, we create our own.” He wants listeners to feel that sense of agency immediately. “I want them to genuinely believe in their greatness and remember that hard work will always pay off.”
According to Dex, the concept promises more than polite chatter, episodes will be candid, honest, sometimes raw, sometimes funny, always real. Dex sees Ladders as home, a space for growth, support and real conversation where hard truths can be shared without judgement.
To match the elevated tone, Ladders will be filmed in a cigar lounge inspired studio with rich textures. The eight hour long episodes will be released in audio and video across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major platforms. Dex’s guest list for the first season of Ladders reads like a who’s who of Black British culture, but the point is not celebrity for its own sake. Dex looks for artists who show hard work, consistency and hunger. “And swag, you gotta have that too,” he laughs.
Ladders aims to be a movement, not just another moment. “They want access. They want to learn. They want to be part of what is happening, not just watching it,” Dex says as he speaks of the Black British African and Caribbean youth. For Dex, Ladders is a natural extension of his mantra Greatness Only, which is not just a catch phrase, but a way of life.
It informs how he mentors younger creatives, how he chooses collaborators and how he protects his own peace. “My job is to keep showing them it is possible. Hard work pays, creativity is priceless, and you never settle.” He refuses to call setbacks failures. “Everything is a stepping stone. Every day is learning. Tomorrow is another chance.”
As he prepares to release Ladders, Dex hopes listeners will do more than tune in. “I want them to realise we are all we have got. If we do not come together and guide each other, especially the next generation, we lose the vision. Together we push.” Ladders invites us not just to observe greatness, but to build it step by step, rung by rung, as a community.
Stay locked In. Let us climb the ladder together. Greatness Only.
