Pánsá Pánsá Podcast

Mental health is health but in many African communities, conversations about mental illness are still surrounded by stigma, silence, fear, and misconceptions. In this episode of the Pansa Pansa Podcast , I sit down with Kelechi Alagwu, a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) , to explore mental health in African communities, both on the continent and in the diaspo...

In our continuous thought-provoking episode, I sat down with Alim Bari, the founder of the Redefining African Masculinity (RAM) Movement, to examine the evolving conversation around African masculinity in the diaspora and on the continent. Summary: This episode explores the complex issues surrounding African masculinity and violence against women. We discuss cultural, historical, and societal fact...

In this episode of Pansa Pansa Podcast , we return to a conversation that generated significant discussion about race, identity, migration, and belonging within the Black diaspora. On June 15, 2026, One 54 Podcast featured British-Nigerian comedian Gina Yashere, who spoke about her experiences growing up in England and encountering racism at school and later in her professional career as an engine...

What does it mean to leave home, build a new life in another country, and dedicate that life to helping others do the same? In this episode of the Pansa Pansa Podcast , we sit down with Yolanda Phindile Makha , a South African-born social entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, media professional, and advocate whose work is transforming the lives of African immigrants and refugees in the United States. Yo...

What does it mean to grow up between two worlds? In this episode of the Pansa Pansa Podcast, Dr. Rita Nketiah shares her personal journey from immigrating to Canada as a child to returning to Ghana as an adult to pursue research, activism, and community building. Together, we explore the realities of growing up as a 1.5-generation Ghanaian-Canadian, the challenges of balancing multiple identities,...

In this thought-provoking episode, I sat down with Alim Bari, cultural commentator, social activist, and founder of the Redefining African Masculinity (RAM) Movement, to examine the evolving conversation around African masculinity in the diaspora and on the continent. The discussion explores how culture, religion, family structures, and social norms shape the expectations placed on African men and...

Guest Name: Dr. Kirstie Kwarteng  Summary: This episode explores migration, identity, and the lived experiences of children of African immigrants, featuring insights from Dr. Kirstie Kwanteng. We discuss the impact of immigration policies, cultural identity, community parenting, and efforts to preserve African history. Bio: Dr. Kirstie Kwarteng researcher, consultant, and strategist with nearly 15...

Guest name: Addo Eddie Osamon Summary: What does it really mean to pursue the Canadian dream as an African immigrant? In this episode, I sat with Adodo Eddy Osaman, a Nigerian immigrant in Canada, travel consultant, influencer, pastor, and entrepreneur. Mr. Osaman has dedicated nearly a decade to helping immigrants navigate the realities of life abroad. Through his work on social media, he provide...

Guest: Alim Barry Keywords: African immigrants, identity, belonging, cultural challenges, resilience, retirement, integration, community , deferred living, community therapy, cultural identity, healthcare, retirement planning, emotional decisions, economic decisions, social media In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Alim Barry, a cultural commentator, social activist, and commun...

In this episode, I had the privilege and the opportunity have a conversation with Att. Bamidele Adelayo. He is a United States immigration and criminal defense attorney. Att. Adelayo is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, and Minnesota, and brings a rare depth of experience shaped by working on both sides of the criminal justice system. He began his legal career at the New J...

In this episode of  Pansa Pansa Podcast , I engaged in a profound conversation with Dr. Israel Bamidele Olaore, a prominent figure in the African immigrant community in America and a Nigerian immigrant father of four, pastor, and content creator, Loving Naija Dad, whose work centers on helping African fathers build emotionally healthy and thriving families in the diaspora. Our discussion centers a...

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Nana Asare-Nova Felder, a community educator, organizer, cultural worker, graduate of the City University of New York, and a lifelong student of African and African-American studies. Nana Asare was raised in a multicultural home by a Kenyan immigrant mother and an African American father, a Black activist, cultural teacher, and Harlem booksel...

In this episode, I had the opportunity to have conversation with Dr. Nwakaego A. Nmezi, a renowned rehabilitation psychologist whose work bridges mental health, chronic illness, disability, and culturally grounded care. Bio: Nwakaego Nmezi a licensed Counseling Psychologist with specialty training Rehabilitation Psychology. Her clinical and research areas of interest are in addressing health inequ...

In this insightful episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Groundbreaking research she conducted includes: 1. Migration-Related Weight Changes among African Immigrants in the United States 2.    Acculturation and Cardiovascular Risk Screening...

Dr. Manka Nkimbeng, an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and a community-engaged nurse scientist. Dr. Nkimbeng is an African immigrant whose personal and professional journey fuels her research on health equity, aging, and dementia, especially among minority and immigrant older adults. Dr. Nkimbeng earned her Ph. D. in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University,...

Introduction & Summary Dr. Mercedes Okosi returned to the Pansa Pansa Podcast to introduce her newly published book to our listeners. Dr. Okosi is a psychologist and the author of a powerful new book, The Big Book of Boundaries for People Who Make Themselves Small. In this book, Dr. Okosi explores why so many of us struggle with setting limits, whether emotional, physical, or even with our tim...

To be a parent to a child with special needs is an act of relentless love, but no parent should have to do it alone. When the systems fail to provide respite care or the services and support needed, the system dismisses the humanity of caregivers and the rights of children. Dr. Yewande Richards' advocacy is rooted in both lived experience and rigorous research. Her personal and professional experi...

Dr. Otito Iwuchukwua is a brilliant organizational psychologist, an author, scientist, and educator.  She is a member of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She is a Pharmacist Scientist with a Ph. D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, specialization in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. Dr...

Migration is not just a change of geography, but it is a rebirth of self. Every immigrant, no matter race or cultural identity, carries two worlds with them. The world they left behind and the world they must learn to call home. In this episode, I have the chance to engage in a profound conversation with Mwangi Wanjao, a storyteller and writer from Nairobi, Kenya, now residing in Canada. In this c...

In this episode of the Pansa Pansa podcast, I had the privilege of having a conversation with Cedric Muhikira, a self-taught author who explores themes of identity, migration, and resilience in his new novel 'Libax'. During our discussion, we explored immigrant experience, cultural shocks, the duality of identity, and the importance of community and friendship as they relate to his personal experi...

What happens when the pressure to succeed collides with the weight of cultural expectations? In this robust conversation, I sat down with Mouhamadou B. Diagne, a Harvard-trained Muslim chaplain and scholar who, as a child immigrant, transitioned from not speaking English to becoming a leading voice for mental health advocacy in African immigrant communities. Bio: Mouhamadou Diagne immigrated to th...

In many immigrant households, the past is never discussed but is always present in our lives. Families who crossed oceans carry their pain in silence. The child born into a new land wrestles with belonging. And when they finally speak, it’s often in different languages—culturally, emotionally, and generationally. Today, I sit down with Safi Lynch, a therapist who understands these tensions deeply....

I first came across Franck Zanu through a compelling YouTube video titled “The White Dispossession of America.” It was my first encounter with the Zanu Project and with Mr. Zanu’s work. His perspective on this subject was bold, thought-provoking, and deeply engaging. As I listened, I began thinking about the broader themes that connect his work to conversations I’ve been having on this podcast—esp...

What happens when the stories we inherit collide with the realities we live? In this thought-provoking episode of the Pansa Pansa Podcast, author and cultural commentator Chinedu Achebe joins us to discuss his powerful new novel, When It All Falls Down, the sequel to The Miseducation of Obi Ifeayin. Through the fictional journey of Obi—a Nigerian American husband, father, and professional—Achebe e...

Our conversation stems from social media dialogue to explore emotional expressions often shaped by deeply rooted cultural traditions and an individual’s personality, which can result in patterns of Enmeshment & Control and even generational Trauma. Oludara (Dara) Adeeyo is a Los Angeles-based mental health therapist, author, and social media content creator passionate about encouraging people,...