So This Is Love

University life was an adventure to anticipate as Mumbi began her studies for the first time in a mixed boy-girl school environment. When she met Theo, it was nothing to write home about - at first. In fact, Mumbi ghosted Theo. That changed however when a romance developed between the two and Mumbi was enchanted by the charm, charisma and confidence of the man she in the end painfully loved beyond...

Growing up as a pastor’s child, Phoebe lived a relatively sheltered life albeit a life that was good. However, as time went on and she developed into adulthood, she yearned for love, a relationship, one that would soothe the loneliness that plagued the quiet corners of her life. When Pete appeared, Phoebe was at first reluctant but soon fell in love with a man who was different from her in many bu...

As children, we idolize our parents. We place them on pedestals of all-knowing and all-having until one day, we realize who they really are. In this episode, Jill tells us of her struggle with this newfound awareness that came all too soon for her upon discovering that her father is an alcoholic. It takes just one event to question her entire childhood interactions with a man she describes when yo...

It’s not news anymore that during and after the lockdowns caused by the pandemic, we saw an increase in divorce, breakups, and even domestic violence across the globe. Rose and Seb were not exempt from this. After being together for over 10 years, in just a couple of months, Rose saw a shift in her relationship that brought into focus issues that were probably always bubbling under but easily mask...

There is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says, ‘Men are what their mothers made them,’ a statement that rings true for all of us because of the role the mother-child relationship plays in all of our lives. Today, Jay speaks to us about that relationship. Through his narration, we see just how powerful mothers are in how we see the world, what we believe about it, how move around it, and ultima...

For many of us today, we cannot imagine being in a romantic relationship where sexual intimacy is consensually not part of the package. In this episode, Zara takes us through a journey of intense love and loss experienced within the context of her religion. We are reminded of the many, mostly invisible parts of human connection that take us up and down the roller coaster of falling in love. You ca...

Among many benefits, friendships offer us the opportunity to belong, love, grow and find a sense of identity. In this episode, we meet Kaz who admits that unlike many people, she has always placed a greater value on friendships than romantic relationships. At an age where she thinks it is difficult to make new genuine friends, Kaz stumbles upon one of  those once in a lifetime connections with Her...

In this episode, Rainbow takes us through a harrowing narration of love, loss, and abuse experienced in an era that for many are the golden years of young adult life. Grey, a man she describes as the first person she truly ever loved, is from the onset a deeply troubled soul who despite his lukewarm affection is able to lure Rainbow into a 6-year toxic entanglement that leaves us desperately yearn...

For most of her life, Alison could not foster strong, solid friendships, and her mother's death in secondary school only isolated her further from people she would have wanted to connect with. But in university, everything changed. Alison takes us through her story of loss and redemption as her experiences in friendship and sisterhood teach her how to intentionally keep those she loves in her...

Welcome to Season 2! In this episode, Wanja meets George and despite caution from her friends, falls head over heels in that all-too-familiar, typical, teenage romance kind of way. In an effort to solidify the relationship, Wanja compromises on a number of her morals and boundaries. Her love for George stands unshaken even after a lack of clear commitment and thereafter discovering she is pregnant...

In this episode, Waithera* narrates a story of friendship, deeply interwoven with a tale of love and romance that spins over a fifteen-year period with a man she fondly refers to as J.P*. Elation is quickly replaced by anguish as the relationship evolves and Waithera, frustrated by the lack of clarity in this friendship-come relationship, finds herself in a place where J.P's approval which once he...

In today’s episode, Amy takes us back to her early twenties when she relocates to America and soon after falls in love with a charming and young Greg. In her pursuit of a college degree, stable career and fulfilling relationship, Amy is faced with a series of problems that challenge her sense of reality, personal worth, identity, and confidence. Amy takes us through a journey where she loses her v...

In today’s episode, Roxy takes us through her journey of love and loss while taking ownership of her own actions around infidelity and lack of self-love that ultimately led to the end of a romantic relationship. From this story, we see a young, naive, sweet, and endearing Roxy slowly transform into a more self-aware, self-loving, and mature woman. She continues to fight for her voice, mental welln...

Today, Kevin transports us from Nairobi, Botswana, New York, Abidjan, and back to Kenya as he narrates a beautiful love story that fought to stand the test of time, distance, and culture. Through this story, we are forced to reflect on our personal journeys with self-love, resilience, and acceptance. Kevin is a writer, activist, and podcaster.  You can find the book he co-edited here https://...

In today's episode, Shelly finds a one-of-a-kind love; the kind of love she never thought possible for her, only to discover that the man she for the first time her life saw a future with, was married. Shelly takes us through a harrowing narration of heartbreak, loss, addiction, and self-love.

Today, Cynthia takes us through her whirlwind romance with Jenny; a relationship she describes as one that made her feel for the first time in her life 'understood'.  Through her calm and soothing delivery, we are taken through a powerful narration of attraction, love, and the search for identity in a world that is still coming to the understanding of who we chose to call our own.

In this episode, an eloquent, matter-of-fact and undeniably free-spirited Wanjeri takes us through her cyclic romantic journey with The Bull. She opens our minds to unorthodox possibilities in relationships while circling back to the inevitable everyday realities she faced and continues to face with the man she describes as someone that allowed her to color outside the line. Wanjeri's enchanting w...

Today, soft-spoken but witty Steven opens up about the challenges in a former long-term relationship that ultimately led to its end. We are taken on a journey through his narration that touches on issues around personal growth, co-dependency, and a regular taboo subject - money and wage gaps in traditional male and female roles within a relationship.

In this episode, Roland* discusses the importance of self-awareness against societal expectations when embarking on a relationship with someone. He takes us on a journey of love, marriage, and divorce while every so often taking a moment to reflect on personal growth and how this impacts who you become as a man.

Welcome to episode one of So This is Love. In this episode, Melody* takes us through a whirlwind teenage romance that ends in anguish, depression, and violence well into her twenties. In the end, Melody finds her voice and is able to love herself again after years of mental and physical abuse. Due to the nature of this episode, we encourage those who can be triggered by depictions of this nature,...