Conversations from the Diaspora

In this deeply personal episode of Conversations from the Diaspora , I sit down with Labourgeoise Bynum — a labor & delivery and postpartum nurse whose care I personally experienced during my own postpartum journey. What began as a conversation about Black maternal health quickly unfolded into something much deeper: identity, healing, advocacy, family dynamics, self-worth, and learning to spea...

In this episode of Conversations from the Diaspora , I’m joined by Nandi Kaye, travel and self-discovery enthusiast and founder of Nature is Balm . Over the last 15 years, she has traveled to nine African countries and now curates holistic cultural birthright experiences to Senegal and The Gambia. We talk about her personal journey of reconnecting with the continent despite not having direct famil...

In this episode of Conversations from the Diaspora , I’m joined by Dammi Sherri , a Nigerian-Irish entrepreneur and the founder of Sísè Foods —a brand on a mission to make African home cooking simple, flavorful, and accessible for modern living. Dammi shares her journey from working in financial services to creating a food brand that started as a personal fix in her own kitchen. We talk about: The...

In this episode of Conversations from the Diaspora , we sit down with Udochi Okeke , the brilliant co-founder of Mmuta Di Uto , a vibrant children’s YouTube channel transforming how Igbo language and culture are taught and preserved. What started with a puppet show and a dream has become a viral storytelling movement — and Udochi’s journey is as compelling as her creations. We dive into her person...

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Young, a proud wife, mother, and homeschooling advocate, as we dive deep into why more Black families are choosing to reclaim control of their children's education and influences. We explore homeschooling not just as an educational alternative — but as an act of resistance, cultural preservation, and community rebuilding. We talk about the importance of creating...

In this powerful and introspective episode, I sit down with Curtis Bobray — a Liberian-American husband, father, and trained marriage and family therapist — to explore the deep intersections of fatherhood, mental health, cultural identity, and emotional healing in the diaspora. Curtis opens up about his personal journey as a father raising children in America, navigating generational patterns, and...

📢 Sisterhood Revisited: I See You, Sis – The 2025 Edition! 💖 ✨ Four years after our first conversation, we brought it back! ✨ In this powerful and honest discussion, we reflected on sisterhood, motherhood, marriage, and the evolving roles of women in our communities. We picked up right where we left off—sharing how life, work, and relationships have shaped us and how we can continue moving for...

In this deeply personal episode of Conversations from the Diaspora , I step out of my comfort zone to share a journey that has completely transformed me—my path to motherhood. From navigating nearly three years of unexplained infertility to holding onto faith and finally experiencing the joy of pregnancy, this is a story of resilience, hope, and self-advocacy. As the eldest daughter in a Nigerian...

In this episode of Conversations from the Diaspora, a Building Africa’s Future podcast , we dive into the unique experiences of Millennial and Gen Z African firstborns navigating life between cultures. Join us as we chat with two special guests—a Nigerian-American Millennial and a Kenyan-American Gen Z—who share what it’s really like to grow up as the eldest in African immigrant families. We explo...

Kick off Season 4 of  Conversations from the Diaspora  with a dynamic live episode featuring special guest Nina Esimogu! We dive deep into the heart of cultural identity and generational shifts within the African diaspora. From navigating cultural clashes while raising children to redefining success for African women beyond marriage, we tackle the tough questions: How many generations does it take...

Join us in this enlightening episode with Dr. Ndu David as we explore the motivations that led a Nigerian family to make a life-changing move to Saudi Arabia. We'll delve into the initial expectations they had before relocating and discover how these expectations evolved over time. Gain insights into the personal stories that shaped their decision to immigrate and how their reality in Saudi Ar...

Brace yourself for an eye-opening discussion with our distinguished guest, Dr. Meg Awunti, as she talks about how her Cameroonian-American upbringing serves as a driving force behind her fervent advocacy for life insurance, a topic often relegated to the shadows within the African diaspora. She uncovers the invaluable role life insurance plays in crafting a secure financial future, especially for...

Join us on an inspiring episode as Sussan Ituen, founder of The Marinade Hub Fertility Foundation, shares her personal journey through infertility, leading to the creation of a transformative support network. Learn about the pivotal turning point that shifted her blog series into a foundation, offering insights into the sociological nuances of infertility within the African context. Discover how t...

Join us on an inspiring episode as Sussan Ituen, founder of The Marinade Hub Fertility Foundation, shares her personal journey through infertility, leading to the creation of a transformative support network. Learn about the pivotal turning point that shifted her blog series into a foundation, offering insights into the sociological nuances of infertility within the African context. Discover how t...

In this episode, Kweku Essien, Chief Commercial Officer of Seso Global, joins us to explore the world of property ownership in Africa and the impact of the Year of the Return on the African diaspora, particularly African-Americans seeking to relocate to Ghana and other African countries. We dive into the challenges of establishing trust when doing business on the continent and the crucial role of...

In this virtual panel discussion, we talked about a number of things we felt we didn’t have growing up such as the lack of open communication with our parents, assuming parental responsibilities as children, and the lack of affection. We discussed how these things have impacted us as adults and as parents and how we plan on being more intentional in our own parenting. Links: https://linktr.ee/buil...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jite Lark, the founder of Change4Africa Superfoods and the Embody Program that she started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the importance of natural medicine, nutritional balance, and physical wellness and how continental Africans and those in the diaspora can tap into these holistic health practices. Her organization, C4A, works directly with...

I'm joined by Doria Wormbly as she discusses her experiences being the only Black student in her study abroad group and the challenges that she faced as a result of that. She is committed to shining light on the importance of diversifying international education programs on the student side as well as in program leadership and she discusses different ways that this could be done starting with prov...

I'm joined by a dear friend and sister, Omba Tejan-Thomas, whom I have known for 20 years or so as we attended the same church when we first came to the country as young children. She talks about her experience coming to the U.S. at the age of 8 from the Democratic Republic of Congo and how her family had to assimilate to a new culture, leading to culture loss and feelings of identity crisis, bein...

I'm joined by Sharif Muhammad who talks about his 20+ year commitment to detailing the black American experience through his digital artwork and teaching. He shares how growing up he couldn't connect in a meaningful way in most of his history classes because the history wasn't reflective of his family experience.  He discusses the types of stories he tells with his art, what he learned about...

I’m joined by Chukwunonso of Chukwunonso Captures as he discusses how he uses his photography to share his culture with others in the diaspora. This quest led to him starting the ‘Igbo Name of the Day’ series. We discussed Igbo naming traditions, navigating multiple cultural identities, the importance of language preservation, and how he intersects his culture into his photography.  Watch the...

TW: baby loss, pregnancy loss After nearly 7 years of marriage and 11 pregnancies, I'm joined by Mercy Akinwande as she shares her struggles with infertility on the journey to motherhood. In honor of May being mental health awareness month, one of the reasons why we had this conversation was to try to eliminate or reduce stigmas associated with sharing about difficulties conceiving, going through...

TW: baby loss, pregnancy loss After nearly 7 years of marriage and 11 pregnancies, I'm joined by Mercy Akinwande as she shares her struggles with infertility on the journey to motherhood. In honor of May being mental health awareness month, one of the reasons why we had this conversation was to try to eliminate or reduce stigmas associated with sharing about difficulties conceiving, going through...

In this continuation of our Black in White Spaces series: HBCU v. PWI discussion, our panelists who are adult students at the university and graduate level as well as working professionals share their different experiences at HBCUs and PWIs. Some of the topics discussed were:  what supports would help black and other students of color thrive at PWIs cultural advantages of being the majority a...

In this continuation of our Black in White Spaces series: HBCU v. PWI discussion, our panelists who are adult students at the university and graduate level as well as working professionals share their different experiences at HBCUs and PWIs. Some of the topics discussed were: what supports would help black and other students of color thrive at PWIs cultural advantages of being the majority at an H...