On The Spot with Juliana

What happens when loss strikes and you are not "home"? Living in the diaspora often means grieving without the familiar embrace of extended family. In this deeply personal episode, I share my experience managing loss of a loved one at the end of 2025. I unpack the emotional weight of grief and share hopeful perspectives on how to deepen connections and foster healing regardless of distan...

Episode 3 - Year-End Reflections: Finding Joy Key Themes: Joy, Peace, Mental Wellness, Digital Detox What brings you joy? T he current state of the world has revealed the importance of deliberately maintaining your joy and peace. Whilst this is easier said than done, there a numerous steps that we can take to preserve our joy. Digital detox is one of them; so is mindfulness. How do your maintain y...

Episode 2 - Year-End Reflections: Faith & Purpose 2 Key Themes: Authenticity, Originality, Purpose, Meaning What does authenticity mean to you? How can you maintain your sense of self whilst living a purpose driven life? Inspired by Stephen Covey's "The 8th Habit", I reflect on this idea of Finding Your Voice and Inspiring Others to Find Theirs. Tune in and a learn more about the...

Episode 1 - Year-End Reflections: Faith & Purpose Key Themes: Excuses, Complaining, Pivoting, Practicing Empathy, Holding onto Faith "December...already?" I'm sure I'm not the only one who said this today. One moment we are celebrating the start of 2025, the next we are preparing for 2026! Time flies indeed! In this episode, I share learnings from my experiences throughout th...

In this episode, I chat with Honour Dume about his experience pursuing faith and fitness. As the winner of the 2025 Ezekiel Guti USA Walkathon, he shares how he completed more than 600,000 steps in 2 weeks. To him, this was not about claiming the top price, but moving with a sense of purpose and connecting with God in the process. Discover why and how stewarding your body is spiritual discipline -...

In this episode, I interview Olohi Goodness John, a Smith College student (class of 2027) and founder of Justice through Literacy. Hailing from Nigeria, Olohi shares how her Christian faith fuels her passion for educational equity. Olohi’s story inspires young Christians to use their talents for social good, offering practical insights on blending faith, leadership, and social justice to drive mea...

In this episode, Nicolette Mtisi, a US-based Zimbabwean Data Scientist shares her experience utilizing social media for good. She highlights useful tactics to build a powerful digital footprint and maintain a strong personal brand.  Through her Christian faith, she has found inspiration to publish a book and minister the Word of God through her work on social media. Throughout this episode, reflec...

In this episode, I have a chat with Melita-Marie Roachford, a Track & Field Assistant Coach at Smith College. She shares how her Christian faith has influenced her coaching career and reflects on how she integrates values of humility, teamwork, and perseverance into her work. As an ambassador of Jesus Christ, she remains grounded in her faith, spreading love, light, and joy through the Word of...

Welcome Back!!! I am glad to resume publishing exciting episodes with hopes of promoting digital storytelling for social change. In this episode, I share insights on the progression of this podcast - where we are coming from and where we are going! The vision is still clear - Amplify Voices of Change. Join me, on this quest to inspire, educate, and advocate for positive social change. If you know...

In this new episode, I chat with Webster Isheanopa Makombe, a Zimbabwean lawyer and former Youth Leader for Nutrition with the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement. For more than 5 years, Webster has been actively advocating against food insecurity, providing youth-centric advice on how to reimagine the future of food in Africa and beyond. Have a listen and learn more about how you can join the movement...

Faithrose Daniel, Founder of MamaPower🇰🇪and Computer Science student at Smith College is on a mission to support and empower survivors of domestic violence and assault to reclaim their identity. In this new episode, she shares her heartfelt story of leading a women-focused non-profit organization in Kenya and providing psychosocial support to vulnerable women and girls. She further explores the fo...

I recently had a chat with Mpiwa Gwindi, a multi-talented performing and recording artist from Zimbabwe. In this episode she shares her inspiring journey of leading the 2018 Guinness World Record-recognised largest marimba ensemble (ZiMarimba Fest) and collaborating with international organizations to tackle global challenges through music and art. She further explores the following topics:   🎯Pa...

In this new episode, I chat with Eugenia Rogers - a Sierra Leonean and Environmental Science and Policy student at Smith College. She shares a phenomenal story of her journey starting a charity organization in Sierra Leone whilst advancing her interests in sustainability, youth empowerment and education. She dives deeper into the following topics: Purpose - Finding your “Why” The Power of Communit...

Happy International Women’s Day🌺 🌟 I recently had a chat with Sarah Sackey, a Ghanaian - American and PharmD student at Northeastern University. In this episode, she shares a powerful story of her interests in the intersection of healthcare, business, and climate finance. She dives deeper into the following topics: Passion & Career Goals Women in the Venture Capital Space The Power of Mentor...

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the 12th President of Smith College, Sarah Willie-LeBreton. In this episode, she shares insights on her remarkable leadership journey and outlines how individuals can embrace their authenticity and find joy. She draws lessons from her experiences as an accomplished scholar, sociologist, educator, and phenomenal leader. This is an episode worth listening...

💡How can young people harness the Power of Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to contribute towards sustainable development?💡 In this new episode of On The Spot with Juliana, Tamuda Chimhanda (Co-Founder @PenPal + University of Rochester Student) shares his entrepreneurial journey in the technology space. He explores how young people can leverage AI and other budding softwares to...

This week, Victoria Flores-Almazan, a Biochemistry student at Smith College shares advice on how to strike a balance between school, work, family, and other activities. Using her real-life story as an example, she highlights key attributes that can help us find a balance in our busy lives and maintain our mental wellness. Be inspired! #mentalwellness #advocacy #youthdevelopment #partnerships #afri...

In this episode, Shyla Powell (M.A., MHC-LP), a Staff Therapist at Syracuse University shares her insights on how individuals and communities can best support young people facing mental health issues. Learn more about her journey as a pastoral counselor and mental health professional. #mentalwellness #advocacy #youthdevelopment #partnerships #africa #SDG3 #sustainabledevelopment #mentalhealth #dig...

In this episode, Nahash Mwathi, an Audiovisual Creative and Wellness Coach from Kenya shares his insights on the intersection of faith and wellness. He outlines the importance of spiritual wellness and the role of religious groups in supporting individuals facing mental health issues. Be inspired! What started as a battle with low self esteem has led to the creation of a beautiful journey of Nahas...

This week, Mirriam Nzunda, an Engineering student at Smith College, shares more about her journey of trying to understand the dynamics of mental wellness as a young person. She shares recommendations on how fellow youth can best maintain their mental wellness. Be encouraged. #mentalwellness #advocacy #youthdevelopment #partnerships #africa #SDG3 #sustainabledevelopment #mentalhealth #digitalinnova...

In this episode, Melusi Majojo, a poet and Law student from the University of Zimbabwe gives an overview of his experience using poetry to raise awareness on mental health issues and influence policies. Using one of his poetic films, Ghetto Cry, as an example, he highlights real-life experiences of youth living in the ghetto. Artivism at its best! #mentalwellness #advocacy #youthdevelopment #partn...

In this episode, Tatenda Kambeu, an Advocacy Officer at Ndinewe Foundation outlines the different ways individuals and civil society organizations can develop context-based initiatives which effectively meet the needs of communities. Learn more about how Ndinewe Foundation, a youth organization founded with the vision of promoting good mental health and well-being in Zimbabwe, has been developing...

This week, Penina Mwajanji, a Mental Health Advocate and Founder of Girls Action for Change gives us an overview of her community engagement work in Kenya. She outlines how different stakeholders can actively contribute towards social change in various communities. Be inspired. Connect with Girls Action for Change KE: https://twitter.com/GirlsActionFor1 #mentalwellness #advocacy #youthdevelopment...

This week, Hauwa Ojeifo gives an overview of the state of mental health services in Nigeria and outlines the actions taken by different stakeholders to ease access to mental health support. Hauwa publicly identifies as a person who lives with a mental health condition and psychosocial disability. Popularly tagged as the voice and face of mental health in Nigeria, Hauwa has received numerous local...

In this episode, Aminatu Abdulai, a Biological Sciences student at Smith College shares her insights on how digital media can affect mental health. She taps into her childhood experiences in Ghana and how these have shaped her perspective towards digital media use. Be inspired! #mentalwellness #advocacy #youthdevelopment #partnerships #africa #SDG3 #sustainabledevelopment #mentalhealth #digitalinn...