The Sacred Darkness With Makena

This episode explores a painful pattern: successful people taking their own lives because they can't reconcile 'failure' with their identity. I tell the detailed story of Kimiti Wanjaria, who at 29 was named to Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 for his ambitious real estate project. But between Forbes recognition and project completion lay seven years of mounting debt, court cases, and mental...

What happens when you fall off the conventional path? There's a ceremony for every milestone —graduation, engagement, promotion—but silence for the moments of struggle, failure, or choosing a different route. In this episode, Makena shares a personal story of leaving employment and plunging into seven years of what felt like chaos, shame, and being "stuck in quicksand". Discover why...

In this raw and heartfelt episode, we explore what happens when you finally decide to fire your inner bully and hire self-compassion instead. Join me as I share my messy but beautiful journey of learning to be unreasonably good to myself after decades of harsh self-talk. We'll dive into those supermarket meltdown moments, the abandoned projects, and how treating yourself with genuine kindness...

In the first episode of Season 2, of The Sacred Darkness, Makena shares the unexpected reconnection with her late brother's best friends that changed everything. After years of carrying unresolved pain and a fractured relationship with her brother Brian, a simple social media encounter leads to conversations that bring profound healing, revealing truths about her brother's love that she ne...

In this episode of Sacred Darkness, host Makena reflects on the journey of self-love and acceptance, celebrating the milestone of the 10th episode. She discusses the importance of prioritizing oneself, the impact of childhood experiences on self-perception, and the dangers of self-criticism. Makena emphasizes the power of unconditional love and encourages listeners to embrace their own paths to se...

In this deeply personal episode, I share how hiding my true identity led to years of self-abandonment and living a life I wasn't in charge of. Between 2020-2024, I found myself trapped in patterns of rumination, self-blame, and mental paralysis, unable to see beyond the darkness. I reveal the turning point that came when I decided to start exactly where I was—even if that meant waking up at 3p...

In this powerful episode, we explore the transformative concept of radical self-acceptance. Instead of dwelling on regrets and romanticizing paths not taken, we discuss how to forgive ourselves for past choices made with limited tools and wisdom. The episode examines how we often circle the same emotional mazes while believing we're moving forward, and reveals the profound shift that occurs when w...

In this episode, Makena discusses why so many of us give up on our goals no matter how great they are or how much potential they have.

I am super groggy in this episode because I was not well and was on a strong dose of tummy related meds, so forgive me if I sound super monotone here. I was reflecting on what it took for me to change some really addictive habits I developed over the years. I had to shake them off! Here, I discuss the steps I took to do just that! As always, I hope this resonates with you and you can gain some imp...

Join Makena in this deeply personal episode as she shares her journey through emotional darkness and the transformative power of facing one's inner demons. From moments of despair to finding light and reclaiming her life, Makena explores how embracing chaos and surrendering to a higher power led to profound self-discovery and inner peace. If you're feeling stuck in your own darkness, this...

This episode loosely explores the gentle yet powerful journey of becoming your own nurturing guide. Through personal stories and insights, this episode delves into how learning to parent ourselves can transform our relationship with our emotions, our past, and our present reality. From a tearful therapy session to profound self-discovery through shadow work, join me in understanding how we can sho...

In this raw and vulnerable episode, I peel back the layers of my personal journey from feeling broken to discovering beauty in my own unraveling. At 39, I chose to reclaim my life, tear apart the carefully constructed facade, and dive deep into shadow work. This is a story about facing our deepest fears, embracing our imperfections, and finding profound liberation in authenticity. If you've ev...

Life isn’t always light, growth isn’t always linear, and healing isn’t always pretty. In this podcast, Makena invites you into the raw, unfiltered spaces of life—loss, grief, transformation, and the messy beauty of becoming. Through personal stories, shadow wisdom, and heartfelt reflections,  The Sacred Darkness With Makena  is a sanctuary for those navigating life’s toughest transitions. Here, we...

This first episode is completely unscripted and that's exactly what I want this project to be like... no neat, manicured, well presented episodes, cos heaven knows that is absolutely NOT what our lives are like! This is an invitation to you who may be struggling with hidden parts of yourself that you feel guilty or ashamed of... this is a safe space for you to start the journey of being deeply...