The topic of fibroids is one thing that we will never stop talking about to raise awareness about the disease in our community. As time goes by, I have gotten to know more women who have struggled with fibroids and I have come to the realization that it is far more common than being spoken about.  Data from Michigan Medicine shows that “Nearly a quarter of Black women between 18 and 30 have fibroids compared to about 6% of white women, according to some national estimates. By age 35, that number increases to 60%. Black women are also two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications.” There is definitely a dire need for more education and discussion on this topic to help raise awareness and sensitize our community. So, today, our guest will give us a different perspective on her personal experience with fibroids. Be inspired!   Meet Our Guest : Our guest for Episode 14 aka “A Different Perspective of Healing from Fibroids” is Mane Ndoping. Mane was Born and raised in Cameroon and came to the US when she was 18. Studied psychology in undergrad 2012. Obtained MSc in Occupational Therapy 2015. She is a health and wellness enthusiast focusing on mental wellness and functional nutrition. She started a journey of self-healing in 2009, which has morphed through the years leading to the birth of NannezFruitDlight in 2019; a venture that she's passionate about through which she shares her personal journey of healing as well as information for other health challenges from other health and wellness professionals.  Contact Our Guest:  Email: mnaboutme@gmail.com Instagram:  NannezFruitDlight and or Mz_Nanne    Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Mane Ndoping  [03:00 – 30:00] Mane’s Entrepreneurship Journey   Getting to know Mane Ndoping Coming to America Health complications after diagnosis Continious check ups &amp; diagnosis  [30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis &amp; Treatment  Change of diets  Healing from Fibroids Recommendations on how to heal from Fibroids Words of encouragement to the African community How to get in touch with Mane  [1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words  Mane's final words Anyoh’s final words  Tweetable Quotes: “Some foods that we eat overwork the liver and make it hard for it to eliminate toxins, so it just stays in the body. One thing I learned about fibroids is that people who have fibroids, in most cases, have high estrogen. And the liver helps to excrete the excess. But then if we feed our liver with less optimal food, it's not able to excrete it so it stays in the body, and then it causes [complications].” - Mane Ndoping    LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.   Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

The topic of fibroids is one thing that we will never stop talking about to raise awareness about the disease in our community. As time goes by, I have gotten to know more women who have struggled with fibroids and I have come to the realization that it is far more common than being spoken about.  Data from Michigan Medicine shows that “Nearly a quarter of Black women between 18 and 30 have fibroids compared to about 6% of white women, according to some national estimates. By age 35, that number increases to 60%. Black women are also two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications.” There is definitely a dire need for more education and discussion on this topic to help raise awareness and sensitize our community. So, today, our guest will give us a different perspective on her personal experience with fibroids. Be inspired! Meet Our Guest : Our guest for Episode 14 aka “A Different Perspective of Healing from Fibroids” is Mane Ndoping. Mane was Born and raised in Cameroon and came to the US when she was 18. Studied psychology in undergrad 2012. Obtained MSc in Occupational Therapy 2015. She is a health and wellness enthusiast focusing on mental wellness and functional nutrition. She started a journey of self-healing in 2009, which has morphed through the years leading to the birth of NannezFruitDlight in 2019; a venture that she's passionate about through which she shares her personal journey of healing as well as information for other health challenges from other health and wellness professionals. Contact Our Guest: <ul> <li>Email: <a href="mailto:mnaboutme@gmail.com" rel="noopener">mnaboutme@gmail.com</a></li> <li>Instagram: NannezFruitDlight and or Mz_Nanne</li> </ul> Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Mane Ndoping</li> </ul> [03:00 – 30:00] Mane’s Entrepreneurship Journey  <ul> <li>Getting to know Mane Ndoping</li> <li>Coming to America</li> <li>Health complications after diagnosis</li> <li>Continious check ups &amp; diagnosis</li> </ul> [30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis &amp; Treatment <ul> <li>Change of diets </li> <li>Healing from Fibroids</li> <li>Recommendations on how to heal from Fibroids</li> <li>Words of encouragement to the African community</li> <li>How to get in touch with Mane</li> </ul> [1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words <ul> <li>Mane's final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: “Some foods that we eat overwork the liver and make it hard for it to eliminate toxins, so it just stays in the body. One thing I learned about fibroids is that people who have fibroids, in most cases, have high estrogen. And the liver helps to excrete the excess. But then if we feed our liver with less optimal food, it's not able to excrete it so it stays in the body, and then it causes [complications].” - Mane Ndoping  LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

014: A Different Perspective of Healing from Fibroids -  With Mane Ndoping

African immigrants have contributed significantly to the growth and diversity of the overall Black population in the United States. As an immigrant, I know how hard it is for someone to come to the United States with nothing but a dream and work hard to see their dreams come to pass. That's the story of Leslie Asanga who is an entrepreneur creating solutions to some of the enormous problems we faced back home in Africa, Cameroon specifically. Join us now as we deep dive into his journey as an immigrant and entrepreneur Meet Our Guest : Dr. Asanga is a pharmacist and an entrepreneur with 10+ years of healthcare and entrepreneurship experience. He is the founder and CEO of Pills2Me - an on-demand prescription delivery service - which was launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also the co-founder and CEO of UrPharm (an easy way to search, find, and pay for medications in sub-Saharan Africa). He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and an MBA from Roseman University of Health Sciences, Nevada, and a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. He was the winner of the Thorne Prize at startup Yale - Yale University's annual entrepreneurship award for healthcare innovation. He is an innovator and very passionate about using technology to solve healthcare problems, especially in vulnerable communities. Contact Our Guest: Email: Leslie@pills2me.com LinkedIn: Leslie Asanga     Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Leslie Asanga  [03:00 – 30:00] Leslie’s Entrepreneurship Journey   Getting to know Leslie The founding of his two companies How his humble beginnings inspired his entrepreneurship journey The services offered by the companies Leslie founded Where to find Leslie businesses in Africa &amp; America  [30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis &amp; Treatment  Life growing up in Cameroon The difficulties he had to deal with growing up His education and business ventures back in Cameroon The impact family had on him  Coming to America for studies Finding problems to solve Words of encouragement to the African community How to get in touch with Leslie  [1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words  Leslie's final words Anyoh’s final words    Tweetable Quotes “Our people have a lot of potentials but just don't explore them. People just boxed themselves into tiny boxes. They say - I'm doing this, I'm staying on this track, but I think there's a whole lot more that we can do if we just decide to explore, and not be afraid to fail.” - Leslie Asanga “Focus on the positive side of things, but believe that the negative side can happen so have a contingency plan, knowing that, this can happen, but I know the probability of that worst-case scenario happening is low and I know what do in case the worst-case scenario happens. So be positive all the time even when you have a negative fact.” - Leslie Asanga “What I will say to anyone is that chase your dreams! Right? I know, it's been said 1000 times before but you know, you don't let your guard down. Forget about the failure, forget about everything else and go chase your dreams!” - Leslie Asanga   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

African immigrants have contributed significantly to the growth and diversity of the overall Black population in the United States. As an immigrant, I know how hard it is for someone to come to the United States with nothing but a dream and work hard to see their dreams come to pass. That's the story of Leslie Asanga who is an entrepreneur creating solutions to some of the enormous problems we faced back home in Africa, Cameroon specifically. Join us now as we deep dive into his journey as an immigrant and entrepreneur Meet Our Guest : Dr. Asanga is a pharmacist and an entrepreneur with 10+ years of healthcare and entrepreneurship experience. He is the founder and CEO of Pills2Me - an on-demand prescription delivery service - which was launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also the co-founder and CEO of UrPharm (an easy way to search, find, and pay for medications in sub-Saharan Africa). He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and an MBA from Roseman University of Health Sciences, Nevada, and a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. He was the winner of the Thorne Prize at startup Yale - Yale University's annual entrepreneurship award for healthcare innovation. He is an innovator and very passionate about using technology to solve healthcare problems, especially in vulnerable communities. Contact Our Guest: Email: <a href="mailto:Leslie@pills2me.com" rel="noopener">Leslie@pills2me.com</a> LinkedIn: Leslie Asanga   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Leslie Asanga</li> </ul> [03:00 – 30:00] Leslie’s Entrepreneurship Journey  <ul> <li>Getting to know Leslie</li> <li>The founding of his two companies</li> <li>How his humble beginnings inspired his entrepreneurship journey</li> <li>The services offered by the companies Leslie founded</li> <li>Where to find Leslie businesses in Africa &amp; America</li> </ul> [30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis &amp; Treatment <ul> <li>Life growing up in Cameroon</li> <li>The difficulties he had to deal with growing up</li> <li>His education and business ventures back in Cameroon</li> <li>The impact family had on him </li> <li>Coming to America for studies</li> <li>Finding problems to solve</li> <li>Words of encouragement to the African community</li> <li>How to get in touch with Leslie</li> </ul> [1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words <ul> <li>Leslie's final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “Our people have a lot of potentials but just don't explore them. People just boxed themselves into tiny boxes. They say - I'm doing this, I'm staying on this track, but I think there's a whole lot more that we can do if we just decide to explore, and not be afraid to fail.” - Leslie Asanga “Focus on the positive side of things, but believe that the negative side can happen so have a contingency plan, knowing that, this can happen, but I know the probability of that worst-case scenario happening is low and I know what do in case the worst-case scenario happens. So be positive all the time even when you have a negative fact.” - Leslie Asanga “What I will say to anyone is that chase your dreams! Right? I know, it's been said 1000 times before but you know, you don't let your guard down. Forget about the failure, forget about everything else and go chase your dreams!” - Leslie Asanga LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

013: An African Immigrant's Journey  to Innovation - With Leslie Asanga

As mentioned in episode eight, last year - we got mixed feedback about the series of episodes we did with members of the LGBTQIA+ community to honor Pride Month. But in alignment with the goal of this podcast, not everyone will like every topic we talk about, especially topics that make people uncomfortable.  You see, growing up, most of our parents never educated us on sex, relationships, and marriage because they believed that talking about it meant that they were encouraging us to do it. The truth is that as adults, many of us wish we had this education when we were younger. Also, whether they spoke to us about it or not, that didn’t mean sex and/or relationships weren’t still happening behind their backs.  Using the same logic as the sex/relationship talk, whether we agree (or not) to educate ourselves about the lgbtqia+ community, or think that acknowledging them means encouraging their “practices” (as some people call it) in our African community, one FACT still remains: the lgbtqia+ community exists in the African community whether we agree or not. They are actually close family and friends and you may not even know it. You don’t have to agree with them or their values, but you should respect them for who they are and how they choose to live their life, just like you will expect to be respected. We can always agree to disagree in love and respect! I learnt a lot from this episode and hope you do too. Meet Our Guest: Mr. John Adewoye was born in Kwara State Nigeria and was the last child of the 4 surviving children of his parents.  “Surviving” characterized his life story from his teenage years till he was 40 years old because of my sexual orientation. The struggle was really intense for him throughout his elementary school years where he was nicknamed "obinrin" meaning a girl because of his effeminate behavior. The teenage years were particularly traumatic for him because neither he nor those who bullied me had a name for what set him apart from other boys. No one addressed this issue with him as would have been today; not even his parents.  At age 40, he came to the US in pursuit of conversion therapy, where he came to the realization that he needed no cure but self-acceptance.  As a then-priest, he also got to be aware of the fact that he need to leave the Priesthood to keep his self-acceptance, grow in it and share it. He decided to come out and stay as a visible example for those who may need his evidence in their personal struggles as homosexuals.  Mr. Adewoye has been happily married to his partner Adebayo John Omoworare since 2016. He is happy with his life and desires the same for everyone.   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Mr. John Adewoye  [03:00 – 30:00] Mr. John Adewoye Shares His Journey   Life growing up in Nigeria Going to seminary school His work as a priest in Nigeria Coming to America His work in the LGBTQ+ Community Awards &amp; Recognitions  [30:00 – 50:00] Life In America &amp; Activism  Finding his purpose in America Activism and advocacy for African LGBTQ+ people Advising the African community How to get in touch with Mr. John Adewoye  [50:00 – 57:34] Final Words  Mr. John Adewoye final words Anyoh’s final words    Tweetable Quotes “When we try to conform to the pressure of the society, it lead to  some women to marry the man they weren't really attracted to. It has led some men to marry women who they aren't attracted and that has led to raise suffering of the people we should love.” - Mr. John Adewoye   “So it is our duty, though we may not accept or support - it's our duty to educate ourselves so that we can respect them, because regardless of our beliefs, we must respect them first and foremost, as humans, we must respect one another.” - Anyoh Fombad   “So either gay or straight - the most important thing for me, is whatever I can do for humanity. And that is what I see many people in our LGBT authority trying to do for the community based on their own limited reality” - Mr. John Adewoye   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

As mentioned in episode eight, last year - we got mixed feedback about the series of episodes we did with members of the LGBTQIA+ community to honor Pride Month. But in alignment with the goal of this podcast, not everyone will like every topic we talk about, especially topics that make people uncomfortable. You see, growing up, most of our parents never educated us on sex, relationships, and marriage because they believed that talking about it meant that they were encouraging us to do it. The truth is that as adults, many of us wish we had this education when we were younger. Also, whether they spoke to us about it or not, that didn’t mean sex and/or relationships weren’t still happening behind their backs. Using the same logic as the sex/relationship talk, whether we agree (or not) to educate ourselves about the lgbtqia+ community, or think that acknowledging them means encouraging their “practices” (as some people call it) in our African community, one FACT still remains: the lgbtqia+ community exists in the African community whether we agree or not. They are actually close family and friends and you may not even know it. You don’t have to agree with them or their values, but you should respect them for who they are and how they choose to live their life, just like you will expect to be respected. We can always agree to disagree in love and respect! I learnt a lot from this episode and hope you do too. Meet Our Guest: Mr. John Adewoye was born in Kwara State Nigeria and was the last child of the 4 surviving children of his parents.  “Surviving” characterized his life story from his teenage years till he was 40 years old because of my sexual orientation. The struggle was really intense for him throughout his elementary school years where he was nicknamed "obinrin" meaning a girl because of his effeminate behavior. The teenage years were particularly traumatic for him because neither he nor those who bullied me had a name for what set him apart from other boys. No one addressed this issue with him as would have been today; not even his parents.  At age 40, he came to the US in pursuit of conversion therapy, where he came to the realization that he needed no cure but self-acceptance.  As a then-priest, he also got to be aware of the fact that he need to leave the Priesthood to keep his self-acceptance, grow in it and share it. He decided to come out and stay as a visible example for those who may need his evidence in their personal struggles as homosexuals.  Mr. Adewoye has been happily married to his partner Adebayo John Omoworare since 2016. He is happy with his life and desires the same for everyone. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Mr. John Adewoye</li> </ul> [03:00 – 30:00] Mr. John Adewoye Shares His Journey  <ul> <li>Life growing up in Nigeria</li> <li>Going to seminary school</li> <li>His work as a priest in Nigeria</li> <li>Coming to America</li> <li>His work in the LGBTQ+ Community</li> <li>Awards &amp; Recognitions</li> </ul> [30:00 – 50:00] Life In America &amp; Activism <ul> <li>Finding his purpose in America</li> <li>Activism and advocacy for African LGBTQ+ people</li> <li>Advising the African community</li> <li>How to get in touch with Mr. John Adewoye</li> </ul> [50:00 – 57:34] Final Words <ul> <li>Mr. John Adewoye final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “When we try to conform to the pressure of the society, it lead to  some women to marry the man they weren't really attracted to. It has led some men to marry women who they aren't attracted and that has led to raise suffering of the people we should love.” - Mr. John Adewoye “So it is our duty, though we may not accept or support - it's our duty to educate ourselves so that we can respect them, because regardless of our beliefs, we must respect them first and foremost, as humans, we must respect one another.” - Anyoh Fombad “So either gay or straight - the most important thing for me, is whatever I can do for humanity. And that is what I see many people in our LGBT authority trying to do for the community based on their own limited reality” - Mr. John Adewoye LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

012: My Last Pulpit - LGBTQ+ Activism — with Mr. John Adewoye

Dear listeners, this week - we will be talking about “Living with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis”. We will be having Anna Arrey on this episode(11) to discuss her journey with this disease, raise awareness, and share the lessons learned through battling this disease with you. So firstly, what is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?   Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid produces hormones that help regulate many functions in the body. An autoimmune disorder is an illness caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissues. In Hashimoto's disease, immune-system cells lead to the death of the thyroid's hormone-producing cells. The disease usually results in a decline in hormone production (hypothyroidism).   It is our hope that by the end of this conversation – you learn something new, become more aware of this disease through Anna's experience, and equip yourself with knowledge you or a loved one may need. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Anna Arrey  [03:00 – 40:00] Anna Shares Her Journey   Life growing up in Cameroon Getting diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis  The impact of the diagnosis on her life Getting a wrong diagnosis in Cameroon Traveling to India for treatment Spending three months in India  [40:00 – 1:10:24] Further Diagnosis &amp; Treatment  Finding alternative medicine The impact support groups had on her Linking up with foreign doctors Dealing with insensitive words from the community  The importance of having a support system We must show more empathy and less judgment How to get in touch with Anna  [1:10:00 – 1:09:00] Final Words  Anna's final words Anyoh’s final words    Tweetable Quotes “I've learned that if you put God at the center of your life, he's going to be there for you. I am a testimony of God's grace.” - Anna Arrey   “I'm going to use the opportunity to give a huge shout-out to those Uncles and Aunties and family members that step up for the other family members and take the role of a parent to other family members who are definitely not their children – directly or biologically. So, I just want to give a shout-out to your [Anna's] uncle and auntie and tell them that, we really appreciate them here at Living African Podcast for everything that they have done for you.” - Anyoh Fombad   “I don't let anybody stress me. I walk away from shitty people – negative and toxic people. If I find out you are a toxic person, trust me. I won’t even say good morning.” - Anna Arrey   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Dear listeners, this week - we will be talking about “Living with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis”. We will be having Anna Arrey on this episode(11) to discuss her journey with this disease, raise awareness, and share the lessons learned through battling this disease with you. So firstly, what is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid produces hormones that help regulate many functions in the body. An autoimmune disorder is an illness caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissues. In Hashimoto's disease, immune-system cells lead to the death of the thyroid's hormone-producing cells. The disease usually results in a decline in hormone production (hypothyroidism). It is our hope that by the end of this conversation – you learn something new, become more aware of this disease through Anna's experience, and equip yourself with knowledge you or a loved one may need. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Anna Arrey</li> </ul> [03:00 – 40:00] Anna Shares Her Journey  <ul> <li>Life growing up in Cameroon</li> <li>Getting diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis </li> <li>The impact of the diagnosis on her life</li> <li>Getting a wrong diagnosis in Cameroon</li> <li>Traveling to India for treatment</li> <li>Spending three months in India</li> </ul> [40:00 – 1:10:24] Further Diagnosis &amp; Treatment <ul> <li>Finding alternative medicine</li> <li>The impact support groups had on her</li> <li>Linking up with foreign doctors</li> <li>Dealing with insensitive words from the community </li> <li>The importance of having a support system</li> <li>We must show more empathy and less judgment</li> <li>How to get in touch with Anna</li> </ul> [1:10:00 – 1:09:00] Final Words <ul> <li>Anna's final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “I've learned that if you put God at the center of your life, he's going to be there for you. I am a testimony of God's grace.” - Anna Arrey “I'm going to use the opportunity to give a huge shout-out to those Uncles and Aunties and family members that step up for the other family members and take the role of a parent to other family members who are definitely not their children – directly or biologically. So, I just want to give a shout-out to your [Anna's] uncle and auntie and tell them that, we really appreciate them here at Living African Podcast for everything that they have done for you.” - Anyoh Fombad “I don't let anybody stress me. I walk away from shitty people – negative and toxic people. If I find out you are a toxic person, trust me. I won’t even say good morning.” - Anna Arrey LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

011: Living With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - With Anna Arrey

In episode 9, Kiali shared her “baby loss” story with us and now she is back to share that of “battling infertility” after losing her baby and trying to conceive again. Infertility is often a silent struggle and women who are struggling to conceive report feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation, and loss of control.   Despite the prevalence of infertility, the majority of infertile women do not share their stories with family or friends, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. The inability to reproduce naturally can cause feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. These negative feelings may lead to varying degrees of depression, anxiety, distress, and a poor quality of life.   Therefore, it is our hope that Kiali’s story will encourage other women and empower our community to keep encouraging such conversations.   Meet Our Guest:   Kiali J. Garrett is an MBA with a Finance &amp; Accounting background, and she manages large-scale projects for a living. Best known for her positivity, and managerial and leadership skills, she has worked across a broad range of industries including Banking, Hospitality, Automobile and Telecommunications, and Healthcare IT. She is an entrepreneur and founder of PeaceSteps, an organization for a cause that seeks to promote global peace. Kia also runs a style blog (www.classandasmile.com), a platform on which she expresses herself and a plinth she uses to influence, inspire, and empower women across the globe. She is a people person with a positive mindset, and she enjoys discovering new places, immersing herself in different cultures, and engrossing in adrenaline-rush adventures. Contact Kiali:  Instagram: @classandasmile Facebook: Kia Kia E-mail: classandasmile@gmail.com Get Kiali’s book on  amazon,  better world books, and  thriftbooks. Website: www.classandasmile.com   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Kiali Garrett  [03:00 – 40:00] Kiali Shares Her Journey   Trying to have another baby two years after loss Getting diagnosed with idiopathic infertility The impact of the diagnosis on her life Going through the IVF procedure two times Having miscarriages  Getting pregnant unaware Safely carrying to term and delivery   [40:00 – 1:10:24] Lessons &amp; Words of Encouragement  The power in vulnerability Why we need to share our experiences Dealing with insensitive words from the community  The importance of having a support system We must show more empathy and less judgment How to purchase Kiali’s book How to get in touch with Kiali   [1:10:00 – 1:15:00] Final Words  Kiali's final words Anyoh’s final words    Tweetable Quotes “Be compassionate. You never know what people are going through. Just don't assume that because people got married in December so by September, they should be having a baby. And then after that, you start asking them – Oh, where's the baby? When are you guys gonna have kids? Don't do that because you have no idea what this couple is going through.” - Kiali Garrett   “Be there for your spouse and support your spouse. Try to recognize that he's on the journey with you and that he's trying to have a baby as well – most importantly, with you. So you need to try to be considerate, if you need to run errands for him, go out and do it. Just don't sit there and throw everything at him.” -  Kiali Garrett  “When I got pregnant I was told by doctors and friends that sometimes when you're so stressed, your body is not a  friendly environment so it expels and can’t harbor a pregnancy. But I think being calm, and being less stressed, and trying not to stress yourself will help you a lot.” - Kiali Garrett   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

In episode 9, Kiali shared her “baby loss” story with us and now she is back to share that of “battling infertility” after losing her baby and trying to conceive again. Infertility is often a silent struggle and women who are struggling to conceive report feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation, and loss of control. Despite the prevalence of infertility, the majority of infertile women do not share their stories with family or friends, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. The inability to reproduce naturally can cause feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. These negative feelings may lead to varying degrees of depression, anxiety, distress, and a poor quality of life. Therefore, it is our hope that Kiali’s story will encourage other women and empower our community to keep encouraging such conversations. Meet Our Guest: Kiali J. Garrett is an MBA with a Finance &amp; Accounting background, and she manages large-scale projects for a living. Best known for her positivity, and managerial and leadership skills, she has worked across a broad range of industries including Banking, Hospitality, Automobile and Telecommunications, and Healthcare IT. She is an entrepreneur and founder of PeaceSteps, an organization for a cause that seeks to promote global peace. Kia also runs a style blog (<a href="http://www.classandasmile.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.classandasmile.com</a>), a platform on which she expresses herself and a plinth she uses to influence, inspire, and empower women across the globe. She is a people person with a positive mindset, and she enjoys discovering new places, immersing herself in different cultures, and engrossing in adrenaline-rush adventures. Contact Kiali:  Instagram: @classandasmile Facebook: Kia Kia E-mail: <a href="mailto:classandasmile@gmail.com">classandasmile@gmail.com</a> Get Kiali’s book on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Baby-While-Battling-Infertility-ebook/dp/B09KMYT81Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/9781664244115?shipto=US&amp;curcode=USD&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw46CVBhB1EiwAgy6M4vlg8gi71rfqPfPkdIRCn9oBfvUk7XPKNEmSfN_8WMrrcA92A1V88xoCoj4QAvD_BwE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> better world books</a>, and <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/surviving-baby-loss-while-battling-infertility-inspired-by-a-real-story/31576669/item/52193106/?gclid=CjwKCAjw46CVBhB1EiwAgy6M4pOovXihDibpvmrfNu2_vIpQQ0m6wifGg8_IL5yg_dnwxmesmuIj6BoCJWoQAvD_BwE#idiq=52193106&amp;edition=60842939" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> thriftbooks</a>. Website: <a href="http://www.classandasmile.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.classandasmile.com</a> Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Kiali Garrett</li> </ul> [03:00 – 40:00] Kiali Shares Her Journey  <ul> <li>Trying to have another baby two years after loss</li> <li>Getting diagnosed with idiopathic infertility</li> <li>The impact of the diagnosis on her life</li> <li>Going through the IVF procedure two times</li> <li>Having miscarriages </li> <li>Getting pregnant unaware</li> <li>Safely carrying to term and delivery </li> </ul> [40:00 – 1:10:24] Lessons &amp; Words of Encouragement <ul> <li>The power in vulnerability</li> <li>Why we need to share our experiences</li> <li>Dealing with insensitive words from the community </li> <li>The importance of having a support system</li> <li>We must show more empathy and less judgment</li> <li>How to purchase Kiali’s book</li> <li>How to get in touch with Kiali </li> </ul> [1:10:00 – 1:15:00] Final Words <ul> <li>Kiali's final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “Be compassionate. You never know what people are going through. Just don't assume that because people got married in December so by September, they should be having a baby. And then after that, you start asking them – Oh, where's the baby? When are you guys gonna have kids? Don't do that because you have no idea what this couple is going through.” - Kiali Garrett “Be there for your spouse and support your spouse. Try to recognize that he's on the journey with you and that he's trying to have a baby as well – most importantly, with you. So you need to try to be considerate, if you need to run errands for him, go out and do it. Just don't sit there and throw everything at him.” -  Kiali Garrett “When I got pregnant I was told by doctors and friends that sometimes when you're so stressed, your body is not a  friendly environment so it expels and can’t harbor a pregnancy. But I think being calm, and being less stressed, and trying not to stress yourself will help you a lot.” - Kiali Garrett LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

010: Battling Infertility - With Kiali Garrett

There is no greater worry for a parent than losing a baby. A baby's death is particularly distressing since it is frequently unexpected and goes against the natural order of life, in which the baby is expected to precede their parents. The emotional trauma of losing a baby can result in a variety of psychological and physiological issues, including sadness, anxiety, stress-related cognitive and physical symptoms, marital issues, an increased risk of suicide, pain, and guilt.   All of these concerns can last a long time after a baby dies, and they can lead to a documented psychiatric condition like complicated grief disorder, which has many symptoms that are comparable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).   Today, we will be having Kia Tumban on #Episode9 to discuss how she has and is “Surviving Baby Loss”. The goal of having this conversation is to share some key points with any dealing with a loss and how we as a community can be of help to each other during those times. Hope this episode positively impacts you as I did to us during the recording.   Meet Our Guest:   Kiali J. Garrett is an MBA with a Finance &amp; Accounting background, and she manages large-scale projects for a living. Best known for her positivity, and managerial and leadership skills, she has worked across a broad range of industries including Banking, Hospitality, Automobile and Telecommunications, and Healthcare IT. She is an entrepreneur and founder of PeaceSteps, an organization for a cause that seeks to promote global peace. Kia also runs a style blog (www.classandasmile.com), a platform on which she expresses herself and a plinth she uses to influence, inspire, and empower women across the globe. She is a people person with a positive mindset, and she enjoys discovering new places, immersing herself in different cultures, and engrossing in adrenaline-rush adventures. Contact Kiali:  Website: www.classandasmile.com   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Kiali Garrett  [03:00 – 40:00] Kiali's Pregnancy &amp; Diagnosis With Placenta Abruption  She had a risk-free pregnancy Getting diagnosed  What is placenta abruption? Going to Surgery &amp; Delivery Losing a baby &amp; the aftermath   [40:00 – 1:09:13]   The healing process Dealing with insensitive words from the community  Sharing the lessons learned Kiali's book on "Baby Loss" How to get in touch with Kiali   [1:10:00 – 1:15:00] Final Words  Kiali's final words Anyoh’s final words    Tweetable Quotes “I choose to focus on the good and not the bad because I realized that where my focus goes, energy flows! So I decided to focus on some of the things that I have that maybe other people don't necessarily have, feeling gratitude.” - Kiali Garrett   “I learned that the fathers of these babies, they're hurt too. Regardless of whether they carry the pregnancy or not, regardless of whether they went through a C-section or not, they’re hurt! We need to be there for them as our spouses or partners, brothers or sisters, we need to be there for them. You need to check on them. Don't only send flowers to your sister, send flowers to your brother-in-law as well.” -  Kiali Garrett   “I feel like as a community, we should also tend to attend to the men because the men as well are going through a lot. Whether the baby is here or not, the men also feel that impact because they're also the closest wants to you, and it's also their child, it's a man's child as well so we shouldn't neglect their mental health.” - Anyoh Fombad   “I remember when I was going through my journey, I was listening to a lot of people with a positive mindset and it helped me get out of those dark days that I was in to find some light. So I encourage you to share this knowledge with everyone around you so you can help them in one way or the other.” - Kiali Garrett   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

There is no greater worry for a parent than losing a baby. A baby's death is particularly distressing since it is frequently unexpected and goes against the natural order of life, in which the baby is expected to precede their parents. The emotional trauma of losing a baby can result in a variety of psychological and physiological issues, including sadness, anxiety, stress-related cognitive and physical symptoms, marital issues, an increased risk of suicide, pain, and guilt. All of these concerns can last a long time after a baby dies, and they can lead to a documented psychiatric condition like complicated grief disorder, which has many symptoms that are comparable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Today, we will be having Kia Tumban on #Episode9 to discuss how she has and is “Surviving Baby Loss”. The goal of having this conversation is to share some key points with any dealing with a loss and how we as a community can be of help to each other during those times. Hope this episode positively impacts you as I did to us during the recording. Meet Our Guest: Kiali J. Garrett is an MBA with a Finance &amp; Accounting background, and she manages large-scale projects for a living. Best known for her positivity, and managerial and leadership skills, she has worked across a broad range of industries including Banking, Hospitality, Automobile and Telecommunications, and Healthcare IT. She is an entrepreneur and founder of PeaceSteps, an organization for a cause that seeks to promote global peace. Kia also runs a style blog (<a href="http://www.classandasmile.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.classandasmile.com</a>), a platform on which she expresses herself and a plinth she uses to influence, inspire, and empower women across the globe. She is a people person with a positive mindset, and she enjoys discovering new places, immersing herself in different cultures, and engrossing in adrenaline-rush adventures. Contact Kiali:  Website: <a href="http://www.classandasmile.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.classandasmile.com</a> Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Kiali Garrett</li> </ul> [03:00 – 40:00] Kiali's Pregnancy &amp; Diagnosis With Placenta Abruption <ul> <li>She had a risk-free pregnancy</li> <li>Getting diagnosed </li> <li>What is placenta abruption?</li> <li>Going to Surgery &amp; Delivery</li> <li>Losing a baby &amp; the aftermath </li> </ul> [40:00 – 1:09:13]  <ul> <li>The healing process</li> <li>Dealing with insensitive words from the community </li> <li>Sharing the lessons learned</li> <li>Kiali's book on "Baby Loss"</li> <li>How to get in touch with Kiali </li> </ul> [1:10:00 – 1:15:00] Final Words <ul> <li>Kiali's final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “I choose to focus on the good and not the bad because I realized that where my focus goes, energy flows! So I decided to focus on some of the things that I have that maybe other people don't necessarily have, feeling gratitude.” - Kiali Garrett “I learned that the fathers of these babies, they're hurt too. Regardless of whether they carry the pregnancy or not, regardless of whether they went through a C-section or not, they’re hurt! We need to be there for them as our spouses or partners, brothers or sisters, we need to be there for them. You need to check on them. Don't only send flowers to your sister, send flowers to your brother-in-law as well.” -  Kiali Garrett “I feel like as a community, we should also tend to attend to the men because the men as well are going through a lot. Whether the baby is here or not, the men also feel that impact because they're also the closest wants to you, and it's also their child, it's a man's child as well so we shouldn't neglect their mental health.” - Anyoh Fombad “I remember when I was going through my journey, I was listening to a lot of people with a positive mindset and it helped me get out of those dark days that I was in to find some light. So I encourage you to share this knowledge with everyone around you so you can help them in one way or the other.” - Kiali Garrett LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

09: Surviving Baby Loss - With Kiali Garrett

This week - in honor of Pride Month, we will be having Leon Mopecha to discuss “Their Life As A Nonbinary African” on episode 8. Though my discussion with Leon will be focused on their life and experience as a trans person, we will also be addressing the negative outlook, stereotypes, and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community in our community.   In many African countries, homosexuality is still taboo, with society holding conservative views on gender identities and roles. This translates into a considerably high level of intolerance and discrimination towards LGBTQ people.   To overcome these issues faced by the LGBYQ+ community in our African Community, we hope that this conversation is better received than last year when we had this same discussion.  All we ask for is more tolerance and respect towards the LGBTQ+ community and that you learn and unlearn a couple of things from listening to this episode.   Meet Our Guest:   Leon Mopecha (they/them) is a nonbinary creator and educator from Cameroon, living in the United States. They use gender-neutral they/them pronouns. Leon majored in Communications with a minor in Anthropology from Widener University. Their biggest passions are linguistics, immigration and travel, intercultural communication, filmmaking, animation, and literature. In all of these fields, Leon likes to apply their unique perspective as an individual from a very diverse background, speaking on how to make media more inclusive and truly representative of society, raising awareness about previously erased or suppressed histories, and encouraging literacy and multilingualism in youth and adults.   Contact Leon:  Instagram: @leon_thelion   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Leon Mopecha  [03:00 – 10:00] Anyoh Addresses Our Audience On LGBQT+  The reactions from last year’s episodes on LGBTQ+ Why we need to have these conversations  [10:00 – 50:00] Getting To Know Leon   Leon’s upbringing and how it impacted their gender identity Going through sexual abuse  Leon’s struggles with gender identity Dealing with family reactions, gossip, and discrimination from the community. How family members have changed their views and the support they offer now Addressing Discrimination &amp; Promoting Love Leon’s ‘coming out’ story and how the family received it  [50:00 – 1:10:00] Transitioning &amp; Dealing With New Realities  The transition process and how Leon dealt with it Body changes, hormone changes, and Leon’s priority Learning how to live in America as a Trans-Black Man Dating life What we need to learn &amp; unlearn   [1:10:00 – 1:15:00] Final Words  The need for respect and tolerance Leon’s final words Anyoh’s final words    Tweetable Quotes “You may not support the members of the LGBTQ community, but I would plead with you to just respect them as humans first because we are human beings first before anything.” - Anyoh Fombad   “What people advocate for when they advocate for LGBTQ+ rights – we're advocating not that everybody needs to suddenly become bisexual, but that there needs to be an acknowledgment that there are multiple kinds of sexuality and there are multiple kinds of gender identities.” - Leon Mopecha   “There are more than enough examples of people that are members of the queer community of the LGBTQ plus community, that have family, jobs, are famous or successful, are scholars, activists, advocates, you know, firefighters, police, whatever, they're in every profession, all over the world, every culture, without exception.” - Leon Mopecha   “My last call is just for us to show empathy, regardless of who we're dealing with; whether they're members of LGBTQ plus community or whatever community. As human beings first, it is our duty to show respect and empathy for one another.” - Anyoh Fombad   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

This week - in honor of Pride Month, we will be having Leon Mopecha to discuss “Their Life As A Nonbinary African” on episode 8. Though my discussion with Leon will be focused on their life and experience as a trans person, we will also be addressing the negative outlook, stereotypes, and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community in our community. In many African countries, homosexuality is still taboo, with society holding conservative views on gender identities and roles. This translates into a considerably high level of intolerance and discrimination towards LGBTQ people. To overcome these issues faced by the LGBYQ+ community in our African Community, we hope that this conversation is better received than last year when we had this same discussion.  All we ask for is more tolerance and respect towards the LGBTQ+ community and that you learn and unlearn a couple of things from listening to this episode. Meet Our Guest: Leon Mopecha (they/them) is a nonbinary creator and educator from Cameroon, living in the United States. They use gender-neutral they/them pronouns. Leon majored in Communications with a minor in Anthropology from Widener University. Their biggest passions are linguistics, immigration and travel, intercultural communication, filmmaking, animation, and literature. In all of these fields, Leon likes to apply their unique perspective as an individual from a very diverse background, speaking on how to make media more inclusive and truly representative of society, raising awareness about previously erased or suppressed histories, and encouraging literacy and multilingualism in youth and adults. Contact Leon:  Instagram: @leon_thelion Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Leon Mopecha</li> </ul> [03:00 – 10:00] Anyoh Addresses Our Audience On LGBQT+ <ul> <li>The reactions from last year’s episodes on LGBTQ+</li> <li>Why we need to have these conversations</li> </ul> [10:00 – 50:00] Getting To Know Leon  <ul> <li>Leon’s upbringing and how it impacted their gender identity</li> <li>Going through sexual abuse </li> <li>Leon’s struggles with gender identity</li> <li>Dealing with family reactions, gossip, and discrimination from the community.</li> <li>How family members have changed their views and the support they offer now</li> <li>Addressing Discrimination &amp; Promoting Love</li> <li>Leon’s ‘coming out’ story and how the family received it</li> </ul> [50:00 – 1:10:00] Transitioning &amp; Dealing With New Realities <ul> <li>The transition process and how Leon dealt with it</li> <li>Body changes, hormone changes, and Leon’s priority</li> <li>Learning how to live in America as a Trans-Black Man</li> <li>Dating life</li> <li>What we need to learn &amp; unlearn </li> </ul> [1:10:00 – 1:15:00] Final Words <ul> <li>The need for respect and tolerance</li> <li>Leon’s final words</li> <li>Anyoh’s final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “You may not support the members of the LGBTQ community, but I would plead with you to just respect them as humans first because we are human beings first before anything.” - Anyoh Fombad “What people advocate for when they advocate for LGBTQ+ rights – we're advocating not that everybody needs to suddenly become bisexual, but that there needs to be an acknowledgment that there are multiple kinds of sexuality and there are multiple kinds of gender identities.” - Leon Mopecha “There are more than enough examples of people that are members of the queer community of the LGBTQ plus community, that have family, jobs, are famous or successful, are scholars, activists, advocates, you know, firefighters, police, whatever, they're in every profession, all over the world, every culture, without exception.” - Leon Mopecha “My last call is just for us to show empathy, regardless of who we're dealing with; whether they're members of LGBTQ plus community or whatever community. As human beings first, it is our duty to show respect and empathy for one another.” - Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

08: My Life as a Nonbinary African - With Leon Mopecha

Most of my life-long friendships were built in boarding school back home in Cameroon. If you went to boarding school in Africa, you probably spent 9 months out of 12 with about 15-30 other students in a large hall filled with bunk beds and called dormitories. Life was hard, challenging, and fun, but most importantly, the values and relationships that were achieved cannot be quantified.   Sometimes, I look back and reminisce about my 7 years of life in boarding school either with friends or in my solitude. So, I decided to call up a few of my friends to share some of their fondest memories while they were in boarding school. This, indeed, was such a fun episode for me and to say I felt nostalgic is an understatement. I hope you do too!   Info on Sharon’s Business: Sharon Nyamboli  NPN: #8205748 Phone number: (240) 535 6870 Email: sharonyamboli@gmail.com      Info on Antoinette’s Business:  Antoinette Njombua-Fombad  Website: https://www.healloveandgrow.com/ Facebook: @healloveandgrow Instagram: @w_i_t_h_i_n Brainz Magazine Executive writer 2021-2022:  https://www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/antoinette-njombua-fombad     Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 10:00] Introduction   Explaining the topic for discussion  A typical day in the life of an  African boarding school student    [10:00 – 30:00] Discussion Between Anyoh &amp; Abermo   Abermo shares his boarding school experience  How boarding school instilled the value of discipline in them  Abermo shares one of his unforgettable days in boarding school   How our parents and boarding school taught them to be independent    [30:00 – 45:00] Discussion Between Anyoh &amp; Antoinette   Antoinette shares her boarding school experiences  Antoinette compares her mixed-sex school experience with her same-sex boarding school experience  Preparing for house feast &amp; holidays  The positive impact of boarding school  How to support Antoinette’s business    [45:00 – 1:10:00] Discussion Between Anyoh &amp; Sharon  Sharon shares her boarding school experience How boarding school shaped her into womanhood Going through puberty in boarding school  Boarding shaped Sharon’s faith and helped her build friendships  How to support Sharon’s business    [1:10:00 – 1:14:00] Final Discussions   Anyoh’s last words    Tweetable Quotes “I think it's boarding school that taught us how to be very independent. Because think about the schedules - like at 5:30 in the morning, we wake up. Now they even have 7-8-year-old kids waking up and going through all of that at a very young age so, by 10, 12 years old, you're gonna be so independent and so resistant to stress or too hard life that you can only go onwards.”- Anyoh Fombad   “The best part about [an all-girls boarding school] is that it grows your womanhood. It really does create sisterhood, it helps you to appreciate your fellow woman, and it just grows you and helps you focus on things that are naturally feminine.” - Antoinette F   “A lot of Africans tend to do well in the United States because you have to be disciplined to do certain things at certain times. In fact, the system itself puts you in a situation where you have to be at work at a certain time, you have to be able to be back home, cook, do certain things, and go to sleep at a certain time. That discipline is something that we grew up harnessing [in boarding school] as little kids.” - Abermo M  "Boarding school helped shape me into the woman that I am today. Many of the friends that I have are folks that I met in boarding school. I have friends that I have made along the way [in life after boarding school], but those relationships are not as strong as the ones that I made in Boarding school.” - Sharon N     LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.   Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Most of my life-long friendships were built in boarding school back home in Cameroon. If you went to boarding school in Africa, you probably spent 9 months out of 12 with about 15-30 other students in a large hall filled with bunk beds and called dormitories. Life was hard, challenging, and fun, but most importantly, the values and relationships that were achieved cannot be quantified. Sometimes, I look back and reminisce about my 7 years of life in boarding school either with friends or in my solitude. So, I decided to call up a few of my friends to share some of their fondest memories while they were in boarding school. This, indeed, was such a fun episode for me and to say I felt nostalgic is an understatement. I hope you do too! Info on Sharon’s Business: Sharon Nyamboli  NPN: #8205748 Phone number: (240) 535 6870 Email: <a href="mailto:sharonyamboli@gmail.com">sharonyamboli@gmail.com </a> Info on Antoinette’s Business:  Antoinette Njombua-Fombad  Website: <a href="https://www.healloveandgrow.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.healloveandgrow.com/</a> Facebook: @healloveandgrow Instagram: @w_i_t_h_i_n Brainz Magazine Executive writer 2021-2022: <a href="https://www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/antoinette-njombua-fombad" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://www.brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/antoinette-njombua-fombad</a> Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 10:00] Introduction <ul> <li> Explaining the topic for discussion</li> <li> A typical day in the life of an  African boarding school student</li> </ul> [10:00 – 30:00] Discussion Between Anyoh &amp; Abermo <ul> <li> Abermo shares his boarding school experience</li> <li> How boarding school instilled the value of discipline in them</li> <li> Abermo shares one of his unforgettable days in boarding school </li> <li> How our parents and boarding school taught them to be independent</li> </ul> [30:00 – 45:00] Discussion Between Anyoh &amp; Antoinette <ul> <li> Antoinette shares her boarding school experiences</li> <li> Antoinette compares her mixed-sex school experience with her same-sex boarding school experience</li> <li> Preparing for house feast &amp; holidays</li> <li> The positive impact of boarding school</li> <li> How to support Antoinette’s business</li> </ul> [45:00 – 1:10:00] Discussion Between Anyoh &amp; Sharon <ul> <li>Sharon shares her boarding school experience</li> <li>How boarding school shaped her into womanhood</li> <li>Going through puberty in boarding school</li> <li> Boarding shaped Sharon’s faith and helped her build friendships</li> <li> How to support Sharon’s business</li> </ul> [1:10:00 – 1:14:00] Final Discussions <ul> <li> Anyoh’s last words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “I think it's boarding school that taught us how to be very independent. Because think about the schedules - like at 5:30 in the morning, we wake up. Now they even have 7-8-year-old kids waking up and going through all of that at a very young age so, by 10, 12 years old, you're gonna be so independent and so resistant to stress or too hard life that you can only go onwards.”- Anyoh Fombad “The best part about [an all-girls boarding school] is that it grows your womanhood. It really does create sisterhood, it helps you to appreciate your fellow woman, and it just grows you and helps you focus on things that are naturally feminine.” - Antoinette F “A lot of Africans tend to do well in the United States because you have to be disciplined to do certain things at certain times. In fact, the system itself puts you in a situation where you have to be at work at a certain time, you have to be able to be back home, cook, do certain things, and go to sleep at a certain time. That discipline is something that we grew up harnessing [in boarding school] as little kids.” - Abermo M "Boarding school helped shape me into the woman that I am today. Many of the friends that I have are folks that I met in boarding school. I have friends that I have made along the way [in life after boarding school], but those relationships are not as strong as the ones that I made in Boarding school.” - Sharon N LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at <a href="mailto:hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.">hello@livingafricanpodcast.com.</a> Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

07: Reminiscing About Life in Boarding School - With Anyoh & Friends

This week, we talk about an evolved African man’s outlook on matrimony. Of course, this isn’t to say that all African men think this way, but to encourage them to work hard at personal development to a point of changing the common narrative about marriage, which is typically built on patriarchal principles.   African men often do not get vulnerable, so it is pretty refreshing to have this conversation with one of our own! Nonetheless, this message is directed to every man from every race. Vulnerability is power and I hope we see that through the words of our guest this week.    Meet Our Guest:   Edmund Ade is a Certified Financial Planner and member of the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa. He currently runs a financial planning and private wealth management practice at Nedbank Private Wealth South Africa. Edmund is also an independent corporate finance adviser, advising and executing capital raising mandates, and an entrepreneur/investor with interests in several start-ups in agribusiness, fintech, healthcare, real estate,  procurement &amp; distribution.   Contact Edmund:  65 Satara Avenue, Gallo Manor, Sandton, South Africa Cell +27 (0)83 843 7918  Email: Edmond.Ade@outlook.com   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Edmund Ade  [03:00 – 20:00] A Long-distance Relationship that Ultimately Led to Marriage  Reconnecting with his ex-wife (then girlfriend) while in the UK for education.  Starting a long-distance relationship Relocating from the UK to be with her in South Africa after their marriage The start of something beautiful Challenging some stereotypes he faced for moving to South Africa  [20:00 – 45:00]  Marital Challenges  Moments he second-guessed himself Starting a business that didn’t meet expectations early enough How poor communication affected his marriage The separation and moving to a new country The need for therapy and counseling   [45:00 – 1:10:00] The Divorce &amp; Its Aftermath  The divorce proceedings and custody Dealing with the stereotypes that come with being a divorcee How education and training as a social researcher helped him go through the divorce  [1:10:00 – 1:26:00] Lessons  Learning how to communicate The need to check our mental health before going into a marriage Things Edmund will do differently if he should marry again Edmund’s final words Anyoh's final words    Tweetable Quotes   “I feel like our community does not understand what it means that personal growth. Personal growth involves so many different things and it needs to be deliberate. Thus, being deliberate about seeking counsel when you need to, seeking a mentor when you need to, talking to a lot of people, and doing a lot of reading. Thankfully, there's a lot of resources on the internet, so read about human psychology and understand things like empathy.” -  Edmund Ade   “One of the things that I've learned which I think we must start to normalize as a society is the whole idea of mental health and emotional maturity, because these are important to know how humans interact with each other. So, people need to find ways to do some kind of mental health check because we do a lot of other [medical] checks, so why not a mental health check?.” - Edmund Ade   “There are certain mindsets with which we get into relationships, and they ultimately create dysfunctional relationships. I think our way of growing up or upbringing doesn't give us the opportunities to be better human beings and to be able to relate better. I think we brushed a lot of things under the carpet because of so many different kinds of stereotypes. So today, I'm hoping to maybe challenge some of those mindsets and ultimately be able to get people to think about a few things which will challenge/change their mindsets, or at least force them to question some things before they get into marriage.” -  Edmund Ade   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.   Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

This week, we talk about an evolved African man’s outlook on matrimony. Of course, this isn’t to say that all African men think this way, but to encourage them to work hard at personal development to a point of changing the common narrative about marriage, which is typically built on patriarchal principles. African men often do not get vulnerable, so it is pretty refreshing to have this conversation with one of our own! Nonetheless, this message is directed to every man from every race. Vulnerability is power and I hope we see that through the words of our guest this week.  Meet Our Guest: Edmund Ade is a Certified Financial Planner and member of the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa. He currently runs a financial planning and private wealth management practice at Nedbank Private Wealth South Africa. Edmund is also an independent corporate finance adviser, advising and executing capital raising mandates, and an entrepreneur/investor with interests in several start-ups in agribusiness, fintech, healthcare, real estate,  procurement &amp; distribution. Contact Edmund:  65 Satara Avenue, Gallo Manor, Sandton, South Africa Cell +27 (0)83 843 7918  Email: Edmond.Ade@outlook.com Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Edmund Ade</li> </ul> [03:00 – 20:00] A Long-distance Relationship that Ultimately Led to Marriage <ul> <li>Reconnecting with his ex-wife (then girlfriend) while in the UK for education. </li> <li>Starting a long-distance relationship</li> <li>Relocating from the UK to be with her in South Africa after their marriage</li> <li>The start of something beautiful</li> <li>Challenging some stereotypes he faced for moving to South Africa</li> </ul> [20:00 – 45:00]  Marital Challenges <ul> <li>Moments he second-guessed himself</li> <li>Starting a business that didn’t meet expectations early enough</li> <li>How poor communication affected his marriage</li> <li>The separation and moving to a new country</li> <li>The need for therapy and counseling </li> </ul> [45:00 – 1:10:00] The Divorce &amp; Its Aftermath <ul> <li>The divorce proceedings and custody</li> <li>Dealing with the stereotypes that come with being a divorcee</li> <li>How education and training as a social researcher helped him go through the divorce</li> </ul> [1:10:00 – 1:26:00] Lessons <ul> <li>Learning how to communicate</li> <li>The need to check our mental health before going into a marriage</li> <li>Things Edmund will do differently if he should marry again</li> <li>Edmund’s final words</li> <li>Anyoh's final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “I feel like our community does not understand what it means that personal growth. Personal growth involves so many different things and it needs to be deliberate. Thus, being deliberate about seeking counsel when you need to, seeking a mentor when you need to, talking to a lot of people, and doing a lot of reading. Thankfully, there's a lot of resources on the internet, so read about human psychology and understand things like empathy.” - Edmund Ade “One of the things that I've learned which I think we must start to normalize as a society is the whole idea of mental health and emotional maturity, because these are important to know how humans interact with each other. So, people need to find ways to do some kind of mental health check because we do a lot of other [medical] checks, so why not a mental health check?.” - Edmund Ade “There are certain mindsets with which we get into relationships, and they ultimately create dysfunctional relationships. I think our way of growing up or upbringing doesn't give us the opportunities to be better human beings and to be able to relate better. I think we brushed a lot of things under the carpet because of so many different kinds of stereotypes. So today, I'm hoping to maybe challenge some of those mindsets and ultimately be able to get people to think about a few things which will challenge/change their mindsets, or at least force them to question some things before they get into marriage.” - Edmund Ade LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

06: An Evolved African Man’s Take on Matrimony - With Edmund Ade

Hello listeners, as we continue our conversation on mental health to honor #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, our focus this week is on Postpartum Depression.   Postpartum Depression(PPD) is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happens after childbirth. This mental health disorder affects women AND men in our community but it seems to be under-reported due to the stereotypical outlook on those who go through it, as well as the dismissive approach our culture seems to take towards such topics.   To break this stereotype, sensitize our people, and encourage those going through this ordeal, Baoline and Agbor Eyong are here to talk about their experience with postpartum depression after the birth of their second child.   Meet Our Guest:   Baoline and Agbor Eyong are a Cameroonian couple living in the state of California, who went through one of the most trying moments of their marriage when Baoline suddenly experienced severe postpartum depression after having their second child. Join us and listen to their story, learn from them, and use the information to equip ourselves.   Contact Baoline and Agbor: Meshiehawa@yahoo.com    Things You Will Learn in This Episode:   [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction   Introducing our guests - Baoline and Agbor Eyong   [03:00 – 25:00] Baoline Shares Her Experience With Postpartum Depression   How it all began  Some of the symptoms Boaline had  Getting diagnosed with PPD  Not knowing about PPD  The support from friends and family   [25:00 – 45:00]  Agbor Shares His Experience with Helping His Wife Fight PPD   He was unaware of what PPD is and how serious it was getting  His own personal experience with PPD  The support from family and friends Relocating his family to California How he hit rock bottom  The recovery process    [45:00 – 1:01:40] Coping Mechanisms &amp; Lessons Learned   You will need the support of your village  The kids are affected by what the parents go through so talk to them about it  Avoid negativity and cultivate positive thoughts  Baoline and Agbor Eyong's final words  Anyoh's final words  Tweetable Quotes “I think the first step is talking about it. Like when you have it, share it with people. Because the bottom line is people will not know what you're going through if you don't tell them. Let them know you’re going through postpartum depression even if they're clueless because the people that I told, even though they were clueless, they were able to Google or research it, and then they knew how to help me.” - Baoline Eyong   “You need to actively make that decision to get over it. Because putting it behind or under the rug, It's just going to sit there until one day you will find yourself in a situation that will give you PTSD and it would be like a flashback; like a ‘Deja Vu, and then you'll be surprised by the way you react to it. This shows that you never really got over it.” - Anyoh Fombad    LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast  You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com  for more resources and to learn more.  You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Hello listeners, as we continue our conversation on mental health to honor #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, our focus this week is on Postpartum Depression. Postpartum Depression(PPD) is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happens after childbirth. This mental health disorder affects women AND men in our community but it seems to be under-reported due to the stereotypical outlook on those who go through it, as well as the dismissive approach our culture seems to take towards such topics.  To break this stereotype, sensitize our people, and encourage those going through this ordeal, Baoline and Agbor Eyong are here to talk about their experience with postpartum depression after the birth of their second child. Meet Our Guest: Baoline and Agbor Eyong are a Cameroonian couple living in the state of California, who went through one of the most trying moments of their marriage when Baoline suddenly experienced severe postpartum depression after having their second child. Join us and listen to their story, learn from them, and use the information to equip ourselves. Contact Baoline and Agbor: Meshiehawa@yahoo.com Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li> Introducing our guests - Baoline and Agbor Eyong</li> </ul> [03:00 – 25:00] Baoline Shares Her Experience With Postpartum Depression <ul> <li> How it all began</li> <li> Some of the symptoms Boaline had</li> <li> Getting diagnosed with PPD</li> <li> Not knowing about PPD</li> <li> The support from friends and family</li> </ul> [25:00 – 45:00]  Agbor Shares His Experience with Helping His Wife Fight PPD <ul> <li> He was unaware of what PPD is and how serious it was getting </li> <li>His own personal experience with PPD </li> <li>The support from family and friends</li> <li>Relocating his family to California</li> <li>How he hit rock bottom</li> <li> The recovery process </li> </ul> [45:00 – 1:01:40] Coping Mechanisms &amp; Lessons Learned <ul> <li> You will need the support of your village</li> <li> The kids are affected by what the parents go through so talk to them about it</li> <li> Avoid negativity and cultivate positive thoughts</li> <li> Baoline and Agbor Eyong's final words</li> <li> Anyoh's final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “I think the first step is talking about it. Like when you have it, share it with people. Because the bottom line is people will not know what you're going through if you don't tell them. Let them know you’re going through postpartum depression even if they're clueless because the people that I told, even though they were clueless, they were able to Google or research it, and then they knew how to help me.” - Baoline Eyong “You need to actively make that decision to get over it. Because putting it behind or under the rug, It's just going to sit there until one day you will find yourself in a situation that will give you PTSD and it would be like a flashback; like a ‘Deja Vu, and then you'll be surprised by the way you react to it. This shows that you never really got over it.” - Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a>  for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

05: Postpartum Depression is REALLY Real - With Baoline and Agbor Eyong

Living African is a podcast that sparks hard conversations that challenge questionable cultural and societal norms, which threaten the wellbeing of the African community. The host, Anyoh Fombad, features various African guests who share their stories from heart-wrenching to exciting experiences growing up in Africa and the diaspora. By normalizing these open discussions, Anyoh hopes to encourage Africans to show their strength through vulnerability, as well as use their voices to challenge each other to be more understanding, accepting, and tolerant of each other and bring value to their community.

Welcome to the month of May; the Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, we will in part focus on mental health awareness. In our African community, most people living with mental illness (particularly when severe) are frequently stigmatized, shunned, and outcasted, making it difficult for people to express any mental health concerns. This has to change and it starts with creating awareness and having these uncomfortable conversations.   So in this episode, we have a familiar name from Season 1 - Patience Abonge. Her episode on Season 1 was one of the most listened to, and reviewed as her story touched many and brought forth the awareness of why we need to keep asking our loved ones the “Are you okay?” question, but this time, with intention and genuine interest to know what they’re going through mentally.   Meet Our Guest   Patience is a support worker who advocates for mental health in our community. She has suffered from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. She is here to speak more about her recent relapse and her goal is to use her story to motivate and inspire others while emphasizing the need to continue having these conversations.    Contact Patience: Tiktok: @patienceabonge8 Facebook: Patience Abonge   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:   [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction   Introducing our guest - Patience Abonge   [03:00 – 25:00] Patience Shares Her Relapse Story   Why she relapsed  The amount of time spent at the health facility  The effect of lack of support   [25:00 – 45:00]  Recovery &amp; How We All Can Help People Dealing With Mental Issues   What steps and procedures worked for Patience  Ask people how to help them Getting professional help Talking to people who have experienced similar mental health issues  Patience's recovery so far   [45:00 – 52:00] Addressing Important Issues   Patience's advice on how to approach mental health disorders  Patience's final words  Anyoh's final words  Tweetable Quotes “First of all, you have to identify the reasons or the causes of your mental health issues because you alone will know what the trigger is. Are you in financial difficulty? Are you unhappy in a relationship? Are you suffering from childhood trauma? Are you suffering from a loss? When you identify what the cause is then you can find a solution.” - Patience Abonge   “Seek help from professionals or people with experience in mental health-related issues because people with experience would know exactly what you’re going through and how to help you go through this difficult phase of your life.”  - Patience Abonge   “Asking me to be positive in such difficult times is not what I need. Ask me how you can help me, what you can do for me or support me with. Don’t come in thinking you know what am going through and you have a solution or suggestion when you haven’t spoken to me yet.” - Patience Abonge   “The worst thing that could ever happen, which tends to relatively be common in our African community is that a lot of people use a mental illness against the patient's going through it. Whenever the patient has a concern or an issue they want to have a conversation about, people presume they’re having an episode or a relapse and that’s so insensitive” - Anyoh Fombad    LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast  You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com  for more resources and to learn more.  You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Welcome to the month of May; the Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, we will in part focus on mental health awareness. In our African community, most people living with mental illness (particularly when severe) are frequently stigmatized, shunned, and outcasted, making it difficult for people to express any mental health concerns. This has to change and it starts with creating awareness and having these uncomfortable conversations. So in this episode, we have a familiar name from Season 1 - Patience Abonge. Her episode on Season 1 was one of the most listened to, and reviewed as her story touched many and brought forth the awareness of why we need to keep asking our loved ones the “Are you okay?” question, but this time, with intention and genuine interest to know what they’re going through mentally. Meet Our Guest Patience is a support worker who advocates for mental health in our community. She has suffered from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. She is here to speak more about her recent relapse and her goal is to use her story to motivate and inspire others while emphasizing the need to continue having these conversations.  Contact Patience: Tiktok: @patienceabonge8 Facebook: Patience Abonge Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li> Introducing our guest - Patience Abonge</li> </ul> [03:00 – 25:00] Patience Shares Her Relapse Story <ul> <li> Why she relapsed</li> <li> The amount of time spent at the health facility</li> <li> The effect of lack of support</li> </ul> [25:00 – 45:00]  Recovery &amp; How We All Can Help People Dealing With Mental Issues <ul> <li> What steps and procedures worked for Patience </li> <li>Ask people how to help them</li> <li>Getting professional help</li> <li>Talking to people who have experienced similar mental health issues</li> <li> Patience's recovery so far</li> </ul> [45:00 – 52:00] Addressing Important Issues <ul> <li> Patience's advice on how to approach mental health disorders</li> <li> Patience's final words</li> <li> Anyoh's final words</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes “First of all, you have to identify the reasons or the causes of your mental health issues because you alone will know what the trigger is. Are you in financial difficulty? Are you unhappy in a relationship? Are you suffering from childhood trauma? Are you suffering from a loss? When you identify what the cause is then you can find a solution.” - Patience Abonge “Seek help from professionals or people with experience in mental health-related issues because people with experience would know exactly what you’re going through and how to help you go through this difficult phase of your life.”  - Patience Abonge “Asking me to be positive in such difficult times is not what I need. Ask me how you can help me, what you can do for me or support me with. Don’t come in thinking you know what am going through and you have a solution or suggestion when you haven’t spoken to me yet.” - Patience Abonge “The worst thing that could ever happen, which tends to relatively be common in our African community is that a lot of people use a mental illness against the patient's going through it. Whenever the patient has a concern or an issue they want to have a conversation about, people presume they’re having an episode or a relapse and that’s so insensitive” - Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a>  for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

04: I had A Psychotic Relapse. Again. - With Patience Abonge

The topic of fibroids will be one thing that we will never stop talking about because raising awareness is very necessary. This time around, we will dive deep into a personal experience of one of our sisters on her quest to get rid of 100 fibroids.   By age 50, nearly two-thirds of women experience uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterus and range from pea to football-sized and even larger. Data from Michigan Medicine shows that “Nearly a quarter of Black women between 18 and 30 have fibroids compared to about 6% of white women, according to some national estimates. By age 35, that number increases to 60%. Black women are also two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications.”   This data shows that women in our communities are disproportionately affected by fibroids and for that reason, there is a dire need for more education and discussion on this topic to help raise awareness and sensitize our community. Be inspired!   Meet Our Guest Our guest for this episode is Hilda Ngelo. Hilda was born in Cameroon and is an IT Change Partner, Creative Director of Ndià  Mangye, and Editor-in-Chief at Mammypi  FashionTV.    Hilda shares with us her journey with fibroids, which has been such a difficult one to say the least, but she came out stronger than ever and survived a surgery, which took out 100 fibroids from her body. Hilda’s story doesn’t only depict the strength of a woman, but her ability to bear it all and never lose hope!    Be inspired by Hilda’s story just as we are!   Contact Hilda: Facebook: Hilda Ngelo and/or Mammy Pi Instagram: @mammypi   Watch Hilda’s Story on BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00151j8    Things You Will Learn in This Episode:   [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction   Introducing our guest - Hilda Ngelo   [03:00 – 25:00] Hilda Narrates Her Experience With Fibroids   Early signs of fibroid  First diagnosis and surgery  Health complications after surgery  A shocking second diagnosis  More fibroids found in a 3D scan   [25:00 – 50:00] Second Surgery &amp; Recovery   More health complications and difficulties The risks of surgery  The series of events that led to the surgery  Having faith and staying cheerful through it all  Hilda's recovery so far   [50:00 – 01:05:00] Addressing Important Issues  The need for more education and sensitization Our women need to be courageous and ask a lot of questions We need to stop dismissing the concerns of others   [01:30:00 – 01:09:03] Final Advice   Hilda's advice to women  Hilda's final words  Anyoh's final words  Quotes “I think clinicians should be able to listen to patients and provide accurate information to them. And if the patient doesn't understand, get somebody that can understand that information and break it down to the patient in a language that they better understand.” — Hilda Ngelo   “Please speak up, speak to somebody you trust. Find somebody in your circle that you trust. And if there's nobody, please do reach out because I'm here to listen, I'm here to help, and advise you.” — Hilda Ngelo   “In a different world like in the western world as a whole, A lot of black or African women go through so much but they are so afraid to ask the right questions because they think the doctor or health professional won’t give them a chance to ask those [questions] or meet them with aggression as they have experienced back home [in Africa].” — Anyoh Fombad      LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast  You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com  for more resources and to learn more.  You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

The topic of fibroids will be one thing that we will never stop talking about because raising awareness is very necessary. This time around, we will dive deep into a personal experience of one of our sisters on her quest to get rid of 100 fibroids. By age 50, nearly two-thirds of women experience uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterus and range from pea to football-sized and even larger. Data from Michigan Medicine shows that “Nearly a quarter of Black women between 18 and 30 have fibroids compared to about 6% of white women, according to some national estimates. By age 35, that number increases to 60%. Black women are also two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications.” This data shows that women in our communities are disproportionately affected by fibroids and for that reason, there is a dire need for more education and discussion on this topic to help raise awareness and sensitize our community. Be inspired! Meet Our Guest Our guest for this episode is Hilda Ngelo. Hilda was born in Cameroon and is an IT Change Partner, Creative Director of Ndià  Mangye, and Editor-in-Chief at Mammypi  FashionTV.  Hilda shares with us her journey with fibroids, which has been such a difficult one to say the least, but she came out stronger than ever and survived a surgery, which took out 100 fibroids from her body. Hilda’s story doesn’t only depict the strength of a woman, but her ability to bear it all and never lose hope!  Be inspired by Hilda’s story just as we are! Contact Hilda: Facebook: Hilda Ngelo and/or Mammy Pi Instagram: @mammypi Watch Hilda’s Story on BBC: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00151j8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00151j8</a> Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li> Introducing our guest - Hilda Ngelo</li> </ul> [03:00 – 25:00] Hilda Narrates Her Experience With Fibroids <ul> <li> Early signs of fibroid</li> <li> First diagnosis and surgery</li> <li> Health complications after surgery</li> <li> A shocking second diagnosis</li> <li> More fibroids found in a 3D scan</li> </ul> [25:00 – 50:00] Second Surgery &amp; Recovery <ul> <li> More health complications and difficulties</li> <li>The risks of surgery</li> <li> The series of events that led to the surgery</li> <li> Having faith and staying cheerful through it all</li> <li> Hilda's recovery so far</li> </ul> [50:00 – 01:05:00] Addressing Important Issues <ul> <li>The need for more education and sensitization</li> <li>Our women need to be courageous and ask a lot of questions</li> <li>We need to stop dismissing the concerns of others</li> </ul> [01:30:00 – 01:09:03] Final Advice <ul> <li> Hilda's advice to women</li> <li> Hilda's final words</li> <li> Anyoh's final words</li> </ul> Quotes “I think clinicians should be able to listen to patients and provide accurate information to them. And if the patient doesn't understand, get somebody that can understand that information and break it down to the patient in a language that they better understand.” — Hilda Ngelo “Please speak up, speak to somebody you trust. Find somebody in your circle that you trust. And if there's nobody, please do reach out because I'm here to listen, I'm here to help, and advise you.” — Hilda Ngelo  “In a different world like in the western world as a whole, A lot of black or African women go through so much but they are so afraid to ask the right questions because they think the doctor or health professional won’t give them a chance to ask those [questions] or meet them with aggression as they have experienced back home [in Africa].” — Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a>  for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

03: My Battle With 100 Fibroids - With Hilda Ngelo

Life in the 40s to 60s was nothing compared to current times. For my Grandad(Dr. Wilfred Asombang), then a young man trying to find a meaning for his existence, it wasn’t any different.   I brought him on this week’s episode to discuss his life’s story and share the lessons he learned along the way, which led to success and a legacy for us his grandchildren. I hope this episode gives you more clarity about life and offers you some answers to some of the struggles you may be facing.   MEET THE GUEST: Dr. Wilfred Wasi Asombang was born in Cameroon (Achah Quarter, Mbengwi Village, Meta, Momo Division). Dr. Asombang beat all odds to fulfill his dreams of going to school in various parts of the world making him the first in his family and one of the very few citizens with advanced education at the time. His education includes the following: Basel  Mission Primary School, Mbengwi; Ahmadiya College, Aggege, Lagos, Nigeria; London University Advanced Level GCE Certificate through Rapid Results College correspondence tuition; B.Com (Hons) Degree, University of Poona, Maharastra, India; MBA and MSc (Agecon) degrees from the University of Minnesota pre-MBA and the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, including an internship at the IBRD/World Bank, Washington D.C. USA; and   1988 Ph.D. (Econs) degree, University of Wales, Aberystwyth campus, Wales, UK.  During his professional years, Dr. Asombang had several publications and was a member of several professional societies. He worked for prominent international organizations like the African Union and United Nations. Presently, as a United Nations retiree, he is a Freelance Consultant on Capacity Building for Economic Growth &amp; Development; Strategic Human Resources Management, and Regional Cooperation and Integration.    Things You Will Learn in This Episode:   [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction   Introducing our guest - Dr. Wilfred Asombang   [03:00 – 25:00] Grandad talks about his humble beginnings   Life in rural Cameroon  His upbringing and education  His struggle to pursue education in Cameroon and Nigeria  Gaining Scholarships &amp; Studying in United States    [25:00 – 01:00:00] Work Life &amp; Career Progression   Getting into the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) &amp; United Nations (UN)  Moving across African countries  Lecturing in Namibia &amp; Cameroon  Humanitarian Work &amp; Service to Others   [01:00:00 – 01:30:00] Challenges experienced and lessons learnt  Studying in Wales for a PhD Work in several Departments of the UN  How to progress in your career  The importance of hard work and integrity   [01:30:00 – 01:45:00] Final Advice   Life lessons from Grandad  Advice to the younger generation  Importance of women empowerment  Why we need to be more tolerant and accepting  Final words from Grandad  Final words from Anyoh    Tweetable Quotes:  “My late father brought me up with the mindset that I need to work hard before I think of pleasure. He emphasized hard work before pleasure – it was like his motto and this is how he put it: "my son, the first thing in life is work. So, work hard on your own.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “On racism in America during my studies, I didn't even realize it but it was the academic advisor who pointed out that this was a problem. The problem was that I was the only black person in the MBA classrooms and those who handled the academic records were 100% white people. Unfortunately, most of them had never spoken to a black man and so when I entered the office, they all ran away - they disappeared.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “And then we must also accept the fact that every human being has ideas, so they must be given the opportunity to express themselves. So if you have a family, you must know that everyone in the family has ideas that can contribute to the well being of their family so they must be allowed to express those ideas and possibly turn them into realities.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “We must accept that change is unstoppable, that change is necessary, and  so we all need to contribute to that change.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “You should know that everyone, whether a man or a woman, is a breadwinner! Yes, we must move away from the point where we used to say that men are the breadwinners - no! The women are serving, working, and creating stuff so we say everyone is a breadwinner, and everyone has to start with self-employment.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!   Connect with Living African Podcast  You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com  for more resources and to learn more.  You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Life in the 40s to 60s was nothing compared to current times. For my Grandad(Dr. Wilfred Asombang), then a young man trying to find a meaning for his existence, it wasn’t any different. I brought him on this week’s episode to discuss his life’s story and share the lessons he learned along the way, which led to success and a legacy for us his grandchildren. I hope this episode gives you more clarity about life and offers you some answers to some of the struggles you may be facing. MEET THE GUEST: Dr. Wilfred Wasi Asombang was born in Cameroon (Achah Quarter, Mbengwi Village, Meta, Momo Division). Dr. Asombang beat all odds to fulfill his dreams of going to school in various parts of the world making him the first in his family and one of the very few citizens with advanced education at the time. His education includes the following: Basel  Mission Primary School, Mbengwi; Ahmadiya College, Aggege, Lagos, Nigeria; London University Advanced Level GCE Certificate through Rapid Results College correspondence tuition; <a href="http://B.Com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">B.Com</a> (Hons) Degree, University of Poona, Maharastra, India; MBA and MSc (Agecon) degrees from the University of Minnesota pre-MBA and the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, including an internship at the IBRD/World Bank, Washington D.C. USA; and   1988 Ph.D. (Econs) degree, University of Wales, Aberystwyth campus, Wales, UK.  During his professional years, Dr. Asombang had several publications and was a member of several professional societies. He worked for prominent international organizations like the African Union and United Nations. Presently, as a United Nations retiree, he is a Freelance Consultant on Capacity Building for Economic Growth &amp; Development; Strategic Human Resources Management, and Regional Cooperation and Integration. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li> Introducing our guest - Dr. Wilfred Asombang</li> </ul> [03:00 – 25:00] Grandad talks about his humble beginnings <ul> <li> Life in rural Cameroon</li> <li> His upbringing and education</li> <li> His struggle to pursue education in Cameroon and Nigeria</li> <li> Gaining Scholarships &amp; Studying in United States </li> </ul> [25:00 – 01:00:00] Work Life &amp; Career Progression <ul> <li> Getting into the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) &amp; United Nations (UN)</li> <li> Moving across African countries</li> <li> Lecturing in Namibia &amp; Cameroon</li> <li> Humanitarian Work &amp; Service to Others</li> </ul> [01:00:00 – 01:30:00] Challenges experienced and lessons learnt <ul> <li>Studying in Wales for a PhD</li> <li>Work in several Departments of the UN</li> <li> How to progress in your career</li> <li> The importance of hard work and integrity</li> </ul> [01:30:00 – 01:45:00] Final Advice <ul> <li> Life lessons from Grandad</li> <li> Advice to the younger generation</li> <li> Importance of women empowerment</li> <li> Why we need to be more tolerant and accepting</li> <li> Final words from Grandad</li> <li> Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: “My late father brought me up with the mindset that I need to work hard before I think of pleasure. He emphasized hard work before pleasure – it was like his motto and this is how he put it: "my son, the first thing in life is work. So, work hard on your own.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “On racism in America during my studies, I didn't even realize it but it was the academic advisor who pointed out that this was a problem. The problem was that I was the only black person in the MBA classrooms and those who handled the academic records were 100% white people. Unfortunately, most of them had never spoken to a black man and so when I entered the office, they all ran away - they disappeared.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “And then we must also accept the fact that every human being has ideas, so they must be given the opportunity to express themselves. So if you have a family, you must know that everyone in the family has ideas that can contribute to the well being of their family so they must be allowed to express those ideas and possibly turn them into realities.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “We must accept that change is unstoppable, that change is necessary, and  so we all need to contribute to that change.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang “You should know that everyone, whether a man or a woman, is a breadwinner! Yes, we must move away from the point where we used to say that men are the breadwinners - no! The women are serving, working, and creating stuff so we say everyone is a breadwinner, and everyone has to start with self-employment.” — Dr. Wilfred Asombang LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a>  for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

02: Lessons From My Grandad - With Dr. Wilfred Asombang

The decision to freeze one's egg is a difficult one to make considering the cost, health procedure, unintended discrimination, and harsh judgment our community passes on couples who try to use unconventional means (advance technology) in their reproduction journey.   Unsurprisingly, when people in our community are educated on this issue, most of the unintended discrimination and harsh judgment goes away because they now know better and will communicate with a great deal of insight.   So to continue our purpose as a platform for having these uncomfortable discussions in our community, I have here with me Mandi Anyangwe -  to tell us about her experience with egg freezing or egg cryopreservation.   Meet our Guest: Mandi Anyangwe is originally from Cameroon and lives in New York City where she works as a Technical Engagement Manager for AWS. She ensures fast time to value for clients and maintains a great customer experience across multiple industries. Outside of work, you can find her traveling, at a sports game, or having a good time with her loved ones.    Mandi shares her story about freezing her eggs, something that is seldom done in our African community. We hope her story is as inspirational as it is to us.  Contact Mandi: IG/Snapchat/Facebook - @Mandi April   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guest - Mandi Anyangwe  [03:00 – 18:00] Understanding Egg Freezing &amp; Mandi's Thought Process  Why Mandi decided to freeze her eggs The stereotypical attitude and discrimination people face Why we need to embrace change Making the necessary research before making the decision  [18:00 – 30:00] The Egg Freezing Process  The health structure behind freezing your eggs Mandi narrates the whole process with clarity The surgery and Mandi's experience Is Mandi paying egg rent?  [30:00 – 45:00] Challenges Mandi Experienced  Mandi talks about her fear during injections Facing difficulties during the preparation period The pressure Mandi faced during the process  [45:00 – 54:10] Final Discussions  Encouragement from Mandi Final words from Mandi Final words from Anyoh  Tweetable Quotes: "I just want folks to take off that mindset of "it's a taboo." It's not common, you know, my aunt will say this, people will say this and think I'm crazy. Please just don't worry about it because the more we start doing things for ourselves and the future and not for others, life will be much simpler, it'll be much easier, right?" - Mandi Anyangwe   "I never wanted to put myself in that position where I have to settle or pressure myself to be with somebody I don't want to be because I feel like am passing out on my biological clock. I want to be with someone because I want to at the right time." - Mandi Anyangwe   "There's some weird conspiracy and stereotype about people having kids through egg freezing. Some say mentally unstable kids or whatever but that is totally false! I read a lot of articles about that, to be honest with you and a lot of people debunked all those theories to be totally false." - Mandi Anyangwe   "I just want people to embrace change because the world is changing with huge technological advances and innovation. There are going to be new processes, and new opportunities coming out for different people so let's just be open-minded to seeing things the way it is, as opposed to what we're accustomed to or what people made us think" - Mandi Anyangwe   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you!     Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com  for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

The decision to freeze one's egg is a difficult one to make considering the cost, health procedure, unintended discrimination, and harsh judgment our community passes on couples who try to use unconventional means (advance technology) in their reproduction journey. Unsurprisingly, when people in our community are educated on this issue, most of the unintended discrimination and harsh judgment goes away because they now know better and will communicate with a great deal of insight. So to continue our purpose as a platform for having these uncomfortable discussions in our community, I have here with me Mandi Anyangwe -  to tell us about her experience with egg freezing or egg cryopreservation.   Meet our Guest: Mandi Anyangwe is originally from Cameroon and lives in New York City where she works as a Technical Engagement Manager for AWS. She ensures fast time to value for clients and maintains a great customer experience across multiple industries. Outside of work, you can find her traveling, at a sports game, or having a good time with her loved ones.  Mandi shares her story about freezing her eggs, something that is seldom done in our African community. We hope her story is as inspirational as it is to us.  Contact Mandi: IG/Snapchat/Facebook - @Mandi April Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guest - Mandi Anyangwe</li> </ul> [03:00 – 18:00] Understanding Egg Freezing &amp; Mandi's Thought Process <ul> <li>Why Mandi decided to freeze her eggs</li> <li>The stereotypical attitude and discrimination people face</li> <li>Why we need to embrace change</li> <li>Making the necessary research before making the decision</li> </ul> [18:00 – 30:00] The Egg Freezing Process <ul> <li>The health structure behind freezing your eggs</li> <li>Mandi narrates the whole process with clarity</li> <li>The surgery and Mandi's experience</li> <li>Is Mandi paying egg rent?</li> </ul> [30:00 – 45:00] Challenges Mandi Experienced <ul> <li>Mandi talks about her fear during injections</li> <li>Facing difficulties during the preparation period</li> <li>The pressure Mandi faced during the process</li> </ul> [45:00 – 54:10] Final Discussions <ul> <li>Encouragement from Mandi</li> <li>Final words from Mandi</li> <li>Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: "I just want folks to take off that mindset of "it's a taboo." It's not common, you know, my aunt will say this, people will say this and think I'm crazy. Please just don't worry about it because the more we start doing things for ourselves and the future and not for others, life will be much simpler, it'll be much easier, right?" - Mandi Anyangwe "I never wanted to put myself in that position where I have to settle or pressure myself to be with somebody I don't want to be because I feel like am passing out on my biological clock. I want to be with someone because I want to at the right time." - Mandi Anyangwe "There's some weird conspiracy and stereotype about people having kids through egg freezing. Some say mentally unstable kids or whatever but that is totally false! I read a lot of articles about that, to be honest with you and a lot of people debunked all those theories to be totally false." - Mandi Anyangwe "I just want people to embrace change because the world is changing with huge technological advances and innovation. There are going to be new processes, and new opportunities coming out for different people so let's just be open-minded to seeing things the way it is, as opposed to what we're accustomed to or what people made us think" - Mandi Anyangwe LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a>  for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

01: I Froze My Eggs - With Mandi Anyangwe

Anyoh Fombad

Hello Living African family,   Welcome to Season 2 of your favorite podcast! We had an impactful Season 1 and Season 2 is going to be all that and even more!   In this introductory episode, we share with you what to expect this season. It is our greatest hope that you continue this journey with us and bring more people along the way.   Thank you for all the support so far. Without you, we have no platform, so we appreciate all the support you have offered us so far. As always, keep listening, sharing and do not forget to leave us a review on whatever platform you use to listen to our podcast.   Thanks again and happy listening!   ~ Anyoh 

Hello Living African family,   Welcome to Season 2 of your favorite podcast! We had an impactful Season 1 and Season 2 is going to be all that and even more! In this introductory episode, we share with you what to expect this season. It is our greatest hope that you continue this journey with us and bring more people along the way. Thank you for all the support so far. Without you, we have no platform, so we appreciate all the support you have offered us so far. As always, keep listening, sharing and do not forget to leave us a review on whatever platform you use to listen to our podcast. Thanks again and happy listening! ~ Anyoh

00: Welcome to Season 2 - With Anyoh Fombad

Traditional medical practices have long existed way before the emergence of “modern medicine” in Africa and are still being practiced. Most of us know at least one person who still goes to a “medicine house” aka traditional doctor. Also, most of us may have always had these questions and doubts about the relevance or even the significance of traditional medicine practices in our continent. We have Professor Awah Paschal who is a medical anthropologist and gives us a holistic overview of traditional medical practices in Africa. We had one of those non-ending debates and shared our outlook on this topic and I hope that you can learn a thing or two from our conversation.     Get to meet our guest: Paschal Kum Awah is Chair of Anthropology at the Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, University of Yaounde I. He has previously held the position of Senior Research Advisor for Ipas in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. A resourceful and dedicated professor with an outstanding academic background holding a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and a Postdoctoral Certificate in Bioethics from the Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB) Olympia and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, USA. He has an excellent publication record with 78 peer-reviewed papers, three book chapters, and significant teaching experiences in the fields of Anthropology, Epidemiology, Public Health, and Bioethics. He possesses worldwide excellent interpersonal and liaison skills with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships. Enjoys worldwide collaborating in a productive and successful team and thrives in challenging environments. In 2020, he was nominated as a member of the African Union Taskforce for the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council and serves as a board member in the WCG-WIRB in the United States of America and in the Central Hospital Yaounde Institutional Review Board, Cameroon. Besides academic engagements, he is the President and CEO of the Centre for Population Studies and Health Promotion, Yaounde-Cameroon, and provides consultancy to some African, European, and US-based organizations.   CONTACT: Phone Number:+237690595948 Email: awahpaschal@yahoo.fr   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guests - Prof. Paschal Kum Awah  [03:00 – 25:00] Understanding Traditional Medicine  What is African Traditional Medicine Questioning the science behind the practice Understanding African herbal medicine  Anyoh shares her experience with traditional healers  [25:00 – 40:00] The Use Cases of Traditional Medicine  The impact of traditional medicine in Africa during the pandemic Advancement and research into traditional medicine How to identity quack traditional healers  [45:00 – 50:10] Final Discussions  Final words from Paschal Kum Awah Final words from Anyoh  Tweetable Quotes: Every culture has its own form of medicine. Within that culture, we call it medicine grounded in their tradition. For example, medicine in the western context will be the traditional medicine of the people of the west. Medicine practiced in the Chinese tradition will be Chinese medicine. Medicine practiced in the African context will be African traditional medicine. - Prof Awah Paschal LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Traditional medical practices have long existed way before the emergence of “modern medicine” in Africa and are still being practiced. Most of us know at least one person who still goes to a “medicine house” aka traditional doctor. Also, most of us may have always had these questions and doubts about the relevance or even the significance of traditional medicine practices in our continent. We have Professor Awah Paschal who is a medical anthropologist and gives us a holistic overview of traditional medical practices in Africa. We had one of those non-ending debates and shared our outlook on this topic and I hope that you can learn a thing or two from our conversation.  Get to meet our guest: Paschal Kum Awah is Chair of Anthropology at the Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, University of Yaounde I. He has previously held the position of Senior Research Advisor for Ipas in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. A resourceful and dedicated professor with an outstanding academic background holding a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and a Postdoctoral Certificate in Bioethics from the Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB) Olympia and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, USA. He has an excellent publication record with 78 peer-reviewed papers, three book chapters, and significant teaching experiences in the fields of Anthropology, Epidemiology, Public Health, and Bioethics. He possesses worldwide excellent interpersonal and liaison skills with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships. Enjoys worldwide collaborating in a productive and successful team and thrives in challenging environments. In 2020, he was nominated as a member of the African Union Taskforce for the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council and serves as a board member in the WCG-WIRB in the United States of America and in the Central Hospital Yaounde Institutional Review Board, Cameroon. Besides academic engagements, he is the President and CEO of the Centre for Population Studies and Health Promotion, Yaounde-Cameroon, and provides consultancy to some African, European, and US-based organizations. CONTACT: Phone Number:+237690595948 Email: <a href="mailto:awahpaschal@yahoo.fr" rel="noopener">awahpaschal@yahoo.fr</a> Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guests - Prof. Paschal Kum Awah</li> </ul> [03:00 – 25:00] Understanding Traditional Medicine <ul> <li>What is African Traditional Medicine</li> <li>Questioning the science behind the practice</li> <li>Understanding African herbal medicine </li> <li>Anyoh shares her experience with traditional healers</li> </ul> [25:00 – 40:00] The Use Cases of Traditional Medicine <ul> <li>The impact of traditional medicine in Africa during the pandemic</li> <li>Advancement and research into traditional medicine</li> <li>How to identity quack traditional healers</li> </ul> [45:00 – 50:10] Final Discussions <ul> <li>Final words from Paschal Kum Awah</li> <li>Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: Every culture has its own form of medicine. Within that culture, we call it medicine grounded in their tradition. For example, medicine in the western context will be the traditional medicine of the people of the west. Medicine practiced in the Chinese tradition will be Chinese medicine. Medicine practiced in the African context will be African traditional medicine. - Prof Awah Paschal LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

049: Practicing Traditional Medicine as Part of The African Culture -W/ Paschal Kum Awah

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), which can cause a disability. In MS , a person’s immune system attacks the protective nerve fiber covering and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body to stop. Though this disease has been around for a long time, it doesn’t seem to be as diagnosed or even acknowledged in our African community when compared to the common infectious diseases. Such diseases, though rare, are slowly plaquing our community and it is about time we talk about them. Today, our guests speak extensively on MS from living with it to the course of therapy. We hope this episode is as resourceful as it was for us.   Get to meet our guests:   Dr. Leonard Ngarka is a Neurologist who works at Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon. He is also a Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. He will be further educating us on MS and Neuromyelitis Optica.   Contact: Email -  lngarka@yahoo.com   Fuen Beri is the second of four children who live in the United Kingdom (UK). She has been living in the UK since 2005, shortly after high school. She now works for a global consultancy based in the heart of London and her favorite quote is - "no two days are the same." She will be sharing with us her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis(MS).   Contact: Email - Fuen.beri@gmail.com Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing our guests - Dr. Leonard Ngarka &amp; Fuen Beri  [03:00 – 17:00] Understanding Multiple sclerosis (MS)  The lack of data on multiple sclerosis in Africa Understanding the causes and symptoms of MS The under-reporting of multiple sclerosis in Africa The importance of early detection  [17:00 – 43:00] Fuen Ngwa Shares Her Story With MS  Early symptoms of MS in childhood Getting misdiagnosed in Cameroon The lack of proper diagnosis in Africa Fuen shares her struggles with MS How she keeps her head up and motivated   [43:00 - 1:06:00] Risks Factors, Prevention &amp; Stigmatization  The genetic causing factors Preventive measures we can take How the lack of some important minerals can cause MS The cost of treating MS in Africa Stigmatization of people living with MS  [1:06:00 - 1::] Medications, Advice, Mindset &amp; Motivation  Dr. Ngarka educates us on some medication used in treating MS Fuen educates us on the mindset and motivation needed General advice with patients living with multiple sclerosis The importance of listening &amp; knowing your body Government need to make drugs accessible and subsidize How to contact Dr. Leonard Ngarka &amp; Fuen Beri  [55:00 – 1:00:004] Final Discussions  Final words from Dr. Leonard Ngarka Final words from Fuen Beri Final words from Anyoh  LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), which can cause a disability. In MS , a person’s immune system attacks the protective nerve fiber covering and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body to stop. Though this disease has been around for a long time, it doesn’t seem to be as diagnosed or even acknowledged in our African community when compared to the common infectious diseases. Such diseases, though rare, are slowly plaquing our community and it is about time we talk about them. Today, our guests speak extensively on MS from living with it to the course of therapy. We hope this episode is as resourceful as it was for us. Get to meet our guests: Dr. Leonard Ngarka is a Neurologist who works at Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon. He is also a Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. He will be further educating us on MS and Neuromyelitis Optica. Contact: Email -  <a href="mailto:lngarka@yahoo.com">lngarka@yahoo.com</a> Fuen Beri is the second of four children who live in the United Kingdom (UK). She has been living in the UK since 2005, shortly after high school. She now works for a global consultancy based in the heart of London and her favorite quote is - "no two days are the same." She will be sharing with us her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis(MS). Contact: Email - Fuen.beri@gmail.com Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing our guests - Dr. Leonard Ngarka &amp; Fuen Beri</li> </ul> [03:00 – 17:00] Understanding Multiple sclerosis (MS) <ul> <li>The lack of data on multiple sclerosis in Africa</li> <li>Understanding the causes and symptoms of MS</li> <li>The under-reporting of multiple sclerosis in Africa</li> <li>The importance of early detection</li> </ul> [17:00 – 43:00] Fuen Ngwa Shares Her Story With MS <ul> <li>Early symptoms of MS in childhood</li> <li>Getting misdiagnosed in Cameroon</li> <li>The lack of proper diagnosis in Africa</li> <li>Fuen shares her struggles with MS</li> <li>How she keeps her head up and motivated </li> </ul> [43:00 - 1:06:00] Risks Factors, Prevention &amp; Stigmatization <ul> <li>The genetic causing factors</li> <li>Preventive measures we can take</li> <li>How the lack of some important minerals can cause MS</li> <li>The cost of treating MS in Africa</li> <li>Stigmatization of people living with MS</li> </ul> [1:06:00 - 1::] Medications, Advice, Mindset &amp; Motivation <ul> <li>Dr. Ngarka educates us on some medication used in treating MS</li> <li>Fuen educates us on the mindset and motivation needed</li> <li>General advice with patients living with multiple sclerosis</li> <li>The importance of listening &amp; knowing your body</li> <li>Government need to make drugs accessible and subsidize</li> <li>How to contact Dr. Leonard Ngarka &amp; Fuen Beri</li> </ul> [55:00 – 1:00:004] Final Discussions <ul> <li>Final words from Dr. Leonard Ngarka</li> <li>Final words from Fuen Beri</li> <li>Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

048:  My Life With Multiple Sclerosis - W/ Dr. Leonard Ngarka & Fuen Beri

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Heart disease is very common and serious. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. If you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than someone who doesn’t have diabetes—and at a younger age. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have heart disease.  Diabetes and heart disease are both noncommunicable diseases, meaning that they can’t be transmitted from one person to another unlike other very common communicable diseases that are prevalent in Africa such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, salmonella, etc. Also, the symptoms of diabetes and heart disease are not as obvious as most of the infectious diseases like malaria, typhoid, etc, which are common in Africa. The nature of these two diseases poses a huge problem as not much attention is given to them as normally should. Well, not until it is too late. So, in an effort to promote wellness in our community, we will be having a conversation with Dr. Nchang Taka, who is a cardiologist and very experienced in this field.  MEET OUR GUEST: Dr. Nchang Taka who's currently Interventional Cardiologist and Endovascular specialist Working in ATlanta GA, Board certified in Internal Medicine, General Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. He studied medicine at Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CUSS).  He did his residency at Morehouse School of Medicine, ATlanta GA, and did his Cardiology Fellowship at University Of Mississippi Medical Center. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction  Introducing the guest - Dr. Nchang Taka  [03:00 – 27:00] Understanding Noncommunicable Diseases  Examples of noncommunicable diseases Understanding cardiovascular diseases Data &amp; statistics of cardiovascular diseases Causes of cardiovascular diseases Preventive measures &amp; treatments The importance of healthy dieting  [27:00 – 43:00] Diabetes &amp; Hypertension  What is diabetes &amp; hypertension Knowing the risks factors Preventive measures to take The foundation of a healthy life   [43:00 - 55:00] Sudden Death Syndrome  Wellness checks and practices we need   Knowing your families history  [55:00 – 1:00:004] Final Discussions  Final words from Dr. Nchang Taka Final words from Anyoh  Tweetable Quotes: “Cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors tend to be more frequent among Africans and African American as a whole compared to non-Africans.” - Dr. Nchang Taka “Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the biggest risk factor for hypertension is obesity, which is something that we overlook a lot. Obesity is a form of malnutrition.” - Dr. Nchang Taka “A lot of members of the African community don’t know their family history and some of them don’t even care to know, and also don’t care to share. There is this false ideology that if you are sick, you have to hide it from others because you don’t want your “haters” to pray for your demise or you don’t want to be a source of stress to anybody. That actually causes more harm than good.” - Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Heart disease is very common and serious. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. If you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than someone who doesn’t have diabetes—and at a younger age. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have heart disease.  Diabetes and heart disease are both noncommunicable diseases, meaning that they can’t be transmitted from one person to another unlike other very common communicable diseases that are prevalent in Africa such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, salmonella, etc. Also, the symptoms of diabetes and heart disease are not as obvious as most of the infectious diseases like malaria, typhoid, etc, which are common in Africa. The nature of these two diseases poses a huge problem as not much attention is given to them as normally should. Well, not until it is too late. So, in an effort to promote wellness in our community, we will be having a conversation with Dr. Nchang Taka, who is a cardiologist and very experienced in this field.  MEET OUR GUEST: Dr. Nchang Taka who's currently Interventional Cardiologist and Endovascular specialist Working in ATlanta GA, Board certified in Internal Medicine, General Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. He studied medicine at Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CUSS). He did his residency at Morehouse School of Medicine, ATlanta GA, and did his Cardiology Fellowship at University Of Mississippi Medical Center. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing the guest - Dr. Nchang Taka</li> </ul> [03:00 – 27:00] Understanding Noncommunicable Diseases <ul> <li>Examples of noncommunicable diseases</li> <li>Understanding cardiovascular diseases</li> <li>Data &amp; statistics of cardiovascular diseases</li> <li>Causes of cardiovascular diseases</li> <li>Preventive measures &amp; treatments</li> <li>The importance of healthy dieting</li> </ul> [27:00 – 43:00] Diabetes &amp; Hypertension <ul> <li>What is diabetes &amp; hypertension</li> <li>Knowing the risks factors</li> <li>Preventive measures to take</li> <li>The foundation of a healthy life </li> </ul> [43:00 - 55:00] Sudden Death Syndrome <ul> <li>Wellness checks and practices we need  </li> <li>Knowing your families history</li> </ul> [55:00 – 1:00:004] Final Discussions <ul> <li>Final words from Dr. Nchang Taka</li> <li>Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: “Cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors tend to be more frequent among Africans and African American as a whole compared to non-Africans.” - Dr. Nchang Taka “Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the biggest risk factor for hypertension is obesity, which is something that we overlook a lot. Obesity is a form of malnutrition.” - Dr. Nchang Taka “A lot of members of the African community don’t know their family history and some of them don’t even care to know, and also don’t care to share. There is this false ideology that if you are sick, you have to hide it from others because you don’t want your “haters” to pray for your demise or you don’t want to be a source of stress to anybody. That actually causes more harm than good.” - Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

047:  Noncommunicable Diseases - CVD  & Diabetes W/ Dr. Nchang Taka

Still in the window of Financial Literacy, today we will continue a discussion on the new wave of Agriculture in Africa. Yes, agriculture as we know it, is changing rapidly in Africa with new technologies, investment opportunities, massive growth, and development. So I decided to invite someone special who is at the front and center of this agricultural revolution in Africa, to have an in-depth discussion with us.   MEET OUR GUEST: Roland Fomundam, founder and CEO of Greenhouse Ventures (GHV) is a seasoned social entrepreneur. Over the past ten years, he devoted his time to finding lasting solutions to tackle challenges facing Africa’s agricultural communities that make up over 65 percent of Africa’s labor force and account for about 32 percent of gross domestic product (FAO).  Roland started GHV, to address these challenges, improving the agricultural ecosystem to increase production and profit as a means to empower farmers and promote the cultivation of valued foods in a sustainable manner. Since inception, the company has successfully introduced greenhouse farming to Cameroon and Cameroonians in a way that has attracted and engaged more youths in the industry than usual. His successes are now being replicated in other countries like Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana where the company is currently carrying out studies for proper implementation.  The GHV business has been instrumental in getting these greenhouses in the hands of many users who have attested to its successes in terms of their return on investment(ROI) and happiness.  He has also led research teams to Cameroon made up of students established through an educational network from Northeastern University where he earned a Masters in Technology Entrepreneurship. Roland’s solutions and ideas have been implemented in several communities throughout Cameroon. He is also a visiting lecturer in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in a few universities in Cameroon.  Roland is a technology and business development expert. He is a philosopher, a success coach, a mentor, a pragmatist and a thought leader. His ambitions and works are geared towards the establishment of platforms with sustainable business models to engage individuals and communities for win - win outcomes. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 08:00] Introduction  Introducing the guest - Roland Fomundam  [08:00 – 50:00] Coming to America &amp; Going Back to Africa  Reading a powerful social media post by Roland What I learned in America &amp; how it changed me Roland shares his coming to America Story Why Roland returned to Africa The challenges of settling down in Africa  [37:00 – 1:22:00] Starting up a business in Agriculture   Roland shares his journey so far in Agriculture Introducing new technology and its complications Struggling for acceptance and support from the government Starting Green House Ventures and lessons learned so far The investment opportunity in Africa's Agriculture available to Africans in the diaspora  The results and massive growth stories  [1:22:00 – 1:28:00] Final Discussions  Final words from Roland Fomundam Final words from Anyoh  Tweetable Quotes: “Most people are living as shadows. There's a genuine purpose in the hearts of people they are not listening to.” - Roland Fomundam “We cannot keep making the same mistakes and giving the same excuses. We can't keep using the same parables because something has to change and that depends on us.”- Roland Fomundam   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Roland Fomundam  Roland's Profile on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/roland-fomundam-024215209 Green House Website: www.greenhouseventures.com  Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

Still in the window of Financial Literacy, today we will continue a discussion on the new wave of Agriculture in Africa. Yes, agriculture as we know it, is changing rapidly in Africa with new technologies, investment opportunities, massive growth, and development. So I decided to invite someone special who is at the front and center of this agricultural revolution in Africa, to have an in-depth discussion with us.   MEET OUR GUEST: Roland Fomundam, founder and CEO of Greenhouse Ventures (GHV) is a seasoned social entrepreneur. Over the past ten years, he devoted his time to finding lasting solutions to tackle challenges facing Africa’s agricultural communities that make up over 65 percent of Africa’s labor force and account for about 32 percent of gross domestic product (FAO).  Roland started GHV, to address these challenges, improving the agricultural ecosystem to increase production and profit as a means to empower farmers and promote the cultivation of valued foods in a sustainable manner. Since inception, the company has successfully introduced greenhouse farming to Cameroon and Cameroonians in a way that has attracted and engaged more youths in the industry than usual. His successes are now being replicated in other countries like Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana where the company is currently carrying out studies for proper implementation.  The GHV business has been instrumental in getting these greenhouses in the hands of many users who have attested to its successes in terms of their return on investment(ROI) and happiness.  He has also led research teams to Cameroon made up of students established through an educational network from Northeastern University where he earned a Masters in Technology Entrepreneurship. Roland’s solutions and ideas have been implemented in several communities throughout Cameroon. He is also a visiting lecturer in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in a few universities in Cameroon.  Roland is a technology and business development expert. He is a philosopher, a success coach, a mentor, a pragmatist and a thought leader. His ambitions and works are geared towards the establishment of platforms with sustainable business models to engage individuals and communities for win - win outcomes. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 08:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing the guest - Roland Fomundam</li> </ul> [08:00 – 50:00] Coming to America &amp; Going Back to Africa <ul> <li>Reading a powerful social media post by Roland</li> <li>What I learned in America &amp; how it changed me</li> <li>Roland shares his coming to America Story</li> <li>Why Roland returned to Africa</li> <li>The challenges of settling down in Africa</li> </ul> [37:00 – 1:22:00] Starting up a business in Agriculture  <ul> <li>Roland shares his journey so far in Agriculture</li> <li>Introducing new technology and its complications</li> <li>Struggling for acceptance and support from the government</li> <li>Starting Green House Ventures and lessons learned so far</li> <li>The investment opportunity in Africa's Agriculture available to Africans in the diaspora </li> <li>The results and massive growth stories</li> </ul> [1:22:00 – 1:28:00] Final Discussions <ul> <li>Final words from Roland Fomundam</li> <li>Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: “Most people are living as shadows. There's a genuine purpose in the hearts of people they are not listening to.” - Roland Fomundam “We cannot keep making the same mistakes and giving the same excuses. We can't keep using the same parables because something has to change and that depends on us.”- Roland Fomundam LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Roland Fomundam <ul> <li>Roland's Profile on Linkedin: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/roland-fomundam-024215209" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/roland-fomundam-024215209</a></li> <li>Green House Website: <a href="http://www.greenhouseventures.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.</a><a href="http://www.greenhouseventures.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">greenhouseventures.com</a></li> </ul> Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

046: Changing The Narrative of Agriculture in Africa – W/ Roland Fomundam

Mark Stewart

A New Year always signifies a new start. That usually means new year resolutions and promises to cultivate new habits. Being financially stable always falls amongst the most popular New Year resolutions and that shouldn’t be surprising. Financial freedom is typically the ultimate goal in everyone’s life but not many people know how to achieve this goal; especially not in our African community. You will be surprised at how much information is being made available to us to help sort out our finances, but we tend to not take advantage of that.   As a new parent, I have grown very fond of making sure that the finances of me and mine are set for life. They say knowledge is power, and that is why I have here with me Dr. Martin Kwende (featuring Mr. Mark Stewart) to provide us with helpful information on how to attain generational wealth and financial freedom.   GUEST BIO:   Dr. Martin Kwende, PhD, MBA is a visionary, business owner, entrepreneur and financial professional.  Dr. Kwende was a medical device industry executive, and spent over twenty years in the design and manufacturing of products that go into people.  Dr. Kwende has spent over 7 years in the financial services industry, and has built a fast-growing multi-million dollar business.  He is a God-fearing father and husband, and lives in Silicon Valley, CA. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 08:00] Introduction  Introducing the guest - Dr. Martin Kwende &amp; Mr. Mark Stewart  [08:00 – 17:00] Our Guests History with Wealth  Mr. Mark Stewart history with wealth  Dr. Martin Kwende's gives his history with wealth The definition of wealth and what it means  [17:00 – 35:00] What is Financial Literacy  Understanding financial literacy What we need to do to build wealth Having assets and multiple streams of income Dr. Martin Kwende shares a personal story  [35:00 – 50:00] Talking about Generational Wealth  Options to building generational wealth How to invest in assets you can transfer to the next generation How to prepare for a better retirement Understanding 4O1K and Retirement Plans  [50:00 – 1:11:00] Let's Talk About Life Insurance  Understanding life insurance The types of life insurance How much life insurance do you need? Life Insurance in Africa  [1:11:00 – 1:23:00] The Importance of Writing a Will  Understanding will &amp; you need one Protecting your family and loved ones The popularity of GoFundMe's for funerals  [1:23:00 – 1:29:00] Final Discussions  Action steps to wealth creation Let's get involved in our finances Dr. Martin Kwende talks about the impact of the Living African Podcast Final words from Dr. Martin Kwende Final words from Anyoh    Tweetable Quotes: “The way I define wealth is by the “5 F’s” - Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness and Fun. If you are wealthy, then you have a good balance in those five key areas of life.” - Dr. Martin Kwende “Growing up in Africa, our ideology of “wealth” is if you have a nice car or a big house and I believe a lot of Africans bring that ideology to the diaspora and end up living above their means.” - Anyoh Fombad   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Dr. Martin Kwende, PhD, MBA: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - World Financial Group 2221 Oakland Road, Suite 100 / San Jose, CA 95131 Cell: 707-235-6439 / eFax: 408-824-1440 Email: tino4k@gmail.com / Instagram: @DrMKwende Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

A New Year always signifies a new start. That usually means new year resolutions and promises to cultivate new habits. Being financially stable always falls amongst the most popular New Year resolutions and that shouldn’t be surprising. Financial freedom is typically the ultimate goal in everyone’s life but not many people know how to achieve this goal; especially not in our African community. You will be surprised at how much information is being made available to us to help sort out our finances, but we tend to not take advantage of that. As a new parent, I have grown very fond of making sure that the finances of me and mine are set for life. They say knowledge is power, and that is why I have here with me Dr. Martin Kwende (featuring Mr. Mark Stewart) to provide us with helpful information on how to attain generational wealth and financial freedom. GUEST BIO: Dr. Martin Kwende, PhD, MBA is a visionary, business owner, entrepreneur and financial professional.  Dr. Kwende was a medical device industry executive, and spent over twenty years in the design and manufacturing of products that go into people.  Dr. Kwende has spent over 7 years in the financial services industry, and has built a fast-growing multi-million dollar business.  He is a God-fearing father and husband, and lives in Silicon Valley, CA. Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 08:00] Introduction <ul> <li>Introducing the guest - Dr. Martin Kwende &amp; Mr. Mark Stewart</li> </ul> [08:00 – 17:00] Our Guests History with Wealth <ul> <li>Mr. Mark Stewart history with wealth </li> <li>Dr. Martin Kwende's gives his history with wealth</li> <li>The definition of wealth and what it means</li> </ul> [17:00 – 35:00] What is Financial Literacy <ul> <li>Understanding financial literacy</li> <li>What we need to do to build wealth</li> <li>Having assets and multiple streams of income</li> <li>Dr. Martin Kwende shares a personal story</li> </ul> [35:00 – 50:00] Talking about Generational Wealth <ul> <li>Options to building generational wealth</li> <li>How to invest in assets you can transfer to the next generation</li> <li>How to prepare for a better retirement</li> <li>Understanding 4O1K and Retirement Plans</li> </ul> [50:00 – 1:11:00] Let's Talk About Life Insurance <ul> <li>Understanding life insurance</li> <li>The types of life insurance</li> <li>How much life insurance do you need?</li> <li>Life Insurance in Africa</li> </ul> [1:11:00 – 1:23:00] The Importance of Writing a Will <ul> <li>Understanding will &amp; you need one</li> <li>Protecting your family and loved ones</li> <li>The popularity of GoFundMe's for funerals</li> </ul> [1:23:00 – 1:29:00] Final Discussions <ul> <li>Action steps to wealth creation</li> <li>Let's get involved in our finances</li> <li>Dr. Martin Kwende talks about the impact of the Living African Podcast</li> <li>Final words from Dr. Martin Kwende</li> <li>Final words from Anyoh</li> </ul> Tweetable Quotes: “The way I define wealth is by the “5 F’s” - Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness and Fun. If you are wealthy, then you have a good balance in those five key areas of life.” - Dr. Martin Kwende “Growing up in Africa, our ideology of “wealth” is if you have a nice car or a big house and I believe a lot of Africans bring that ideology to the diaspora and end up living above their means.” - Anyoh Fombad LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Dr. Martin Kwende, PhD, MBA: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - World Financial Group 2221 Oakland Road, Suite 100 / San Jose, CA 95131 Cell: 707-235-6439 / eFax: 408-824-1440 Email: tino4k@gmail.com / Instagram: @DrMKwende Connect with Living African Podcast You can connect with us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Living-African-Podcast-108308707973632" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/livingafricanpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jarenda313/featured" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/msanyoh?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website <a href="http://www.livingafricanpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.livingafricanpodcast.com</a> for more resources and to learn more. You can connect with Anyoh on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anyohf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> (@anyohf), <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anyohfombad/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> (@anyohfombad), and <a href="https://twitter.com/livinafricanpod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> (@anyohfombad).

045: Financial Literacy & Life Insurance – W/ Dr. Martin Kwende & Mr. Mark Stewart

Living African

The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

OwlTail

Best Parenting Podcasts

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!