In this bold and thought-provoking episode, we dive into the complex and often controversial intersection of faith and finances. Why does poverty so often walk hand in hand with religion—particularly in Black communities? We unpack whether the modern-day church is a safe haven for the faithful or a system that sometimes exploits economic vulnerability. Is this a legacy of colonialism, or has the Black church evolved into something else entirely? Join us as we ask the hard questions, draw uncomfortable lines, and try to make sense of this ongoing conversation at the heart of our communities.

📌 Production and Sponsorship

📩 Chat with us on our social media.

☕ Support the podcast by sending us a coffee on InnBucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

🎬 Tyler Perry, Why??

Tyler Perry's new and controversial film STRAW has sparked intense reactions — and in this episode, we're diving all the way in. Why does mainstream media keep serving Black women the same tired struggle stories? Where's the luxury? The joy? The soft life?

We asked our listeners: have you ever experienced princess treatment — or is it just another fantasy sold on Instagram? The responses were real, vulnerable, and revealing.

Whether you've watched STRAW or never plan to, this episode unpacks how Black women are portrayed on screen and in life — and how we can start reshaping the narrative ourselves.

💅🏾 It's time to make space for softness, wealth, and ease — because we're more than just survival stories.

📌 Production and Sponsorship

📩 Chat with us on our social media.

☕ Support the podcast by sending us a coffee on InnBucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

Where do you go for relationship advice in the age of algorithms? In this episode, we dive into the explosion of online dating coaches and relationship "experts" flooding our feeds. From the glamorized gold-digging gospel of Shera Seven, to the hyper-masculine rants of Andrew Tate, to Shadaya's controversial takes—are these really the voices shaping our generation's love lives?

We unpack the appeal, the influence, and the danger of consuming bite-sized advice on something as complex as human connection. Is social media a viable source of relationship wisdom, or are we in trouble? Tune in for a candid conversation about love, algorithms, and the search for something real in a world full of content.

📌 Production and Sponsorship

📩 Chat with us on our social media.

☕ Support the podcast by sending us a coffee on InnBucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

This episode of As Told By Us is a heartfelt and nostalgic conversation about the evolution of fun, social life, and personal growth among Zimbabwean millennials. The hosts reflect on their university days, the vibrant club culture of Grahamstown and Harare, and how their perceptions of nightlife have changed over the years. They explore themes of peak youth, the joy of unfiltered freedom, and the transition into more subdued, meaningful ways of enjoying life as they get older. Through personal stories and candid debates, they examine whether those carefree days were truly the best, or if new chapters bring different kinds of fulfillment. Tune in for a nostalgic trip down memory lane and insights on redefining fun at any stage of life.

📌 Production and Sponsorship

📩 Chat with us on our social media.

☕ Support the podcast by sending us a coffee on InnBucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

In this week's episode we used AI as our therapist. Wild right! The prompt is below for you to try it out too. If you can share your inner most thoughts with AI, can you share them with your boyfriend/girlfriend? We unpack the tricky balance between transparency and emotional dumping in romantic connections.

We explore:

• The fear of becoming vulnerable
• Why some people overshare — and what it says about their emotional needs
• The impact of trauma on how we open up

Whether you're in a new relationship, situationship, or long-term commitment, this episode will challenge how you view emotional intimacy and boundaries.

💡 Tune in to learn when sharing builds connection — can it ever be too much.

🎧 Don't forget to like, follow, and share with that friend who tells their partner everything!

PROMPT: I want to uncover the masks I'm currently wearing, the roles I'm playing, and the illusions I'm believing. Please guide me through this process by asking me 10 reflective questions, one at a time, to help me recognize the stories I'm telling myself. After I answer the 10th question, please step into the role of my higher self and analyze my responses. Identify the top negative patterns present in my life and the top positive patterns I can embrace and grow. Be direct and truthful, tough love is welcome. Provide me with daily affirmations to support my growth, actionable steps to change my behavior, and embody my authentic self, a message of encouragement from my highest self to celebrate how far I've come on my journey.

#Oversharing #Relationships #Vulnerability #EmotionalBoundaries #DatingTalk #Situationships #MillennialPodcast #GenZRelationships #AfricanVoices #ZimbabwePodcast

Join us for a raw, honest conversation about toxic female friendships—those draining, unbalanced relationships many women tolerate for too long. The hosts open up about their personal experiences with friends who:

• compete instead of celebrate,

• gossip instead of communicate,

• and manipulate instead of support.

The conversation explores:

• How to identify subtle red flags early on,

• The guilt and grief of ending long-term friendships,

• The fear of confronting toxic behaviour, especially in women we once called sisters,

• The cultural expectation that women must always "keep the peace",

• The importance of choosing friendships that feel emotionally safe.

VI the law, our resident male voice, brings a grounded outside perspective, questioning whether women hold each other accountable with the same energy they reserve for men—and why many women struggle to call out cruelty in their own circles.

Throughout the episode, laughter and vulnerability balance the weight of the topic. Listeners are challenged to reflect on their own role in unhealthy friendships—whether as the hurt or the hurter.

⏱️ Timestamps: Key Moments

00:00 – 02:45 Intro: Welcome to Season 3 and topic preview

02:46 – 08:30 Defining "toxic friendship": What it looks like and feels like

08:31 – 13:50 When support turns into subtle competition

13:51 – 19:15 Ghosting and weaponized silence

19:16 – 23:40 Betrayal and unspoken resentment in long-term friendships

23:41 – 29:00 Confrontation avoidance: Why women don't call each other out

29:01 – 34:15 Male guest weighs in: "Do women give women too many passes?"

34:16 – 39:30 Can a toxic friend change—and should you wait for it?

39:31 – 45:00 Healing and boundary-setting: The path forward

45:01 – End Final thoughts, listener challenge, and season preview

💬 Notable Quotes

• "Not all history deserves loyalty."

• "If your wins make her silent, she's not your sister."

• "You can outgrow people without becoming bitter."

📌 Production and Sponsorship

📩 Chat with us on our social media.

☕ Support the podcast by sending us a coffee on InnBucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

Guest: Donna Ray-White, Wealth Manager at DeVere Group

Recorded at: NRVANA Labs

In this eye-opening episode of As Told By Us, we sit down with wealth manager Donna Ray-White for a candid and empowering conversation on saving and investing in Zimbabwe.

Donna breaks down the misconceptions that stop many of us from taking our savings seriously, and offers practical, first-hand advice on how to grow your money—even in a tough economic environment. From banking hurdles to unstable policies, she helps us understand why it's so hard to build a financial footprint as a young Zimbabwean—and how we can still make it work.

We also unpack the lack of representation of black women in the investment space, and why it's critical for us to change that narrative. Donna shares her own inspiring journey with investing and proves that smart money moves aren't out of reach for our generation.

💡 Whether you're just starting your savings journey or looking to take your investments to the next level, this episode is full of insight, myth-busting, and motivation to do better with your money.

📩 Chat with us on our social media.

☕ Support the podcast by sending us a coffee on InnBucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

It's an episode takeover! 🎤 This week, VI the Law (previously known as the Mysterious Male Voice) leads the conversation — and he's coming for all the hard questions.

Last week, we agreed that a university degree isn't the only path to success. But this week, we're asking: is the grass really greener on the creative side?

This one's for the creatives — the musicians, artists, designers, DJs, playwrights, poets, influencers, actors — everyone blessed with a gift.

We get real about what it's actually like being a creative in Zimbabwe:

🔹 Is the "starving artist" trope even worse in our economy?

🔹 Can passion realistically pay the bills?

🔹 What does the average creative really earn?

🔹 Is there a viable market outside Harare — or outside the mainstream sound?

VI the Law shares deep insights from his own journey in Zimbabwe's creative industry. We also look at:

• The struggle between staying authentic and "selling out" for success.

• Whether gimmicks are necessary to survive.

• Whether platforms like Spotify and Apple Music help or exploit African artists.

⚡ Get ready for some heated debates — yes, arguments — as we dive into the real challenges, the hustle, and the dreams of Zimbabwean creatives.

Tune in, defend your favs, and join the conversation on our social media.

📱 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💸 Love what we do and want to support the pod? Send a coffee via Innbucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

🎓 Risking It All for That Piece of Paper?

In this episode, we unpack Africa's deep-rooted obsession with academic qualifications. Is a university degree still the golden ticket it once was—or has the paper chase lost its shine in today's world?

We're joined by VI The Law—award-winning rapper, producer, and previously known as the Mysterious Male Voice. He opens up about his own journey: graduating with flying colours in a deeply academic family, only to risk it all and follow his true passion—music. His story captures the inner conflict so many young Africans face: live for the expectations, or live for yourself?

We also explore the pressure that drives people to get degrees at all costs—sometimes even faking them—and question whether a degree is still the rite of passage it once was. From high-profile scandals to the everyday student wondering "what's next?", we get real about what education actually means for this generation and the ones to come.

And if you've ever thought about choosing a different path, we've got you. We talk career prospects beyond the traditional route—and even throw in a few tips on how to deal with your African parents who just don't get it. Or better yet… just send them this episode.

📱 Loved the episode? Keep the conversation going on our social media.

💸 Enjoying what we do and want to support us? Buy us a coffee via Innbucks: 0778103171 or through World Remit.

🎙️ Recorded at NRVANA Labs.

To kick off Season 3, we handed the mic to the unforgettable Donna Ray-White — and let's just say, you're going to want to sit down for this one.

In this powerful opener, Donna doesn't just share her story — she takes us through the fire that forged her. From a tough childhood and teen pregnancy to becoming a powerhouse Senior Wealth Manager at The DeVere Group, Donna's journey is layered with grit, grace, and the kind of growth that only comes from walking through the storm.

She opens up about:

🔹 Feeling the fire of leadership from a young age — even when the world tried to snuff it out

🔹 Navigating love, marriage, divorce, and motherhood before most of us find our footing

🔹 Losing herself in the noise — then rising, bolder, by choosing herself

🔹 Pushing through economic struggle, building businesses, and climbing her way into the corporate arena

Donna reminds us: diamonds aren't born — they're made under pressure. And she is living, breathing proof.

🎧 Want more? Check out her blog "Making of a Diamond" for deeper reflections on her journey.

📱 Loved the episode? Keep the conversation going on our social media.

🎙 Recorded at NRVANA Labs.