Diaries of a Diasporan

Going abroad at 19 for an education and accidentally signing up for a crash course in visas, citation styles, Chicago winters, and “wait, how much was that hospital bill?”

Ochako shares his journey with us that took him from Kisii School to Northwestern, then BCG Seattle, and eventually back home to Kenya. He shares the culture shocks, the people who helped him find his footing, and the surprising adventure of returning to a home that had changed, and so had he.

A warm, honest conversation about growing through change, finding your people, and learning that sometimes the plan is just to figure it out as you go and live vibrantly through it all!

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Our first-ever episode from Nairobi! We sit down with Lach, musician, educator, writer, and all-around creative force. We trace her journey from a stubborn high schooler in Kenya insisting she was going to study music (to the horror of everyone around her) to an Ivy League student at the University of Pennsylvania carving her own path in a world of STEM and finance majors. Lach opens up about navigating the US as an international student with no blueprint to follow, from culture shock moments like practicing what to say before walking into a restaurant, to crashing on a friend's couch in New Jersey while starting her first teaching job, to spontaneously booking a flight to Cape Town because her friend said: "just come." 

We talk about culture shock (and reverse culture shock), the loneliness of being a pioneer, the weight of expectations from family and society, and what it means to bet on yourself when no one around you has done it before. This is a story about courage, creativity, and trusting that your passion will keep the lights on. As Lach reminds us, the day will end, and you'll still be fabulous. Plug the earphones in, as this one’s special!

This episode is a globe-trotting good time! We are hanging out with the lively Alex, who spills all about life at Minerva, where studying means packing your bags and calling a new country home almost every year. He shares the highs of living abroad, the lessons learned along the way, and why he’s feeling the pull to head back home when the right time comes. It’s fun, fast, and full of personality. Press play; you don’t want to miss this one!

We sit down with Gitau, who is calm, grounded, and full of stories. He walks us through his path from Nairobi to New Hampshire and now New York, and how he balances life as a software engineer with a real creative streak: producing music, curating social spaces, and finding new ways to connect with people in every city he's called home.

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We sit down with Betty, a sweet and inspiring young woman now living in New York. She takes us through her journey abroad, from living in Occupied Palestine for nearly a year to moving back to Kenya and eventually finding her footing in the U.S. Betty opens up about navigating language barriers, deep personal growth, and even finding love along the way.

A heartfelt conversation about identity, transition, and building a life far from home. Tune in! 💛

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Yatich, a very charismatic and down-to-earth software engineer living in Seattle. Kevin shares his journey of navigating life in the U.S., embracing his Kenyan roots while adapting to the new identities that come with being part of the diaspora. From cultural shifts to personal growth, he offers an insightful perspective on what it truly means to belong in multiple worlds. Tune in and enjoy this engaging conversation!

In this episode, the lovely and inspiring Ines shares her journey living in the U.S., the self-growth that came with it, and the powerful lessons learned along the way. From navigating the challenges of fitting in to fully embracing her identity as a Diasporan, Ines opens up about finding beauty in differences and releasing societal expectations.

Join us as we dive into her story and celebrate the resilience and individuality that come with life in the diaspora.

On today's episode, we have the lively and bubbly Valencia, whose bright energy radiates through the whole conversation. She shares her journey of being in the U.S. for two years as an international student. From feeling reluctant to leave home and start over, to now fully embracing the experience and everything it's brought her way.

On this week's episode, we get to hear from Benita, whose mind and the way she views the world are beautiful and brilliant. She shares her story of living out a childhood dream of moving abroad, taking us through her journey from Rwanda to the U.S. and now to Canada. Even after everything she's experienced, she's looking forward to going home, and she shares exactly what's shaped that pull.

On today's episode, we have the lovely Faith, a sweetheart with a very big heart and a brilliant mind, as you'll hear throughout the episode. She takes us through what it was like navigating life in a new country after getting less than a week's notice to relocate her whole life, and how she found her footing through it all.