Show Notes — Issue No. 13 | Building Hello West Africa

From a panther enclosure in Florida to believing in myself again

In this episode of Between Here and Benin, I take you back to a zoological conservation center in northern Florida, where I was 24, raking leaves and picking up sticks in a Florida panther enclosure — and stumbled onto Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on the truck radio.

That job, and what came after it, is the story of how I learned to trust myself. And how, at some point, I stopped. And how I finally got it back.

This episode covers:

Working as a carnivore specialist at a private conservation center in Florida

The move to Pier 55 Starbucks in Seattle

Standing in front of the ferry terminal and hearing a voice that said: take the French class, everything will be okay

The Ted Lasso speech on belief that has been living in my head all week

The first Hello West Africa advisor meeting

The first investor inquiry

The launch of my new guide! Transformative Travel Can Be Designed. Here Is How. Sixteen pages, plain language, and a framework you can actually use.

Get the guide → HERE

Between Here and Benin is written and hosted by Dr. Debra Kouda, co-founder and CEO of Hello West Africa. New episodes every Tuesday and every other Thursday.

Hello West Africa is currently seeking aligned investors and Founding Supporters. Reply to this episode or reach out directly if you want to be part of building this.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debrakouda.substack.com