In the fourth installment of my mind my funk epilepsy series, show host Sitawa is in conversation with Derrick Kay; a UK based Epilepsy Advocate and Storyteller on Tiktok.  He talks about his first seizure at age 7, how he uses his TikTok to create awareness for epilepsy. The conversation covers hustle culture and the need for rest, how workplaces and governments can make all workspaces inclusive for people living with epilepsy. 

For the seven weeks between International Epilepsy Day and Purple Day (Feb 13 - Mar 27, 2023) , my mind my funk will share 7 weekly conversations with African/Black men living with epilepsy. The 7 show series is supported by Epilepsy Canada (a Canadian charity that supports research into all aspects of epilepsy). 

Footnotes:

1. Follow Derrick Kay on TikTok or Instagram
2. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
3. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
4. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon
5. Learn more about Epilepsy UK

In the third installment of my mind my funk epilepsy series, show host Sitawa is in conversation with Daniel Bedeau; a UK based Performance Analysis Technician. He talks about his first seizure at age 7, how he uses running to take care of himself and how the workplace can be a safe space for people living with epilepsy. Sitawa and Dan, also discuss their shared love for Arsenal and the correlation of race and epilepsy. 

For the seven weeks between International Epilepsy Day and Purple Day (Feb 13 - Mar 27, 2023) , my mind my funk will share 7 weekly conversations with African/Black men living with epilepsy. The 7 show series is supported by Epilepsy Canada (a Canadian charity that supports research into all aspects of epilepsy). 

Footnotes:

1. Follow Danie Bedeau on Twitter (https://twitter.com/bigdan1989), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dan_runs_epilepsy2019)
2. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
3. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
4. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

In the second installment of our epilepsy series, show host Sitawa is in conversation with Fred Kiserem; a Kenyan epilepsy advocate and Founder of Kiserem Epilepsy Awareness Foundation. Fred talks about his first seizure which happened while working as a Pastry Chef in the Middle East. He also mentioned some of the human rights violations people living with epilepsy face and the work his organization does for those living with #epilepsy in Kenya.

For the seven weeks between International Epilepsy Day and Purple Day (Feb 13 - Mar 27, 2023) , my mind my funk will share 7 weekly conversations with African/Black men living with epilepsy. The 7 show series is supported by Epilepsy Canada (a Canadian charity that supports research into all aspects of epilepsy). 

Footnotes:

1. Follow Kiserem Epilepsy Foundation on Instagram, Facebook and Website
2. World Health Organization Technical Brief  - Improving the Lives of People Living with Epilepsy
3. News Segment with Sitawa's Kibera project - Strength of a Woman on Citizen TV Kenya
4. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
5. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
6. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
7. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

In the first installment, 'Epilepsy does not define you', show host Sitawa is in conversation with Bright Bwayla; a Zambian epilepsy advocate and software engineer. Bright talks about his journey with epilepsy and his innovation (which he came up with after waking up from a seizure and finding people trying to perform an exorcism). 

For the seven weeks between International Epilepsy Day and Purple Day (Feb 13 - Mar 27 2023) , my mind my funk will share 7 weekly conversations with African/Black men living with epilepsy. The 7 show series is supported by Epilepsy Canada (a Canadian charity that supports research into all aspects of epilepsy). 

Footnotes:

1. Follow Bright Bwayla on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bright-m-bwalya-921480b2/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/BrightMBwalya) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ryt.bwalya)
2. World Health Organization Epilepsy Fact Sheet https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy
3. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
4. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
5. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
6. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

In episode 6, 'We cannot separate culture from mental health', Sitawa is in conversation with David Grant; a Canadian social worker and Founder of Global Mind Emancipation. David shares the role of representation in the mental health space, the work his organization does and the need for Africans (and Black people) to re-embrace mental health and reintegrate it back into their perspective of health in general.

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring identity in relation to mental health with special focus on African men across the globe. 

Footnotes:

1. Follow David Grant on Instagram and LinkedIn
2. Read more about David's work on his website 
3. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
4. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
5. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
6. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

In episode 5, 'Never stop at the first hurdle', Sitawa is in conversation with António Ferreira; a UK based Multi-award-winning Mental Health Activist and Anti-Racism Campaigner. António shares how the pressures of being a stellar student affected his mental health. And how his mental health struggles coupled with a nudge from one of his professors opened doors for him to be one of UK's top mental health activists. 

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring identity in relation to mental health with special focus on African men across the globe. 

Footnotes:

1. Follow António on Instagram and Twitter
2. Read more about António's work on his website 
3. See António in conversation with The Prince and Princess of Wales here
4. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
5. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
6. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
7. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

Episode 4 is inspired by comments about Edwin Chiloba, a fashion designer, model and LGBTQ activist who was murdered at the beginning of 2023. Through the show, Sitawa raises some questions about things considered to be 'unbiblical, unnatural and Un-African. She hopes to use subsequent shows to host quests who will help in answering some of the questions. 

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring identity in relation to mental health with special focus on African men across the globe. 
Footnotes:

1. Read former Nigerian President Obasanjo's remarks on homosexuality - https://sudantribune.com/article6896/
2. Watch Uganda's Pastor Martin Ssempa press conference  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUHkQ9vP_lA
3. Read about Homosexuality removed from DSM V here
4. See the Gender Spectrum here
5. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
6. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
7. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
8. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

Episode 3 is depression 101 and Sitawa shares her journey with depression as she talks about depression signs, myths and facts.

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring identity in relation to mental health with special focus on African men across the globe. 

Footnotes:

1. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
2. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
3. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
4. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon
5. Song - People by Libianca

In episode 2, 'Loved out of Depression', Sitawa is in conversation with Onyango Otieno (Rixpoet); a Nairobi based Trauma Coach, Digital Storyteller and Healthy Masculinity Champion.  

Key Moments: 

1. How opening up about his lowest moment publicly introduced him to the mental health space,
2. How he handled the aftermath of sharing about a traumatic experience,
3. The role of community and how to build one

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring identity in relation to mental health with special focus on African men across the globe. 

Footnotes:

1. Follow Otieno on Instagram and Twitter - @ Rixpoet
2. Contact Otieno using the form on his website 
3. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
4. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
5. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
6. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring identity in relation to mental health with special focus on African men across the globe.  

Before jumping into the series, Sitawa uses the first episode to recap what the last 4 seasons have been like. She also shares some of the topics the 5th season will explore.  

Footnotes:

1. Watch, Subscribe and Share my mind my funk show on Youtube
2. Subscribe to Funky Notes (monthly Newsletter) on www.mymindmyfunk.org
3. Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula
4. Buy Sitawa a cup of tea  or Cop our ‘Houseplants Themed Cover’ notebooks  on Amazon