Overcoming Your Story Podcast

By Miriam NjokuHealth & Fitness Mental Health

Overcoming Your Story Podcast episodes

October 13, 2021Family Dynamics Series: A First Daughter's Struggles to Find Her Place
What happens when the first daughter of a family who takes care of her siblings gains entrance into a boarding and has to leave home? This week's episode is the illustration of what poverty, instability in the home, family enmeshment and parentification does to a young woman trying to find her place in the world. The episode is based on the New York Times article by Andrea Elliot titled "When Dasani Left Home: What happens when trying to escape poverty means separating from your family at 13?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
It is not easy breaking away from intergenerational patterns
Even with a strong will to do different, it is hard to do so without adequate support
Parentification has consequences
Dasani has a chance for a better life
The burden and guilt of being the first in the family to...
Miriam's analysis of this article
And more...

RESOURCES
New York Times Article
Book about Dasani's story: Invisible Child
ABOUT THE HOST
Miriam is a Certified Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.
CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @_miriamnjoku/
Facebook
Linkedin
CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku.
#overcomingyourstory #overcomingyourstorypodcast #family #intergenerationaltrauma #safety #childhood #gaslighting #boundaries #space #awareness #familydynamics #poverty #parentification #enmeshment #mentalhealthwellness #family #loyalty #familybond #familydynamics #toxicfamily #africa #nigeria #ghana #kenya #cameroon #community #violence #fear # #home #mentor #selfdiscovery #shame #guilt
28 min
September 29, 2021Family Dynamics Series : Narcissistic Mother
Episode 27: Narcissistic Mother.
Miriam is doing a Family Dynamics Series and the second episode is about the Narcissistic Mother.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
What is a narcissistic mother?
The traits of a narcissistic mother
Manipulation techniques that she uses
How the child develops themselves in relationship to the narcissistic mother
The golden child and the black sheep
My own experience
Consequences of growing up with a narcissistic mother
How to heal yourself
And more...

QUOTE
Self-trust, self-love, and self-knowledge can be taught to a daughter only by a mother who possesses those qualities herself. - Dr. Karyl McBride, from Will I Ever Be Good Enough
RESOURCES
33 min
September 22, 2021Ebere Okonkwo : Making Mental Health Care Accessible
Miriam speaks with Ebere Okonkwo from Lagos Nigeria. Ebere is the Founder of MyCareBuddy, an online platform that offers Nigerians mental health care and consultation in a non-judgmental space. Our guest is also a mental health advocate, writer and spoken word artist.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
What experiences led Ebere to found MyCareBuddy
We talk about the mental heath stigma she has experienced
The entrepreneurial journey that brought her to create MyCareBuddy
How it is not easy for young people to speak about mental health issues
What she wishes to see change in African families
Importance for parents to start building a relationship with their children when they are small
The role of the "big sister" in African families and the consequences of such a role
We discuss imposter syndrome based on an article Ebere wrote on Linkedin
The importance of writing as a means of emotional release
And More...

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BEST MOMENTS
"it would be nice to have an African communities, African families, an atmosphere that encourages openness between an among fellow family members between and among siblings, and especially very important, but importantly, between parents and the children. "
VALUABLE RESOURCES
MyCareBuddy
Ebere Okonkwo Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebere-okonkwo-mycarebuddy/
ABOUT THE GUEST
Entrepreneur | Founder at MyCareBuddy | Mental Health Advocate | Writer | Spoken Word Artist
I am a mental health advocate who lives and breathes to see everyone has access to unhindered mental health care, especially in Nigeria. In pursuance of this, I founded Mycarebuddy where we provide online mental health care services to users.
CONTACT METHOD:
Ebere's email : [email protected]
MyCareBuddy: [email protected]
ABOUT THE HOST
Miriam is a Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.
CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @miriamnjoku_
Facebook
Linkedin
CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku
#overcomingyourstory #overcomingyourstorypodcast #mentalillness#mentalhealthstigma #mentalhealth #mentalhealthwellness #Nigerian #childhood #stigmatized #africanfamilies #breakingthesilence #mentalhealthawareness #community #lagos #entrepreneur #depression #writer#antidepressants #mentalhealthadvocate #selfdiscovery #safespace
41 min
September 15, 2021Family Dynamics Series : Family Enmeshment
Episode 24: Family Enmeshment. Miriam is doing a Family Dynamics Series and the first episode is about Enmeshment. Enmeshed family bonds are those that lack boundaries between family members.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Why is it important to talk about family emotional enmeshment
Dynamics of an enmeshed family and how the child is viewed
Blurred boundaries, parentification and reversal of roles
How A child in an enmeshed family behaves
The role of guilt in emotionally enmeshed families
Not being assertive and avoiding conflict as adults
Dynamics of a healthy family
What you need to do now if you grew up like this or if you are a parent and this was your reality.
And more...

ABOUT THE HOST
Miriam is a Certified Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.

CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @_miriamnjoku/
Facebook
Linkedin

CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku.
#overcomingyourstory #overcomingyourstorypodcast #family #intergenerationaltrauma #safety #parentification #control #boundaries #space #awareness #familydynamics #enmeshment #familyenmeshment #mentalhealth #mentalhealthwellness #mentalhealthstigma #loyalty #familybond #familydynamics #toxicfamily #toxicfamilydynamics #africa #nigeria #ghana #kenya #cameroon #community #individuation #fear #community #change #mentor #selfdiscovery #shame #guilt
28 min
September 08, 2021In Conversation with Author Petrona Joseph
Miriam speaks with Author Petrona Joseph from Montreal who just released her book yesterday September 7 titled Stigmatized: Breaking the Silence and Demystifying Mental Illness. Petrona Joseph, previously featured on Breakfast Television, is the blogger behind Montreal-based ‘Slayedit Montreal.’
As a trilingual Concordia graduate in linguistics, her love first love is writing; she is also an author and a mental health advocate who seeks to demystify mental illness in the Black Community.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
What led Petrona to write this very personal book that is touching many people's lives
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Petrona tells us about her childhood
Despite her struggles growing up, Petrona built a life of her own
Myths about mental health in the black community
An important conversation about antidepressants
How her book has been received and her hopes for the book
How childhood struggles led Petrona into codependent relationships
How Petrona got involved with the occult and how she broke that cycle
Seeking help for mental illness
What to do if somebody is suicidal
And More...

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BEST MOMENTS
"You could feel my depression, but you couldn't see it"
"We need to listen to black women and men, black men, we need to acknowledge people's feelings."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Link to buy your copy of Stigmatized: Breaking The Silence and Demystifying Mental Illness.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Author Petrona Joseph who just released her book yesterday September 7 titled Stigmatized: Breaking the Silence and Demystifying Mental Illness. Petrona Joseph, previously featured on Breakfast Television, is the blogger behind Montreal-based ‘Slayedit Montreal.’ She is also a mental health advocate and nominee for author of the year.
As a trilingual Concordia graduate in linguistics, her love first love is writing; she is also an author and a mental health advocate who seeks to demystify mental illness in the Black Community.
CONTACT METHOD:
Petrona Joseph Instagram: @Iampetronajoseph

ABOUT THE HOST
Miriam is a Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.
CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @miriamnjoku_
Facebook
Linkedin
CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku
#overcomingyourstory #overcomingyourstorypodcast #mentalillness#creative #mentalhealth...
46 min
September 01, 2021Are Your Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back?
Episode 23: Miriam dives into limiting beliefs which are thoughts, opinions that one believes to be the absolute truth. How many times have you told yourself you can't do something? Sadly this means we don't get to experience certain things because of our limiting beliefs.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
How limiting beliefs can hold us back
How limiting beliefs can shape our lives
How limiting beliefs show up in our lives and can hold us back
Different examples of limiting beliefs
Why does Miriam talk about a baby elephant?
How do we overcome limiting beliefs?
How are limiting beliefs linked to trauma?
And More...

ABOUT THE HOST
Miriam is a Certified Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.
CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @_miriamnjoku/
Facebook
Linkedin

CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku.
#overcomingyourstory #overcomingyourstorypodcast #limitingbeliefs #trauma #corebeliefs #negativeselftalk #freedom #dare #youcan #awareness #alternativebeliefs #selfconfidence #creative #mentalhealth #mentalhealthwellness #mentalhealthstigma #beliefs #experience #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #nigeria #ghana #kenya #cameroon #community #babyelephant #selfcare #africa #mentalwellness #parent #dare #selftherapy #meditation #visualization #selfsabotage #fear #community #change #awareness #selfdiscovery
24 min
August 25, 2021 Arnold Etoua: Don't Run Away From Your Past - Pt 2
EP 22_Edited
EP 22_Edited
SPEAKERS
Speaker 2 (80%),
Speaker 1 (20%)
So in this second part, I would like us to talk about your studies, because I know you're very educated. So I was thinking, how did you manage your studies in Cameroon? And then? Yeah, let's start with that. Because those were not optimal conditions to study in. Yeah. Um,
I mean, my education back home, there was no education for me. I was, you know, because of what I was going through school was not even something that I was considering I was, I wasn't really active in going to school and the time I went to school, I was doing very poorly. I mean, look, like I said, No one cared, really. So I'm in school back home. I don't really think that I really went to school. Did any studies back home? Did you go to public school? Oh, yeah. I went to public schools. Yes. I went to public school. When I came to the US, I was in the, I believe it was 11th. Grade. Secondary. Yeah. But it wasn't really, I was, it's not like I took school seriously, because you know, back home, in order for a child to be su school, the parent or the caregiver have to stay on top of the child to make sure they do the homework and study. But nobody really cared about that. So why did I care? As a child, you know? Yeah, so I pretty much house after mastery here in the US, but back home, I really don't count that.
So then, so when you got to the US, you've picked up studying?
Yes. What?
What motivated me is my story from back home, because as I was getting ready to come here to the US, because I was a bad person, a bad child, not going to school doing very poorly. My future was already determined that I wasn't going to do well in life, you know, and that, and I was told that that the way you going, you know, you're throwing your life away, and it doesn't seem like you're gonna make it out to that. But wait, before I travel, and because I wasn't doing well at school, I was dealing Quinn and I was just looking at it as somebody, okay, he's, you know, his future is already determined that he's not going to be anybody in life. He was already that decision was already made for me based on what they were saying. But it I realized that okay, me acting up was a result of what I was going through. But I, as a result of those experiences back home. That's my dream was to become a psychologist. Yes, that's how that's where it all started. Because I wanted to understand people's behavior. I wanted to know why people were thinking the way they were thinking and why they were acting in such ways I wanted, I was so dedicated about understanding human behavior, because to me, human, which was cool, because and it's funny, I had this natural ability that I can see through people, I don't have to interact with you, for five minutes, I can tell you if you're a genuine person or not, so I had this knowledge that that are considered as a natural ability. And I always like to analyze people. Because I like to know he comes from your childhood, right? But he was just he was just that, for some reason. He was just some thing that he was natural, that I could pick up on behavior instantly. As soon as I first come across somebody, I will assess the person and I can tell you what's going on with this person. It was just a natural ability. And I was very driven by understanding human behavior and understanding. Oh, wow. And I could see a lot I could see a lot of people and that's how I knew how people were fake. How people will hypocrite how people will put a smile on their face when they really struggling on the inside. I could see a lot of that. And the sad thing is a colossal see a lot of children suffering, you know, and that's how I made the decision that you know, I wanted to become a psychologist that was just a childhood dream that I wasn't even thinking about it back then because back home I don't even know if psychology was there was even program psychology back I wasn't even thinking about but it's...
41 min
August 18, 2021Arnold Etoua: The Man I Became!
Episode 21: Miriam speaks with Arnold Etoua, a Cameroonian/American therapist. This is a fascinating conversation in which Arnold and I discuss the first 19 years of his life spent in Cameroon, a country we are both from. I thank Arnold for his openness and vulnerability in discussing his childhood.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Arnold's daily life after his mom moves to the US
What drove Arnold to feel hopeless growing up
How Arnold saw the adults in his life
What happened when Arnold missed school for a whole year?
Why does Arnold say "nobody cared?"
What happened when Arnold reunites with his mom?
And More...

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Linkedin: Arnold Etoua

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#overcomingyourstory #overcomingyourstorypodcast #mentalillness#creative #mentalhealth #mentalhealthwellness #mentalhealthstigma #childhood #mother #uncle #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #parents #cameroon #community #immigration #selfcare #africa #mentalwellness #parent #dare #selftherapy #meditation #diaspora #home #community #healingthroughart #selfdiscovery
32 min
August 11, 2021Manipulators Are Among Us
Today Miriam talks about narcissistic abuse based on a book my French Psychologist, Isabelle Nazare-Aga called in French "Les Manipulateurs sont Parmi Nous", literally "Manipulators Are Among Us" she read many years ago that helped her get out of her second manipulative relationship.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What are the two types of manipulators/narcissists
According to the author, the 30 traits of a manipulator/narcissist
How manipulators/narcissists choose their "victims"
The Consequences of being in a relationship With a Manipulator/Narcissists
Relationship With a Narcissist: Miriam's experience
The two phases of a relationship with a Narcissist/Manipulator
How to get out of such a relationship

BEST MOMENTS
“And how does it even start that a person becomes a manipulator? It starts in childhood, it's a defense mechanism. It's a way of survivor where they attack and belittle others in order to feel valuable. ”
“They are constantly the focus of conversation among people who know them, even if they are not present. ”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Isabelle Nazare-Aga author of "Les Manipulateurs sont Parmi Nous: https://www.isabellenazare-aga.com/ (website in French)
Les Manipulateurs Sont Parmi Nous on amazon

ABOUT THE HOST

Miriam is a Certified Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.

CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @_miriamnjoku/
Facebook
Linkedin

CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku
35 min
August 03, 2021KB Mulera: Find Strength in Loving Yourself
In this interview, Miriam speaks Kabasigyi Mulera, an African Canadian Creative. She is a multifaceted creative (photography, videography, writing, spoken word) and a psychology student. She is presently based in Uganda

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Growing up in a predominantly White city in Canada and racism
Why she went back to school to study psychology
Why uncovering our core is important
How Kabasigyi discovered herself
How our guest navigated self-esteem issues
The importance of community for mental wellness
Accepting herself wholly and not rejecting some parts
How writing and Afrobeats have helped her heal
And More...

BEST MOMENTS
“I would definitely say I'm very introspective. So like, I like to reflect and deal with things. So if I know something is bothering me, I will, you know, want to unpack.”
“if there's something that you've really been wanting to do, just do it this year, just do it.”

RESOURCES
Patoranking - Celebrate Me

WHERE TO FIND KB MULERA
Instagram: @kbmulera
She's a Mukiga portfolio:
Kabasigyi's Afrobeats Therapy Playlist:
God Made Me African - Poetic Memoir by KB Mulera

ABOUT THE HOST
Miriam is a Trauma Informed Coach, an African, a mom of three daughters, a blogger and writer. After graduating from the London School of Economics, she built her international career in the fields of banking and international development, working for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, Lombard Odier Private Bank, JP Morgan, the Mastercard Foundation and the United Nations. She now uses her passion for psychology and dedicates her time to coaching others to free themselves from the burden of childhood trauma. Her wish to help other women connect to their inner wisdom, love themselves and follow their passion. In her effort to destigmatize mental health and normalize mental health conversations in black communities, she wrote her memoir about surviving childhood and finding her worth.

CONTACT METHOD
Instagram: @overcomingyourstory
Instagram: @miriamnjoku_

Facebook

Linkedin

miriamnjoku.com/podcast
Facebook Group : Overcoming Your Story

CLUBHOUSE: @miriamnjoku
50 min

About Overcoming Your Story Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Your Host Miriam Njoku, a trauma recovery coach, shares her journey healing from trauma and interviews guests whose stories will inspire you to change the narrative of your life, uncover your resilience and create a way forward.

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Overcoming Your Story Podcast episodes

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