REAL Fitness

As of 2021, SARS-CoV-2 is still a novel virus. It's great to have vaccines, but there is a lot we do not know about the virus. In this episode, I compare Covid-19 to other pandemics like Cholera, Measles, and the Black Death. We also get a little deeper into some covid-19 data that might have eluded us because they are not so popular. Finally, we talk about the best way for you to approach the vaccines, and I do this by challenging you to think critically for yourselves. I hope you enjoy it.

Todays episodes features stories from my fathers passing on June 13, 2017; the story of Robin Roberts, co-host of Good Morning America (GMA) and her battle through cancer and MDS; the assassination attempt of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords of the 8th District of Arizona; and the passing of Arianna Huffington's mother, and the lessons the media mogul/sleep evangelist learned from grief.

With a guest -Romola Egunjobi

Hello world, I see you. Today, I tell five stories about racism, implicit biases, and the needless killings of the black race in America, how that dangerously impacts our mental health, and two simple actions that everyone can take today to make the world a better place.

Sawubona /sow:'boh:nah/ is an ancient Zulu greeting that literally means "we see you", and more than that, it is an acknowledgement of the person in your presence.

On the heels of CoVID-19, every major city in the US is experiencing protests for justice against racially motivated killings. These protests got violent in some cases and has got the attention of the world. Everyone is watching and aligning with the cause. Finally it seems like African Americans are now seen.

Read the full story of how Amy Cooper, a white lady, attempted to exploit the deep, systemic racism in the US, against a black man, Christian Cooper. The conversation between both of them didn't have to end with Amy loosing her dog, her job, and "street cred". Christian says he lost his quiet life, and also, unintentionally, stirred an outrage against racism in the United States. Their sour story could have ended differently if only Amy truly saw Christian. 

Tamir Rice was also killed in Cleveland, 2014, because someone saw him at a park, and saw a threat (simply because he was black). If they really saw Tamir, they'd have seen that he was only a 12-year old with a large heart and a beautiful life ahead of him.

We need to really see each other for the wonderful humans that we are.

Racism affects the mental wellness of people and that's why I take the time to talk about it on REAL fitness. Think about Sandra Bland.

Sandra Bland was not killed by the bullets from a gun, but the full video of her arrest shows how unjust her arrest was. The police officer, Insignia, dehumanized her and the trauma of the arrest and being in jail unjust, led to her suicide. She didn't have to die like that.

The viral video that showed four police officers involved in the daylight murder of George Floyd is appalling. It sparked an outrage in the nation at an unprecedented level and we just cannot wait for some form of justice for his life (and that of Ahmaud Arbery, BreonnaTaylor and every black who's been killed by racial policing), and more justice and reforms for the living.

The truth default theory is premised on the idea that when we interact with people, we usually assume that they are telling the truth and respond to them likewise. I adapted this theory to show us a better way to relate with each other. We can default to love.

 Background Music Credits

War by Bob Marley

A Change is Gonna Come by Brian Owens

Diallo by Wyclef Jean

Other referenced materials:

Meet Breonna Taylor

Meet Ahmaud Arbery

Read Amy Cooper's apology

See the video Christian Cooper recorded

This is a domestic abuse story. Use the time markers below to navigate through the gripping story of how my guest suffered financial, emotional, psychological, and physical abuse. She was in denial and it literally killed her, but today she lives to tell her story.

03:42 -Tope's story begins

09:59 -Her nightmares continues

23:28 -Why did she keep going back to him?

28:04 -Significant self-esteem issues

30:58 -Intimate Partner manipulations

36:35 -Her breaking point

37:05 -abuse-induced health challenges

45:06 -Her death

47:13 -Her rebirth

48:19 -Forgiveness

51:08 -Parental support

56:06 -positive reaffirmations

58:45 -A word for the abused

62:13 -Blame God

64:18 -Recap of the main points

73:04 -Bonus clip

If you need help from domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Domestic violence is also a public health issue because it impacts your health as the abused.

You can get more information on domestic abuse, what it is, and how to identify the red flags here.

SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the coronavirus that causes the dreaded CoVID-19, is changing the way we work and relate with one another today. When HIV was identified in the early 1980s, it changed a lot about our sexual relations and the perceptions we have of people who got infected with the virus, albeit, not as much as SARS-CoV-2 is currently doing as of March, 2020.

I open season 2 of the REAL Fitness podcast with my encounter with HIV, how I faced it and overcame the fear of the virus, and how my experience could be helpful in dealing with the novel coronavirus. Whatever month, year, or decade you're listening to this episode, I hope the story rings true and valuable for you, your loved ones, and your community.

Detailed show notes and links to sites mentioned in this podcast will be in my show notes at www.realfitness.tv