Hi guys!

Happy Easter!! HE IS RISENNN, We hope you've managed to reset, reflect and enjoy the long weekend.

In this episode, we discuss all things careers, including our dream jobs as children, navigating closed doors and the pressure to make inauthentic career decisions. We also discuss the importance of diversifying the concept of 'Black Excellence' by exposing ourselves to unconventional stories of career success.

We hope this is particularly beneficial to those in their final stage of university who are navigating making their first career move. Let us know if this resonated with you!

Have an amazing start to the week and stay blessed,

Ruth and Josh!

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - Searching for glory in the field of finance

10:00 - Rejected from dream uni course

16:19 - Navigating the pressure to secure a graduate role after final year

21:00 - Ruth's career journey

30:00 - Rediscovering your "unthought knows"

34:00 - Unconventional stories of 'Black Excellence'

38:00 - Strengthening your 'weak ties'

43:50 - Evergreen Highlight: Career Confident, Vera Okojie

46:00 - The Tyranny of Should

50:45 - Closing

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to watch the podcast, here's the link to our YT. - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvergreenPodcast/videos

Josh's Insta: @JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: @Ruth.kendaaa

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

In episode 3 of out 'Life After Uni' series, we are joined by a very special guest, Shekinah, where we discuss the joys and pains of navigating friendship after university.

This one gets quite deep at around the 40 minute mark, so make sure to stick around until then, or even skip to that part now!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - What is friendship

05:30 - What have your friendships been like?

18:40 - Experiences with female friendships

25:40 - Male and Female friends

27:30 - Cross gender enrichment

30:30 - The Worlds Worst Question

34:09 - Grey area relationships

36:50 - Male friendships

39:00 - Toxic aspects of friendship

44:00 - Shekinah's Hate club

47:10 - Low maintenance friendship

51:50 - Are you still low maintenance in romantic relationships

01:03:00 - In what ways have you been a bad friend

01:12:00 - Speak to yourself as you speak to your friends

01:14:50 - Evergreen Highlight & Closing

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to watch the podcast, here's the link to our YT. - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvergreenPodcast/videos

Josh's Insta: @JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: @Ruth.kendaaa

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Hey guys! Welcoming back to the second episode of the season where we discuss our experiences navigating the "dating jungle" also affectionately known as the "streets."

Dating post-uni is a slightly different game to what it was during university. In this episode, we discuss everything from our experiences (or lack thereof) dating, the importance of emotional integrity, ways in which we can be responsible for our own involuntary singleness, remaining open and the difference between compromising and settling.

This is an interesting episode and one we're confident you'll be able to relate to. If you have any dating horror stories or any tips on navigating how to date post-uni, feel free to share them with us and The Evergreen community.

Have a blessed week!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:08 - Ruth's scary story 1

05:30 - Ruth’s scary story 2

08:00 - Good moving story

11:20 - Feeling undesired

14:00 - Lack of dating experience in younger years

18:30 - Josh’s experience

22:00 - care that you’re talking to someone vs the actual person you’re talking to

26:00 - Josh knows why the saints are single

32:40 - Emotional integrity

37:30 - Mandem you would be surprised

40:50 - Dating post-uni

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to watch the podcast, here's the link to our YT. - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvergreenPodcast/videos

Josh's Insta: @JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: @Ruth.kendaaa

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Hey guys! We’re finally back and raring to go with season 2 of The Evergreen Podcast. For the first episode of season two, we brought on Abaka Debrah - talented wordsmith, writer, and source of wise counsel, laughter and friendship to many to help us kick off the season.

Listen in as we discuss what it means to live in a constant state of 2am dreams, our experiences with failure and we got to find out more about Abaka’s journey as a spoken word artist.

Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00-02:30 - A warm Introduction to our first EVER guest on the Podcast, Abaka Debrah

02:30-04:04 - Introduction

4:05-6:00 - Evergreen highlight

6:30-13:00 What is the 2am state?

13:30 - 17:00 - Abaka's spoken word journey

17:00 - Abaka's experience with nerves and shyness

20:00 - 25:00 - Reasons we're afraid to fail

25:30 - 28:30- What 2am dreams are you still sleeping on?

28:50 - 31:30- Being paralysed by analysis

31:30 - 34:30 - A CV of failures

34:30 - Abaka’s biggest lesson on failure & closing

Don’t forget to check out Abaka’s work:

Follow him on Instagram @abakadebrah

Sign-up to his fantastic blog “As I Grow Older” - https://abakadebrah.substack.com

For bookings/enquiries, please email: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to watch the podcast, here's the link to our YT. - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvergreenPodcast/videos

Josh's Insta: @JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: @Ruth.kendaaa

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Happy Monday Folks! To wrap up Season 1, we'll be answering a question from a lovely listener asking for advice on how to encourage their friend who is consistently producing 'bad' art. What a dilemma! In this episode we explored some of the weaknesses of "Christian" art and artists, the inevitability of starting off imperfectly, being your brothers keeper as a creative and the strengths and weaknesses of The Evergreen Podcast. This is a hefty but thought-provoking episode - we hope you're able to take some gems away. Sit back, relax and enjoy the FINAL episode of the season! 🎉

We'll be back in March with Season 2 to discuss 'Life Post-Uni.' Drop us a DM to let us know who you'd like to appear on the podcast and what topics you would like us to discuss.

Have a blessed start to the week and don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE!

Timestamps

00:00 - How to deal with bad art?

00:44 - Intro

02:08 - Be okay with starting bad

04:00 - A lack of quality could be due to a lack of resource

05:05 - Taking responsibility for the expression of your art

09:05 - The Holy Spirit does not compensate for a lack of discipline

11:05 - Do Christians lack the subtly of Christ?

13:00 - Show don’t tell

15:40 - The medium is part of the the message

17:50 - The Heart of the Creator: Give people hunting license

21:00 - Shrooms for Jesus?

23:30 - Montell Fish: Exercising creative liberty, or ruining your witness?

26:50 - How to give advice to a friend

31:50 - The Heart of the Feedback Giver: Be good at noticing good things

36:30 - Little Black Book example

38:30 - Outro

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Gold Digger

Kanye West ft. Jaimee Foxx

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: The Evergreen Podcast: Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast If you want to see our beautiful faces on your screen, here's the link to our YouTube: https://youtu.be/8hH4qZgV3L8 Music used: Yearn West & Zander Josh's Insta: JoshChabala Ruth's Insta: Ruth.kendaaa

In response to a question asked by one of the Evergreen community members, we thought it would be beneficial to introduce you all to the Evergreen Reading System!

View the Evergreen Reading system as a guide. Play around with Stan do what works for you.

Episode Timestamp:

29:00 - S1E7 QnA Special

The Evergreen Reading System

Preliminary steps:

1. Let your primary reading be scripture (the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit in scripture is our ultimate and final authority!)

2. Resolve to read good books multiple times (we almost see the first read as a set up for when we return to the book).

The System:

Step 1: Prime your mind to find gold

• Example Questions - why am I reading this? What stage of life am I at? What am I trying to gain from reading this book?

Step 2: Take Evergreen notes.

• At the back of the book or in a separate notebook.

• Page number

• A quote that captures the thrust of what the author was saying OR An interesting question which will prompt your memory when you return to the book in the future.

Step 3: Synthesis as you read

• Make connections, notice themes, identify gaps.

This method will turn good reads into life long reservoirs of wisdom.

Share this with someone who has been struggling to remember what they read!

In this weeks episode Ruth & I explore 3 very weighty questions 1) what are our thoughts on deconstruction 2) how to read for transformation and 3) how to develop patience in life.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

01:05 - Q1: Thoughts on deconstruction

04:25 - How different cultures worship differently

10:10 - Diversity is not a result of the fall!

13:13 - Evergreen Highlight: Dr Vince Bantu

• Book highlighted Urban Apologetics

• Language spoken: Ge’ez

• Haymanot = Theology

• Bisrat = The Gospel

• Nazrawi = Christian

16:30 - West African christians during King Mansa Musa’s reign

22:00 - Summary

28:30 - Q2: How to read for transformation.

29:00 - Introducing the Evergreen Reading System

29:30 Preliminary steps

1. Let your primary reading be scripture

2. Resolve to read good books multiple times

32:10 - Step 1: Prime your mind to find gold

Questions - why am I reading this? what stage of life am I at, what am I trying to gain from it?

33:43 - Step 2: Take Evergreen Notes.

• At the back of the book. Or in a separate note book.

• Page number

• A quote that captures the thrust of what the author was saying OR An interesting question which will prompt your memory when you return to the book in the future.

35:30 - The Meaning of Marriage example

40:15 - Step 3: Synthesis as you read.

42:30 - Ruths reading tips

46:00 - Q3: How to develop patience in life.

56:40 - Clarifying what we mean by ‘promises’

59:00 - Practical tips

01:01:00 - Consider the nature of Christian growth

01:01:40 - There’s a burden attached to your goals

1:02:00 - Closing

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to listen to us on the go, here's the link to our Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Yu79ILw7aZnrR3oQQPzTm?si=3d7Yzp1lSJuvsy51xHsk3w&nd=1

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Josh's Insta: JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: Ruth.kendaaa

“There is a kind of person who seems - at first glance - to benefit from an admirable degree of self-motivation, thoroughness and drive. They are up at dawn, they rarely take holidays, they are always sneaking in an extra hour or two of work. Their bosses are highly impressed, they are constantly promoted and their grades have constantly been excellent since primary school. We might anoint them with the word ‘perfectionism.’” - The School of Life

On episode 6 of The Evergreen Podcast, Ruth and Josh shed light on the experience with perfectionism as it's infiltrated relational dynamics, starting creative ventures and their spiritual walks. The hosts propose the view that perfectionism is more a vice than a virtue which avert our eyes from the One who is perfect. Whilst high goals and ambitions are noble and integral to human flourishing, there can also come a point where these goals can be sources of crippling and unnecessary anxiety manifest as procrastination, inauthenticity, and inertia.

We hope that this episode inspires you to focus on progress not perfection.

Have a blessed start to the week!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Story time Josh’s recent embarrassing moment

01:53 - Intro

02:30 - Perfectionism as a sickness

05:14 - Josh went to fat camp

06:30 - Humility as self-forgetfulness

08:00 - Golden child syndrome

12:48 - “Be perfect as I am perfect.” How sway?

18:50 - Scripture’s reveal stumbling saints

21:30 - Kintsugi pottery

22:30 - Processing perfectionism with regards to Evergreen

26:15 - Long game approach

27:00 - Blindspots

29:00 - Josh’s tales of discouragement

30:15 - Procrastination as an attempt to avoid emotional pain

31:20 - Taking thoughts captive / Personal CBT

32:20 - Outtro

Talking points:

• Getting over embarrassment

• Dealing with ‘Golden Child Syndrome’ (Ruth not Josh at best I was the silver child)

• Embracing our limitations as a human

• How to be self forgetful

• Kintsugi Pottery

• Elijah-esc tales of discouragement

• Christ’s perfection covers us

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to watch the podcast, here's the link to our YT. - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvergreenPodcast/videos

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Josh's Insta: JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: Ruth.kendaaa

In today's episode, we discuss 'invisibility.' With the Prosperity Gospel becoming mainstream conversations such as becoming “the best you,” “living your best life,” “self-actualisation,” and “finding your destiny,” have become incredibly hot topics. Due to this, our eyes have become locked on our outward lives; we inevitably assess our growth by the successes of our circumstances.

We discuss our experiences of being invisible in both creative and personal spaces. We also define what it means to be 'invisible,' highlight some of the benefits of being hidden and how fear can prevent us from showing up when we're needed the most. We also acknowledge the need for creatives to be visible and suggest ways they can best navigate this.

This may be one of our favourite episodes from the season so get ready for a vulnerable, and open chat, mixed with surprising anecdotes from the us.

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to listen to us on the go, here's the link to our Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Yu79ILw7aZnrR3oQQPzTm?si=3d7Yzp1lSJuvsy51xHsk3w&nd=1

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Josh's Insta: JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: Ruth.kendaaa

In this weeks episode we explore themes in Curt Thompson's book 'The Soul of Shame'. We focus specifically on how shame can hinder creativity, especially when used as a motivator by those in positions of authority i.e. teachers. Let us know your thoughts surrounding the topic of shame in the comment section below!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome & Intro

00:53 - The Soul of shame

03:30 - Shame as a motivator

09:50 - Feelings of inadequacy

12:50 - Cognitive distortions

13:50 - Catastrophising

16:45 - Question your questions

17:50 - Shame & insecurity in successful people

20:20 - Post traumatic growth

23:40 - Neuroplastic reinforcement

24:30 - How Christ redeems our shame

27:07 - Outro

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

The Evergreen Podcast:

Instagram: @Evergreen.podcast

If you want to listen to us on the go, here's the link to our Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Yu79ILw7aZnrR3oQQPzTm?si=3d7Yzp1lSJuvsy51xHsk3w&nd=1

Music used:

Yearn

West & Zander

Josh's Insta: JoshChabala

Ruth's Insta: Ruth.kendaaa