In this episode, I catch up with Mona Zutshi Opubor, an Editor and Featured Columnist for Lost In Lagos Magazine. Mona is an American woman living and raising her family in Lagos. What makes Mona’s story so intriguing is her decision to legally become Nigerian. Mona shares the journey of how she ended up in Nigeria in the first place; and how leaving comforts of her life in New Jersey for an adventure in the unknown territories of West Africa would change her life in unexpected ways. In our conversation, we go in to:

 

- What led to her deciding to go through the rigorous process to acquiring Nigeria citizenship

- Navigating the intricacies of being a foreign wife in Nigeria and the Nigerian wives community she is a part of

- The challenges and triumphs of raising culturally aware cross-cultural children

- Her evolution and growth once she stopped resisting and fully leaned into the move

- How she is able to wonderfully weave in all of the three cultures she and her family are a part of in their everyday lives  

 

 

Connect With Mona

Instagram – @mopals5

Website - https://www.monazutshiopubor.com 

Check out Mona’s more popular piece Niger Wife  published in Kahalari Review 

 

Also, let’s Hang Out!

Instagram - @thoseafricanchicks

Website - www.thoseafricanchicks.com

 Edited & Produced – Podcast Maven

Music - Nice To You - YT Audio Library

In conversation with millennial co-founder of stock photography business Karen Okonkwo about her committment to transforming stock photography industry by showcasing diverse imagery

Afua Osei , Co - Founder - She Leads Africa

I once read that art is important because it is the vehicle through which we see the world differently…helping alter perspectives. As an avid appreciator of art, I had to have Alice Gbelia on to the show after stumbling on her website on Saturday afternoon. Alice Gbelia of Ayok’a Deco is Ivorian-Parisian woman who is committed to ensuring that we see black art in a different light by making it valuable and accessible to all.  

 In this episode, we talk about growing up in a very segregated France. How moving to London, provided a new perspective on a humanness and blackness and the birth Ayok’a Deco the online destination for black art.

 

Connect with Alice

Instagram - @ayokadeco

Website – Ayok’a Deco

 

Lets Hang Out!

Instagram - @thoseafricanchicks

Website - www.thoseafricanchicks.com

 

Edited & Produced – Podcast Maven

Music - Nice To You - YT Audio Library

In taking a scan of how we work and why we work. I have found that a lot of us tend to be so in love with our ideas and talent that it prevents us from taking the necessary pivots . Often times because we do not see the direct correlation with the pivot to our end goal. 

This is why Geoffrey Owens's story is so remarkable; as social media continues to solidify itself as a part of our everyday lives we continue to see the push for digital influencers. Which in practicality we cannot all be right?! despite what social media might have us believe. Being able to see someone who has had a thriving career having to do a seemingly "menial" job helps redefine how young people observe and think about the importance of work and working. 

I believe it is  important for us to continue to see and hear about stories like this to show how we must be resourceful and humble in our journeys as human beings; and to help us gain perspective on life and livelihood.

 

Instagram - @thoseafricanchicks

Website - www.thoseafricanchicks.com

 

Edited & Produced - Mude Productions

Music - Nice To You - YT Audio Library

 

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE – Apple Podcast

 

Eating well can sometimes feel like a difficult feat and these days, there seems to be more pressure with the trends of clean eating and fit lifestyles. That is why I wanted to catch up with Obi Aniedo. Obi is the founder of Live & Blossom a Lagos based café that is committed to introducing a wholesome lifestyle and livinin Lagos. Live & Blossom serves meals, desserts and baked goods sourced from natural premium products. In this episode we talk about:

 

• Developing a healthy relationship with food
• Healthy and clean African Cuisine
• Overcoming An Eating disorder

 

Connect with Obi

Instagram - @liveandblossom

Website –Live and Blossom

Address  - Block 126, Plot 11, Bunmi Olowude St, On T.F Kuboye St, Lekki,  Lagos, Nigeria

 

Edited & Produced - Mude Productions

Music - Deep Hat, YT Music Library

Back from my temporary hiatus, I explain why I was gone, how a certain experience I had robbed me of my creativity, peace of mind and to a certain extent joy. 

I share learning from this, which for me is the realization that forgiveness was my freedom. 

I share bit about next week's guest, who is known for bringing the idea of whole foods and wholesome living to Lagos long before the social media explosion of clean eating. 

Come hang out with us on instagram @thoseafricanchicks

Remember to be fearless and live your truth.

 

 

Janet is an HR Executive and Expert with more than two decades of proven leadership experience and trusted advisors to C-Suite executives across various industries. I first met Janet, when she invited me to be a part of her docuseries AfriGen and have since been a frequent visitor to her blog Notes From HR where she shares advise and nuggets of wisdom from the inner workings of the dreaded HR. In this episode, we talk about how African Women can and should bring their whole selves to work. We got into details such as

 

• African Accents
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Strategies for Career Growth
• Promotion Request Methods
• Leadership Competencies
• How to get meaningful feedback

 

Connect with Janet

Notes From HR

Instagram @notesfromhr

 

PODCAST STORE

Affirmation Bracelets & Cuff now available for sale HERE

 

PRODUCED & EDITED

Mastered – Mude Productions

Music – Deep Hat, YT Audio Library

Kaz is a Kenyan musician and the host of the Africa's most listened to  Sex Positive Podcast called The Spread . The goal of the podcast is “Making sex a comfortable subject for all” As an African woman who is always thinking and talking about intimacy, sex and sexual identity, Kaz was someone I had to have on the show. Our cultures in Africa are known for putting such unbelievable confines on who we are and how we must be. So much so that at different periods in our lives we are expected to be varying degrees of sexual all for the satisfaction of the patriarchy from which we come. My conversation with Kaz pokes at so much of the topics she covers on her show spanning touchpoints like

 

• How does an African Woman view her sexual experience and sexuality
• Polygamy the umbrella that holds Polyandry, Polyamory, Polygeny ; how the younger generations views these versus our predecessors see them
• How to approach the experience of sex and other sexual activities
• Manifestation through Masturbation; setting your intention and then self-pleasuring
• How to think approach and own your own orgasm
• Some recommended sexual techniques women should try by themselves and with their partners

 

CONNECT WITH KAZ

The Spread Podcast

Instagram – Kaz Personal

Instagram – The Spread Podcast

 

PODCAST STORE

Affirmation Bracelets & Cuff now available for sale HERE

  

PRODUCED & EDITED

Mastered – Mude Productions

Music – Deep Hat, YT Audio Library

Rashidat Oyegunle is an entrepreneur who is committed to connecting Tailors to their clients in a meaningful way. Her company Tailoring Needs is an online platform that serves as medium to connect Clients with a large pool of custom-wear Tailors around the world. Their mission is to connect you to the nearest custom – wear tailor in your area, make that process hella easy and create a community where people can easily share their service experiences.

 

Subscribe To The Show by Clicking Here

 

TOPIC DISCUSSED

• How to Effectively Validate a business
• The ONE thing she wished she knew about starting a business before she started
• How being an African Woman has Informed this venture
• Dolly Skeppings – Self Taught Millennial Fashion Designer

 

ON SOCIAL MEDIA   

• Instagram – Tailoring Needs
• Website – Tailoring Needs

  

PODCAST STORE 

Affirmation Bracelets & Cuff now available for sale HERE

 

PRODUCED & EDITED

Mastered – Mude Productions

Music – Deep Hat, YT Audio Library