Two Bees In A Pod

*This episode includes discussions of child abuse.* The Bees review our book of the month for August, which was "Butter Honey Pig Bread" by Francesca Ekwuyasi. We discuss themes of magical realism in the book, and relate them to beliefs and practices from Cameroon and other African countries. We talk about generational trauma and how it manifests in each of the women centered in this story.

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The Bees are joined by Ozoz Sokoh, culinary anthropologist and food historian, curator of the Kitchen Butterfly blog and Feast Afrique digital library. Ozoz shares the inspiration behind her work, and some eye opening discoveries she has made on her journey exploring the history and evolution of West African cuisine on the continent and across the diaspora.

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The Bees are joined by Anim Aweh, a licensed mental health therapist, certified clinical health educator and co-founder of Aweh Support. Anim sheds light on the lack of mental health support in immigrant communities and the need for culturally competent therapists. We discuss some reasons why immigrants may be resistant to seeking out mental health care and how we can overcome barriers to access.

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The Bees are joined by Ashangndowah Akwo, co-founder of myNkwa, a digital savings app helping Cameroonians meet their financial goals. He discusses the challenges he faced as a startup founder and the importance of failure in the entrepreneurial journey. He emphasizes the need for resources and support for young entrepreneurs in the African startup ecosystem.

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The Bees reviewed our book of the month for July, which was "Travelers" by Helon Habila. We discuss the experiences of the immigrants in this book, and consider how their experiences in Europe compare to our own experiences as immigrants in America. We talk about the realistic portrayal of migrant experiences and prevailing attitudes towards African migrants.

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The Bees catch up on recent events, sharing our takes on trending topics including the U.S. presidential race. Please note this episode includes discussions of violence and may not be suitable for young or sensitive listeners.

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A replay of one of our most popular episodes from Season 1. The Bees are joined by Gbemi Adekoya, a licensed psychotherapist, counselor, and board certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA) to discuss parenting approaches across generations and borders. Coach G helps us understand different parenting styles, and helpful approaches to consider when trying to correct unwanted behavior.

The Bees are joined by Daniel Tse, founder of Cameroon Advocacy Network. Daniel shares with us his personal journey navigating the U.S. immigration system and how these experiences inspired the work that his organization does. We discuss recent wins, challenges in the immigration system, and how the Cameroonian community in the diaspora can support a better future back at home and here in the U.S.

This week on Two Bees in a Pod, the Bees reviewed our book of the month for June, which was "Under The Udala Trees" by Chinelo Okparanta. We discuss recurring themes in the book including war, grief, and homophobia. We considered familiar experiences described such as the practice of children being "adopted" to be used as domestic workers, and societal pressure on women to marry. This concludes our celebration of Pride Month.

The Bees are joined by Stephen Fusi, CEO and founder of Dream Big Snacks and Root Flavors. Stephen shares with us his journey of opening and operating a potato chip factory in Bamenda, Cameroon. (For our British audience, that would be potato 'crisps'!) He discusses his inspiration for the company, overcoming unique challenges and abiding by principles against the odds.

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