The More Sibyl Podcast

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Chiamaka Adepegba - A No-Holds-Barred Interview of Mo! (Part 2) We are picking it right where we left off last week. This episode is the second part of my no-holds-barred conversation with my dear friend, Chiamaka. Chiamaka Adepegba is a senior pharmacist and independent prescriber who just bagged her master’s degree in advanced prescribing. She is a blogger, YouTuber, and a lover of makeup and fufu. She is married and is based in the UK with her family. Chiamaka and I have known each other since 2004 when we were college roommates. She was the intermediary between my now husband and me in the early days. In this concluding episode, I answer the rest of her questions, which by the way, are less intense compared to those of the previous week, but equally relevant and cuts across border. Like my views on BLM and why I keep my hair in dreads (hint, it's a spiritual expression). I didn’t make this episode all about me; I gave my listeners a deeper insight into our friendship by sharing two important lessons I learned from her while we were at college. We shared memories of the past from our college years and highlight how those experiences have contributed to shaping us into the women that we are today. We also talked about her relationship with her late dad, who passed away 12 years ago; Chiamaka lets us into her grief management and how she is still dealing with the pain even after all this time. Just in case you ever wondered why I locked my hair, you can find out from this episode. Simply download to get the entire scoop! PS: There’s a video of this episode which I am yet to upload on the Tube. Once I can figure out how editing works on Windows 10, it will be made available on my YouTube channel – Mo! Sibyl. Link to Part I here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Chiamaka Adepegba- A No-Holds-Barred Interview of Mo! (Part 1) Today’s episode takes a different route from the norm, where I interview a guest and ask all the questions. This time, I have a guest who asks all the questions while I provide the answers. My guest today is Chiamaka Adepegba. She is a senior pharmacist and independent prescriber who just bagged her master’s degree in advanced prescribing. She is a blogger, YouTuber, and a lover of makeup and fufu. She is married and is based in the UK with her family. Chiamaka and I have known each other since 2004 when we were college roommates. She was the intermediary between my now husband and me in the early days (#thelittleimp). Based on our friendship history, there is no other person with whom I will rather do this episode. You know a person is your friend when you can discuss not only the easy topics but the difficult ones as well. There was no holding back in the questions Chiamaka asked, I also did not hold back in the sincerity of my response. In this episode, I answer questions that most people, especially my listeners may have about me and share my struggles too. The conversation is fun, playful, emotional, and most importantly, authentic. It is my desire that others are inspired and encouraged by my story. Please note that this is the first of a two-part series, so download this episode to get more of Mo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Bimpe Shode – On Emotions in Business Relationships The third time they say is a charm! Once again, I have my homegirl, Bimpe, on the show. Bimpe is the type of friend you want to have in your corner – level-headed, stays on course, emotionally mature, and the one you can first expose yourself to, thereby saving yourself from public embarrassment and rebuke. We share things in common, including our faith, which forms the foundation of our core values. In this episode, we discuss the effect of mixing business with emotions referencing my work-relationship experience with my former virtual assistant, which was on the verge of becoming toxic. Reflecting on that relationship, we were able to glean valuable lessons that are not just applicable to business relationships, but relevant to all forms of relationships in general. We capped it up by sharing the virtues we admire about each other, and frankly, she caught me off guard. There are lots of laughter in this episode as I find it really difficult putting on my “professional suit” around Bimpe. We all certainly need friends like Bimpe in our lives. Listen to the episode to catch the full gist. Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Akinola Akinlawon – On Community Service, Male Vulnerability, and Self-Care My guest today moved to the US from Nigeria in 2012 to bag a college degree. While at college at the Cameron University in Oklahoma, Akinola Akinlawon, popularly referred to as “AK,” served as a leader in various capacities, was recognized for his visionary involvement, community building, and academic excellence. As a student, his deep-rooted passion for helping others achieve their dreams inspired him to launch a first-ever student-driven tuition scholarship in 2015 aimed to assist Nigerian non-immigrant students in the US. He also founded his IT consulting business called Digital Designs and Engineering, which he runs to this day. Currently, Akin is completing a Master’s degree in Management of Information Systems at the University of Houston and is the president of one of Houston’s largest graduate student networks, The Bauer MBA Society. In this episode, Akin shares his motivation for starting the scholarship scheme for Nigerian international students in the US and gives an update of its current status. He also talks about self-care from a man’s perspective using his life as a reference to offer lessons. He advocates for male vulnerability and prioritizing one’s self. The good news is that Akin, a TFH (Tall, Fair, and Handsome) single guy who writes love poems, is ready to mingle. He gave details of his ideal “spec” and where interested single ladies can shot their shoots. But you wouldn’t know this if you don’t listen to the podcast. So download and enjoy it! PS: This show was taped in 2019 BC (Before Covid-19). Show notes available on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Han Seth Lu – On Leadership, Biracial Identity, and Mental Health There is no doubt that a person’s mental development is linked to the environment in which he was raised; however, it is essential to highlight that irrespective of the surrounding environmental condition, it is possible to rise above the hindrances and pursue a better life. My guest today is one who was determined to rise above the limitations of his environment but instead allowed it to propel him into the life he now lives. Everyone meet Han Seth Lu, the young man who is positively influencing his community. Growing up in Myanmar, Han faced the challenge of poor quality education resulting from the military rule and was discriminated against for being biracial. Despite these, his desire for personal growth and dedication to his community drove him to pursue better education in the US and co-founding the Noor Education and Community Center in Bago, Myanmar, where other young people can be empowered to achieve their goals through leadership training. In this episode, we talk about the impact of his biracial identity on his childhood, cultural identity, his passion for leadership education, mental health advocacy, and sexuality. Han shared a gem on how he manages his mental health struggles, listen to this episode to find out how! And yes, to MENtal health! Go do great things, Mo! Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Aarushi Gupta – Life of a 13-year-old Indian Podcaster Can you reflect on your 13-year-old self, to a time when life was much easier, and you had no worries about bills or responsibilities? To a time before the internet's popularity and social media was a thing? To a time when your most significant life's challenge was making good grades and fitting in with friends? To a time when lip gloss was the ultimate make-up product, and the school gossips were about who liked who in class? Today, life has evolved in so many ways, so much so that a 13-year-old girl from India now has keeping up with her podcast show as a thing to worry about! My guest today is an amazing and inspiring young lady who has just turned 14. She is Aarushi Gupta, a 10th-grade student from Gurugram, near New Delhi, India, and guess what? She is a podcaster! This is definitely a WOW moment. On her podcast called "When I Was 13", Aarushi interviews various people and asks them about the world when they were 13 years old. In doing so, she gets to know about how people make life choices, the varied environments in which people grow up in, and the life lessons that they pick up along the way. In this episode, she shares with us the surprising inspiration behind her podcasting journey, how she balances it with her academics, and the future she envisions for her podcast. Aarushi talks about her love for music, family life, and gives us a unique glimpse of India from her point of view. She also shares valuable insights into how adults can better interact with teenagers. Download this week's episode to find out more about this phenomenal 14-year-old whose future I am so excited about and the spaces she willoccupy. Quotes: “Everything is changing every second, it's like a time machine.” - Aarushi G. Show notes available on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Michaella Mutoni – On Acculturation, Identity, and being Pan-African There is no doubt that the Rwandan genocide birthed tales of woe, but today’s guest is a product of a marriage between two Rwandans who found love in a Burundi. Their family of five would later embark on a global journey cutting across Africa, Europe, and finally, settle in North America. My guest today is Michaella Mutoni, a Burundi-born Rwandan who has lived in Germany, Senegal, Eswatini, and the US and is currently based in Canada. She is a global solution manager for a software company and also serves as the host of a bilingual (FR/EN) podcast called “Jase Avec Moi” that highlights the stories of African professionals in the diaspora. In this episode, she opens up about acculturation, adjusting to life in different places, and the tips that have helped her adapt to new environments. She also talks about her identity as a third culture kid (TCK) and mistakes TCK parents should avoid, thoughts on returning home, telling African stories for the coming generation, her views on grad school, traits necessary for success, career switch, and her purpose here on earth. And we also talked about why Nigerians are more pronounced (read: loud) compared to other Africans in the diaspora. Michaella was also kind enough to give us a sneak peek into her upcoming wedding. Do well to listen to the podcast to find out where and when we are all turning up!!! COVID be gone! Amen!!! Learn more about Michaella here: https://jaseavecmoi.com/ Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” Show Notes available on www.mosibyl.com Be curious and empathetic, Mo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Mr. Felix Ofiwe – On Fostering Community & Engaging Nigerians in the Diaspora As a Nigerian living in the diaspora, I am sometimes saddened about the relative economic contributions we make in our resident countries, often at the expense of the Motherland. For example, in the healthcare and engineering fields, Nigerians have made a lot of advancement to the U.S. economy but have hardly been given the due recognition we deserve. And as a group, we are yet to leverage and harness our collective strength together to improve governance and effect changes back home. It’s why I engaged in a dialogue with Mr. Felix Ofiwe, a Nigerian who has been living in the U.S. since 1991! Before his move to the U.S., he was a news and sports reporter with The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Benin City, and The Guardian Express and Punch Newspapers in Lagos, Nigeria. Since arriving in the U.S., he has written for or edited several Houston, TX news publications including African World News and the now-defunct African American Focus newspaper where he served as the founding Editor. Borne out of a desire to help Nigerians living in the U.S. know what is happening around them so they can make the right decisions, every day, he and his wife started The Nigerian Community (an online website). In this episode, we also talked about practical tips to engage Nigerians in and outside the diaspora to build the country and so much more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Mom – On Faith in God See that beautiful woman in the flyer? Yup, that’s my mother. For real! Yeah, I know what’s exactly going through your mind. I know. Like how come she’s sitting down but there’s no chair? Yeah, there’s an online app called background remover that makes your picture pop like this, and no, I was not adopted. Haha. I was super excited to bring mom back on this show to talk about something she’s super passionate about – her faith. My mom has always been that person who helped me lay a strong foundation of faith, and she still remains a woman of faith and prayer (it’s one of the reasons I can sleep soundly at night because she is always praying). But the process of laying that foundation was undoubtedly not easy because of the many church tantrums I threw over attending church and some questions I had over the whole religion thingy (yeah, I started out as a rebel, haha, no shock there). But like many African moms, Mother Dearest never gave into my wily ways. Instead, she tried to answer many of my questions, instructed, and instilled the word of God in me. I can say this foundation was useful during the period I left the faith. In this episode, I played the role of a skeptic (hey, God isn’t done with me yet, haha) and had my mother answer questions on raising kids without religion, how to cultivate one’s faith after a protracted period of being away, and what the big deal anyway is about Jesus. We hope you enjoy this episode. And mom will like for me to let you guys know to send in whatever faith or life-related questions you may have as we plan to have more iterations of this. Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

e More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Olabimpe – On Boundaries Let's talk boundaries! Especially the ones we need to have with friends, families, around sex, money, as well as with ourselves. Just as I had to learn how to navigate grief, setting boundaries has been an enormous learning curve for me. But indeed, there have been gains in the learning, and I have this book by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life to thank for getting me started. I have since been encouraged to stand up for myself and also rethink the seductive lure of "loving relationships" that often drain the life out of me and often leave me with the feeling of resentment. Here's the hard truth, to experience deep and authentic connection, you need honesty! And setting boundaries in one way to get started. So to do justice to this topic, I brought back an old friend who also happens to be very wise – Olabimpe – back to the show. It's an episode infused with mirth and abundant examples of potential boundary issues including how to avoid being a pushover at work amid work politics, or a dormant Nancy in a relationship with a s/o, inlaw, friend, or family member. We also tackled a listener's question involving a dilemma about a house pest, sorry guest, who has overstayed their welcome and has refused to move out. What stops you? The boundaries? Nah, they define us. Boundaries define us. When two people are free to disagree, they are free to love. When they are not free, they live in fear, and love dies: "Perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18). Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Ramblin’ Randy – Radio Show Host, World Traveler, & Music Aficionado Imagine being 15 and landing your first and dream job as a radio DJ, which then leads to a cascade of events that led to a primetime radio show that’s syndicated globally? Today, that radio show, Sunday Night Slow Jams, has grown from being aired in just three radio stations to about 200 stations in 14 countries, including Lagos, Nigeria =, and Kenya! This is Randy’s (R Dub) story, and he shares a lot of tips on turning one’s passion into a reliable source of income. In this episode, we talk about his life’s passions and missions and all the numerous lessons he has learned along the way. Randy provided a lot of travel tips on traveling on a tight budget with a busy schedule. We also talked about his most recent trip to Lagos, Nigeria, and why we encourage more Americans to travel out more! PS: Can we also talk about how that life-changing move when Randy turned the radio dial to the left? Talk about a watershed moment! Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 결혼기념일| The One with Mo! & TDawg – The 9th Wedding Anniversary: Episode 11 (2020) What does a nine-marriage look like? Many things that are hard to explain or even try to fit into a pod episode. But that didn't stop us from trying. In this episode, which began with a fight (yes, at the very beginning), you will hear TDawg and I respond to answers sent in by our top supporters/fans ((thank you, Sanket S, Tope O, Linda J, Adebola D, and Tutu P). The questions ranged from our couple goals, what we think of couple's therapy/counseling, how we set healthy boundaries (find out who's more prone to emotional cheating), and how we balance relationships with our in-laws, and so much more. Above all, this deeply flawed couple owes everything to God, therapy, and godly third-parties. For without them, we would not have made it this far. PS: Do you agree with my assessment of TDawg's intellectualism vs. intelligence? TDawg says: There's some security in vulnerability. Recommended Song: "Love You Like That"– Dagny Norvoll Sandvik (2017) Yours in Neuf, Mo! + TDawg --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: Wow! That’s the only word I can use to describe this guest’s story. Meet Dr. Tosin Odunsi – an OB/GYN who has had a non-traditional path to becoming a physician. She took the MCAT (medical entrance exams) three times, took Step 1 USMLE (required to enter medical residency) three times (she failed one of them by two points), and took Step 3 four times before finally passing on her fourth attempt. Unfortunately, Tosin became a young widow during her intern year of OB/GYN residency in June 2015. This significant life experience has given her the courage to be transparent on her Instagram page (@lifebytosin) and serve as a life motivator. She is a coach to many and encourages people to live a full and intentional life now! Know anyone who has ever struggled with taking or passing professional exams? Or perhaps, a widow/widower, especially those younger? Kindly share this episode with them, as Tosin did not hold anything back in talking about the long, unwinding grieving process as well as the importance of not letting exams define our identity. She also shared how she’s navigating her remarriage, rising above abandonment issues, and giving love a second chance. So WOW, Tosin! You are a ball of amazement. About Dr. Tosin Odunsi: After graduating from Cornell University in 2008, she started her Masters in Public Health (MPH) at Thomas Jefferson University, PA. She went on to begin medical school at Meharry Medical College, TN, and completed her MPH between her second and third year. Subsequently, she graduated from Meharry in 2014. Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Adam Mendler – Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, CEO, and Podcaster Imagine having a platform where you invite leading CEOs, founders, athletes, and generals/admirals to distill their success stories into 30-minutes bite-size and provide a plethora of practical and actionable advice? Well, imagine no further as this week’s guest – Adam Mendler - has just the platform through his personal/professional development podcast – Thirty Minute Mentor. Adam, who also created the Lessons in Leadership interview series in Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, has conducted over 300 one-on-one interviews with many of America’s top leaders, influencers, founders of household name companies and a slew of other elites. His guest list boasts of the CEO of Deloitte, Suzanne Somers, actor Rob Lowe, NBA legend, Rick Barry, and so many more. Adam, who was born and raised in California and in addition to being a podcast host, is also an entrepreneur, public speaker, CEO, and Forbes contributor. In this episode, I asked Adam to give me nuggets of the successful traits and habits that all his guests share in common, tips on how podcasters can cold call their heroes for guest appearances on their show, and how he’s able to seemingly do it all. And if you stick around to the very end, there’s a special treat for ya! You can follow Adam on IG or Twitter as @adammendler and read more about him on www.adammendler.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Folahan Ojolowo – Suicide Survivor & Mental Health Advocate What does depression look like? We don't always know the answer to this as it manifests in different ways. Mental health issues, such as depression, are globally underdiagnosed. And in Nigeria, limited access to mental health services coupled with attitudes and behaviors towards seeking help result in a mentally unhealthy population. Statistically, men are also less likely to seek help for medical issues, especially those related to mental health. But one man is working on changing this narrative. Having suffered from chronic depression for years coupled with surviving sexual abuse as a child, all which led to suicidal attempts, he now uses his voice to help others, especially the younger generation. This is Folahanmi Ojolowo’s story. He is the founder of Lovemade Foundation, a mental health youth network geared at helping people find the root cause of their mental health illnesses and to help them heal from their emotional pains. Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Angel Moms (Part II) Last year, I made a promise to a sister who was going through (in)fertility challenges that I was going to keep in touch with her, in a bid to make her journey lighter. I am happy to say that I kept that promise. We have communicated since then weekly and even met up in Dallas last year. After doing this episode, we both have now decided to make this a yearly pod follow-up. In this episode, we shared our current states of mind, reflected on the past year, and designed the future. Know anyone like us, who’s been “trying” for quite a while and needs a little pick-me-up? Why not share this episode with them. Let’s keep hope alive and take joy in everything that already abounds within and around us. Recommended Song: “Up Again” – Dan Bremnes (2018) Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Abena Boakyewa-Ansah Here’s introducing Abena Boakyewa-Ansah, a first-generation Black British woman, living in the American South since 2016. She was born in Scotland, raised in England by her Ghanaian father and Trinidadian mother. After studying the American Civil War as an undergraduate, she learned the untapped power of black narratives in American history, and how they can inform pursuits of racial justice, equality, and reconciliation, today. This led her to where she is now, Nashville, Tennessee, pursuing her Ph.D. in History. Besides being a self-confessed nerd, Abena is a woman of faith, enjoying theology and seeking to ask the hard questions of the world and life, in order to have a deeper understanding of God. And in this episode, we explored her identity via her ancestral roots and the one borne in Christ. We also talked about surviving America, racial identity, mental issues in grad school, and dating in your 20s. PS: S/O to Dr. Ayomide Adebayo for the introduction. PPS: With a single click, you can now rate the podcast. Kindly leave ratings/comments: RateThisPodcast.com/mosibyl Recommended song: “Yesterday Everyday Always” – Tatiana Manaois (2020) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Ada the Explorer – Catching the Travel Bug Meet Adaeze Vanessa Nnanna (aka Ada) – In-house counsel (lawyer) by day, tourist at night, and founder of Tourmate by Ada the Explorer. I met Ada earlier in January when I was visiting Nigeria. While recuperating post-surgery, I needed an outing to get me out of my funk. And Ada’s scavenger hunt around Lagos was just what I needed (don’t tell my doctor). As a Lagosian, I have to admit (with my tail tucked between my legs) that as a Lagosian, Ada’s tour around Lagos Island gave me a fresh set of eyes to admire places I’d frequented several times. It’s funny how Lagos becomes tender when you give her a wee bit of attention. Thanks to Ada. In this episode, we talk tourism – its challenges and opportunities, her travel logs, why we all need to explore Nigeria more, and a strong need for the Nigerian government to boost tourism as a major export. PS: Ada asked me about my love for Korea and was shocked to learn I was not married to a Korean, haha. She also asked me to speak some Korean, and I proudly did :-D Download here: https://bit.ly/AdannaDL2020 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Olivier Day – On Awakening the Awesome in Us Let’s take a trip to Haiti, everyone, with today’s guest – Olivier Day. Olivier is the host of Awakening The Awesome Podcast where he talks on personal insights, showing people that you don’t have to be a superstar to be a SUPERSTAR. He truly strives to awaken the awesomeness in all of us. Haiti is known to have a rich cultural history, and its people are resilient people having been through a lot together from natural disasters to economic hardships and corrupt, inept governance, and yet still stand strong. They are known to be entrepreneurial, warm-hearted, fun-loving, positive, uncomplicated, welcoming, and also a HUGE sense of pride. Could that be the pride that made our guest face adversity and still come out strong? As a Nigerian, I could not help but draw the parallels between my country and Haiti. Olivier and I also talked about his marriage; how he purged the toxicity that almost damaged his marriage and the need for men to be more open and vulnerable with their partners. I also asked about parenting tips – the ones he’s recycling from his father and things he’s doing differently. My overall impression of Olivier is this - Here’s a man who shows that strength comes from admitting one’s weakness, having the courage to change, and knowing that changing the world begins with changing oneself. Check out his podcast and learn more about Olivier here - http://awakentheawesome.ca/ S/O to Naga and Stephanie. More details on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with FEGGO Girls - We Were Once Girls: Episode 3 (2020) Here’s an episode about a flashback. To a time when we were girls, and our earthy possessions could be condensed into two Ghana-must-go boxes. To a time when colored checkered house wears and white shirts and pinafores were as unique as identifiers as social media handles. To a time when mobile phones were non-existent, and the only source of entertainment we had was found within and through ourselves. To a time when we made music with plates, pots, stainless steel pots, Vinod cutlery, banging school desks to produce beats. When we tucked in our blue-dyed white blouses, flew our white shorts, shortened our skirts, and oiled our eyebrow and lips with Vaseline. To a time when chewing gum, eating sardines, scaling walls were as Kosher as putting the “#” after the operative word. Evoked enough nostalgia in you or not? Here’s an episode about the six years we spent in boarding house – the defining moments, friendships made, myths and folklores, our impressions of each other, the labors we endured, and most importantly, how all these have shaped us into the fine women we are today. You will hear from two of my good friends – Kehinde Melbury (Tinubu (pink) house, formerly of SS3D, and now customs officer at the Nigerian Customs Service) and Dr. Olivia Fasola (Manuwa (blue) house, formerly of SS3E, and a family physician). PS: This episode was shot in January during a sleepover at Dr. Fasola’s house when it was still legal to be in close proximity to people. PPS: With a single click, you can now rate the podcast. Kindly leave a rating/comment: Link: RateThisPodcast.com/mosibyl Guests Bio link and show notes here: www.mosibyl.com/podcast/feggogirls2020 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: Of Women and Bikes Dear Mosiblings! Woot, woot! She’s back! Welcome to Season 3 – triple the sauce, spunk, guts, and glory! In this episode, I did a recap of Season 2, highlighting the moments that helped us build community around hot issues like women’s health, immigration, mental health, marriage, divorce, faith, and so much more. You also get to hear a sneak peek of some of the hot episodes I will be sharing in this new season. I also shared some practical tips on how to learn bike riding as a fearful, chubby (or otherwise) adult. Including how to choose the right bike, overcoming the fear of falling, balancing, pedaling, and links to helpful YouTube videos (see show notes). Based on listener feedback (thank you, Mr. Kenny!), the song playlists for Seasons 1 and 2 are now available on Spotify! Join our mailing list here! Hope you enjoy this episode! PS: With a single click, you can now rate the podcast. Kindly leave a rating/comment: Link: RateThisPodcast.com/mosibyl Show Notes Season 1 Spotify Playlist: http://bit.ly/moplayer1 Season 2 Spotify Playlist: http://bit.ly/moplayertwo Join the mailing list - https://www.mosibyl.com/contact-us YouTube Bike-riding tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIsDrtPTTd8 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyLlw1CgXf8 About Moradeun Balogun: My review of her podcast: https://mosibyl.substack.com/p/becoming-by-design Her friend’s tribute episode: https://anchor.fm/becomingbydesign/episodes/Moving-Forward-With-Grief-ebl0bh Follow her podcast to get updates: https://www.instagram.com/becomingbydesign/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: If I could make a list of the many ways I would have wanted to herald in the new year, undergoing a major surgery would never have been on that list. But it was precisely what happened this year. With the excitement of the new year also came the frightened resolve to put my life and body on the line, yet again, for a chance to have a somewhat pain-free life. And while I cannot go into the specifics yet, in this episode, you will hear just how my surgical experience helped me with a perspective shift that could possibly last all through this year and beyond. Also, I did lots of shout-outs to my friends and family who saw me through this painful but illuminating period. I hope this episode gives someone else too the courage to keep seeking answers to those health questions that seem unresolved. Here’s wishing you the best of health and may a lot of good things happen to you as well in this new year. PS: With a single click, you can now rate the podcast. Kindly leave a rating/comments: RateThisPodcast.com/mosibyl Recommended song: “아주 먼 훗날 (A Long Way From Now) [OST: The Crowed Clown]” – SE O (세오) (2019) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

THE MORE SIBYL PODCAST PRESENTS: THE ONE WITH T-DAWG (AGAIN) – ON GOING BACK HOME TO NIGERIA It’s been eight years since T-Dawg visited Nigeria. Before we boarded the plane, I did a sesh with him to gauge his expectations – which sadly were non-existent. But I did try to dig out some potential things to be excited about regarding going back home. We also answered a personal question from one of our listeners about our braces. Hint: If you are using your teeth, you are doing it all wrong. Well, you have to listen to find out what this is about. Happy New Year, and may it be the best year yet! Recommended Song: “Always Waiting” – Michael Kiwanuka (2012) IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND DON’T FORGET TO SHARE, RATE, AND LEAVE A COMMENT. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

THE MORE SIBYL PODCAST PRESENTS: The One with Stephanie Fuccio– Hysterectomy Saved My Life? Hello Mosiblings! Merry Christmas!!! Here’s reintroducing Stephanie Fuccio! Steph, as I call her, is an amazing ball of energy! She’s one of my podmentors who has blazed the trails for people like me. Steph was born in New York City and has intentionally taught English in a few countries in places in Asia like Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and China. She currently lives in Shanghai. She is also the host of the Geopats Podcast. Today, I am sharing Steph’s story of her hysterectomy. Though we both agree that this is a procedure that’s too overprescribed in the US, it did save her life and relieve her of excruciating and heavy periods. Listen to hear all about this and more, especially on why we need to create more spaces for women to be able to talk about their period and vaginal health. By sharing this episode, we both hope to have a world where women are more comfortable talking to each other about these issues. To form allies and microcommunities and hopefully strike up a conversation with the woman next to us in the waiting room or checkout line. Here’s a tip to women in their 30s who may want to have kids someday and are not yet married, consider freezing your eggs. And kindly get your yearly medical checkup done as a lot of these issues are not detected early for timely interventions. #IVFJOKE: Waiter to me: “How would you like your eggs, Ma’am?” Me: Fresh not frozen, and fertilized, please. Recommended Song: “I Shall Be Released” – Traces Gospel Choir (2011) IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND DON’T FORGET TO SHARE, RATE, AND LEAVE A COMMENT. Best, Mo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

THE MORE SIBYL PODCAST PRESENTS: The One with Kelly “Nerdzilla” Mendenhall – From Mess to Message; On Trauma Survival and Recovery How do you mourn the loss of your functionality, especially when you feel betrayed by your body? In this episode, Kelly “Nerdzilla” Mendenhall talked about coping with chronic pain and invisible illnesses and the process of grieving what used to be. We also talked about medical gaslighting and the need for women, especially, to keep seeking spaces where they can be heard and understood. In the meantime, don’t forget to utilize your pharmacist as the no. 1 resource for drug safety. Kelly Mendenhall lives in Middle Tennessee and, in 2017, became medically disabled and unable to work outside the home. Her mission is to show the world that a medical diagnosis does not have to mark the end of one’s story. She describes herself as a spoonie and is ½ of the @Nonmomhappyhour podcast. PS: Did you know what spoonie or the spoon theory meant prior to listening to this episode? Find Kelly on Twitter and IG: @nerdzillakelly --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Five Immigration Stories - On Mental Anguish, Familial Separation, and Overcoming the Odds Life in the United States ain’t easy; contrary to what many people think. In this episode, I share five unique immigration stories of people who moved to the US on different tracks. The common thread here is how they all overcame a lot of odds to be where they are today. The hope is to encourage those who are currently in these situations to never give up, especially international students who feel trapped in the US, particularly at this time of the year. For those in the position to do this, reach out to an international student and if possible, invite them over for Christmas for dinner or something. Or even engage them in conversations and you will be amazed at how much these acts of kindness will go a long way. PS: Thanks to Ada U, Olabimpe, Linda J, T-Dawg, and Morin for sharing their inspiring stories. Recommended Song: “My Life” – Iris DeMent (2004) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Morin Omopariola - On Divorce Stories and X-Files You asked; I listened. By popular demand, the audio version of my Facebook Live show with Morin Omopariola is now available on my website – www.mosbiyl.com as well as Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Anchor, and wherever you get your pod on. So why am I releasing an episode on a Tuesday? Well because the lessons from this episode deserve such attention. Using an introspective and exploratory approach, Morin and I talked a lot about her divorce, missteps she took before and during her first marriage, the lies and traps she believed and fell for, and the red flags that were ignored that eventually led to her being jailed. Since our talk on Saturday, Morin’s commitment towards helping women especially those who are undergoing abuse in their relationship is renewed now more than ever. Finally, remember that abuse, in any form, even the emotional kind is never OK. You are not as alone as you think and your salvation is just around the corner. Reach out today if you or someone you know is in a similar situation. Morin has generously provided her email address if you need to talk to her directly - [email protected] Recommended Song: “Build it Better” – Aron Wright (2015) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Dr. Manuel Mota-Castillo- On Attention-Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder Dear, Mosiblings! I was honored to have had Dr. Manuel Mota-Castillo – a child and adolescent psychiatrist – on the show. Dr. Mota is Dominican Republic descent and for the past 28 years has served people of all ages in Florida, NM and Arizona and currently practices in Florida. In this episode, we talk all things ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder); its definition, reasons for hyperactivity in children, and how it should be rightfully diagnosed and conservatively managed. Drawing from his clinical experience and using his latest book as a guide, Dr. Mota helps clarifies the differences between ADHD, bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, and oppositional-defiant disorder. Dr. Mota also provided answers to the audience questions on the roles of diet, vaccines, CBD oil on ADHD; resources for parents; reasons for over-diagnosis and overuse of stimulants; causes of ADHD; and implication for children in third-world countries with ADHD. Finally, I hope this episode serves as a reminder for parents and caregivers to seek second and third opinions regarding these diagnoses before pumping your kids/wards with the wrong medications. In the meantime, go grab a copy of his latest book on ADHD; it’s a worthy read! More on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Dr. Ernie Kaninjing – On Black Men and Prostate Cancer Dear, Mosiblings! In this episode, you will see me get my nerdy on, like for real. I began conducting cancer research since 2012 and my focus was on Black men. This interest was borne from a personal loss of my father-figure who lost his battle to prostate cancer in 2006. My research focuses on the socio-behavioral aspects of cancer and measuring outcomes related to the cancer continuum from prevention to survivorship. While cancer is very difficult to understand, there are several proactive tips we can take to reduce our likelihood of getting it and also with early detection, improving our chances of not dying from it. In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Ernest Kaninjing – another cancer scientist who hails from Cameroon – to talk about why Black men are at the most risk of prostate cancer than men of other ethnicities and what we can all do to begin to close that disparity gap. Together, we unpacked our collective experience, spanning several publications and collaborations with other scientists all over Africa, Caribbean, and the US, to explore stigma, myths, risk factors, awareness, prevention, detection, survivorship, advocacy, and so much more related to cancer. In this period of thanksgiving, in addition to bickering about politics over the dinner table, I hope we can use this opportunity to have meaningful discussions with our loved ones about their health. I hope this episode serves as a reminder to those reading this to get their health check done. Wives, girlfriends, baby-mamas, nieces, and sisters, let’s get to work on improving the health of the men in our lives. If you liked this episode, please let me know and don’t forget to share. Summary Notes: Get a yearly checkup done; know your numbers! Know your family history (if you can). Exercise regularly and consume more food with beneficial nutrients. We also made a video about this episode; you can watch the 1-hr long feature on YouTube: http://bit.ly/prostatecancerYT2019 Be well and Happy Thanksgiving, Mo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Two Nigerians - Renewing your Nigerian Passport in the US Ha! My dearest Nigerians! It’s that time of the year again when the holidays are around the corner and a lot of you are considering flying back to Nigeria to celebrate with family (don’t do it)! But then you remember that your passport is expired and you are dreading to get it renewed. Fret not, dear friends! This episode will help guide your passport renewal process, especially whether or not you have a US passport and if you need to apply for your underage child(ren). Knowing how scary the Nigerian embassy can be like, my guest – Dr. Temitope and I will be holding your hands all through with our detailed description and plentiful tips that abound in this episode. Whether you end up doing it in DC, Atlanta, or New York, know that a lot of these passport officials are still as scary and irksome as can be – so pop a Xanax or two beforehand (and don’t forget your Hail Marys and prayer beads too) because two angries don’t make a right. If it’s of any consolation, the Nigerian passport renewal process is lots better than Zimbabwe’s (listen to find out how so). Also listen to our suggestions to the Nigerian Immigration Service on how the renewal process can be made better, especially leveraging already existing technology in the US. All in all, I hope that we can enter the passport office one day and be greeted with smiles, top-notch customer service, and certainly no NTA playing on an analog TV caged to the window. Or even better still, scrap the mandatory, costly trips to the doggone embassies and do the whole process online! A girl can dream. If you liked this episode, please let me know and don’t forget to share. God bless Nigeria! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Naga Subramanya: Strictly Podfessional – On Passion, Purpose, and Podcasting Naga Subramanya, who is Indian and lives in Bangalore, is one of the guys trying to do great things in the world. You only have to hear his story to see his passion for living and purpose. And speaking of passion, he began a podcast with that same title - Passion People Podcast – while couch-surfing during a gap year he took three years ago. As a Nigerian, the concept of taking a gap year (except the JAMB-enforced kind) is as alien to me as adopting a vegan cat. And I think my fellow Indians might agree with me on this one. But hear from Naga, who did just that in 2016. We also explored Naga’s childhood, the peculiarity and opportunities of dating in India, given the caste system and the increasing adoption of technology and dating apps. How he waited two years to ask his wife out and another nine years before he could finally get to marry her. So I made him leave, Krithika, his dear wife, a love note in his native tongue. Finally, Naga and I talked about his concept of self-love and body image. Naga says: “Taking a gap-year is not a sign of weakness or failure. On the contrary, it is a sign of success and confidence!” About Naga: He is the host and curator of the Passion People Podcast. A podcast that focus on the stories of people who follow their dream to make their passions manifest in tangible ways. Naga is a Finance Professional and works on his podcast as he is passionate about meeting new people and sharing their stories with the world. Naga took a year off in 2016 and wrote all about it in 52 blog posts that he released every week before embarking on this podcast journey. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Loretta: The Life of a Creative and Other Stories As a Nigerian who moved to the US in her 20’s, it was quite a challenge making long-lasting friends, especially due to cultural differences and well, inadequately managed expectations. All of which I talked about with my guest. So meet Loretta Nwandu: who moved to the US at the age of 15 to begin college and later earned a Masters in Engineering Management. Listen to her story on how she acculturated, found community, and built friendship. Loretta and I both believe in multiculturalism and it's one of the many reasons we love the US! Today, Loretta lives in Atlanta where she does ministry work for Jesus and uses her skills as a creative to meet the needs of her clients. In this episode, you also get to hear about the unique opportunity and challenges of being a creative person as well as the duality of being one while under the employment of someone else. Loretta says: “The only person who can understand a visionary is another visionary.” --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Cyrus: The Iranian-Mexican American & Football Coach – On Why We All Need to Fail It’s my 33rd episode this year! How auspicious considering I am raising funds for my educational scholarship – The 33 Project. If you are yet to donate and will like to (really I accept all currencies and denominations), kindly click on the donate link below. The GoFundMe page is looking all lonesome without your contribution :-D. Also, we are now accepting applications for the scholarship beneficiaries (see link below). For this week’s episode, I was honored to have Cyrus Mohseni on the show to talk about his life and passion who was born to an Iranian father and a Mexican mom (you need to listen to hear how they met – it’s a better love story than La La land (don’t @ me)) in Bellflower, California. Cyrus started playing football at the age of three in American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), eventually moving to Europe at 18 and even got signed with Icelandic club Vestri. Now armed with the title of a former professional soccer player, Cyrus has been coaching for over six years and through his charity – Giving Football, he provides underprivileged youth the opportunity to play football. Cyrus is also the founding party of the Keystone Team – a family-owned real-estate business located in Southern California. In this episode, we talked about his upbringing, what soccer meant (and still means to him), how he navigated a career switch, and why we all need to rethink our attitude towards failure. Cyrus says: “I am a big believer that failure is a positive thing. I think that you HAVE to fail, in order to be successful at anything, you HAVE to fail!” Random fact: Iran’s and Mexico’s flags are similar in color. Now I made you Google it, bahaha. You can read more about Cyrus and his work here: http://www.cyrusmohseni.net/ 🄳🄾🄽🄰🅃🄴 🄷🄴🅁🄴: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-33-project Best, Mo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Mo! + CausePods – Why I Do What I Do This week, I share an episode I did on Causepods; a passion project of The Podcast Consultant, Mathew Passy. Mathew’s platform is designed to interview folks who are using podcasts to raise awareness for a good cause. During this time, we talked about why I started my podcast platform (hint, it began with my love of radio as a child of the 80s) and how I have been able to build community through my episodes. I also talked about my heritage as a Nigerian and my love for the Korean culture, as well as how I address tough issues for Black and Asian communities. Finally, I shared my passion for education and how the gift of education has helped me become and what I am currently doing to give that gift to indigent children and families in Nigeria via my educational scholarship project – The 33 Project. You can read more about Mathew here: https://www.thepodcastconsultant.com/about-me 🄳🄾🄽🄰🅃🄴 🄷🄴🅁🄴: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-33-project Paystack: https://paystack.com/pay/the33project GTB Account, 0014352121, Motolani Ogunsanya Venmo: @Mo-Sibyl Paypal: [email protected] --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Claire Mukashyaka – From Rwanda with Love Hear from Claire, on her life as a child growing up in post-genocidal Rwanda being born at the cusp of the Rwandan genocide. On how education paved the way for her as a young girl growing up in rural Rwanda, herding cows to now working in Boston as a PK/PD modeling (pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling) scientist working on precision genetic medicine for patients with rare genetic-based diseases. Hear about the change agents and sacrifices that got her there. Claire also shared about her recent grad experience on academic failure. The hope is to encourage anyone struggling with grad school, especially when to make crucial decisions for when to take a pause and explore other options. About Claire: Born and raised in Rwanda in East Africa, she is the number five of seven children with three brothers and three sisters, five nieces and three nephews. She moved to the USA in 2012 for a college education at Oklahoma Christian University, where she graduated with BSc in Biochemistry in 2016. She then started graduate school at OUHSC in 2016, and just graduated with an MS in Pharmaceutical sciences in 2019. Mo! says: Academic failure as an African or Asian feels more than very personal. Because a part of you feels not only like you have failed yourself but the community of people and family (seen and unseen) that got you there. It is why failing academically feels like failing in life. Still on education, the donation link is to open to help children like Claire get better opportunities in life via education. Recommended Song: “Nimekupata Yesu” – Ambassadors of Christ (2017) Murakoze Urakoze, Mo! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Mo! – On Bad and Good News The past year has been a rollercoaster of fun and not-so-much fun stuff. In this bare-all episode, which was taped at the cusp of turning 33, I shared some good and bad news about a recent medical diagnosis and the odyssey it took to get there. Giving how overwhelming as you expect this to be, I brought my therapy dawg – T-Dawg – back on the show for moral support. I also reflected on what year 32 great which included having the courage to face some personal demons, practicing vulnerability, responsibility, faith, and creative expressions. Perhaps, the one message I will leave here to encourage anyone reading this is to remember that suffering is an integral part of life. We all suffer; we all are just not equipped in talking about it. Also that in suffering we can find meaning and I have found just that in mine and that is using my story to set people free and that by lifting a load off of others, I find my own pain tolerable. It’s why I started that #33Project. If you know me, you know I am big on education. So I implore you all to consider donating towards this cause. No amount is too small (see links below). I also hope this episode serves as a reminder that in addition to the greatness that you all see that abounds in me, you now get to hear about some of the sufferings as well, to understand that this is just the right margin God needs to show his supremacy. And that his grace is just enough balm to sooth this wild ride of a life I am blessed to have. And even if it is schadenfreude you take out of my message, that’s also very OK, haha. That said, I am grateful for life. Yesterday, I spent the whole day with my favorite person in the world doing things as simple as getting on a cable car, eating at my favorite Korean restaurant, going on a late-night movie date, and walking hand-in-hand chatting like a couple of teenagers in love without a care in the world. Life’s good, indeed. Thank you all for your messages and calls. I remain your lantern, Mo! PS: Created a Spotify playlist of some of my most-played songs in the past year. Check it out and let me know which ones you like. RECOMMENDED SONG: “Lanterns” – Passenger (2017) DONATE HERE: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-33-project Paystack: https://paystack.com/pay/the33project GTB Account, 0014352121, Motolani Ogunsanya Venmo: @Mo-Sibyl Paypal: [email protected] --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Dr. Elizabeth Unni - On Integrating Academia and Motherhood Women rock! Especially in the workplace and more especially in academia. Despite an increasing number of women entering academia, research has shown that women (especially those with children) are less likely to achieve tenure than their counterparts without children. Whereas having children is actually a career boost for men. As a woman who recently entered academia, I have always wondered if it is possible to have it all at once – family and thriving career and while I am yet to find the answer to this question, it has not stopped me to keep seeking answers. More than answers, I have more questions like “can we really have it all,” “have we been sold a lie about work-life balance?” In today’s episode, I chatted with Dr. Elizabeth Unni on her decision to prioritize family over career and how she was able to forge a path in academia. We also talked about the perception of how the tenure track might be designed to force women to make a hard choice between career and family. She also talked a bit about her research which identifies patients' psychosocial factors – their beliefs or social factors that can influence medication-taking behavior. You also get to hear about tips for visiting India. About Dr. Unni: She is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy who received her pharmacy degree from Manipal University in India, an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Later, she received her PhD in Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics from the University of Iowa. Dr. Unni is a health services researcher and focuses on the psychosocial aspects of chronic disease management. She loves traveling with her family, reading books, and dancing. She is an active member of the International Society of Quality of Life, International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, American Pharmacists Association, and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Show Notes: DONATE HERE: GOFundme: https://GOFundme.com/f/the-33-project Paystack: https://paystack.com/pay/the33project --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Patricia Kio - Mom in America Nigerian immigrants make up a lion share of Africans in the diaspora. Today, I bring you the story of one of them – Patricia Kio. She immigrated to the US two years ago with her two little kids to pursue a Ph.D. in architecture at Texas A&M in College Station (that UT Austin wanna-be school). Patricia is an avid Scrabble player and has traveled to over ten Nigerian states and Malaysia to compete in Scrabble tournaments. In this episode, we talked about the struggles of moving to the US, especially the financial and emotional adjustments. We also chatted about gender roles, the traits needed to succeed in graduate school, and my experience teaching in American classrooms. Finally, Patricia answered my question on the many ways architecture, as a field, is embracing technology. Fun fact for you: Did you know that Scrabble was invented by an architect named Alfred Mosher Butts? He originally named it Lexiko. PS: The education scholarship has been officially launched. Kindly go on to my GoFundMe page and see how you can be a part of this great initiative: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-33-project --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with T-Dawg – On Enneagrams and Marriage What do you get when a 7w8 meets a 1w2 or when an ENTP-T collides with an ESFJ-A (his E is highly questionable, BTW)? You get Mo! and T-Dawg! And what do these alphabets and numbers even mean? Well, glad you asked! The former is from the Enneagram while the latter, the Myers-Briggs’ – both personality tests. If you are yet to figure it out by now, T-Dawg is my current husband (haha) of almost a decade and best friend of almost two decades. We are quite the pair of imperfect people, oddly matched but striving to perfection by God’s grace. To know our story is to know that God is involved in the affairs of men. And our story is one we hope to slowly share more of with you as time goes on. Listen to this episode to hear from a man that I highly look up to and the man who’s behind and beside the tour de force that is Mo! The one I call 내 반쪽(Google that :-D). He is a man of quiet strength and one who does not announce his strength to the world. Also, get to hear our responses to a question sent in from one of the listeners: Why did you choose him then, and why do you choose him now? PS: The education scholarship has been officially launched. Kindly go on to my GoFundMe page and see how you can be a part of this great initiative: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-33-project PPS: Wanna win $20 (yes, open to everyone)? How well do you know Mo! and T-Dawg? The hints you need in acing this quiz can be found in this new episode? You can maximize your chances of winning, in addition to taking this quiz if you follow my page on Instagram @mosibyl. The winner can reside anywhere in the world. Payment will be transmitted via PayPal, Venmo, Paystack, or Zelle. Winner will be announced by Monday, Sept 23, 2019. Take Quiz Here: http://bit.ly/MoTeeQ2019 Recommended Song: “By You” – Simi ft. Adekunle Gold (2019) New Blog Article on Substack: Shame in Rest - https://mosibyl.substack.com/p/shame-in-rest --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Mo!- Mo!nologue II: Unmasking my Thoughts Another monologue coming your way this week courtesy yours truly. In this episode, I got a bit intimate with the mic and shared a lot of the thoughts circulating in my head. Think of it like I was reading my diary aloud. So, what things did I unearth in this episode, exactly? A lot, actually. Beginning with some personal reflections on stress, rest, and therapy. I also talked about all the travels I did this summer – spanning 11 cities and states and one foreign country, the 5-week cancer fellowship done at the NIH (National Institute of Health) and the amazing people I met, the implications of my beloved therapist quitting her practice, and how my imminent birthday is giving me major depression vibes. Finally, I am turning 33 in a couple of weeks and I’d like ALL of the attention from that to go towards my educational scholarship – The 33 Project. My goal is to identify and shortlist 33 indigent children in Nigeria who will benefit from the scholarship for a given period of time. I am hoping to raise $3,300. Look out for more information on that, especially how you can be a part of that (yeah, I need your money :-D), please and thank you! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Lizzie Lopez – Mexican-American, Korean-Speaking, Spanish-Learning Lizzie Meet Lizzie! A Mexican-American who is learning Spanish. I met Lizzie at my language school (s/o to Northwest Baptist Church); she was one of my former Korean teachers. Lizzie spent a year teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to Korean elementary students (K-6) in Gunsan, South Korea. Lizzie is also an artist who teaches arts to children and the elderly. She belongs to the Canadian Valley art Guild (CVAG) and loves to paint human and animal portraits, abstract art and illustrations. In this episode, we talked about her cultural history and what her identity means to her, especially the pressures of cultural expectations. We also talked about the year she spent in Korea and why she won’t be moving back there permanently. She also shared some tips for those considering teaching abroad. Finally, we explored the downsides of being creatives, how to cultivate friendship, and what her faith means to her. Listen, download, share, and please leave a comment to support the show!: http://bit.ly/LizzieL2019 Recommended Song: “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” – Selena (1994) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Omotayo – A Nigerian in Brazil It is a well-known fact that Nigerians can be found in several pockets around the world. In fact, it is said to avoid spaces where Nigerians cannot be found because we go where prosperity can be made (#Amirite?). In today’s episode I introduce you to – Omotayo Fadina – a Nigerian living in Brazil. She moved there three years ago to pursue a PhD in Environmental Geochemistry after completing a Master’s degree in the UK In this episode, we talked about why she left the UK, life being a Nigerian in Brazil, the culture and lifestyle of Brazilians, her research and its environmental impact especially opinions on climate change, opportunities for Nigerians in Brazil, and why we should all include Brazil on our next travel destination. Finally, we also briefly talked about Yoruba not as a culture but its traditional religious and spiritual concepts, as widely recognized in Brazil. Mo! Says: “Han is to Koreans as Hygge is to the Danish people. I wonder what collective term can be used to describe the Brazilian spirit” Quote: “The average Brazilian sees happiness as the most important thing. And they derive happiness from interaction with people and nature, rather than in material things.” PS: Speaking of BRAzil (see what I did there. This is why my friends won’t say hello to me anymore :-D), check out my new post on braffering (a term I just coined about the pains of wearing bras) to hear more about my convoluted history with this contraption of tortures. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: From his book – The Four Loves, CS Lewis had this to say about friendship. “The ideal climate for friendship exists when a few people are absorbed in some common, but not always necessary interest. Lovers are usually imagined face-to-face, friends are best imagined by side; their eyes ahead on the common interest.” That said, here’s reintroducing my dearest friend – Olabimpe - with whom I am well-pleased. Our common interests being doing God’s will, Jesus and plantains (expect a 7-min full convo on our love for Jirade’s plantains: s/o to my supplier – (Mojirade Bepo of Jirade Diadem (@jiradeventures), and fighting injustices in our little spaces. Bimpe and I met when I was 16 when we both signed up to be a part of a choir for teens and youth ministry (@solid_live). So you can say we go a long way, despite how much I moan about not being good with female friendships. In this episode, you get to hear all about Olabimpe’s story which is a rare opportunity given how private she is. We talked about her being single, a recent heartbreak that almost made her curse the guy out, signs you might be dating a narcissist, how she nursed her broken heart, why she’s still hopeful about love. We also talked about what it takes to be a good friend, the huge fight we had that nearly changed the course of our friendship, as well as conflict resolution tips. If anything, you get to hear two silly friends talk about everything! Yeah, we failed the Bechdel Test a few minutes into the episode. A friend loves at all times and a brother (or sister) is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) Question of the Day: Why would a man who’s on his way to marrying someone “commit” himself to another? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: This week’s episode with my guest – Bibi – attempted to answer the following questions surrounding single life: How do you maximize your singleness and joy in a world that wants everyone to be coupled up, by any means necessary? What can the church do to encourage everyone, especially singles, to find their life purpose above and beyond the institution of marriage? We also explored the many gifts singles have that are envied by the married (especially yours truly). And yes, we also went there – to talking about premarital sex, porn, and masturbation. And finally, I threw a wild question at my guest as to why it seems that single (godly) men aren’t committing to women these days. My guest, who is in her 20s and whom I met on Twitter BTW, Bidemi “Bibi” Babatunde, is a minister of the gospel of Jesus with this central message: “God is not angry with you, He expended all His anger on Jesus.” She is passionate about helping believers grow in their full identity in Christ and drop the cloak of meaningless religiosity. She was the best graduating student of her bible college (The Stand Point Church Refinery) in 2018 and currently lives in the Greater Toronto area where she manages fundraising and communications for a charity that helps children with autism.Find out more about her on www.bibilamour04.com or via Twitter bibilamour04. Read more on www.mosibyl.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: Meet Adekunbi Oyelade, a lawyer, youth advocate, and the CEO/founder of Sesewa - Nigeria's first internship-focused career development company. Sesewa was founded in her college dorm room in 2009 while a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. She founded it due to the frustration with difficulty in getting an internship position. Subsequently, in this episode, we talked about her entrepreneurial journey, regrets, and future plans. We also did a smooth segue into gender roles and the relative advantage of the gender-selective child-rearing conferred upon the Nigerian girl child as well as tips to balancing this. Mo! adds: A brief observation about Adekunbi: She’s business, man! PS: Got some major announcements to make regarding the podcast, if you are yet to subscribe or will like to be in the loop, sign up here: https://www.mosibyl.com/ (scroll down to the very end to “Let’s Get in Touch”) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: Let’s take a trip to Nepal, everyone, with today’s guest - Sujana Rupakheti. Sujana is a pre-med international student from Nepal and she holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry and mathematics. In this episode, we talked about her move from Nepal to the US, adjusting to the educational system here, acculturation challenges, and her reasons for choosing the US to pursue a medical degree. Facts about Nepal Their flag is the world's only non-quadilateral flag. Despite sandwiched between two super giants – China and India, Nepal has never been colonized. In 2001, there was a royal massacre that decimated several members of the royal family. Nepal has its own calendar system – the Vikram Samvat and according to it, it is the year 2076 You also hear about the similarities between Nigeria and Nepal and why relocating from either of these countries to the US is not without its challenges. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

Here’s the much-anticipated story of the other woman – aka Dr. Diana Escobedo or Diana as I fondly call her. Because you get “more” listening to the show, we also explored her life. In addition to the unique role she plays in our lives, Diana comes with her own story. She was raised in Mexico and grew up in a less-traditional household where children were given free reins to explore their unique individuality. With this flippant freedom, Diana found herself pregnant at 16. Yet, she pushed through this and completed medical school only to be bedridden for almost two years. With her liver failing, and a looming diagnosis of the autoimmune condition – rheumatoid arthritis, she was at the brink of death. Listen to hear more on how Diana turned all of these around, broke the family cycle of alcoholism, found purpose in her suffering, and her suggestions on how not to give up on our own dreams too. Diana is now a licensed family medicine practitioner and will be opening up her clinic in the El-Paso area with a focus on providing care to low-income families. Also, hear about the key people that helped her get from there to here. Listen, download, share, and please leave a comment to support the show! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 하늘의 왕국| The One with Patricia Qhobela-Jenkins: Stories from Lesotho – The Kingdom in the Sky: Episode 18 Still on Africa! Today I bring you stories from an expat Brit/Mosotho who was born in the UK to Mosotho (refers to persons from Lesotho) parents. When she was 16, she was whisked back to Africa, which made for a lot of stories that we unpacked in this episode. Patricia Qhobela-Jenkins, who I once dubbed ‘African Leprechaun’ the very instant I met her, and I talked about Lesotho’s history relative to Africa’s and why we don’t know so much about her country, her losing both parents and the process of grieving, as well as upholding choices regarding marriage and decisions not to have kids. Lesotho, a constitutional monarchy, regards water as white gold and exports it to South Africa to boost its economy. Lesotho, where owning cows is a sign of wealth, is a beautiful country with hillsides reminiscent of The Shire, traditional ponies, and lush greens but find out why I won’t be visiting it anytime soon. Patricia is the founder of Podcast Maven (www.podcastmaven.com), and for over four years has helped introvert female business owners find their voice, connect to their audience, and launch their unique podcast. Follow Patricia on IG: @the_podcast_maven PS: Looking for investors and partners for a cultural exchange program idea I have for Africans and Asians. Listen, download, share, and please leave a comment to support the show! Recommended Song: “This is Me” – New Found Glory (2019) Visit www.mosibyl.com to see show notes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Selena: The Girl from Mauritius – On Island Living Let’s explore an African country together in this episode. And no, it’s not Nigeria, haha. Welcome to the Island, peeps! This African island boasts of enviable beaches for destination weddings. It is a religiously diverse nation, with freedom of religion given as a constitutional right and the only African country with a Hindu majority. As Hawaii is seen drifting away from the continental US, so is this country relative to Africa when viewed on a map. It’s also a country close to Madagascar and the only known habitat of the now-extinct bird – dodo. Mark Twain once quipped that Heaven was copied after this country and Lewis Carroll was inspired by the dodo to write his famous book “Alice in Wonderland” in 1865. Life expectancy here is well higher than the world average and is well above the average for African countries. Welcome to Mauritius – one of only four countries in the world with no involvement in ongoing international or domestic conflicts and no tensions with neighboring countries. The others being Botswana, Chile, and Uruguay.. As a result, Mauritius does not maintain a standing army. I invited Selena – who I describe as a spunky, ethnically-ambiguous, culturally-rich, cosmopolitan, Mauritian gal - to talk about her country’s history, its unique aspects, and what her identity and nationality mean to her. We also talked about her overcoming body image issues, experiences as a US immigrant, and how she responds to questions about her origin. Recommended Song: “Lingua Lebi” – Talulu (2006) Enjoy, 모 /Mo!/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support