TWDS Podcast

This is part 2 of 2 of a series with my friend JP... Part 1 is called "Wish You Were Here: Grief and Pandemic"... In this episode gloves come off. I ask JP about the topic of being a man and seeking re-assurance in relationships.. We talk about dating scene, here in Seattle and also the dating scene in New York, where JP currently resides. We talk about being vulnerable with other male friends about things we struggle with. Especially 2 black men, of African decent (Rwanda and Togo) and how our cultural constructs affect how we approach vulnerability. I admit to JP the many uplifting ways crossing paths with him were key in my growth... I talk for the first time about being a single dad.. A little shout out in passing to my friends les "Bons Fellas"... We end by deconstructing ways to show health care. We also touch on mental health, share some things we've been learning about therapy and how it affects our vulnerability today... 

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About the Guest:

This is part 1 of a 2 part episode that I record with my good friend JP.. JP is a good friend of mine, JP used to live in Seattle before he decided to take his talents to the big Apple.. JP is from Rwanda.. We talk art, music, especially African Music.. We talk about grief, I introduce JP and why I wanted to talk to him. We talk about JP's experience with COVID and how he felt supported in New York. We also give you a prelude to the part 2.. Just two black men chopping it up! Part 2.. coming soon... stay tuned...

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About the Guest:

I catch up with actor Thirsa Van Til, she talks to us about her journey from the Netherlands to the USA, pursuing her passion of acting. We talk about leaving all behind, selling all of her belongings to chase the dream. She opens up about taking risks, navigating the space of acting/producing. Thirsa also talks about the inspiring story of Truus Menger, a female Dutch resistance fighter during the German occupation in world war II. Truus story inspired Thirsa to create a play called Virtue of Victory. This is one of the many facets of Thirsa's story, how she's redefined herself so many time, truly an inspiring story

I catch up with Raymond. He is what I like to call a pure intellectual.. Software engineer at Microsoft, originally from Nigeria, he’s a musician, an artist. Raymond and I connect over art, music, history, maps and our passion for the continent of Africa.  This is the long awaited part two of my episode with Raymond.. We bring you good music, some vibes we talk about opening your heart again after hardships... We talk about finding new love,  we talk about being scared shitless but still spending that currency of life and taking chances.

Today is Raymond's birthday.. December 21, more life to you King.

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The Music:

Blaq Pages (c) copyright 2020 Blaq Pages (non commercial use, requested permission to use via IG DMs).

I catch up with Raymond. He is what I like to call a pure intellectual.. Software engineer at Microsoft, originally from Nigeria, he’s a musician, an artist. Raymond and I connect over art, music, history, maps and our passion for the continent of Africa.

I wanted to sit with Raymond and brainstorm ways he and I, and others like us would like to see the continent prosper. We discuss this from our view, the one of working in a technological hub, members of the diaspora, using the tools at our disposal. We tackle various ideas for bad and good governance, ways to make good use of capital being sent home, just ways we can see the continent proper, all of this on the backdrop of the Endsars movement as well as police brutality.

No way to put Raymond and I in the same room and not want to talk about history! We discuss the importance of writing our own history as we discuss ways to recover it’s missing relics.

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The Music:

Get Loose (c) copyright 2020 Blaq Pages (non commercial use, requested permission to use via IG DMs).

I caught up with the extraordinary, the one and only, General Mutombo: the best African comedian in the PNW. If I could nickname this episode, it would be entitled laugh and cry. This episode is the re-incarnation of everything I've wanted TWDS Podcast to be. We talk about the very painful experience of domestic violence and matrimonial abuse, we talk about the difficult journey of immigrants and how they can be left vulnerable in a system they don't understand. We talk domestic violence from the prospective of a cisgender heterosexual man as a victim. We talk a little about mental health especially it's taboo in black families. 

There's tons of hope in this episode, the General drops a lot of tribal African knowledge and does it in at times the most of hilarious ways. We also respect the times we are in, this episode was recorded 2 days after the 2020 American Presidential Election, so of course some Nevada jokes and of course no way to get 2 Africans together without being extra hyped and making fun of African dictators. 

I frankly don't know if I'm ever going to get such a raw story in TWDS, tune in, I talk a lot more about the podcast journey in the intro to this episode. 

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TWDS PRODUCTION:

I first met Hadiya in the tech scene in Seattle.. she worked for various teaching or employment organizations with the focus on bringing technology to kids or underserved area or populations. She also was heavily involved in several professional oragnizations in Seattle. Hadiya through the pandemic became for me a source of information on self care, and always had the best takes on the current climate especially though the protest. I always felt like after engaging with her the world didn't always seem that much on fire.. I was hoping to bring that prospective to you. 

The goal of the episode was originally to talk about the black experience leaving in Seattle or the general pacific northwest area, PNW, I had a vision of this story about this uber liberal place that markets itself as a haven for all things progressive. But our conversation turned quickly visceral, we still discuss the black experience in Seattle, but we discuss in a way that I think will be relatable to many people of colors, except people in Atlanta.. Sorry Altanta, we're not so kind to you on this one.. We also try to take a kindness first approach, self care, mental health and compassion, of course with a forward looking view on things we could change.  

Find Hadiya on IG: stayingforeign@

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TWDS PRODUCTION:

I catch up with my long time friend Ime, we talk about his INSANE journey leaving silicon valley to be come a Travel Producer, Videographer, Photographer amplifying voices in the black community through his craft  Ime takes us through some breath taking moment while he travels the world. The strong imagery of being at a desk in silicon valley and then jet setting conquering the world through story telling and photography.  We also have some fun around taking these bold steps as a Nigerian American, how culture and customs play into carrying his story forward. We insert a few nutmegs about soccer and catching sunsets!  Ime's story is truly inspiring he takes us along moments that were tough, and how his life philosophy of "I Can Do All Things" have been professed from as long as he remembers.  This episode too comes with a lot of laughter, 2 friends who have known each other for a very long time, tied in a way by destiny or sheer coincidence from Baltimore to Seattle, caught in a magic moment combining their undying love for media into a single art form of a podcast. 

My great friend Athalie and I discuss how this podcast originated from what was initially meant to be an instagram sticker post. She teases out the various facets to things you don't say and the many meanings it can have.  She gets vulnerable about the most tragic form of things you don't say, letting go of the past and saying goodbye. It's a fascinating journey that has led her away from a very conservative christian community and defining her future.  This episode is so fun, Lots of giggles and shoutouts to an amazing group of friends that have supported me to this very point.

Episode Guest: