The More Sibyl Podcast

법 밖의 삶| The Legality of Surrogacy - The Grey Area We Didn’t Know | Episode 19 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents:

Five beautiful episodes. Seven amazing guests and several deeply personal stories.

Sùúrùgate has reached its final chapter, and I can’t help but feel proud of the ground we’ve covered. We’ve peeled back the layers of infertility, parenthood, and the deeply intimate journey of surrogacy, giving voice to those often left out of the conversation. As we wrap this powerful series, we take a bold turn into a topic that’s rarely discussed: the legal realities of surrogacy in Nigeria.

In this must-listen episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Lawyer Gbenga Adebisi, who brings unmatched clarity to Nigeria’s current surrogacy landscape, one that remains largely undefined by law. Gbenga walks us through the murky legal framework (or better put, the lack of one) and offers critical insight into why treating surrogacy as just a contract is not only misguided but potentially dangerous. His words surprised me, and they just might shift your perspective, too.

We unpack the fundamental question: Is surrogacy even legal in Nigeria? The answer is not what most people think. Gbenga explains how the absence of federal legislation leaves all parties—intended parents, surrogates, and especially the children—exposed and unprotected. He also highlights the often-exploitative systems in place that leave surrogate mothers underserved, unsupported, and without recourse.

If you’ve ever considered surrogacy, know someone who has, or simply care about protecting the most vulnerable in society, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with practical insight into how to navigate this complex terrain more responsibly, even in the absence of clear legal guidelines.

But more than that, I hope this episode ignites something deeper—a call to advocate for comprehensive legal reform in Nigeria. Surrogacy should not operate in the shadows. Every child deserves legal clarity. Every surrogate deserves dignity. Every family deserves protection.

So please, don’t just listen—understand. Share this episode widely. Let’s raise our voices and push for a future where surrogacy in Nigeria is guided not just by hope, but by justice.

 

Read blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-legality-of-surrogacy-in-nigeria-39d355c8b2af 

기다림과 기적| Another Suurugate Journey: Of Pain, Joy, and Everything In Between | Episode 18 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

As we wrap up this month’s Sùúrùgate series, I thought it expedient to share a story that embodies resilience, vulnerability, and the power of community. It takes immense courage to share a journey that many are ashamed to even identify with. And when someone steps forward with that kind of bravery, it deserves to be honored. Our guest today, though she remains anonymous, chose to walk the courageous path of telling her truth to help others find theirs. In truth, she was one of the few people who held my hand through the immigration and surrogacy process. Her guidance, honesty, and unwavering generosity carried me in moments of fear and uncertainty, and I am forever indebted to her.

In this deeply honest episode, I sit down with her to explore the often-unspoken realities of infertility and surrogacy, particularly within African communities. She shares her 16-year journey, one marked by the emotional weight of endometriosis, multiple failed IVF cycles, and heartbreaking miscarriages. Together, we discuss the physical and emotional costs of these experiences and the difficult decisions that come with choosing alternative paths to parenthood.

She also opens up about navigating surrogacy as an immigrant, highlighting the legal and emotional complexities of commissioning a surrogate in Nigeria and the challenges of bringing her U.S. citizen child home via the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) process. Her story sheds light on what it means to hope against hope and to take a leap of faith despite societal stigma and cultural silence.

Perhaps most moving is her call to action—not just for women walking this path, but also for their partners. She urges husbands, especially in African communities, to offer patience, empathy, and unwavering support, reminding us that infertility is never just a woman’s burden to carry. Her message is a testament to love in action and to the transformative power of solidarity in the face of uncertainty.

If you or someone you love is facing infertility or wants to understand the surrogacy experience more deeply, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: no one walks this path alone. Listen in for a compassionate dialogue that challenges stigma, honors each family’s unique story, and invites us all to widen our definition of what it means to become a parent.

Tune in now and join us as we break the silence, share the truth, and offer hope.

 

Read blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/another-s%C3%B9%C3%BAr%C3%B9gate-surrogate-journey-9127b945be1d 

서로를 품다| The MVPs of Suurugate Journeys: The One with a Surrogate | Episode 17 (2025)

When most people think of pregnancy, they think baby names, nursery colors, and tiny clothes. For Ms. Idowu Grace Abosede, pregnancy was about giving someone else the chance to experience all of that.

In this gripping episode, we unpack her deeply personal journey through surrogacy—one she had to navigate the hard way, using her own body as the lesson. That journey became the catalyst for founding Boblu’nd Gray Surrogacy Agency, where she now advocates for safe, ethical, and compassionate surrogacy in Nigeria.

Ms. Idowu shares the emotional and physical toll of being a surrogate and exposes the wide gap in protections for surrogates in Nigeria. From financial mistreatment—being offered as little as ₦30,000/month for food (in this T-Pain economy?!)—to unnecessary, non-consensual C-sections, she names the exploitative practices of individuals and institutions alike.

Her message is clear: Surrogacy is not a transaction. It’s a relationship. One that requires empathy, informed consent, and long-term support.

Whether you're a prospective surrogate, an intended parent, or a healthcare provider, this episode will challenge you to rethink everything you thought you knew about surrogacy.  Listen now and be part of the conversation that centers care, dignity, and justice.

• 
  Read blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-mvps-of-s%C3%B9%C3%BAr%C3%B9gate-surrogate-journeys-44efc093578a 

Exploring Surrogacy or Global Family-Building?
HOPES offers culturally grounded support for families navigating surrogacy and CRBA.
Join our safe space for personalized, experience-based guidance. Complete the HOPES Intake Form to get started.

Note: Not a legal or medical service—just a compassionate first step.

생명의 다리| A Guide to Your Sùúrùgate Journey - The One with The Sùúrùgate Team | Episode 16 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast:

I have one goal this month: demystifying surrogacy. In this episode, I’m joined by three amazing people—Olubusolami Jeremiah-Yusuf, Chidinma Ewo-Mebradu, and my husband, Taiwo—to help me do just that.

Together, we bring the dual perspectives of medical professionals and commissioning parents. We explore what it means to pursue surrogacy ethically, the emotional realities intended parents must be ready for, and the importance of building a strong, informed support system. Busolami and Chidinma offer invaluable professional insights and practical guidance on navigating surrogacy responsibly and compassionately.

One of the key themes we highlight is the need to treat surrogates with dignity and fairness. From education and legal protections to emotional support and ethical practices, we discuss what it takes to ensure a positive and humane surrogacy experience.

Taiwo shares his reflections on the role of honest communication between partners, while I open up about my own journey as a commissioning mom—what it meant to prepare for a child I wasn’t carrying, how I coped with anxiety and grief from previous losses, and the deep faith and trust required every step of the way.

This episode is both a personal reflection and a practical guide for anyone considering or navigating surrogacy. We talk about everything from preparing for parenthood and supporting surrogates to managing logistics and navigating family dynamics.

If you’d like to connect with Busolami or Chidinma for support or guidance, here’s how to reach them:

• Busolami – [olubusolayusuf@gmail.com]
• Chidinma – [victoriaewomebradu@gmail.com]

If you’re exploring surrogacy or building your family through other means, know this: you are not alone. There’s a growing community and support network here for you. That’s exactly what HOPES – Helping Our People Expand Safely – is all about.

Begin here: https://forms.gle/o5pbimJr1NQ9oHAY6

You can also find Busolami and Chidinma on social media—their details are linked in the show notes.

Till the next conversation, Mosiblings—see you then!

우리의 대리모 이야기| Our Sùúrùgate Journey - Welcoming our Joy | Episode 15 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents:

Last year, I had my second child through surrogacy. It was a long, tedious, and rewarding journey that inspired this series: Sùúrùgate. 

This premiere episode of the Sùúrùgate series is a deeply personal monologue about my journey to motherhood. A journey that spanned nearly a decade and took me through infertility, loss, hope, adoption, and finally, surrogacy.

I open up about the early days of trying to conceive, the countless medical procedures, failed IVF cycles, and the heartbreak that followed each disappointment. I speak honestly about the emotional toll, the spiritual wrestling, and the cultural expectations that made the experience even more isolating.

After adopting our first child, Ariifeoluwa, surrogacy became another viable option to parenthood. My husband and I chose to explore that route in Nigeria. I walk you through how we selected a clinic, navigated contracts, and managed the long-distance process.

I also reflect on the silence and stigma that often surround infertility in African and faith-based communities. Through this monologue, I hope to break that silence, sharing not just the hard parts, but also the faith, patience (sùúrù), and unexpected beauty that carried me through.

This episode sets the tone for the rest of the Sùúrùgate series, where I’ll dive deeper into the practical and emotional aspects of building a family in unconventional ways, especially from an African and diasporan lens. So stay tuned for the whole month as we dive into Sùúrùgate.

Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/our-s%C3%B9%C3%BAr%C3%B9gate-journey-welcoming-our-joy-70bfc589f209

경계의 아이들| On Life Curveballs & Crossing Cultures — An Astonishing Reunion with Tanya Crossman | Episode 14 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

Our final episode in our Reunion series is with our Third-Culture Aussie, Tanya Crossman. This episode is not what you would expect, but it was heartfelt and thought-provoking. Tanya Crossman is a well-known author, speaker, and educator. She focuses on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and cross-cultural identity. She has lived in China for over ten years. She co-authored a book for Australian TCKs. She also helps globally mobile families with identity, belonging, and generational dynamics.

Seven years after her first podcast, Tanya is back. She shares her thoughts on personal and global change. We explore how a major life event changed her life completely, how the pandemic changed her relationship with China, and lessons from her latest writing project, including a powerful exercise she developed to visually map the changing facets of home across different times and places. This tool revealed to her just how much her sense of identity, safety, and community had shifted over the years.

In this episode, we talk about why character development matters more than achievements. We explore how hardship can lead to quiet growth and discuss how storytelling can heal, especially when our stories reveal truths we didn’t know we needed.

Listen to the full episode to hear Tanya’s story, lessons, and insights.

Connect with Tanya and explore her resources on Instagram:@tck_tanya

🅻🅸🅽🅺🆂: 

• Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/on-life-curveballs-crossing-cultures-47b76f42fd89 

 

다시 피어나다| Healing, Aging & Doing Life God’s Way — A Reflective Reunion with Ada Unigwe | Episode 13 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

We're still celebrating our milestone anniversary by reconnecting with some of the incredible voices from our past — and in this episode, I'm sitting down again with my dear friend, Ms. Ada Unigwe, first featured in our 2018 episode, “The Life of a Woman.” In this honest and heart-centered conversation, Ada reflects on the changes the past seven years have brought — from navigating premenopause and parenting with intention, to building a foundation of faith for her children. She shares how her views on love, legacy, and purpose have evolved, and why she now chooses alignment with God's will over chasing societal expectations. We also get honest about the silent struggles of African single moms in the diaspora, the stigma of divorce in African communities, and how faith has helped Ada reframe loss, rejection, and healing. Plus, she opens up about her dating journey, her decision to step back, and what it looks like to trust God one day at a time. If you're navigating heartbreak, solo parenting, or simply seeking encouragement in your faith journey, this episode is a poignant reminder: your story matters, with its scars, softness, strength, and all.

 

Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/healing-growth-aging-and-living-life-gods-way-after-divorce-e68c83fa746b

빛 속에서| How the Mission is Going: An Inspiring Reunion with Doctor, Pastor Henry Olamiju | Episode 12 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

In this soulful and wide-ranging reunion episode, Mo! reconnects with Dr. Henry Olamiju—physician, pastor, photographer, husband, and purpose-driven creative—seven years after his first appearance on The More Sibyl Podcast. What unfolds is a rich conversation on growth, calling, and the courage it takes to live authentically across multiple identities.

They explore the power of showing up fully in community, the liberation that comes from bringing hidden struggles into the light, and how pain, when met with honesty, can become a wellspring of purpose and healing. From navigating pastoral responsibilities in London to balancing fatherhood, exams, and ministry, Dr. Olamiju shares how grace, discipline, and a supportive partner have kept him grounded.

Together, they reflect on the beauty of community, the burden of silence, and the necessity of mentorship in our 40s and beyond. They uncover how our earliest experiences quietly prepare us for lives we couldn’t have imagined.

Whether you're sitting with unresolved pain, navigating a transition, or trying to figure out your place in the world, this episode offers gentle encouragement, spiritual insight, and a reminder that legacy isn't what we leave behind, it's what we live into every day.

Tune in for laughter, wisdom, and a soulful check-in that's equal parts therapy session, pep talk, and praise break.

 

Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/how-the-mission-is-going-bbf787109bb8 

7년 후의 우리 이야기| Jollof, Joy, and the Journey: A 7-Year Reunion with Dr. Fiona Adanse| Episode 11 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

Happy birthmonth to us! 🎉

Seven years ago, I launched the very first episode of The More Sibyl Podcast—and the journey since then has been nothing short of transformative, inspiring, and deeply rewarding. To mark this incredible milestone, we’re kicking off a special Reunion Series, reconnecting with some of the earliest voices that helped shape this platform.

First up: Dr. Fiona Adanse (née Imarhia)—now a wife, mother, and dedicated clinical pharmacist—who also happened to be my very first guest. So, of course, it only felt right to begin this series with her. Back then, Fiona was an ambitious pharmacy student. Today, she’s thriving in her career, raising a growing family, and navigating the beautiful chaos of life with purpose and grace. In this heartfelt and reflective episode, we dive into how life has unfolded since Episode 001—what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and all the lessons learned in between.

Fiona shares her leap-of-faith love story, her experience in a multicultural Ghanaian-Nigerian marriage (yes, we talk jollof wars!), and how stepping into the podcast space, despite being naturally quiet, taught her more about her own strength and potential. We also explore parenting truths, time as a construct, and the power of rest, even during the whirlwind. Recording this felt like opening a time capsule—one packed with wisdom, laughter, and deep gratitude. Fiona’s voice, reflections, and vision for the future remind us that growth doesn’t always happen loudly, but it always leaves a mark. Whether you’ve been here since day one or just discovered the show, this episode is for you. Press play and celebrate with us—this one is full of heart, perspective, and inspiration for the road ahead.

🅻🅸🅽🅺🆂: 

• Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/jollof-joy-and-the-journey-f3a1978e209f

나이지리아의 이해 현지 법률|The One with Adeola Kolawole - The A-Z of Business and Real Estate Law in Nigeria | Episode 10 (2025)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

All good things must come to an end—and what better way to wrap up our entrepreneurial series than with today's powerhouse episode!

We're joined by Adeola Kolawole, a seasoned corporate and real estate lawyer, to unpack the essentials of business law in Nigeria. From her path into the legal profession to the sobering realities facing young lawyers in Nigeria, Adeola brings clarity, candor, and a wealth of experience.

In this episode, we explore the legal must-knows for starting a business, and take a deep dive into the layered complexities of real estate law—especially in Lagos State. (Spoiler alert: We ask the hard questions—like, why are Lagos rents so high?)

But there's more to Adeola than her legal chops—she's also a wife, mom, mentor, and a Finnish language learner (yes, really!).

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering starting a business or purchasing property in Nigeria. It's also a clarion call to lawyers, policymakers, and law firms to create a legal ecosystem that truly serves the people.

Learn more about Adeola and her firm at aalawsng.com , and don't forget to catch up on your favorite streaming platform.

 

Read the blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-legal-hustle-business-law-real-estate-realities-in-nigeria-fb1f7f3920bc