The More Sibyl Podcast

내 머리 속의 목소리| Rising Above the Voices – A Deep Exploration of A Nigerian Living with Schizophrenia: Episode 8 (2019)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: Rising Above the Voices – A Deep Exploration of A Nigerian Living with Schizophrenia

For more than 15 years, I have battled with pulsatile tinnitus (the closest diagnosis I have been given) – a condition that equips me with the ultimate pleasure of hearing my own heartbeat (24/7) in the form of a pounding or whooshing sound in both ears. I have done all kinds of series of test ranging from MRI, Doppler scans, to conductive hearing tests, but everything checked out. My symptoms are worse at night, away from the humdrum of the city, causing me increased irritability. Using ear plugs and not thinking about it have helped considerably. For the most part, I have been able to cope with it. It doesn’t really affect me except when it does. I think it’s bad enough having this.

Now imagine that scenario but rather than your heartbeat, you hear actual voices – three distinct ones to be exact. Voices with their unique characteristics and personalities with names to boot. This is a tidbit of what those diagnosed with schizophrenia go through. Schizophrenia is an umbrella-like diagnosis (meaning very broad) with symptoms ranging from delusions, hallucinations (auditory and/or visual), disorganized speeches or behavior to some negative symptoms. Suffice to say, each person’s condition is unique to their own.

Take, for example, our guest for today (let’s call her ‘Sis’) loves the color pink and get excited by it whereas, in another TEDTalk video I watched, the speaker therein talked about how the color red triggered them negatively. Today’s guest is based in the south south part of Nigeria. Sis was diagnosed in 2012 and attributed this to being sexually abused for a prolonged period. Noises from a running tap or generator set trigger her.

For a while, she was catatonic when she was first diagnosed – meaning she could not speak, move, or respond. Getting on medications not only helped her regain her activity, reduce the number of voices to three, but also to harmonize the characters and rule over them. She regrets delaying treatment.

In this episode, we explored her life from diagnosis till date, the impact of this condition on her social life, relationships, activities of daily living, and so much more.

Read more on www.mosibyl.com

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아직도 희망이있다| The One with Angel Moms – Mother Hoodwinked: Episode 7 (2019)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents:

First, Happy Mother’s Day to moms – in every way, form, or the other. This episode is especially dedicated to a special category of moms – angel moms; mothers with babies in heaven. On a day as triggering as today, I hope you remember the strength that already lies in you.

I brought on a dear friend, Jolasun, to share her experiences as well on pregnancy losses and struggles with motherhood. Drawing from our own experiences, we provided tips on how to retain your joy and not feel resentment towards others. Finally, we shared resources on how wives can facilitate the difficult talk with their husbands regarding the anger, sadness, and missed expectations stemming from miscarriages. To such couples, remember that the best place to be is together.

Remember, it's okay to mourn your loss irrespective of the cultural influence. After all, it’s YOUR loss not the culture’s. The hope for sharing this episode is to encourage anyone out there who’s hiding in the shadows out of shame or sadness from pregnancy losses. Come onto the light, lift your head high, and let’s heal together.

I am here, if you need anyone to talk to.

All my love, tender as it may be,

Mo!

Mo says: Losing a child (especially one you never got to meet) is like being lost in a crowded marketplace trying to locate someone without a face.

Read more on www.mosibyl.com

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

명예로운 방문자| The One with Nurse Jolasun – Period and Vaginal Health Talk: Episode 6 (2019)

Vaginal talks, because contrary to what you've been told, the vagina has more uses than just sex. Sometimes, things come out of it and other times, things go into it . Today, we will be talking about the former. And by period, I mean menstrual flow, Aunt Flo, Aunty Fola, The Red Robot, Crimson Tide, Lilith Streak (I came up with this one), Carrie, Shark Week, The Red Wedding. Ah, you get the point already!

This episode is a painfully accurate account about all the changes we women go through and the accommodations we have to make during those days of tumultuous bliss, periodt! Plus a no-holds barred convo style on sex education, vaginal (and women’s) health, symptoms management (boob tenderness, mood swings, painful periods), dealing with heavy flow, preventing and cleaning bed stains, and how to properly insert a tampon without impaling yourself to death!

Rihanot Jolasun, RN-BSN, is a nurse with several years of experience who currently practices in the Dallas area of Texas. We did this episode to build support around taboos that have shrouded this topic for way too long. We hope that by getting this conversation started, women too can serve as an ally to other women.

PS: Heavy blood clots during your period are often an indication of something problematic. See your doctor to learn more.

Read more on www.mosibyl.com

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

내 빛나는 청춘| The One with Victory – An Aspirational Nigerian Youth: Episode 5 (2019)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Victory - An Aspirational Nigerian Youth

Nigeria has made a lot of impact on increasing the diversity and talent pool in the US educational system. Meet one of its contributors - Victory Ogunbanwo - a junior student majoring in forensic science and accounting. Victory is young, beautiful and one of those aspirational Nigerians I have been honored to meet here in the US.

In this episode, we explored her life growing up in Nigeria, moving to the USA, and the challenges of preserving cultural values. She also shared what she likes and dislikes most about living in the US as a Nigerian.

You will also hear a little bit on about Nigerian names and their meanings and why names are important to us.

Read more on www.mosibyl.com

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

내 믿음; 내 세상| The One with Rania - On Being Muslim and More: Episode 4 (2019)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Rania - On Being Muslim and More

Meet Rania Zeithar: A Middle-Eastern Arabic Muslim woman who has lived on three continents: Africa (Egypt), Asia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), and now North America (the United States). Rania is married with two children and currently works in special education in the Plano public school system in the US. She is a member of Plano Library’s writers’ group and keeps current with a blog.

In this episode, we explored her tripartite life as a Muslim, African, and an American woman. Other topics explored included whether Islam is a religion of peace and how/why do extremists justify their actions using the Qur’an. It was important for me to initiate this conversation because I could not reconcile the Muslims I knew, while growing up in Nigeria, with the ones portrayed on the news. In short, I wanted to create a space for civil discourse on these matters.

Fun facts about Rania

• She overcame glossophobia to help who are suffering from Islamophobia.
• Has written and published a book and is currently working on another one.
• Credits the humanity and kindness in the American people she’s met in helping her navigate America better.
  

Show Notes

• Book review: Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
• Link to Rania’s book: https://amzn.to/2Y08GJ0
• Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/moresibyl
• Be a guest: Share your story or process, email me on talktomo@mosibyl.com
• Subscribe on: iOS, Android devices, RSS. OR join our email list: for weekly podcasting updates
• I would love to hear from you! Socials: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Artists (songs) of the moment:

• Neotheater Album by AJR. My favorites (so far) from the album are:
  
  • Don’t Throw Out My Legos
  • Break My Face
  • 100 Bad Days
  • Finale

Let’s build bridges,

모 /Mo!/

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

사랑스러운 Tolu| The One with Tolu - Of female friendships, shared spaces, and empathy: Episode 3 (2019)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Tolu - Of Female Friendships, Shared Spaces, and Empathy

Here’s a bold story for you on female friendships and how sometimes, it is not organically formed. And how when you get to a space in your life, and you find yourself in shared spaces with some people and realize that you may have been probably wrong about them all along.

Today’s story is about Tolu. She and I go way back; we went to college together. Tolu is a medical doctor and a researcher who’s based in Denver, Colorado. In this episode, which was taped in Denver, Tolu and I examined our paths – the times they did not cross and when they finally did. And the circumstances and commonalities that brought us together. Her story is one of hope and God’s presence, especially in our darkest, lowest times.

More importantly, this episode is also how to walk away from the intergenerational cycle of pain, the burden of firstborns, grieving the childhood you never had, and loving oneself.

Read more on www.mosibyl.com

Best,

모 /Mo!/

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

빛나는 법| The One with Mo!- Mo!nologue I: Episode 2 (2019)

Dear Mosiblings!

Woot, woot! She’s back!

Welcome to Season 2 – let’s just say that the creative break taken since December was well worth it. I am kicking the new season off with something a bit different – Mo!nologue series (see what I did there :-D?) – where you get to hear me just talk.

In this episode, I did a quick recap of Season 1 and gave some updates on the outcome of some episodes. A big one is how my podcast episode on miscarriage is changing a clinic’s practice in New York City.

I also provided some updates on what I have been doing since December, upcoming travels (let’s hangout, if I am in your city), how I handled a recent failure in my life, my beef with the IRS, and some other moaning of life, in general.

Finally, I will be rolling out a new initiative this year to help with education scholarships and mentorship programs. Find out how you can be a part of this by supporting the show.

PS: I started adopting ASMR recently to help with insomnia, and I have stumbled upon some good videos. See show notes for details and listen to the end of the episode at my lame attempt to recreate ASMR.

Read more on: www.mosibyl.com

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

선량한 국민| The One with Prof. Umez - Nigerian Passport Renewal in the Diaspora: Episode 1 (2019)

Dear Mosiblings!

So, I am not officially back from my creative break. However, as a matter of urgency, here’s a public service announcement to my fellow Nigerians (especially those in the diaspora) about renewing their Nigerian passports through those Passport Intervention exercises.

It’s about time for me to renew mine and if there’s anything the last two renewals taught me, it’s that it’s a stress-inducing expedition coupled with perhaps, the worst customer service experience I have ever had. I did not want to make the trip to any of the Nigerian embassies in Atlanta, DC, or New York (partly to save time and money), so I searched Google for nearby Passport Intervention activities. What I stumbled upon was startling, to say the least, especially an article written by today’s guest – Prof. Umez (umez@umez.com) - on what he uncovered. There are several reports and eyewitness accounts of extortion and corruption by those entrusted to provide this public service to Nigerians. Prof. Umez is the president of the Nigerian Foundation in Houston, Texas and the Founder of the Nigerian Leadership Council in the United States.

In a few days’ time, the Consulate General of Nigeria based in Atlanta will be holding a Passport Intervention in Houston, Texas (see link below for more details). This episode highlights the ban and warning already in place to prevent innocent Nigerians from paying additional charges for this services.

Please share this with every Nigerian you know.

Thanks!

PS: In other news, the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a new passport scheme that’s damage-proof and weather-friendly with a 10-year validity!

Notable Quotes:

“The true deterrent to crime is not the severity but certainty of punishment.”

Recommended Songs:

“Nigeria Go Survive” – Veno (1985)

Links:

• Passport Intervention Exercise in Houston this coming weekend: http://nigeria-consulate-atl.org/
• Article referenced in the episode: http://umez.com/Ongoing-Passport-Intervention-in-Houston-and-Dallas.html

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

Bonus Episode: 브라보, 내 인생| The One with Mo! – Motherhood, Interrupted (2018)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with The Villagers

“It takes a village to raise a child; it also takes a village to help when you have lost a child.” – Mo!

Here you will hear some voice notes from the Villagers - some of those who have been supportive in this journey of miscarriage and pregnancy loss.

I reached out to some of them to leave me voice notes and voicemails. My hope is that some of their words might be encouraging to you too in your own journey.

Resurgam (we rise together),

Mo!

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

브라보, 내 인생| The One with Mo! – Motherhood, Interrupted: Episode 45 (2018)

Of all the things we experience as women, there are some stories that remain hidden. And even when you do get to hear these stories, they are often told from the standpoint of someone who has weathered a forgotten storm.

Here’s a story that defies all of that.

In this episode, I had a heartfelt conversation on a recent pregnancy loss with a fellow sister. Mine ended in an early-stage miscarriage in October and hers, a still-birth at 31 weeks, in November. Culture says we are not supposed to tell you this story. But here we are telling it, anyhow.

Please note that I’m not sharing this story because I expect people to care about how all of this affects me. But because it’s comforting knowing that I am not alone. Maybe some of you who listen to this episode will see your story here. If not, I hope you at least find insight into something that happens all of the time, but only few talk about. After all, this affects one in four women.

Recommended Songs:

Background: “Penelope’s Song” – Loreena McKennitt (2007)

Outro: “Let It Be” - The Beatles (Matt Hylom acoustic cover) (2014)

I see you, Sis:

Mo!

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