The More Sibyl Podcast

사랑과 상실| The One With Von Apochi - On Love and Loss: Episode 9 (2022)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

In today’s episode, Ayomide and I interviewed my dear friend, Von Apochi. He is currently living in the US and is president of the SabiWaka Natural Company. He is also a business analyst in a top financial firm and an entertainer. He is proudly African, loves diverse cultures, and is sociable. 

Von has a very supportive family and system and this episode reinforced my conviction of the value of family. In a similar vein, Von also has a deep love for Black Americans and refers to them as “our cousins.” We discussed some of the history of tension between African Americans and Africans.

We also discussed his entrepreneurship and the challenges he has faced, and he shared some of the lessons he’s picked up along the way, how he has managed his brand after the heat of fame, and what he is currently working on. 

Finally, the episode gets heavy as we discuss Von’s grief since losing his sister, Tega Apochi Akpofure* (@tegaapochi), in January and how he’s been coping since her death. 

 

Listen to the full episode here, and don’t forget to share it with others. 

 

*In Memoriam of Tega Apochi Akpofure,

Mo! & Doc Ayomide

 

 

Read here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/von-apochis-story-a4a12f29b862 

Background music: Basketliner by Bitters

 

여성 할례| The One With Jessica Puri - On Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): Episode 8 (2022)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents:

 

Female genital mutilation or cutting is a very old practice that is unfortunately still common in many countries and communities. In fact, it was only just got prohibited in the USA in 1996 and in Canada in 1997, and even then, many states are yet to take a firm stance on its abolishment. Those who advocate for FGM/C justify it with beliefs about marriage, perceived health and sexual benefits, and upholding tradition.

 

In this episode, Jessica, an expert in biological sciences, public health, and social sciences, takes us on the journey of her hands-on experience in FGM/C from her academic knowledge and research to her personal experience with victims, law enforcement, and legalities.

 

She also shares her personal life, battle with mental health, and academic successes. And how she navigated a move to the USA all by herself at just 17 to build the life she has today. An accomplished woman who traces her success to her faith, Jessica’s story not only inspired us but also highlighted the importance of living outside our comfort zones and shifting from just chasing your own desires to living a life focused on helping others.

 

Catch up on the episode here, and share it with your friends.

 

• Read blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/female-genital-mutilation-cutting-fgm-c-fe86f978321c 

 

• If you’re an FGM/C survivor looking to talk to someone, need resources, or you’re passionate about FGM, please reach out to Jessica using the contact details below.
  • Jessica’s email: jessica.puri@northwestern.edu
  • LinkedIn: Jessica Puri, MPH
  • Twitter: @jessypuri

 

Stop the Cut!

Mo!, Jessica, and Ayomide

평화롭게 살자| The One With The Two – Mental Health isn’t Personal; It’s Relational: Episode 7 (2022)

In Ayomide’s words: “Mental health is not solely individual; it's very much social. It’s relational.”

 

May is mental health month, and the theme for this year is “Let’s connect.” In this episode, we talked about why mental health is more than just being about you - but relational and social—how you connect with others. We cannot attain the fullness of mental health until all areas of our lives are experiencing “peace” in the sense of relational wholeness. That’s what we discuss in this episode.

 

I shared my struggles with my mental health since I was ten, including losing a close friendship with which Ayomide shared his thoughts on. If you’ve lost (or are at risk of losing) a close friendship, you’ll find a lot to relate to here as we discuss managing such situations in light of our mental health. Then we go on to discuss anxiety, depression, and the challenges around taking medications for mental health issues!

 

Mental health and relationships are two very important areas of our lives—so be sure to share this episode’s link with everyone you know.

 

Read here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/mental-health-isnt-personal-it-s-relational-83449606c877

 

파도처럼 흐른다| The One With Urmi – On Being Bengali by Blood, Italian by Birth, Canadian by Love: Episode 6 (2022)

Urmi Identifies as “Italian by birth, Bengali by blood, and Canadian by love.”

 

Urmi’s passion for women and children drives her to volunteer in nonprofit organizations and children’s hospitals and help underserved women raise money. She was born in Italy to Bengali immigrants, and she always felt out of place in both worlds. As a result, she gravitated toward interests in mental health, lifestyle, and financial education, especially how women are affected, but confessed she still, like many children of immigrants, struggles with feeling like a disappointment to her parents.

 

Urmi shares her experiences as an immigrant in Italy and navigating cultural differences and parental and family pressures. Yet, over time, she has managed to build a life that works for her and makes her happy amid all the pressure of their expectations and her experiences.

 

She took us down memory lane through her childhood, her feelings, struggles, achievements, and failures, and how they have made her the woman she is today. It was a delight to listen to her account and how she has learned to embrace all of her cultural identities.

 

If you’re an immigrant (or, as we prefer to say, expatriate), you’ll love this episode, but it’s also a celebration of family, relationships, and knowledge.

 

Read here:  https://mosibyl.medium.com/bengali-by-blood-italian-by-birth-canadian-by-love-a8caf3e86323

초강대국과 공동체| The One With The Two – On Superpowers & Communities - Episode 5 (2022)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: 

In Mo's words, "I have realized that you can't keep hiding your light or diminishing your strengths. You must learn how to use it because there is just the power in letting it shine. What comes to you so effortlessly might be something someone else is trying to get."

 

This episode is about strengths, or as we describe them, your superpowers: identifying, cultivating, and using them to serve others besides yourself. After all, we don't want to be like a new superhero who doesn't realize their own strength.

 

We also discuss how relationships and communities help you hone your superpowers and how we manage our excesses for a more significant cause. The conversation starts with Ayomide and I sharing our high points for the week. It then turns into what might be one of the show's most enlightening and soothing episodes ever.

 

What's your superpower, that thing others wonder how you do so easily? How do you let it shine? How do you strengthen it? How do you make sure you aren't selfish with it? How do you use it to make the world a better place?

 

Hear our answers to these questions on the episode here, and then share yours in the comments on Instagram!

 

Shine on, you super, you!

Mo! & Ayomide

 

Resources:

• Read blog post here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-one-with-the-two-mo-doc-ayomide-1ae24dc85fb9 
• NYT Article: Why Is It Hard to Make Friends Over 30?

 

Proverbs  18:24:- A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (KJV)

 

러시아계 미국인이 되는 것| The One With Natasha – On being Russian - American and Other Stories: Episode 4 (2022)

Describing Russia in a 1939 radio broadcast, Winston Churchill said, "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." Like a matryoshka doll, one might say?    

 

Today we have a wonderful guest, a dear friend since graduate school (The University of Texas, Austin #Hookem!), where she was my senior – Dr. Natasha Shcherbakova, super smart but very down to earth. Natasha is currently an associate professor at the Western England University, College of Pharmacy. She was on the show last year and it is a privilege to have her on again, this time with Ayomide.

 

In this episode, Natasha opens up to Ayomide and me about her love for reading, how the use (or not) of social media has made her a more productive adult, her life as a Russian in the USA, and the cultural differences she has faced since she moved. Of course, she also bares her heart about how she feels about her home country in light of recent news.

 

If you are passionate about reading, personal development, cultural differences, and how to easily navigate them, this episode is surely for you.

 

I really enjoyed this episode and found it enlightening. I respect Natasha's intellect; so, it was inspiring to learn more about the values that have formed her and the perspectives she has gained. I think you will see what I mean as you listen.          

 

благодарю вас

Mo! & Ayomide

 

Read blog here:  https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-one-with-natasha-1cc56e548c24

마흔 살이 되다| The One With The Two – On Birthdays & Meanings: Episode 3 (2022)

When I turned 20, a dear friend, Dr. Olamiju, said to me: "Your 20s are for discovering what you want for your life. In your 30s, you put more meaning into those discoveries. Finally, at 40, you fully live that life in a well-defined way." – Mo!

 

With this quote in mind, Ayomide shared his thoughts on turning 40! He said he's made mistakes and tried many things, but the confidence he's garnered thus far is of limits and not of certainty.

 

Are birthdays societal constructs? Or are they reflective times? As you grow older, do you worry about how old you get? Do you worry about aging? What is your ideal birthday like? What expectations should one have and live up to as they grow older?

With the wisdom associated with aging, Ayomide dished out quite a lot of this, especially on accepting the reality of again and slowly dying (spoiler alert, we all are from age 20 and up).

 

This was quite a deep and retrospective episode.; so listen to this remarkable episode here.

 

PS: Do you, too, think birthdays are a social construct?! Let's hear from you.

Read blog here:  https://mosibyl.medium.com/birthdays-and-meanings-b19789bbb2b4

Background music: Long Await by Muffuletta

 

시간을 초월한 친구| The One With The Two – On Being Friends Across Space & Time: Episode 2 (2022)

The best friends to talk with are those friends that you agree enough that you can talk endlessly but you disagree enough that you can debate forever.

 

Friendship is a place for safety and comfort, so imagine how much more this can be with a “best friend!” What exactly is a best friend and who should a friend or best friend be in the real sense of the word?

Today, my friend and new co-host Doc Ayomide (who has been my friend for 18 years, BTW) shared his thoughts on friendship using our own friendship as an example. We look at our relationship throughout the years and how we have managed to remain friends.  

 

In this episode, you’ll hear it all: the highs, lows, positives, and even the struggles we’ve had in our friendship and how we have managed to navigate and surpass them. You’ll also learn what true friendship really is and how to be intentional and deliberate in your own friendship, especially with people you really care about.

 

This is one episode you should share with that special friend or person in your life. It will help reinforce and strengthen the relationship you already have going!  Don’t forget to tag and share this episode with your “best” friend.

 

Read here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-one-with-the-two-mo-doc-ayomide-f66f75e2d91e 

 

Yours Friendly,

Mo! & Ayomide

새해; 같은 목표| The One With Mo!nologue – New Year; Same Goals: Episode 1 (2022)

The new year comes with a new season for The More Sibyl Podcast but for me, it's not always about resolutions but just implementing on goals I hope to achieve.

This episode is to welcome you all to Season Five of The More Sibyl Podcast and to unpack all that we have in store for you. In this episode, I give an update of the things I have been up to since you last heard from me, a recap of last season’s award winners, and what you should expect this season. I went off the tangent a little, but that’s fine too.

I shared a bit about my personal struggles, wins, plans, changes, and all I have been up to, in an encouraging way. Hoping you can glean something from this.

 

There’s a big change coming to the podcast, listen in to know exactly what it is!

 

This episode is quite inspirational, lighthearted, and vulnerable and you will learn a lot not only about me but about yourself and the real changes you should be making for yourself in 2022.

 

Listen to everything shared here.

 

Resources:

• The Story of civilization by the Durants (11 volumes)
• Podbean link: https://mosibyl.podbean.com/
• Visit our website to binge on past episodes: https://www.mosibyl.com/

천주교 신부 되기| The One with Father James Anyaegbu – On Being a Catholic Priest: Episode 41 (2021)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents

천주교 신부 되기| The One with Father James Anyaegbu – On Being a Catholic Priest: Episode 41 (2021)

 

When asked what they want to be when they grow up, most children say they want to be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer, among other things. However, it is rare to come across someone who wishes to become a priest. Well, I had the opportunity to meet someone who had been fascinated with the idea of becoming a priest since the age of six.

 

Father James Anyaegbu is a Catholic Diocese of Aba and a Nigerian priest currently serving in pastoral ministry in Scotland, United Kingdom. He entered the seminary at the age of 11 to be trained as a priest. With his passion for young people, he founded an online platform to share his faith and charity work. And, even though he was born when there was no internet, he figured out social media and has used it as a tool to reach many by teaching them about the Catholic faith and reassuring them about the love and faith in Christ since the pandemic.

It was a pleasure to sit with this TikTok-savvy priest as he reflected on his childhood and how far he has progressed in his priesthood journey. Fr. James is incredibly passionate about his work as a priest and bridging ecumenism. He also shared some insightful advice for those traveling home for the holidays and some sound advice for parents.

 

Read blog here: https://mosibyl.medium.com/the-tiktok-priest-3e5103a4c638