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The More Sibyl Podcast is hosted by Mo! Sibyl - a Nigerian-born, US-educated, Korean-speaking, Struggling Intellectual. The More Sibyl Podcast is a podcast about culture and culture nomads designed for Blacks and Asians and those who love them. On The More Sibyl Podcast, Mo! talks mostly with an invited guest, who she is inspired by, on a variety of issues, related to cultural experiences or other lived experiences related to third culture. If your concept of home is fluid, you feel like you are neither here nor there, or you consider yourself a cultural hybrid, then this podcast is for you. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Episodes
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Meet Rev. David Esosa Ize-Iyamu, one of the more than 30 Nigerian presidential candidates running in the 2019 election. On a warm, humid Friday evening, just before I was scheduled to catch my flight out of Nigeria, I sat with him in his office to talk about his platform, why he is running, and what he hopes to achieve if given the opportunity to become the next president of Nigeria.
Rev. Ize-Iyamu is the senior pastor of Jesus Evangelical Assembly in Lagos. For more than 20 years, his platform – the Youth Revolution Movement (YRM) has aimed to mobilize youths to play a decisive role in the national socio-economic development and to see empowered Nigerian youths fully realize their potentials and positively contribute to the overall growth, development, and governance of Nigeria.
According to Rev Ize-Iyamu:
Here are the things we need to look for in a presidential candidate: courage, strong nationalistic interest, and integrity.
A lot of credible Nigerians have stayed away from politics. They have focused on different fields and have excelled. As a result, the political terrain and governance realm have been left in the hands of a lot of incompetent, unpatriotic set of Nigerians. And that is why we have the kind of system we have today.
How do we then change this narrative?
- Look out for a new breed of Nigerians who are patriotic with burning national interests, be given the competence to lead at every key level of governance. A new team of competent levels can spark off an overwhelming change in the entire governance of the nation.
- Remember to exercise your civic duty by voting and doing so wisely.
God Bless Nigeria,
모 /Mo!/
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Here’s re-introducing, Yvonne Edo-Olotu. She is a lawyer during the day and a content creator at night/weekends. She is the brains behind the Beautiful Mind Podcast; you can find that show on iTunes/SoundCloud/Stitcher. We met when I worked in Ibadan (a Southwestern city in Nigeria) several years ago. She got her LL.M at Cornell University and recently returned to Nigeria.
In this episode, we took a drive to memory lane to explore our differing personalities and how this defines our friendship; our love-hate relationship with Korean dramas and favorite shows; and why we, as women, need fewer mentors and other kinds of key players to advance our careers and grow personally and professionally.
We also talked about adjustments she had to make when she moved back from the US and how she builds social support in a city as boisterous and crazy as Lagos!
Tips from Mo!:
Never trust a person who kisses with their eyes open.
About our friendship:
- She is introvertish and I try to be sometimes (haha).
- We bonded initially over the song - 99 Red balloons by Nena.
- She is an avid reader as well.
- She is a podcaster too; check out Yvonne’s podcast: https://soundcloud.com/beautifulmindpodcast
Recommended song:
“Free Fallin’” – John Mayer (Matoma & Nelsaan Tropical Mojito Remix) (2014)
Best,
모 /Mo!/
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Today’s guest on the show is very dear to my heart and has been a source of support and an oasis of wisdom, especially during some rough patches I experienced in my first few years in the US. Dr. Nnabuchi Anikpezie or 'Buchi (as I like to call him) is another Nigerian in diaspora trying to make a home in his new environment.
Though he trained and worked as a physician before moving to the US, he currently works in healthcare administration as an analyst. His work does not define him, rather it is his Rotary affiliation that he credits for much of his experience and culture. 'Buchi has been part of Rotary for almost twenty years. He is the immediate past president of Rotary eClub One. 'Buchi lives with his family in the Houston metro area.
In this episode, we explored his childhood dreams, why he studied medicine, his decision to switch career trajectories, considering he took a different route than most of his counterparts who end up writing the USMLE and practicing in the US. We also talked about home, our constant search for it, and the sad realization of what we find at the end of it all. Also, on how his accidental stumble into fatherhood changed his life and sharpened his focus.
PS: I really loved taping this episode with Buchi, especially as he talked about his regrets and why he would not change any of those. Here’s a special shout-out to the Bro. Emmas out there: siblings parenting and raising their siblings. Thank you for all you do!
Support the show:
Buchi has a full-concierge travel agency. If you book a flight or hotel through his website, you get a discount, and I do too. By using the code – “MOSIBYL”, you get:
- A $10 discount (minimum booking of two nights) on hotels.
- $30 off flights (international flights only and does not apply to promo fares).
- Check out his page here: www.bcatravels.com
Episode Nuggets:
- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” – Allen Saunders.
- Sometimes, we come to certain decisions or pathways for different reasons. Once we make that decision, we have to own that decision and live it.
- Don’t dwell on your regrets, no matter how mighty they were.
Recommended song:
“Ojigi” – Phyno (2014)
Best,
모 /Mo!/
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Now, even more than before, many Nigerians are leaving the country to seek better opportunities in developed countries. This is unsurprising if you consider the prolonged political and economic instability that have rendered the country hard and reductive for its inhabitants. For those who have moved abroad, fewer are even willing to relocate to Nigeria voluntarily. That’s why I find today’s guest intriguing.
Meet Afolabi, who holds dual citizenship as a Nigerian and an American. He spent a chunk of his formative years in the US but made the decision to move back to Nigeria after college. In this episode, we explored the reason behind this decision, returnee issues, and how small businesses can thrive in a parasitic environment like Nigeria. Finally, what Nigeria, despite its extractive economic and political institutions, where a culture of monopoly, corruption, and lack of political rights are the norm, does relatively better to help businesses grow compared to Western countries.
PS: As a Nigerian living in the US, I have been asked several times by several people if I plan on moving back home and my answers have varied throughout the years. These days, I say an emphatic ‘no’ with poignant reasons. However, my discussion with Afolabi has given me a lot to think about, so let’s see and never say never.
Takeaway Points:
- Tip #1 for returnees: Be flexible.
- Surviving as an entrepreneur in Nigeria takes a lot of effort and consistency.
- Nigeria offers a greater foundation for transformation and creation than the United States and other countries in the West.
- Not everyone who is living abroad is doing well as most live mediocre lives.
- Nigeria needs our help; the more hands on deck, the better the country will be.
Question:
For Nigerians who are living abroad, what strong factors would make you consider moving back to and staying back in Nigeria?
Recommended Song:
“Motherland” – Sound Sultan (2007)
Best,
모 /Mo!/
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Meet Tanya Crossman – she grew up in Sydney and Canberra, Australia, and lived in Connecticut, USA for two years of high school. She moved to China independently at age 21, where a study year turned into 11 years abroad. While in China, Tanya began mentoring Third Culture Kids (TCKs) - young people who, while not Chinese citizens, were growing up there due to parents' choices of work or study. After ten years spent supporting TCKs, Tanya wrote a book to explain their experiences and perspective to others. She currently lives in Beijing with her husband.
In this episode, we talked about homesickness, the constant search for home, acculturation, and how to build emotional support in a new country. In addition, we explored emotional resilience, why we should visit Australia, and what I would want people to know about Nigeria.
PS: Find more details about Tanya and her book here: Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century
Fun facts about Tanya:
- Like me, she finds language fascinating and unlike me, has studied more than 11 languages.
- She studied Mandarin for many years before relocating to China.
- She is a data nerd.
- Her job entails serving as a liaison between TCKs and their parents. Tanya comeswith some expert authority on TCK life including statistics and stories from her original research.
Reflection:
We should never take people at just face value. Looking at me, you wouldn’t be able to tell that I speak Korean, or that Tanya speaks Mandarin. Our experiences are etched deeply in our stories and you would not know until they are shared.
Best,
모 /Mo!/
OCTOBER 25, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
This is one episode you should not miss as it features my very own Poojee!
In this episode, Poojee aka Omonike (my mother gave her this name, and it means ‘a child to be cherished’ in Yoruba – A Nigerian language) and I gush shamelessly about the love we have for each other. Pu, as I love to call her, and I went to grad school together in Austin, and she now lives in London. If you’re my friend on Facebook, you would have seen posts of me her and together. In this episode, we explored Poo’s story: growing up (female) in India; dropping out of grad school; how she coped with managing those expectations and from others too; our friendship and its oddities; and why we will not be breaking up anytime soon.
Poo is about one of the very few friends I chased (I am usually the one being chased), and I explain why this was so and why I would shamelessly do it over and over again. Poo is as geeky and nerdy as I am and loves Korean drama too. We also both share a mutual disdain for Apple® products. Suffice to say, our friendship will irretrievably break if either one of us cheats on the other by taking a bite from any of the already-bitten Apple products that are Mac and all of its i-Friends.
TL; DR: It’s a story of an odd love, friendship, and sisterhood between two most unlikely people who share different beliefs on religion (she is Hindu, I am Christian) and food (she eats rabbit food (aka vegetarian), and I eat rabbits (aka non-vegetarian), and even personalities (she’s introvertish, and I am hella extravertish, yup it’s a word!). How we make it work and how a little understanding and radical acceptance is needed in cross-cultural friendships. It’s also a story of resilience, dealing with the fear of failure, and keeping things moving.
PS: I would love to hear from my listeners sometimes, you know. My inbox is getting too lonely, and I am feeling a bit insecure about this. Please help me overcome this podcast insecurity by emailing me at talktomo@mosibyl.com on what you either think of the show in general or this current episode. Please and thank you!
Poojee says: “Don’t be afraid to look like a fool asking for help.”
Reflection:
Speak candidly and gently to a friend about their hang-ups and things you think they could work on. In return, listen patiently too to what they have to say about you. The goal is to establish openness in your friendship.
Recommended song:
“Monta Re” – Swanand Kirkire, Amitabh Bhattacharya (2013)
Best,
모 /Mo!/
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Hey friends, I want to take a hot moment to let you know how grateful I am to have this platform to share stories and connect humanity. So, if you are reading this and would like to come on the show to share yours, please let me know. This is our platform, and together, we can set our stories free.
Meet Shama Farag – an Arabic-English Translator at TED talks, Coursera Global Translator Community. She’s an author and a journalist blogger at HuffPost Arabic, Aljazeera blogs, Sasa post. She is also a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church Interfaith community FIRE “ Fostering Interfaith relationship in Eastside,” a member at MAPS MCOC “Many culture one community,” member of IOC “Interfaith outreach community at Muslim Association of Puget Sound. She is Egyptian and a mom of two boys.
In this episode, we talked about heart stories and immigration, how Africans aren’t really taught about other African countries and what we can do to fix this. We also talked about what it is like being Egyptian, and she gave us reasons why we need to visit Egypt.
Her book, “Hi, I am Syrian” was inspired by some negative experiences she had as a Muslim and she decided to do something to change that narrative.
Shout-out to Salma for making the introductions!
PS: My ignorance about African countries, especially Egypt, shone brightly in this episode.
Question: Why do you think Africans aren’t taught about other African countries?
Takeaway points:
- There are many Arabic dialects – I did not know this.
- Egypt has a lot more to offer than just the pyramid.
- We can use our stories to transform the world around us.
Notable Quote by Shama:
“Every calamity you have in your life will treat you a lesson.”
السلام عليكم (Peace be unto you),
모 /Mo!/
---
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
First, happy birthday to me! It’s the second anniversary of my 30th birthday! As a way of saying thank you to you all for being wonderful fans, here’s a bonus episode. It’s also a special one because it depicts my favorite trait in all of its rawness – vulnerability. In this episode, my guest – Mr. Ayokunle Falomo and I traded stories on our struggles with depression, how we cope with it, and how religion can be a cure and curse, depending on how it is wielded. I chose to share this with you all because I think it is important to remind you of the story behind the glory. I also believe that God is not silent when we suffer and that we ought to reject the shame and embrace the hope in Christ. Finally, that: 1) depression is not as uncommon as you think and affects a lot of people, 2) it’s OK not to be OK sometimes, and, 3) there’s always help around the corner.
So, I hope this episode helps someone feel connected and to remind that someone that they are not alone. Don’t give up on fighting and it’s OK to seek help. Here’s me saying that a new day will dawn tomorrow and you’d be there with me to practice your purpose once again; one replete with choosing life and finding ways to be more gentle and compassionate with yourself. That you would always remember to remind yourself that you are enough and always will be.That every baby steps you are taking right now to get back on track are a significant move towards the right path.
PS: We also explored how funnily our depression can be brought on by just not our fear of failure but when we succeed. And how there’s a recurring struggle with purpose and productivity, and how these are tied to our self-worth. Ayokunle Falomo is: a Nigerian, a TEDx speaker, an American, the winner of the 2018 Stacy Doris Memorial Award and the author of kin.DREAD & thread, this wordweaver must! As a poet, his singular mission is to use his pen as a shovel to unearth those things that make us human. He and his work have been featured in print (Local Houston magazine, Glass Mountain) and online (The New York Times, Houston Chronicle, and Berkeley Poetry Review. You can find more information about him and his work at www.kindreadbook.com.
Shout-out to Dr. Ayomide Adebayo whose post in 2013 about depression gave me the insight needed to seek help.
Notable Quotes:
“The work of digging into the past is the work of the now. For some of us, the past is never past. A lot of things still hold us back, and factors such as family dynamics, environmental and work factors contribute a lot to our mental health.”
Read more about my story here: https://goo.gl/dtc2ZQ
Recommended songs:
Intro: “Eye Adaba” – Asa (2007)
Outro: “Fame” – Adekunle Gold (2018)
Love you all,
모 /Mo!/
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Welcome back to another episode of the podcast! I have not been getting feedback about the show like I used to, so I am guessing things are either good with the show or I’ve been forgotten :-(. Guess all that was just to say, I’d love to hear from you. Please send me an email on talktomo@mosibyl.com or just say hello here :-D
Here is introducing Dr. Planas, Ph.D. - an Associate Professor of Pharmacy, my senior colleague, and African sister! Her office is two doors away from mine, and she’s partly one of the main reasons I landed my academic position at the University (it began with a conference in 2015, listen to find out how). I met through my advisor while I was still in grad school.
Dr. Planas or Lourdes as I call her is Cubana-American; her parents fled Cuba when she was just one month old. In this episode, we talked about life in the US and growing up in New Orleans instead of Miami (this has the largest concentration of Cubans). We also explored racial identity and how pharmacy helped her overcome racism and cultural identity issues, especially growing up in a time when it was certainly not cool to be Cuban.
You will also hear about the two clocks that are churning fast for fecund women in academia – the biological and tenure variety. And why Lourdes’ deliberate plan of putting her biological clock ahead of the tenure one is one she does not regret. Also, we talked about why women require more than just mentors to have a successful career.
Dr. Planas is married to Rick (also a pharmacist), and they have two adorable kids who I have had the pleasure of babysitting a couple of times. I am technically family :-D Lourdes also emphasized the importance of having a supportive spouse when on a tenure-track or in grad school while raising kids.
PS: After taping this episode, her mother’s DNA results were updated and linked with hers. She is 0.5% French, yayy her wishes finally came true. Only 0.5%, you say? C’est la vie!
Fun facts about Lourdes:
- She waited 12-13 years to have kids.
- She was recently promoted to Associate Professor.
- She is really of mixed heritage; a small part of her is Asian, African, European, Native American.
- She made me see Black Panther with her as a condition for coming on the show.
- She has all the cutest tchotchkes; there’s almost nothing she doesn’t have in her office.
- We both serve as co-advisors to the organization - Student National Pharmaceutical Association #SNPhA.
Takeaway Points:
- Go to conferences – it helps to build your social capital and network that could land you that job.
- Find yourself a Lourdes at work or even better, be a Lourdes to someone.
- Whether you put the biological or tenure clock first, make sure it is a decision you have given careful thoughts.
- Women have been over-mentored and under-sponsored.
- Try a Cuban sandwich but not outside of Miami or Tampa Bay, Florida.
Notable quotes:
“I got the biological clock and the tenure clock, which one was going faster. I put the biological clock first, I really did, I don’t regret it. Sometimes, things happen in life, and everyone is different, but I wanted to be in a stable position, put down some roots.“
“Once I moved to Jacksonville because I was a Pharmacist and helping people, I felt more connected to that community, and I felt less threatened by them, and I felt empowered. Being educated, having a career, and being a pharmacist, helped empower me to rise above the tension I perceived between my culture and the society at large.”
Recommended song:
Intro: “Big Chief Part 2” – Professor Longhair (1964) &n --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
A little-known fact about me is that I grew up on a staple diet of Indian movies, and this continued shortly until after Bollywood became a global phenomenon. India, for me, will always be my first entry point into Asia and its cultural diversity, as a young child growing up in Nigeria. And still on India, this week’s guest has a unique story, especially how her love for India was forged at a young age (hint: it began in a classroom). In this episode, you will hear how her dream spurned into something glorious that has now shaped her life-course and those of the generations coming after her.
Meet, Emily: she describes herself as Jewish-ish and a lover of Jesus. She is also a wife to Jose and mother to two delightful, energetic kids. In this episode, you will learn what it means to follow your calling even when you are not sure where it might lead you. You will also hear tips on multicultural marriage and how to raise kids in such a dynamic environment, as well as its beauty and challenges.
PS: This episode was shot in my house when Emily came visiting with her kids; you may hear her daughter’s voice in the background. Shout-out and a Namaste to Daphne Raj for introducing me to this wonderful lady.
Fun facts about Emily:
- She convinced her mother to let her go to India when she was 15 (Please do not try this at home with your African parents, thank you. And if you must, approach them with caution).
- She loves tea.
- From the ages of 15, till she turned 22, she visited India up to nine times.
- Her interest in India was initially piqued by her need to fix Christopher Columbus’ error #DiscoverAmerica.
Takeaway Points:
Similarities between the Jewish and Indian cultures
- They are both family and community oriented.
- People from both cultures have driven personalities.
Differences between the Jewish and Indian cultures
- Women have a lot of say-so in the Jewish culture, in general, and can be headstrong.
- The approaches towards money differ.
On thriving:
- Find the beauty in both cultures and highlight those but bear in mind that there is going to be a more dominant culture. You kinda have to accept this otherwise you are just gonna fight all the time.
- Let your kids take part in the different cultural activities that are part of their background.
Notable Quotes:
“The Whole 30 diet is like Paleo on steroids.”
PPS: After our talk, I got this text from Emily later at night.
“I think I should have said on intercultural marriage... Jesus! Without Him, we would fight like cats and dogs! He puts it all into perspective...culture and His perspective on it all really helps us to keep our particular preferences in check!”