The More Sibyl Podcast

블랙 판터| The One with Chinwe - On Social Justice and Christianity: Episode 20 (2018)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Chinwe One of the arguments against mainstream social justice warriors (SJWs) is that they reject the concept of sin and hold the belief that humans are inherently good by nature. As a result, in the face of evil, the society is largely blamed instead of upholding individual personal responsibility. In this episode, I chatted with Chinwe Oriji, a scholar and a PhD candidate in African and African Diaspora studies, on whether Christians should be involved in social justice or even identify as social justice warriors (SJWs)? We also talked a bit about an article she wrote on Wakanda's Black Panther as a place that shows that post-independence Africans in and outside of African are not exempt from a diasporic reality of loss, longing, and resistance. We also explored the Biafra war and her identity as an American born to first generation Igbo immigrant. PS: As at the time this episode was taped in April, I had not watched Black Panther then. Talk about not knowing the old days were good and blissful #teehee. Fun facts about Chinwe In high school, she would draw the Nigerian flag every single day in class to the point that her Spanish teacher had to get her a real one which she pinned on the blackboard permanently. She’s got suave and sleek ‘fro for days (I touched them, so I know). She was teased because of her name growing up and wished she had an English name. Kids called her chicken wings and chinchilla instead of Chinwe. She once gave a presentation at The Igbo Conference in London where Chimamanda Adichie gave a talk too. Takeaway Points: Being banned from and punished for speaking any of the Nigerian native tongues in Nigerian schools is a second-wave of colonization and racialization. Christians, especially those with power, can fight societal justice while still acknowledging individual responsibility. Notable Quote: “To be Black means to be a part of a history of resistance, beauty, struggle but also of creation. To be Igbo is to be part of a history.” - Chinwe Igbo Kwenu! 모 /Mo!/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

건강을 위해서| The One with Aayah - Let Food be Thy Medicine: Episode 19 (2018)

“Let Food Be Thine Medicine And Medicine Be Thy Food” – Hippocrates The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Aayah Get ready to kiss dieting goodbye in this episode (Joshua Harris, anyone?). Aayah, an Egyptian-American who is now based in Seattle, is a holistic health coach, detox specialist, YouTube content creator, wife, and mother of two kids. Her journey into healthy eating was inspired by her health issues such as chronic fatigue, joint pain, mood and digestive issues. In this episode, Aayah drew from both her personal and professional experiences on ways to eat clean and well on a budget, recipe substitution (this is important especially for immigrants), and maintaining an overall balanced lifestyle. We also talked about the elephant in the room (literally, me!) and my constant love-hate relationship with dieting and ways people like me can be more successful at mindful eating and maintaining a healthy weight. Aayah’s parents are currently held political prisoners in Egypt. Her mom is the longest held female political prisoner in Egypt and in solitary confinement. See link below on how you can support and help them raise awareness on this. PS: Aayah is currently running a promo for a mid-summer detox session and health coaching. To get a discount on her services, contact her directly letting her know you are one of the listeners of the show. Fun facts about Aayah After having two kids and at the encouragement of her mom, she went back to school to learn health coaching and integrative nutrition. Her goal as a coach is to get her clients to a point where they don’t need another diet. She is a YouTuber who makes really crisp videos on healthy recipes. She is a nature enthusiast – loves hiking and being outdoors. She has found ways to keep her time to a minimum in the Kitchen – she’s certainly African, haha! Takeaway Points: After having two kids and at the encouragement of her mom, she went back to school to learn health coaching and integrative nutrition. Her goal as a coach is to get her clients to a point where they don’t need another diet. She is a YouTuber who makes really crisp videos on healthy recipes. She is a nature enthusiast – loves hiking and being outdoors. She has found ways to keep her time to a minimum in the Kitchen – she’s certainly African, haha! Additional Resources: Contact Aayah: Website: www.beenourished.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1wzcklxneK5Oe-kZK0GlA Facebook: bee2nourished Instagram: bee.nourished More about her parents: http://www.freeolaandhosam.org/ ALSO, I’D LOVE TO HEAR BACK FROM MY LISTENERS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT SUSTAINING YOUR WEIGHT LOSS. WHAT WORKED MOST FOR YOU? Yours-in-weighting, 모 /Mo!/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

법과 질서| The One with Mr. Olanipekun Esq. - Law and Order; Naija Version: Episode 18 (2018)

“Fiat justitia ruat cælum” [Let justice be done though the heavens fall] - Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Mr. Olanipekun Esq. In Nigeria, the Police might not be your friend (insert police jokes here), but there are some friendly faces who are working on reforming the criminal justice system, and I’d like for you to meet one of them. Here’s introducing Mr. Nelson Olanipekun Esq., a human rights lawyer and the team lead at Gavel. Gavel is a civic tech organization, which started in 2017 and aims to improve the pace of justice delivery through tech. Gavel has reached millions of Nigerians with over 100 indigent Nigerians benefiting directly from it. They provide free legal support for inmates awaiting trials, victims of domestic violence, and a whole lot of other people. In this episode, we talked about the Nigerian justice system and ways to rebrand it, as well as police brutality amidst the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) pandemic. We explored the Nigerian prison system and its many challenges, chief of which are overcrowding and not following due processes. I also probed Mr. Olanipekun’s thoughts on whether SARS should be reformed or as scrapped as a whole? PS: Years and years of watching legal dramas such as Suits, Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, The Practice have finally paid off. See if you can get your own legalese on, like I did, with this new episode. Also, Gavel has this cool feature on their website where you can track cases of individuals who are awaiting trials; it has been used to track over 500 inmates – check it out here: http://gavel.ng/opened-cases Fun facts about Mr. Olanipekun Esq. He wrote a letter to the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) on enforcing the existing rules that have implications for ending police brutality. The SCN replied favorably. Wait what?! He once sued the Government over the long detention of over 100 inmates who have been awaiting trial for over seven years. He failed at his first start-up in 2014 but restarted in 2017. He is, most certainly, not a lazy Nigerian youth. If he didn’t study law, he would be a tech geek. Takeaway Points: Tips for entrepreneurs: learn from your mistakes and don’t give up when you fail. Be more active citizens. Most Nigerians need to take more interest in governance. Be your brother’s (and sister’s) keeper; If you see something, say something. Lawyers can also volunteer and donate their time to help at the Gavel. Donations are needed to reach more people and to continue to provide legal aid to indigents. As at March 2018, 68% of the Nigerian prison population are awaiting trial. Avoid prison, especially the Nigerian kind, if you can. Consider donating to Gavel to help their cause. Donations can be made here: Local: Access Bank 0773466368, Citizens Gavel Nigeria Dollar donations: Access Bank 0773502598 Domiciliary Account Citizens Gavel Nigeria Online donations: rave.flutterwave.com/pay/citizensgavelnigeriagv8z Additional Resources: Contact Gavel via Twitter @citizen_gavel or email hello@gavel.ng, citizengavel@gmail.com Iyabo’s Story that started it all can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cs3oTKqyME To report an incident, contact the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) on http://npf.gov.ng/complaint/ Read more about the ACJA (which was referenced) here: http://www.thelawyerschronicle.com/a-brief-analysis-of-nigerias-administration-of-criminal-justice-act-2015/ Legally Yours, 모 /Mo!/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

저는 아직도 믿는다| The One with Kelechi - Not All Who Wander Are Lost: Episode 17 (2018)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Kelechi I lost my faith once when I went through a phase of existential crisis that spanned almost a whole year; I wrote about it here - https://goo.gl/NCf1A2. I look back at that period with gratitude as it made my faith stronger and my relationship deeper with Christ. In this episode, I ‘sat’ down with one of my dear friends – Kelechi – who is on the other end of the spectrum, searching for meaning and questioning his faith. We talked about crisis of faith and the roles the church and our culture play in this. Kelechi is a Nigerian who has lived in Canada for a major chunk of his life. PS: His favorite word seems to be “absolutely.” If you can correctly guess how many times he used this word in this episode, you get a chance to recommend a topic we can explore on the show. Fun facts about Kelechi He is a continent drifter since he has visited less than ten countries. With the exception of Antarctica and Australia, he has visited every continent on earth He studied pharmacy briefly then got a degree in biochemistry and is now in school wrapping up his MBA He is very single (*wink wink* ladies) Takeaway Points: Not all who wander are lost; be kind to those who have left the faith All your friends don’t always have to be people you agree with all the time. You can disagree with someone and still respect them Christianity has a lot of space for questioning and asking those tough questions does not reduce the quality of your faith Embrace your crisis of faith tightly; it could make your faith stronger Recommended Song: “Dare You to Move” – Switchfoot (2004) Cited books: Lewis, Clive Staples (1940). The Problem of Pain. The Centenary Press Lewis, Clive Staples (1961). A Grief Observed. Faber and Faber Bryson, Bill. (2001). In a Sunburned Country. Doubleday Publishers Bryson, Bill. (2010). At Home: A Short History of Private Life. Doubleday Publishers Yours Faithfully, 모 /Mo!/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

미래 대사님| The One with Alex- Future United Nations Ambassador: Episode 16 (2018)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: The One with Alex Meet Alex: Alex grew up in Trujillo, Peru and is one of the amazing 20 year-olds I have ever come in contact with. He was an exchange student here in Oklahoma, and in this episode, we explored what growing up in Peru was like, his triumphs and regrets as an exchange student in the US, and his future ambitions. According to Alex: "I come from a multicultural family; being Latin, Hispanic, and Peruvian is such a blessing to me. Peru is such a multicultural place; we got so many influences around the world. We pretty much are still in the shadow of the Inca Empire. We were a Spanish colony for so long. If you wanna eat, visit Peru; if you wanna experience culture, visit Peru. In addition to visiting Machu Picchu, there are many other beautiful places to visit. Peruvians are warm and friendly, and the country is also very inviting. If I could choose one thing I love about Peru, it would have to be the food." On why he is interested in international affairs and diplomacy, Alex had this to say: “I do believe that together, we can achieve a lot. Sometimes, when we do not get involved with other people (from other countries), we see more differences than similarities. We are in an era of globalization, every culture must contribute something." PS: In this episode, I throw out a theory of how I think Nigerians cannot call dibs on being the custodians of plantains. There are some African influences in Peru, and we explored the food and music angles. Fun facts about Alex: He is super worldly and knows a lot about several countries and their cultures. I think he is going to be a UN Ambassador someday; say you heard it first on this show. Like me, he loves plantains, FRIENDS (the series), and Bossa nova (Brazilian music genre) Takeaway Points: Quinoa is an ancient food that originated with the Incas in the mountains of Peru and Bolivia. It was a food highly revered by the Incas. We can connect with so many people from different cultures on so many levels via food, music, etc. Visit Peru and explore its cultural abundance. All llama love, 모 /Mo/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

우리 사이의 역사| The One with Andrea - The Spanish-speaking Southern Belle: Episode 15 (2018)

The More Sibyl Podcast Presents: Hola amigos! Can you say Spanish-speaking Southern Belle three times without blabbing? I didn’t think so. Also, would you ever consider going back to school to learn a new language to help the people you serve? In this episode, I explored Andrea’s story and her love for the Spanish language, history, and travels. I also talked a bit about growing up in Nigeria during the restrictive, military regime. Andrea hopes to visit Ghana first, and I gave her the best tip ever – avoid the jollof rice there :-D. We also explored her relationship with Africans and what she thinks of us. I am also seeking business partners for what I think would be a very profitable business for Africans and African Americans. It has to do with cultural exchange. Email me on talktomo@mosibyl.com, if interested. PS: I spoke a bit of Spanish as well. Fun facts about Andrea: She is wanderlust like me and has visited six countries (one of which was Cuba #jealous). She holds two bachelor’s degree. She loves the Lord. Takeaway points: If you are in Ohio, consider getting the #Skyline chili. Tips on how to avoid getting deleted as a Facebook friend. Teach African-Americans about the African culture. Africans and African-Americans need to learn to be more culturally patient with one another. Why we need to visit Cuba ASAP. Con amor de, 모 /Mo/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

사랑하는 아버님께서| The One with Dad - Daddy, Dearest: Episode 14 (2018)

This is probably the most important podcast episode I have done yet. For those who might not know, I have had a somewhat turbulent relationship with my father based on how I felt he was like to me as a kid. As a result, we never really talked and there was a distance between us. In this episode, I present to you the man who is perhaps one of the most important people to Mo! This episode also happens to be the lengthiest conversation I have ever had with my dad and I feel very honored to share this intimate side of me with you. PS: The history is very strong (and long) with this episode. PPS: Perhaps the most disappointing thing about dad is his chronic unending love for Arsenal #Chelseaporvida Takeaway points: The path to reconciliation might be a difficult process but it is often worth the troubles. Don't forget to remind your parents to get their yearly health checkups done. Recommended Song: Daddy's Home (feat. Hailey Kiteley) by Travis Greene WELL, ENJOY THEN. AND HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, I GUESS. Love, 모 /Mo/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

함께 해보자| The One with Mark - Not Too Young to Run: Episode 13 (2018)

qualification for president was reduced from 40 to 35 years. This effort was spearheaded by the wonderful folks at the Not Too Young to Run (NTYTR) Movement. Thanks to the one degree of separation between us, I was able to bring one of those wonderful folks (Mr. Mark Amaza) behind the NTYTR movement on the show. In this episode, Mark and I talked a lot about this campaign and he was gracious enough to answer all the questions I presented before him. As a late bloomer to all things politics, I must say that I learned a lot from this episode and I hope this will be the same for you too. Outro-ish Song: This is Nigeria by Falz; original song by Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino FUN FACTS ABOUT MARK: He is a certified Bibliophile and one of his many love languages is Amazon Gift cards *hint hint* He has an idyllic memory to recall countries and their capitals. He speaks the Bura language which is spoken mainly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states in Nigeria. The Bura language is a Chadic language and has been reported to contrast a voiceless palatal lateral fricative, [] (ʎ̥˔), which is quite rare for languages. TL; DL: Get more involved in politics or governance, at the least. When voting, focus on the hows from aspirants; don’t just fall for the empty promises Download the Nigerian Constitution online for free Mechanisms like the “Ready to Run Movement” can help you run a better campaign. They can provide you with resources (not money to help you get started) Get your PVC (permanent voter’s card) today Run a better campaign You, as an electorate, have power in your hands; use it wisely. The More Sibyl Podcast is now available on Stitcher. Can you kindly help leave a review on Stitcher? Link: http://bit.do/helpmo RESOURCES Not Too Young to Run Campaign: http://nottooyoungtorun.org/ BudgIT Nigeria: www.yourbudgit.com; @BudgITng Ready to Run Campaign: readytorunng.org Follow Mark on Twitter on @amasonic and Mark Amaza on Facebook --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

여자의 일생| The One with Ada - The Life of a Woman: Episode 12 (2018)

Here’s introducing my friend, Ada – one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met, who served in the US military. We began her story from growing up in Nigeria, moving to the US, being drafted into the army, getting married, surviving an eventful divorce, raising multicultural kids, and life as a single mom. We explored divorce in a cultural context (stigma, shame, losing friends, etc.) and what we can do to support divorcees around us (and it is not by choosing sides or totally avoiding them like a plague). We also talked about PTSD, mental health, and ways to self-care - post-divorce. Outro-ish Song: *Don’t Let Us Get Sick* by Pat Guadagno; the original song was by Warren Zevon Fun fact about Ada: She backpacked across Europe. PS: TO ALL THE VETERANS LIKE ADA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. TL; DL: How to Thrive after a Divorce: Choose your battles Stay alive Do not rush into any kind of relationship (except with Ben and Jerry’s Ice-cream and chocolates, of course, :-D) Take your time to open up Be vulnerable but not enough to allow reopening of old, healed wounds Don’t waste yesterday’s tears on today You need to draw from others but they may not be ready nor willing to give you what you need Move to a new city (if practicable) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support

다왔어| The One with Mo!+Olabimpe [Hot Seat Edition 2] - "I Came, I Saw, I Podcast:" Episode 11 (2018)

Nigeria: A $hithole Country?¿! Nah, it’s not but how else was I supposed to get your attention, ey?! Hehe. It’s no news that Mo! is back from Nigeria. In this episode, I answered several questions that were sent in from my listeners and friends regarding my just-concluded trip to Nigeria. We talked about everything ranging from food, social issues, traffic, politics, music, getting detained by the cops, why I won’t be moving back home just yet, getting high (on not what you think), how I evaded prying questions from my well-meaning countrymen and countrywomen, what I loved and disliked about my trip, and so much more. Thank you to every one of you who sent in the questions; you made this episode rock! Outro-ish song: Ire by Adekunle Gold. This song has been my current earworm. It takes me faster back home than a one-way first-class ticket. PS: This is a long episode, but I think you will love the dynamic between Olabimpe and me. PPS: My friends call me Tolani too (Olabimpe called me this all through the episode); it’s from my full name Mo-Tolani. PPPS: As a thank-you favor to Olabimpe, I am asking this for her. Does anyone know anyone who knows anyone who knows Lynxxx – the Nigerian rapper/singer? She would love to get his attention as she’s one of his biggest fans. #Askingforafriend TL; DL: Food I liked: Native rice and fish 😊 Foods I could not eat: Street roasted plantains (boli) ☹ On environmental pollution in Lagos: “Let’s forget about saving the whales and the trees. We need to start saving ourselves.” The highlight of going back home: I was not Black anymore but your average Nigerian (Yoruba) girl. The best thing about Nigeria: Nigerians - the love, the intentionality, the warmth, no Dutch pay. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mosibyl/support