AFIA Podcast

EP. 21 - There is more that we can do

I recorded this episode during the recent anti-racism protests in the US, especially in Seattle where I live. There is always more that we can do. I explored the reaction of Killer Mike in relation to the killing of George Floyd.

 

Some of the things that we can do to ensure change is to make sure you get counted in the ongoing US Census and upcoming elections. Change is coming but we have to start from within ourselves and our local communities and think globally. 

 

In this episode I also discussed Panga Bizz After COVID-19. It’s a campaign I am leading to help raise seed money for 500 women in three Kenyan slums.

Ep.20 - Black people globally are in a state of fear

In episode twenty I talk about the mental and spiritual health of Black fathers. I recorded this episode during the week when George Floyd was murdered. 

There was a teenager that witnessed and took the video of George Floyd’s murder. Seeing the video is traumatizing to all of us, but I can’t believe how traumatizing it was for that girl who took the video and all the Black men that tried to stop the police at the scene. 

In this episode, which I recorded on May 29th I explored the history of police brutality and how the trauma has left generations of Black people globally in a state of fear and trauma.

Ep.19 - Why America is so twisted against Black fathers

In episode 19, which I recorded on May 27th, the day after I learned about the killing of George Floyd explores how the internet blew up with the story of George Floyd. I can’t still believe that a brother was lynched in America during the day in 2020.

It’s bad. America is a sad place for Black men. It’s a place where a weekly dosage of sadness must be directed towards the Black community. 

The picture of the knee on George Floyd’s neck is still unbelievable and I can’t get it out of my mind. This episode discusses why America is so twisted against Black fathers.

Ep.18 - How it feels to run while Black in America

My commitment to the listeners of the African Father In America podcast is important because since I started this journey I have not said anything about it. In this episode I share why my podcast listeners are important to me and  why I am excited to continue creating more episodes.  

In this episode I also explore how it feels like to go for a run while you are Black in America. I talked about how perception is the only reality, which is a theme I have been exploring over the last few episodes.I also discussed counter propaganda to match the traumatizing image of Black men peddled by the mainstream media.

Ep.17 - The importance of meditation

I recorded this episode after publishing the first five episodes. It’s been quite the journey considering the behind the scene work that it takes for a solo podcaster to research, produce, publish, and promote a podcast. 

In this episode I explore the importance of meditation. I explore how in the African culture mediation is not so formalized but it exists.  I discuss how I learned to meditate and how I currently do it. I also share various ways of meditation through Tiny Budha, which is a resource I learned about when it was Tweeted by Rasna Warah who is a Kenyan Writer, researcher, editor, urbanist, and cynic.

Ep.16 - How I relate to my wife who is White while I am Black

In this episode I explore how I relate to my wife who is White while I am continuing to be a Pan-Africanist. This episode was inspired by an excerpt from my diary. When I record on Wednesdays I tend to take an excerpt from my diary and dig deep into why I wrote it down. 

I am a vocal Black man in America who is originally from Kenya. Many people that know me always wonder how I am able to be authentic as a Black man while I am married to a White woman. In this episode I explore this aspect of my life and how I am growing and learning how to thrive despite my intercultural marriage.

Ep.15 - What we see is what we believe

Perception is everything. What we see is what we believe.In this episode I explore the perception of Black Fathers and how we can change the narrative about us. 

One of the ways that we can change the perception about Black fathers is by seeking education opportunities on a day to day basis. In this episode I also share the story of how I have been monitoring the travelling trends and how tourism is impacted by Coronavirus.

Tourism is not my main area of focus, but I woke up at 4:00am to attend a webinar in order to expand by knowledge of the tourism industry, especially in Kenya to allow me to learn how much it will cost me to travel to Kenya post-coronavirus.

Ep.14 - Special tribute to Bob Marley

I recorded this on May 11th, which is the date that Bob Marley passed away in a Miami, Florida, hospital in 1981. He was only 36 years old when he died and I am currently 36 years old, which made this episode even more special. 

In this episode I explored Bob Marley’s life and also related it to my own relationship with reggae music as music of the sufferers as well as protest music.

Ep.13 - I had a profound experience through Whatsapp

Yesterday I had a profound experience through Whatsapp, which is an app used for free calls and group chats internationally. I discovered that you can use it for group video calls. I connected with my sisters through it and we had a conversation that made me realize that my siblings and I are not so attached to each other so much that we need to talk or text each other everyday. 

One of the things that happened to me yesterday was that my sisters had the opportunity to make fun of me and I realized that I missed having fun and being made fun of by my siblings.

I feel that without the Coronavirus pandemic my sisters and I would have had a harder time connecting with each other along with my kids. I hope you can all learn how to allow your kids to stay close to each other so that when they grow up they can be more supportive and helpful to each other.

EP.12 - It takes the village to heal from fear

Lately when I am even around my backyard I am afraid that a White man with a gun might just show up and make things complicated for me. This is a thought that I deal with more often since the untimely killing of Ahmed Aubrey while he was on a Sunday afternoon jog in a White dominated neighborhood of Brunswick in Georgia.

I live in a White dominated neighborhood and it’s hard for me to feel safe. I am not sure how it is for other Black fathers, especially those who love running like Ahmed Aubrey. 

I am struggling with how to train my kids to love during a time like this when hate is prevalent and racism is so potent. I hope that all African fathers and everyone who listens to the African Father In America podcast can act in ways that show your commitment to changing this world for the better. It takes the whole village.