Drained is a podcast for African students to discuss mental health issues. Halle Rubera interviews African students, like herself, who left their countries to pursue college degrees in the US. Each episode touches upon different triggers to our mental wellness and successive coping mechanisms. Thank you for joining me on this podcasting journey!
Ever wondered why 'positive affirmations' make you feel better? In this episode, I speak with Tom Lee Osborn who is originally from Kenya. We discuss his research on the correlation between mental wellness and better life outcomes as well as the the science behind some interventions and why they work for certain people.
Tom is an entrepreneur, community mobilizer and research scientist. Currently, he is working on Shamiri Institute—a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and deploy evidence-based interventions that improve the life outcomes of young people in Sub Saharan Africa. These outcomes include academic achievement, mental health, financial security and civic engagement. At 19, he was named on the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in Social Entrepreneurship, the second youngest person to receive the honor. Salt Magazine has listed his as 30 under 30 social entrepreneur. Richtopia has named him as one the 100 Most Influential Entrepreneurs under 25. He graduated from Harvard University with Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (High Honors).
Link to Tom's art: http://paintingsdoubt.studio/osborn.html (http://paintingsdoubt.studio/osborn.html)
Sample of his research: https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/81183642_2550484591741479_2361547966243667968_n.pdf/osbornShamiri2019.pdf?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=0cab14&_nc_ohc=QYWEoqOBIVwAX-RQjEB&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=27d8f3a3bc589b35634e426538ec49ea&oe=5F1FE3EC&dl=1 (https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/81183642_2550484591741479_2361547966243667968_n.pdf/osbornShamiri2019.pdf?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=0cab14&_nc_ohc=QYWEoqOBIVwAX-RQjEB&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=27d8f3a3bc589b35634e426538ec49ea&oe=5F1FE3EC&dl=1)
22 Apr 2020
Breathe ~~
In this episode, I speak with a UChicago graduate from Rwanda. Our overall theme revolves around maintaining peace in the midst of turmoil and anxiety, more so now as we experience the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss our coping mechanisms and she leaves us with a hopeful guiding principle, ‘nta mvura idahita’, a Rwandan proverb which acknowledges the burdens of life but promises brighter days ahead. Enjoy!
Some tidbits:
*New email: drainedpod@gmail.com (Feel free to share thoughts and feedback)
*Olivier's medium: https://medium.com/@YoursOllie
*Great article: "Experts explain how to manage mental wellness during COVID-19": https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-mental-health/
7 Jan 2020
Hindsight is 20/20...Happy 2020! :)
On this episode, I speak with Gordon College graduate from Rwanda, Sarah Uwandori. We discuss the value of community in college, the anxieties around graduation and employment and our strengths which we so often ignore. There's lots of reflection and introspection on this episode. Enjoy!
6 Dec 2019
Post-graduation and other thoughts
In this episode, I speak to Natasha Ali Said, medical school graduate at Hubert Kairuki Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam. She is my first guest who's gone to college in Africa (Tanzania). We discuss preparing for post-graduation stress. Something we did not mention, but I thought about: In the US we have the comfort of knowing that jobs are *available and stress less about preparing for the reality of the job hunt, while back home they're so ready because the situation is a bit more bleak.
I could not resist diving into a conversation about Swahili in Kenya and TZ (enjoy all the bonus conversations). All in all, this was a first attempt at interviewing a candidate rather than speaking on a certain subject only. Enjoy!
(apologies for the sound issues)
10 Oct 2019
Hustling
In this episode, I speak with UC Berkeley student, Fanice Mangoja. We talk about how to leverage the numerous opportunities in college for ones own personal development. We also discuss some of our regrets and how we have learned from those experiences. Enjoy!
9 Sept 2019
Moving back home
In this episode, I speak to Columbia grad, Diana Munyana, about her decision to move back to Rwanda. We talk about the joys of being back home; family, the familiarity of surroundings and context, etc. We also discuss the missed expectations and challenge the romanticized ideas of the move back home. Enjoy!
30 Aug 2019
Naira, Shillings, Dollars
In this episode I speak to Ifunanya Nwolah, a junior at Wellesley College. We talk about black tax, the guilt of spending, budgeting and saving. Enjoy!
15 Aug 2019
What if I'm not perfect??!!
In this episode, I speak to Sarah Nzau, a Wellesley College graduate, about perfectionism and the pressure to conform to everyone else’s expectations of ourselves. We also discuss not having the language to articulate our mental health struggles, and of course, seeking help! Enjoy!
8 Aug 2019
Wow, you’re Black?!
In this episode, I speak to Shannon Makenna, a senior at Villanova, about being Black and the negative associations attached to our race. We show how those stereotypes take a toll on our self-worth and ultimately mental wellness. Finally, we discuss navigating this new identity and taking pride in our Blackness! Enjoy!
7 Aug 2019
Home did not wait for you, Part 2
In this second part of the episode, we discuss the stigma surrounding therapy. We also look at religion's role in some people's healing. Enjoy!
7 Aug 2019
Home did not wait for you, Part 1
In this episode of Drained, I speak to Middlebury grad, Armel Nibasumba about finding peace while his home, Burundi, was at war. We talk about the struggles of uprooting our lives from our home countries in pursuit of a prestigious college degree and how that affects our identity and subsequently mental health. Armel is candid about feeling isolated from 'home', his fears, mental and emotional stress and seeking help. We also discuss religion's position in the mental health discourse. Enjoy!
CW: Mention of suicide and war.
7 Aug 2019
Drained - Pilot
In this premier episode, I introduce you to the overall theme of the podcast. Drained is a platform for African students to discuss mental health issues. Thank you for joining me on this podcasting journey!
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