For Nigerian women (and a few good men) aged 23–27 who are figuring out who they're becoming when the plan doesn't fit.
Hosted by Esther, a graduate doctor & VA, navigating job hunting, faith, habits, and the messy middle of becoming yourself. Every Sunday, we talk about career uncertainty, surrendering to God when it doesn't make sense, and the daily work of building a life that's actually yours.
We are having honest conversations about what it really takes to become yourself when the script isn't working.
New episodes every Sunday.
Instagram: @tbypod
hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
This one dropped in my heart, so I hope you enjoy listening to this.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
9 Aug 2026
I Thought I Just Needed More Money
How to save and invest money in Nigeria on any salary — even ₦50k or ₦100k — starting today, not "when things get better."
I've never really been a saver in my entire life. Not "I used to save and stopped"; the idea itself never occurred to me as something for someone like me. Then one verse I'd heard a hundred times finally caught up with me, and it completely changed how I think about every naira that passes through my hands. In this episode, I'm getting fully practical about saving and investing money in Nigeria, real numbers, real apps, and the exact split I use, whether you're on a fixed salary or running your own business with income that comes in bits.
Want the budget tracker I personally use to split savings, spending, and investments? Leave a comment below or DM me @tbypod, I'll send it straight to you.
🎧 Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Substack | YouTube📩
Read the full letter on Substack: https://hadassahh.substack.com/podcast (https://hadassahh.substack.com/podcast)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tby_pod/ (https://www.instagram.com/tby_pod/)
#HowToSaveMoneyInNigeria #PiggyVestVsCowrywise #PersonalFinanceNigeria #NigerianPodcast #MoneyMindset #SavingsChallenge #FaithAndFinance #BecomingYou #50302030Rule #InvestingForBeginners
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
5 Jul 2026
Nobody Taught Us How to Say No ft. Omar
Nobody taught us how to say no. They just let us feel guilty for it.
In this episode I sat down with Omar, UGC creator, social media manager, voice over artist, and one of the most unbothered people I've spoken to, and we got into it. People pleasing. Setting your rates. What happens when you always show up and one day you can't. And why the only real answer to a hard decision starts with prayer, not a group chat.
If you've ever said yes when everything in you was screaming no, this one is for you.
🎙 Listen above or find The Building You Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Find Omar: Instagram & TikTok → @theomarblaq
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
21 Jun 2026
Answering the Question on PURPOSE
What is my purpose? It’s the ultimate question we ask when the plan doesn't fit and the script isn't working.
In this episode of The Building You Podcast, Esther Ekanem dives deep into Answering the Question on Purpose. We are flipping the narrative on calling.
True purpose isn’t a job, a paycheck, or a destination, it is about the person you are becoming to fulfill God’s will. If you are tired of career anxiety and ready to embrace the daily work of building a life that is actually yours, plug in your headphones and let’s talk.
Find us: Spotify · Apple Podcasts · YouTube · Substack
Instagram: @tbypod · DM to continue the conversation
Keywords: Esther Ekanem, The Building You Podcast, finding your calling, God's will, career uncertainty, discovering purpose, identity in Christ, becoming yourself.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Jun 2026
WE ARE BACK!!!!: The Catch-Up We Needed ft. Courage
Esther and Courage catch up on life in May — Children's Day nostalgia, how the year keeps moving no matter what, the real experience of job hunting in Nigeria, solutions that actually work, why they're passionate (not angry), and what Season 2 of the podcast is actually about.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Substack
Follow: @tbypod on Instagram
New episodes 6PM Sunday. Keep building you.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Mar 2026
SEASON FINALE!!!!!
This is Episode 10. The Season 1 finale of The Building You Podcast.
In this episode, Esther answers 12 questions about the season — raw and unfiltered. What it actually cost her to show up every Sunday. The lie she told herself at the beginning that turned out not to be true, and the episode she recorded for one person that somehow reached everybody.
Also — FL, one of her most loyal listeners, leaves a voice note review. And it's the kind of thing that reminds you exactly why building something quietly, consistently, faithfully — is always worth it.
Season 2 is coming. But first, this.
This is not goodbye. This is see you soon.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
8 Mar 2026
She Was Always Going to Change Everything #IWD episode
In this Women's Day episode, Esther sits down with three women who changed the trajectory of everything around them — Esther from the Bible, Nigerian climate activist and UNICEF collaborator Temilade Salami, and Dubai-based entrepreneur and digital speaker Afnan Khalifa.
This episode is for every woman sitting in a season that doesn't look like what she planned, and it is a direct challenge to stop waiting and start building.
Connect with the podcast:
• Link: https://linktr.ee/tby_pod (https://linktr.ee/tby_pod)
• Substack: hadassahh.substack.com (http://hadassahh.substack.com)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
1 Mar 2026
Navigating the In-Between: How to Keep Building When Nothing Feels Certain
Job hunting. Building a legacy. Trying to stay sane. Sound familiar?
In this episode, Esther gets personal about the season she's currently in where nothing is settled yet but everything still has to keep moving.
She shares 7 honest, practical things that have been keeping her grounded: from decluttering her to-do list and staying consistent in devotion, to learning how to actually stick with something past the two-week mark.
This isn't a results episode. It's a systems episode — and it might be exactly what you need to hear today.
Transcendence by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com (https://creatorchords.com)
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ (https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/)
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
22 Feb 2026
Let's talk Faith, Waiting on God and Purpose | ft. Min. Elizabeth
Akubuko Elizabeth is a passionate Worship Leader and Voice of Hope, called to bring healing to nations through the power of music and ministry.
As a Host, Public Speaker, and Content Creator, she inspires and empowers audiences with messages of restoration and faith. With expertise in Social Media Management and Brand Strategy, she leverages digital platforms to spread hope and positivity.
A dedicated Veterinary Doctor and Life Coach, Akubuko Elizabeth is committed to wholistic wellness, reflecting her heart for the nations.
A proud Red-Crosser, she embodies the spirit of Luke 4:18, bringing light to the brokenhearted and freedom to the oppressed.
Esther sat with Elizabeth to speak on Knowing God, Waiting Season and achieving Purpose.
Follow her here: IG and YouTube; Akubuko Elizabeth
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Feb 2026
Let’s Talk Singlehood (After Valentine’s)
Valentine’s is over… and after the heart emojis, chocolates, and Instagram posts, there’s often that quiet question: “Okay… now what?”
In this episode, Esther talks honestly about singlehood — not as a waiting room, but as a powerful, intentional season of growth.
This is a gentle but practical conversation about how to stop merely “passing time” while single and start owning the season you’re in.
Whether you’re newly single, long-term single, or just reflecting after Valentine’s, this episode invites you to see this phase of your life as meaningful, active, and full of possibility.
Want to talk more - https://substack.com/chat/3197540 (https://substack.com/chat/3197540)
🎧 Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you in the next episode 🤍
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
8 Feb 2026
How Do I Build Confidence...Without Pretending?
In this episode of Building You, Esther explores a question many of us quietly wrestle with:How do I build confidence without pretending to be someone I’m not?
In a world that often equates confidence with loudness, certainty, and having it all figured out, this conversation gently challenges that narrative. Esther reflects on the exhaustion of performance, the pressure to “fake it,” and the freedom that comes from building confidence rooted in self-trust, honesty, and alignment.
This episode is for anyone who feels unsure, in progress, or tired of pretending — and is ready to build confidence that feels peaceful, grounded, and real.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
1 Feb 2026
The one where everyone has everything figured out but YOU
Ever looked around and felt like everyone else has life figured out, except you?
In this episode of Building You, Esther speaks honestly about the illusion of having it all together, why comparison steals clarity, and how the real difference between people isn’t knowledge, but action.
This is a gentle but firm reminder that nobody truly has it all figured out, we’re all just trying. The question is: what will you do with what you already know?
LET’S CONNECT
What resonated with you most in this episode?What’s one thing you’ve been delaying that you know you need to act on?
Join the conversation, send feedback, or get in touch with me, I’d love to hear from you. - https://substack.com/chat/3197540 (https://substack.com/chat/3197540)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
25 Jan 2026
The one where we talk about DISCIPLINE
Discipline is often misunderstood as punishment, restriction, or extreme consistency.
In this episode of Building You, Esther talks honestly about what discipline really is, why it starts with clarity, how it’s rooted in structure, and why the goal isn’t discipline itself, but alignment with the life you’re trying to build.
This is a grounded, practical conversation for anyone feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to start.
LISTEN & CONNECT
Listen to Building You on:
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
💬 Join the Substack chat and share your thoughts - https://substack.com/chat/3197540 (https://substack.com/chat/3197540)
What does discipline look like in your season right now?
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
If this episode resonated with you:
1. Follow the podcast
2. Leave a rating or review
3. Share this episode with someone who might need it
Your support helps this podcast reach the people it’s meant for.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
18 Jan 2026
The one where we talk about friends
Episode 3 of Building You is a heartfelt conversation about friendship, what it means, how it’s built, and why people are one of God’s greatest gifts.
In this episode, Esther reflects on her personal experiences with friendship, gratitude, intentionality, and what it truly means to become the kind of person who loves people well.
This episode is a gentle thank you, a reminder, and an open invitation to do friendship better.
LET’S CONNECTJoin the Substack chat → https://substack.com/chat/3197540 (https://substack.com/chat/3197540) I’d genuinely love to hear from you, what does friendship mean to you?
⭐ SUPPORT THE PODCAST
If this episode moved you: Follow the podcast, Leave a rating or review, Share it with a friend you’re grateful for
Thank you for listening 🤍
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
10 Jan 2026
Regret, Rest, and Starting Anyway
In this episode, Esther shares why regret isn’t the lesson we think it is, and how learning to focus on what you can control can change how you move forward.
If you’ve ever wished you started earlier, moved faster, or did things differently… this episode is for you. Please visit Substack below to see more
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
6 Jan 2026
NEW CHAPTER
Welcome to Building You with Dr. Esther Ekanem. This podcast is about growth, becoming, and building yourself one step at a time. In this intro episode, I share my excitement. so be sure to subscribe and prepare to listen to the first episode 🎧
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hadassahh.substack.com (https://hadassahh.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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