Yes Girls Podcast

About Yes Girls Podcast

Yes Girls Podcast is Africa's first experiential growth media brand, designed as a structured, documented public laboratory for personal development. For the ambitious, the curious, and those unwilling to live on autopilot, this audio-first podcast explores what it truly takes to evolve through lifelong learning, self-discovery, and a growth mindset, grounded not just in theory, but in practice. Every bi-weekly episode is either a Yespisode (beginning with a Yes Challenge) or a Yesticle (beginning with a real-world challenge), built to stretch comfort zones and expand capability. Award-winning hosts Akumu Fiona and Claire Baker document the process on record. Tune in and start practising the kind of courage that turns curiosity into transformation. Then keep saying YES. Follow on all platforms: @yesgirlspodcast

Publisher

Lifelong Learning with Akumu & Claire

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

30 Mar 2021

Latest episode

28 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

92 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Aug 2026

   91. When did food stop having a story? w/ Dennis Andaye

   Most of us buy food without thinking much about where it came from. We pick up vegetables, eggs, bread, or meat, pay for them, take them home, and move on with our day. That means, somewhere along the way, food became something we buy rather than something we know. Season 9's theme is Back to Basics, meaning exploring the systems, habits, and assumptions that shape how we live. In this Yespisode, Akumu and Claire turn their attention to something we interact with every single day: food. The point is not to argue for organic, against supermarkets or for everyone to become a farmer; it is to ask what changes when we get closer to the people, places and seasons behind what we eat. For this Yespisode, they are joined by Dennis Andaye (@dennisandaye (https://www.instagram.com/dennisandaye/)), who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Coalition for Farmers Markets (RECOF). His work building and supporting farmers' markets in Kenya has given him a different view of the connections between consumers, farmers, and the systems in between. For the Yes Challenge, Akumu heads to one of the farmers' markets run by Dennis with one mission: cook a full meal using ingredients bought from farmers she'd actually met. No supermarket top-ups, apart from a few permitted essentials. What she expected to be a quick shopping trip became something surprisingly personal. Together, the Yes Girls and Dennis explore why food used to be far more relational than it is today, how consumer choices influence what farmers ultimately produce, why eating locally is not necessarily as expensive as we assume, and what shorter food supply chains could mean for cities like Nairobi. They also unpack seasonality, organic farming, convenience, choice, and the unexpected relationships that form when you know the person growing your food. This episode isn't really about eating better; it's about eating closer. And maybe the future doesn't require choosing between convenience and connection at all. Maybe the more interesting question is whether we can build food systems that give us both. Important Resources: Follow Dennis Andaye online: https://www.instagram.com/dennisandaye/ (https://www.instagram.com/dennisandaye/) https://ke.linkedin.com/in/dennis-andaye-9a17b744 (https://ke.linkedin.com/in/dennis-andaye-9a17b744) Follow the Organic Farmers' Market pages: https://www.instagram.com/farmersmarketnairobi (https://www.instagram.com/farmersmarketnairobi) https://www.instagram.com/farmersmarketke (https://www.instagram.com/farmersmarketke) Learn more about RECOF's work with farmers' markets here: https://farmersmarketnairobi.com/ (https://farmersmarketnairobi.com/) https://www.worldfarmersmarketscoalition.org/monthly-member-feature-organic-farmers-market-nairobi-kenya/ (https://www.worldfarmersmarketscoalition.org/monthly-member-feature-organic-farmers-market-nairobi-kenya/) ____________________ If you enjoy the podcast, we love you! And we'd like to ask you to rate us on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2yAqJtkJnlXJ23Z5A229hR) - it will only take a couple of seconds, we promise! If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330)leave a brief review (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330). We promise it will take less than a minute unless, of course, you have more to say. In any case, we appreciate you! Thanks in advance! _____________________ For video logs, visit https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast) For blogs, visit (https://yesgirlspodcast.com/)https://yesgirlspodcast.com/ (https://yesgirlspodcast.com/) Feel free to follow us across these platforms: INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/yesgirlspodcast) TWITTER (https://www.twitter.com/yesgirlspodcast) LINKEDIN (https://www.linkedin.com/company/yesgirlspodcast) TIKTOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@yesgirlspodcast)

2. 

   14 Aug 2026

   90. You can fit in and still feel nothing like yourself w/ Honey Sharif (Simply Honey)

   Sometimes fitting in works so well that you do not notice how much of yourself you have adjusted along the way. You learn when to speak, when to hold back, and which parts of yourself feel safe to show. But does changing how you show up mean you are being fake? Or can different versions of you all be real? This is Season 9, and its theme is "Back to Basics," exploring the systems, habits, and assumptions that quietly shape how we live. In this Yespisode, Akumu and Claire explore what it means to be your true self while constantly adapting to different people, spaces, expectations, and stages of life. Joined by the ever-thoughtful and wise Honey Sharif (@simply_honey__ (https://www.instagram.com/simply_honey__/)), they explore the difference between adapting with intention and slowly dimming yourself to stay accepted. Drawing from her experiences with fitness, motherhood, faith, community, and changing priorities, Honey shares how she has learned to embrace change without rejecting the versions of herself that came before. Together, they unpack people-pleasing, masking, self-doubt, boundaries, protecting your energy, and the pressure to perform a familiar version of yourself. They also ask whether there is only one "real" you. Can you be outgoing in one space and quiet in another? Can you change without losing yourself? Maybe living authentically does not mean behaving the same way everywhere. Sometimes it means protecting your energy. Sometimes it means accepting that you have changed. And sometimes it means recognising when adapting has become making yourself smaller for acceptance. The Yes Challenge asks: Where in your life are you performing a version of yourself to stay accepted? And what might shift if you stopped editing, even slightly? _____ Timestamps for Specific Segments: (0:00) Intro (03:13) Meet Honey Sharif: From CrossFit to intentional living (06:02) Outgrowing old versions of yourself (19:45) The Yes Challenge: Where are you editing yourself to stay accepted? (30:18) Neurodivergence, masking, and which version of you is real (36:05) Accepting your emotions and protecting your energy (48:11) People-pleasing vs. genuine connection (52:59) Intentional living: routines, cycle syncing, and communicating your needs (58:25) Final takeaways: How to change without losing yourself (01:00:40) What has Honey recently said "Yes" to? (01:02:55) Outro ____ You will connect with this episode if you: > behave differently depending on the people or environment. > have wondered which version of you is the "real" one. > are learning the difference between adapting and masking. > feel pressure to stay cheerful, outgoing, capable, or available because that is how people know you. > are learning to set boundaries while still showing up for the people you love. > are accepting that your authentic self can change over time. You can fit in and still feel nothing like yourself. But changing how you show up does not always mean losing yourself. The question is whether you are doing it with intention or for acceptance. Listen in, then DM us or leave a comment on Spotify: Where in your life are you still editing yourself to be accepted? _____ Important resources: Follow Honey here: https://www.instagram.com/simply_honey__/ (https://www.instagram.com/simply_honey__/) Check out Honey's CrossFit stats here: https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/2432964 (https://games.crossfit.com/athlete/2432964) And, of course, explore the CrossFit episode here: Episode 28 (https://afripods.africa/episode/28-what-crossfit-does-to-your-eg/1e43a255-f997-4722-998e-60e3d13fdc91) _____________ If you enjoy the podcast, we love you! And we'd like to ask you to rate us on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2yAqJtkJnlXJ23Z5A229hR) - it will only take a couple of seconds, we promise! If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330)leave a brief review (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330). We promise it will take less than a minute unless, of course, you have more to say. In any case, we appreciate you! Thanks in advance! _____________________ For video logs, visit https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast) For blogs, visit (https://yesgirlspodcast.com/)https://yesgirlspodcast.com/ (https://yesgirlspodcast.com/) Feel free to follow us across these platforms: INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/yesgirlspodcast) TWITTER (https://www.twitter.com/yesgirlspodcast) LINKEDIN (https://www.linkedin.com/company/yesgirlspodcast) TIKTOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@yesgirlspodcast)

3. 

   4 Jul 2026

   89. Education is bigger than school. Homeschooling unpacked w/ Olivia Munoru & Melissa Wakhu

   Most of us spend years in school, yet hardly any of us pause to ask a deceptively simple question: what is education actually for? You'll feel the weight of it when you meet families who've chosen to learn differently, because their day-to-day decisions make the purpose of schooling way harder to avoid. This is Season 9, and its theme is Back to Basics; exploring the systems, habits, and assumptions that quietly shape how we live. In this Yespisode, Akumu and Claire are focusing on education, one of the most influential of those systems. And they do this not to argue whether homeschooling is better or worse than traditional schooling, but really just to explore what it reveals about learning itself. They are joined by Olivia Munoru, founder of Mizizi Learning Hub, and Melissa Wahu, a best-selling author and CEO & co-founder of Sol Kids Africa. Through thoughtful conversations, practical examples, and a role-play exercise, the Yes Girls discover that this conversation about homeschooling is ultimately a much larger one about parenthood, education itself, and whether we have confused schooling with learning. Olivia and Melissa help the Yes Girls unpack common misconceptions about homeschooling, discuss the spectrum of educational choices available to families, explore parental responsibility, and challenge the assumption that learning only happens at school. They also explore socialisation, assessments, independence, and what it really means to prepare a child for life rather than simply for exams. This episode is thoughtful, challenging, and surprisingly relevant, whether or not you have children. It is an invitation to reconsider where learning begins, who education belongs to, and why curiosity may be one of the most important skills we ever develop. ______ Timestamps for Specific Segments: (0:00) Intro (03:44) Meet Olivia Munoru and Melissa Wahu (11:26) Yes Challenge via role play: exploring educational options (15:30) Exploring the spectrum of educational options (20:14) Parental responsibility during learning (24:37) Role play: Navigating educational and learning options (49:09) Unlearning what learning and "school" should look like (1:02:50) Ratings for this Yes Challenge (1:06:23) Final thoughts and advice for parents (1:22:18) What have Olivia and Melissa recently said "Yes" to? (1:23:14) Outro ______ You'll connect with this episode if: You're considering homeschooling or alternative approaches to education. You're curious about how children learn beyond the classroom. You want to better understand various educational pathways. You're interested in curiosity, lifelong learning, and raising independent thinkers. You've ever wondered whether school and education are really the same thing. So whether you're a parent, educator, student, or simply someone who loves learning, this episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the most familiar systems in our lives. Listen in, then drop us a comment or DM with your thoughts. Important resources: Learn more about Olivia Munoru: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamunoru (https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamunoru) Learn more about Mizizi Learning Hub: https://mizizilearning.com (https://mizizilearning.com) Learn more about Melissa Wakhu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-wakhu-235025210 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-wakhu-235025210) Learn more about Sol Kids Africa: https://www.instagram.com/solkidsafrica/ (https://www.instagram.com/solkidsafrica/) Follow Melissa Wahu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_wakh (https://www.instagram.com/melissa_wakhu)u (https://www.instagram.com/melissawahu) __________ If you enjoy the podcast, we love you! And we'd like to ask you to rate us on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2yAqJtkJnlXJ23Z5A229hR) - it will only take a couple of seconds, we promise! If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330)leave a brief review (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yes-girls/id1560933330). We promise it will take less than a minute unless, of course, you have more to say. In any case, we appreciate you! Thanks in advance! _____________________ For video logs, visit https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@yesgirlspodcast) For blogs, visit (https://yesgirlspodcast.com/)https://yesgirlspodcast.com/ (https://yesgirlspodcast.com/) Feel free to follow us across these platforms: INSTAGRAM (https://www.instagram.com/yesgirlspodcast) TWITTER (https://www.twitter.com/yesgirlspodcast) LINKEDIN (https://www.linkedin.com/company/yesgirlspodcast) TIKTOK (https://www.tiktok.com/@yesgirlspodcast)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

56,294

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

21 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

94

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

Contact Yes Girls Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.