- 18
- Episodes
- 7
- Ratings
- 2024
- First episode
About Zero Generation
For the dreamers who left home. Explore the joys and hidden tragedies of coming of age again as a Black immigrant in a foreign land.
- Publisher
- Damilola Onwah
- Category
- business · society & culture · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 23 May 2024
- Latest episode
- 19 Feb 2026
Latest episodes
18 episodes in the feed.
19 Feb 2026
Black Tax, Baby Bills, & Big Dreams ft. Derrick Oigiagbe
Money requests don’t stop just because you got on a plane. In fact, they usually get louder. We sit down with Derrick Oigiagbe, Head of Product Security at Netflix Games, to talk frankly about black tax, firstborn pressure, and the art of giving without burning out. Derrick opens up about growing up as the eldest in a Nigerian household, how strength and softness were modeled by both of his parents, and why being a pillar for family still brings him joy when it’s grounded in gratitude and pro...
12 Feb 2026
Love Across Borders: Marriage, Migration, & Building Family Abroad ft. Nkem Akinsoto
What does it take to build a life that holds both where you’re from and who you’re becoming? We sit with writer and public health professional Nkem Akinsoto — known to early 2010s readers as romance author Myne Whitman — to unpack identity, love, and the joy of soft living across continents. From keeping her Nigerian accent after sixteen years abroad, to raising two daughters who code-switch with ease, Nkem shows how belonging can be flexible without ever being for sale. We trace her path fro...
5 Feb 2026
The Audacity to Stay: Thriving in Nigeria When Everyone Else Left ft. Kemi Onabanjo-Joseph
What if the boldest move isn't leaving, but choosing to build where others see only exits? We sit down with McKinsey Partner and leadership coach, Kemi Onabanjo-Joseph, to explore conviction, career, and community as the real engines of a meaningful life in Nigeria. Kemi's journey pivots on a denied visa and a newfound commitment to purpose. She walks us through testing her way into clarity: sampling HR, flirting with coaching, and finally using management consulting as a safe lab for rapid ...
29 Jan 2026
So You Want Me To Prove My Nigerianness? Lol. No. ft. Kehinde Winful
What if belonging isn't something you prove but something you live? We sit down with Kehinde Winful — attorney, novelist, and proud Nigerian-American — to unpack the messy middle between two homes and two careers. From getting placed in ESL for saying three like tree, to facing men who demand culinary and language "proof", Kehinde shows how subtle pressures can shape identity, and how a strong community can dissolve them. We trace the line from childhood bias to adult clarity, exploring how ...
22 Jan 2026
From Third Culture Kid To Behavioral Scientist: Code Switching, Reinvention, & Finding Home ft. Tayo Rockson
Reinvention isn’t a branding trick, it’s how you keep your center when the ground keeps moving. On this episode, I sit down with Tayo Rockon, a third culture kid turned behavioral scientist, TEDx speaker, and author, to unpack the real work of belonging across continents. We get honest about the moments that sting and the choices that save you: when a classmate mocks your hair, when a manager rewards your "office voice", when a resumé name changes your callback rate, when a visa status ...
15 Jan 2026
From Tailor To Therapist: A Zero-Gen Journey Of Pivots, Parenting, And Purpose ft. Gbemi Adekoya
The dream of moving abroad promises freedom and fresh starts, but what about the quiet loneliness after the boxes are unpacked? We sit down with psychotherapist and coach Gbemi Adekoya — former tailor, proud "pivot queen", and zero-gen immigrant — to talk candidly about the fine print of relocation: identity shifts, parenting without a village, and the art of rebuilding a life from scratch. Gbemi walks us through the moment a simple question — what would you do if money was solved? — turned f...
8 Jan 2026
How A Nigerian Exec Quit Corporate America To Build A Travel Giant Back Home ft. Bayo "Lion" Adedeji
A near-firing. A hard truth over steak. And a choice to stop playing small. Bayo "Lion" Adediji, CEO of Wakanow.com, nightlife entrepreneur, and former Amazon senior leader, joins us for a raw, kinetic conversation about going from accent anxiety and a PIP in corporate America to leading a multi-million dollar travel company from Lagos—and why burning the safety net was the unlock. We get into the inflection points that shaped his trajectory: learning to speak with clarity and conviction, doc...
6 Jan 2026
Zero Generation: What Happens After You Leave Home? | Season 2 Trailer
Everyone leaves home for different reasons. Nobody tells you what comes after. Season 2 of Zero Generation explores the lives Black immigrants build after the leap — the pressure, the pivots, the laughter, the longing, and the courage it takes to redefine success on your own terms. Through intimate conversations with leaders, creatives, parents, and first-generation Americans, this season asks: when you’ve left home, who are you becoming now? Some return. Some stay. Most live in between. Seas...
2 Oct 2024
Season Closeout: Home Is Here, And Other Lessons From Inspiring Immigrants
How is it that we’re already at the end of a full season of the Zero Generation podcast? The time’s gone by so fast! When I looked back on everything I’ve learned and talked about, I came to one major realization: the Zero Generation podcast isn’t over yet. I thought it would only take a season to tell the story of the brave people who make abroad their home, but there’s so much more to say. So join me as I look back on my season highlights and look forward to the future! I list everythi...
18 Sept 2024
From Nigerian Immigrant to State Representative: Segun Adeyina's Story
Segun Adeyina was always the kind of person to be heavily involved with his community, so it was natural to him that when he moved from Nigeria to the United States, he would find a way to connect and engage with the Nigerian diaspora. However, even he didn’t think that he would go from being a migrant student to being voted in as one of Georgia’s first-ever Nigerian-American elected officials. Join me on the Zero Generation podcast to talk with State Representative Segun Adeyina about commun...
4 Sept 2024
Should I Go Home? Questions About Japada
So many Nigerians of working age leave their home country for a better and brighter future abroad, and I’m one of them. But what happens when you want to go home? Is it just homesickness or a sign that you’re ready to return to your friends and family? And does the home you’re dreaming of still really exist? In this episode of Zero Generation, I’m sharing my thoughts about japada, or young people ‘escaping’ Nigeria for better work opportunities in the U.S., Europe, or even further away, ...
21 Aug 2024
Surviving Corporate America as a Black Immigrant
You probably know about the American Dream, that anyone who works hard can make it big in the States. But what does it actually take to do that? And just who qualifies for this dream anyway? These are questions that Francesca Uriri started asking herself when she moved from Nigeria to America for a job that was supposed to be a step up in her career. Join us on the Zero Generation podcast for a conversation about culture shock, code-switching and surviving Corporate America. Francesca te...
7 Aug 2024
Business, Entrepreneurship and the Immigrant Hustle with Ona Oghogho
This episode of Zero Generation is a special one, featuring a conversation with my show producer Ona Oghogho, the founder of Adode Media. Ona shares her inspiring journey as a first-generation Nigerian American carving her own path as an entrepreneur. Together, Ona and I delve into the influences in her life that have shaped her perseverance and overall outlook. From her 3rd grade karate teacher to her unwavering faith in God and Ona pulls back the curtain on how she’s been able to build Atlanta’s Number 1 destination for podcast production. You'll gain insight into her business philosophy, as well as the highs and lows she’s experienced as an entrepreneur. In her own words, "My goal is my goal," and trust me, she is determined to achieve it! Prepare to be inspired by Ona’s vision for the future and her relentless tenacity. If you're interested in more interviews with immigrants at various stages of their migration journey, be sure to subscribe to Zero Generation. Check out Adode Studios and follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adodestudios (https://www.instagram.com/adodestudios) Connect with Ona Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onaoghogho (https://www.instagram.com/onaoghogho) Website: https://www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com) How to connect with me: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (%20https://damilolaonwah.com/%20) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on all the socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah%20) Twitter: https://x.com/DamiOnwah (https://x.com/DamiOnwah%20) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@damionwah (https://www.threads.net/@damionwah%20) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah (https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah) Audio and Video Production by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com/) Music Production by Akinoluwa Oyedele
24 Jul 2024
Nigerian, but not too Nigerian: The Balancing Act of Raising Kids As An Immigrant with Teniola Bamidele
When we think about culture and traditions, we often think about food, ceremonies and religious faiths. But culture is also the way that we live our lives and nowhere do we see that more than how we raise our children. As a Nigerian living in the U.S. who hopes to have children one day, I’ve thought deeply about which parts of my Nigerian upbringing I would want my future children to experience too. So on this episode of Zero Generation, I invite my friend and fellow immigrant Teniola Bamidele to ask her about how she’s raising her four children. Teniola begins by telling me about why she adopted two children and how she’s supporting them as they begin life as young adults far away from home. Then we get into the differences between Nigerian and American parents, discussing whether Teniola asks her kids to prostrate for her and how she felt about her daughter asking to move far away to go to college. You won’t want to miss Teniola explaining the parenting situations where she’s “Nigerian, but not too Nigerian”! Parenting is challenging enough even when you’re not faced with questions about your country or culture of origin. And when you are, it’s a daily balancing act that makes you think deeply about the society you’ve chosen to live in. For more raw, honest conversations from people who are living the Zero Generation immigration experience, subscribe to the podcast. Follow Teniola on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tennesse_22/ (https://www.instagram.com/tennesse_22/) How to connect with me: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (%20https://damilolaonwah.com/%20) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on all the socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah%20) Twitter: https://x.com/DamiOnwah (https://x.com/DamiOnwah%20) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@damionwah (https://www.threads.net/@damionwah%20) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah (https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah) Audio and Video Production by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com/) Music Production by Akinoluwa Oyedele
10 Jul 2024
Faith and Discipline: Lessons from a Successful Entrepreneur with Maya Elious
Send us a Text Message. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2368089/open_sms) If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit the mould of who you’re ‘supposed to be’, this episode of Zero Generation is for you. Maya Elious is the embodiment of blazing your own trail – she’s an African-American personal branding expert who defied her strict upbringing with immigrant parents to build a successful business coaching women of faith. In this candid conversation, I got to dive behind the scenes with someone whose online presence I’ve admired for years. Growing up with strict African parents who had a vision for her to get a good education and corporate job, Maya shares how a twist of fate led her to drop out of college and pursue entrepreneurship instead. She vulnerably discusses the challenges of pivoting from her parents’ expectations to striking out as an entrepreneur, and explains how her upbringing instilled the discipline and faith that ultimately allowed her to succeed. One of the biggest takeaways for me was Maya’s perspective on branding. She shares how being herself online and listening to how others described her naturally attracted her ideal clients and allowed her to shape an on-brand messaging strategy and business. We also discuss what Maya wants for the next generation of her family and Maya reveals details of an exciting new project that she’s working on. Whether you're building a business or just want to share more of your authentic self with the world, Maya’s insights are sure to inspire you. Subscribe to the Zero Generation podcast to catch more stories that shed light on the immigration experience. Connect with Maya (https://www.mayaelious.com/) Follow Maya on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mayaelious) Listen to Maya’s Work Hard, Live Soft podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/work-hard-live-soft-with-maya-elious/id1724290878) How to connect with me: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (%20https://damilolaonwah.com/%20) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on all the socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah%20) Twitter: https://x.com/DamiOnwah (https://x.com/DamiOnwah%20) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@damionwah (https://www.threads.net/@damionwah%20) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah (https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah) Audio and Video Production by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com/) Music Production by Akinoluwa Oyedele
26 Jun 2024
Try, Try, Try, Succeed: How to Launch the Best West African Restaurant in Atlanta with Bawo Oyowe
Send us a Text Message. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2368089/open_sms) Food brings people together and makes them feel at home, no matter where they are in the world. As a Nigerian immigrant who has lived in Chicago, Seattle, and Austin to name a few, I understand this deeply, I feel it in my bones. In this episode of the Zero Generation podcast, I sit down with Bawo Oyowe, the owner of Little Lagos, a Nigerian restaurant that has become a cultural ambassador in Atlanta for the vibrant and delicious cuisine of my homeland. Bawo shares his fascinating journey, from learning to cook alongside his mother who nourished their community with her meals, to taking a chance on entrepreneurship after a serendipitous encounter with a Korean developer. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and an unwavering belief in the power of following your passion. Despite numerous business ventures that didn't work out, Bawo persevered, drawing strength from his immigrant experience of collective struggle and support. Little Lagos stands as a testament to Bawo’s determination and his desire to share an authentic taste of Nigeria with the world. As he reflects on the challenges of maintaining high service standards and consistent product sourcing, I’m inspired by his openness to new ideas and willingness to embrace evolving food trends. You can hear more accounts of the Zero Generation migrant experience by subscribing to the podcast. Check out Little Lagos restaurant and follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlelagosatlanta/ How to connect with me: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (%20https://damilolaonwah.com/%20) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on all the socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah%20) Twitter: https://x.com/DamiOnwah (https://x.com/DamiOnwah%20) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@damionwah (https://www.threads.net/@damionwah%20) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah (https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah) Audio and Video Production by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com/) Music Production by Akinoluwa Oyedele
12 Jun 2024
Reshaping Home: From Nigerian Music Icon to American Entrepreneur with eLDee
Send us a Text Message. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2368089/open_sms) Have you ever felt torn between two cultures, wondering where you truly belong? Then join me for this amazing conversation with my latest guest, eLDee - the iconic Nigerian musician-turned-American real estate mogul. Growing up straddling American and Nigerian influences, eLDee shares his fascinating journey of immigrating to the U.S. while his music career was taking off back in Lagos. From intentionally shifting his base to Nigeria to raise the bar with visuals like being the first to use the RED camera for a music video, to eventually settling more permanently in America, eLDee 's story offers a unique lens into the immigrant experience. He gets candid about grappling with his identity, feeling both Nigerian and American, and hoping to one day help remedy systemic issues in Nigeria through the wisdom gained abroad. eLDee's life is a powerful example of how our cross-cultural experiences can be assets rather than obstacles. If you're ready for honest, thought-provoking conversations about finding home between two worlds, hit subscribe on the Zero Generation podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts. There are more incredible stories like this coming soon! Follow Lanre ‘eLDee’ Dabiri on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/eldeethedon/?hl=en) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/eLDeeTheDon). How to connect with me: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (%20https://damilolaonwah.com/%20) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on all the socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah%20) Twitter: https://x.com/DamiOnwah (https://x.com/DamiOnwah%20) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@damionwah (https://www.threads.net/@damionwah%20) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah (https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah) Audio and Video Production by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com/) Music Production by Akinoluwa Oyedele
23 May 2024
Welcome to Zero Generation: The Migration Conversation
Send us a Text Message. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2368089/open_sms) What is the ‘Zero Generation’? What’s it like to be a part of it? I’m Damilola Onwah, a writer and product manager, and these are questions I have on my mind all the time. Historically, we have this concept of first-generation immigrants and second-generation immigrants, but what about those of us who moved countries as adults in recent years, charting our own path? I'm part of this ‘Zero Generation’: I’m a millennial who chose to move to America and start a new life, leaving my old version of home in Nigeria behind me. There’s a tension in straddling two places that don’t quite feel like home any more. There’s so much courage and hope involved in uprooting yourself from your home for an unknown future in a land far away. These are conversations we’re having behind closed doors, in group chats, on social media, and I want to move them out into the open. On the Zero Generation podcast, I dig deeper into the Zero Generation experience with others who get it. Guests who moved as adults or children, or whose parents made the move before they were born, those parenting cross-culturally, even the ones who tried it and returned home. Whether the journey has been one filled with regret, wistfulness, or hard-won success, I explore all sides of this story. Is immigration worth it? There’s no simple answer, but I’ll pull that thread with every new conversation. Join me on this journey and tell me about your Zero Generation story. Connect with Damilola Onwah: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (https://damilolaonwah.com/) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah/), and catch this podcast on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@damionwah). How to connect with me: Visit my website: https://damilolaonwah.com/ (%20https://damilolaonwah.com/%20) Sign up for my monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter (https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter) Follow me on all the socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah (https://www.instagram.com/damionwah%20) Twitter: https://x.com/DamiOnwah (https://x.com/DamiOnwah%20) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@damionwah (https://www.threads.net/@damionwah%20) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah (https://www.tiktok.com/@damionwah) Audio and Video Production by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com (https://www.adodemedia.com/) Music Production by Akinoluwa Oyedele
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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 5.0 / 5
- 2 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 5 ratings
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