Ariyike Akinbobola: Rooted yet rising
Our guest in this episode is Ariyike Akinbobola, a multifaceted lawyer, media personality, author, and humanitarian. The conversation delves into Ariyike's remarkable journey, highlighting her impactful advocacy for immigrant integration and women's empowerment, as well as her efforts against female genital mutilation.
With a career that bridges law, media, and social activism, Ariyike shares invaluable insights on navigating diverse industries and the importance of building authentic relationships. Listeners are invited to reflect on the transformative power of empathy and connection as Ariyike recounts her experiences in both Nigeria and Canada.
This episode serves as a testament to the resilience and determination required to effect meaningful change in society.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to foster a mindset conducive to personal growth and empowerment.
- Ariyike discusses her multifaceted career spanning law, media, and humanitarian efforts, illustrating the impact of diverse experiences.
- The conversation delves into the significance of networking, highlighting intentionality in building meaningful relationships within professional circles.
- Ariyike's advocacy against female genital mutilation showcases her commitment to women's empowerment and child welfare on a global scale.
- Listeners are encouraged to recognize the humanity in everyone, regardless of their social status or achievements, fostering deeper connections.
- The episode culminates in a discussion about the importance of authenticity and self-awareness in personal empowerment, particularly for women.
If this episode resonates with you, then remember... SUBSCRIBE • 5-Star Rate • COMMENT • SHARE this Podcast!! 💚❤️🙌🏾🙏🏾
Book Recommendation: "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene
Find [GUEST] Online:
Website: https://www.ariyike.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ladyariyike/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariyikeakinbobola/
Find us online: https://linktr.ee/nkechinwaforrobinson
Transcript
Great day.
Speaker A:Amazing human.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Welcome to Empowered at My Skin podcast, where our mission is to help 1 billion people in this world think in more empowering ways.
Speaker A:Empowered humans.
Speaker A:Empower humans.
Speaker A:So you are in the right place to become a lead domino for empowerment today.
Speaker A:My name is Nkechi Mwaho Robinson.
Speaker A:I'm not only your host, but I am a vibrant optimist obsessed to bring you empowering content with every single episode.
Speaker A:We will bring you weekly content, alternating between longer episodes with featured guests and a shorter episode called Empowering Bites, where I will be joined by my co host, Gabby Memone.
Speaker A:So if you're ready, let the show begin.
Speaker A:Great day.
Speaker A:Amazing humans.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Welcome to the next guest episode.
Speaker A:And today our guest is a powerhouse, a lawyer, media personality, author, and humanitarian whose work spans law, entertainment, and advocacy with a career that bridges international law, immigration, and businesses.
Speaker A:She has also graced television screens as a host and producer, using storytelling to highlight culture and social issues.
Speaker A:Beyond that, because that's not all.
Speaker A:She's a fierce advocate for immigrant integration, women's empowerment, and child welfare, earning prestigious global recognition for humanitarian efforts.
Speaker A:From champion the fight against female genital mutilation to supporting immigrant families adjusting to new realities.
Speaker A:Her impact is undeniable.
Speaker A:She's also a published author, of which I have the book as the book.
Speaker A:Hold on.
Speaker A:Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker A:Oh.
Speaker A:For those that are reading it, those that are listening, we'll tell you what the book is in a minute.
Speaker A:But there's a book.
Speaker A:There's a book.
Speaker A:And a published author, a content creator, and a voice for the voiceless.
Speaker A:Today we are diving deep into her journey.
Speaker A:How she balances law, media, and advocacy, the lessons she's learned along the way, and her mission to create a meaningful change.
Speaker A:So, yo, Empower my skin podcast community.
Speaker A:Put your ears, your hands and everything together for this amazing, amazing human champion.
Speaker A:Eric.
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:How you doing?
Speaker A:How are you doing?
Speaker B:I'm doing great.
Speaker A:You know, from.
Speaker A:From when I met you to where you are now, I just.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I love.
Speaker A:One of my favorite words I love is awe.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Oh.
Speaker A:Is one of my favorite words because I think it's such a magical, like.
Speaker A:It's such a magical feeling, like when you're in awe of somebody, it's just.
Speaker A:I like.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And it's funny because there's just so much more left for you to accomplish and do in this world.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:Yeah, just.
Speaker A:It's great.
Speaker A:So we get.
Speaker A:I get to dive in a little bit.
Speaker A:So for.
Speaker A:For listeners, she and I have done an impact.
Speaker A:We've Done a different type of episode.
Speaker A:I think you kind of.
Speaker A:We were more conversational.
Speaker A:I think you might have been interviewing me because you were subbing in for Gabby.
Speaker A:Remember that?
Speaker B:Yes, I remember.
Speaker A:I was just like, this girl's been on the rise, man.
Speaker A:And I think I reached out to him like, like there's some.
Speaker A:There's something, there's something that.
Speaker A:There's something special about what you're doing and how you're doing it and how you're making it happen that needs to like, you got to figure that out because I want to have an interview about that.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:And so today we get to.
Speaker A:We get to figure out some of the.
Speaker A:Your ticks and trips and ticks, tips and tricks, tips and tricks, tips and tricks that you have in your toolkit.
Speaker A:So my first question, I ask every guest, what was your most empowering thought of the day so far?
Speaker A:And I know it's been a day for you, so what's been your most empowering thought?
Speaker B:Okay, that's a very important, funny question.
Speaker B:Most especially on a day like today.
Speaker B:Because you know how today has been.
Speaker B:Yeah, I would say my most empowering thought.
Speaker B:Maybe not most empowering thought.
Speaker B:Maybe the.
Speaker B:Maybe the one thing I've looked forward to the whole day would be talking to you today to get my mind off.
Speaker A:So I'm a thought, I'm a thought.
Speaker A:I would be like.
Speaker A:My most empowering thought of the day was in Kitchi.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:How great in quotes the day has been.
Speaker B:So I would say Inkechi has been.
Speaker A:In 300 and something episodes.
Speaker A:I've never had that before, but I'll take it.
Speaker A:I'll take it.
Speaker A:I'll take it.
Speaker A:So interestingly enough, and you know, like the team did some research, so we'll kind of go in.
Speaker A:But something was really intriguing that you.
Speaker A:When you were.
Speaker A:When you filled out the form that I noticed and you.
Speaker A:And because networking I.
Speaker A:I'm such an advocate for helping people network because it is our.
Speaker A:Your network is your net worth.
Speaker A:And and I truly do believe, like if you don't make it a thin.
Speaker A:And it's just something that you recognize as humans, we're constantly transmitting.
Speaker A:But I want to actually hear from you because I think you have conquered networking.
Speaker A:Like I think that when I was.
Speaker A:Think when I, when I watch you, I'm like, there's like every minute I'm like, now she's on TV and how does she get her own show?
Speaker A:And she has a, like publishing a book and a tour in Canada and like, like so that, that Requires that skill, and so would love.
Speaker A:So as a really opening question, I'm just gonna go in, right.
Speaker A:I'm just really curious, like, the import, like, you know, the importance of networking, especially with everything that you're doing and accomplishing, it's got to be first, like, tantamount to.
Speaker A:To your toolkit.
Speaker A:So, like, how is it.
Speaker A:How do you.
Speaker A:Like, how do you do it and how do you.
Speaker A:How do you approach it?
Speaker A:Like, what does it mean to you?
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And what can you share with the listeners about, you know, to show that it's done?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Okay, awesome question.
Speaker B:Thank you for that.
Speaker B:You see, the thing this is.
Speaker B:This is a question that people ask me a lot when they meet me in person and they're like, come on, how are you able to just walk into and just be that girl in quote?
Speaker B:And, you know, I always just attribute it to my personality as a friendly person.
Speaker B:I'm actually friendly.
Speaker B:I don't have too many friends, but I am friendly.
Speaker B:Like, I would walk into a place and have good conversations with everybody that comes my way.
Speaker B:Now, I find that people do networking wrongly.
Speaker B:And some people think that they're networking, but they're just users.
Speaker B:People don't.
Speaker B:A lot of people don't understand what it is to build a relationship and sustain that relationship.
Speaker B:And, you know, with me, when it comes to networking, I do not just go out there to say, hey, I want to meet 100 people or 50 people.
Speaker B:I'm very intentional about the people that I want to meet.
Speaker B:So if I go to an event and, you know, the maybe 10 guest speakers or five guest.
Speaker B:Because I already know who I want to be there, it could be one person or two people, and there's a reason why I want to meet that person.
Speaker B:And when I meet the person, I'm not just going to come from a place of, oh, hi, I've always wanted to meet you.
Speaker B:Oh, I want you to do this for me.
Speaker B:I want you to do that for me.
Speaker B:I spent time in building that relationship, which is the mistake that people don't make, and that makes them appear to be users.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Moving to Canada, I realized something.
Speaker B:I realized that people that want to meet me are shameless about wanting to meet me.
Speaker B:They're relentless.
Speaker B:They, you know, they reach out to me, send me DM, send me messages on LinkedIn, Instagram, and things like that.
Speaker B:And then at a point in my life, I found out that I was actually only.
Speaker B:I was moving around the people that wanted to meet me.
Speaker B:I wasn't aspiring to meet the people that I wanted to meet.
Speaker B:So I took a step back and I started to research, do my research and look for the people that I wanted to meet.
Speaker B:And then I started to reach out to them.
Speaker B:And you obviously were one of those people.
Speaker B:And look at us now.
Speaker A:Yes, look at us now.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker A:You know?
Speaker A:Yeah, so I was going to say valuable, like, so.
Speaker A:So I love what you just said just there, because it actually made me.
Speaker A:It made me stand up a bit because I realized that a lot of the networking I do, like, if I think about this week and I think about, like on Wednesday, I.
Speaker A:I had back to.
Speaker A:Back to back.
Speaker A:I had one yesterday.
Speaker A:I had one yesterday evening.
Speaker A:The evening one would have been the only one this week that was someone who I was like, was more purpose.
Speaker A:Like, it was more about expanding my network.
Speaker A:The other ones, I like how you classified it, because I was thinking, I'm networking, right?
Speaker A:There are people that want to meet me.
Speaker A:And while I'm networking with them, because it is true, because it is a mutual exchange, right?
Speaker A:I got to meet them.
Speaker A:They weren't.
Speaker A:I didn't pick them.
Speaker B:And they picked you.
Speaker A:Yeah, they picked me.
Speaker A:And so I, I would say if I kind of think about, especially in the last year, I have.
Speaker A:I have networked more with people that picked me than me, sort of saying that in this year, these are all the people I want to meet.
Speaker A:So I actually just want to let you know, you just schooled me.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker B:And, you know, yeah, it's true because we, We.
Speaker B:We find that the people who want to meet us, they're very shameless about it.
Speaker B:Like, they would.
Speaker B:They would do everything that they need to do to make sure that they.
Speaker B:They meet you or reach you or, you know, reach out to somebody who knows you to make sure that you notice them.
Speaker B:But a lot of times the people that you want to meet, you see them from a distance and you're like, oh, I would love to meet that person.
Speaker B:But a lot of times you don't take the step in the direction to actually meet the person.
Speaker B:And I find I.
Speaker B:I found that a lot of times that I have actually gone in that direction to try to meet that person.
Speaker B:I found that the person actually wanted to meet me too.
Speaker B:So it was a.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So it became a mutual thing where even though they didn't know me, because of the value that I brought to the person's life, they were happy that I actually came into their life.
Speaker B:So networking, meeting people is not just about what you can get.
Speaker B:You have to Go there and add value.
Speaker B:Like, people just come and they're like, oh, can you do this on me?
Speaker B:Oh, I want you to do that.
Speaker B:I want you to do that.
Speaker B:And a lot of times, like, you're like, you haven't even said hi to me in the last three months.
Speaker A:Interestingly, I'm going to put a friend of mine on blast.
Speaker A:Like, you should have seen this text message.
Speaker A: they texted me was, like, in: Speaker A:And so they have no, like, obviously, I don't know what's happened in their life.
Speaker A:They have no idea what's happening in my life.
Speaker A:They just sent me a note and it was like, one sentence, and it said, can you introduce me to this person?
Speaker A:So, and they're probably listening to this podcast.
Speaker A:So, yes, I'm putting y'all, I'm not putting your name out, but I'm putting you on blast.
Speaker A:And I, this was too funny because I, I, what did I say?
Speaker A:I said, hold on, Delete.
Speaker A:So I had to say, I said, oh, great day.
Speaker A:Person's name.
Speaker A:We don't say hello these days.
Speaker A:And I said, how awesome are you doing?
Speaker A:I'm well, thank you for asking.
Speaker A:And then that was yesterday.
Speaker A:And then today they responded again.
Speaker A:They, like, they said, oh, I'm so sorry.
Speaker A:And then they said, and then they went on and explained what, why they reached out and I said, yet still no great morning, Inc.
Speaker A:No greeting, just blam.
Speaker A:And then they're like, oh, my God, I'm so sorry.
Speaker A:How often.
Speaker A:How awesome have you been?
Speaker A:How, because, so actually, I think that that's a product of.
Speaker A:And now I, you know, now we're taking this, we'll, we'll close on this.
Speaker A:But I think that's a product sometimes of, like, we network.
Speaker A:We, like, I think you talked about, like, you have to also cultivate the relationship.
Speaker B:Cultivate the relationship.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Otherwise it does actually just come like that.
Speaker A:Like, you tend to reach out to your network when you are in a, in a, in a, like, in a point of desperation.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker B:And then that it doesn't make you look good.
Speaker A:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker A:It's not a good, it's not a good look.
Speaker A:It's not a good look.
Speaker B:It's not.
Speaker A:So let's talk about it.
Speaker A:Like, so, such a dynamic career.
Speaker A:In fact, I, I do have a question for you because I, I, I learned through some, this research and I've Known you for three years or something?
Speaker A:Four years.
Speaker A:Four years probably.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I, I do want to talk a little bit about the work that you've done around female genital mutilation and so really interested to that later on.
Speaker A:But you've had such a dynamic career and starting as a lawyer in Nigeria, transitioning into media and entertainment, and now working in business, immigration in Canada.
Speaker A:So what can you say has been your biggest lesson?
Speaker A:Navigating these different industries, different and cultures.
Speaker B:I would say my biggest lesson would be just learning about people.
Speaker B:Because every career that I've, you know, been, that I've had has had to do with working directly with people.
Speaker B:And I found that people, regardless of, you know, whether they're C suite executives, the VIP clients that I work with, or the celebrities that I interviewed when I was in Nigeria, these people, everyone is just human.
Speaker B:The way people put people on a pedestal and say, oh, this person is, you know, this person or this person is too big or whatever.
Speaker B:I find that my greatest lesson has been in just humanizing people regardless of who they are or where they've come from because I've had to interact with them on different levels.
Speaker B:On levels of people being celebrities, on the level of people who are getting their work permits to move to a different country to go and work.
Speaker B:And I find that people are just people.
Speaker B:Some of the people that you would expect to be nasty who are, you know, people who are very rich or the celebrities, they're the sweetest ones.
Speaker B:And then the people that you would expect to be able to even come to your level and just relate to you one on one.
Speaker B:They're the ones who sometimes are, you know, hardest to work with or you know, hard to work with.
Speaker B:So I would say that, you know, my biggest lesson would be in dealing with different people from all walks of life.
Speaker B:Give me the most complicated person.
Speaker B:I would work with the person and you know, person is not going to get a bad side of me to come out.
Speaker B:I will work with the person accordingly.
Speaker B:Give me the nicest person, sweetest person.
Speaker B:I know how to work with the person.
Speaker B:So I would say the different careers that I've had have made me know and understand how to communicate with people from all, all walks of life.
Speaker B:And the work that I've done has also made me realize that you, communication is not a one way street.
Speaker B:You cannot communicate with everyone the same way.
Speaker B:You communicate with people differently because of their background, you know, the culture, where they come from or the work that they are doing, even if they work in the same organization.
Speaker B:So human beings are different, and you have to know how to work with them accordingly.
Speaker B:I would say that's been my biggest lesson.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:But I have to just say, because being.
Speaker A:Being Nigerian, like, born here in Canada, but typically, like, my parents kind of raised my brother and I.
Speaker A:Like, we were in Nigeria, to be quite honest.
Speaker A:Like, my friends would come by, it wasn't pizza, and.
Speaker A:And all that was fufu and pepper soup.
Speaker A:And the poor bums were.
Speaker A:The poor bums were burning, and the only thing they didn't try to do is speak to them in Igbo.
Speaker A:But, you know, but anyway, so.
Speaker A:Yeah, so Grata grew up a lot around the culture.
Speaker A:The only reason I don't speak the language is because they had a bad experience with my brother because he learned Igbo in Canada before he learned English, and then he couldn't communicate when her parents weren't around.
Speaker A:So they're like, okay, so I thought I lost.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So I was like, I want to learn Igbo.
Speaker A:Anyway, I digress.
Speaker A:But, man, I'm sorry.
Speaker A:Evils are very.
Speaker A:No, Nigerians are very different than Canadians.
Speaker A:So I know you say people are people, but.
Speaker A:But more.
Speaker A:So how.
Speaker A:How was the transition?
Speaker A:Like, what was the experience like?
Speaker A:Nigeria is the sixth most populous country in the world.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:And then we also know that outside of the country itself, which is about 270 now, is that to what it is?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I think we should be up to three.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:300 million.
Speaker A:Just for everyone that's wondering, is it 200 people?
Speaker A:No, 300.
Speaker A:300.
Speaker B:I feel like, in the threes.
Speaker A:300 million people.
Speaker A:So Nigerians are everywhere, truth be told.
Speaker A:Like, it's like, at least you're gonna find one somewhere, wherever you go.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker A:But that said, did Canada feel small or big or, like, what.
Speaker A:How did it.
Speaker A:How does.
Speaker A:How did Canada feel in comparison?
Speaker B:Okay, so in comparison to 90 Nigeria, how did Canada feel?
Speaker B:When I just got to Canada, I would say strange.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:Oh, okay.
Speaker B:I'm strange.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:I wouldn't use the word small or big or, like, bigger or smaller than Nigeria.
Speaker B:It just felt strange.
Speaker B:I'm strange because I have traveled to a lot of different countries.
Speaker B:I had traveled before I moved to Canada.
Speaker B:Well, I had never been to Canada before I moved here, first time coming, and it was a straight move.
Speaker B:So it felt very strange because I.
Speaker B:Because Canada is close to the US I had anticipated that Canada would be very similar to the US oh, in terms of even the sizes of the houses.
Speaker B:The.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I thought Canada was just like, yikes.
Speaker B:So I was like, oh, pretty similar.
Speaker B:Yeah, big deal.
Speaker A:Especially now.
Speaker A:Sorry.
Speaker B:Especially now.
Speaker A:Yeah, let's not.
Speaker A:Let's not go there on this podcast.
Speaker B:And then I'm like, so.
Speaker B:And I'm trying very hard to.
Speaker B:I'm trying not to use certain words, but.
Speaker B:But certain words might come out.
Speaker B:And I apologize in advance to anybody who may feel offended, but I felt as if.
Speaker B:Okay, so I don't want to say.
Speaker A:No, please, I'm Canadian.
Speaker A:I'm not offended.
Speaker B:I don't want to say.
Speaker B:I don't want to say.
Speaker B:I don't want to say the wrong thing, but I.
Speaker B:I thought that Canada was very similar to the US Let me put it that way.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then I came here and, you know, I saw that it was still a growing country.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Growing in terms of everything.
Speaker B:Even in terms of infrastructure, buildings and things like that.
Speaker B:I never thought Canada was like this.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Honestly, I.
Speaker B:Yeah, I.
Speaker B:I didn't think.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's not.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:That's not offensive.
Speaker A:Yeah, no, no, I can see that.
Speaker A:I can see that.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:So compared to where I was coming from.
Speaker B:Lagos.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, gosh.
Speaker B:Lagos is.
Speaker B:Lagos is like New York.
Speaker A:It makes Canada quiet.
Speaker B:Hustling, and there's a hustle and bustle.
Speaker B:Like you, You.
Speaker B:You're driving.
Speaker A:There's.
Speaker B:There are like a million cars on the road and animals.
Speaker B:People are horning.
Speaker B:So there's chaos.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:But even regardless of the chaos, it's still good chaos.
Speaker B:Because, I mean, I.
Speaker B:I enjoyed living in Lagos, so I expected a certain type of vibe when I was.
Speaker B:When I moved here.
Speaker B:And then compared to that, you know, it was just very quiet, quiet, very serene.
Speaker B:I mean, it's good.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:It's just different when you're coming from.
Speaker B:Chaos and you come to the place and you're like.
Speaker B:You're like, wait.
Speaker A:It's very different.
Speaker A:It's very difficult.
Speaker B:It takes time.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:It takes time for you to adjust to the, you know, to the, to the normalcy and to the, you know, to the calmness.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I.
Speaker B:I didn't think Canada was like this.
Speaker B:This calm and this.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So let's talk about developing and developing.
Speaker B:I didn't.
Speaker B:I didn't think it was still developing, but, you know, they're still building houses and things like that, which is good.
Speaker A:And still we have a lot of land mass.
Speaker A:A lot of.
Speaker A:Yeah, a lot.
Speaker A:So your latest book, One Way Ticket to Canada, explores the diaspora experience, which I love.
Speaker A:What inspired you to write this?
Speaker A:What do you hope like leaders, especially immigrants.
Speaker A:Take away from it.
Speaker B:Okay, thanks for that question.
Speaker B:So the whole essence of the book is for newcomers to read and have a sense of understanding as to what Canada is like from my perspective and from the perspectives of the other people who contributed to the book.
Speaker B:The other.
Speaker B:Because I shared some stories.
Speaker B:I shared stories of immigrants.
Speaker B:Some were real, some are fiction, some are nonfiction.
Speaker B:And, you know, you have to read the book to understand what we're talking about here.
Speaker B:But I was very intentional about not disclosing which of the stories were not real because I wanted people to just read the book and just have a whole sense of the immigrant journey, as to what people go through when they move abroad, most especially people who move as adult immigrants.
Speaker B:It's different when you move here for school as a student and you have your parents funding your education and things like that, or when you move here as a child who is accompanying their parents.
Speaker B:It's different from when you are the parents and you're coming here to pretty much a new country to start all over again in terms of building those relationships that you want to grow in a new country.
Speaker B:I always say this when I go to Nigeria.
Speaker B:Like, when I go to Nigeria, I can get to Nigeria today and be out this night because it's.
Speaker B:It's, like, easy for me.
Speaker B:I still have my best friends in Nigeria.
Speaker B:I have my mom in Nigeria.
Speaker B:I have my brothers.
Speaker B:I have family in Nigeria.
Speaker B:But moving to a country where you.
Speaker B:You don't really know people, and then you.
Speaker B:This is going to be home for the next couple of years.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's.
Speaker B:I didn't have a book like this to read.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So it's a gift from.
Speaker B:From me to immigrants for them to, you know, buy.
Speaker B:And I said, it's a gift, but they're gonna buy.
Speaker B:But, yeah, support.
Speaker B:Support my husband.
Speaker A:But I get what you mean.
Speaker A:You could buy gifts.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:You buy gifts.
Speaker A:You didn't say you gifts.
Speaker B:No, no, no.
Speaker B:I'm saying, like, it's a gift.
Speaker B:It's a gift from me.
Speaker A:And they're buying your book?
Speaker A:Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker B:So it's a book where, you know, I just want people to read.
Speaker B:And it's not only for newcomers.
Speaker B:Some people have been in this country for a couple of years, and they still don't know how to navigate, you know, situations and things about Canada.
Speaker B:So from my own experience, I share and I shared how I was able to just get to where I am today.
Speaker B:And, you know, it's still an ongoing journey.
Speaker B:Who knows?
Speaker B:There may be another one Way to get to Canada, Part two tomorrow.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:And your chapter around cultivating friendships and in adulthood and building the community and kind of what we were talking about before, about people are people.
Speaker A:I love what you say.
Speaker A:It almost feels like we're all jam bites or freshmen again, starting a new phase of life together as new immigrants with so many different personalities and character traits, you'll quickly realize that without clear boundaries, you could easily find yourself in a pot of hot pepper soup.
Speaker A:Thankfully, that has what's the hip with Nigerians and pepper soup.
Speaker A:But thankfully, that has not been the case with my connections is I have emotional intelligence and a clear understanding of how to manage relationships with humans of all ages.
Speaker A:And so indirectly, you're suggesting, like, that's really what it is.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Like, humans are humans.
Speaker A:You're a human yourself, and you've navigated this journey so beautifully.
Speaker A:So, yeah.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you for.
Speaker A:Thank you for sharing this.
Speaker A:Thank you for gifting the world, I'm gonna say, and in leaving your legacy.
Speaker A:It's not your only book.
Speaker A:You have written some children's books.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I have two other books, Beautifully colored Children's book on Kindness, Diversity, Inclusion and Positive affirmations.
Speaker B:And that one has become an Amazon bestseller multiple times.
Speaker B:And it's a book that I also wrote because I moved here and I was looking for books about diversity and inclusion to teach my children about, you know, the different people who.
Speaker B:The kids from different, you know, backgrounds who are in their classes because they moved to Canada and then they were the only black kids in their classes.
Speaker B:So I just wanted them to read a book or just see pictures just to make them understand that regardless of where you come from, you're beautifully colored.
Speaker B:And I wasn't finding any books.
Speaker B:And you know what they say about books.
Speaker B:Like, if you're looking for a book that you can't.
Speaker B:If you.
Speaker B:If you're looking for a book and you can't find it, why not just write it?
Speaker B:So that was why I wrote the book.
Speaker B:And the book has just.
Speaker B:It blew up even beyond my own imagination.
Speaker B:But the book, it's just a very small book, very simple.
Speaker B:It didn't take me too much effort to write, but it's done really, really well.
Speaker B:It's done really well.
Speaker A:So, as I mentioned at the start, I really want to just dive into some of the work you've done around and where you've been recognized around.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:Advocating for.
Speaker A:Against, I guess, female genital mutilation and your efforts in supporting disadvantaged communities.
Speaker A:So, I mean, on both of those fronts, it's not easy work.
Speaker A:So, one, why female genital mutilation, for one?
Speaker A:Because this is new territory for me, learning about you and what really, like, what drives your passion for.
Speaker A:For this level and the depth of advocacy that you.
Speaker A:That you.
Speaker A:That you go to.
Speaker B:Okay, thanks for that.
Speaker B:So when I worked on tv, you're.
Speaker A:Thinking me for everything when I have to.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:Because, I mean, bringing me here.
Speaker B:Bringing me here is such a big deal.
Speaker B:So thank you for that as well.
Speaker B:You're gonna hear a lot of thank yous tonight.
Speaker B:Get ready.
Speaker B:Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker B:So, yeah, back to.
Speaker B:Back to the question.
Speaker B:So I have always done, you know, advocacy with everything and anything that has to do with children, most especially the girl child.
Speaker B:And when I work, when I lived in Nigeria, I went for.
Speaker B:I hosted an event called Meets Media, where we had, like, it was a media event where media personalities will come every month, and then I would have a fireside chat with one celebrity and would recognize the celebrity and then, you know, just do a lot of PR for that person.
Speaker B:So it was every month we had, like, different Nigerian celebrities come on.
Speaker B:And then this particular month, we didn't have a celebrity because we were recognizing female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:The things that had been going on in Nigeria with regards to.
Speaker B:To female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:I didn't know much about fgm.
Speaker B:I just, you know, heard about it in passing and, you know, how sometimes when something doesn't directly concern you, you really don't even spend time learning about it.
Speaker B:But because I was going to interview people who were working on the campaign, I had to do my research and I started to read about female genital mutilation, which, you know, has to do with cutting of the girl.
Speaker B:Yeah, I know.
Speaker B:Details, tmi.
Speaker B:And then I found out that my state, where I'm from, which is Ocean State, had one of the highest prevalency rates.
Speaker B:I had actually thought that it was something that happened in another region of Nigeria.
Speaker B:I didn't know that, you know, the western part of Nigeria was part of the still, you know, doing part the practice.
Speaker B:And, you know, that also that just piqued my interest.
Speaker B:And I started to do more research.
Speaker B:And when the team came and we, you know, asked questions and we put the spotlight on them, it was a campaign that UNICEF was working on which was called End Cutting Girls.
Speaker B:And they were doing something called the Frown Challenge, where they needed people to frown against female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:And they needed a lot of people to frown against it just to, to show that, to advocate.
Speaker B:So I told them I wanted to join the campaign because it was something that just, I felt greatly connected to it because it's something that affects the girl child.
Speaker B:And in doing my research, one of the things I found out was that it has no benefits to the girl child.
Speaker B:So why are parents, why were parents doing that to the daughters when it had no health benefits?
Speaker B:Instead, it causes complications for the girl child.
Speaker B:So I wanted my voice to be heard.
Speaker B:And because I worked on tv, it was easy for me to get radio interviews or, you know, get featured to talk about it.
Speaker B:So I told them that I would work on the campaign.
Speaker B:And because I joined the campaign, I was able to spread the word about female genital mutilation, abandonment.
Speaker B:And I also went to where I'm from, which is Igbo in Ocean State, and I met with the King, who is a very, very close family friend to my family.
Speaker B:And I, he's like a father to us.
Speaker B:And I told him what was going on.
Speaker B:And he used to live in Canada before, so he's very, you know, he's very educated and enlightened.
Speaker B:And he also did the frown challenge thing to.
Speaker B:Yeah, and he spoke with people there and told them that if they're still practicing this, then they need to stop female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:And you know how it is.
Speaker B:It's easier for people, you know, in people from our hometowns to listen to the King than for, for one, I really care to come and say, hey, don't do this, don't do this, don't do this.
Speaker B:So he was very helpful.
Speaker B:And then the other people I was working with, they also got people in their communities to talk about the dangers of female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:And because of the work that we did, I was awarded, I got an award, I got a frown award.
Speaker B:That's where I came from for the advocacy work that I did.
Speaker B:And you know, it's.
Speaker B:Sometimes you don't even feel as if you're doing much, but because of, because of how you're talking about something people are going to hear and then just because they've heard you say that, then they're going to make sure that their daughter, daughters don't become, you know, victims or survivors of female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:I remember back then, a lot of people reach out to me on Instagram and say, hey, you know, my, my mother in law, I just had a daughter.
Speaker B:My mother in law wants to take her and go and circumcise her.
Speaker B:But because I've been watching what you guys are doing, I'm gonna put my foot down and make sure that they don't do this to my daughter.
Speaker B:And we're talking about educated people who's husband, like bankers and, you know, things like that, so.
Speaker A:Well, good.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:I mean, that's some really great, great work.
Speaker A:And so I commend you.
Speaker A:I commend you.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:And, and I reached out to the.
Speaker B:Because they have, they have a female genital mutilation abandonment organization here in Canada.
Speaker B:And I did reach out to them to, to, to meet with them, but we've not been able to meet.
Speaker B:But yeah, I'm definitely going to do work with them once we, Once we meet.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Because I sent them my profile, told them what I had done, and, you know, they replied me and they were very happy that they were happy to, to connect.
Speaker B:So we're going to connect soon because I have seen the survivors, I've spoken with survivors of female genital mutilation.
Speaker B:They joined the campaign with us.
Speaker B:And, you know, it's a different thing to talk about something when you have, you don't have a face.
Speaker A:Right, Right.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:But I've seen faces.
Speaker B:I've seen people I know.
Speaker B:I know people who, you know, you feel it.
Speaker A:You feel it.
Speaker B:You, you, you feel it.
Speaker B:Yes, because I know them directly.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Good on you.
Speaker A:Really, Honestly, Honestly.
Speaker A:Flowers.
Speaker A:I give you flowers.
Speaker A:So now I am.
Speaker A:I mean, I, there's so much, there's so much more that I could talk to you about, like the.
Speaker A:But I'm gonna, But I want to perhaps bring you back again.
Speaker A:So I'm gonna take.
Speaker B:I would love to be back.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:So I'm gonna take you through what we call a rapid thrivers.
Speaker A:And so when you think of.
Speaker A:So number one, when you think of someone who inspires you, who comes first to mind?
Speaker B:Do I, do I have to give, like a quick answer?
Speaker B:Is it one of those quick answer things?
Speaker A:You can tell me who and you can get and give me why?
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm okay.
Speaker B:Does it have to be just one person or can it be.
Speaker A:There's no rules.
Speaker A:Write your own rules.
Speaker B:So I, I love, I love Oprah Winfrey.
Speaker B:She inspires me a lot.
Speaker B:Regardless of everything she's been through, she's been able to build her empire and she continues to touch lives positively and just, you know, shine the light on other people to share their stories.
Speaker B:So watching her is a huge inspiration for me and I hope to meet her one day.
Speaker B:I actually sends my book to her.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:I sent one of my.
Speaker B:So talking about network.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:You're the queen.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I sent.
Speaker B:I sent one of my books to her when David Oyelo, the actor, when he came to Nigeria, I met him and I gave him my books, and I, you know, signed one for Oprah because I know they're very close.
Speaker B:And he said he would get it across to her.
Speaker B:So I don't know if she ever got it.
Speaker B:But, yes, I reached out to her book club as well.
Speaker B:I reached out a few times, and I.
Speaker B:I know that I.
Speaker B:I would definitely get to meet her.
Speaker A:Yes, yes.
Speaker B:So that's one person.
Speaker A:Did you want to give me another one person?
Speaker B:Yes, of course.
Speaker B:That's one person that inspires me, that doesn't know me yet.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And my mom also inspires me.
Speaker B:And one.
Speaker B:One of the reasons why I.
Speaker B:I'm putting her name out there is because, I mean, she's.
Speaker B:She raised six of us, six children, four boys and two girls, raised all of us.
Speaker B:And she's a pharmacist.
Speaker B:She's gonna be 80 this year, by God's grace.
Speaker B:And then she also had to stay with my dad.
Speaker B:My dad had Parkinson's disease for 15 years.
Speaker B:And, you know, just watching how my mom took care of him, how she never abandoned him or, you know, made him feel like he was sick and having to raise all of us as well with a father who had Parkinson's and who, you know, my dad had a huge sense of humor.
Speaker B:And even when he was sick, he was still very funny.
Speaker B:Like, he would still make us laugh.
Speaker B:And, you know, regardless of what he was going through and all that, he would still bring joy.
Speaker B:And my mom, on the other hand, would always just still be there to do everything and anything for him, even though she was going old as well.
Speaker B:And of course, we were there to support while we were in the house as well.
Speaker B:So just watching her navigate everything that she's been through in life, you know, everything life has thrown at her, she's still always very positive, always looking for how to help other people, how to just, you know, put smiles on the faces of other widows, because she has, like.
Speaker B:She has a.
Speaker B:A group of, like, 30 widows that she.
Speaker B:She helps out in her village, where she's from.
Speaker B:He live.
Speaker B:Is from the royal family there.
Speaker B:So she has, like, people that she empowers, women that she empowers and things like that.
Speaker B:And she still does it so gracefully.
Speaker B:So Two, number three, the woman on this podcast right here.
Speaker B:This woman, in fact, I feel like getting up to go and bring a pot of flowers behind me to say, take your flowers, mama.
Speaker B:Take, take, take, take, take, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it.
Speaker B:So you, of course.
Speaker B:Definitely.
Speaker B:And you know that because I always tell you, I watch you, I see all that you do.
Speaker B:I see how you are always so welcoming, how you, you know, it's.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker A:It's you.
Speaker B:You look at people who are in your position, and there's no access.
Speaker B:People don't give access, but you give access.
Speaker B:And you not only give access, you give access, and you also ensure that your tribe is good.
Speaker B:Like, you look out for everybody.
Speaker B:You want to make sure that everyone is good.
Speaker B:I remember when I, you know, I.
Speaker B:I don't know what cohort I was in your empowering in.
Speaker B:In my skin, I think we're called 304.
Speaker A:Are you on the picture?
Speaker A:No, you weren't.
Speaker B:We were.
Speaker B:We were doing the pandemic, so.
Speaker B:No, I think we were the ones.
Speaker A:After that picture was pandemic.
Speaker B:I have to go back.
Speaker A:Yeah, it was with Chittam.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was zoom.
Speaker A:It was Zoom.
Speaker A:Was Chitima in that group?
Speaker B:I'm not sure.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Was Temmie?
Speaker B:No, she was.
Speaker A:Okay, then you were two.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, yeah, they were the ones before.
Speaker B:Yeah, those.
Speaker B:Those are ours.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:They gave me a nice, beautiful picture.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:So you.
Speaker B:And, you know, I told you something.
Speaker B:I said, just join in and shout out to Shade.
Speaker B:Love, love, love.
Speaker B:Shade.
Speaker B:As in case you say shade, I love me some shade, because Shadi was the one.
Speaker B:Shady was the one that, you know, she plugged me right in, you know, so that.
Speaker B:That was a life changer for me because it just like joining.
Speaker B:Joining your sessions and then you bring in all those inspirational people to also talk to us.
Speaker B:Was a confident confidence booster for me, who was a new immigrant then and just, you know, trying to navigate my way in Canada.
Speaker B:So thank you for that.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker B:You inspire me, and you inspire me a great, great deal.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I mean, you're that woman that I watch you.
Speaker B:I look at you and, you know, I see that anything is possible when I see you.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:I feel like it's turned.
Speaker A:I'm.
Speaker A:Look, I'm watching you now, and I'm like, okay, I gotta step up my game.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:So what is the daily activity that helps you with Your thrive.
Speaker B:Okay?
Speaker B:So daily activity that helps me with my thrive.
Speaker B:I wake up early, okay?
Speaker B:I wake up, I'm up by 5 sometimes 5:30, say my prayers, breathe, do my breathing exercises.
Speaker B:I breathe, breathe, breathe and you know, start my day.
Speaker B:And the beautiful thing about this country is that I feel as if time, time doesn't move quickly.
Speaker B:Honestly, if you've lived in Lagos, ah, even when I went to Nigeria in January, ah, you wake up in the.
Speaker A:Morning, ah, you're like, like it's, it's frantic.
Speaker B:Honestly, in Canada, I feel as if I have my 24 hours.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker B:And I'm.
Speaker B:And I'm not up for 24 hours, obviously, but I, I can plan my day, like, I can my whole day.
Speaker B:I can have as many hours to do things I want to do.
Speaker B:Unlike when I lived in Nigeria, where it was in Nigeria, sometimes I felt as if I was playing catch up.
Speaker B:Like, because you're trying to get somewhere, you're in traffic for three hours or two hours, you have five things on your to do list, you're only able to do two.
Speaker B:But in Canada, if I have 10 things on my to do list, I would do everything.
Speaker A:We need to talk because that ain't my life.
Speaker A:I feel like my life is the way you described.
Speaker A:I live in Lagos.
Speaker B:Maybe you need to live in Lagos.
Speaker A:Maybe I need to go and then come back and then it's just sort of like if you've ever worked at IBM, like IBM.
Speaker A:IBM, I worked for IBM Canada.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:My gosh.
Speaker A:After you work for IBM, there's no company that gives you as much work as you have at IBM.
Speaker A:Like, that's what you're describing, right?
Speaker A:Like, like, Mike, like IBM introduced me to like, being able to manage big capacity, right?
Speaker A:Like, and so, so much so.
Speaker A:Like when I joined the next organization, I remember on Fridays I would go into the office and the parking lot was empty.
Speaker A:I'm like, where, where are the humans?
Speaker B:Where's everyone?
Speaker A:IBM.
Speaker A:You'd still be there like 5, 6 o'clock on a Friday.
Speaker A:But anyway, yeah, so I, I get that.
Speaker A:I get that.
Speaker B:I think that's similar to me as well, because my first job in Canada.
Speaker B:Canada was.
Speaker B:Ey, there you go.
Speaker A:Another.
Speaker A:Yeah, any.
Speaker A:What's that?
Speaker A:Another one in.
Speaker A:It's another big training school one in the US that people talk about.
Speaker A:Like, if you get through it, you're good.
Speaker A:The CEO of Red Lobster, the Nigerian guy, he went there.
Speaker B:The Nigerian guy, The young guy.
Speaker A:Yeah, he worked there.
Speaker A:He worked there.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:What's a What's a big firm?
Speaker A:Oh, gosh, we Google.
Speaker B:It's not coming to.
Speaker B:It's not coming to mind.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Anyway, so there's a big firm.
Speaker B:So, I mean, for me, the ey that I worked at, I think that trained me with that.
Speaker B:I'm like, yo.
Speaker A:Yes, you can do anything.
Speaker A:Right, right, right.
Speaker B:Click on anything.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker B:So, yeah.
Speaker B:So waking up early and just starting my day.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:What is.
Speaker A:What is it?
Speaker B:I write as well.
Speaker B:I write.
Speaker A:I know you do.
Speaker B:I journal.
Speaker B:Yes, yes.
Speaker B:I journal.
Speaker B:Like, I write my thoughts.
Speaker B:I just.
Speaker B:Look at me.
Speaker B:I have a pencil here.
Speaker B:I always have.
Speaker A:Yes, yes.
Speaker B:And I just.
Speaker B:I just write yes.
Speaker B:Because I feel like that helps me as well.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I love journaling.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I love journaling.
Speaker A:What is a book that's helped you with your thrive?
Speaker B:A book that has helped me with my thrive.
Speaker B:To be honest.
Speaker A:I want you to.
Speaker A:I want you to lie.
Speaker B:No, I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker B:No, I know that.
Speaker B:I think one of the books.
Speaker B:I think one of the books that I read that really kind of shaped me would be the.
Speaker B:Is it a 50 laws of power?
Speaker A:Is it that.
Speaker A:Let me check.
Speaker A:And by the way, the Goldman Sachs.
Speaker A:If you work at Goldman Sachman Sacks.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:If you work at Goldman Sachs, then you can work.
Speaker A:Apparently you can work anywhere.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:50.
Speaker A:What did you call it?
Speaker B:50 laws of power.
Speaker B:A book that I read.
Speaker A:Yes, I read the Laws of Power.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And it just.
Speaker B:It just.
Speaker B:It teaches you.
Speaker B:It teaches you about.
Speaker B:It teaches you about life.
Speaker B:It teaches you about leadership.
Speaker B:It teaches you.
Speaker B:40.
Speaker A:40 laws of power.
Speaker B:40 laws.
Speaker B:40 laws of power.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:40 laws of power.
Speaker B:48.
Speaker A:48 laws of power.
Speaker A:Robert Greene.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:I read it a long time ago and it just.
Speaker B:It has stuck in my head.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:You know.
Speaker B:Yes, yes.
Speaker B:That book.
Speaker B:And then.
Speaker B:And then John Grisham novels.
Speaker B:I'm such a John Grisham fan.
Speaker A:I have.
Speaker A:Of course he's still writing.
Speaker B:No, I have.
Speaker B:I have all the old books.
Speaker B:I don't know if there are any new books.
Speaker B:If they.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:I should check because if they're new books, I would love to.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I have not written.
Speaker A:I've not written one of his books.
Speaker A:I've watched all the movies, but I haven't written.
Speaker A:I used to love John Grisham.
Speaker A:The other author I used to love when I read non fiction was J.D.
Speaker A:robb, and she write under Nora.
Speaker A:Nora Rob.
Speaker A:Okay, so JD Rob.
Speaker A:And then she had.
Speaker A:She had a series with Eve.
Speaker A:Eve and Rourke.
Speaker A:Oh, my gosh, that was the best.
Speaker A:That was the best.
Speaker A:What is an app that helps?
Speaker B:And I also, I, I also.
Speaker B:Sorry, I, I, I want rapid thr.
Speaker B:I wanted to add this one because, I mean, we were, we were at her event.
Speaker A:Oh, Bozoma recently.
Speaker A:Urgent Life.
Speaker B:Yeah, Bozoma's as well.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Urgent Life.
Speaker B:I, I read that book.
Speaker B:I liked it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I read it long before I even met her.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's interesting because I never, I never read the book, but I've listened to so much, like, episodes talk.
Speaker A:She's done.
Speaker A:I should, I should.
Speaker A:I should read the book.
Speaker A:But I've read.
Speaker A:I listen to so much work that she does.
Speaker B:It's a book.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's a good book because it also, it also, it also teaches you how to live intentionally, which I'm, I'm very big on that.
Speaker B:I've always, you know, been intentional about how I live my life.
Speaker A:I'll get it.
Speaker A:I'll get it.
Speaker A:What is an app that helps you with your thrive?
Speaker B:Speechify.
Speaker B:I love Speechify.
Speaker B:Speechify is an app.
Speaker B:Speechify is an app that reads to you.
Speaker B:It reads whatever document or book it is to you.
Speaker B:So when I have, like, articles and stuff that I need to read, I just put it in.
Speaker B:Put it in Speechify and it reads to me, and it reads in different voices.
Speaker B:You can choose.
Speaker B:Yes, you can choose.
Speaker B:I, I do the paid version, and the paid version can give you different voices.
Speaker B:You won't have Snoop Doggy Dog's voice.
Speaker A:So you can, you can upload books to it or you can upload.
Speaker A:Well, you'd have to have the PDF of the book, I'm assuming.
Speaker B:PDF?
Speaker B:Yes, anything that is any PDF or Word document.
Speaker B:You can, you can upload it and then speechi.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:It will read Speechify.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Let me give you a new one, because since you like it.
Speaker A:So I recognize that I used to be an avid reader, could read, read, read, read, read.
Speaker A:And then all of a sudden, I was like, why is my.
Speaker A:Like, why is this taking me so long to get through a book?
Speaker A: Literally, like: Speaker A: But I needed to do it for: Speaker A:But still, I'm just going to share.
Speaker A:I read the Intended soul for a second time, and I swear I read it like a chapter a month, you know, And.
Speaker A:But it was very timely because I was actually now doing the work.
Speaker A:Like, I get stuck in doing the work.
Speaker A:Like, I find that as I'm writing, I'm thinking, like, something I'm writing makes me come up with a speech or something like that.
Speaker A:But sometimes it's just like my attention goes somewhere else.
Speaker A:I was like, what was I.
Speaker A:Why like.
Speaker A:Anyway, so there's this app called Notebook lm.
Speaker A:Notebook LM Notebook lm.
Speaker A:And what you could do is you could put any PDF, you could put PDF, you could put documents articles in there and it summarizes it for you.
Speaker A:For one that's, it's an AI.
Speaker A:It's obviously.
Speaker A:And it creates a podcast for you really.
Speaker A:So I recognize that my best, my best learning is interviews.
Speaker A:Like, I love listening to podcasts.
Speaker A:Interviews, love lids.
Speaker A:Like if I love somebody like a.
Speaker A:No, like Oprah or like Sarah Jakes or whatever.
Speaker A:I actually more so search interviews because I want to hear how they, I want to hear how they think, how they articulate their thoughts and, and stuff like that.
Speaker A:And so that's kind of.
Speaker A:Even as a speaker, that was one of the, one of the things I was taught earlier on is find those orders that, that speak well.
Speaker A:And then after I said let me also listen to how they interview, you know?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And yeah.
Speaker A:Anyway, so I love this app.
Speaker A:It's great.
Speaker A:And it literally, it doesn't go beyond you.
Speaker A:You still need to fact check, but it doesn't go beyond the, the article.
Speaker A:And it's two people and they're talking about the article.
Speaker A:It's crazy.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:It's amazing.
Speaker B:I'm definitely going to check it out.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker B:Notebook.
Speaker A:Yeah, notebook.
Speaker A:So we are so over.
Speaker A:Because I said this is going to.
Speaker A:Remember, I was going to.
Speaker A:I told you I was going to have you out in 30 minutes.
Speaker A:We're at like 49.
Speaker A:So this is the last question.
Speaker A:Last rapid fiber.
Speaker A:So as people see you in your thrive, right.
Speaker A:Knocking on the doors, creating these great networks, writing these books and, and just, you know, advocating loud.
Speaker A:You know what, what's one misconception that people have of you?
Speaker B:One misconception.
Speaker B:Maybe people think I do too much.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:I, I would feel.
Speaker B:Maybe some people feel like, who she.
Speaker B:Who does she think she is and why is she doing so much or doing too much.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:So I would, I would think, I would think it would be that.
Speaker A:Okay, I would say, well, this is what I say for anyone that tells you you're too much, just tell them to go and get less.
Speaker A:So, so where do, where do we find more of you online?
Speaker A:Just tell them go and get less.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:So where do we find more of you online?
Speaker B:Oh, my goodness.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:So I have a website, arika.com so they can check out my website yeah.
Speaker A:And you can get everything linked from, from the website.
Speaker B:Yes, but, but, but, but, but please, right now it's under construction.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:So if they check now, it might not work.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:So I will add links as well.
Speaker B:So please.
Speaker B:I don't.
Speaker B:Yes, add all of my social media.
Speaker A:Yeah, it doesn't, it doesn't work.
Speaker B:LinkedIn.
Speaker B:It doesn't work.
Speaker B:It's gone off.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yes, because I checked it some days ago and I saw it went off.
Speaker B:So I already told the person who works.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:And LinkedIn, LinkedIn, Bobola, Instagram @ladyarike, Arika weekly on YouTube and Twitter @ maybe I read it.
Speaker A:Okay, we will get them all up there.
Speaker A:And so as a final question, this, this podcast, this podcast is called Empowered in My Skin.
Speaker A:And I want to know what that means to you.
Speaker B:Empowering my skin means being authentic, staying true to who you are, being the best version of yourself, being intentional, being connected to your being to yourself, to who you are, being self aware, being a go getter, most especially as a woman.
Speaker B:Because, you know, when we, when, when we talk about being empowered in our skin, I don't know why men don't come to mind.
Speaker B:I feel like us women, we have this sisterhood.
Speaker B:We have this thing about us where we continue to learn whether it has to do with our relationships, marriages, motherhood, professional life, we are constantly learning.
Speaker B:So Empowered in My Skin just radiates growth.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you so much.
Speaker A:And thank you for all that you're doing.
Speaker A:Thank you for saying yes.
Speaker A:Thank you for sharing energy.
Speaker A:Thank you for being my girlfriend.
Speaker A:Because there was a time when we weren't friends.
Speaker A:And I'm really happy that we have blossomed into this really special relationship.
Speaker A:I too don't have a lot of close friends.
Speaker A:I do consider you in my circle, so thank you, Eric.
Speaker B:You're in my circle too.
Speaker A:My sister and I love you dearly.
Speaker A:And to everyone that's listening, I trust you're feeling way more empowered in your skin, but sadly, this is where I have to say, we're out there.
Speaker A:You have it.
Speaker A:I trust that you are feeling more empowered in your skin.
Speaker A:As the late Dr.
Speaker A:Maya Angelou said, when you get, you give, when you learn, you teach.
Speaker A:So it would mean so much for us at Empower to My Skin, Inc.
Speaker A:If you share this episode and tag us or teach an insight that you took from today's episode on your social and tag us, feel free to leave us a review over at itunes and follow us on social media at Power to My Skin.
Speaker A:Finally remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
