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In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring career paths in the mental health space.  What is your big hairy audacious goal, and what does success look like in this season?  In this instalment, Sitawa shares her recent goal setting process and some of the pivots she is making on a professional level and for this series.  If you are interested in the mental health space, or are in it, share what path you are on and things that have worked, and those that have not worked for you. Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter Subscribe to Newsletter on MMMF's website - www.mymindmyfunk.org Apply for Leadership Lancaster Core Class 2023 Watch Judge Ashworth's TEDxLancaster on Adult Drug Court Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring career paths in the mental health space.  Can Mental health service providers be part of the criminal justice (judicial/legal) system? In this instalment, Sitawa shares some of her favorite legal drama shows, her visit to Lancaster's County Prison and Courthouse through a leadership program she is part of, and opportunities for mental health service providers in the criminal justice (judicial/legal) system. If you are interested in the mental health space, or are in it, share what path you are on and things that have worked, and those that have not worked for you. Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter Subscribe to Newsletter on MMMF's website - www.mymindmyfunk.org Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring career paths in the mental health space.  Can storytellers be categorized as mental health service providers?  This instalment looks at how we define mental health service providers, and explores the role stories and storytellers play in the mental health space. Join Sitawa as she shares her finding and some funding resources for people who would like to use various forms of storytelling. If you are interested in the space, or are in it, share what path you are on and things that have worked, and those that have not worked for you. Footnotes: Narrative Medicine Basic Workshop by Columbia University (Virtual) -  April 8-10th, 2022 (Cost on their website) Africa No Filter Grant for Storytellers  - Deadline April 11th, 2022 Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter Subscribe to Newsletter on MMMF's website - www.mymindmyfunk.org Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring career paths in the mental health space.  The plot twists in this second installment. Instead of sharing her findings from the books mentioned in the first installment, Sitawa introduces two more books. Though the new entries take the series on a different trajectory, they help in showing how, and why, mental health is a dear topic to Sitawa, and why she is researching on additional ways one can be of service in the space. Follow her, on YouTube or your fav podcasting app, as she documents her findings, schooling and the many routes one can follow in the mental health space. If you are interested in the space, or are in it, share what path you are on and things that have worked, and those that have not worked for you. Footnotes: Apply for Leadership Lancaster Core Class 2023 by May 27th, 2022 Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter Subscribe to Newsletter on MMMF's website - www.mymindmyfunk.org Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

In this new series, show host Sitawa will be exploring career paths in the mental health space. She begins the series by sharing the program she is enrolled in and the two career paths she is considering. To help with exploration, she is currently reading  - The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk and Becoming a Social Worker by Alex Abramovich and Tasha Blaine.  Follow her, on YouTube or your fav podcasting app, as she documents her findings, schooling and the many routes one can follow in the mental health space. If you are interested in the space, or are in it, share what path you are on and things that have worked, and those that have not worked for you. Watch on YouTube: 

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula begins the new season by celebrating 18 years of strength and sharing some of the lessons learnt along the way. Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter Visit website - www.mymindmyfunk.com Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula concludes Season Two by sharing some of the things she has learnt as she pursued healing after a breakdown mid April. Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter  Visit website - www.mymindmyfunk.com Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula is in conversation with "Heal with Sheila"; a Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher and a Energy and Holistic Talk Therapist. This is the second time Sheila is on the show. During her first time on the show (August 2018) , she shared about surviving abuse, dealing with mental health issues which opened her into the world of holistic healing. On this show, Sheila takes us through healing, loving and releasing as she describes what exactly she does and helps us understand the inner child - and how to spark healing for him/her...and to get a feel of her work, we end the show with a guided meditation session. About :  She goes by her brand name "Heal with Sheila" because she has a story to tell. Surviving physical, emotional and sexual abuse then fighting depression, anxiety and PTSD  opened up the flood gates of healing, forgiveness and peace.  As a certified yoga and meditation teacher, energy and holistic talk therapist,and spiritual coach, Sheila guides people on their own healing journeys; Holistically healing traumatic experiences, emotional, mental and physical issues, and promoting self-awareness. Contact information:  Website: www.healwithsheila.com Instagram: Heal with Sheila Facebook: Heal with Sheila Youtube: Heal with Sheila Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula is in conversation with Dr. Marie Ojiambo; a Formulation Scientist and Global Advocate for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness. On the show, Marie takes us through her journey to becoming a formulation scientist and what that means, her time in pageantry and the lessons she learnt as well as living positively with Sickle Cell Disease.    About :  Dr. Marie Ojiambo works as a Formulations Supervisor with the Department of Lab Sciences team at Charles River Horsham. In her role, she supervises and coordinates study related activities of the formulations technical staff who are tasked with preparing dose formulations. Trained as a Formulations Scientist, Marie received her Masters in Industrial and Physical Pharmacy from St. John’s University, School of Pharmacy in 2017.  She is a global advocate for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness and has consulted with various stakeholders within her capacity as an individual patient consultant. Marie founded the Sickle Strong Initiative, a Kenyan based NGO whose mandate is to raise awareness around Sickle Cell Disease and advocate for better health care opportunities for patients suffering the disease in Kenya   Contact information:  Facebook: Marie Ojiambo - Sickle Strong warrior Resources: Sickle Cell Diseases Associations of America One Sickle Cell Disease Voice Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula is in conversation with Liz Kilili: Creative Director and Founder of Creatives Garage. On the show, Liz  takes us through the role Creatives Garage plays in the creative industry in Kenya, its genesis and some of the needs creatives have. She also shares the positive and negative effects of COVID-19 to the creative industry, mental health challenges among Creatives and how audiences can support.  About :  Creative Garage is a multi-disciplinary collective space for Creatives to network, share ideas, collaborate, learn, gain market accessibility and push boundaries.It works with visual artists, performing artists and tech innovators who are social change agents in the society.  Liz Kilili is the Creative Director and founder of Creatives Garage. Her brainchild Creatives Garage and its accompanying creativity and innovation Sondeka Festival, have spearheaded projects and movements that have helped the creative industry grow in both policy and output and still continue even after the project goals have been brought to fruition.   Contact information:  Website: http://www.creativesgarage.org/ Twitter: @Cr8vesgarage Instagram: @CreativesGarage Facebook: Creatives Garage Upcoming Events;  Sondeka Awards on June 17  The 2nd Edition of Lock-in Festival  in August If you are a Mental Health Service Provider and you would like to team up with My Mind My Funk and Creatives Garage in supporting creatives, reach out to us on info@mymindmyfunk.com Show notes: "Art as Therapy and Therapy for Artists"  discussion points; - Intro Names of Kenyans who have died due to police brutality (4.30) Do something (9.30) - Conversation Guest Profile (12.52) Services offered (14.45) Challenges Creatives face (17.15) Creatives need (18.45) Financial losses (and other losses) for the industry (20.54) Challenges for individual artists 25.00 Mental health challenges among Creatives 27.33  Living with bipolar and self care tips 30.40 How we can support artists 33.45 - Outro (34.50)Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula is in conversation with Michelle, Mahilet and Mihret - students at University of Washington, Seattle and Africa Now officials. On the show, the ladies share about their home countries, being an African in America, finding your tribe and taking care of yourself. They also share about Africa Now's objectives and the upcoming conference as well as how mental health is seen in African homes.   About :  Africa Now is an organization that exists to educate, organize, and mobilize youth to order to create a sustainable future for the global African community.  (Register for conference (FREE) 30-31st May 2020) Michelle Mvundura is a first-generation immigrant. She was born in Zimbabwe and immigrated to the US in 2002. Currently, she is a junior studying Public Health-Global Health with an intended double major in Politic Science and a minor in Human Rights. Her intended goals after undergraduate are to specialize and focus on maternal and child health in Africa and South America. She is the Program Director for Africa Now.  Mahilet Mesfin was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, moved to Seattle at the age of two and has lived in the New Holly/Rainer Beach region her whole life. She is a junior, studying International Development, with a minor in Human Rights and LSJ.  She works as a Legislative Intern for District 2 Seattle City Council member Tammy Morales and is on the board for University’s Black Student Union, Pre-Black Law Student Association and plays an active role in social advocacy on and off campus. Mihret Haile  is a junior pursuing a degree in Management Information Systems at the Foster School of Business. Her choice to enter the major stems from her fascination with the rapid pace of technological development and its implications on businesses. In the future, she hopes to invest her experiences and gained expertise into her birth nation of Ethiopia alongside other diaspora working towards sustainable mobility in developing nations. Mihret spends her spare time dancing at salsa socials and serving on the board for the Africa Now program at her university. Contact information:  Website: https://africanowassociation.com/ Twitter: @AfricaNowUW Instagram: @AfricaNowUW Facebook: Africa Now Show notes: "Being an African in America, Finding your tribe and Taking care of Yourself"  discussion points; - Intro - Conversation Guest Profile (3.33) Journey to America + Finding Identity as an African in America - 6.28 Africa Now - 13.32 2020 Conference - 18.30 Building Community - 23.15 Self Care (during the pandemic) - 28.25 How Africans speak about (and see) mental health - 38.50 Last words (46.40) - Outro (48.25) Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula is in conversation with Doreen Moraa Moracha, a HIV/AIDS Advocate and Founder of I am a Beautiful Story in Kenya. On the show, Doreen shares her journey living positively with HIV, sharing her status publicly and the work she is doing nationally and internationally to make sure that young people have proper information about HIV. She also shares about superstition and the stigma she has faced and how she is using her journey to create beautiful stories.  Contact information:  Twitter: @D_Moraa https://twitter.com/D_Moraa Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/doreen_moraa_moracha Show notes: "Living positively with HIV and Other Beautiful Stories"  discussion points; - Intro (0.00) - Going down memory lane to the blogpost that set My Mind My Funk in motion (1.28)  -  Blogpost on sexual assault that set my mind my funk in motion - Doreen Moraa Moracha's (8.00) Profile Coming out Her journey Superstition Knowing her status Types of medication and having medication in boarding school Challenge young people living with HIV face - Adherence, Disclosure, stigma When parents should disclose Stigma people living with HIV face Last words - Outro  Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting, editing and production by Sitawa Wafula

My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa Wafula is in conversation with Orezimena Malaka, Founder of Mind County in Nigeria. On the show, Orezi shares about her life as an international student in the UK, challenges she faced as she tried to fit in when she went back home to Nigeria and venturing into entrepreneurship in a 'neglected field'.  About Orezi: Orezi a mental health enthusiast with a background in psychology. She is also the Founder of Mind County, a mental health enterprise that is focused on creating mind spas that prioritize mental health awareness, mind care, self care and compassion. Her hope is that mental health will be a common topic and the simple solutions available to care for the well-being of the mind with be embraced. Mind County Contacts:  Instagram :@mindcounty Email: Hello@mindcounty.com Telephone: +2348115854139 Address: 10a DCS Street, U3 Estate,  Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria Show notes: "Life as an International Student, Finding place back home and Entrepreneurship in a 'neglected field " discussion points; - Intro (0.00) - Recap of last week's show (1.50) -Introduction of My Mind My Funk Nights (3.15) and The Academy (8.50) - Orezi  Life as an international student in UK (11.00) Moving back to Nigeria, trying to fit in and the challenges of getting into entrepreneurship (19.30) More about her enterprise - Mind County (27.50) Reception of her work (34.40) How Mind County is coping during the pandemic and the services it is offering (37.34) Self care tips (47.45) Last words (54.10) - Outro (55.09) Funky Lines: "We are all different but we are all the same." - Orezi Malaka  Footnotes: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting and production by Sitawa Wafula Edits and Continuity by Morgan M.

In this episode, My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa (@SitawaWafula) shares a little bit of the 15 years she lived with a dual diagnosis of epilepsy and bipolar, some verses that have been thrown her way through her journey and the danger of doing this as well as some ways to avoid falling into the trap that we might not be doing well. Watch Sitawa's TED Talk Watch Sitawa's MOTH Story Resources: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting and production by Sitawa Wafula

As a follow up to the first episode titled "I have been struggling" - and in response to some of the struggles listeners shared - My Mind My Funk show host, Sitawa (@SitawaWafula) is in conversation with renowned Kenyan Psychiatrist - and current chair of the Kenya Medical Association's Covid19 response committee - Dr. Lukoye Atwoli.  On the show, Dr. Lukoye gives professional insights on what people should be looking out for as far as their mental well-being is concerned  and things they can do to take care of themselves. He also outlines the stages society will go through as it deals with the pandemic and the opportunities these transitions will present for service providers.  About Dr. Lukoye: Dr. Lukoye Atwoli is a renowned Kenyan Psychiatrist and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine at Moi University, Kenya. Internationally, he serves among the advisors on World Medical Association's medical ethics committee. He also does Research and Development for CitiesRise Follow him on Twitter: @LukoyeAtwoli and read his weekly articles on Kenya's Daily Nation. Show notes: "Self Checks, Opportunities for Service Providers and Life Post-Covid19 " discussion points; - Intro (0.00) - Recap of last week's show (1.50) - Dr. Lukoye  Speaks about his Current role as Chair of the Kenya Medical Association's COVID19 response advisory committee (6.00) Defines anxiety (normal + spectrum) and depression + signs to look out for (7.45) Normal Anxiety + Different ways to deal (14.45) Predisposition, risk factors and expected increase of mental health issues (17.25) Opportunities for service providers (22.00) Post-traumatic stress (25.20) Last words (31.40) - Outro (33.50) Funky Lines: "This is an opportunity for us to set up health systems that include mental health services that will respond to that surge in need as the pandemic evolves. Whoever is designing health systems, should design them knowing that there will be a huge demand for mental health services over the next 6-18 months as we go forward." - @LukoyeAtwoli  (Click to Tweet) "One of the things I find useful during emergencies or difficult times is finding ways to be helpful" - @LukoyeAtwoli (Click to Tweet) "Have a mindset that transends COVD19 and looks into the future" - @LukoyeAtwoli (Click to Tweet) Resources: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Email - info@mymindmyfunk.com Artwork, hosting and production by Sitawa Wafula Edits and Continuity by Morgan M.

After a long hiatus, My Mind My Funk Show is back. On this premiere episode for the second season, titled "I have been struggling",  show host and mental health advocate, Sitawa (@sitawawafula) shares her current struggles and things she has been doing to keep afloat. "I have been struggling" discussion points; - My current struggles (4.20) - My tipping point (5.50) - Some things to keep you afloat; Reaching out (5.55) Identifying signs (6.25) Box Breathing (7.35) Creativity and Grounding (9.13) Taking care of business (10.46) Moving around (14.13) Remember to  Reach out to people who provide safe spaces for you to process what you are feeling and start your healing journey. If you do not have that around you, #mymindmyfunk is here for you - reach out to us. (Click to tweet) Resources: Follow on @mymindmyfunk on Instagram and Twitter. Join conversation using #mymindmyfunk Artwork and Episode produced by Sitawa Wafula

E P I S O D E 1 8:::You always find a silver lining ~ Brenda Onyango (Kenya) Brenda Onyango is a psychology student in Nairobi and the founder of Mental is Human Too - a mental health awareness campaign. On the show, Brenda shares how a minor in Psychology during her undergrad and practicum hours at Kenya's mental health teaching and referral hospital - Mathari Hospital, inspired her to get into the mental health space. She also shares her first projects - a song which you can sample on the show and a documentary on 3 people in Kenya living with mental health conditions - PTSD, Depression and Post Partum Psychosis (the documentary is available on Youtube). We also talk about the process of coming up with the documentary and challenges early stage mental health start ups/advocates face. During the quick fire session, she lists Caroline Mutoko and Taraji P Henson among the people she would like to work with and also puts me on the hot seat by asking me 1 quick question...catch all this and much more in this week's edition of My Mind My Funk show. Also follow us on social media @mymindmyfunk on IG, Twitter and Linkedin Remember to share the show with others and use #mymindmyfunk to let me know you are listening.

E P I S O D E 1 7:::Be kind and patient with yourself ~ Liz Kakooza (Uganda) Liz Kakooza is a communications expert and the founder of Tumaini Foundation - a mental health awareness and advocacy organization - in Uganda. On the show Liz introduces us to rolex - apparently Ugandans do not just wear rolex, they eat it too. She shares about dealing with anxiety and depression, the physical manifestions at the onset of her mental health journey and how she came up with the idea of Tumaini Foundation after going to rehab. We also discuss what self care means and she sheds light on the mental health legislation in Uganda. During the quick fire session, she lists Prince Harry among the people she would like to work with and also asks me 2 quick questions...catch all this and much more in this week's edition of My Mind My Funk show. Remember to share the show with others and use #mymindmyfunk to let me know you are listening. Reach Liz on twitter: @LizKK

Bella Dapilma is a Togo born Storyteller and Mentor. On the show she tells us about dealing with self esteem issues mostly due to bullying in school, being in abusive relationships and her brother's suicide. We also discuss statements like 'if you believe in God how can you have depression' and other religious lines that do more harm than good as well as the role of parents especially when they have not dealt with their own trauma and how that affects children. Remember to share the show with others and use #mymindmyfunk to let me know you are listening.

Rephethile Kgwale is a South African based line producer and founder of Matters of the Brain. On the show she shares the meaning of her beautiful name, which was a test and a half for me to say out right. She also takes us through childhood trauma and growing up in an abusive family and the effects of that and how the diagnosis of bipolar and generalized anxiety disorder formed the foundation of starting an awareness campaign - Matters of the Brain, a magazine that will be launched on December 1st, 2018 and a book. Her partner also jumps into the conversation (we more of hijacked him) and shares about supporting ones partner when they are dealing with their recovery journey. You can reach her on Instagram https://instagram.com/_Rephethile Twitter https://twitter.com/_Rephethile and her mental health campaign - Matter of the Brain South Africa Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mattersofthebrain Twitter https://twitter.com/mattersofthebr2/ Remember to share the show with others and use #mymindmyfunk to let me know you are listening.