Spotlight on Sambaza

SPEAKER_05 0:09

Hi, and welcome to this episode of Assassin's Sips Spotlight. Today we are going to talk to our new friend, Sambasa. And I'm one of your hosts, I'm Lisa.

SPEAKER_04 0:22

And I'm your co-host, Agnes. And then we have Sambasa. Welcome to our show.

SPEAKER_05 0:28

Yes, welcome. Welcome.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

Thank you guys for having me. I'm really appreciative of you guys to actually extend that invitation to your show.

SPEAKER_05 0:37

Absolutely. What are you sipping on today?

SPEAKER_04 0:41

I'm sipping on good old-fashioned coffee. Yeah, yeah. It's cold here in Wisconsin.

SPEAKER_01 0:48

How cold is it over there?

SPEAKER_04 0:49

Well, we have a heat wave and we got um it's about 26 degrees. We just had our second nine-inch snow in two in one week, actually within two days. Um yeah, and then tomorrow is gonna be below zero. So it's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

I I guess um I can't we can't compare because we're at 46 and I'm complaining, so we don't really have snow. And I gotta be out in the what in the cold, in the cold weather for about three hours.

SPEAKER_05 1:21

Where are you recording from?

SPEAKER_01 1:23

I'm in Dallas, Texas. Well wow. I like to say Dallas, Texas, because it's everybody knows Dallas and can probably have a figure. But I'm in a small town that's 30 minutes from Dallas called Fourny, the little town.

SPEAKER_05 1:36

Okay. Yeah, it's about 40-ish, 40 mid-40s where I am. But both of you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

So you seem to be liking it. Lisa.

SPEAKER_05 1:51

Me?

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:52

Do not like this, but I'm happy that it's not in the 20s. So I'm gonna be I'm gonna be grateful that it's not colder or snowing. So yeah. You know, when the when I say when the weather goes below my age, we have a problem. So right now it's just above it. So I guess I can't complain. That's actually a good one.

SPEAKER_03 2:17

I'm gonna remember that one.

SPEAKER_05 2:22

So one of the one of the things that we do here is we put our guests in the silly seat and we ask them some silly questions. I'm gonna go first. Are you ready?

SPEAKER_02 2:31

Yeah, sure. Ready.

SPEAKER_05 2:33

Okay. If you had the chance to invent a country, what would you name it?

SPEAKER_01 2:40

Steve Land.

SPEAKER_05 2:44

Can you elaborate?

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Well, that's my official.

SPEAKER_05 2:48

That's his name. I didn't want to assume.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

Well, that's my short, uh short for my official name. So um, yeah, so you knew Steve and then Land. So Steve Land.

SPEAKER_05 2:59

Nice. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Sounds cool, right?

SPEAKER_05 3:02

It does sound cool. I know. It sounds like official, but mysterious enough to be like, wait, but is that the reason? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

But it won't be in this weather. It'll be like weather somewhere in an island or something. Yeah, it'll have to be an island.

SPEAKER_05 3:20

Somewhere in the Caribbean, maybe?

SPEAKER_01 3:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:23

I'm gonna buy a house there. I'm gonna go.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

I'm from East Africa, so I'll probably go with something around East Africa. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:31

Oh nice. So how did you end up in Texas?

SPEAKER_01 3:36

How do I what?

SPEAKER_05 3:38

How did you end up in Texas?

SPEAKER_01 3:40

Friends.

unknown 3:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

So okay, this is what happens. Um when you immigrate from another country, what determines is either your school that you go with or your friends. Or weather. But weather is usually the last thing because I think after you finish school, the weather's when you decide, okay, I don't want to leave in the north. Most guys come study in the up north and then go come down south. So for me, my friends are already here in the south, so um, that was it. I just found myself here and I was like, hmm, this is great. It's not Florida, it's not California, you know. Uh but yeah, I I I I love it. I loved it. And that's how you kind of immigrate.

SPEAKER_05 4:27

Have it have you always been in Texas as far as the states to live, or is that just where you settled?

SPEAKER_01 4:36

Yeah, that's where I settled. I don't think I'm moving out. Can't do snow. Can't do snow.

SPEAKER_05 4:43

How long have you been in Texas?

SPEAKER_01 4:45

25 years now.

SPEAKER_05 4:47

Oh wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:48

So yeah, that's that's you're a Texan.

unknown 4:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 4:56

Oh you're like, yeah, kind of soda, I guess I am. I don't have a cowboy.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

I don't have a cowboy hat. I don't have cowboy boots.

SPEAKER_04 5:06

Okay, so you might you might get kicked out of Texas now. Maybe I'll see you won't tell anybody. No. Well, bleep out, like beep, beep, beep, beep, bleep. So they're like, wait, what? Don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_05 5:19

What is one of the the late night talk shows that does like the unnecessary unnecessary censorship? I forget which one. And they they just bleep out random words so that when you listen back, it sounds like they're saying the worst things, but they're like, yeah, I don't I don't know anybody who's gonna blank the dog. But they they probably said walk the dog, but when you beep the word walk, it's like what wait, what do they say?

SPEAKER_04 5:52

Oh yeah, you know, but they don't know what they're saying. That's hysterical.

SPEAKER_05 5:56

And it's just it's just for the joke, which is why it's like unnecessary censorship. I f I forgot who does it. It might be Fallon or Kimmel, but I've I've seen the clips, and it's always hilarious.

SPEAKER_04 6:07

Either one of them would do.

SPEAKER_05 6:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 6:10

So our host, and you were the host of Simbaza Pack Podcast, correct?

SPEAKER_00 6:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 6:16

So I I read up a little bit on it. I listened to I watched some clips. Um did I did. I was so into it. Oh, tell us a little bit about your mission for your podcast.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

First of all, let me say I am truly thankful for you having to just listen to some clips. That's really hard. Um, because you kind of get mixed sometimes you get mixed up in like what now you're asking me, what's the mission? Because there's so many things that happen around it. But um actually, you know, at Podfest is when somebody actually showed me or told me exactly what kind of a podcast my podcast is. I used to think of it as just like a culture podcast, but somebody says it's more like an anthropology podcast. Uh let me drop this plug-in. The Kadara Woman Podcast. That's the person, uh, the host, uh Lola, is the one who told me about it. Because we're sitting and kind of discussing about what um my podcast was. So what my podcast does is, and this is why you have to explain it. It's like you're digging into something. Um I take five people, one who's gonna be African American, one who's gonna be uh somebody from the diaspora, because it's a diaspora podcast, and then I'll get somebody in somewhere around the rest of the world, right? And then somebody in Africa and somebody in Kenya, which doesn't usually happen the same, like the way I like it, but that's usually the main thing. Then we discuss a topic. Like uh take, for example, any topic like what are we sipping if you like coffee, right? Um so I'll talk to you and you tell me what you like about your coffee here, and then I'll ask an immigrant who would what they like about their coffee, and then talk to all the other people, then get down to Kenya. Well, most likely they'll be drinking tea. But at the end of it, what I'd like you to figure out is what's there in common, what's something in common? Uh, do all the five people share? That's pretty much what it is.

SPEAKER_05 8:26

Okay. What kind of topics have have you covered so far?

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Um, child discipline was the first one. Oh wow. Uh, this was after my wife told me, look, uh, this thing about monologue ain't working for you. So you gotta bring in guests.

SPEAKER_03 8:45

It's like guests.

SPEAKER_01 8:46

You know, the thing your first podcast is not uh, you know, if you listen to the first and the tenth, they're way two different ones. So yeah, the first one was that, and then I hit the side doing child discipline, which was kind of great. Uh, I've done the COVID, where we talked to people different places of the world when the COVID was going on, and I actually did an after. After after after what happened to the people there. Um then there was uh what else? Um, did I do food? No, DJs. I did the DJs. Um I haven't done food. Food was my next uh idea. I want part of that.

SPEAKER_04 9:25

I love that. Food is my love language. It's my love language, my hate language, my indifference language. I just love food.

SPEAKER_05 9:33

Agnes has never met food she doesn't like.

SPEAKER_04 9:37

When it comes to food, I'll try anything twice.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Uh, did you did you listen to our Africa Day podcast conversation?

SPEAKER_04 9:50

Um, not all of them. Oh god, what?

SPEAKER_01 9:54

There was one part you okay. If you get into one part, there's one part where people actually eat like worms in Zimbabwe. So if I take you to Zimbabwe, you're gonna eat the worms and be like, hey, you know, hey, we're good.

SPEAKER_04 10:06

I'm gonna be honest with you. I would I'd be willing to try it. I may not want you to tell me what I ate before I ate it. Ah, okay. But I'd be willing to try it.

unknown 10:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:17

So yeah, so so we've done that. I think that's a good idea. Not being told what what you're you're eating first, and then later on you cannot tell later. Okay, that's that's good. That's good.

SPEAKER_05 10:30

She's because braver than I am. But but also I'm not a very adventurous eater. You have allergies. But I also have allergies. So I I from as a kid, I can't just eat something without knowing what it is. Because if there's something in it that I'm allergic to, you know, problems.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

Okay stuff. Or the things that you're not allergic to, which is the worst thing that you've ever had.

SPEAKER_05 10:57

Like like I think that the the most out of c my comfort zone thing that I've ever eaten was snail. And it it wasn't really bad tasting, but it but I knew what it was, and so it was hard for me to mentally get past like I ate it enough to taste, but it wasn't really bad. It just was like, I can't eat this. Like you. But but I didn't, you know, I didn't grow up eating different foods. It was always like the same kinds of meals being prepared depending on which side of the family I was on. And we never really had different stuff. So as an adult, it it stuck. I never really looked to try the foods that I eat, I'll eat them whatever way. I'll eat them in, you know, like cat in the hat, in a box with the fox, whatever. But new foods, I'm like, I don't know Especially meats. I don't I'm not like a big adventurous eater. I wish I was, but I yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

And see, right there, that that's a conversation. You got uh a uh conversation about food going on, and then people listen to it in the end, they'll be like, oh yeah, okay. Uh people eat different foods. Like we're all we all have something in common, all of us. So that's um that's my mission actually, to let you know that we all have something in common. Doesn't matter where we're from, we share the same thing.

SPEAKER_05 12:39

Yeah, that's beautiful though, because I think that so many people miss that point. That we we all of us, any other person on this planet we probably have more in common with than we have not in common with, if we just take the time to talk to them and get to know them.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

I can tell you one thing interesting. Y'all are y'all are women, right? Well I'm why am I saying that crazy I can tell you one thing, as a salesperson, it doesn't matter which part of the world you are, when you walk into a store and you look at that nice dress that you want to buy, every woman has the same expression in their eyes. It it doesn't matter, it's universal. But people don't don't don't realize it, they think it's different, but that that sparkle in the eye the same wherever you go.

SPEAKER_04 13:44

People for the most part, we're not talking about the exceptions, we're not talking about this, you know, but people care about their family, they want to do better, they want their children or their family to do well, to be happy, and to find love, or be love of some in some form. And this just and that's universal with everyone. Everyone's doing the best that they can to make their world and their lives and the people around them better. Does it look different? Yes, but the goal is the same, and that's how I feel about religion. Everyone fights about this religion with that religion, but every but all religion has a common foundation. You focus on morals, ethics, and that's it. Good morals, good ethics, and that's the foundation of all religion. But um of all your episodes that you've done, which one was your favorite? You can't ask someone like that.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

It's like ask me which one is your favorite child.

SPEAKER_04 14:53

I we were asked that in our past, and then we we were able to do it. It was hard. I'm sure you have a favorite one. Come on. Come on. Okay, you want to. I'll give you um topic-wise, not guest-wise, but topic-wise.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

This one is more it it hit it hit my heart uh because we were talking about um COVID. And this guy who was talking to me about how he reflected when he was suffering uh from it, uh, he was having to sit in his bedroom and he was looking at all his stuff, all his clothes. And at that time he was like, Man, all these things that I that I have here, I could just lose, not really lose, but they will just go away. What what does it matter? You know, what is life? Is life about clothes, life about, you know, all the stuff that uh is around him? And that was very impactful. And I think it made me have a different idea of how I look at life nowadays. I tend to uh focus more on the brighter things than the material things and look around and say, you know what, as long as I'm happy and everybody else around me is happy, then uh we're good. But focusing on the other this other sideshows, I don't. I I like to leave a happy family. When I have a smile, like when I met you guys, we're all smiling. That's practically what life is all about. Why not?

SPEAKER_05 16:56

How did you get into podcasting? What what was the thing that said, I want to do a podcast and I want this to be my message? How did how did you find that? Or how did that find you?

SPEAKER_01 17:10

Um, yeah, it's not the most interesting, but let me put it like this. Maybe I'm I got tired of Facebook posting up on Facebook. That's what it was. Okay. So I I went to a store, I was shopping, then I saw a Yeti. I purchased a Yeti. This was in 2017. I looked at Lipsin, and I was like, Lipsin was costing a buck by then. I was like, why am I paying for this thing? And I had to, it has to make sense. Dollars have to make, you know, it has to make sense somehow. Um, so I was like, wait, let it let it stay. So it stayed for a while, stuck in my closet for about maybe well, that was 2019, right? No, about 2018, 19, 20. In 2020, one day, sometime in June, I was asleep, woke up, and I was like, wait a minute, I do have uh Yeti somewhere. I think I'll go back into podcasting because I have time. At that time, everybody had time. And uh yeah, Anchor was there, available, free of charge, and uh that's how we started. And that's where my podcasting journey started.

SPEAKER_05 18:17

So in two in 2020.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

2020.

SPEAKER_05 18:20

That's awesome. So it's been a while. Good for you. A lot of people, a lot of people, I think, found themselves podcasting because of COVID, because like you said, everyone had time. And I think that it was so nice that if you just want to look at the bright side, that we all had time to to pursue things that we want to pursue that make us happy, but not everyone has continued, you know, due to whatever reason, right? Maybe they don't have time, maybe they didn't like it, whatever. But it's really good that you made the time to continue because I know it's it's not easy. It's definitely not easy.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

I see y'all make time only on Sundays. Man, could y'all have another?

SPEAKER_05 19:06

Yeah. What happened? Could we all have another day?

SPEAKER_04 19:08

Only on Sundays. Come on now. It's we okay. Friday. We really try to make Sunday specially for Spotlight because we know this is our day for our spotlight. So we can just like Sunday for me, I think at least also is a day that nothing else happens. Like that's the day that I know.

SPEAKER_05 19:26

I don't usually make plans out of the house. It's all about getting myself and the kids ready for the coming school week. So nine times out of ten, I am home without any specific plans. So this fits well.

SPEAKER_00 19:44

Because I thought after after what you just said, I thought y'all have another calendar that y'all do.

SPEAKER_04 19:51

We don't we don't have another calendar. Wait, hold on, we have a calendar? We don't have the calendar, but we have um other shows that we do record. We have the Assassin's Tips of the TV show, we have other stuff.

SPEAKER_05 20:03

But we usually do it all on Sundays.

SPEAKER_04 20:05

We do it all on Sundays. So yeah, because you know, then life gets in the way sometimes. So we Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:12

On occasion, we've had to record on another day, and then it's like a scramble because then it's like, okay, well, you work until what time I work. Okay, wait, which kid is at work? Who do I have to pick up? Who's who do a kid do I have to watch?

SPEAKER_03 20:24

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:26

The the Monday through Saturday gets a little dicey. But so Sunday is the day that we try to always kind of reserve for us to do this, whether it's just us or it's us with a guest, it's it's more like our day for what makes us happy in terms of podcasting. And we've we finally found that rhythm. Because how many years was it texting each other, like, hey, what day works for you this week? Okay, okay, I could do that day. Okay, what about this time, right?

SPEAKER_04 20:58

Well, you know what the funny thing is, before, okay, I did have to take a two-year hiatus because, you know, life. But before then, um, I'm currently on disability. I work part-time now, but I didn't do anything. I other than I I was taking care of my mom and my daughter and my grandkid at the time. So I was a little bit, okay, what is but for the most part, I really wasn't doing much outside the home.

SPEAKER_05 21:24

But you had appointments and I had a lot.

SPEAKER_04 21:26

Now that I think about it, it wasn't.

SPEAKER_05 21:28

You did have a lot to do.

SPEAKER_04 21:29

That's why I stopped podcasting. I was like, it's just too much. Right. So, but COVID, the beginning of COVID, I think was our And I think we still did a lot on Sundays. Because you still had kids to get ready for school and stuff. I really wasn't, no one was leaving the house. No one was doing anything. And I'm like, let's just record and drink and call it a day. Like we would do that maybe like four or five hours of recording and drinking.

SPEAKER_05 22:03

Some of our earlier shows a little bit. And the episode, when it's finished, is like. Like 50 minutes, and it's like okay.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

But you know, that's where you get the best um the best uh moments because I've noticed sometimes when like now we will have this recording, and I'm pretty sure if we were sitting down after this, you know, after the cut, and then everybody's just like there's a different conversation we'll have. And it'll be like, man, this thing is so juicy. I wish I could have it on the other side.

SPEAKER_05 22:54

Yeah. We learned that the hard way. So that's why we we record immediately, and then it's like we'll cut out instead of thinking, oh, I wish we had that in.

SPEAKER_04 23:07

We'd rather cut out what we don't want as opposed to, but then we have the conversations we have like like just on the phone, and we're like, why aren't we recording this?

unknown 23:17

Yeah, well.

SPEAKER_01 23:18

Then why didn't you guys start recording when we started off? Y'all started giving me all the rundown upon like how we are we gonna be nice to you, baby. You know, um, do you say the F-bomb? Like you're gonna tell it. Are you recording? Because the first thing I expected. You know, I expected when I got the first thing is like your meeting is being recorded, and I'm like, okay, I'm ready. Then the first thing at Lisa is here telling me, Oh, you know, we want you to be comfortable, be who you are.

SPEAKER_05 23:49

Well, I saw the dark.

SPEAKER_04 23:52

We're trying to lull you into a false sense of security, and then we just go bang.

SPEAKER_05 23:58

I don't know why, because usually it does start recording automatically from the get. And today it didn't. So I'm not sure why, but I'm gonna blame Agnes.

SPEAKER_04 24:09

Uh okay.

SPEAKER_05 24:13

First of all, Agnes is the whiz who set up the calendar and stuff because I was like, I don't know how to do any of that. So she no, no, no, but she so she did a really good job. You could say something, but hold on. I wanted to compliment you since I just blamed you. But so she did a really good job setting everything up so that it could kind of be automatic, so that it was awesome because you were able to schedule yourself and and get everything, you know, like seamlessly done. So I don't know, we just have to figure out a way, I guess, to work that feature into the calendar of automatically recording.

SPEAKER_01 24:51

I don't whatever. Well, the thing is, once the person gets there, just hit record.

SPEAKER_05 24:58

That's true. I did drop the ball on that.

SPEAKER_01 25:00

You don't have to worry about it. I was like, okay. And we had a nice conversation in the beginning, starting a bottle. Yeah. Well, but they have a snap, they have a little bit of a snapshot of what what's going on what's going on.

SPEAKER_04 25:13

Yeah, so all our future listeners, we're gonna ease you into it, make you think we're nice, and then just bam.

SPEAKER_01 25:23

Surprise! Right. But it was it was nice. It was a nice intro. Cleaning house, you know.

SPEAKER_05 25:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

Um, we have any more questions. I have I felt like we had only one question. By the way, if you come to my show, I'll I'll not ask you any any other questions. I'll ask you like three final questions. And you know, one of the funny questions I'll ask you on my show uh is what's the one thing? Maybe I'll maybe I'll save it to the end so that you you all of you tell me.

SPEAKER_04 25:55

Okay, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 25:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 25:57

I do have a question for you.

SPEAKER_01 25:58

Go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 25:59

So you sign off your emails, and I think it's part of your title of one of your podcasts, one of your episodes, I'm not sure. And it's Swahili, and I don't want to mispronounce it. If you could pronounce what is it that um was ambazi?

SPEAKER_01 26:15

Okay, it was sambazaji.

SPEAKER_04 26:19

Thank you. And that's Swahili. And what is that Swahili for?

SPEAKER_01 26:23

Um, so you see the name is sambaza, right? Correct. Sambaza means to spread. So when you're referring to people who are spreading, you use the word wa in front of it. Okay. So when you add the J I, so you're telling the people. So it's like, so let's say sambaza is fan. So I'm saying my fans.

SPEAKER_04 26:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

So it if you look at it, I'm saying my my people who spread.

SPEAKER_04 26:52

I love that. Okay. You didn't know what to do. Catchy, right? I love that. Yeah, because that's something that really caught me. I'm like, oh, I need to ask about this.

SPEAKER_01 27:04

Yeah, I I found that. That kind of you it's you have to find something that's catchy after all you say. Then people are like, okay, what's that? Then kind of get that conversation going. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:15

I thought you were gonna ask your silly question.

SPEAKER_01 27:19

It's it's actually not a silly question. No, no, no, it wasn't. No, it wasn't anything. Oh, her.

SPEAKER_04 27:23

No, he was she thought I was gonna ask my silly question. Oh, go ahead. I completely forgot.

SPEAKER_05 27:28

And then I was thought that was actually serious.

SPEAKER_04 27:31

No. Well, I have another part to that first question that I asked my silly question. How many people ask you about that? And I'm or am I the only dumb one?

SPEAKER_01 27:42

No, a lot. Okay. Um it's come up a lot of times. They ask, what is that? I was like, okay, this is what it's mission accomplished.

SPEAKER_04 27:49

Okay, good.

SPEAKER_01 27:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 27:51

Okay, my silly question. Silly question of the day. If you can talk to any animal and get their point of view about whatever, their life and what they see, which animal would it be?

SPEAKER_01 28:08

A goat. A goat. That is a bad. So this is one okay, what I grew up in a farm, not in a farm. This is um weird story. I was that young kid that grew up in the city, and when they saw the goat at the first time, I I can imagine this when I was young, and I they never told me. But you know, some things you you kind of get when you're when you get older, you're like, I remember something like this. I saw a goat and I was running away, and I remember the kids in the village were laughing at me or us, because we we we were not used to goats, we lived in the city. So that was my first experience. Then when we got older, we had a farm and the farm had goats. But what's the most weird thing about goats is they could be like 20, 20 goats and maybe five goats, uh, the female goats have the kids. And each goat will kind of know its mom out of all these, you know. I want to figure out how you tell just by the way you you bleat, and it's like, okay, they all bleat the same sound, but how are you able to tell that's my mom and that's not my mom, you know?

SPEAKER_05 29:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:15

Okay, you know what? You make a very good point. It's like a penguin. Even penguins, let's say penguins.

SPEAKER_04 29:23

They make the same color.

SPEAKER_01 29:25

But how are you gonna tell this is my mom and that's not my mama? Right. They all look white and black.

SPEAKER_04 29:34

I want to take, I'm gonna take that and take it up a notch. What if all mankind looked alike? Yeah. Will we have a different world or would it still be the same? Ah, I think it's still be the same because mankind as a whole is destructive. But that's something to think about.

SPEAKER_05 29:58

I think people would find something else to destroy each other over.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

I think we would be boring, we'd be like ants. Remember that ants movie?

SPEAKER_05 30:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Yes. Where everybody was dancing the same way, like go like shake, shake, no, and it was like this guy was like, nah, we can't all be shaking the same way. Nah, somebody has to see, and that tells you the humankind always has to figure out they have to identify something different. They want to be different. And I think that's the the beauty of being human. We all have to, we and it's something that we can't, when we cannot um identify somebody or cannot explain something, we usually attach something to it. And that's a natural way of doing it. Sometimes it's harmful, sometimes it's it's interesting. But either way, we just have to we have to label something. That's that's our nature. Human being has to be labeled something somewhere in order to be able to differentiate and say, okay, I'm from this village in Zamunda, and this is from this other village in Zamunda. Why uh yeah, we're when we're all from Zamunda.

SPEAKER_05 31:05

What difference is that? People definitely like to put labels and make things neatly fit in boxes, and then when they don't, or when they can't fit neatly in the box, it's kind of like, whoa. Problems start. Unfortunately. I've never been one to fit in a box.

SPEAKER_01 31:31

It also feels a sense of security to yourself because you're you're secure. You're like, okay, now that I know um Agnes comes in this format, I know Lisa comes in this format. Okay, I'm secure when I come and talk to Lisa or I'm talking to both of them, this is what I expect. Because I'm able to tell uh that there's some characteristics here and some characteristics there. That's human act aspect.

SPEAKER_05 31:54

It's weird though, right? Because so for me, growing up, I've I've never quite fit. My family is multicultural. So it's like, okay, well, I'm this and I'm this. I'm not you know, everybody is like, oh, where is your family from? Oh, what is your nationality? And growing up, most people were like, oh, I'm this. And when what are you? Oh, I'm this and this. So it's like, am I enough of this for this part of myself? Or you know, it's it's so corny in a sense, but like when the movie Selena came out, I mean, I I think I was already graduated from high school, whatever, but it it kind of finally put into words when she was like, Oh, I'm not Mexican enough for the Mexicans, and I'm not American enough for the Americans. And I was like, wait, that's the thing that I've been feeling because it's always like this balancing act between am I enough to fit in with whatever. And then it's like even stupid things, right? Like my zodiac sign. I'm on a cusp. I'm I'm like, I'm not even like Scorpio or Sagittarius. I get to be both. And so to finally look at these things that used to make me feel like half of this and half of that, now I'm like, I'm not a math equation. I've decided. I just get to be both. I just get to have more. It's not pie, there's enough, you know. Me being this and this doesn't take away from anyone else. And it's it's a mind shift. But it's like from all these years of people wanting to put you in a box, but you don't fit in their box. And so you become the outcast, you become the person who feels worse about themselves because they never fit until one day you see somebody that represents the same kind of values, and you realize I don't have to fit in a box. I can just I can just be all the parts of me simultaneously. And it's it's a good feeling once you finally can embrace it, you know. Okay, I'll just do it. You know I was sleeping.

SPEAKER_01 34:25

You know I was giving you tears with my cup. Welcome to my world.

SPEAKER_05 34:30

Well and I think that we probably all right, we probably all have similar stories. Maybe they're not racial or ethnicity kind of fit in the box, but we probably all have similar things that cause us to feel that you know, if we if we took the time to find them.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

Yeah, I I I have this problem. Like I would be in uh space, even my podcast in the diaspora. There's a ki there's a Kenyan population. How am I going to break into that population to be able to listen to me and look at me as a podcaster in the United States, first of all? When I go there, I have an accent. When I come here, I have an accent. So which one do you eat, where are you going to take me? When I was back home growing up, I was like the city boy. And when I go back to the village, I don't speak the language, but I want to I belong there, but um it's still uh hard. But I've gotten to realize as as I grew older, they learned to accept me. And um I think not to dive deep, but because I belong to my my clan, just by my name, I can go into spaces, and once I say my name and say who I am, they'll have to accept me. They can't do whatever they say, they these there's no is, no ifs, buts, what, and when. That's standard. They have to accept me as I am. So that's one place that I know I'll I I'm accepted. They'll yeah, well, they'll look at my other things, but still, I I'm accepted. But we're still fighting this acceptance as podcasters from the diaspora. Uh, we're still fighting uh myself personally, but I I just take it as it goes right now. Like I said, at some point you have to accept it.

SPEAKER_05 36:23

You can't fight it. It's it's who you are. You fight it and you just prolong the the turmoil, you know. You just you're taking potential joy away from yourself because you're too busy struggling with yourself over something that you can't control. You know?

SPEAKER_01 36:44

So Agnes, please don't cry. You look like you're about to cry.

SPEAKER_05 36:48

I just can't help it.

SPEAKER_04 36:50

My good such a beautiful moment. I think Lisa, you may not. She might not, I don't know if you know or not, but I've always felt kind of growing up. I always got that you think you're white. You act like you're white. Um, we're not gonna go into what they meant by that. But I think, you know.

SPEAKER_05 37:13

We all know.

SPEAKER_04 37:14

We all know. Um, I actually got jumped in junior high school, seventh grade, in the lunchroom during lunch. And that was the it was horrible. But I think around high school age, I think I got to the point I was like, yeah, no. I it bothered me until then. I'm like, no, I'm just great. I love me for who I am. Never mind, you know, we all have our insecurities. That's a different, that's a different episode. But I wasn't black enough for the black people. Um, I also wasn't black enough for white people because white people thought I should have been black, blacker. And I won't say this well, all with quotation marks. So I was like, I wasn't black, I wasn't black enough for anyone at this point. I moved to Wisconsin and like, oh, look, a black girl. Um totally different vibe. But I I I totally get the whole not being comfortable in your skin because other people aren't comfortable with themselves and they project that onto you. And the moment you realize that it's projection, it's when you're like, ah, okay.

SPEAKER_05 38:26

Exactly.

SPEAKER_04 38:27

It's not about me, it's about you. Go find a therapist, get a life coach. I don't know, but this is it's not about me. And once you realize that, everything just becomes smoother. It's like I you don't hate yourself anymore. You don't hate anyone else. You're just like, go about your business. And you just back to the beginning of the episode, you go about your business and making your life better and making the people around you life is better.

SPEAKER_01 38:59

And I think high school is the best part about everything. You discover yourself around that time. Uh, what I've learned in the US is that middle school, the seventh, eighth grade, like you're talking about, yeah, that's the worst part of uh of your school age. Because I think kids are rediscovering themselves at that time and trying to figure out where they fit in. At high school, um, just like the way you said, um I had to figure out where I want to I want to be at. Do I want to be with a different crew that I want to roll with, or do I want to be with this kind of people I want to roll with? And at one point I said, you know what, I need to love myself. And this was in high school. I I I I I always tell my my son about that, and I don't know how to I don't know how to equate it in his life, but I hope he gets it. I just figured out I don't want to hang out with the people, I don't want to drink and smoke with the people who do that. And by the way, I was in a boarding school. We we we were sent in boarding school, and our boarding school was one of those schools where you had the rich kids and then you had middle class and you had all it was like uh I'm gonna put it like this it was like the DEI of school. Everybody was picked from different like you'd have look at the United States. I'm gonna make it shorter. Uh United States, they pick the five best kids and bring them to this one school.

SPEAKER_05 40:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 40:18

And then you have the, let's say the the uh the senators would send their kids over to this particular school. So you have all that in one in one part. So you get to realize you have to fit in somewhere. But if you don't love yourself, it's it's just gonna be, it's just gonna you're just gonna live a miserable life. So I decided, you know, I love myself. I'm gonna be who I am, I'm gonna go into all the spaces. That's the other thing. Go into all those spaces and make them know who you are. Don't be you don't have to be friends with all of them, but just let them know who you are. And at the end of it, when you leave school, they know who you are.

SPEAKER_02 40:55

That's something I still struggle with. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:58

Whether the good, bad, the ugly, they're gonna know who you are. Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 41:02

Yeah. That that's definitely something I personally still struggle with is learning that it's okay for me to put myself into other spaces where I may not necessarily feel comfortable. Not because of my feelings towards the people people who occupy those spaces, but because I don't want to be rejected because they may not think I belong in those spaces. And and it's not like a specific um I'm not referring to any kind of whatever, but just like even when I started my new job, I feel awkward going into the office because it's like I don't really know them that well because I work remote mostly. Do I belong here because I'm a remote worker? And it's like, no, I do belong here. I'm employed, I get my paycheck the same as everybody else, but it's it's those things that you still carry that sense of do I fit in here? Am I okay to be here? Can I carry my own weight and and prove that I am worthy of occupying this space with everyone else? And it's it's something that we have that I have to work on daily. It never stops.

SPEAKER_04 42:30

I'm trying to you help will you Lisa was my only friend and my first friend when I first moved to Brooklyn. Same. And I think I was like the odd man out. I felt like the odd man out. And I don't don't ask me how it happened, but I know Lisa was the first person that actually talked to me. And she was my savior. So you you completely got all up in my space, and and I thank you for that.

SPEAKER_05 43:01

Yeah, and now you can't get rid of me.

SPEAKER_04 43:04

I've tried, I really did. Changed my number. I moved. No, I didn't. I didn't change my number.

SPEAKER_05 43:10

Yeah, changed my name.

SPEAKER_04 43:13

No, changed my name. I can't get away from her.

SPEAKER_01 43:18

And you know, you do have you do have friends like that. I have a friend in high school. I I cannot understand why he was he came and he chose, he chose or I chose him. But we chose each other, that's what I say. Because he came, he sat next to me and didn't move. Because most of the kids would come, I would show them um around the class and tell them what they're supposed to do, and then they'd move away to other desks. And uh and I was the the one who was facilitating that. But he came and sat and he sat with me, and till today, we're the best of friends. He's like my my other brother, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 43:50

So that's how the best friendships start, right? It's just you just choose a person and and it's like, okay, we're we're just gonna be at each other's vibes. That's it. That's it.

SPEAKER_04 43:59

We're stuck with each other now. So between you and your best friend, is one an introvert and one an extrovert?

SPEAKER_01 44:07

I would think we're all the same. Well, we're the same. He's very quiet. He's yeah, he's more of an introvert. He's not gonna be.

SPEAKER_04 44:15

Because I feel like you get like one adopts the other.

SPEAKER_01 44:18

Right. I'm the loud one. When we're together, I'm the loud one. He's the more quiet one. He'll be like, hey, bro, you gotta chill sometimes. But I can't be I can be quiet sometimes. Um which is which is funny uh y'all got the best of me at the pod fest. Normally I am the the most if I go into a space and I don't feel like it, and I think I had some moments um there too when I got there and I was like, you know, I'm tired the whole day. And I think I went to into a meeting and I sat, I got my food, went to a corner and sat and ate and finished, and then after I finished it and I was walking around. I think I felt better. Maybe it was I was tired, but yeah, it it y'all got the best part of me.

SPEAKER_04 45:02

Um sometimes I can be same because this whole that whole trip for us, at least for me, I was just like when we left our room to you know do network or watch, you know, go to a panel, and it was like, okay, fine, I'm on. But I it was it was hard. Like getting, I don't want to do this. Hi, how are you? And I'm like, okay, fine, I can stop now.

SPEAKER_05 45:29

It was really and and Agnes is way better at that stuff than at the faking it, yes.

SPEAKER_01 45:36

I just like you look like you all were having so much fun saying, hey, how you doing?

SPEAKER_05 45:42

So for me, I'm the kind of person who once I'm introduced to a person and more so when they initiate the conversation, I'm in. As long as as long as we're vibing, I'm in the conversation, I'm getting to know you, we're we're fine, we're good. I'll sit here for three hours and talk to you.

SPEAKER_04 46:05

She has, and we and she will.

SPEAKER_05 46:07

But but for me to just go up to anyone and introduce myself and start that conversation, that's harder for me. And that's where she has that strength because she is like, oh, let's let's go do this meetup. And I leave her in charge of the calendar, and I'm like, please, you are so much better at that than I am. Just let me know where you want me to go, and I'm there. And it's hard. Hold my hand and take me, and I'm I'm there.

SPEAKER_04 46:36

And because my social meter, and it's nothing to do with the people I'm around, it's me. My meter drains quickly. And I feel like I get like my energy gets drained and sapped up from everything around me very quickly. So I'm like, okay, I'm done. I did my part, Lisa. Yes, you're on. Tag tag in the shit, tag tag her in.

SPEAKER_01 47:00

So when you say that, here's my question. How many people? So this is my this is my experience. After all that, right, I went back to my dark cards. Remember the the one that scans?

SPEAKER_05 47:11

Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 47:11

I had 53 connections.

SPEAKER_05 47:13

Oh, wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 47:14

I was like, oh my God. I talked to 53 people all through who are supposed to, we're supposed to link up. I haven't done that yet. Uh going back to it. And it shocked me because for most, for what I thought, everything was in a daze. I did meet people, I did say hello, but just to have had 50 people connect with me in that manner was like, oh, uh, I really did that. So what in turns it says is that either I was people were happy to talk to me or happy to talk to me after. Or I was just in a Zoom.

SPEAKER_04 47:51

Or they were like combination, combination of all, I think.

SPEAKER_01 47:55

Yeah, yeah. But it was it was a great event.

SPEAKER_05 47:58

Was this your first podfest? So last last year was Agnes's first, and I had been there once before in 2020. And I went with my husband. So it was it was a little bit different of a vibe. Um, Agnes couldn't go, so he went with me. And so then last year when the opportunity came up, you know, I was telling her we should go. And she was just like, I don't know, you know, I don't know. And uh but if you think it's a good idea, I'm in. You know, she's she's always like, yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_04 48:34

I'll do it, but uh I don't know how I feel about it, but I'll do it.

SPEAKER_05 48:39

And I'm trying to explain to her now as two kids from Brooklyn who look at the world with the very jaded eyes. Yeah, it's like I don't I don't know. Like, why are we going there? And I'm like, no, no, trust me, like the people are great, the panels are great, and I was like, You're gonna feel like it's family you've never known. And she's just like uh okay. She was already making plans for 2025, I think before we left in 2024, and she's like, holy shit, you were right. Like, okay, I and so even for two of us who are who lean more on the introvert side, we podfest is something that I definitely look forward to going to because even though it can be overwhelming and there's so many people and so many new faces, no one makes you feel like you don't belong there. And that to me is is why I keep going back because otherwise why would why would I go somewhere when I could I could do the videos, I can purchase the video recordings and and get everything that way. But to go to a place where people just accept you it's it's the best thing in the world to just feel like you belong here. That's it. No strings attached. You belong here, and they want to get to know you and and you want to get to know them, and it's it's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 50:11

Yeah, I don't think I feel the same way when you look at it. Uh I was like, man, why didn't I just come here the last year? Because Paula had already told me about it when we were leaving. Uh that so the other year was her first time to come to Afras and audio. And I was like, I told her, hey, come on, let's go check this out. So she's saying she's coming. She came. And when she got there, it's like, okay, my first time. Then she told me, Oh, there's Podfest coming up. And I was like, oh, another. Well, you know, I have kids, and when the calendar comes in, I have we have to now kind of sit and structure, and you go, like, okay, you know, this is what I want to do, this is what I want to do. So Afro, I have like three events I have to go, uh, well, not three events, two events that are actually three. There's rugby in March, there's um Podfest, Afrozen Audio, and then I have to go to Kenya for two weeks. So those are now my standard. Now I had to add um Podfest. So yeah, that was a toss-up, and that's the reason why I haven't, because now I may have to kick out the rugby part. But it's a weekend, so I have to figure it out. I'll figure it out. But the the thing is, um, yeah, when you when it comes to arranging the stuff, that's the hardest part. But when I got to do it, I was like, wow, this is one of the best places a podcaster can actually come to. And you have all these people in one place, and you talk about your podcast, you everybody's treating you like, you know, you you you belong. You're a friend, you know, you're it's uh it's a community. You get the same with Afros and Audio Podcast, even though they started they started off, you know, they started off with uh, you know, it's African-American, but now we're we're accepting. I say we because I'm an ambassador, so we're accepting everyone. That's the reason why I have that. Um the the shirt. Um so it's it's really more of community, and just being a podcaster, and you go whether your podcast is small, you're thinking about getting into podcasting, everything is just there. People are nice to you. Um what more can you expect? I mean, that's that's a family out there.

SPEAKER_05 52:36

And I meet you guys, you know, and you know, when I when I met you guys, uh it's like, wait, it's like I've known you guys for like we just like pulled over to the side and started talking, and it was just like, okay, cool. Like, easy.

SPEAKER_04 52:57

And here we are. We haven't we have a history of ingraining ourselves into people's lives. Oh, yeah, yeah. Some like it, some don't, but it is what it is. You're stuck with us.

SPEAKER_01 53:09

I must see that's why I was like, no, I I can't miss out a conversation with these guys. No way, no way.

SPEAKER_05 53:14

No, we're so glad that you did though.

SPEAKER_01 53:16

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 53:18

I mean, and I think that one of the things that I know that I want to work on for future podfest events is is opening myself up to talk to more people because we I I noticed that we will talk to whoever but we tend to keep the circle a little bit smaller and then and it it'll be like the same people that we meet at any given podfest or whatever. I mean, I say that like we've been to dozens, but and then like those are the people that we keep connecting with all through the weekend. And so I don't know if that's sorry, I'm trying to think of like the the way to word it. Like I want to talk to more people, but then I don't know if talking to more people if if it's as quality as the way that we've done where we talk to a handful of people and then get to know more of them throughout the event. Does that make sense? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? So I'm curious, like I'd love to talk to more people. I wanna I want to get to know everybody, but I don't know, I'm scared like if we network more, will we still be able to maintain that same deeper connection? I don't know, maybe I'm not making sense. No, no, you're making sense.

SPEAKER_01 54:52

You make perfect sense. So the thing is, you have four days, you gotta you figure out so you can break it down into say, okay, am I going to do the whole time where I'm gonna talk to every one person I meet on the hallway and say, hey, how are you doing? My name is so-and-so. I have a podcast, and this is my podcast, and it's a pleasure meeting you. Do you have a podcast? Blah, blah, blah. And it was nice to meet me, or tell them, look, this is what I want. I I just want to meet everyone I can in my whole. This is my thing. And somebody will not feel bad about it. You know, they'll be like, okay, oh, so this is what you're determined to do. You're already leaving an impression. Or you can bring it into segments. You have four days, and what are you gonna do in one day one, two, three, and four? So, like me, I chose day one, I was wearing a shirt for my podcast. Day two, I think I was wearing a shirt for Afras and audio. Because on that day, I was purposely telling people about Afras and audio. Then day three, I was my my podcast. Now I was telling you guys about my podcast. So I had differentiated how I was gonna do, and I made sure I was gonna talk to as many people as I can. And how do I do that? This is my secret. You volunteer. Because when you volunteer, people come to you, and depends on where you're being post where you're gonna be posted. People will come to you asking you questions of what you want to do and what have you. And I think with my being able to volunteer, I will go and talk to more people in these spaces. Then when I get to have all these people talking to me, then I maybe um like after the conference, I'll sit down and say, okay, which people did I talk to that I had a connection with? And then I'll now say, okay, this seems like a good connection. What are you gonna do with this information that I have? I mean, that's I have so many connections people I want to bring to my podcast. And right now I'm just taking it slowly. You know, no rush, but slowly we'll get there. Some will not come, some will not, some forget. But you've made you've made a you've made a choice of what you're gonna do with do with the with the information that you gather. Now, if you go back there again next year, those are connections that you've made.

unknown 57:07

Right.

SPEAKER_01 57:08

You're like, hey, we're here. Uh again, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Um, you can also meet somebody and you could be a connector to them. You're like, oh, so you're new in podcast, what do you do for your podcast? Oh, and you tell them, hey, you know what? I know somebody who does a show just like you. And if they're close by, say, hey, hey, hey, this person does a show like you do, and or even tell the other person that, oh, there's a person, if you want to meet, they do this particular show. And with that, you'll have created a connection, and then they'll look at you and remember that you're a connector and you're adding your value. Now, depends on what value you want to add to them. So you could be a value of, I'm the connector, and then that's how you probably create bonds of people. Um, and friendships occur like that. So you have one person that you met last year that is coming back again, and then you met another one that you told them, okay, I know this other person. So then you're adding them onto the list, but you're still keeping that core base of the people that you really like. You see what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_05 58:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 58:15

So it pretty much there is no waste of networking opportunities. It's the connections will happen organically or not, and then kind of like you know, imagine a gear, and you know, you may not connect, but they're gonna connect, and then one big beautiful little thing. You took the words out of my mouth.

SPEAKER_01 58:37

Like, I'll I'm I'm I'm here. I'll invite you to offers an audio until you hear you guys coming to offers an audio.

SPEAKER_04 58:42

Come on, let's let's I so didn't want to, and I didn't want to like volunteer myself onto your podcast, but I was like, like, please invite me, please like us.

SPEAKER_01 58:52

Um y'all can come. Definitely, I'll I'll I'll definitely make a point of putting you on and we can have we can have a show. We can do it. Um because you you you guys are great people. And remember what I said. It was just a few minutes, but that few minutes had a great impact on me. And once I came to listen to the show, you see, that's another thing. You talk to people, how they how you're gonna present yourself will make you want to see, oh, what are they what are they all about? Then I come listen to the show. Then I was like, God, these guys have a great show. The way they talk about stuff. Oh, we're not even making it. I'm glad y'all did not record that part, you know. But we recorded now. Yeah, you know, but but you see, it's all impressions, and I think y'all are doing a good job. I I don't think um it's um it's uh it's diminishing anything uh in your part, as you know, when you say you're looking for that core people that you meet on and on and on. Fine. You can still keep that core group and still meet them. Um but don't forget one of actually just just stick with that group, right? But you're gonna find one person in that group who will be like, hey, uh Lisa, there's somebody I want you to meet. There'll be a connector. So somebody else will have a uh whatever. Yeah, there's that. And then there's empowered podcasting. Uh they have a morning show on um on uh what you call it? On Clubhouse. Why every morning, Monday through Friday? We just go up there.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:32

Yeah, yeah. I think we were in a in a panel with them.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:36

I just yeah, that sounds familiar. Sit, listen, we listen over there. And when we get to to that place, now we we meet each other, then we get to this connection. And I remember talking to some guys here, and I was telling them, oh, you you in South Carolina. This dude is gonna be in South Carolina. Um remember my my connection is with the my main connection is with uh empowered podcasting. But I meet these guys in another place, and I'm like, hey, you in South Carolina? You don't know about this guy who does this stuff? Like, oh, so I became the connector. But we're all still creating relationships and helping each other. And I think that's the whole um the whole idea of Podfest, and I think it's also materializing. And like I said, I would love to see you guys at Africa, uh, after Afro as an audio. Uh, even in powered podcasting, if you can show up, that'd be great. I mean, you know what I'm saying. You know, but you have everybody has a schedule. Like me, I have to get a pass. Then I figure out just which one we got negotiated. You know, you figure out which one works. But it'll be fun to see you guys over and over again because you're a great, great company.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:45

But that's one of the fun things, right? Like when we came back this year, there were a few people that we met last time and even did an episode with, and then we see them again, and it's like hugs and genuine happiness because a little family reunion. You've made that genuine connection, and it's it's great. It's it's really great.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:12

It's and as he was saying, like, you know, different connections I pulled one of the people that we interviewed, like we consider a friend of Sassin Sips, we met through because we're talking to someone else, and they're like, Oh, look, you should meet so and so. And that's how, and then that person became like I consider friend of our a friend of Assassin's Sips. And the whole thing, Podfest is just one big love fest. It really is a podcasting love fest, and it brings a tear to my eye. This cold-hearted, iced heart of ice woman that I am brings a tear to my eye.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:53

I don't know. It doesn't shit.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:59

Do you have anything um exciting coming up for you and your podcast? I know you have a nomination.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:05

Yes, uh the actually March 2nd, which is which so which is weird. So we go in and I put myself as a podcaster. They put from put me as a blog. I guess somebody went and checked out some of my blogs. I just started blogging, and maybe my blogs are interesting, or you know, maybe I couldn't fit in the podcasting session. But I'm running for blog for the blogs reward on the Texas Creators Award. It's the first one. Um, so if y'all can go in there and vote for me, that'll be fine. Your group, yep, that'll be awesome. And also there's a Kadara Woman podcast, is there, Lola. It's if you go right at the bottom, it's under the T Kadara Woman podcast. And she's also been nominated there. So both of us are running for nominations, different categories. And uh yeah, um, looking forward to seeing what's going on. Um I'm trying to launch a show on Thursdays, uh, which is also basically it was talk to a podcaster. So yeah, y'all are in the mix to jump in, but not on Thursdays, because you guys have a lot of stuff going.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:16

We can listen to make room for you, I think we could figure something out for you.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:21

All right, so if I do the invite, I'll send you. It's got a calendar, and then you can pick the date and you can arrange in the future and say, okay, this one will work, and we can work something out. Um that's about it. And also, I'm trying to push as much as I can out there in terms of trying to get together with the uh, you know, put my content out so everybody can see, like, oh, there's something going on with Sambaza. And also get with the Africa, African podcasters. We're going to Kenya, and I'm trying to, you know, when I go there, I try to get a podcast going on here and there. So there's uh there's one topic I want to give to one guy, and we're gonna talk to my wife how it is to have a multicultural relationship. Because I'm from Kenya and she's from the United States. She's African American. So how these merge together. So I'm gonna give him a show, and a lot of people, I think this will create a lot of interest with a lot of people who want to who are thinking about how relationships are, especially when you're from different um different places and different uh cultural backgrounds and ethnicity. So uh that's one of the things that I'm I'm looking forward to. I haven't told her yet.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:34

You you guys I think you should tell her eventually.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:43

You know what?

SPEAKER_01 1:05:44

Somebody say we go meet him somewhere.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:46

By the way, FYI.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:50

Yep, I'm sure she loves that, doesn't she? Yeah, she'll she'll love it. So, by the way, my question before we forget. So it has to be one person, but uh okay, no, it'll work. It'll work. Okay. Who wants to go first? Lisa. Lisa, you want to go first? Okay This is one of my questions that I ask, and people go like, um, it's supposed to be a random, random question, uh uh uh fire, fire question. But what is the one thing? That you will say on this show that Agnes is your friend and will have no idea about she'd be like, I've known you for all this time, but you don't know this.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:40

I don't know if such a thing exists.

unknown 1:06:44

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:45

There is a secret that she does not know.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:47

There has to be something.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:56

So those things there are things that like so for instance, uh, when she was here not last year, but the year, or maybe it was last year, she she came and she visited, and she was hearing stories, like because we had barbecue, family was over. Oh and she was like there was a a specific story about my husband and I and and getting on our bedroom door. And um, and she was like, How have I never heard this story? And I'm like, I didn't tell you. And so I know that there's just assume I know there's definitely things that I I just have never mentioned, but not because they're secret. I mean, I have no shame when it comes to her.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:44

It's just like you kind of just assume, like, I I didn't tell you.

SPEAKER_05 1:07:47

Yeah. Is there one for um I don't I don't think that there's anything, or I mean, that there's anything that I've never deliberately told her. I don't think there's anything I'm deliberately hiding from anyone. Very embarrassing things. I don't think like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:12

You know, not journey, but you know, like maybe uh one day you you s you you kill the cat, or you know, I okay, not too extreme about that. I know, but trying to think is there's something that I just like maybe in the job you uh uh you took a picture uh anything. Oh my god. You see how hard it is?

SPEAKER_05 1:08:44

It is hard. Okay, you know what I can't think of anything.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:49

We're gonna think of something, and we're gonna record ourselves like telling the other person and send it to you. And you can or add it to this clip or something. Add it to the clip. But add it to the clip. Oh my god, that's a good one. That's if we come up with anything. I got 40 something plus. Never mind. But I haven't noticed 40 years.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:11

So yeah, it's usually one of those that people find it hard. Some people find it easy and will just say it out loud. Um, and some would be like, yeah, people know everything.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:20

I think it's funny. I mean, I I think if you're quick to say, oh yeah, I never told X, Y, and Z, it's because you intentionally didn't tell them X, Y, and Z, as opposed to what didn't I tell you? Because I could have sworn I told you everything. You know, it's like I'm not intention I don't think either one of us are keeping a secret from the other one.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:43

For whatever reason. And you know how sometimes, even though you know that you don't need the preface, but you're still like, and I know you understand, right? The way I'm like, I'm like, stop the disclaimer. Right. And and she's one of those people for me, where it's like I could tell her absolutely anything without ever worrying about what she will think of me in return.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:14

And vice versa.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:15

Yeah. Yeah. But that's a good question. I love it. See me at my best and my worst.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:21

And I We shared a hotel room. She's definitely seeing me at the worst. It should actually not be to the other person, it should be to everyone. It's like an open question. It could be your parents, your whatever. So that's why.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:32

That's a horse of a different color. So with everyone.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:35

When I put it to you, is now today I put it in a box because it's it's uh Lisa, Agnes to Lisa, Lisa to Agnes. That's when it becomes harder. But this is one that's open, and maybe she'll be like, You actually did that.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:52

Well, when we recorded Potluck, I didn't know about the guy on the train that you met and went to his house. I didn't know about that.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:00

And then I met his mom?

SPEAKER_05 1:11:01

Yeah. But I didn't know about that whole thing.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:04

That was a that's like one of those bad dates that you're just like, I rather forget about it.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:10

And I and I I don't think that you didn't tell me because you were hiding it, it just probably never came up. No, I don't think so.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:15

So something like that would fall.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:19

In that case, I have a ton of first dates to tell you, Lisa. Because they were all bad. I know. Sorry. So I can't thank you enough for actually wanting to jump on and speak with us today. I was very excited. Thank you. I enjoyed our little talk.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:42

Everybody should have flags. I I will have like a hundred wave. Now we should all be flying our flags and flags I want to wave. Um Agnes's flag would be like a big red flag. I messed you up. No, I'm kidding.

unknown 1:11:58

I'm kidding.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:04

Sorry. I can't resist. I'm sorry. You see, this is why we don't fight because we just say whatever to each other, and it's and it's funny because it's true. No. I'm sorry, but you were gonna say and I cut you off.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:23

Um, it was a pleasure uh hanging out with you guys. Uh I want to do it again if you all allow me to come back. Yeah and uh yeah, we can we can chop it up some more. And uh I mean, uh y'all y'all sound like family right here.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:37

Thank you. We are the best compliment we could get.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:40

Seriously. And honestly, bring Kazabati with you. If you have another podcaster buddy that you want to bring, you can make it a foursome and just a five-some, a six-some. I don't care. We could be it could be a podcast.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:52

Easy there, I gotta edit.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:54

Okay, good point.

unknown 1:13:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:02

I'm gonna have 14 tracks going down garage band, like yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:09

She'll send me some. I send, you know, just like add one.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:14

We'll just add one, get one person.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:16

No, and we definitely wanna get potluck back on track, and I think that we like you are a voice that would bring a very different perspective, especially since you're not originally from the United States. So that would be so interesting for some topics that we have like so we have we don't have any on on the books yet, but I know some of the ones that we were talking about were like boundaries and um and things like that. And so I think that those are ones that are so interesting because different cultures have different norms. And so hearing about hearing about boundaries, like especially like as a woman raised in New York City, raised in the United States, versus a man who's not actually born and raised in this country. I think that that would be such an interesting conversation and and how they all fit together, you know?

SPEAKER_01 1:14:21

Sure. I'll be I'll be I'll be gameful there.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:23

I know they had a few other ones that we talked about, but I don't have my book near me, so I don't I don't remember what they are. But I know boundaries was one that we talked about definitely getting on the books.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:36

All right. Well, I guess uh yeah, you y'all know how to reach me, and uh I'll like I said, anytime y'all need me, I'll make myself available. And uh Sundays, right?

SPEAKER_05 1:14:49

Sunday's are always Sundays is really good for me.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:52

No, no, no, no. Sundays is good for me. I'm not I'm not talking about that. Sundays is great for me.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:58

Okay, so Sunday's your day. We make sure that we block that just for you.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:02

Lock it in. Lock it in. All right.

SPEAKER_05 1:15:06

What um what is the best place for anyone to find you who wants to just connect with you or listen to your show?

SPEAKER_01 1:15:16

Oh, um, sambaza podcast. Just search Sambasa Podcast anywhere. I have audio, I have a video YouTube channel. Right now we run a show on Wednesdays live on a live stream, collaborating with Jane from Work by Accident, where we have topics we bring in. And uh that runs every Wednesday, eight o'clock Central Standard Time. And then I'll have my other shows running here and there. But mostly if you search some buzzer podcasts, you're not gonna miss something there. I'm on TikTok, uh uh Blue Sky. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_05 1:15:55

Oh, I'm on there. Reds. I'm on there too.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:58

All those, all those socials. So you you definitely will not can't miss me. Um anything and everything. I'll be somewhere. You can't I'm in just yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:08

We're gonna put everything in the show notes too. Make it easy.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:11

I'll send you all my links and uh y'all can uh and we're also looking for subscribers. Somewhat the podcast needs like a thousand subscribers. That's that's been the thing I've been running for the last one year, trying to get to a thousand. Um I'm at a easily one hundred and uh something right now.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:28

Is that on YouTube?

SPEAKER_01 1:16:29

Yeah, on YouTube.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:30

Yeah, we're we're we're struggling there too.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:34

But at least I have a community. One thing I know I have a community. I just need to just to get to the 1000 and then I start getting some coins and then giving, you know, give better, better videos out there, better stuff. You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:48

No, we appreciate you taking the time to hang out with us. And it was really good getting to know you, not just here, but at Podfest, and definitely looking forward to going back next year and catching back up with everyone, you know, here especially when so one of the things that for me is the people that we spoke to last year that we made those connections with and uh even did episodes with. Aside from kind of seeing what they were up to on social media, and probably the same goes for us to them. But then seeing them again at Podfest is not just like seeing an old friend, but it's also getting that time to catch up and hear about what's new with them and and sharing their growth, sharing our growth and and finding out like how far we've come since the last time. So hopefully when we see you again next year, you can be like, I hit my thousand subscriber mark. I I got that show that I was working on, it's out now. So I hope hope that when we see you again next year that we're gonna hear those things from you and more.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:04

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:05

You're welcome.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:08

All right, that was that.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:10

Uh is there anything else before we wrap up?

SPEAKER_01 1:18:13

I want to sign off and say thank you, unless Agnes has something else to say.

SPEAKER_04 1:18:16

No, we're just gonna do our sign-off, and I know you have things you have to do.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:22

Yeah, so I just want to say thank you to Sembaza for being here with us. Thank you to everyone who has listened to this episode. For more on Sembaza, you can find where to find him in the show notes. As for us, assassinsips.com. And we remind everyone, as always, drink responsibly. Please don't drink and drive. And until next time, I'm Lisa. And I'm Agnes. And we are out of here.

SPEAKER_04 1:18:46

See you there. Bye.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:48

Bye.