Breathe ~~

04/22/20 • 23 min

In this episode, I speak with a UChicago graduate from Rwanda. Our overall theme revolves around maintaining peace in the midst of turmoil and anxiety, more so now as we experience the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss our coping mechanisms and she leaves us with a hopeful guiding principle, ‘nta mvura idahita’, a Rwandan proverb which acknowledges the burdens of life but promises brighter days ahead. Enjoy!

Some tidbits:

*New email: [email protected] (Feel free to share thoughts and feedback)

*Olivier's medium: https://medium.com/@YoursOllie

*Great article: "Experts explain how to manage mental wellness during COVID-19": https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-mental-health/

Some tidbits:

*New email: [email protected] (Feel free to share thoughts and feedback)

*Olivier's medium: https://medium.com/@YoursOllie

*Great article: "Experts explain how to manage mental wellness during COVID-19": https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-mental-health/

Previous Episode

Hindsight is 20/20...Happy 2020! :)

On this episode, I speak with Gordon College graduate from Rwanda, Sarah Uwandori. We discuss the value of community in college, the anxieties around graduation and employment and our strengths which we so often ignore. There's lots of reflection and introspection on this episode. Enjoy!

Next Episode

Psychology and Mental Wellness

Ever wondered why 'positive affirmations' make you feel better? In this episode, I speak with Tom Lee Osborn who is originally from Kenya. We discuss his research on the correlation between mental wellness and better life outcomes as well as the the science behind some interventions and why they work for certain people.

Tom is an entrepreneur, community mobilizer and research scientist. Currently, he is working on Shamiri Institute—a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and deploy evidence-based interventions that improve the life outcomes of young people in Sub Saharan Africa. These outcomes include academic achievement, mental health, financial security and civic engagement. At 19, he was named on the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in Social Entrepreneurship, the second youngest person to receive the honor. Salt Magazine has listed his as 30 under 30 social entrepreneur. Richtopia has named him as one the 100 Most Influential Entrepreneurs under 25. He graduated from Harvard University with Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (High Honors).

Link to Tom's art: http://paintingsdoubt.studio/osborn.html

Sample of his research: https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/81183642_2550484591741479_2361547966243667968_n.pdf/osbornShamiri2019.pdf?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=0cab14&_nc_ohc=QYWEoqOBIVwAX-RQjEB&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=27d8f3a3bc589b35634e426538ec49ea&oe=5F1FE3EC&dl=1