How Did You Get Here with Verastic

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How Did You Get Here with Verastic

Vera Ezimora

33 episodes

2 weeks ago

This episode of How Did You Get Here with Verastic is one that truly touched my heart. I sat down with Benny Bing, a Toronto-based Nigerian contemporary artist whose story is as powerful as his paintings. We talked about grief, forgiveness, masculinity, creativity, and the healing power of art. Benny opened up about losing his brother and father, the process of letting go of vengeance, and how art helped him find peace and purpose again. We also talked about us being African creatives — gro...

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Society & Culture

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This episode of How Did You Get Here with Verastic is one that truly touched my heart. I sat down with Benny Bing, a Toronto-based Nigerian contemporary artist whose story is as powerful as his paintings. We talked about grief, forgiveness, masculinity, creativity, and the healing power of art. Benny opened up about losing his brother and father, the process of letting go of vengeance, and how art helped him find peace and purpose again. We also talked about us being African creatives — gro...

Show more...

Society & Culture

Episodes (20/33)

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

How Nigerian Contemporary Artist Benny Bing Turned Grief Into Healing Through Art

This episode of How Did You Get Here with Verastic is one that truly touched my heart. I sat down with Benny Bing, a Toronto-based Nigerian contemporary artist whose story is as powerful as his paintings. We talked about grief, forgiveness, masculinity, creativity, and the healing power of art. Benny opened up about losing his brother and father, the process of letting go of vengeance, and how art helped him find peace and purpose again. We also talked about us being African creatives — gro...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 33 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

“I Am More Than My Scars” — Kechi Okwuchi on Faith, Healing & Survival After the Sosoliso Plane Crash

In this deeply moving episode of How Did You Get Here with Verastic, I sit down with Kechi Okwuchi — one of only two survivors of the tragic Sosoliso plane crash of 2005. Kechi’s story is one of unimaginable pain, miraculous survival, and powerful transformation. From surviving burns over 65% of her body to undergoing more than 100 surgeries, from competing on America’s Got Talent to becoming a motivational speaker and author of More Than My Scars, Kechi’s life is a testament to faith, resili...

1 month ago

1 hour 2 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 29 How One Mom Is Raising Two Children On The Autism Spectrum ft. Lola Dada-Olley

The world is still learning about autism. And I, Vera Ezimora, know even less about autism. My first "real" experience with autism was when I got my first professional job after I graduated college. It was as a Service Coordinator, and I walked with individuals with intellectual disabilities. It seems like such a lifetime ago now. I learned so much from that job. When I came across today's guest, Lola Dada-Olley on Facebook (through her husband), I just knew I had to bring her on because she ...

4 years ago

1 hour 23 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 28: How To Save Money Even When You Think You Don't Have It ft. Ronke Odewumi

This pandemic needs to just go away. Am I right? Or am I right? A lot of things have changed permanently, thanks to the pandemic. For example, remote work, when possible, will probably always be the norm. Another thing is money: how much of it we wake, how much of it we have saved for a rainy day, etc. In today's episode, we have Ronke Adewumi, a finance expert, teaching us creative ways to save money and stop wasting it. Yes, even when you think you don't even have money or don't have enough...

4 years ago

59 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 27: IVF and Male Factor Infertility ft. Nonsi Martins

Infertility is one of the many taboo conversations in the African community. In the Christian African community, it's even worse. For starters, the bible says that there will be barrenness in the land, so both preachers and the congregation they're preaching to are quick to remind women who are trying to conceive of this verse. It's almost as if the infertility is thereby invalidated and denied. The problem is that it's usually still there. And what about the fact that altar calls in church o...

4 years ago

1 hour 15 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 26: Why I Had A Divorce Party ft Dr. Ikea Bello

Recently, a Nigerian woman, Dr Ikea Bello, went viral for doing what we (Nigerians/Africans) would consider the unimaginable. Not only did she file for divorce, but she also dared to celebrate it --- and she did it publicly. On social media. With pictures. And videos. So, naturally, the African internet streets are offended. And also naturally, I was there to remind everyone that the divorce and the party are both hers. Read my post here. A lot of brands and publications have been reaching ou...

4 years ago

1 hour 31 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 25: Dating As A Divorced Dad ft. Goziem

My people! I am here to prove to you that divorced dads who are dating do exist! It took me so long to find a divorced dad willing to speak to me about his dating life. But then Goziem happened. He was introduced to me by a mutual friend, Eloka, and the rest is history. As a divorced mom, I know what dating is like. But I did not know and what I wanted to know was how it was for a divorced dad. While I know that Goziem does not speak for every divorced dad who is dating, I know that there are...

4 years ago

1 hour 11 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 24: On Being An African Atheist ft. Ruth Marimo

Conversations are important, especially with people who are different from you. As a Christian girl, it was important for me to have this conversation with Ruth Marimo, an African Atheist - because at the end of the day, no matter who we serve (or don't serve), we are still humans with blood running through our veins. Today's guest, Ruth Marimo, isn't new to the podcast. She first came on the podcast in episode 18 where she talked about emotional resilience. It. Was. So. Powerful! Check that ...

4 years ago

1 hour 56 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 23: I'm Divorced. Now What? ft. Sade Curry

Divorce is like an onion; it has so many layers that need to be peeled, one after another. First, there's the layer where you realize you need to get divorced, and there are all the emotions that come with it. Then there's the layer where you go through the actual divorce. Then, finally, the layer after the divorce. Now what? What happens after the divorce? How do you heal? How do you move on? How do you meet good men? How do you remarry - if you so desire? These are the questions that Sade C...

5 years ago

1 hour 45 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 22: How To Be Confident AF ft. Msendoo

I used to not wear shorts. Wait, let's rewind. When I was younger, maybe between 12 and 17 or something like that, I loved my legs, and I remember how it started. I had heard my mom in a conversation with her friend who kept complimenting my legs, saying how nice they were. And that was how I started suddenly thinking my legs were the best. But at some point, I started thinking that my legs were not so great anymore, specifically, my thighs. I thought they were too big and did not deser...

5 years ago

1 hour 10 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 21: Why Africans Don't Have The Black Perspective ft. Dr. Uju Anya

This is one of the first topics I wrote down when I was dreaming about starting my podcast: why Africans don't have the African American perspective. From the moment I finally began to understand my African privilege and the struggles of my African-American brothers and sisters that I previously did not know of, I have tried to use my platform to tell all my fellow Africans. African privilege is a thing that a lot of us, Africans, don't even know that we have. For us, we think that coming fro...

5 years ago

1 hour 53 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 20: What About Sex During Divorce? FT. Berry Dakara

Before I filed for divorce - in fact, before I even walked away from my marriage - I had never given a moment's thought to sex (or lack of it) during a divorce. I also did not know that the legal laws for sexing while divorcing varied from State to State. In my State, Maryland, for example, it is illegal to have sex with someone who is not your spouse, until your divorce is final. It does not matter if you are legally separated. It was only when I separated from The Boy that I started receivi...

5 years ago

1 hour 49 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

Season 2 Is Coming!

My Sweet Potatoes! Season two is upon us! Need I say more? The real question is are you ready? Or ARE YOU READY? BEFORE YOU GO, PLEASE RATE AND LEAVE A WRITTEN REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS. THANK YOU! Let's connect: I Am African on InstagramI Am African on TwitterI Am African on FacebookVera Ezimora on InstagramVera Ezimora on TwitterVera Ezimora on FacebookSubscribe to my monthly emailsWeb: www.verastic.comEmail: iamafrican@verastic.com

5 years ago

6 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 19: Can Women Be Divorced And Happy?

Can women actually be divorced and happy? For some reason, being divorced and happy, especially for a woman, seems like it's mutually exclusive. I will not make the claim that all women are divorced and happy, but I can confidently say that any woman who gets divorced for the right reasons can be - and most likely is - divorced and happy. Our culture abhors divorce. Our culture also abhors a free-thinking, independent woman because she is seen as rebellious and unsubmissive. You already know ...

5 years ago

55 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 18: Emotional Resilience: How To Deal With Not Being Included FT. Ruth Marimo

"Vera, you're so strong!" I've practically heard this for as long as I can remember. I heard it most when I left my marriage. People congratulated me for being so strong, for having the audacity to walk out of a marriage that was trampling me and robbing me of my peace. I did not understand why I was being congratulated. Should one not always leave a situation that is bad for them? But that's by the way. To be strong, one has to be emotionally resilient. Some people are strong because t...

5 years ago

1 hour 43 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 17: A Conversation With An Openly-Gay Nigerian Man FT. Edafe Okporo

"I believe in asking the difficult questions, starting the uncomfortable conversations, proposing outside-the-box solutions, and of course, shaking tables. No, breaking tables." Verbatim, these words are in the intro of the I Am African Podcast because they are exactly why I started this podcast. And today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Edafe Okporo about his life as an openly-gay Nigerian man. Make no mistake, Edafe is not a gay rights activist, although he is understandably outspoken...

5 years ago

1 hour 18 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 16: How Not To Say Yes When You Really Mean No

Even now, I'm wondering if How Not To Say Yes When You Really Mean No is the appropriate title for this. But it's too late to change it. The podcast has been recorded, edited, and published. Perhaps, what I really should have named it is How Not To Spend Your Energy On Things You Really Don't Want. Either way, I suppose there's still an element of saying yes or no to something. Listen and tell me your thoughts! BEFORE YOU GO, PLEASE RATE AND LEAVE A WRITTEN REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS. THA...

5 years ago

30 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 15: Never Have I Ever [A Life Not Lived - Yet]

I played a game of Never Have I Ever on Zoom for Uju's birthday in April, and it got me thinking about a whole lot. Although I knew it before, this game became living proof that indeed I need to stop being so safe and live already. There is so much I still have not experienced. Half the year is already gone, but it does not mean I can't start where I am right now, right? The past three weeks have been very dark - and that's putting it mildly - so I deliberately chose this topic for this week'...

5 years ago

30 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 14: On The Rape Culture In Nigeria ft. Omolara Oriye

Sweet Potatoes, So much is going on in the world right now. And I'm tired of starting sentences like this, but how can I be tired when some people have a worse fate? My fellow Nigerian women have been raped and killed with no repercussions to the rapist because of the rape culture in Nigeria. In today's episode, I have the very smart and outspoken table-shaker, Omolara Oriya, an activist, human rights lawyer. We had a raw and authentic conversation about the rape culture in Nigeria, about th...

5 years ago

1 hour 38 minutes

How Did You Get Here with Verastic

EP 13: Dear Africans, You're Black Too!

Today's episode is not a regular episode, and I am not a regular Vera today either. I was so angry recording this episode. When I was listening back to it, I felt bad for the Vera who recorded it. I was angry that some Africans still don't know that they're Black in America, but I was angrier at the situation that calls for Africans to be reminded that they're Black too. Some days ago, I did not go to bed till about 4AM because I was watching the news, watching buildings burn, and watching my...

5 years ago

23 minutes