What does it mean to fight for others… without losing yourself?

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re proud to share this deeply honest conversation with Tamanda Namangale, pre-law student, community organizer, and writer.

From growing up as a Malawian military kid - shaped by movement, discipline, and community to becoming a young leader in politics and immigrant advocacy, Tamanda’s journey is one of purpose. An early political awakening, sparked by her father’s public dismissal from the military, set her on a path that led to global education opportunities and a life of impact in the U.S.

But behind the achievements is a more complex truth.

Tamanda opens up about navigating identity across cultures, the assumptions tied to her surname and Blackness, and being targeted in college - including having her visa revoked twice. She shares the mental health toll of it all - depression, anxiety, and substance use - while appearing “high-functioning” on the outside.

Through therapy, community, and intentional self-work, she’s learning to advocate sustainably - grounded in boundaries, connection, and small, everyday joys. Her perspective challenges the idea of “Black excellence,” reframing it as self-knowledge, wellness, and the courage to live fully.

A powerful reminder that you can do meaningful work without sacrificing your wellbeing and that reclaiming joy is part of the work.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations while trying to make a difference, this one’s for you.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of addiction, depression, and anxiety. If this episode brought anything up for you, you’re not alone. Support is available:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for immediate mental health support
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – Peer support groups for those struggling with alcohol use
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA) – Support for people recovering from drug addiction
• SMART Recovery – Self-management and recovery training programs (non-12 step)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

If you’re outside the U.S., local health services and community organizations can provide similar support.

What does Black excellence look like when rooted in an African perspective?

In this episode, Anya and Dr Tiamo sit down with Joe Ekue Kinvi, a Togolese-born, Pan-African entrepreneur building the future of investment and innovation across Africa and its diaspora.

From arriving in Ireland at 15 without speaking English, to leading roles at Stripe and Paystack, to now founding Borderless, Joe’s journey is shaped by resilience, identity, and a deep commitment to shifting Africa’s narrative.

We unpack the realities behind identity and ambition, navigating name-based bias, value creation, and carrying the weight (and motivation) of sacrifice, family, and expectation.

Joe shares how his experiences shaped his mission to shift Africa’s narrative - from one of limitation to one of opportunity - through ownership, investment, and collective economic power.

From co-founding the African Professional Network Ireland to leading roles at Stripe and Paystack, to now building Borderless, he’s focused on one thing: creating systems that allow Africans and the diaspora to build, invest, and thrive together.

Connect with Joe

Twitter - [@joekinvi](https://twitter.com/joekinvi?lang=en)

Linkedin - [@joekinvi](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joekinvi)

Instagram - [@joekinvi](https://instagram.com/joekinvi)

Email - joe@onborderless.com

Newsletter - https://joekinvi.beehiiv.com/

In this episode, Anya and Dr. Tiamo sit down with Pendo O’Donohoe, Director of Sales for EMEA Emerging Markets Google Ireland, to explore resilience, leadership, and what it means to navigate identity in spaces where representation is limited.

With nearly 20 years at Google and a career spanning continents, Pendo reflects on the experiences that shaped her journey; from growing up in a Zimbabwean family shaped by political exile and entrepreneurial resilience, to becoming Google Ireland’s first Black employee and its only Black woman director.

She shares what it means to lead while holding multiple identities: an African in the diaspora, a senior tech leader, and a mother raising a mixed-race son in Ireland.

The conversation also explores the realities many Black women face in professional environments, how direct leadership styles can be misinterpreted, the subtle biases that show up in the workplace, and the balance between adapting and staying authentic.

In one of the most personal moments of the episode, Pendo reflects on returning to work after the sudden loss of her sister, and how that experience reshaped her understanding of grief, community, and extending grace to yourself.

Throughout the conversation, Pendo reframes the idea of Black excellence: not as perfection, but as being the best version of yourself, living your values, and helping others rise along the way.

• Redefining Black excellence beyond perfection • Navigating leadership as a Black woman in tech • Balancing identity, motherhood, and career • Mentorship, representation, and building community • Grief, resilience, and the importance of mental health