Mind Your Own!

October has arrived... I feel it in the air after a very long and stubborn run of humidity and warmth that made many Canadians feel as if there was some sort of meteorological joke playing out among us. As we say, 'If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes...'. Something is always coming down the pipe. And change and surprises are very much on my mind as I write this.

I first heard about 'Mind Your Own with Lupita Nyong'o' back in the beginning of September...and almost forgot about it. Many celebrities have had podcasts and have either given them up, or used them as platforms to shill for products and services I do not want or need. I was prepared to see Ms. Nyong'o's own show do the same.

Shame on me.

This Lemonada Media creation is one of the most interesting forums out there for stories from her native Africa, specifically the Kenyan environment she was raised in after her birth in Mexico. The early trailer gives a very sonic and dissonant taste of what is to come, but even I was not prepared for what I heard.

After four episodes, beginning on September 19th, I know that I am hooked. And I am aware that storytelling is something that is so universal, I can place myself in the moments shared by both Lupita and her guests.

The first episode to truly draw me in was the second full one entitled 'The Shadow Side'. Ms. Nyong'o begins her episodes with personal stories from her own life and then continues with a guest who tells their particular tale. In this episode, she recalls a decision she made as a twelve-year-old that haunted her for many years (no details will be revealed here), and then we have the tale of Mr. John Kibera. As described on the Podbean page I discovered, 'John Kibera has found the hustle to end all hustles in Nairobi. The shillings pour in. But one day, a job goes very, very wrong.'

Very, very wrong...

I am making a very difficult choice here in not telling you exactly what Mr. Kibera's hustle was (please note that it described in the present tense, making it seem as if the listener is living in the moment with the subject). Let me just quote what was written on the page:

The dead man does not know the value of his coffin.

Let me also mention that I listened to this one after a very long day of teaching where I felt that the upcoming midterms were about to provide a stellar lesson to my students...if they paid attention (they did not).

But I did...

If it is possible to have one's jaw literally on the floor of a dirty metro car, I would have been wiping my goatee down after that trip. I really could not see where this story was heading next, but when I did... Mr. Kibera has lived a life of incredible highs and lows and managed to save some of his sense of humour as he describes his wayward youth. And Ms. Nyong'o should take a bow for taking on this project with a bit of extra commentary, a lot of energy, and her own sense of humour (if there are any Jordan Peele fans out there, you are really going to love the audio Easter eggs she drops in this episode).

So, listen to Mind Your Own if you get the chance. It will forever wreck the idea that there are no new ideas available out there (and yes, I think Hollywood should take note).

Listen...

*

Thank you for reading!

If you liked this, you can add your Insights, Comment, leave a Heart, Tip, Pledge, or Subscribe. I will appreciate any support you have shown for my work.

You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

Give it a look...