Your Mind Matters Too!

About 2 months ago I was the 7th speaker on a roaster of incredibly, passionate, driven individuals selected to speak at a TEDx Conference organized by Dar es Salaam International Academy. If you don't know what TEDx is, just imagine a room full of people, and strangers on stage talking about things they like or are driven by or "ideas" about life and a great many other topics!

I chose to talk about mental health (obviously), and specifically, how deeply shrouded in stigma and ignorance mental health issues are in Tanzania. I talked about how maybe all human beings are just stories and if we can be open to read different people's stories then perhaps stories on mental health need not be taboo, then perhaps authenticity and connection can be found in simply saying, "I'm not okay," and having that reciprocated and validated with kindness and compassion.

I'm not a doctor nor a mental health personnel so maybe there are nuances I missed in my talk. So please listen to this with your heart, and defy some of the stories you've heard about mental health. And maybe, write a couple too...

In this compelling episode of "Zoom with Mari," we had the privilege of sitting down with Leone, a 21-year-old rapper whose music transcends genres, fusing classical instrumentals with deeply introspective lyrics centered around mental health. Leone's wisdom and insight belie his age, as he shares his unique perspective on life, connection, and the power of manifesting one's dreams.

Episode Highlights

1. The Fusion of Music and Mental Health:Leone opens up about his journey into music and how he found a powerful outlet for expressing his thoughts and emotions related to mental health.

2. The Generational Anchor: Leone's self-proclaimed title holds a deeper meaning, and he elaborates on what it means to him and how he sees his role in connecting different generations.

3. Connecting Through Energy and Frequency:The conversation delves into the fascinating realm of energy, frequency, and how they influence the connections we form in our lives.

4. Manifestation and Making Dreams Reality:Leone shares insights into manifesting one's aspirations and how he's seen his dreams come to fruition.

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If you would like to be a part of these conversations, do reach out to me:

Instagram: @_sheismari_ / @_yourmindthepodcast

Twitter/X: @SimbeyeMariam/@_yourmindthepod

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You can connect with Leone:

Instagram: instagram.com/iamleone.myr

Listen to his music via:

Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/4Y2tMbo5x9mEaRYSHyiuwP?si=Z

Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/leone/1431802699

Audiomack: audiomack.com/album/ernest-386/mentalityleone

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/ernesto-dabesto/sets/mentality-album-leo

In this episode of Your Mind Matters Too, we're diving headfirst into the world of fear and how it's more familiar to us than we might think.

Episode Highlights:

- Getting Real: Join me as I open up about my journey through life's quirks and challenges. From seeking validation through screens to dealing with my own mouthy mental chatter, we're in for a candid chat.

- Embracing the Quirks: Discover my unique habit of greeting and responding to myself, and the little eccentricities that make us who we are.

- Fear, My Constant Companion: We're delving deep into the realm of fear, exploring how it can be more constant than peace and love. Get ready for some honest reflection on how fear shaped my thoughts and actions.

- Learning from Fiction: The characters in books and movies? They've been my crash course in dealing with fear. From horror screams to rom-com confessions, let's talk about preparing for the unknown.

- Navigating Fear's Maze: Uncover how I've learned to navigate fear's twists and turns. It's not about conquering it, but about living in it, and finding hope even amidst the discomfort.

- Daring to Dream: I share my struggles with hope, big dreams, and why living fully sometimes means leaning into the discomfort of uncertainty.

Tune in to this episode and discover how, even in the face of fear, we can choose to be hopeful, daring, and unstoppable dreamers. Join the conversation and let's conquer fear together!

Remember to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoy the episode!

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Get Luvvie Ajayi Jones's book via https://luvvie.org/books/professional-troublemaker/

Follow the podcast on

Instagram: @_yourmindthepod, @_sheismari_

Twitter: @yourmindthepod, @SimbeyeMariam

Facebook Page: Your Mind Matters Too

On this episode of Zoom with Mari, I had the pleasure of speaking with Marc Ngotonie, talented self-taught events and portrait photographer based in Tanzania. With a career spanning back to 2015, Marc initially focused on capturing the magic of weddings and corporate events. However, his artistic journey took an exciting turn as he delved into photographing live music performances, including the renowned Sauti za Busara, a pan-African music festival held annually in Zanzibar.

His unwavering passion for using photography as a powerful storytelling medium sets Marc apart. Through his lens, he skillfully allows his subjects to take centre stage, enabling their stories to come alive in vivid detail. With a keen eye for capturing raw emotions and authentic moments, Marc's photographs serve as windows into captivating narratives.

In this episode, we dive deep into a thought-provoking discussion on masculinity and mental health, exploring the significance of creating safe spaces for men to connect with each other. Marc brings his unique perspective as a photographer, shedding light on the challenges men face in navigating societal expectations and the impact it can have on their mental well-being. We explore the transformative power of vulnerability and the importance of fostering supportive environments that encourage men to open up and seek help when needed.

Join us for this inspiring conversation as we uncover the complexities of masculinity, the journey of personal growth, and the role that mental health plays in shaping the lives of men. Through Marc's insightful experiences and thoughtful reflections, you'll gain a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of the intersection between masculinity, mental health, and the quest for authentic connection.

Tune in to this enlightening episode of Zoom with Mari and be prepared to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

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Please note that this episode was originally recorded on Union Day, capturing a snapshot in time. Since then, many things have evolved, including the exciting news that Marc's podcast, previously known as #30MinsWithMarc, has undergone a rebranding and is now called #Morethan30.

Connect with me and stay updated:

Twitter:

• Follow Mariam Simbeye: @SimbeyeMariam
• Follow the podcast: @_yourmindthepod

Instagram:

• Follow Mariam Simbeye: @_sheismari_
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• Like and follow my Facebook page: "Your Mind Matters Too"

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Join our community, engage in discussions, and gain access to exclusive content, resources, and more. We appreciate your support in helping us continue spreading awareness about mental health and fostering a safe space for meaningful conversations.

Remember, Your Mind Matters Too!

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses heavy and sensitive topics related to mental health and ongoing violence and hatred in the world that may be triggering or difficult for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, I encourage you to seek support or skip this episode if you feel it may be harmful to your mental health.

In this episode, I spoke candidly about my mental health and the ongoing violence and hatred in the world that has left me feeling hopeless. I opened up about my struggles and shared my thoughts and emotions on this heavy and personal topic.

During the episode, I discussed the following:

1. Feeling tired, anxious, scared, and numb about the state of the world we are in right now.

2. The ways in which I lie to myself about how I'm feeling, and how it is easy to know what to do when your mental health is in the dumps but how it's harder to put it into practice.

3. The ways in which I choose to distract myself from the pain I feel over the state of the world right now.

4. How all of these things have made me depressed and feeling desolate. I have a hard time getting out of bed, and I'm increasingly exhausted by the weight of all the emotions I feel and I pick up from my environment.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please know that there is help available. While the topics discussed in this episode are heavy and emotional, it's important to remember that hope and support are available. If you or anyone you know needs help, please reach out and know that you are not alone.

You can find me here:

Instagram: @_yourmindthepodcast, @_sheismari_

Twitter: @_yourmindthepod, @SimbeyeMariam

Facebook Page: Your Mind Matters Too!

The word "comfort" is fascinating to me because it is an English word that can mean many things, such as a feeling, an act of giving, a state of being, or adding something where something was missing. I used to believe it was one of the most positive words in the English language because it balances the negativity in the world. However, after listening to TED Talks and podcasts about people doing incredible things, I realized that at the heart of all these incredible things was the act of getting out of your comfort zone as an essential part of personal growth. Now, while the stories of people doing hard and dangerous things were inspiring, I couldn't help but wonder why I am afraid to leave MY comfort zone.

In this episode, I talk about how everyone loves feeling comfortable, especially in a familiar environment where they can predict the outcome of their actions. However, I share a personal experience of climbing a mountain that challenged my comfort zone and left a profound impact on my life. I realized that seeking comfort may not always be the best way to grow and that discomfort can lead to valuable self-discovery. While I'm still learning to embrace discomfort, I hope this episode inspires listeners to step out of their comfort zones and explore new experiences.

If you liked what you heard, please Subscribe to the podcast from wherever you're listening, and please consider leaving me a review. 

You can reach out to me via my pages: 

Instagram: _yourmindthepodcast / _sheismari_

Twitter: @_yourmindthepod / @SimbeyeMariam

Facebook Page: Your Mind Matters Too!

This is the second part of a two-part episode about The Power of Naming Your Emotions. 

In this episode, I talk about how I’d been conditioned as a child not to express my emotions or process them in a healthy manner. Coming from a big family, this survival mode worked to get me through tough times because I could always high-function my way out of difficult situations but in time, I’ve realized that my state of high function only worsens my mental health. I have had to learn how to gracefully take the time to process my emotions rather than repress or ignore them, and I’ve been able to do that by learning how to name my emotions and find ways to express them myself. 

If you are the type of person that processes things internally or can expertly compartmentalize your emotions and “schedule emotional breakdowns” this is an episode for you. It’s an episode about trusting your inner self to handle the difficult emotions that come up for you while navigating through life. Most importantly, this episode is about learning what each and every lesson your emotions try to impart. 

To paraphrase a quote from Dr. Brené Brown, we are deeply feeling human beings who occasionally think. Our emotions can be our greatest tools to survive and live a happily enriched life. So we don’t have to hide from them or ignore them to get through difficult situations. So feel, and be free to feel because you were made to feel. 

I hope this episode resonates with you to take braver steps into exploring inside your heart what you are truly about. 

If you like what you hear, please leave me a review and share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell me what are some of the emotions that you find difficult to name, start that conversation amongst yourselves and see how powerful and transformative it can be to name your emotions.

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Get new updates via:

Instagram: @_yourmindthepodcast / @_sheismari_

Twitter: @_yourmindthepod / 

Facebook: Like, comment and share my page Your Mind Matters Too!

Masuma Somji is a kickass mental health activist, feminist, and teacher!  Amongst other things, she vocally advocates for mental health awareness  and uses her platform to speak against gender-based violence and  patriarchy. Her story is one forged from violence and pain; having grown  up in an oppressive and increasingly patriarchal community, having been  married at 19 to a man who physically and verbally abused her, and  making the painful decision to leave him - and her kids. She's a perfect example of learning in real-time, a woman brave enough to open her  heart and show us all the scars inside. She's a friend and an absolute  sweetheart; this conversation is one of many I'll have with her.

Listen to the full episode now! 

Masuma Somji is a kickass mental health activist, feminist, and teacher! Amongst other things, she vocally advocates for mental health awareness and uses her platform to speak against gender-based violence and patriarchy. Her story is one forged from violence and pain; having grown up in an oppressive and increasingly patriarchal community, having been married at 19 to a man who physically and verbally abused her, and making the painful decision to leave him - and her kids. She's a perfect example of learning in real-time, a woman brave enough to open her heart and show us all the scars inside. She's a friend and an absolute sweetheart; this conversation is one of many I'll have with her. 

You can follow Masuma via Instagram @masuma_somji 

Watch her incredible movie about mental health - based on real-life events - at https://youtu.be/8QiF2gcg_vU 

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Zoom with Mari is a new segment of the podcast Your Mind Matters Too where I talk with some of my favorite people via Zoom about various topics. Our conversations are deep, lighthearted, painful, and sometimes uncomfortable but I believe necessary. These are the people I could talk to for hours and never feel like a single minute has passed and I wanted a chance for you all to experience some of their incredible light as much as I do. 

You can now listen via www.mariamsimbeye.com/podcast 

Get podcast updates via:

    Podcast social media:

Website: www.mariamsimbeye.com/podcast 

Twitter: @_yourmindthepod

Instagram: @_yourmindthepodcast 

Facebook: Your Mind Matters Too

Emotions come in different ranges for us all. How we feel influences how we move through the world and feel about ourselves. We quickly learn to connect through language as children but when we get older, we feel disconnected from ourselves and from those around us because our universes are limited by the language of our emotions.  I got a little nerdy in this episode because I referred to my favorite researcher Dr. Brenè Brown's newest bestseller Atlas of the Heart. In this book, she teaches us the power of the language of emotions. 

This episode is the first part of a two-part podcast on how to use language to name our emotions. In that sense, this is the journey to properly connect with our inner selves. 

I am guided by the question: WHY WE DO STRUGGLE WITH NAMING OUR EMOTIONS? 

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Instagram: @_yourmindthepodcast / @_sheismari_ 

Facebook: Your Mind Matters Too! 

*** If you want to be featured in Part Two of this podcast, send me a voice note and I'll play it as one of my segments. 

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If you would like to learn more:

Books: 

1. Atlas of the Heart - https://brenebrown.com/book/atlas-of-the-heart/ 

2. Healing Trauma - https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Trauma-Pioneering-Program-Restoring/dp/159179658X 

Other Podcasts:

1. Super Soul - https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/bren%C3%A9-brown-atlas-of-the-heart-part-1/id1264843400?i=1000543582754 

                     - https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/bren%C3%A9-brown-atlas-of-the-heart-part-2/id1264843400?i=1000543582888 

2. We Can Do Hard Things - https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things-with-glennon-doyle/id1564530722?i=1000555783926

3. The Codependent Perfectionist - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parenting-spicy-children-with-heidi-rogers/id1457781449?i=1000568438817