Iyashi Conversations

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, famously known as Pinktober. For many of us, when we think about breast cancer awareness, we think about mammograms, screenings, and the pink ribbon. Rarely do we hold space for the emotional toll, the anxiety that comes with a diagnosis, the physical changes, or the caregiver burden carried by friends and family. In this episode of the Iyashi Conversations Podcast, I sit down with Viola Kiondo, to talk about the reality of navigating a life-changing breast cancer diagnosis.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, with September 10th marking World Suicide Prevention Day. For 2024–2026, the global theme is Changing the Narrative—bringing conversations on suicide out of the shadows. For example, a common suicide related myth is that asking someone if they are suicidal will plant the idea in their head, but the truth is that open, honest conversations save lives. In this heavy but necessary episode of the Iyashi Conversations Podcast, we sit down with author, comedian, and mental health advocate Moshua (M. D. Njiru). Moshua shares his lived experience with suicide, taking us through his first attempt at 10 years old, and his final attempt at age 22.

August is National Grief Awareness Month, culminating in Grief Awareness Day on 30th August. Society frequently rushes us to heal, expecting us to go back to living our lives the same way after a loss. But as a clinical psychologist, I know that when you lose an important person, your old life is gone, there is no going back. What is possible is learning how to live in the new reality. In this episode of the Iyashi Conversations Podcast, I sit down with Machocho Kilalama (Esther), my friend of 30 years, to talk about the reality of losing your spouse suddenly. Esther lost her husband, Allan, in 2023, and today she shares her journey of navigating the shock, rebuilding her family's foundation, and raising four children while carrying the heavy weight of grief.

In Episode 5 of Iyashi Conversations, we are marking #worldyouthskillsday by dedicating this conversation to the emotional skills required to survive your 20s and early 30s. Our Founder and Clinical Psychologist Emily Mbelenga sits down with Alice for a conversation where Alice shares insights on the realities of the current job market. We unpack how job loss affects your identity, the weight of financial insecurity on dating and friendships, how to handle job rejections, and what it takes to build emotional resilience while waiting for a career to restart.

In Episode 4 of Iyashi Conversations, we are honouring mensmentalhealthmonth by dedicating this months conversation to mens mental health. Our Founder and Clinical Psychologist Emily Mbelenga sits down with Victor Odira (Public Health Specialist and Mental Health Advocate) for a conversation where Victor shares insights on the realities of male vulnerability.

The latest episode of Iyashi Conversations. Listen, unlearn, and heal with us.

In this episode, we unpack the mental health cost of farming in the context of climate change. The conversation that no one is having - how climate change is silently devastating the mental health of the people who feed us.

Our very first episode, launched on the International Day of Happiness, March 20th 2026. We believe that true happiness is not about toxic positivity or ignoring our struggles - it is about doing the brave work to heal, unlearn, and build sustainable joy.