The Busy Being Born Podcast

In this special BBB Live II episode, the tables turn as Joe Kinyua sits with Kamande and Kigondu for a candid conversation about the journey behind the podcast. Recorded before a live audience and proudly supported by Sugar & Lime, this episode reflects on six years of growth, 81 conversations, and the lessons that have shaped both the podcast and the people behind it. This is an honest look at the people behind the microphones.
Together, they explore the recurring themes that have emerged over the years. From purpose, leadership, and mental health to friendship, faith, and the shared hope many of their guests have for Africa's future. They also open up about career uncertainty, growing older, building meaningful support systems, and what it means to keep evolving while creating in public.
This episode is a chance to step behind the scenes of Busy Being Born and discover how six years of conversations have shaped not only the podcast, but also the two people who continue to show up each day. Still learning, still growing, and still busy being born
🎧 Listen in to learn:
Why Busy Being Born was started and how it has evolved over 80+ episodes
The biggest lessons their guests have taught them about leadership and purpose
Why vulnerability and honest conversations matter, especially for men
How faith, friendship, and curiosity have shaped their personal growth
What's next for Busy Being Born and the vision for the years ahead
Resources & Mentions:
Sugar & Lime – Supporters of Busy Being Born Live II
Joe Kinyua- Live II  Host
Busy Being Born – Explore past episodes and more conversations: https://busybeingborn.africa
Follow @busybeingborn_ on Instagram and X (Twitter) for updates, clips, and behind-the-scenes content.

In this episode, we sit down with Reuben Odanga, filmmaker, producer, and founder of Multan Screen & Stage, to explore the journey of building one of Kenya's leading production houses and the vision behind creating stories that resonate across Africa.
Reuben reflects on his transition from theater to television and film, the early challenges of starting Multan, and how productions like Saida, Nira, Selina, and Nafsi helped shape the local industry. Along the way, he shares lessons on leadership, mentorship, building creative teams, and why developing people is just as important as producing great content.
We also explore the future of African storytelling from Pan-African collaborations and audience research to creating sustainable creative businesses that can compete on the global stage. Woven throughout the conversation are honest reflections on grief, faith, rest, and the importance of building a legacy that extends beyond career success.
Whether you're a filmmaker, entrepreneur, or simply passionate about the future of African creativity, this episode offers thoughtful insights into what it takes to build something that lasts.
🎧 Listen in to learn:
How Reuben transitioned from theater into film and television production
The story behind building Multan Screen & Stage
Why mentorship and talent development are essential to growing the creative industry
What Kenyan filmmakers can learn about audience building and sustainable storytelling
The importance of rest, resilience, and leading with intention
Resources & Mentions:
Tides – Reuben Odanga's upcoming Pan-African feature film
Nafsi – Kenyan feature film available on Netflix
Multan Screen & Stage
Saida, Nira & Selina
Pan-African collaboration in film and television
Connect with us:
Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
🌍 Visit busybeingborn.africa for more episodes and updates.

In this No Guest But Nuggets episode, Kamande and Kigondu reflect on the lessons, challenges, and moments that shaped their year.
From navigating family crises and learning to recover more quickly from difficult emotions, to celebrating 10 years of Prevail Arts, the conversation explores what it means to stay present, resilient, and committed to the long game. They reflect on gratitude, mentorship, creativity, spirituality, and the reality that growth is rarely a straight line.
Along the way, they discuss leadership, governance, artistic inspiration, and the importance of continuing to show up even when progress isn't immediately visible.
This episode is a reminder that life unfolds in its own time, and that our job is simply to keep doing our best with what is in front of us.
🎧 Listen in to learn:
Why resilience is more about recovery than perfection
How challenging experiences can deepen gratitude and presence
Lessons from 10 years of building Prevail Arts
The value of mentorship and lifelong learning
Why growth is rarely linear and how to trust the process
Reflections on creativity, leadership, and personal growth
Resources & Mentions:
Prevail Arts
Gregorian chants and contemplative spiritual practices
Artists referenced: J. Cole, Nas, Dave Chappelle, Michael Jackson & Lil Wayne
Conversations on mentorship, creativity, and leadership
Connect with us:
Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
🌍 Visit busybeingborn.africa for more episodes and updates.

In this episode, we sit down with Angela Oduor Lungati a tech leader, community builder, and Executive Director of Ushahidi  to explore what it means to build technology that truly serves people.
Angela reflects on her journey from software intern to leading a globally recognized civic tech organization whose crisis response tools have been used in over 160 countries. Along the way, she shares the realities of leadership, fundraising, motherhood, grief, and navigating spaces where African voices are often overlooked.
Together, we unpack the urgent need for Africa to shape its own tech future — from ethical AI governance and digital inclusion to ensuring African languages, communities, and lived experiences are represented in the systems being built today.
This conversation is a thoughtful reflection on leadership, resilience, community, and the responsibility of building technology that centers people over profit.
 Listen in to learn:
Why Africa must take ownership of its tech narrative and resources
How AI can either empower or exclude African communities
The importance of ethical data governance and local language inclusion
What it takes to lead mission-driven organizations through uncertainty
Lessons on resilience, mentorship, community, and purpose-driven leadership
Resources & Mentions:
Ushahidi
Creative Commons
Masakhane Research Foundation
AI governance, open-source technology & digital inclusion initiatives
Community-centered technology and African innovation ecosystems
Connect with us:Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
 Visit busybeingborn.africa for more episodes and updates

In this episode, we sit down with Moses Kiema an actor, coach, and author for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a lasting career in the creative industry.
Moses reflects on starting out in traveling theater, where he developed the discipline and confidence that later carried him into film and television. His breakthrough role in Kina became a defining chapter. Four intense years of back-to-back filming that expanded his reputation and financial stability, but also tested his health and endurance.
Rather than chase constant screen time, Moses made a deliberate shift. Today, he chooses shorter projects, prioritizes family life, and invests deeply in mentorship. Fatherhood reshaped his discipline and mental health, grounding him beyond the spotlight and influencing how he approaches both work and legacy.
He also shares insights from his book, The Unforgettable Actor, a practical guide for emerging talent navigating auditions, contracts, and professional conduct. Lessons often learned the hard way.
This episode is a thoughtful reflection on craft, resilience, reinvention, and choosing sustainability over burnout.
 
 Listen in to learn:
Why theater builds stronger screen actors
The hidden costs of long-running TV productions
How fatherhood reshaped Moses’s discipline and priorities
Why rest and reinvention are essential in creative careers
Practical industry knowledge every aspiring actor should know
 Resources & Mentions:
The Unforgettable Actor by Moses Kiema
Coaching & mentorship for aspiring actors
Moses on social media: @MosesKiema
 Connect with us:
Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_ busybeingborn.africa

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kiptolo a 2025 BD Top 40 Under 40 honoree, former national swimmer, sports scientist,  and founder of Next Gen Multi Sport Academy to unpack what it really takes to develop athletes in systems that often fall short.
Dr. Kip reflects on his journey through competitive swimming, from intensive training in South Africa to representing Kenya internationally, and the repeated funding gaps, broken promises, and governance failures that ultimately wore him down and led him to step away from elite sport. His experience mirrors a wider issue in Kenyan athletics: abundant talent, but inconsistent support.
Out of this frustration, Next Gen Multi Sport Academy was born. Now supporting around 150 children, the academy focuses on multi-sport development, sports science, injury prevention, and holistic care especially for vulnerable youth before early specialization.
We also examine Kenya’s sports ecosystem, from misplaced investments in mega stadiums to the lack of basic grassroots facilities, coach education, and data-driven training. Dr. Kip makes a clear case for ethical leadership, smarter systems, and long-term thinking in sport.
This episode is a grounded conversation about rebuilding from the ground up and choosing to create what the system failed to provide.
🎧 Listen in to learn:
Why many Kenyan athletes fall through the cracks despite clear talent
The dangers of early specialization and why multi-sport development matters
How poor governance and funding misalignment kill athletic careers
How data and sports science can transform performance
The role of sports science, data, and injury prevention in performance
What it takes to build ethical, long-term sports systems from the ground up
🏊🏽‍♂️ Resources & Mentions:
Next Gen Multi Sport Academy & Foundation
Business Daily Top 40 Under 40 (2025) – Dr. Kiptolo Boit recognised among Kenya’s influential young leaders
Youth development programs in swimming and football
Sports science, biomechanics & data analytics in training
Grassroots sports infrastructure vs. high-cost stadium projects
Advocacy for ethical governance in Kenyan sports
Connect with us:
Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_🌍 Visit busybeingborn.africa for more episodes and updates

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Wanjiru Stuhler, an orthodontist who spent nearly two decades training and practicing in Europe before returning home to Kenya to build her life’s work.
Dr. Wanjiru shares her journey through rigorous German dental training, navigating licensure back home, and the intentional seven-year process that led to the launch of Stuhler Orthodontics in Nairobi just weeks ago. Her story is one of patience, precision, and choosing long-term impact over rushing milestones.
Beyond the clinic, we explore her deep commitment to public health education. From teaching children the importance of flossing to raising awareness about fluoride levels in Nairobi’s water and the health benefits of early orthodontic assessments. She explains why orthodontics isn’t just about straight teeth, but how it can also affect breathing, sleep, confidence, and overall wellbeing.
This conversation is a powerful reflection on returning home with global expertise, building trust-based businesses, and practicing care that centers people before profit.
And because she loves the Busy Being Born community:
Busy Being Born listeners are eligible for a complimentary orthodontic consultation from 12th January to 12th February 2026 at Stuhler Orthodontics. A special invitation to take the first step toward your healthiest smile.
Listen in to learn:
·        What it takes to train and specialize in dentistry abroad
·        Why early orthodontic checks matter for children’s health
·        The role of flossing in preventing long-term dental issues
·        How Dr. Wanjiru built her brand before opening her clinic
·        Lessons on patience, consistency, and intentional growth
Resources & Mentions:
·        Stuhler Orthodontics (Nairobi) – complimentary orthodontic consultation  for Busy Being Born listeners
·        Website: https://www.stuhlerorthodontics.co.ke
·        Invisalign & modern orthodontic treatments
·        Oral health education & public talks
 Connect with us:Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
🌍 Visit busybeingborn.africa for more episodes and updates.

In this end of year episode, the Busy Being Born crew is joined by Thuita and Monski and reflect on the cultural moments that defined the year 2025. From the evolution of African music and storytelling to the accelerating influence of AI, shifting political realities, and what lies ahead.
We talk about Kenyan and African music, celebrating hip hop, reggae, and cross-border sounds alongside a renewed focus on live performance and intentional artistry. The conversation also explores how audiences are consuming shows on television, differently gravitating toward quality, emotional depth, and culturally resonant stories.
We then turn to technology, where 2025 marked a turning point for AI. Tools like Gemini, GPT-5 and Claude are reshaping creative and technical workflows, raising questions about productivity, ethics, and the importance of maintaining human judgment in an automated age.
Finally, the conversation zooms out to politics, culture, and hope, acknowledging growing global and local tensions while emphasizing civic engagement, accountability, and the quiet resilience found in art, community, and personal milestones as we look toward 2026.
 
Listen in to learn:
How African music evolved in 2025 and where it’s headed
Why storytelling is winning in film, TV, and animation
How AI is transforming creative and tech work — and its risks
Why civic engagement and accountability matter more than ever
What gives the crew hope as 2026 approaches
Highlights & Mentions:
Kenyan hip hop, reggae & cross-border collaborations
Monski’s upcoming EP Here and Now
Standout films, series, and animated storytelling
AI tools: GPT-5, Claude, and custom models
Live theatre, music collectives, and community arts
The New Zealand All Blacks rugby tour (South Africa)
Connect with Monski
Thuita on BBB EP #3
 
Connect with us:Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
🌍 Visit busybeingborn.africafor more episodes, resources, and updates.

In this reflective and grounding conversation, we sit down with Amwayi Tsuma to explore what it means to live beyond fixed identities and social roles. Drawing from personal experience, Buddhist philosophy, and daily mindfulness practice, Amwayi invites us into a gentler, more honest way of being with ourselves and others.
We talk about how letting go of labels like “leader,” “husband,” or “achiever” can reveal a deeper sense of self; one rooted in awareness rather than performance. Amwayi shares how this shift transformed his relationships, helped him navigate addiction and habitual patterns with compassion, and opened space for healthier emotional regulation.
The conversation also explores meditation as a practical tool for everyday life. Not as dogma, but as a form of mental training that builds clarity, balance, and kindness. From breath awareness and daily rituals to forgiveness and loving-kindness, Amwayi breaks down simple practices that support long-term inner change.
At its heart, this episode is about friendship, community, and owning one’s narrative especially within African contexts  as essential foundations for healing and growth. It’s a reminder that awareness, practiced with softness and consistency, can transform both inner life and shared humanity.
Listen in to learn:
Why identity goes deeper than roles and labels
How awareness helps break cycles of addiction and habit
The role of meditation in emotional balance and clarity
Why compassion and friendship are central to growth
How reconnecting with culture supports self-authorship
Resources & Mentions:
Bhikkhu Bodhi (Books & YouTube teachings)
Access to Insight — accesstoinsight.org
Vipassana 10-Day Meditation Retreat
Metta Bhavana (Loving-Kindness Meditation)
Connect with us:Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
🌍 Visit busybeingborn.africafor more episodes, resources, and updates.

In this deeply moving conversation, we sit down with Omondi Ochuka: a writer, teacher and author to explore his powerful journey through loss, and the lifelong work of healing. Rooted in creativity, community, and a quiet defiance of conventional masculinity, Omondi’s journey unfolds through stories of family, identity, and the lifelong work of becoming.
He talks about his new memoir, Precursor: An Unfolding, which blends personal stories and poetry on healing, vulnerability, and masculinity. Growing up on the autism spectrum, he navigated academic challenges, resistance to unjust school systems, and found his voice through journaling and creativity.
Turning to his health journey, he opens up about living with cancer since 2011, the emotional and financial strain of treatment, and the profound moment his daughter led a fundraiser for him in Sweden. His story weaves together fatherhood, vulnerability, and the realities of navigating Kenya’s healthcare system.
We also dive into the experiences that shaped him, finding refuge in creativity, and being raised by grandparents whose love held him through some of life’s hardest seasons. At the heart of his philosophy is a simple truth: healing is not linear. It’s an ongoing process that demands honesty, softness, and grace.
This episode is a reflection on grief, masculinity, community, and the courage it takes to remain soft in a world that often demands hardness. It invites us to rethink strength, embrace vulnerability, and hold space for each other’s unfolding.
 
……..
Listen in to learn:
The story behind Precursor and Unfolding and its lessons on healing
Why masculinity must make room for softness and emotional honesty
How grief, fatherhood, and illness shaped his worldview
Battling cancer & navigating Kenya’s healthcare system
Autism, schooling challenges & resisting unjust systems
How community support and creative expression sustained him
 
Resources & Mentions:
Precursor: An Unfolding by Omondi Ochuka (Available on Nuria; Amazon coming soon)
Ochuka on SoundCloud, Bandcamp & Medium
Themes on masculinity, grief & healing
Busy Being Born past episodes on fatherhood and community care
Connect with us:
Instagram & X (Twitter): @busybeingborn_
 Visit busybeingborn.africa for more episodes and updates.