Episodes
Thursday May 27, 2021
RFL 014: Pandemics, Vaccines, and You
Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
As of 2021, SARS-CoV-2 is still a novel virus. It's great to have vaccines, but there is a lot we do not know about the virus. In this episode, I compare Covid-19 to other pandemics like Cholera, Measles, and the Black Death. We also get a little deeper into some covid-19 data that might have eluded us because they are not so popular. Finally, we talk about the best way for you to approach the vaccines, and I do this by challenging you to think critically for yourselves. I hope you enjoy it.
Saturday Jul 04, 2020
RFL 013: When Grief Grips
Saturday Jul 04, 2020
Saturday Jul 04, 2020
Todays episodes features stories from my fathers passing on June 13, 2017; the story of Robin Roberts, co-host of Good Morning America (GMA) and her battle through cancer and MDS; the assassination attempt of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords of the 8th District of Arizona; and the passing of Arianna Huffington's mother, and the lessons the media mogul/sleep evangelist learned from grief.
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
RFL 012: Juneteenth 2.0 -America Reimagined
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
Saturday Jun 20, 2020
With a guest -Romola Egunjobi
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
RFL 011: Now You See Me --Racism & Mental Health
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
Thursday Jun 04, 2020
Hello world, I see you. Today, I tell five stories about racism, implicit biases, and the needless killings of the black race in America, how that dangerously impacts our mental health, and two simple actions that everyone can take today to make the world a better place.
Sawubona /sow:'boh:nah/ is an ancient Zulu greeting that literally means "we see you", and more than that, it is an acknowledgement of the person in your presence.
On the heels of CoVID-19, every major city in the US is experiencing protests for justice against racially motivated killings. These protests got violent in some cases and has got the attention of the world. Everyone is watching and aligning with the cause. Finally it seems like African Americans are now seen.
Read the full story of how Amy Cooper, a white lady, attempted to exploit the deep, systemic racism in the US, against a black man, Christian Cooper. The conversation between both of them didn't have to end with Amy loosing her dog, her job, and "street cred". Christian says he lost his quiet life, and also, unintentionally, stirred an outrage against racism in the United States. Their sour story could have ended differently if only Amy truly saw Christian.
Tamir Rice was also killed in Cleveland, 2014, because someone saw him at a park, and saw a threat (simply because he was black). If they really saw Tamir, they'd have seen that he was only a 12-year old with a large heart and a beautiful life ahead of him.
We need to really see each other for the wonderful humans that we are.
Racism affects the mental wellness of people and that's why I take the time to talk about it on REAL fitness. Think about Sandra Bland.
Sandra Bland was not killed by the bullets from a gun, but the full video of her arrest shows how unjust her arrest was. The police officer, Insignia, dehumanized her and the trauma of the arrest and being in jail unjust, led to her suicide. She didn't have to die like that.
The viral video that showed four police officers involved in the daylight murder of George Floyd is appalling. It sparked an outrage in the nation at an unprecedented level and we just cannot wait for some form of justice for his life (and that of Ahmaud Arbery, BreonnaTaylor and every black who's been killed by racial policing), and more justice and reforms for the living.
The truth default theory is premised on the idea that when we interact with people, we usually assume that they are telling the truth and respond to them likewise. I adapted this theory to show us a better way to relate with each other. We can default to love.
Background Music Credits
A Change is Gonna Come by Brian Owens
Diallo by Wyclef Jean
Other referenced materials:
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
RFL 010: IPV -A Survivor's story of denial, death, & rebirth
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
This is a domestic abuse story. Use the time markers below to navigate through the gripping story of how my guest suffered financial, emotional, psychological, and physical abuse. She was in denial and it literally killed her, but today she lives to tell her story.
03:42 -Tope's story begins
09:59 -Her nightmares continues
23:28 -Why did she keep going back to him?
28:04 -Significant self-esteem issues
30:58 -Intimate Partner manipulations
36:35 -Her breaking point
37:05 -abuse-induced health challenges
45:06 -Her death
47:13 -Her rebirth
48:19 -Forgiveness
51:08 -Parental support
56:06 -positive reaffirmations
58:45 -A word for the abused
62:13 -Blame God
64:18 -Recap of the main points
73:04 -Bonus clip
If you need help from domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Domestic violence is also a public health issue because it impacts your health as the abused.
You can get more information on domestic abuse, what it is, and how to identify the red flags here.
Friday Mar 27, 2020
RFL 009: The Face of the Virus
Friday Mar 27, 2020
Friday Mar 27, 2020
SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the coronavirus that causes the dreaded CoVID-19, is changing the way we work and relate with one another today. When HIV was identified in the early 1980s, it changed a lot about our sexual relations and the perceptions we have of people who got infected with the virus, albeit, not as much as SARS-CoV-2 is currently doing as of March, 2020.
I open season 2 of the REAL Fitness podcast with my encounter with HIV, how I faced it and overcame the fear of the virus, and how my experience could be helpful in dealing with the novel coronavirus. Whatever month, year, or decade you're listening to this episode, I hope the story rings true and valuable for you, your loved ones, and your community.
Detailed show notes and links to sites mentioned in this podcast will be in my show notes at www.realfitness.tv
Friday May 24, 2019
RFL 008: Forever Young
Friday May 24, 2019
Friday May 24, 2019
Do you really want to live forever young? What is it about birthdays, or the reminders that we are getting older, that gets us scared, worried, and sometimes depressed?
I start the show with the sad story of Brooke Greenberg, a girl who was born in Maryland with a condition diagnosed as 'Syndrome X'. Brooke lived for only 20years and the tallest she ever got to was about 30inches, and the heaviest she weighed was about 16lb. At age 12, her brain was said to be like that of a 9month old child. Brooke was not growing. Imagining the trauma her parents must have gone through and the struggles Brooke herself might have had just breaks my heart. If we got what we wished for, to live forever young, we might not really want it; except you're Snow-White. But there is a way out; a way to extend the length and quality of your life; a way to make sure that your birthdays are no longer reminders of you getting close to dying or whatever it is about old age that scares you. You're going to love this one.
I talk about what Dan Buettner refers to as the blue zones. Place in the world where people get to live on the average of 100+ in good health. Learn what they eat, and how they live and move in this ground-breaking episode
Thursday May 02, 2019
RFL 007: Yo! Real Talk: All we can do, is our best
Thursday May 02, 2019
Thursday May 02, 2019
I lay it all out. Unscripted, unstructured, from my heart to yours, to help you get back on track to your fitness goals, or the New Year's resolution you made 4 months earlier. I know we all fall of track, life chokes us out of our grove and patterns, we give up exercising, rest and balanced diets, and often times, we find it difficult to get back on our intended rhythm.
After you've set goals and made plans, how do you create space to help you follow through and actually acquire the goals. The first of two points is to learn how to say a graceful and good "No". I highlight different ways on how you can do this.
The second point is to learn how to get back in the zone. I share the music I listen to, the books I read and a few people I follow on Instagram to inspire me back on my track. Show notes and links will be on this episode page on my website www.realfitness.tv
Thursday Apr 25, 2019
RFL 006: The Happiness Formula (H=S+C+V)
Thursday Apr 25, 2019
Thursday Apr 25, 2019
If only we could be consistently and genuinely happy with our body, businesses, bills, and life in general. It is possible for you to experience true happiness or joy or fulfillment everyday of your life. In this episode, I'm not going to BS you, I recognize the hustle is real and life will always have issues no matter what level we are at, but the twist I bring to this formula created by the father of Positive Psychology, Dr. Martin Seligman will help you soar above the worry and troubles of life to a state of happiness... plus you'll also be better equipped to get more results from the life that once stressed you out. Don't worry, be happy. Visit www.realfitness.tv for full show notes, credits and links to reference contents and materials
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
RFL 005: Try A Little Kindness -with MC Kofi Williams
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see -Mark Twain. On this episode my guest Kofi and I talk about how an act of kindness from a guy he met while working as a valet in Center City Philadelphia led to sequence of favors from his first job to becoming the global MC that he now is. He's also committed to showing kindness in every way that he can and it's our hope that this will help you be kinder to others and more importantly, to yourself. Kindness is important to live a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. Keep it REAL, stay fit, and be blessed.