The More Sibyl Podcast Mo! Sibyl

In this episode of The More Sibyl Podcast, we welcome you all to Season 7 with immense gratitude. Reflecting on our journey since April 2018, your support has been invaluable. This season promises engaging and diverse discussions on workplace dynamics, personal resilience, and more. Entering our sixth year and seventh season feels surreal yet immensely rewarding. Reflecting on this journey, I'm reminded of the wisdom shared by Ira Glass about the creativity gap. He aptly described the initial phase of a creative journey as a period where there's often a disparity between our vision and the quality of our work. While it may be discouraging when our efforts fall short of expectations, it's essential to recognize the significance of these early steps in our growth process.

Continuing our fertility series, I'm sharing my 12-year fertility journey and those of remarkable women around me. If you or someone you know is struggling with fertility and needs assistance, reach out to us at talktomo@mosibyl.com. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.
In this episode, we dive into secondary fertility with Mrs. Funmi Okubanjo, an old friend from high school and a board member of our ongoing project. Mrs. Okubanjo shares her journey, the challenges, and the stigma she faced. We also discuss the importance of educating children about their reproductive systems.

The episode features Mrs. Temitope Abiona, a multifaceted professional and board member of the Fertility Project. She shares her personal journey of battling painful menstrual periods, relying on opioids for pain relief, and undergoing numerous surgeries due to endometriosis. Her struggles with infertility and failed IVF attempts are also discussed.

Today, our show takes a unique turn as my virtual assistant, Hauwa, takes on the role of the interviewer. This episode delves into my personal infertility journey spanning over 12 years and the heartfelt project I've recently initiated, The More Sibyl Fertility Project (TMS).
Why, you may wonder? This project holds a profound significance for me as it mirrors my journey through over a decade of infertility, encompassing pregnancy losses, IVF treatments, fleeting hopes, bouts of depression, multiple laparoscopy surgeries, hormonal struggles, and the sense of losing oneself along the way. The objectives of TMS are multifaceted, aiming to shed light on the universal experience of infertility among women, providing financial assistance and mental and emotional support, and building a supportive community. I emphasize the importance of being part of a community of "women in waiting" and the hope it can offer by listening to the stories and testimonies of others.

This week's episode features my SENIOR colleague, close friend, psychiatrist, and former co-host of The More Sibyl Podcast, Doc Ayomide. Our discussion delves into the sensitive and complex subject of "Dark Nights of the Soul," which is the primary focus of our episode.

We explore the concept of "Dark Nights of the Soul" from spiritual and non-spiritual perspectives. This term signifies a profound spiritual and psychological experience that individuals go through, often to draw them closer to God, but not exclusively so. We dive deep into the spiritual aspect of these dark moments while addressing their relationship to depression in a non-spiritual context.

During our chat, we reminisce about cherished childhood memories and share amusing stories about their interactions with Nigerians, highlighting our renowned hospitality. We also delve into changing narratives, stereotypes about our countries, brain drain issues, the "Zambian dream," and how our African identity shapes our global perspectives.