Zero Generation

Damilola Onwah
  • 5.0 (2)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

For the dreamers who left home. Explore the joys and hidden tragedies of coming of age again as a Black immigrant in a foreign land.

  1. 2D AGO

    The Audacity to Stay: Thriving in Nigeria When Everyone Else Left ft. Kemi Onabanjo-Joseph

    What if the boldest move isn't leaving, but choosing to build where others see only exits? We sit down with McKinsey Partner and thought leader, Kemi Onabanjo-Joseph, to explore conviction, career, and community as the real engines of a meaningful life in Nigeria. Kemi's journey pivots on a denied visa as a college-age student, resulting in a newfound commitment to purpose. She walks us through testing her way into clarity: sampling multiple career options and finally landing on management consulting. A single public sector project changed her trajectory, after exposing how policy shapes daily lives and how much impact principled talent can have in government and economic development. From there, Kemi shares why she returned to Nigeria after business school at INSEAD despite currency shocks and student loan debt, and how a simple prompt from her office manager — start your future now or in three years — helped her choose conviction over convenience. We dig into the realities of staying: the strain of fragile systems, the heartbreak of healthcare gaps, and the practical rhythms that keep her grounded. Faith, a partner equally invested in Nigeria, and a strong community act as stabilizers. Kemi offers a powerful view on opportunity in chaos, showing how discipline, audacity, relationship-building, and early exposure to senior decision-makers translate into outsized impact across African markets. Plus, a timely segment on workplace culture: how to set boundaries with grace when a colleague's "my darling" crosses your comfort line. You'll leave with a richer understanding of what staying signals to the world — belief that there’s something worth fighting for — and why the choice to go or stay is best made by purpose, not pressure. If this conversation resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who's weighing a big move, and leave a review to help others find it. Connect with Kemi and her work: Kemi's World Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    46 min

  2. JAN 29

    Neither Here Nor There (But Everywhere): The First-Gen American Experience ft. Kehinde Winful

    What if belonging isn't something you prove but something you live? We sit down with Kehinde Winful — attorney, novelist, and proud Nigerian-American — to unpack the messy middle between two homes and two careers. From getting placed in ESL for saying three like tree, to facing men who demand culinary and language "proof", Kehinde shows how subtle pressures can shape identity, and how a strong community can dissolve them. We trace the line from childhood bias to adult clarity, exploring how growing up in a tight Nigerian community in Minnesota built a quiet confidence that later fueled her voice as a writer. Kehinde opens up about the writer-lawyer pipeline, why legal training sharpened her storytelling, and how her novel, Flooding the River, challenges the policing of Nigerianness. Along the way, we examine harmful caricatures in online skits, the urge to gatekeep, and the cost of letting the loudest stereotype define an entire culture. We also get real about politics and values: "immigrant" isn't a single viewpoint, and Nigerian communities include a wide range of social and political beliefs. Instead of purity tests, Kehinde leans on observation — how people treat others, what they prioritize, who they mentor. That leads us into representation, mentorship, and choosing neighborhoods and schools where kids can see themselves reflected. The practical takeaway is simple and powerful: identity thrives where community is intentional. Light, candid moments round it out — family pride in a house full of high-achieving women, the pull of home for vacations, and a rapid-fire game that reveals what structure, joy, and belonging look like day to day. Press play for a thoughtful, human look at accent bias, cultural confidence, the Nigerian-American experience, and the creative life of a lawyer who writes. If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find us. Connect with Kehinde: https://kehindewinful.com/ Read Damilola's essay referenced in the episode:  https://brittlepaper.com/2020/07/is-this-us-the-many-holes-in-nigerian-american-portrayal-of-the-nigerian-experience-damilola-oyedele-essay/ Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    30 min

  3. JAN 22

    From Third Culture Kid To Behavioral Scientist: Code Switching, Reinvention, & Finding Home ft. Tayo Rockson

    Reinvention isn’t a branding trick, it’s how you keep your center when the ground keeps moving.  On this episode, I sit down with Tayo Rockson, a third culture kid turned behavioral scientist, TEDx speaker, and author, to unpack the real work of belonging across continents. We get honest about the moments that sting and the choices that save you: when a classmate mocks your hair, when a manager rewards your "office voice", when a resumé name changes your callback rate, when a visa status turns dating into a negotiation. Tayo takes us inside his early pivots — Nigeria, Sweden, Burkina Faso, the U.S., Vietnam — and the education that followed: how to read rooms without losing yourself, how to harness code switching as cultural fluency rather than self-erasure, and how to reclaim a name and accent that carry history. We talk about bias in hiring, the politics of natural hair, the subtle taxes paid to appear "easy", and the small rebellions that restore dignity. There’s laughter too: suya and garri debates, choosing Nigerian heat over New York winters, and the airport that raises your blood pressure more than any Monday meeting. We also explore love and visas with rare candor. Tayo explains why he disclosed immigration uncertainty on first dates, how visa stability finally opened space for partnership, and the affinities that connect Nigerian and Haitian cultures — elders, spice, music, pride. By the end, Tayo offers a clear mindset for anyone navigating identity across borders: your story is still unfolding, and there are parts of you the world hasn’t met yet. Do the self-reflection, name what you want, and close the gap between who you are and who you’re becoming, step by step. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s straddling cultures, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Your voice helps this community grow. Learn more about Tayo and his work: TAYO ROCKSON Read Damilola's short story for the Tender Visions project, referenced in the episode: How to Sing a Border Song - Tender Photos Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    35 min

  4. JAN 15

    From Tailor To Therapist: A Zero-Gen Journey Of Pivots, Parenting, And Purpose ft. Gbemi Adekoya

    The dream of moving abroad promises freedom and fresh starts, but what about the quiet loneliness after the boxes are unpacked? We sit down with psychotherapist and coach Gbemi Adekoya — former tailor, proud "pivot queen", and zero-gen immigrant — to talk candidly about the fine print of relocation: identity shifts, parenting without a village, and the art of rebuilding a life from scratch. Gbemi walks us through the moment a simple question — what would you do if money was solved? — turned fashion plans into a counseling vocation. She breaks down her path from community college to behavioral science and clinical work, showing how outcome-first thinking and a strong why make pivots less scary and more strategic. We explore the messy middle: crying over a yellow shirt in a dryer, the ache for extended family, and the realization that you don’t escape problems, you trade one set for another. That lens helps quiet nostalgia and focus on design: forming intentional pods, crafting shared rituals, and letting kids grow up as "cousins" through repeated care. We also open space for grief and meaning. After losing parents and siblings, Gbemi treats every day beyond a feared age as "extra time", a practice that swaps dread for purpose and joy. The result is a blueprint for immigrants, parents, and career changers: choose a future you can describe, reverse engineer the steps, normalize the lows, and make community on purpose. If you've ever felt both grateful and homesick, ambitious and unsure, this conversation offers language, tools, and a gentler way to keep going. If the episode resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s building a life far from home, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Your support helps more zero-gen stories find their people. Find more of Gbemi's work at gbemisoke.com. Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    35 min

  5. JAN 8

    How A Nigerian Exec Quit Corporate America To Build A Travel Giant Back Home ft. Bayo "Lion" Adedeji

    A near-firing. A hard truth over steak. And a choice to stop playing small. Bayo "Lion" Adediji, CEO of Wakanow.com, nightlife entrepreneur, and former Amazon senior leader, joins us for a raw, kinetic conversation about going from accent anxiety and a PIP in corporate America to leading a multi-million dollar travel company from Lagos—and why burning the safety net was the unlock. We get into the inflection points that shaped his trajectory: learning to speak with clarity and conviction, documenting wins so respect isn’t optional, and choosing respect over belonging when feedback gets coded as "executive presence". Bayo shares the Dale Carnegie practices that rewired his leadership, the intentional hiring that built truly diverse, high-performing teams, and the power of pulling people with you and then coaching them to win. Then we pivot to the return home. Bayo explains how he turned around a struggling brand by bringing Amazon-grade principles — frugality, customer obsession, speed, and high standards — into a complex African market. He lays out the second playbook too: trust but verify, relationships as strategy, deals done in social settings, and the discipline to learn from others' failed experiments before spending a dollar. His take on crisis will reframe how you see volatility: inside the noise is the opportunity, if you commit. If you've wondered whether comfort is capping your growth, or whether your voice, background, or style can be turned into an edge, this is your map. Come for the candor; stay for the practical moves you can apply tomorrow — whether you're climbing in Big Tech or building in Lagos. If this conversation moves you, follow the Zero Generation podcast, share it with a friend who needs a push, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    42 min

  6. SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Zero Generation: What Happens After You Leave Home? | Season 2 Trailer

    Everyone leaves home for different reasons. Nobody tells you what comes after. Season 2 of Zero Generation explores the lives Black immigrants build after the leap — the pressure, the pivots, the laughter, the longing, and the courage it takes to redefine success on your own terms. Through intimate conversations with leaders, creatives, parents, and first-generation Americans, this season asks: when you’ve left home, who are you becoming now? Some return. Some stay. Most live in between. Season 2 launches January 8. Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    2 min

  7. 10/02/2024

    Season Closeout: Home Is Here, And Other Lessons From Inspiring Immigrants

    How is it that we’re already at the end of a full season of the Zero Generation podcast? The time’s gone by so fast! When I looked back on everything I’ve learned and talked about, I came to one major realization: the Zero Generation podcast isn’t over yet. I thought it would only take a season to tell the story of the brave people who make abroad their home, but there’s so much more to say. So join me as I look back on my season highlights and look forward to the future!  I list everything I’ve learned from all of the bright and beautiful guests who came to talk to me. They all inspired me in different ways and if you missed any of my episodes, this is a great way to catch up and find out what we talked about together. Wherever you’re at in your immigration journey, you’re definitely going to hear something that will speak to the questions you ask yourself about where you’ve come from – and where you want to get to.  The last message I want to give you this season is: thank you. Truly, thank you to everyone who’s tuned in, sent me a message, encouraged me, and recommended me. I don’t take your support for granted so it means a lot. I hope that you’ll subscribe to Zero Generation so that you’ll catch the first episode of the new season as soon as I’m back, and if there’s an episode you missed, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.  Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    17 min

  8. 09/18/2024

    From Nigerian Immigrant to State Representative: Segun Adeyina's Story

    Segun Adeyina was always the kind of person to be heavily involved with his community, so it was natural to him that when he moved from Nigeria to the United States, he would find a way to connect and engage with the Nigerian diaspora. However, even he didn’t think that he would go from being a migrant student to being voted in as one of Georgia’s first-ever Nigerian-American elected officials. Join me on the Zero Generation podcast to talk with State Representative Segun Adeyina about community, culture and what it means to be a Nigerian away from home. State Representative Segun Adeyina begins by telling me about his childhood in Nigeria and how he adjusted to life in the States when he moved over as a seventeen-year-old student. We talk about some of the cultural differences between Nigeria and the States and how Segun’s platform within the community refocused his mind and inspired him to run for office. Listen out for our discussion about what success means for the Nigerian community and for his advice to other Nigerians abroad. I’m so proud and happy to be able to speak to other brave people who are moving abroad and making their dreams come true. If you’re enjoying this Zero Generation journey, please let me know by subscribing to the podcast and leaving a review! Follow Segun on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/segunforgeorgia Join the Zero Gen community: Sign up for our monthly newsletter: https://damilolaonwah.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damionwah Theme Music by Akinoluwa Oyedele Video & Audio Production by JSB Video (Season 2) Adode Media (Season 1)

    37 min
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About

For the dreamers who left home. Explore the joys and hidden tragedies of coming of age again as a Black immigrant in a foreign land.

Information

  • Creator
    Damilola Onwah
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Zero Generation
  • Show Website
    Zero Generation