Host Paula Okonneh chats with her daughter, Amaka Okonneh, about her experiences of growing up as a child of immigrants and a first-generation American. The conversation touches on the challenges she faced in terms of faith, self-discovery, emotional needs, and cultural differences. On a positive note, Amaka also shares the valuable lessons of resilience, hard work, generosity and the importance of family imparted by her parents. Looking ahead, she expresses her aspiration to extend her family's tradition of hospitality beyond biological relatives, adopting and fostering children.

Turiya Hodge, a passionate social media strategist speaks about the art of 'showing up' and building an authentic and consistent social media presence. Discussing the importance of serving people online through authentic messaging and connections, Turiya emphasizes the value of knowing your audience and showing up regularly for them. She provides tips on creating a social media strategy, including the concept of creating 'mega content', being consistent, building and nurturing relationships, and taking conversations offline for more authentic engagements. Finally, Turiya ends with the importance of having an attainable social media strategy, one that does not overwhelm the entrepreneur or (small) business owner but allows them to effectively connect with their audience.

Lucie Matsouaka, a seasoned author, international speaker, certified professional career coach, and youth leadership coach discusses her recently published book, The Phenomenal Leader In Me, which focuses on instilling leadership principles rather than skills in children. She emphasizes the importance of self-confidence, self-leadership, and people skills, asserting that these principles should be taught from an early age. Matsouaka suggests that if these principles are instilled early, it will lead to more compassionate, respectful, kind leaders in the future.

Karlene Thompson, author of Single Mom's Guide Moving to Ghana shares her story as a Jamaican woman who lived in the U.S. for two decades before deciding to move to Ghana to provide her children with a unique upbringing. Thompson discusses the process of moving to Ghana, particularly as a single mom, including the legal aspects, housing, transportation, and finances. She also speaks on cultural acclimation, the importance of networking, and the fun aspects of living in Ghana like festivals, clubs, and travel opportunities. Thompson ends the interview by sharing how interested listeners can reach out to her to learn more about her book and experiences moving and living in Ghana.

I had the priviledge of having an enlightening discussion about the African repatriation journey with Dr. Linda Enoh, a former college professor turned tourism consultant and marketing strategist. Dr. Enoh, originally from Congo and being a fluent speaker of multiple languages, shares her expertise on tourism and the impacts and experiences of tourism in Africa. Having been born in Morocco and studying in the US, she aims for an authentic and inspiring narrative of her family's journey back to Africa. Dr. Enoh emphasizes on understanding and appreciating the cultural significance of tourism and ethical traveling.

Wealth management professional Sharon Carter discusses common money myths, particularly those affecting individuals from Africa and the Caribbean. As a specialist in life insurance, annuities, and long-term disability at Northeast Planning Group, Carter highlighted the limitations of traditional saving methods such as storing money in banks or under mattresses. She underscored the necessity of diversification and financial education, touching on various financial buckets like tax-deferred, taxable, and tax-exempt vehicles.

This week I speak with holistic health and wellness advocate, international speaker and author, Marva Riley. Marva shares insights on the importance of self-care, particularly for women juggling multiple roles. She discusses the idea of 'putting on your own oxygen mask first', alluding to the need to take care of one's own health before helping others. Marva shares advice on intermittent fasting, maintaining a balanced diet, the importance of physical activity, and the role of mindset in one's wellness journey.

Mary Oluonye, a Nigerian-American  author and the  co-owner of  Celmar Travel & Tours: Africa Travel Planning & Tour Operator based in the USA and Ghana shares her experiences and invaluable insights that can be used by people planning on relocating to Ghana. She discusses key elements like researching your desired country, legal aspects, visas, healthcare, infrastructure, political stability, technology, food, and cost of living. Mary’s advice on preparing oneself for the cultural shift include maintaining an open mind, and respecting legal guidelines of the host country.

In this episode of "Chatting with the Experts," host Paula Okonneh sits down with financial expert Carolina Aponte to discuss smart money management during the holiday season. As the festive period approaches, it's crucial to maintain financial accountability and ensure you're prepared for any expenses or financial obligations that may arise. Carolina, an award-winning author and entrepreneur, shares practical tips and insights to help listeners navigate holiday spending without derailing their financial goals. From avoiding impulse buying to setting a budget and using accountability tools, Carolina emphasizes the importance of planning and maintaining financial discipline.