*This episode contains (limited) mature content at 34:30-50, 51:19-51:39, and 52:00-52:45 Selam and Ha Ha Hello, everyone! In this episode, join Lilly as she participates in inappropriate, necessary, African laughter with Nairobi's Punchline comedians, Eric and Shazz. Lilly, Eric, and Shazz explore Eric's and Shazz's journey into comedy and talk about the experiences that brought them into this funny business. From naked men at funerals to 'performance-enhancing' drugs in China - Eric and Shazz ...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Warning: This episode contains mention of suicide from 14:30-15:40. In this episode Lilly talks to writer, journalist, podcaster, and queer activist, Kevin Mwachiro. Kevin shares his journey of being an active member in the church, traveling to the UK for his masters, spending years of his career at the BBC - all while finding his voice and eventually - becoming a human rights activist. Now age 50, he candidly shares the challenges that he has faced in the search of self-acceptance. He explores ...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Warning: This episode contains themes of sex, sex work, and trafficking In Nairobi alone - over 40,000 women are engaged in transactional sex work. In this episode, Lilly engages in a powerful conversation with Eunice Mathu, the founder of the Rejesha Project. Discover how Eunice's an experience on the Kenyan coast made her aware of the sex work and trafficking industry in Kenya which led her to launch an innovative project that is offering transformative care and better economic opportunities f...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 11 min
72% of Kenya's population and over half of Africa' s population live in rural areas. Join Lilly as she sits down with Nelly Cheboi, the inspiring CEO of TechLit Africa , a Forbes 30 Under 30 , and CNN's 2022 Hero of the Year to hear how Nelly is on a mission to empower rural, African children with the digital skills they need to access opportunities anywhere in the world. TechLit Africa is engaging over 4000 students in computer classes to equip them with the tools they need to work remotely for...
Mar 27, 2023•50 min
Trigger Warning : This episode features discussion of suicide and includes use of explicit language. Join us as we continue our celebration of Women's History Month with this conversation between Lilly and Christine Yohannes, a gifted writer, poet, and playwright. Through their powerful exchange, they explore the profound impact of words and poetry, which have left an indelible mark on cultures across the continent. Christine shares her life journey, growing up in Ethiopia, and how her expressio...
Mar 20, 2023•54 min
In a continuation of our celebration of Women's History Month - Lilly talks to Samba Yonga - award-winning journalist, cultural curator, and co-founder of the Women's History Museum of Zambia . Samba co-founded the digital museum in 2017 with Mulenga Kapwepwe to 'research and restore African indigenous narratives, knowledge, and living histories' - entirely focused on women. Samba walks Lilly through the journey of revelation that began when she saw a Zambian exhibit in a Swedish museum and dare...
Mar 13, 2023•49 min
In this episode, Lilly talks to Navalayo Osembo-Ombati - CEO and Co-Founder of Enda Athletic, Inc. Navalayo takes Lilly along her journey of founding the first running shoes and athletic brand to come from the continent. Navalyo shares her experience conceptualizing Enda and the innovation inspired by traditional Kenyan arts and culture that led to creating the brand, a story, and ultimately - a way of preserving and communicating African history. They talk about how Enda has built a community d...
Mar 06, 2023•50 min
Selam Emiru, the founder of Glisen, guides Lilly on a hair care - and hair love - journey in this week's episode. Selam shares how her own journey of learning to care for her hair led her to use her background in tech to create Glisen - a free platform that offers women resources to help them understand, nurture, and love their hair. With the Black hair care industry set to reach the trillion-dollar mark by 2026, it is evident that Black women are spending more time and money than ever managing ...
Feb 27, 2023•54 min
In this episode, we get to know Lilly a little better as she brings you a mashup of the personal and the professional. Lilly speaks to Dr. Benjamin Piper - Director, Global Education at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - and her husband of 24 years. They talk about their journey of coming back to the continent to both raise a family and pursue careers in development as a blended Black American and Ethiopian family. Ben also highlights some of his work within international education policy and...
Feb 20, 2023•39 min
Happy Valentine's Day! Today Lilly speaks to psychosexual therapist Julie Githiru-Goko about all things sex and relationships. Julie and Lilly tackle questions from some of our listeners on issues they have been curious about. They explore how to have deeper, more meaningful communication for better connection and ultimately - better sex. Julie gives us some tips and tricks on how to navigate sex and relationships in different seasons of our lives including handling sex when dealing with mental ...
Feb 13, 2023•52 min
Did you know that elephants snore? In this episode, Lilly talks to elephant expert, conservationist, Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year and CEO of WildlifeDirect - Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Dr. Kahumbu is a Princeton-trained elephant ecologist who shares the vital importance of conserving wildlife in order to conserve the planet. Dr. Kahumbu explores how she continues to learn from the elephants and the important role they play in engineering our African landscapes. Lilly and Paula discuss ...
Feb 06, 2023•54 min
Award-winning actor, director, and writer Mugambi Nthiga joins Lilly for an episode all about the movies. Following the Oscar nominations, Lilly and Mugambi talk about their favorite films of 2022, the celebration of films such as blockbuster and diaspora-inspired Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , and the apparent snubs of The Woman King and Nope . They also explore the importance (if any) of institutions such as The Academy for the African film industry and how the creative industries - and audi...
Jan 30, 2023•55 min
On International Day of Education, Lilly speaks to 'educators for liberation,' Sagda Khalil and Amin Hussain. They explore their journeys to becoming educators both on the continent and abroad and their approach to education as social justice. They share the ways they are celebrating the wisdom and brilliance of every child and decentering the dominant culture in education through both their pedagogical approach and workshops they have developed for schools and parents who want to integrate prin...
Jan 23, 2023•46 min
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King, Lilly speaks to peace activist and musician, Emmanuel Jal. In this episode, Emmanuel talks about his experience as a child soldier during the Second Sudanese Civil War, the immense challenges navigating life in Nairobi and why he used to think Biggie Smalls was Kikuyu. Emmanuel shares how storytelling can be used as a tool for healing and how his imagination helped him create music for peace. Follow Emmanuel iTunes: https://music.appl...
Jan 16, 2023•42 min
In 2022, Food4Education served its 10 millionth meal! Wawira Njiru, the Founder and Executive Director of Food4Education joins us to share the journey and incredible impact that the organization has had in Kenya since they began their work a decade ago. Wawira and Lilly discuss how to tell dignified stories about poverty, carrying forward the legacy of committed (and shoeless) parents and the importance of grassroots organizations that provide internal solutions for internal problems - especiall...
Jan 09, 2023•40 min
In this episode, Lilly talks to East Africa correspondent for the New York Times, Abdi Latif Dahir. They explore the nuanced experience and incredible responsibility of writing about Africa as a child of the continent who has an international platform. Abdi discusses how his personal ties and experiences in the region inform his role as a journalist and the challenges he and other reporters face when narrating the story of Africa, her people, and her places. He shares what he's hearing from read...
Jan 03, 2023•1 hr
In a special collaboration, the Kilimani Project Foundation and Up/Root talk with Dr. Githinji Gitahi about the rollout of the vaccine on the continent. Dr. Githai answered questions from the community and addresses the science - and rumors - that remain. This is the episode to share with all the aunties, cousins and grandparents who need information that speaks to our experience as African nationals! Dr. Gitahi sheds light on how the vaccine was developed, how it works, if there are long-term e...
May 15, 2021•50 min
Would you choose to leave your home and your family if it meant preserving your self-worth? Is choice a commodity of the privileged?Has Kenya mourned together well? Has Kenya healed? We didn't ask any easy questions as the wonderful women from my book club help me interview brilliant author Wanjiru (Shiro) Koinange about her debut novel 'The Havoc of Choice.' In this season four premiere, Wanjiru discusses the choices of her characters and her country during the post-election violence of 2007 in...
Apr 16, 2021•45 min
Would you choose to leave your home and your family if it meant preserving your self-worth? Is choice a commodity of the privileged?Has Kenya mourned together well? Has Kenya healed? We didn't ask any easy questions as the wonderful women from my book club help me interview brilliant author Wanjiru (Shiro) Koinange about her debut novel 'The Havoc of Choice.' In this season four premiere, Wanjiru discusses the choices of her characters and her country during the post-election violence of 2007 in...
Apr 09, 2021•39 min
Joy. Joy is a choice. Today artists extraordinaire June Gachui and Pete Odera join me to SING, talk, share what this year has been for them and how they have chosen joy in their work and personal lives. Many of you know June Gachui (@junegachui) for her many roles on stage as a speaker, singer, actress and host but she is also an intellectual property lawyer who is passionate about the law and artistic expression. June graces us with her voice, humor and shares what 2020 has taught her about her...
Dec 21, 2020•58 min
Njeri Mwangi and I spend this episode talking, laughing and shedding a few tears as we talk about the importance of human rights. Njeri co-stars with her husband, activist Boniface Mwangi, and family in the documentary film Softie (https://www.softiethefilm.com/) which tells their story and invites us to see ourselves in the love, struggle and fears they experience as human rights defenders, parents and everyday citizens. Njeri is the co-founder of PAWA254 (https://pawa254.org/)and in this episo...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr
Welcome back to Up/Root! As the holidays approach - there are few things that I actually want - and none of them can be bought. Peace of mind is a gift that 2020 has tried to take from all of us and today my friend Julie Githiri-Goko (@julie_githirigoko)will give us practical advice on how to manage our stress, support our kids and enjoy the festive season. Julie is a psychodynamic psychotherapist and psychosexual therapist and has been practicing for over 15 years. She specializes in couples, i...
Dec 01, 2020•46 min
This episode is a tribute to all the aunties, sisters, cousins, godmothers and women out there who make our lives so rich with laughter and wisdom! On today's show, sisters Annie and Shazz Nderitu, who are two of five siblings, share with us how they survived the Westgate terror attack, how they celebrate and support one another and why sisterhood is such an important part of their identity and lives. Shazz tells us how family inspires her work as a comedian and Annie lets us in on who the famil...
Jul 20, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Today on the show we will continue in our series of topics on why Black Lives Matter by discussing why Black Journalism Matters with award-winning Kenyan journalist and filmmaker, Elijah Kanyi. Elijah is the 2017 and 2019 Annual Journalism Excellence Awards Journalist of the Year, an acclaimed investigative reporter with Africa Uncensored and founder of SautiTV, a mentoring program for young journalists. Elijah was born and bred in Mathare, one of Nairobi's poorest neighborhoods and considers hi...
Jul 05, 2020•34 min
Black Lives Matters - and so does Black Joy! In part two of our series, Christian Lwanda joins us and shares how he defines joy, what his grandmother Selah taught him and how he walks with both joy and suffering in his life. We shared experiences and laughter in this conversation as well as the strengths of Kenyan culture that have guided the country through generations of change and resistance. Shout out to local artists whose incredible home goods were a part of our set: Love Artisan (IG: @lov...
Jun 28, 2020•40 min
Today I talk to you from my home and my heart. "Black lives matter" is a cry that has been heard worldwide as protests in over 60 countries have shaken the world. It's also what we tell our Black children and ourselves as we face the world - and wherever we are in the world. Black lives are a triumph and Up/Root is embarking on a new series to explore the complexity and power of our community and this movement. Black lives matter - and so does Black joy, Black teachers, Black families, Black Bla...
Jun 17, 2020•18 min
Daniya, Mandisa and Jason join Up/Root today for a live show from the International School of Kenya and enlighten us on what makes them "proud to be me." Identity certainly develops throughout life and these cross-cultural students who have grown up between cultures and countries took us to school about the assumptions they face and how they navigate expectations in their families, schools, and communities. They offer us insight and wisdom and many reasons to feel hopeful about the future. Dan A...
Jun 07, 2020•30 min
Do you remember your senior year of high school? Thoughts of the future, prom, freedom, finally graduating? The pandemic has put a damper on the plans - but not the spirits - of graduating secondary students across the world. Today on Up/Root, five students - Hilary, Jaya, Matias, Selah and Troy - share their thoughts on the "new normal" of their lives, their thoughts on the future and how they are staying positive during this pandemic. Oh to be young again! These students are the real deal and ...
May 16, 2020•57 min
Health is a human right - and in a pandemic, human rights must continue to be protected and promoted. Irungu Houghton, Kenya Executive Director of Amnesty International joins Up/Root to share his thoughts on how humane policing, good citizenship and community involvement are critical elements for any country to survive a crisis. Irungu has spent his professional career fighting corruption and speaking up for vulnerable communities. In this episode, he highlights what is making him hopeful and th...
Apr 16, 2020•44 min
History has taught us that during times of global crisis and epidemics - longterm outcomes are worse for women than for men. Data indicates that women make up a majority of essential workers, from health care to markets, and in the midst of lockdowns and school closures - domestic labor and the education of children falls disproportionally on female caretakers. Julie Mwabe, a Gender Advisor in the Executive Office of the President and previously a communications and policy specialist at the CDC ...
Apr 08, 2020•43 min
