The Sacred Darkness With Makena

Why Can't Failure Be An Option?

This episode explores a painful pattern: successful people taking their own lives because they can't reconcile 'failure' with their identity. I tell the detailed story of Kimiti Wanjaria, who at 29 was named to Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 for his ambitious real estate project. But between Forbes recognition and project completion lay seven years of mounting debt, court cases, and mental anguish. When he finally went home to his parents saying he'd 'hit rock bottom,' he was planning a comeback. But the shame was too much. He died by suicide at 39, the same year his beautiful estate finally went to market. This episode asks: Why can't failure be an option? How do we redefine success so the journey doesn't destroy us? And how do we build the safety nets that keep people alive during their seven-year struggles? If you're in the middle of your own 'failure,' this message is for you.

When the System Spits You Out: A Love Letter to the Lost

What happens when you fall off the conventional path? There's a ceremony for every milestone—graduation, engagement, promotion—but silence for the moments of struggle, failure, or choosing a different route. In this episode, Makena shares a personal story of leaving employment and plunging into seven years of what felt like chaos, shame, and being "stuck in quicksand". Discover why the space where you feel lost, broke, or behind is actually your sacred swamp—your chrysalis. This is an invitation to stop running on shame fuel , embrace the dark, and start building an internal support system that validates your worth simply because you exist. Setbacks aren't punishments; they're portals. Stop trying to get back on the conveyor belt and learn to redefine failure.

Breaking Up With Your Inner Critic

In this raw and heartfelt episode, we explore what happens when you finally decide to fire your inner bully and hire self-compassion instead. Join me as I share my messy but beautiful journey of learning to be unreasonably good to myself after decades of harsh self-talk. We'll dive into those supermarket meltdown moments, the abandoned projects, and how treating yourself with genuine kindness might just be the rebellion your soul has been waiting for.

The Unexpected Reunion: Finding My Brother Again

In the first episode of Season 2, of The Sacred Darkness, Makena shares the unexpected reconnection with her late brother's best friends that changed everything. After years of carrying unresolved pain and a fractured relationship with her brother Brian, a simple social media encounter leads to conversations that bring profound healing, revealing truths about her brother's love that she never knew. Join Makena as she explores how facing our shadows can lead to the most surprising and beautiful reconciliations, proving it's never too late to rewrite our stories of grief and find connection beyond loss.

Love Saved Me: A Journey to Acceptance

In this episode of Sacred Darkness, host Makena reflects on the journey of self-love and acceptance, celebrating the milestone of the 10th episode. She discusses the importance of prioritizing oneself, the impact of childhood experiences on self-perception, and the dangers of self-criticism. Makena emphasizes the power of unconditional love and encourages listeners to embrace their own paths to self-acceptance.