Authentic Thriving Podcast

How She Built a Book Club That Inspired Others to Pursue Their Vision

An introvert builds a reading club for adults and suddenly 8 people become 74. That is not a “social media trick” story, it is a story about courage, consistency, and doing the work so well you are proud to put your name on it. We sit down with Adedoja, founder of Read with Doja, to trace how her relationship with books starts with longing and limited access, then turns into a community that reduces isolation and strengthens confidence. We talk about the real benefits of reading for mental health and wellbeing: stress reduction, empathy, relaxation, better sleep, and keeping your mind active. More importantly, we explore how a book club structure creates accountability for busy adults who say they “used to read” but cannot stick to it anymore. Doja shares the methods that help her lead while protecting her energy as an introvert: separating personality from purpose, staying anchored to a clear why, and setting boundaries so she can rest without guilt. We also get practical about group leadership: creating awareness when you are naturally discreet, handling inconsistency without taking it personally, checking in with members as humans first, and leading by example with regular reading prompts. Plus, we dig into how books can spark creativity and action, turning reading into mindset change and even new business ideas. If you want to build a reading habit, start a book club, or lead a community with quiet confidence, this one will give you tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a push to start, and leave us a review. What is the idea you are going to birth after listening? Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/support] Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia [https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia] Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]

Turn Failure To Your Teacher

You can do everything “right” and still watch the plan fall apart. If you have ever researched, budgeted, networked, prayed, and pushed through anyway, only to end up drained, embarrassed, and questioning your own judgement, you will recognise yourself here. I’m Abies Sonia Ebenezer Bamigbayan, and I’m sharing a hard-won reframe that changed my life: the project can fail without you becoming a failure.  I walk through my own experience of a business that looked perfect on paper but became unsustainable in real life, especially for my health and my family model. We talk candidly about burnout symptoms, the quiet ache nobody sees, and the spiral of self-doubt that follows when you start wearing the outcome as an identity. I explain why your body is not lying to you, how emotions can act like a traffic light system, and why sometimes the bravest move is to stop, retrace your steps, and choose a different route.  We also go deeper into healing and resilience: grief, counselling, journalling, prayer, and the slow process of peeling back layers of anger, guilt, and disappointment until clarity returns. Along the way, I challenge the world’s definition of success and invite you to redefine success in a way that protects your joy, health, faith, and relationships, while still keeping you moving towards purpose and impact.  If this speaks to you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations on burnout recovery, self-awareness, growth mindset, and authentic personal transformation. What “failure” are you ready to learn from today? Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/support] Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia [https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia] Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]

Career Growth Without Burnout

Chronic work-related stress can make even a good job feel unsafe: you overthink every email, dread meetings, and carry the tension home. That is why I invited Foyeke Alibanogun, a programme development lead and multi-hyphenate professional, to talk through what actually helps when the workplace turns toxic. We keep it practical and honest, from the systems that support working parents to the mindset shifts that stop other people’s behaviour from controlling your day. We dig into the habits that lower stress without shrinking your ambition: building strong character and emotional intelligence, reading the room, listening to understand, and staying professional even when others are not. Then we move into career development strategies that create real leverage: strengthening your skills through CPD, staying grounded in your expertise, and keeping your CV updated so you are ready when opportunity appears. Foyeke also shares how networking across departments becomes a safety net that helps you solve problems faster and feel less alone. A key moment is our breakdown of mentor vs sponsor. A mentor guides you with experience and helps you grow; a sponsor speaks your name in rooms you are not in. We talk about how to find mentors, why you can have more than one, and how sponsorship is earned through consistent delivery, visible readiness, and a reputation for value. We close with discipline, boundaries, and the courage to move on when a workplace refuses to recognise your contribution, plus real-life ways to rejuvenate and avoid burnout. If you want clearer steps for navigating a toxic work environment, reducing workplace anxiety, and building long-term career resilience, press play, share it with a friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the conversation. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/support] Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia [https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia] Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]

The Truth Isn't Enough: Why Timing Matters For Your Mental Health

You might be an honest person and still be the reason trust keeps cracking. That sounds harsh, but it’s one of the most common relationship traps: we tell the truth only when we’re asked, then we’re shocked when our partner, friend, or family member feels blindsided and betrayed. I’m unpacking the real difference between honesty and transparency, and why one can keep your conscience clean while the other keeps your connection alive.  I walk through a story about a man who receives a long-awaited Canada visa approval and stays silent because he’s afraid of losing the woman he loves. When she finds out through someone else, everything explodes. Not because he lied, but because he withheld. From there, I break down what transparency actually sounds like in real life: sharing the facts early, naming the emotions underneath, and inviting the other person into your world before secrets turn into suspicion.  We also get practical about how to build transparency in couples communication, family relationships, friendships, and business partnerships. I share steps like leading with honesty before you’re questioned, practising emotional visibility in everyday moments, checking the fear that drives hiding, and learning to listen without assuming judgement. You’ll also hear why “I was protecting you” can become a cover for distrust, and how emotional maturity turns uncomfortable talks into deeper intimacy and respect.  If you’re ready for stronger trust and healthier communication, subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review telling me what transparency looks like in your life. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/support] Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia [https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia] Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]

Stop Douching: A Conversation on Feminine Health, Mental Wellbeing and African Women

Silence can be deadly when it comes to women’s health, especially in communities where you’re taught to endure pain and keep private problems private. We sit down with Dr Ebunoluwa, a UK obstetrics and gynaecology doctor trained in Nigeria, to talk honestly about the health issues African women face worldwide and what changes when you finally get clear, practical information. We go beyond vague advice and name the red flags: period pain that stops you living your life, heavy bleeding that soaks pads hourly, clots, bleeding between periods, and symptoms that could point to fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or PCOS. We also get real about itching and “thrush”, why over-the-counter creams can miss the real cause, and what good vulval hygiene actually looks like. If you’ve ever been told to douche, or felt embarrassed to ask for help, this conversation gives you language you can use at the GP or in clinic. We also tackle the stigma that keeps people stuck, from mental health to infertility. Dr Ebunoluwa reminds us that infertility is about the couple, not a woman’s “failure”, and shares ways to advocate for yourself, ask for a second opinion, and re-attend when your instincts tell you something is wrong. For anyone pregnant or planning a baby, we cover urgent warning signs like reduced fetal movements, bleeding, abdominal pain, persistent headaches, visual changes, and swelling, plus where to find trusted support and information. We close with a powerful reminder about cervical smear tests, HPV, and why early checks can prevent cervical cancer. Subscribe, share this with a sister or friend, and leave a review with the one point you want every woman to hear. What stood out to you most? Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1994047/support] Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia [https://www.facebook.com/abiessonia] Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8aAtpN2BN/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]