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Beyond the Classroom: Lessons on Identity, Motherhood, and Purpose with Joy Mbakwe
Manage episode 497333106 series 3665261
This episode is a conversation about truth, visibility, and the emotional weight of teaching and motherhood. Joy Mbakwe share some reflections of what it means to live as a Black woman in the UK, raising children and educating other people’s children while navigating systems that were never designed with them in mind.
The discussion moves through layers of identity and culture. Joy shares the unspoken inheritance of being the daughter of Nigerian parents, where resilience was taught not as a choice but as a condition of existence. That history and tenacity lives in her work, in the way she advocates for Black children in classrooms, and in the way she builds her life online - visible enough to speak truth, but careful to protect her inner world.
Motherhood threads through the episode like an undercurrent. Joy speaks vulnerably about the weight of nurturing life while holding her own, about the complicated love and responsibility of raising Black children in a world that can be both unsafe and unkind. The conversation moves beyond the romanticized vision of parenthood into the honest emotional labor it requires, grappling with guilt, grace, and the desire to break cycles while still healing from them.
The heart of this episode is not just Joy’s story, but the mirror it holds up to listeners. It asks us:
•What truths are we afraid to tell?
•How do we show up for the next generation while still carrying our own unhealed parts?
•And how do we claim our space in a world that often misunderstands us?
This conversation lingers because it is about more than education or social media. It is about humanity, legacy, and the courage to live fully and honestly.
Follow Joy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msjoymbakwe/
Follow Joy on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/joy-mbakwe-teacher
#identity #mentalhealth #race #education #advocacy #parenting #culturalexpectations #representation #schoolculture #Blackwomen #nigerian
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Chapters
1. Podcast Intro (00:00:00)
2. Guest Introduction (00:00:32)
3. Igniting a Commitment to Social justice (00:02:05)
4. Navigating the Classroom During Crisis (00:05:19)
5. The Burden of Advocacy (00:08:34)
6. Embracing Dual Identities (00:11:04)
7. Navigating Privilege and Racism (00:18:33)
8. Reimagining Parenting Styles (00:19:39)
9. Balancing Career Aspirations and Parenting (00:22:37)
10. The Weight of Motherhood and Societal Expectations (00:25:56)
11. Confronting Racism in Education (00:30:10)
12. The Responsibility of Educators in Shaping Futures (00:33:07)
13. The Importance of Self-Reflection & Navigating Roles (00:35:59)
14. Authenticity in Online Spaces (00:40:42)
15. Facing Pushback and Criticism (00:43:00)
16. Wisdom for Future Generations (00:45:32)
17. Radical Permission to Show Up (00:47:18)
18. Understanding Power Dynamics (00:54:36)
19. Embracing Motherhood and Personal Growth (00:57:26)
20. Outro - Overnight Wisdom (01:00:37)
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