The 15th of December, 2024 marked the Genesis of Listening Parties for Peppersoup Stories podcast. It was an interesting experience for the hosts and for the amazing guests who came through.
Beginning a New Tradition
Like all firsts, glitches are inevitable, and as Patrenia – our MOJO Queen – rightly said, “Confidence comes from taking action repeatedly.” The hosts didn’t give up on the opportunity to interact with women of our peers, and while learning in the process, we got the hang of it.
Amongst us were our amazing soulmates, who graced us with their presence, their experiences and their wisdom. It was a wonderful evening where the hosts interacted with women of their peers through sharing stories that resonated with everyone present. This was amazing because it reiterated the intention for the listening party, which was designed as a way to get feedback from the Peppersoup Stories podcast community. This virtual party enables us to hear the thoughts and feelings of the audience; it also fosters a stronger connection between the hosts and the audience, giving them close access to the hosts and creating a strong bond between women.
Stories that Bridge Adversity and Victory
from its constant demand for maintenance – a very low moment indeed. But what lay ahead of her journey was an amazing career in Human Resources, which has given her over 20 years of professional fulfillment and taken her nearly across the gWhile talking about our stories, Patrenia shared intimate details of the experience of losing her mother at the tender age of 13. She drew insight from an experience she had with a squirrel a couple of days before the tragedy hit; being alone with the scary squirrel taught her that all she needed was herself, and resilience and courage made up the bridge from adversity to victory. Days after the event, her mom passed away, and she knew then that the lesson of the day was a preparation for the loss. That preparation served as a foundation for the confident, resilient woman who constantly brings more joy to a room, hence why we know her as the MOJO Queen.
Ejemen’s story was a slight contrast. She shared her journey of growth and the sacrifices that she made in exchange for seeking empowerment. Starting her career in the banking industry, in a city whose roads are never empty, she kicked off life as a new mother who had an almost uncommon trait – ambition and longing for more. When the bank where she worked dissuaded her from pursuing an MBA with comments like “who do you think you are?”, she took a break. A break meant turning off the source that kept her finances green and facing her dad, who at the time thought the best for her was to remain a working mother. But with the encouragement of her late mother and her supportive husband, she made her way to the Lagos Business School for her MBA. Being a housewife at the time with funds so limited, she had to cut her hair to save herself. Today, sitting as an executive, Ejemen can proudly share the importance of courage, resilience, and authenticity because she has lived it, and it has given her the power to overcome.
Naming Our Greatness
The hosts passed the virtual microphone to all the guests with the question, “What is one word that sums up your greatness and why?” The answers were indeed refreshing.
- Miriam chose the word “Resilience”, stating how her life has been filled with many low and high moments, and how she has overcome regardless of the many adversities she has faced.
- Nene Akintan went with “Empowering,” stating that her goal as a person is to empower and elevate the people she is opportune to meet, a value she attributed to her parents’ affluence.
- Ejemen Okojie identified with the word “authenticity,” talking about how imperative it is and how it is a key ingredient to embracing self and discovering potentials, strengths, and gifts. She referenced the popular quote,
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
What else is True?
The “what else is true” framework taught by Patrenia emphasizes a shift in perspective and interpretation of situations, especially challenging ones. By reframing narratives positively, we realize opportunities in every situation. She encouraged soulmates present to engage in after-action reviews to reflect on their experiences and identify lessons learned, promoting a habit of looking for redemptive stories.
One shared experience in the room on Sunday was struggle, challenges, lows – whatever word works for you. It was a testament to the fact that no individual is spared of it, and as Adeola Eichie said,
“Some experiences are the same no matter who you are; it’s how you deal with it that makes the difference.”
She went further to say gatherings like ours help with changing individual perspectives and how we perceive each other – I don’t know about you, but if that was a rating, it’s definitely a five star for us!
Wisdom to Carry Forward
The takeaway from this, however, is that everyone in the room had had challenges, but they were also testaments of breakthroughs because they employed resilience, courage, authenticity, and trusted their process. They understood that they had to bridge the gap between adversity and victory, so here’s a reminder to hold onto your courage and resilience, and please, keep moving forward!
Adei, our guest from South Africa, hit us with an amazing quote, one that deeply resonated with everyone in the room. She said,
“After every night or darkness comes a morning; and a morning can last as long as you allow it to. In order to see the morning, however, you must leave your past in the past,”
…meaning happiness takes consciousness. Make that conscious decision to be happy, soulmate.
In addition to Adei’s powerful quote, Patrenia spoke on the infographic about the man in a hole who was being thrown manure, but rather than sink in self-pity, he used the manure as a source of elevation. You cannot see the light if you stay in the dark.
The evening ended with Tega, a workplace well-being advocate, introducing herself and summing up her greatness with the word “tenacious.” We could already see that from her tenacity in joining despite how late she was, lol!
It was an amazing evening, and Ejemen ended the meeting with one last nugget as it’s yet the end of another great year:
“It’s not about finishing the year strong, it’s about being gentle and kind to yourself as you wrap up the year.”
Looking Ahead
This first listening party exceeded our expectations, creating a space where vulnerability led to connection and shared experiences fostered community. The evening affirmed our podcast’s purpose: building bridges between women’s stories and creating opportunities for collective growth.
For those who joined us on December 15th—thank you for making this inaugural event so special. And for those who couldn’t attend, consider this your personal invitation to our next listening party. Our circle is always expanding, and we’d be honored to welcome you into this community of resilient, authentic souls.
After all, the most powerful stories are those we share.
What story of resilience would you share in our next listening party? We’d love to hear in the comments below!
