Mind Your Own with Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o knows what home feels like. But where exactly is it? In Mexico, where she was born? Kenya, where she grew up? Or the States, where she’s spent the past 20 years?

Like Lupita, millions of Africans are spread out across the globe following family, searching for love, building futures and creating stories. It's these stories – wild and messy, intimate and joyous – that she wants to hear.

Welcome to Mind Your Own, a storytelling podcast navigating what it means to belong, all from the African perspective. Join Lupita as she shares tales of her own and dives into the lives of real people finding their way in new worlds of every kind.

Production by Snap Studios at KQED, ad sales and distribution by Lemonada Media.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

For You, Anything
Yesterday
For You, Anything
Love is sweeter than reason. STORIES “Sister Trouble”: Lupita, her sister Fiona, and cousins Kitt, Tawi, and Mich get together to recount a legendary nursing mishap. Produced by David Exumé, with assistance from Fiona Nyong’o. Original score by Clay Xavier. “Oha Soup”: Joan, a Nigerian barrister, pours all her love into her signature dish just so she can hand-deliver it for her daughter’s graduation in New York. Produced by Priscilla Alabi and David Exumé. Original score by Jeremy Uwah. Many thanks to Kitt, Tawi, Mich, and Fiona for joining us! And to Joan Okwuosa and her daughter (and Story Scout!) Ashley Okwuosa for sharing their story. Original Mind Your Own theme song by Sandra Lawson-Ndu AKA Sandu Ndu x Peachcurls ft. Ehiorobo. This episode also featured the song Put It On Me by Layzee Ella ft. Majeek.   Executive Producers: Glynn Washington and Mark RistichManaging Editor: Regina BediakoDirector of Production: Marisa DodgeSeries Producers: David Exumé and Priscilla AlabiMusic Supervisor: Sandra Lawson-NduStory Scouts: Ashley Okwuosa, Fiona Nyong’o, Jessica Kariisa, Lesedi Oluko MocheEditors: Nancy López and Anna SussmanEngineering: Miles LassiOperations Manager: Florene WileyStory Consultant: John FecileGraphic Design: Jemimah EkehOriginal Artwork: Mateus SitholeSpecial Thanks: Allan Coye, Jake Kleinberg, Samara Still, Sarah Yoo, Warner Music Group, and Afripods Episode transcripts can be found here. Mind Your Own is a production of KQED’s Snap Studios, with sales and distribution by Lemonada Media. Hosted and produced by Lupita Nyong’o.  Snap Studios is home to the Snap Judgment and Spooked podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Guilt Trips
Sep 26 2024
Guilt Trips
The longest journey is from daughter to mother. STORIES “Up in the Air”: Lupita and her mom enter a tense standoff on top of a seaside wall in Puerto Rico. Original score by Lauryn Newson. “Who's Bad?”: In Toronto, young Evelyn is proving to be quite the handful for her disapproving mom — skipping class, throwing parties, ignoring curfew. But her parents have an old-school trick of their own up their sleeves. Thank you to Evelyn Koomson and her mother, Yaa Owusu Nsiah, for bringing this story to us! Produced by Jessica Kariisa. Original score by Lalin St Juste. Translation by Oral Ofori. Voiceover by Akua Edusei Al-Hassan. Original Mind Your Own theme song by Sandra Lawson-Ndu AKA Sandu Ndu x Peachcurls ft. Ehiorobo. This episode also featured the song Rolling Loud by Somadina. Executive Producers: Glynn Washington and Mark RistichManaging Editor: Regina BediakoDirector of Production: Marisa DodgeSeries Producers: David Exumé and Priscilla AlabiMusic Supervisor: Sandra Lawson-NduStory Scouts: Ashley Okwuosa, Fiona Nyong’o, Jessica Kariisa, Lesedi Oluko MocheEditors: Nancy López and Anna SussmanEngineering: Miles LassiOperations Manager: Florene WileyStory Consultant: John FecileGraphic Design: Jemimah EkehOriginal Artwork: Mateus SitholeSpecial Thanks: Allan Coye, Jake Kleinberg, Samara Still, Sarah Yoo, Warner Music Group, and Afripods Episode transcripts can be found here. Mind Your Own is a production of KQED’s Snap Studios, with sales and distribution by Lemonada Media. Hosted and produced by Lupita Nyong’o.  Snap Studios is home to the Snap Judgment and Spooked podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Shadow Side
Sep 20 2024
The Shadow Side
The dead man does not know the value of his coffin. This episode contains strong language and graphic imagery. Sensitive listeners, please be advised. STORIES “Comeuppance”: 12-year-old Lupita’s split-second playground decision haunts her for years. Original score by Clay Xavier. “Graveyard Shift”: John Kibera has found the hustle to end all hustles in Nairobi. The shillings pour in. But one day, a job goes very, very wrong. Thank you, John, for sharing your story with us. Produced by David Exumé. Original score by Lalin St Juste and Sam Law. Translation by Salome Nduku. Voiceover by Ndungi Githuku. Special thanks to our fixer Michael Kaloki. Original Mind Your Own theme song by Sandra Lawson-Ndu AKA Sandu Ndu x Peachcurls ft. Ehiorobo. This episode also featured the song O.T.T by Rouge. Executive Producers: Glynn Washington and Mark RistichManaging Editor: Regina BediakoDirector of Production: Marisa DodgeSeries Producers: David Exumé and Priscilla AlabiMusic Supervisor: Sandra Lawson-NduStory Scouts: Ashley Okwuosa, Fiona Nyong’o, Jessica Kariisa, Lesedi Oluko MocheEditors: Nancy López and Anna SussmanEngineering: Miles LassiOperations Manager: Florene WileyStory Consultant: John FecileGraphic Design: Jemimah EkehOriginal Artwork: Mateus SitholeSpecial Thanks: Allan Coye, Jake Kleinberg, Samara Still, Sarah Yoo, Warner Music Group, and Afripods Episode transcripts can be found here. Mind Your Own is a production of KQED’s Snap Studios, with sales and distribution by Lemonada Media. Hosted and produced by Lupita Nyong’o.  Snap Studios is home to the Snap Judgment and Spooked podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sound of Home
Sep 19 2024
The Sound of Home
Sound travels in all directions, but your feet can only follow in one. STORIES “Losing My Accent”: Lupita takes on an American accent when she becomes an actor-in-training at Yale. Original score by Ian Hughes Pelton AKA Tofu Jack. “Obaa Sima”: How long can a song stay in your heart? A musical journey from Ghana to Germany to Canada transports Yaw Atta-Owusu from the toy store to the dance floor. Big thanks to Yaw for sharing his story with us! Check out the Obaa Sima album featured in this episode. Thanks as well to Awesome Tapes From Africa for sharing Yaw’s music with us. Produced by Marisa Dodge and Regina Bediako with assistance from Bo Walsh. Original score by Clay Xavier, with additional music from Marla Kether and Ata Kak. Original Mind Your Own theme song by Sandra Lawson-Ndu AKA Sandu Ndu x Peachcurls ft. Ehiorobo. This episode also featured the song Show My Side by CKay ft. Amaarae. Executive Producers: Glynn Washington and Mark RistichManaging Editor: Regina BediakoDirector of Production: Marisa DodgeSeries Producers: David Exumé and Priscilla AlabiMusic Supervisor: Sandra Lawson-NduStory Scouts: Ashley Okwuosa, Fiona Nyong’o, Jessica Kariisa, Lesedi Oluko MocheEditors: Nancy López and Anna SussmanEngineering: Miles LassiOperations Manager: Florene WileyStory Consultant: John FecileGraphic Design: Jemimah EkehOriginal Artwork: Mateus SitholeSpecial Thanks: Allan Coye, Jake Kleinberg, Samara Still, Sarah Yoo, Warner Music Group, and Afripods Episode transcripts can be found here. Mind Your Own is a production of KQED’s Snap Studios, with sales and distribution by Lemonada Media. Hosted and produced by Lupita Nyong’o.  Snap Studios is home to the Snap Judgment and Spooked podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.