For Ama

What does it mean to unlearn generational trauma? This may be a concern for new parents who believe that they must be fully healed in order to bring new life into the world. Having children means negotiating what knowledge and practices we hand down to the next generation. Many women believe that generational healing begins with personal healing and self love.But, for teenagers who fall pregnant at a young age, this process of breaking generational curses can be the most difficult endeavor of their lifetime. Today, we listen to the story of both a mother and daughter. Centering on the daughter’s experience of teenage pregnancy, we learn what it means for women to come together for the sake of the next generation.

Today, we listen to an interview with a woman who is currently running a well-known children’s home in Windhoek, Namibia. Though she is lovingly known as the foster mother to dozens of children, she admits that this work isn’t easy since she grew up as an orphan herself. Though there may not be a simple formula to healing from grief, we see through her story (as an orphan and later, widow) that periods of mourning can be transformed into new life.

What were you first taught about sex? In many homes, the topic of sex and sexuality still remains pretty taboo. If it was brought up at all, the conversation may have had undertones of shame, warnings, and messaging about how to avoid it all together.This is how many young girls experience the “sex talk” in their homes. Today, we listen to an interview with a sexual educator in Namibia. Now in her 30s, she talks about her journey towards unlearning misconceptions about her body, sex, and sexuality.

History is still living. It lives on through our families, communities, and institutions. For elders in our communities, who carry the actual memories of displacement and apartheid in Namibia, the process of healing from our history can be especially difficult. Today, we listen to the story of a revolutionary. Now in her mid-60s, she reflects on what it was like to fight for independence, experience postpartum depression, and fall in and out of love during times of revolution. Through her life story, we learn what it means to both acknowledge our painful history while also allowing ourselves to heal from it.

TW: Discussions about eating disorders and body dysmorphia.A developing body for preteens and young girls can often mean unwanted attention and sexual harassment. This episode is for women and girls that felt like they developed “too soon” and were “noticed” too early by men and their peers. Today, we listen to the life story of a Namibian-South African musician. In a conversation about motherly love, grief, and body dysmorphia, we learn what it really means to see yourself through loving eyes.

Girls that run away from home are sometimes seen as misguided and rebellious. But often, we don’t take into consideration what these girls are running from.Today, we listen to a conversation with a Pastor in Windhoek. Now in her 40s, she reflects on what running away from home was like in her early teens. In a complex story about domestic violence, faith, and street life, we learn what it really means to choose your own path.

How do we heal from absence? This is the question we answer today in an interview with a woman who grew up as a refugee in Germany without her parents during the Namibian Struggle for Independence.Throughout her childhood, Namibia always seemed like a place of war and suffering. She expected that she would come back home to Namibia and fight for independence with a gun in her hand, if necessary. But, by the time she returned, the war was over and Namibia was free. Namibia and even her parents were different than what she expected. It forced her to ask the questions; what were the effects of my parents absence? What was the effect of being away from home for so long? And, what is my home besides a place of war and suffering?