Ep47 || Liberia’s PTSD Crisis, Mental health and The Liberian Network Organization

Hosts discuss the return of the Liberian Entertainment Awards (LEA) and a heated debate about who should be recognized — local community artists or Liberian creators succeeding abroad (producers, writers, and international acts). The episode covers issues of bias, industry infrastructure, DJ and promotion roles, the need for better nomination processes and databases, and a call for unity and higher standards so the awards can genuinely celebrate and elevate Liberian talent.

Siddiq Kamara shares his journey from Liberia to Delaware County and explains why he is running to be sheriff, drawing on service in the National Guard, work as a police officer and special agent, and a family tragedy that inspired his campaign. He outlines his priorities: professional training for deputies, community engagement, transparency and accountability, and practical programs to improve public safety. Kamara urges voters to register and vote, emphasizes the importance of judicial retention on the ballot, and calls for broad community support to make history.

In this episode Mona Krugeh-Clark, new president of the Liberian Network and a scientist-turned-community leader, discusses the network’s expansion, their PTSD campaign, and the urgent need for mental health resources in Liberia and the diaspora. The conversation covers projects on the ground, challenges with healthcare infrastructure and stigma, and practical ways Liberians abroad and at home can connect, support, and act to improve care.

In this episode, Jack, founder of the Liberian clothing brand Too Easy, joins the hosts to discuss the brand’s rise from a playful catchphrase to a major cultural force. They cover design inspiration, pricing strategy, local market realities, and how Too Easy is connecting Liberia with the U.S. through pop-ups, collaborations, and community-driven growth. The conversation also explores broader themes: Liberia’s economic challenges, opportunities for investors and diaspora collaboration, music and tech ecosystems, and the vision to reshape Liberia’s future through fashion and entrepreneurship.

In this episode host J-Bizz interviews Dr. Alvin Glay about his memoir Liberian Boy: Triumph Over War's Shadows and his journey from refugee camps to earning advanced degrees and leading in corporate marketing and research. They discuss resilience, coping with loss, the importance of discipline and boundaries, and Dr. Gray’s work giving back to Liberia through education and entrepreneurship — practical lessons and inspiration for young Liberians and the diaspora.

Hosts unpack festival controversies and social chatter before welcoming Maya Dwanah, a Liberian-American technologist who explains how she uses AI at work and transitioned into real estate. Maya outlines practical strategies—renovation loans, house-hacking, and down payment assistance—for first-time buyers, and discusses building remote tech and hospitality businesses in Liberia while noting challenges like internet and electricity.

On this episode of In The Fries, hosts dive into a heated, passionate conversation tracing Afrobeats back to Liberia’s palmwine music and the Kruman seaman. They argue that Liberia and Sierra Leone laid foundational sounds later commercialized by Nigeria and Ghana, discuss diasporic promotion of African music in the U.S., and call for proper credit and unity across West African musicians and promoters.

This episode dives into respect in Liberian and African households, exploring generational clashes, parenting styles, and how social media amplifies conflicts and cultural shifts. Hosts discuss family dynamics, the role of elders, gaps in communication about sex and history, and suggest honest conversation and greater openness as paths forward.

Hosts Smitty Stokes, August and J. Biz break down Liberia’s latest controversies: the Say No to Drugs nonprofit debate, a leaked call involving a DEA officer’s daughter, the shisha (hookah) ban, and police crackdowns — plus the demolition of CDC headquarters and heated political fallout. The episode mixes personal stories, on-the-ground observations and sharp debate about enforcement, public health, and whether protests and policy will really change youth drug use and corruption.

In this Koloqua Dialogues special, Liberian artists, bloggers and promoters unpack a cultural renaissance — exploring music, fashion, diaspora-local disconnects, and the need for systems that uplift Liberian talent worldwide. Guests discuss collaborations, marketing and blogger relationships, preview projects like the single "Flamingo," and candidly address label tensions and the challenges of building a sustainable music ecosystem.