Merlot 'n Me

In this week's episode, I have a delightful conversation with our first wine expert and Advanced Sommelier Aubrey Terrazas, and drink a Portuguese Albariñho.  We talk about the sommelier profession; how male-dominated it is, how long it takes to get certified and the different levels of certification, how to go about making your own wine, competition and sexual harassment in the industry, if bad wine truly exists, identifying notes and flavors, how sustainable is the wine industry, and the Palette club; a monthly wine subscription service that uses AI to predict what wine you would love. Follow Aubrey and the palette club on Instagram for more: https://www.palateclub.com/ https://www.instagram.com/palate_club/ https://www.instagram.com/aubreypopsbottles/ If you enjoyed this episode and want to know what the wine I was drinking looked like check out our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

In this weeks episode Afrolit podcast host Ekua PM and I have some Pinot Noir and talk about Kenyan diaspora in NYC, traveling with alcohol, grapefruit rose, wine pairings, missing Kenyan food, achieving aunty status, growing up in NYC, navigating winter, dating apps, ancestry, African tokenism, showering habits and the Afrolit Podcast. Check out the Afrolit Podcast: https://anchor.fm/afrolit Podcasts mentioned in this episode S2 E26: Who Gets to Be Africa… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiFdXfXxYM If you enjoyed this episode and want to know what the wine I was drinking looked like check out our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ and follow Ekua https://www.instagram.com/ekua.pm/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

In this episode, Amy Dong comes on to speak about creative writing over a glass of Cote du Rhone. We talk about keeping journals, staying connected to our culture, Amy’s travels, getting into NYU, accepting uncertainty in our lives, eating disorders, cringe first email addresses, hybrid publishing, snake liquor, and lessons from her book Twenty One Years Young. Check out Amy’s book: amy-dong.com https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-One-Years-Young-Amy-Dong/dp/1636765033/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PXMOD04I7FMO&dchild=1&keywords=twenty+one+years+young&qid=1630518026&sprefix=twenty+one+year%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1 If you enjoyed this episode and want to know what the wine I was drinking looked like check out our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ and follow Amy @theamyzinglife Music: https://www.bensound.com

In this week’s episode, Tana and I reminisce on experiences abroad over a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. We also talk about using the Vivino app to buy wine, getting the COVID vaccine in Kenya, Amapiano concerts, picking party schools for university, Konyagi vs Kenya Cane, finding a Kenyan community abroad, and using Matatus & Ubers in Nairobi. A more thorough explanation of the hidden curriculum: https://www.edglossary.org/hidden-curriculum/ If you enjoyed this episode and want to know what the wine I was drinking looked like check out our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

In this week’s episode Cherono and I drink two VERY different bottles of Malbec Rose and reminisce over our Plant-Based Diet Journeys; forks over knives, vegan wine, sticking to plant-based diets, transitioning to a more conscious lifestyle, farmers choice sausages, the vegan movement, and plant-based meat alternatives. Some helpful articles about these diets: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-a-plant-based-diet-and-why-should-you-try-it-2018092614760 https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/plant-based-diets If you enjoyed this episode and want to know what the wine I was drinking looked like check out our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

In the second part of this episode, Ruby and I continue our discussion about sickle cell anemia; living alone, medical bias, outrageous medical bills, Mt Kilimanjaro, mental health & the 19 crimes that sent the British rogues to Australia. If you're interested in learning more about sickle cell below are a couple of interesting studies and articles that drove this conversation. Tune in next week for part 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8470299/ https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/fulltext/2019/06000/ce__understanding_the_complications_of_sickle_cell.23.aspx https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7993409/ To learn more about the 19 crimes: https://www.19crimes.com/ In the meantime don't forget to follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

In the first half of this two-part episode, Ruby and I opened a bottle of 19 Crimes Shiraz and talked about Chronic Illnesses specifically Sickle Cell Anemia; what it is, how it affects your body, how she manages it. We also talk about Australian wine, vegetable names in different countries, swimming, and chips. If you're interested in learning more about sickle cell below are a couple of interesting studies and articles that drove this conversation. Tune in next week for part 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8470299/ https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/fulltext/2019/06000/ce__understanding_the_complications_of_sickle_cell.23.aspx https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7993409/ In the meantime don't forget to follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

This week I slowed down the pace to give a much-needed crash course in wine basics. I opened a beautiful bottle of Bordeaux and shared some major facts about wine grape varieties, alcohol content, its characteristics, and even how much to pour into a glass.  If you enjoyed this episode and want to know what the wine I was drinking looked like check out our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

In this week's episode BJ and I talk about starting your own business, the power of the internet as a resource, missing Nairobi, the fall of Nakumatt, and the rise of CVD Diamonds (diamonds created by a process called Chemical Vapor Deposition) over a glass of Lambrusco Dell'Emilia's Sparkling Red Wine. For more information on the bottle, follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme/ and follow BJ too https://www.instagram.com/rob__eff/ Music: https://www.bensound.com

This week, Asande and I crack open a bottle of Skinny Girl's Pinot Grigio and talk about Fat-phobia in hospitals, gyms, clothing stores, romantic and sexual relationships, skinny-shaming vs fat-shaming, and ever-evolving beauty standards.  Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merlotnme for more details about the bottle and send us a DM letting us know your experiences with fat-phobia Music: https://www.bensound.com