So This Is Love

Valerie’s mother grew up carrying the weight of a broken and unstable childhood, a stolen innocence and wounds that never found rest. In her longing to be loved, she searched for it in all the wrong places, leaving traces of that ache in her daughter’s life.In trying to outrun her mother’s story, Valerie found herself caught in its reflection, until grace met her where pain once lived.A story of inherited hurt, healing, and the unexpected beauty of redemption.Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, find support here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODUzNDUyODYyMzIwNDA3?igsh=eXkyNWRmZW1lenh5

Our sponsor for this episode is Tuwork. Whether you're a consultant, entrepreneur, or just tired of pretending your dining table is an office (where is the lie?) TuWork offers flexible packages, beautiful garden spaces, private offices, communal workspaces, meeting rooms, and even a terrace bar! Try a day pass for only two thousand shillings by using my code tuworklove20 for a 20% discount. Call them on 0794 586 988 or email info@tuwork.co.ke. Website: https://tuwork.co.ke/In this week’s episode of So This Is Love, we meet Sheila, a bright and eloquent twenty-something-year-old with the kind of wisdom that grief carves into bone. She tells the story of Jackie, her mother, a woman who made impossible choices in the name of survival but left her daughter unprotected in the hands of a man who wore the title of father like a disguise.Sheila speaks of silence; the kind that settles in childhood and alters the core of naivety. Of betrayal that came not just once, but many times, layered in religion and shame. Of a girl who tried to be believed. Of a woman who became her own witness.This is not a story of blame—it is a story of longing. For safety. For truth. For a version of love that doesn’t hurt.And in all of it, Sheila remains open-hearted. Determined to heal. Determined not to pass down the violence she was handed.This is one of the most powerful stories we have ever told.Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, find support here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODUzNDUyODYyMzIwNDA3?igsh=eXkyNWRmZW1lenh5⁠ 

Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, find support here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODUzNDUyODYyMzIwNDA3?igsh=eXkyNWRmZW1lenh5

Love & Money Festival Tickets: https://www.ticketsasa.com/events/love-and-money-festivalMarch 29th, Jain Bhavan

Welcome to the season 4 finale! Thank you for listening.Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, find support here:⁠https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODUzNDUyODYyMzIwNDA3?igsh=eXkyNWRmZW1lenh5⁠ 

Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, find support here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODUzNDUyODYyMzIwNDA3?igsh=eXkyNWRmZW1lenh5⁠ 

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, find support here: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3ODUzNDUyODYyMzIwNDA3?igsh=eXkyNWRmZW1lenh5  Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠

He swept her off her feet with charm, a chivalry that was deeply unfamiliar, and a love that intoxicated beyond reason. But behind closed doors, the relationship unravelled into heartbreak, infidelity, and a battle with addiction. This week on So This Is Love, Grace shares her raw, unfiltered journey of falling for a complicated man, losing herself, and finding the courage to walk away. It's a story of toxic love, rock bottom, and the fight to rebuild. Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠

Today, I sit down with Florence—a woman whose story is as heartbreaking as it is revealing. Raised in a turbulent home, Florence sought love in all the wrong places, leading to a relationship with Junior that teetered between desperation and dysfunction. She struggled with her mental health, self-image, and the echoes of a childhood marked by conflict. Her actions were at times harmful, but they were rooted in pain. As Florence shares her story, the lines between victim and aggressor blur, reminding us of the complexities of the human experience. Through Florence’s narration, we explore the duality of love, loss and the lingering shadows of the past all while asking ourselves this conflicting question, can someone be both wounded and responsible for wounding others? Consider supporting this podcast via our mpesa till number 9095819 or PayPal ⁠⁠sothisislovepodcastke@gmail.com⁠⁠

Among many benefits, friendships offer us the opportunity to belong, love, grow and find a sense of identity. In this episode, we meet Kaz who admits that unlike many people, she has always placed a greater value on friendships than romantic relationships. At an age where she thinks it is difficult to make new genuine friends, Kaz stumbles upon one of  those once in a lifetime connections with Her. And thus begins the journey of adventure, excitement, betrayal and finally, acceptance.

In this episode, Rainbow takes us through a harrowing narration of love, loss, and abuse experienced in an era that for many are the golden years of young adult life. Grey, a man she describes as the first person she truly ever loved, is from the onset a deeply troubled soul who despite his lukewarm affection is able to lure Rainbow into a 6-year toxic entanglement that leaves us desperately yearning for her liberation. If you or someone you know is in an unsafe environment of abuse, please reach out to these hotlines for support: 911 -police, 112- police, 1195 National GBV hotline, ‎+254 800 730 999 - Police GBV hotline, 116 - Childline Kenya or report to the nearest police station/ chiefs camp. You can support us here: Mpesa Till Number 9095819 or PayPal - juliagaitho@gmail.com.

For most of her life, Alison could not foster strong, solid friendships, and her mother's death in secondary school only isolated her further from people she would have wanted to connect with. But in university, everything changed. Alison takes us through her story of loss and redemption as her experiences in friendship and sisterhood teach her how to intentionally keep those she loves in her life, and this time, on her own terms. You can support us here: Mpesa Till Number 9095819 or PayPal - juliagaitho@gmail.com.

Welcome to Season 2! In this episode, Wanja meets George and despite caution from her friends, falls head over heels in that all-too-familiar, typical, teenage romance kind of way. In an effort to solidify the relationship, Wanja compromises on a number of her morals and boundaries. Her love for George stands unshaken even after a lack of clear commitment and thereafter discovering she is pregnant. We cannot help but empathize with Wanja as she fights hard not to repeat what seems to be a generational misfortune when the issue of paternity arises. Listen on Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. You can support us here: Mpesa Till Number 9095819 or PayPal - juliagaitho@gmail.com.

In this episode, Waithera* narrates a story of friendship, deeply interwoven with a tale of love and romance that spins over a fifteen-year period with a man she fondly refers to as J.P*. Elation is quickly replaced by anguish as the relationship evolves and Waithera, frustrated by the lack of clarity in this friendship-come relationship, finds herself in a place where J.P's approval which once held a considerable significance to her identity slowly starts to be replaced by something else; self-love. You can support this podcast here: M-PESA till : 9095819

In today’s episode, Amy takes us back to her early twenties when she relocates to America and soon after falls in love with a charming and young Greg. In her pursuit of a college degree, stable career and fulfilling relationship, Amy is faced with a series of problems that challenge her sense of reality, personal worth, identity, and confidence. Amy takes us through a journey where she loses her voice, where her desire for love is scorned, and one where in the end, she refuses to stay subdued.

In today’s episode, Roxy takes us through her journey of love and loss while taking ownership of her own actions around infidelity and lack of self-love that ultimately led to the end of a romantic relationship. From this story, we see a young, naive, sweet, and endearing Roxy slowly transform into a more self-aware, self-loving, and mature woman. She continues to fight for her voice, mental wellness, and happiness and we cannot help but root for her.

Today, Kevin transports us from Nairobi, Botswana, New York, Abidjan, and back to Kenya as he narrates a beautiful love story that fought to stand the test of time, distance, and culture. Through this story, we are forced to reflect on our personal journeys with self-love, resilience, and acceptance. Kevin is a writer, activist, and podcaster.  You can find the book he co-edited here https://taboommedia.com/2022/08/02/taboom-and-gala-launch-courage-to-share-vol-2-in-our-queer-activism-in-africa-anthology-series/

In today's episode, Shelly finds a one-of-a-kind love; the kind of love she never thought possible for her, only to discover that the man she for the first time her life saw a future with, was married. Shelly takes us through a harrowing narration of heartbreak, loss, addiction, and self-love.

Today, Cynthia takes us through her whirlwind romance with Jenny; a relationship she describes as one that made her feel for the first time in her life 'understood'.  Through her calm and soothing delivery, we are taken through a powerful narration of attraction, love, and the search for identity in a world that is still coming to the understanding of who we chose to call our own.

In this episode, an eloquent, matter-of-fact and undeniably free-spirited Wanjeri takes us through her cyclic romantic journey with The Bull. She opens our minds to unorthodox possibilities in relationships while circling back to the inevitable everyday realities she faced and continues to face with the man she describes as someone that allowed her to color outside the line. Wanjeri's enchanting way of storytelling is captivating and one cannot help but imagine what it would be like to just maybe, once in a while, take a big bite out of life.