206: Jamaican Dancehall, South African Townships, and Reflections on Racism and Travel with Aprile Andelle

Aprile Andelle joins Matt in person for this interview in Arusha, Tanzania. Matt and Aprile reflect on their time together in Tanzania, as well as their month together in Cape Town, South Africa.

They discuss a number of the inspiring initiatives going on in Langa Township and Kayeltisha township, and then reminisce about attending the Rugby World Cup Sevens together dressed in costume. Aprile then talks about her background growing up in a Jamaican family, and living between Florida and Jamaica. She talks about the impact of Jamaican music in her life, from Bob Marley to Dancehall, and shares her top recommendations for visiting Jamaica. Aprile then reflects on the evolution of her Jamaican-American identity, and shares her experience navigating the very white, affluent, homogenous college that she attended. Next, she talks about studying abroad in Spain, shares the diversity of the various regions of Spain, and opens up about the overt racism she experienced in one part of Spain. Aprile then contrasts that with her experience stepping over the border into the Basque Country, and feeling warmly welcomed and an immediately solidarity with the Basque people who were in struggle for their rights as well. She reflects on how all these experiences with racism and travel impacted her. Then, Aprile shares her professional trajectory, how she eventually became a psychotherapist, and how she is particularly passionate about serving women of color and people in the nomadic and remote work lifestyle. FULL SHOW NOTES AND DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IS AVAILABLE HERE.