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

Episode Summary

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.

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Dr. Aprile Andelle

Dr. Aprile Andelle is a licensed psychotherapist who has built her practice with a fully location-independent infrastructure. For the past 10 years, she has worked with clients around the world to breakthrough depression, tackle anxiety, rise above trauma, nurture their most important relationships, and she is doing it all remotely as she travels the world. Aprile is also the host of the podcast ‘Do I Need Therapy?’, where she talks ‘openly, loudly, and proudly’ about mental health, love and life, the process of therapy, and the strength found in asking for help. She is especially passionate about serving women of color and empowering them to develop the skills required for *long-lasting* positive mental health.  She provides virtual therapy for clients in traditional as well as entrepreneurial, expat, remote work, and digital nomad lifestyles. Born in the US to Caribbean parents, she was raised between California, Florida and Jamaica, and she is now traveling the world full time and living the digital nomad life with no base.

What You'll Learn
  • The Inspiring Initiatives Taking Place in South African Townships Today
  • Reflections on Navigating Racism and Travel
  • Recommendations for Visiting Jamaica
Links From the Episode

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Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:50] Matt and Aprile talk about Arusha, Tanzania

[5:00] Aprile’s Impression of Cape Town, South Africa

[6:48] Langa Township

[13:24] Kayeltisha Township

[15:36] Attending the World Cup Rugby Sevens in Cape Town

[19:34] Growing Up in a Jamaican Family in Florida

[23:03] Reflections on Spending Time in Jamaica

[28:10] Recommendations for Visiting Jamaica

[30:38] Jamaican Dancehall Music

[34:20] Developing Her Jamaican-American Identity

[36:18] Navigating a Very White, Affluent, Homogenous College

[39:39] Studying Abroad in Spain

[42:50] Visiting The Basque Country

[44:40] Reflections on the Impact of Racism

[48:01] Aprile’s Path to Becoming a Psychotherpist