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Lesser Known Self

Lesser Known Self

Written by: by Briana Boyd
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About this listen

 Lesser Known Self is a podcast about intersectionality, identity, otherness, and the creative life. Originally released from 2019–2020 with 17 episodes, the show returns in December 2025 after a long hiatus and a personal transformation—from a regular-degular music-industry girl to a mental health counselor in training. Each episode explores who we are beneath expectations, labels, and external messaging. Through intimate conversations and reflective storytelling, Lesser Known Self creates space for the parts of us that often go unseen: the identities we negotiate, the art we make, the wounds we carry, and the selves we’re becoming. Expect grounded, curious dialogue with artists, thinkers, and everyday people; themes of creativity, belonging, selfhood, and mental health; and a renewed commitment to telling honest stories about what it means to be human. Perfect for listeners craving authentic conversations, cultural nuance, and the courage to meet themselves more fully.

lesserknownself.substack.comBriana Boyd Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 3. Kojo Ampadu (LittleBlackBook91) on The Fearful Avoidant and Emotional Safety

    3. Kojo Ampadu (LittleBlackBook91) on The Fearful Avoidant and Emotional Safety
    Dec 16 2025

    In this episode of Lesser Known Self, host Briana Boyd sits down with Kojo Ampadu, relationship coach and creator of the YouTube channel Little Black Book 91, for an expansive and deeply honest conversation about attachment, emotional development, and healing.

    Kojo shares his personal journey into relationship work, from growing up in a Ghanaian household to building a decade-long career analyzing relationships, faith, and pop culture. Together, Briana and Kojo explore the nuances of fearful avoidant attachment, disorganized attachment patterns, and why so many people struggle to trust their own voice in relationships.

    Check out Kojo Online:

    https://linktr.ee/Littleblackbook91

    Follow us online:

    https://linktr.ee/lesserknownself



    Get full access to Lesser Known Self at lesserknownself.substack.com/subscribe
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    54 mins
  • 4. Making Jam From the Mulberry Tree w/ Wafia

    4. Making Jam From the Mulberry Tree w/ Wafia
    Dec 16 2025

    In this episode of Lesser Known Self, host Briana Boyd sits down with singer songwriter Wafia for an intimate conversation about identity, family, and the weight of perception. Wafia reflects on growing up as an Arab Muslim woman, navigating bullying, beauty standards, and the pressure of being seen and misunderstood in both life and the music industry. Together, they explore what it means to exist outside of neat categories, resist being flattened or tokenized, and honor emotional depth without becoming cynical.

    Wafia also revisits her debut album Promised Land one year later, sharing how time, distance, and live performance have reshaped her relationship to the work. Through reflections on family dynamics, immigration, independence, and acceptance, this conversation becomes an invitation to slow down, sit with nuance, and allow softness to coexist with strength.

    Check out Wafia:

    https://www.instagram.com/wafiaaa

    https://wafia.world/

    Check us out online:

    https://linktr.ee/lesserknownself



    Get full access to Lesser Known Self at lesserknownself.substack.com/subscribe
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    40 mins
  • 2. The Lesser Known Self of Akili Ni Mali

    2. The Lesser Known Self of Akili Ni Mali
    Dec 9 2025

    In this conversation, Akili Ni Mali shares her journey as a performer, exploring her "Lesser Known Self" and the complexities of her identity as a Black woman in the entertainment and performing arts. She discusses the importance of authenticity, the challenges of activism, and the role of motherhood in shaping her artistic purpose. Join us as we talk through the weight of perception.

    Check out Akili Ni Mali:

    https://akilinimali.bandcamp.com/

    https://www.akilinimaliofficial.com/

    Follow us online:

    https://linktr.ee/lesserknownself



    Get full access to Lesser Known Self at lesserknownself.substack.com/subscribe
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    49 mins
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