Lydia and Murugi
Lydia K.M. and Murugi Munyi
Writer: Rutendo Nyamuda, Founder & Editor
Photographers: Belete Negusie
In a world where curated perfection often takes centre stage, two dynamic women are breaking the mould and inviting us into the beautifully unfiltered conversations of The Messy Inbetween. Co-hosts Murugi Munyi and Lydia K.M.’s conversations, which explore the challenges and joys of womanhood, have struck a chord across the continent and catapulted them to among the top podcasts in Africa.
The duo met in 2016 when they were both working as talk show hosts on Ebru TV, a Kenyan media outlet. They quickly bonded over their shared passion for storytelling and content creation, and decided to launch their podcast in 2021.
“The Messy Inbetween is about the messy period between 18 and whenever you figure life out – I don't think you ever figure life out,” Lydia shares, her voice filled with conviction.
The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from mental health and wellness, to sexuality and identity, to entrepreneurship and career. The hosts invite guests from different backgrounds and perspectives to join them in honest and candid discussions. Some of their episodes include: “Unserious generational traumas we're breaking”, “A therapist once said...’Things we've learnt in therapy’” and “Dealing with friendship break-ups | How to end a friendship and heal from it”.
“Our episode with Chris Muriithi, where we discussed the LGBTQIA+ community, was powerful. We were able to hold space for a very marginalised group in this country and have a conversation that was enlightening, educative, and informative,” Lydia recalls. “For us, the most important thing is to have conversations that move the needle forward.”
Behind the scenes, the podcast’s production is a well-oiled machine. The process is quite intensive, as the hosts aim for a high-quality audio and video output. A few days before shooting, they go over the topic and do some research. Each production day consists of recording and shooting two episodes, once every two weeks. They don’t share talking points beforehand, to keep the conversation natural and spontaneous.
The production team, which consists of five members plus additional assistants, works tirelessly to ensure each episode is a testament to the podcast’s high production value. From location scouting to set-up, makeup, hair, and a seamless run-through, the team’s dedication is evident in the final product.
TMI has received rave reviews from listeners and critics alike, and has won several awards and accolades. In 2022, they won Podcast Influencers of the Year and YouTube Influencers of the Year at the Pulse Influencer Awards. They also became part of the Spotify Africa Podcast Fund, which supports emerging podcasters on the continent. They have hosted two live events, in July 2022 and 2023, where they interacted with their fans and answered their questions.
As for their future plans, they have big dreams for their podcast brand. “We are really proud to be able to say that we are among the top podcasts in Africa and in Kenya. We truly see ourselves as a brand that can transcend Kenya and make it to the pan-African and international stages. We are looking to solidify the fanbase that we have here, and continuously and consistently produce good quality content that allows our audience to learn and to be engaged. In a couple of years we would like to go on tour and visit a couple of places outside Nairobi and travel internationally.”
Yet, even for these fearless conversationalists, Murugi shares one surprising truth: “We are not always in the mood to talk. We are not always in the mood to have the conversations that we have on the podcast, and sometimes they really trigger us beyond what people can see. There have been times when we’ve had conversations that have forced us to think, forced us to reflect, and left us sitting in bed crying together after shooting a specific episode.”
“It might look like it’s always easy for us to record these episodes, but sometimes it’s really triggering.”
The Messy Inbetween podcast is a testament to the power of unfiltered conversations, and the strength that comes from embracing life's messiness.
“We are really proud to be able to say that we are among the top podcasts in Africa and in Kenya. We truly see ourselves as a brand that can transcend Kenya and make it to the pan-African and international stages. ”
