Episode 65-Ghana maternal healthcare, somatic therapy, FIFA World Cup costs

1:19 Bringing a child into the world should not come at the cost of a mother’s life. Yet in Ghana, many women continue to face significant challenges in accessing quality maternal healthcare.

Behind the statistics are real stories of women, families, midwives, and healthcare workers navigating systems under pressure while working to ensure safer pregnancies and healthier futures. FBO’s Zaakirah Muhammad explores the realities of maternal health in Ghana, the cultural and structural factors shaping care, and the efforts underway to improve outcomes for mothers across the nation. 13:40 Trauma doesn’t just live in our memories—it lives in the body.

For many Black people, generations of stress, survival, and systemic harm are carried in muscle, breath, and nervous systems long after the moment has passed. Somatic therapy asks a different kind of healing question: not just what happened to you , but what is your body still holding?

In this concluding part, Alana Mbanza explores somatic therapy and why reconnecting with the Black body is a powerful, and often overlooked, path toward restoration and wholeness. Listen to the first part of her story here . 23:53 Every movement carries echoes of the people who came before it.

Today’s activists are organizing, protesting, educating, and building community while drawing strength from generations of civil rights leaders who fought for justice at great personal cost. But as hard-won protections, public histories, and equity initiatives face renewed challenges, many are asking: what does it mean to continue the work when so much of that progress feels under attack?

FBO’s Francia Allen explores the topic with Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols and others. 33:02 The world’s biggest sporting event is coming to the U.S. (Mexico and Canada), bringing with it global attention, massive investment, and the promise of unforgettable moments. But for many fans, actually experiencing the FIFA World Cup in person may remain out of reach.

Rising ticket prices, expensive travel, hotel costs, and limited accessibility are raising questions about who mega sporting events are really for. As cities prepare to welcome the world, what happens to the local fans and communities who helped grow the game in the first place?

FBO’s Phil Childs explores the growing tension between global spectacle and public access—and asks whether the World Cup is becoming an experience reserved for those who can afford the price of admission. 42:24 We’ve all heard of Empty Nest Syndrome, but Sonda Slade experienced Half-Empty Nest Syndrome when her daughter transitioned from her child to her roommate. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective.

Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma 's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Roma Carter, Jess Grimes, & Anna Wilson. You can visit us online at or & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

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