(Obaizamomwan-Hamilton, 2026)

I sit down with Dr. Eghosa Obaizamomwan-Hamilton for a conversation that moves between culture, family, sociology, and legacy. Together, we explore the meaning of her Nigerian name, and how that meaning has become a lens through which she understands both life's greatest blessings and its deepest losses. We also discuss Nigerian naming traditions, the balance between given names and Americanized names within her family, and the ways names carry culture across generations. As two sociologists, we couldn't help but explore the Eurocentric assumptions surrounding names and the ways identity is shaped long before we introduce ourselves. Dr. Eghosa also reflects on the legacy of her parents, the influence of her siblings, and the thoughtful decisions she made when naming her own children. This conversation is filled with laughter, reflection, and a shared curiosity about the stories names preserve long after they're first spoken. Some names tell us where we come from. Others quietly teach us how to understand where we've been. #GivenNamePodcast #NamesMatter #identity #BlackStories #Nigeria #Sociology #Legacy #Storytelling #Culture #FamilyHistory #university