Broadway, Burnout & the Birth of Index One: Nyokabi Macharia's Journey

In this episode, actress and creator Nyokabi Macharia gets deeply vulnerable about what it really means to chase a dream. From landing on Broadway at just 23 to navigating years of financial uncertainty and self‑doubt, Nyokabi opens up about the emotional toll of a shrinking dream, the pressure to succeed, and the decision to keep going despite it all. She shares the truth about unpaid creative work, her first salary, and how a major theatre role paying Ksh 250,000 changed her life. We also talk about her upcoming show Index One, inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Dreams Deferred,” and why it marks a full‑circle moment in her ten‑year journey in the arts. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to pursue purpose over paychecks, this episode is for you. Watch, reflect, and don’t let your dream die. The episode is organized into chapters: 0:00 Intro, 1:19 Guest intro, 2:02 Who are you?, 2:45 The greatest person you have ever met, 4:40 Index one, 11:35 How difficult is it to journal?, 14:00 Where does your relationship with money begin?, 15:59 First time you made money for yourself, 18:05 Working in the creative industry without pay, 22:25 Lowest financial moment, 36:43 Back from UK to Broadway, 49:20 Experience in Broadway, 56:15 What it's like being paid for TV, 1:05:00 Life in the UK, 1:12:13 What were you averaging a month after UK, 1:19:35 What's the financial reality of someone in your shoes, 1:22:24 What does financial success look like to you?, 1:26:00 Wrap-up.