PODCAST · business
Docs Outside The Box
by Dr. Nii Darko
Hosts Dr. Nii (Ghanaian) and Dr. Renee (Haitian) are first-generation physicians who paid off $662,000 in student loans in 3 years - while figuring out contracts, career moves, and money management that their colleagues learned at home. Every episode covers what first-gen docs need to know: Contract negotiation and career decisions Paying off debt without family financial guidance Building wealth from scratch The questions you don't know to ask (but your colleagues already knew) Real strategies from doctors who had to figure it out on their own. Subscribe and build your blueprint with us. Download: The First-Gen Doctor Blueprint
Episodes
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A Dental Student Just Ran Out of Money. The Government Did This. #484
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! A first-year dental student posted a video on Instagram that stopped me cold. He's run out of federal funding. He's run out of private funding. He started a GoFundMe just to stay in school. The culprit: The One Big...
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20 Years Later — What I'd Tell Every Medical Student. #483
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Twenty years after medical school, I went back to Kansas City with Renee and our boys. Walking through the place where it all began brought back memories of my father driving me there from New Jersey, the first…
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Want to Do Global Surgery? Start Preparing Now. #482
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! A first year general surgery resident slid into my DMs after our previous episode on how GHANA MADE ME BETTER. She’d been following the show for almost 10 years, and she had one question: “How can I best start...
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We've Taken Our Kids to Ghana Every Year for 14 Years. Here's What Humanitarian Medicine Actually Looks Like. #481
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! In just a few days, we leave for Ghana, and this year, our boys are coming with us. This is our 14th year doing humanitarian work at KNUST University Hospital in Kumasi with International Healthcare Volunteers....
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We Were Paying Off $700K in Student Loans. And Doing IVF at the Same Time. #480
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We got married in our thirties. Started IVF in the middle of paying off $700,000 in student loan debt. And Nii was working locums shifts several states away — the very thing funding our fertility journey was also...
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2 Docs No Nanny. #479
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Nearly 50,000 people watched our co-parenting reel and asked the same question: "Why don't you just get a nanny?" People expected us to have full-time help. We don't. Not because we can't afford it. Because we made…
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7% of Med Students Don't Match. Do These Things Instead. #478
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! You didn't match. Now what? Every year, roughly 7% of U.S. medical students don't match into residency. If you're one of them, you're not alone—and this isn't the end. Reddit Question We're Answering: "M4 here....
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I Couldn't Run a Mile in Residency. #477
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! In this episode, we share our honest struggle with fitness as first-generation doctors - from not being able to run a mile in residency to building a consistent 5-6 day per week workout habit using the Atomic…
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Is 40 Too Old For Med School? Here's The Truth. #476
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Two first-gen doctors answer your real questions: How to open a business bank account, and whether starting Medical school at 40 is still possible. This week's Q&A covers two questions that represent completely...
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How We Paid Off $662K With No Family Help #475
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! In this episode, we share our complete story - how we went from $662,000 in medical school debt to completely debt-free in just three years, as first-generation doctors without any family financial blueprint.…
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Are You Ready for Locums? #474 Part 4
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We answer a listener who asks how to know if locums is the right move and whether they’re truly ready for independence. We break down confidence, clinical readiness, and the mindset shift needed to succeed as a…
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Life With a Tenant Upstairs + Kitchen Renovation #474 Part 3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! In this episode we're discussing a life update which is renting out part of our home + kitchen renovations we are doing. We are breaking down the financial lessons we’re learning as a physician household with...
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Wale’s New Album “Everything Is A Lot” + HSA Deadline #474 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! In this episode, we’re diving deep into: 1. Wale’s new album. Is it worth playing in the OR? A quick, fun review: focus, vibe, and OR compatibility. 2. HSA Deadline Reminder. LAST MONTH to contribute We’re making...
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DOE Says Nursing Isn’t a Professional Degree?! #474 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! This episode hits EVERY corner of healthcare. Medical students, residents, nursing students, and attendings. We’re diving deep into: 1. The Department of Education’s classification of nursing as not a professional...
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PSLF Guilt, Family Expectations, and Financial Reality. #473 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We tackle a raw listener question about carrying $520k in med school debt, feeling guilty about pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and navigating first‑gen family expectations. We break down what PSLF really...
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ACA Premium Spike 2026: What Doctors, Residents & 1099 Physicians MUST Know. #473 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! The Affordable Care Act marketplace is facing a massive premium spike in 2026 — and Congress is running out of time to stop it. In this episode of Docs Outside The Box, Dr. Nii and Dr. Renee break down exactly why...
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Q&A Locums And Life Between U.S.A & Ghana With $478K Debt. #472 Part3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 We help a graduating resident weigh a bold plan of using locums to pay down $478k in...
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Top 5 Financial Moves That Actually Changed Our Lives. #472 Part2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the five financial moves that created real...
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Honoring D’Angelo: What Brown Sugar Meant to Me Growing Up #472 Part1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this episode, we paid a tribute to D’Angelo whose albums like Brown Sugar and Voodoo...
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REPLAY: What is a 1099? Non-traditional pre-med advice #357
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Drs. Nii and Renée do a semi-ok job at explaining the difference between 1099 independent contracting and W2 employment. Dr. Renée runs down the ways in which we give up control of our careers to others. Then the...
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REPLAY: Sharing finances as a physician couple #428 , pt2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! 0:01 Should Married Couples Combine Finances? 8:50 Financial Planning in Relationships 16:32 Financial Transparency in Marriage 20:54 Financial Involvement in Relationships 28:29 The Benefits of Combining Finances...
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Can Busy Moms Really Do Locum Work Without Having Mom Guilt? #471 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this episode, we answer a question from our listener who is considering a locums...
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A Recap Of Our Wonderful Trip To Ghana. #471 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this episode, we share our experiences from our recent medical mission trip to…
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REPLAY: Money Trap #4 - Debt is not a substitute for cash! #303
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! In this episode, Renee & Nii discuss how the common forms of debt (student loans, consumer debt, mortgage) keep you stuck in the rat race and burnt out! Things to expect in this episode: Renee clarifies how much…
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REPLAY: Starting a Locums Company, Navigating Insurance & Why Consider Locums. #432
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! What if you could reshape your career and lifestyle with the freedom and flexibility you’ve always dreamed of? In this episode, we explore the exciting world of locum tenens work, sharing insights on how to start...
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How to Pay for Med School After Loan Changes! #470
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this episode, we discuss a question from a pre-med student from a lower income...
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REPLAY: From panic attacks to beautiful artwork. Medicine is artistry for this doc #285
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Dr. Lucie Mitchell is a long time listener of Docs Outside. She joins Dr. Nii today to share her story about how a major panic attack in the last 3 months of residency training led her to pay off $70,000 of student...
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What Happens When Doctors Make MORE Money on TikTok Than in Hospitals. #469 Part 3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 The medical profession is facing a significant shift as doctors are increasingly…
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Student Loan Forgiveness Is PAUSED! What Happens Now? #469 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 When the "big beautiful bill" passed, all student loan forgiveness programs were…
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The Tragic Loss of Malcolm-Jamal Warner & Water Safety Tips. #469 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 The sudden passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a shock to most of us who grew up…
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REPLAY: She's delivered a baby on almost every continent! #309
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Nii brings talks to Dr. Rachael Consoli, an OB/GYN who presently is working in a United States military hospital in South Korea and has the unique distinction of having delivered babies on nearly every continent in...
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Vitals Check, Rap & The Hidden Burden Of Code Switching In Medicine. #468 Part 3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 We started off by doing a check-in on Dr. Renee's health journey. We then moved on to…
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Doctor Who Makes More Money On TikTok Than At Work. #468 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this segment we discussed Dr. Fran who earns more as a TikTok influencer than at her...
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The P. Diddy trial & how this relates to medicine: Power, Privilege & Accountability. #468 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 On this episode we talk about the parallels between the entertainment industry scandals...
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How I Stay Sane And Sharp As A Trauma Surgeon. #467
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this raw, revealing episode, I take you behind the scenes of my journey to reclaim…
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Starting A Locums Tenens Agency as a PA Student. #466 Part 4
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 If you’re thinking about launching your own locums medical staffing agency while still...
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How Physicians Can Protect Their Peace and Avoid BURNOUT. #466 Part 3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 Whether you're a medical student, resident, or mid-career physician questioning how you...
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The Vitals Check! How We Stay Fit As Doctors. #466 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 In this new segment "The Vitals Check" we track our personal fitness journeys. Shoutout...
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Actionable Advice On Battling Breast Cancer. The Ananda Lewis's Story. #466 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Send us a Voice Message - https://www.speakpipe.com/docsoutsidethebox Have a question for the podcast? Text us at 833-230-2860 If you or someone you know is battling breast cancer, then this segment is for you. We...
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REPLAY: What You Should Know About Becoming a Part-Time Physician #302
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Nii discusses the trend of doctors seeking less than full-time work. Sarah Ledbetter, Physician Recruitment Manager at Provider Solutions & Development, is on to debunk the theory that medical employers are solely...
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Our Thoughts On Making Major Life Moves In A Relationship Without Being Engaged. #465 Part 3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Our listener, David, wrote back with an update on their job search near Boston which then led us to a deeper conversation about making major life moves when you're dating but haven't formally committed to through...
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Shocking Story Of An Attending On Call Who Takes Melatonin + Lunesta Then Sleeps On The Job 😲 #465 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We discuss a Reddit post from a resident dealing with an attending who takes melatonin and Lunesta during their shared overnight calls, rendering them unavailable and leaving the resident alone to manage all…
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Having A Medical Degree Doesn't Make You A Leader. #465 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Leadership in medicine goes beyond clinical skills because medical education doesn’t automatically create leaders. In this segment, we discuss how toxic behaviors get perpetuated when negative leadership styles…
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Trump's Bill's Caps On Grad School Loans Could Worsen Doctor Shortage. #464 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Is the “One Big Beautiful Bill” really beautiful? We discuss the potential impact of the proposed bill that would cap federal loan amounts for graduate students, particularly affecting medical education. America...
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Ananda Lewis, Former MTV VJ, SHOCKING Breast Cancer Decision. #464 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We start off by discussing medical myths/traditions we should retire. We then talk about MTV personality Ananda Lewis, who died at age 52 from breast cancer after rejecting medical treatment in favor of...
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Is it Sustainable To Work 24/7 Calls As A Doctor For A Week Every Month? #463 Part 2
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Is a 24/7 call one week per month sustainable for an entire career? This question strikes at the heart of physician work-life balance, career longevity, and personal wellbeing. From personal experiences, these...
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The REALITY of Balancing Locums Life and Relationships. #463 Part 1
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We share some medical school scholarship opportunities and then answer a listener's question on what happens when your partner has a seasonal job in one location, but the best locum work opportunities are…
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REPLAY: What medical leaders need to know about Pre-Meds #282
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! Things to expect in this episode: We’re in Denver, CO at the AACOM Educating Leaders Conference! We talk about our responses during the first-ever panel dedicated to Dr. Meta Christy, the first Black Doctor of...
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Mistakes We Did In Med School That We Regret Now As Clinicians/Doctors. #462 Part 4
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We reflect on our medical school experiences, sharing regrets and lessons learned that have shaped our perspectives as practicing doctors. So what medical school mistakes do you regret? FREE DOWNLOAD - 7...
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My 2-Mile Time Trial Run Did NOT Go as Planned! #462 Part 3
SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE!!! Let Drs. Nii & Renee know what you think about the show! We were in Houston, Texas recently and I did a 2-mile time trial. Let’s just say towards the end I was struggling. Y’all know I have a goal of bench pressing 250 pounds and running a 5K in under 20 minutes. I will...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosts Dr. Nii (Ghanaian) and Dr. Renee (Haitian) are first-generation physicians who paid off $662,000 in student loans in 3 years - while figuring out contracts, career moves, and money management that their colleagues learned at home.
Every episode covers what first-gen docs need to know:
Contract negotiation and career decisions
Paying off debt without family financial guidance
Building wealth from scratch
The questions you don't know to ask (but your colleagues already knew)
Real strategies from doctors who had to figure it out on their own.
Subscribe and build your blueprint with us.
Download: The First-Gen Doctor Blueprint
HOSTED BY
Dr. Nii Darko
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Docs Outside The Box have?
Docs Outside The Box currently has 569 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Docs Outside The Box about?
Hosts Dr. Nii (Ghanaian) and Dr. Renee (Haitian) are first-generation physicians who paid off $662,000 in student loans in 3 years - while figuring out contracts, career moves, and money management that their colleagues learned at home. Every episode covers what first-gen docs need to know:...
How often does Docs Outside The Box release new episodes?
Docs Outside The Box releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 569 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Docs Outside The Box?
You can listen to Docs Outside The Box on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Docs Outside The Box?
Docs Outside The Box is created and hosted by Dr. Nii Darko.
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