Meet Jordan Ibekwe

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jordan Ibekwe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jordan , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Finding confidence and self-esteem was a journey. When I was in seventh grade, I was bullied quite a bit. Those moments made me feel insecure about who I was throughout middle school and into my first year of high school. However, I soon realized that the solution wasn’t listening to what people said about me; it was learning to love myself and my imperfections.
I began spending time discovering and understanding who I was as a person. Part of that journey came from finding my faith and putting my trust in God—understanding that I was made beautifully and wonderfully by Him. Another part was putting those same affirmations into practice.
Going into high school and learning to find my own common ground was difficult. I often felt invisible. But over time, I learned how to ignore the comments and negative thoughts, and instead be myself—celebrating every part of who I am.
Overall, I developed my confidence and self-esteem by understanding my own identity and embracing who I was. It meant overcoming the hardships and past pains that once brought me down so low, and reclaiming the parts of myself that I had been hiding for so long. Through time and faith, I discovered that beauty is not defined by others—it begins with choosing to love myself, even when the world does not love me back. Through those moments, I understand that I am enough, capable, and that nothing can hold me down.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a singer and recording artist. When I was 10 years old, I wrote and recorded my first album, Smile. The album’s message is about positivity—having a smile even when times get rough or sad. Looking back, that album carries so much weight and importance. Every message in those songs reflect the importance of being yourself and learning to find your voice.
Moreover, I have always had a big voice. I’ve always enjoyed singing, writing, telling stories, and being heard. From writing my own album, to singing the national anthem at baseball games, to writing my own songs—musically, I have a big voice. But it goes beyond that.
Towards the end of my freshman year, I decided to create a podcast. I don’t quite recall how I came up with the name, but I do remember that one day I ate a lot of noodles and thought, “If the world were your bowl of noodles, what would it be?” Thus, from constant brainstorming and building, The World is Your Bowl of Noodles Podcast was born.
At first, it was intended to focus on high schoolers and our mental health—but I wanted more. In my mind, I wanted my podcast to be a safe space where the youth could share their advocacy and allow their voices to be heard all around the world. I wanted the “Noodle Pod” to be for the youth, their initiatives, and a boiling pot of change.
Whenever people ask me about the meaning behind my podcast’s name, I jump up with excitement. The meaning is simple: be your own leader. The world is not going to give you everything you want, but you have the power to make a change . Thus, everyone might not see eye to eye with your vision, but that’s what makes it your noodle bowl. Moreover, the purpose is owning your destiny, being yourself and following your dreams.
Likewise, my podcast is a youth-inspired platform that advocates for Generation Z all around the world. Of course, it still highlights mental health among teens, but it also emphasizes youth leadership, empowerment, and amplifies the voices of young people. Through stories from youth advocates, founders, entrepreneurs, authors, directors, singers, and writers from countries such as The Gambia, Nigeria, Liberia, Australia, Hawaii, the USA, India, Kenya, Canada, Ghana, and more, this podcast serves as a space for the youth and our voices. Through the power of representation and amazing supporters, my podcast has grown beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Alongside my passion for my podcast and singing journey, I am also excited about the new projects. In the middle of this year, I was asked to be a part of a global youth movie called That Teen: The Movie, which is soon to be released. In the film, I speak about my journey of finding my voice, how I became the person I am today, and my message to the youth. Additionally, my songs “Let Me In” and “Love Myself”—which address the power of speaking up, finding love within yourself, learning to heal, and embracing who you are—are featured as soundtracks for the movie.
Lastly, another project close to my heart is my nonprofit organization, The Book Nook Initiative. It is a nonprofit that delivers home mini library boxes to children across America and helps rehabilitate schools in Nigeria. This initiative was born from my love for helping others and my desire to make a difference in the world. Through our Home Mini Library program, we deliver curated selections of books to children in underserved U.S. communities—especially those who cannot afford books of their own. By doing this, we aim to nurture a love for reading, boost literacy skills, and provide every child with the tools to succeed academically and personally.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, we focus on restoring schools by repairing infrastructure, creating functional libraries, and ensuring that children have a safe, supportive environment where learning can flourish.
Through The Book Nook Initiative, I envision a world where access to books is a universal right, not a privilege—where every child, no matter where they are, can open a book, and create a dream.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are understanding my worth, giving myself space to make mistakes, and taking on challenges with a flexible mindset. Being in high school, I’ve learned to accept that I’m not always going to be a perfect student—or perfect in general. I’ve learned that part of being human means making mistakes and accepting that growth takes time.
I’m not saying that someone should aim to fail, but rather that sometimes it’s okay to fall, because it gives you the opportunity to rise even higher. Through my ups and downs, I’ve learned to see challenges not as obstacles, but as tests. In life, you will face setbacks and tall walls, but they shouldn’t bring you down. Challenges are meant to help you grow and teach you to become stronger and more strategic—so that the next time you’re faced with a challenge, it won’t feel as difficult.
Much of what I’ve learned stems from understanding my own worth. This means seeing myself as someone capable of achieving anything, no matter the obstacle, because I know who I am. My identity doesn’t come from what people say about my looks or my actions, but from my faith and my heart. All that being said, nothing is impossible if you truly believe it’s possible. Thus, stand tall, know your worth, and give yourself grace when you fall, but don’t give up.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

We are looking for young visionaries—people who believe in something bigger than themselves. Those who see problems and dare to ask, “What can I do to fix this?” The World Is Your Bowl of Noodles is a movement for youth empowerment, mental health, and leadership—a space where your voice matters and your ideas can create real change.
We are searching for the dreamers with wild ideas and hearts full of purpose, the leaders ready to take initiative and inspire others, the voices who have felt unheard but are ready to speak up, and the builders who turn passion into projects. If you have ever wanted to be part of something meaningful, to collaborate with others who believe in changing the world one voice at a time, this is your moment.
We are currently looking for ambassadors, collaborators, and creative partners to help us grow our initiative and amplify the message. If you are ready to make an impact and join a movement that empowers change, reach out to us at [email protected], or connect with us on Instagram at @TheWorldIsYourBowlofNoodles. You can also check out our YouTube and TikTok channels under The World Is Your Bowl of Noodles.
Together, we are building a community of fearless youth—ready to speak, act, and lead. Because the world is your bowl of noodles, and it’s time to stir it up.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: The World is Your Bowl of Noodles
• Facebook: The World is Your Bowl of Noodles
• Linkedin: The World is Your Bowl of Noodles
• Youtube: The World is Your Bowl of Noodles
• Other: Our Tiktok is The World is Your Bowl of Noodles

Image Credits

Aria Le took the feature photo