The digital era means audiences consume information differently and podcasts are ever popular. This Youth Month, we chat to three influential women who have taken to the mic to elevate the conversation.
Gugulethu Nyatsumba - ‘After School is After School with Sis G.U’
Glamour: Let’s talk about After School is After School with Sis G.U... why this title and how did it come about?
Gugu Nyatsumba: I learnt this phrase in primary school and it stuck with me. My podcast is an extension of my YouTube channel so when thinking of a name for my podcast, I wanted something that would allude to my podcast being a more real, raw and ‘lit’ version of my YouTube channel. Everyone knew that it went down after school so I was trying to create the same effect with my podcast. After school was also my favourite part of the schooling day.
Glamour: How has the reception been?
GN: It has been amazing. I am so grateful that the Genge (my subscribers) encouraged me to start my podcast. I think that people really enjoy my episodes because the nature of my content is very relatable.
Glamour: What challenges are you faced with?
GN: Starting my podcast was not easy because I had no idea what to do or where to start; however, the more I did it, the more I got into it. Honestly, the only challenge I have now is remaining consistent.
Glamour: How did your partnership with Spotify come about?
GN: I was fortunate to be part of the Africa Podcast Fund founded by Spotify. I’ve been able to work with Spotify closely which has really positively changed my life in regard to podcasting.
Glamour: What do you aim to achieve with your approach to content creation?
GN: My approach with my content is to show up as myself, to share my stories and to be vulnerable so that those listening can hopefully take something away from my experiences and realize that they too can get through whatever situation it is that I am talking about. It’s also very important to me that my audience see through my journey that it is possible to succeed in this industry by just being yourself.
Glamour: What’s your message for Youth Month?
GN: You can achieve absolutely anything you put your mind to. There is no dream that is too big or too scary. Do not limit yourself to the views and thoughts of those around you. You are your own person with your own path. It’s important to learn to love your journey because it is specifically made for you and no one else!
Thithi Nteta - ‘Us Being Amazing’
Glamour: What attracted you to the podcasting space?
Thithi Nteta: I always loved content and storytelling. I enjoyed telling stories when I was a child and every December I would gather my cousins and siblings to perform a play I would write for our family. So, from my early blogging days, when we had Blogspot, I loved to share what I discovered and tell some sort of story through my content. Podcasting was a natural progression and I also wanted to find a way to showcase my personality more, which it allows me to do.
Glamour:What sort of conversations do you naturally gravitate towards?
NT: I enjoy conversations about the journey that people took to get to where they are or where they want to be. As someone who has not had a conventional career path, taking opportunities in spaces I maybe wouldn’t have imagined, it is fascinating for me to hear other people’s stories and learn from them. I do lean towards stories about pivoting, unconventional career paths and starting over. Those types of stories inspire and excite me.
Glamour: How did you find your niche?
NT: When I had my blog teeteeiswitheme.com, I would run out of fashion content, as I got tired of writing about how to wear a certain clothing item for the millionth time, so I started sharing my travel diaries on the blog. When I closed the door on teeteeiswithme.com, I would receive emails and DMs from people referencing the blog.
Glamour: Why ‘Us Being Amazing’?
NT: It was inspired by how my friends, sisters and I are doing amazing things in our careers, how we’re hard-working and ambitious individuals but we always find ways to create balance between the things in our lives that matter, which in my case included using all my vacation days. The podcast features conversations with amazing people where we talk about the realities of being ambitious, letting go of the expectation for perfection, hustle culture, creating harmony in your life and just living your life.
Glamour: Do you enjoy blogging or podcasting more? How do you experience the two platforms as a content creator?
NT: I think I enjoy podcasting live more at the moment because it is a new content platform that I am still trying to understand. It is also really forcing me to be more confident in just being myself and being less curated. I started my content creator journey during the height of curated feeds and blogs that had imagery shot as if they were editorials, so doing the podcast feels like how I feel on TikTok – cathartic.
Glamour: What challenges are you faced with in the podcasting space?
NT: Most of the challenges I have faced have been production related: Audio quality, guest bookings (as my podcast has been primarily interview focused), figuring out the editorial skew and aligning the conversations to that, and consistency with regard to episode production. I am currently on a journey to get some support in the production area of the podcast, so hopefully, those won’t be challenges anymore.
Glamour: Podcasts are on the rise in the digital era. What would you say this speaks to?
NT: I think podcasts are just another way in which people can experience storytelling, learn something new and be entertained. For me, some of my favourite podcasts are those where I am learning something related to current affairs or tech which I am super curious about, as well as podcasts where people – some of whom I know and some I don’t know.
Lelo Boyana - ‘Chica Travel with Lelo’
Glamour: What attracted you to podcasting?
Lelo Boyana: I was drawn to the accessibility in terms of creating and consuming content. You have the freedom to define your content as you see fit with no right or wrong way to go about it. All you need is a passion for your niche and you can get started. Plus, you don’t need a trained radio voice - just the ability to have interesting conversations that resonate with your audience.
Glamour: How did you choose your niche?
LB: By recognizing a common problem. As an experienced traveller, I found myself constantly needing answers to many travel-related questions such as what to do, where to stay, what to eat, and how much it all costs. Realizing that others may have similar questions, I started the Chica Travel podcast to help people find the information they need in one place. My dream is to create a platform that provides at least 80% of the information required to plan a trip to a specific destination. I would love to achieve this and help simplify the travel planning process for everyone. I don’t know if this is realistic, and it would require so much work, but I’d love to try.
Glamour: What inspired the title “Chica Travel With Lelo?”
LB: The title was inspired by a platform I ran briefly called Chica, which provided content for women on various topics including careers, finances, relationships and more. When I decided to narrow down my focus and choose a niche, the travel section won my heart. So, I decided to create a travel-focused podcast. The name “Chica Travel with Lelo” was a natural choice, as it combines the brand and identity I already created, while also conveying my passion for travel and desire to share my experiences. Whether it’s through sharing my own travels or interviewing other travellers, I hope to inspire women to explore new destinations and embark on their own adventures.
Glamour: What do you enjoy most about this space?
LB: One of the things I love is the flexibility and convenience it offers. You don’t have to worry about looking perfect or having a fancy set like traditional media platforms. Instead, creators and guests can focus on delivering engaging content that’s accessible to anyone with an internet connection. The podcasting community is also super diverse and supportive, which makes it easy to collaborate and be creative. For me, the ease of use and collaborative nature of podcasting are what make it such a fun and exciting space to be in.
Glamour: Podcasts are on the rise in the digital era. What would you say this speaks to?
LB: I think it speaks to the convenience of either publishing or consuming podcasts. You can listen anywhere, anytime; while cooking, driving even at the gym. I also believe the diversity of the content helps grow this medium. And knowing how easy it is to start a podcast shows that there are little to no barriers preventing anyone from starting their own channel.
Glamour: What’s your advice to women who are considering starting a podcast but don’t know where to start?
LB: My advice would be to not worry about having fancy equipment. You can start with just a microphone if ou want to record at home, using your laptop. You can always upgrade later if you decide to be more hands-on with the technical aspects. If you can afford it, studio recording is the best option because the sound quality is phenomenal, and in-person engagement with guests or a co-host is much better than a virtual connection. To get started, decide on the topic and whether you want to have a co-host. Try using an app like Anchor, which offers resources to help you get started on your own. Don’t worry about making your first episode perfect. You will likely hate the way you sound and everything you say, but it’s important to keep it and not delete it. The more you do it, the better you will get. So, take the leap and start!
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