The Create Your Life Series is for Self-starters looking to live life on their own terms. Join award winning entrepreneur, author and speaker Kevin Y. Brown as he shares the Strategies Behind the Successes of today’s Trailblazers by uncovering experiences, daily habits and defining moments of high achievers from around the world. Learn more at cylseries.com
Episodes
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Episode Summary
In this special episode of the Africa X series, Kevin Y. Brown moderates a discussion on The Emergence of the African podcast industry with a panel of four experts who all contribute to content in the African podcasting ecosystem: Dan Aceda, Kim Fox, Molly Jensen, and Anthony Frasier. The panel goes through statistics on African creators and their listenership, giving their takes on where the industry’s strengths lie, areas for growth, and what needs to happen to get there. They discuss how the organizations that they are a part of–Afripods, SemaBOX, PodFest Cairo, and ABF Creative–are working to meet the needs of both their creators and listeners, encourage and support underrepresented voices in media to share and distribute their stories and reduce barriers to entry so that creators have the resources they need to consistently create audio content. They answer audience questions from current and aspiring podcasters and end with a call to action to support and uplift African creators.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Dan Aceda
Dan Aceda is an activist, entrepreneur, actor, and award-winning musician. He is the founder and CEO of SemaBOX, a podcast studio based in Nairobi, Kenya that helps emerging podcasters create and distribute their stories across the world and is the largest podcast production company in Africa, producing over 700 different episodes with 200 podcast creators. In 2021 they launched the DADA Podcast Incubator, a program to upskill, to publish and create a platform specifically for women and non-binary people whose stories and storytelling ideas can resonate globally. Dan is a board member of the Music Publishers Association of Kenya and co-founded Studio Tisa, an online live music platform that acts as a virtual concert venue to showcase live music from the people of East Africa and beyond.
Kim Fox
Kim Fox is a professor of practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JRMC) at The American University in Cairo (AUC) in Cairo, Egypt, primarily teaching Audio Production and other journalism courses. She spent decades working in the US radio industry in various positions at WOUB AM/FM/TV in Athens, Ohio; WIZF in Cincinnati, Ohio; WBLK in Buffalo, New York, WAKR in Akron, Ohio and many more. In 2020 Kim founded PodFest Cairo, Egypt’s first podcasting conference, hosting nearly 100 podcasters for learning sessions and a podcast pitch competition. As the executive producer of the award-winning Ehky Ya Masr (Tell Your Story Egypt) Podcast, a narrative nonfiction podcast about life in Cairo, Egypt, she works with young freelance producers, many of them former students, writing and editing audio content. Kim is also the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Broadcast Education Association and the Co-President of AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio.
Molly Jensen
Molly Jensen is the Chief Executive Officer of Afripods, a free pan-African podcast hosting platform building the largest library of African audio stories on the planet, based in Nairobi, Kenya. With the ability to categorize in over 50 languages and with content from over 30 countries including that from individual podcasters, radio stations and media houses, Afripods is the home for African podcasting across the continent and within the Diaspora. As a Ghanaian-American born in New York, Molly is extremely excited to help digitize African stories and wants to see African creators take up as much space as possible while creating avenues to help them get paid for their work. She has over ten years of experience across people management, sales, marketing and technology. Molly has spoken at Podcast Movement, Africa Podcast Day, Africa Media Festival, BBC Media Leaders conferences, and Advertising Week Africa as well as most recently featured in Forbes, The Guardian, Reuters, JamLab Africa, Podcast Sessions and Apple Podcasts.
Anthony Frasier
Anthony Frasier is a tech entrepreneur, digital strategist, and the CEO and founder of ABF Creative, a multicultural podcasting production company that produces kids and family podcasts for people of color. Frasier also currently serves as the entrepreneur in residence for Newark Venture Partners, a fund created by Audible & Amazon to help bring more tech startups to his hometown of Newark, NJ. Anthony's mission is to tell and amplify stories that bring entertaining and positive transformations to as many lives as possible.
Insights From the Episode
- Insights into the relationship between radio and the emergence of the podcasting industry in Africa
- Thoughts on how to get more creators to record podcasts in their native vernacular languages
- How platforms can evolve to improve discoverability both within Africa and outside of the Continent to highlight African stories
- Discussion on how to raise the awareness and quality of local content to get the same kind of listenership as international podcasts
- How we can support, empower, and connect with the African podcasting ecosystem
- Why we should care about content coming from Africa
Quotes from the Show
- On the relationship between radio broadcasts and podcasts: “We are a continent of orated history. We’re comfortable getting information from our ears, and radio is the most prevalent medium on the Continent. As the digitization of internet media, technology, and podcasts becomes more popular, it’s important to meet people where they are.” - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “In the existence of our studio, the early adopters were female. They were the first ones who came and the first ones to try a new technology, telling new stories. They were also the ones with multiple different vulnerabilities that needed to be highlighted; stories that needed to be told. As soon as that became clear to us at SemaBOX, we were mobilizing as much as we could to find ways to discover more voices and make sure that those are on the right platform. Even though women–as Thomas Sankara said–’hold up half of the sky’, their voices don’t represent half of what you hear on radio or on the internet. They are valid, fantastic, and they need to be out there.” - Dan Aceda, Create Your Life Series, #196
- On breaking into podcasting in Africa: “My advice would be to find someone who you can collaborate with, especially on the Continent where there are so many universities you can tap into, to help bring your resources and get some resources from them as well.” - Kim Fox, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “We all want to see African creators take up as much space as possible, but also get paid for their genius.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “Podcasting is a low-cost way for us to be able to preserve history, culture, traditions, and language. Other languages will die if we do not preserve them or if we are not using them, so for future Africans, no matter where they are throughout the Diaspora, in order for them to have an authentic history they need to hear their language, culture, and traditions from themselves.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “One of the biggest focuses for Afripods is that we’re making sure we’re building a product with the African creator in mind, but also with the African creators’ input.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “You have to have an Africa strategy. If you don’t have one, there’s a problem. You’re missing out on a billion people, a huge market to not be talking about. There needs to be more investment in local platforms–Afripods, SemaBOX, Africa Podfest, Podfest Cairo–because we are the ones that have granular knowledge of the market and can lead the world towards what can work because we work with it every day.” - Dan Aceda, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “If you don’t have an Africa strategy, you do not have a growth strategy. And that’s on everything.” - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “Podcasting has hit a wall when you think about listeners. There’s only a few growth areas where more listeners can come in–people of color in the U.S., kids and family, and other continents like Africa. That’s the reason why you need that strategy. The only way you’re going to grow podcasting in general is if more people start to create outside this continent.” - Anthony Frasier, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “If you want to craft an Africa strategy, you need Africans. A lot of times Africans are not the ones telling our own stories, and that has to change. We need to be a part of the development strategy for the things that affect us. If it’s about me, it needs to include me.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “I think it’s important to be an advocate, to be an ally, to a lot of the people who are already on the ground creating content.” - Anthony Frasier, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “More is more. We need more visibility, we need more press, we need more money, we need more resources, we need more people speaking, yelling, talking about Africa–especially when we’re not in the room. We need more being curious, reaching out to people on the ground, and making sure we’re taking up space.” - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #196
- “There is no better opportunity at this point than Africa. If you’re looking for content, it has to come from Africa. Everyone is under 19 years old. There needs to be a shift into what’s happening with Black people. Fundamentally I think Black women, Black American women, are the curators of culture, and I think Black women need to get more credit for that. The entire Black experience is not seeing the value they create financially, and that’s exploitation. Exploitation is not capturing the value you create, so making sure that African creators are getting paid the same in bringing stories to the forefront. … We cannot take a piece of the pie right now; we need the pie to get bigger.” - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #196
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: Kevin Y Brown
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Dan Aceda
Website: Dan Aceda
Website: SemaBOX
Website: Studio Tisa
Website: DADA Incubator
Instagram: danaceda
YouTube: 1mwarabu
Twitter: Dan Aceda
Facebook: Dan Aceda Music
LinkedIn: Dan Aceda
Kim Fox
Tilda: Kim Fox
Instagram: ohradiogirl
Instagram: PodFest Cairo
Facebook: PodFest Cairo
Twitter: KimFoxWOSU
Podcast: Ehky Ya Masr
Molly Jensen
Website: Afripods
LinkedIn: Molly Jensen
Twitter: mj_acosua
Anthony Frasier
Website: ABF Creative
LinkedIn: Anthony Frasier
Instagram: anthonyfrasier
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Afripods, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Episode Summary
In this week’s episode of the Africa X series, Kevin is joined by Gavin Kennedy, a pioneer of podcasting in South Africa whose company, Solid Gold Podcasts, was one of the first podcasting studios on the Continent. Solid Gold is a family company that produces podcasts for over 100 clients from hobbyists to corporations to the United Nations, communicating serious messages to women and young girls in Africa and the challenges they face. He shares his wisdom on starting out in a newly developing industry and the challenges and risks that come with experimentation, how life coaching has helped him in running a successful business and working with his family, and the importance of always having something in the pipeline that you can wake up and feel excited about. Listen in to learn more about how as a leader you can help foster creativity and motivation and create your own best life.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Gavin Kennedy
Gavin Kennedy is the founder of Solid Gold Podcasts, a podcast and audiobook production company that has 11 studios, a team of professional creators, and produces over 100 podcasts and growing. Gavin comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has always worked in one of his family’s businesses before branching off and starting his own, including video and audio post-production (The Wave Factory Facilities), running radio stations (Solid Gold FM), and television broadcasting (SABC, MNET, Soweto TV). Along the way he was certified as a Life Coach which has helped clarify thinking and strategy for himself and his clients when he launched the Solid Gold Podcasts production company. Gavin is dedicated to helping people Be Heard and share their stories, and his love for the industry is evident across the work he does everyday. "It doesn't matter how many people you reach, but that you reach the people who matter." - Gavin Kennedy
Insights From the Episode
- The challenges and the benefits of being the first in a space, taking on the risk but also having room to experiment
- Recognizing where your strengths lie and when it makes sense to delegate tasks to others who have those strengths
- How to keep business and personal relationships separate when you’re working in a family business
- Fostering a creative and supportive work environment
- How to navigate challenges when dealing with difficult clients
- The key to staying motivated when you’re starting out in a new venture
- Tips for focusing on how you can be happy even when everything isn’t perfect
Quotes from the Show
- “There’s a niche for everybody. No matter what you talk about, there’s going to be somebody. They say that if you’re one in a million, there’s 7000 of you on the planet. That’s quite a number, so you should be able to find your tribe.“ - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “We are trying very hard not to sell a commodity; for us it’s about a relationship. In technical terms, anybody can make a podcast. The barriers to entry are so ridiculously low that if you get into a commodity/price war it’s just a race to the bottom. We’re trying to make it easy for clients to make a podcast.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “You should be doing your thing three hours a day, whatever you’re curious about or interested in. If you do something for three hours a day for a month, that’s 90 hours. If you do that for a year, it’s 1000 hours.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “When you’re hiring people, you’re really hiring for how they are going to be in the operation of the business, not what did they do. The interview is about clues to who they might be, but you really want to watch them in operation. You want to see them thriving; you want to see them happy; you want to see them enjoying stuff. How can you do what needs to be done while feeling and looking and being excited that way? I don’t want to make anybody come to work who doesn’t want to be there. You have tough days, but it’s realizing that you’re working with somebody to create something. You’re an integral part of capturing what somebody is trying to say and share, and that’s the most fundamental thing.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- On working with difficult people: “Sometimes it’s about managing the relationship more than the work. People come to you because you’re an expert; you don’t need to demonstrate and beat them with your expertise, you just need to do good work.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “I think the most important thing that creative people forget is that if you try and protect and constrain and limit people using your creativity, you stop growing and being creative. The more you are creative, the more creativity will bubble out of you. You’re not going to use it all up. So if you do something and somebody copies you, it’s pointless being resentful–be creative again. It will come again. Creativity breeds creativity–you’re never going to use it all up, so don’t get stuck by holding on to your past best work.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “The art of mentoring is about shutting up more and asking good questions. You might know the answer to the question, and you might be surprised by the answer or part of the answer that you didn’t know that the mentee does know because of their age or experiences. If someone comes and asks, ‘where should I host my podcast?’, I’m not just going to say you should host it there; it’s going to be a series of questions–tell me more about the podcast, where are you going, what are you trying to do, what’s your budget–a range of questions that lead to the revelation of an answer as opposed to ‘well I’ve been doing this for longer than you, I’m going to prescribe what the answer is.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “You have to have a goal. If you aren’t heading towards something, you’re just ambling around. The clearer the goal is, the easier it is to move in that direction. But even if the goal isn’t crystal clear, at least you should be pointing in the direction.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “Describe things as you want them, not as you don’t want them… If you’re thinking about what you don’t want to do, you’re cluttering your path with things that are obstructing you.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “Reading and writing is about taking the spoken word and not losing it. If 50,000 years ago we were able to record the spoken word, would we have evolved language as much as we did? We learned to read and write so that we could capture what we were saying and not lose it, and now we are actually able to record what we’re saying and not lose it. I think we’re going to revert to the mean, which is spoken word, and there are going to be a lot more creative manifestations of it.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “You get ‘and’ and ‘or’ views to the world. If I ask you what makes you sad, what you’ll tend to do is list a couple of things and say ‘this makes me sad or this makes me sad or this makes me sad’, and if I ask you what makes you happy, you’ll say ‘this makes me happy and this makes me happy and this makes me happy.’ By making something an and, you make it cumulative–they all have to be in place for you to be happy, and you’re making it harder for you to be happy than to be sad. If my dog dies, I’m sad. If I get a new puppy and if I’ve got a job and if I see my friends, I’m happy. You have to put all three of those things together to be happy, and we do this subconsciously. We should just take the win–I got a new puppy, I’m happy. And vs. or. The and is going to make your life challenging.” - Gavin Kennedy, Create Your Life Series, #195
- “I’m really into people’s work ethic and the way that their mind works. I get fascinated with the people around me and the way that they think. I’m really interested in people’s work ethics and their processes.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #195
Resources Mentioned
- Rode tech - RodeCaster Pro II, NT-U mikes, Wireless GO mikes
- Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast
- Inside the Vault with Ash Cash podcast
- Earn Your Leisure podcast
- Talking Thrones YouTube channel
Favorite Book
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- The Covenant by James A. Michener
- The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
Favorite Quote
- “To be understood, you must first be heard.” - Solid Gold Podcasts motto
3 Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Trust yourself.
- Have a purposeful, meaningful destination.
- Take people with you. Have fun with people along that journey.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: Kevin Y Brown
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Gavin Kennedy
Website: Solid Gold Podcasts
Email: Gavin Kennedy
LinkedIn: Gavin Kennedy
Instagram: Solid Gold Podcasts
Facebook: Solid Gold Podcast Studios
Twitter: Solid Gold Pods
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Afripods, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Episode Summary
This week Kevin is joined by Tony Doe, a veteran radio and podcast consultant with years of experience, both behind the scenes for multi-format radio stations and on-air as the face and voice behind the Tony Doe podcast. He is also a featured voice artist on the Africa X theme intro! With his experience, Tony gives back to the community through his work in promoting other podcasts and curating an industry newsletter and podcast called Podcast Related, which provides insightful commentary and analysis on the latest happenings in the Podverse. Kevin and Tony discuss how we can support and amplify the voices of others in the podcasting community, the power in taking on different perspectives and sharing your own, and Tony gets an update on Kevin’s progress in immersing himself in the football fandom through his 2 plus years of living in Kenya.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Tony Doe
Tony Doe is a Radio and Podcast Consultant, out of Lagos, Nigeria who has dedicated his expertise to shaping and supporting the growth of podcasts in Nigeria and beyond. As the Country Representative for APVA in Nigeria, he is committed to championing African voice talents, including podcasters, voice-over artists, spoken word artists, poets, and more. His goal is to provide these unique voices with the recognition and attention they deserve. Tony hosts his own successful podcast, “The Tony Doe Podcast,” as well as curates the informative podcast industry newsletter/podcast, "Podcast Related.” Through these endeavors, he actively contributes to the knowledge-sharing and growth of the podcasting community. His audio series, "Into The Podverse," delves into the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities for podcasters, with a particular focus on the African perspective. The show features exclusive interviews with influential figures in the podverse, providing valuable insights and expertise to elevate the voices and experiences of the podcasting community.
Insights From the Episode
- Tips for getting into voice artistry and podcasting in today’s podcasting ecosystem
- Balancing ambition with enjoying life and giving time to the people you love
- The importance of being vulnerable and asking for help when you need it
- How to navigate negative perceptions from people who don’t understand what you’re doing
- Learning to recognize when to push through challenges and when to let something go
- The importance of not just projecting self-confidence, but feeling that confidence from within
Quotes from the Show
- “For everything I think I know I’m doing, I’m actually just winging it but God knows the rest. For everything I think I’m empowered to do, my strong faith base helps me deal with these things a little better. I think the key is to make up your mind to enjoy life.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “What you declare over yourself consistently ends up playing a big part in how your life plays out.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “We have stories to tell; we have talented people who have worldviews that need to be heard. For the longest time we’ve had to depend on what the west thought of us. They come in here, they see what you’re thinking and then they shape it into what they want it to be. It’s good to have a platform where the authentic stories can be told by the originators.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “I feel like creators here are on another level of innovation. When you’re coming from a non-established market or industry, there’s room for you to just create. You might be creating something amazing and you might not even be aware of it, and I think we are definitely seeing that with the African creators.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “Know your ‘why’ because whatever you face going forward, you’ll go back to your ‘why’ and that will help you determine whether you’re on the right path or not.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “There is always room for adaptation and that’s the beauty of this medium. Everything is changing, but people are changing as well and some people who are changing are changing at a rate that they can take other people along and help them not get lost.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “I love podcasting. I love the culture, I love the ecosystem, and when you’re passionate about something, you’re going to be consistent with it. The passion even supersedes the consistency. You have to love it first to be consistent. It has to have a reward, and the reward is that it makes me feel good.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
- “When you have a different perspective, especially one that’s complimentary to what you do, you begin to become a bit more vulnerable because you know that the end goal is something much better.” - Tony Doe, Create Your Life Series, #194
Resources Mentioned
- Afripods, a platform for African podcast creators
- Podcast Related newsletter
Favorite Book
- Maximizing Your Potential by Myles Munroe
- In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want by Iyanla Vanzant
Favorite Quote
- “Hurry up slowly.” (Something his dad would tell him, meaning to be patient.)
3 Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Be true to yourself. Be authentic.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
- Be of value to others. Be ready to offer value for what you want.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: Kevin Y Brown
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Tony Doe
LinkedIn: Tony Doe
Instagram: tonydoemedia
Facebook: Tony Doe
Twitter: Tony Doe Media
Podcast: The Tony Doe Podcast
Newsletter: Podcast Related
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Afripods, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Africa X series Kevin Y. Brown speaks with Bidemi Adedire, the founder of the Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists (APVA), on her passion behind the foundation and growth of a community-driven organization to amplify and celebrate the diversity of African voices and create opportunities for African creatives. As a Communications and Idea Strategist and Marketing Automation enthusiast, Bidemi has always been someone who loves to think outside of the box and come up with ideas. An avid podcaster herself, she was looking for a community and saw a need for accessible home-grown resources for African podcasters and voice artists which led to her taking a lead in bringing this community together. In 2022 they hosted one of their first major events, the APVA awards, which drew in 2200 nominations and 70,000 votes while showcasing growing talent and bringing attention to the potential of the African podcasting industry. Bidemi and Kevin discuss how to turn ideas and passion into action, the many forms of generosity that strengthen a community, and dreams about how podcasting can evolve in the future.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Bidemi Adedire
Bidemi Adedire is a Communications Expert, Idea Strategist and Marketing Automation enthusiast, crazy about discovery and constantly excited at the thought of learning new things. She is a passionate podcaster and adolescent health advocate, making every effort to promote both industries. Impact is everything! Bidemi is the founder of the Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists which amplifies the voices of podcasters, voice artists, and spoken word artists through events and creating opportunities for African creatives. Her personal mantra is, “challenges are opportunities for growth and reskilling.”
Insights From the Episode
- The current resources we have that cater to the needs of African creatives
- How important it is to document our stories and why podcasts are an ideal way to share them
- Keys to balancing your goals when you have multiple projects you’re working on
- How to keep the passion for your work going and avoid burnout
- The role of mentorship and learning from others who can share their experience
- Thoughts on the future of podcasting in Nigeria and Africa as a whole
- Tips for setting up a group to keep you accountable to your goals
Quotes from the Show
- “I love ideas. I’m an ideas person, but I also like to test ideas. For me, passion is also key; it’s the thing that keeps us going. If I’m talking about the challenges of APVA, I also wake up every day and the first thing I think about is APVA, so it’s important that I don’t start something and get tired of it. When I put it in writing I realize there’s a lot we can do, so right now the excitement is that what we have is amazing, but there’s a lot more to achieve. Because I am looking forward to seeing these things come to pass, I keep myself energized and I want to see APVA become the community I envisioned.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “We have seen that as the result of the surge in wanting to share our narratives, we are shifting what people think about Africa.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “Philanthropy in the Global North is different than in the Global South in Africa where it’s ingrained in our culture. Because it’s in our culture, it’s in our everyday lives, we don’t see the reason to be intentional about documenting these things, so it begins to look like philanthropy doesn’t really exist or has been taught to Africans. With podcasts, it gives us that opportunity to document our stories.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “We want to create a space where every audio creative feels like a celebrity… we want to tell Africans that what they are doing matters, that what they are doing is important, and encourage them so they do not stop doing what they do. Burnout is real, and sometimes when you feel like no one is listening you might want to stop talking. APVA is here to encourage everyone to keep up what they do and create a connection point for potential sponsors and collaboration. This can only be possible when we have a structure in place, and this is what APVA is here for.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “I believe in what we want to do, and I try to manifest what we want to achieve.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “One of the things I love is how we’re so communal and collaborative across the industry, across the continent. I think it also gives us the opportunity to learn from each other.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “Giving up is not a part of me. I know that there are going to be challenges, so I always take on projects with the mind of ‘come rain, come sunshine, this is happening.’ When it looks like we’ve hit a dead end, I just think of another way. There is always an alternative way of achieving something, so I do not quit. I don’t start what I can’t finish.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “I’m looking forward to the time when podcasting will be an actual industry for people to select on forms, when people can say ‘I’m a full-time podcaster.’ That’s the future.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
- “There are so many different types of generosity. I have some friends who are super generous with knowledge. I have another friend who’s just a very kind person; she’s someone I can always call on, so I think that’s a way of being generous. Even when people offer you grace in order to grow; people who give you feedback to become someone better or even course-correct or course-accelerate. I think that’s generous because a lot of times people can just be quiet and let you go on at the pace you are, but when people offer you feedback or advice I look at that as generosity. My grandmother, who’s turning 99 in a couple of weeks, is generous for the way she’s always so welcoming and warm. You’re being generous with me by giving me your time. I’m surrounded by generosity.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #193
Resources Mentioned
- Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists (APVA)
- Afripods
- Africa PodFest
- Asana (project management tool)
Favorite Book
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Favorite Quote
- “Ideas and creativity rule the world.” – Bidemi Adedire
3 Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Go for it.
- Be consistent.
- Impact your little corner one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ve impacted the world.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: Kevin Y Brown
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Bidemi Adedire
LinkedIn: Bidemi Adedire
Email: Bidemi Adedire
Facebook: Bidemi Adedire
Instagram: adedirebidemii
Twitter: adeirebidemii
YouTube: The Smile Outreach
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Afripods, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Episode Summary
Kevin continues the Africa X series focused on conversations with experts from Africa, in Africa, about Africa by speaking with Gathoni Ngumba, the community manager at Afripods. Afripods is a platform built to distribute African stories and support African creators, and Gathoni speaks on her role in fostering a space that unites creators in Africa and sets standards for how they will be treated and paid fairly for their work. She shares how she got started in the podcast industry, the podcast she records with her sisters, Okay Kiasi, and tips for building not just an audience but a community. Gathoni and Kevin discuss the importance of stories in helping us learn as a people and grow, allowing for the space to turn folk tales into something more real and tangible in its effects on the people who have experienced them, and telling our own stories so that we can shine on our terms, in our space.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin leads Afripods’ multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Gathoni Ngumba
Gathoni Ngumba is a Kenyan native and community builder in the African podcasting community. She is a social media consultant, event manager, and the community manager at Afripods, a distribution network focused on creating spaces for African podcasters to connect and grow the African podcasting ecosystem. Gathoni is a journalist and co-host of the Okay Kiasi podcast with her two sisters, sharing their experiences and perspectives on various topics such as period stigma, body image, and parenthood as siblings from a blended family. She believes that Africa's stories should be told by the people who know them best, and is proud to be on the panel of judges for the 2023 African Podcasts and Voices Awards.
Insights From the Episode
- Thoughts on what is unique about podcasting in Africa, how the industry has changed, and the future of the podcasting industry in Africa
- Why it’s important for Africans to tell their own stories
- Learning about stories like the Mau Mau movement from the people who were involved
- Strategies for new podcasters looking to grow their community
- The role of mentorship (or friendtorship) in the success of the African podcast industry, and the value of sharing support and resources with each other
- Strategies for surrounding yourself with right people who will help support your personal growth and call you out when you need it
- Methods for goal-setting and growth
Quotes from the Show
- “I feel like podcasting is a space where we have figured out how people in South Africa, Egypt, West Africa, East Africa are finding a way to build the ecosystem together. There’s a lot of collaboration that I feel is not necessarily typical in a lot of spaces, and it’s really exciting to see it happen.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “I think there’s such potential for the growth of the industry. Not only podcasting, but for storytellers and creators on the African continent.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “Africa’s stories should be told by the people who know her best, which is the Africans. I feel like for a long time we have been told our story; we have been told our narrative. The world has decided who we are, and then it’s been fed to us. For the first time it’s a chance for us to take control of the narrative.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “I feel like podcasting on the Continent is a way to preserve traditions, languages, stories, and history in an authentic way so that the future generation can still have an authentic African experience no matter where they move, by being able to rely on history told by those whose history it is.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “If you’re not able to put in who you are as a person I feel like you’ll have a problem building community because a lot of the community in the podcast will be attached to who you are, so authenticity is very important.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “Podcasting has the ability to be the thing that unites us because we are uniting on storytelling, which is the one thing that is absolutely African. As an African it doesn’t matter which part of the continent that you’re on; storytelling is your thing.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “I think the beautiful part about being collaborative is that we’re also open to other people’s feedback so there’s a chance to course-correct and be open to being wrong and being able to pivot to be able to do things that are in the best interest of the greater African podcasting community.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “A lot of times we’ve been taught that mistakes are bad, so it’s about reminding myself that it’s okay to make a mistake. I’ve learned to look back and the one thing I thought was such a giant mistake a long time ago, it’s not that big of a deal now.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “I want to create a space that makes Africans understand their worth, know that they’re worthy, and take up that space. I want to see Africans take up the space that is ours.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “I’ve allowed myself to give people space in understanding that people project, and sometimes what they have going on has nothing to do with you.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #192
- “[About overcoming mistakes] So is just like in this moment it seems like giant, but in two weeks when you look back on it, it wouldn’t be that big. So, think two weeks ahead and come back and then it’s small now and then you can continue.” - Gathoni Ngumba, Create Your Life Series, #192
Resources Mentioned
- Canva for creating images for social media
Favorite Book
- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Favorite Quote
- “'It is never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Eliot
3 Keys to Create Your Best Life
- Know yourself.
- Love yourself.
- Surround yourself with people who know and love you.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: Kevin Y Brown
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Gathoni Ngumba
LinkedIn: Gathoni Ngumba
Website: AfriPods
Facebook: AfriPods
Instagram: podcastinginafrica
Podcast: okaykiasi
Podcast Instagram: okaykiasi
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Stitcher, Afripods, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Africa X series, Kevin is joined by Adelle Onyango in Kenya to discuss her journey to becoming one of OkayAfrica’s 100 Extraordinary African Women. She talks about why and how she transitioned from being a popular primetime radio host to launching her own podcast, Legally Clueless, amplifying African stories about business, relationships, and grief, but also the places where these stories take place. Adelle shares what she wishes she knew before launching one of Spotify’s most listened-to podcasts of 2021, tips for new podcasters, and thoughts on the future of podcasting in Kenya and Africa as a whole. She talks about her co-written book, On Broken Silence, which holds the stories of survivors of sexual violence from the Greater East African region, and the creation of the Adelle Onyango Initiative to provide programming and group therapy for survivors. Kevin and Adelle discuss the mindset of continual learning and staying humble even if you have years of experience, feeling comfortable being yourself (and the cost of doing otherwise), and how to be an active citizen.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin leads Afripods’ multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Adelle Onyango
Adelle Onyango has over 10 years experience in the radio industry. She begun as a drive show host on 1FM where she was instrumental in bringing in a digital arch to the Kenyan radio scene.
Adelle then moved to Kenya's top media house; Radio Africa Group as a presenter on their radio station, KissFM. She hosted the mid-morning show and created a show dedicated exclusively to African music which was a first of its kind on the station. She later moved to host their prime breakfast show until June 2019.
During her time on the KissFM breakfast show it was the 3rd most listened to show in Kenya. She then left to start her new media company, Legally Clueless Africa.
Adelle is a Kenyan businesswoman, author, award winning podcaster, one of OkayAfrica’s 100 Extraordinary African Women, and also one of the BBC’s 100 Inspirational and Innovative Women in the World. She is on a mission to impact and empower women globally.
Insights From the Episode
- How to notice when you’re in a toxic space, get out of it, and move forward
- Insights on what it means to be a woman working in the media industry
- Tips for new podcasters for creating a sustainable business and an engaging podcast
- How to reduce the noise in your life and follow your intuition
- Strategies for dealing with negative feedback and sorting out constructive criticism
- Tips for setting goals and following through on them
Quotes From the Show
- On the purpose of her podcast, Legally Clueless: “Everybody has a story, and if you look at Africans, storytelling and really having that oral connection has been part of our culture for eons.” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- On leaving her job and branching out on her own: “Was I scared? Absolutely, but I just feel that there’s no point where you’ll ever be free of fear. You just don’t let the fear win.” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- On creating a podcast: “Preparation makes life so much easier and it also helps you to run a system and something that can sustain.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- On the framework that has helped her launch a successful podcast: “Figure out your brand heart. That’s made up of your vision, your mission, your values, and your purpose. Your vision is your ideal world and what you are trying to create in your ideal world. Your mission is what you’re going to do repeatedly every single day to try and actualize that vision. The purpose is your why–why do you exist? And your values should be about 3-5, and it’s the things that you stand for.” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- “We all have to be active citizens… I’ve been told I’m an activist, but I call myself an active citizen. Just by you being alive and in this moment, you have a responsibility–and a right!–to speak up on issues that are not going right. … Why are we not stepping into our responsibility as active citizens and demanding better for ourselves?” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- “I think it’s very expensive to try to fit in. Expensive because it costs you yourself.” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- On telling African stories: “On a continental level, we’ve always had our power stripped from us. We’re really just coming into our power in different industries, and why media is so important (like podcasting) is we get to tell our own stories, talk about our own topics that affect us from our lens without waiting for somebody with a skewed lens or an ignorant lens to do that for us.” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
- On his experience growing up in foster care: “I still take that attitude of always being a student, understanding that sometimes people will be there for you but a lot of times you’re going to have to keep going by yourself. …If I end up somewhere by myself, I’m okay because I understand the things that matter and how to navigate the world.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
Resources Mentioned
- Legally Clueless podcast
- Our Broken Silence by Lanji Ouko-Awori and Adelle Onyango
- The Adelle Onyango Initiative
- Daughter of Africa by Gina Din
- The Kenyan Breast Health Program
- Ushuru.co.ke tax services for freelancers and small businesses
Favorite Book
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson
- The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin
Favorite Quote
- Favorite word: Expand
- “I need to go through experiences that expand me.” - Adelle Onyango, Create Your Life Series, Episode #191
3 Keys to Create Your Best Life
- You do not have to explain yourself to anybody.
- Get rid of all the noise in your life. To live your best life, you have to hear yourself tell you what that looks like.
- Nobody knows what they are doing, so extend grace to yourself. Speak to yourself as you would a lover.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: www.kevinybrown.com
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Adelle Onyango
Website: adelleonyango.com
Instagram: adelleonyango
Twitter: adelleo
Facebook: adelleonyango
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Monday Jun 26, 2023
Monday Jun 26, 2023
Episode Summary
In this episode host Kevin Y. Brown is joined by Dan Aceda and Doris Onyango of SemaBOX. SemaBOX is a podcasting studio that began as a podcasting incubator. In the past year there have been over 600 episodes produced through SemaBOX. Dan and Doris provide a wealth of knowledge and resources centered around the history and culture of podcasting in Africa. Please join Kevin in learning more about these two amazing individuals and how they have been able to influence and advance the podcasting industry in Africa.
About Our Guests
Dan Aceda is a Kenyan musician and entrepreneur. He is one of the founders of SemaBOX.
Doris Onyango is the program lead at DADA Podcast Incubator and a recording engineer at SemaBOX. She also doubles in other areas such as program management, communication, administration, and events management.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin leads Afripods’ multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Insights From the Episode
- Insights into SemaBOX
- Insights into the DADA Podcast Incubator
- Strategies for using SemaBOX and DADA for podcasters
- Strategies to work seamlessly with partners
- Secrets to navigating challenges with difficult clients or people you work with
- Insights on how mentorship can help your success
- Strategies to stay motivated when starting out
- Secrets to dealing with negative feedback
- Secrets to goal setting and making personal growth
- Strategies to overcoming challenges
- Secrets to making your business run smoothly
Quotes from the show
- “We are very open. We are pretty genre agnostic. We are gonna support you no matter what your content vision is.” -Dan Aceda, CYLS, #190
- “The Dada Podcast Incubator is to position women storytellers in Africa.” -Doris Onyango, CYLS, #190
- “You all are doing good work in order to give voices to people who need to be heard from their perspective.” -Kevin Y. Brown, CYLS, #190
- “I think that’s the biggest challenge of the media landscape. In this part of the world, the person with the biggest microphone tends to win. So in this part of the world it’s politicians.” -Dan Aceda, CYLS, #190
- “It feels like podcasting is like you’re just shouting out into the ether, but there is someone out there who’s listening.” -Doris Onyango, CYLS, #190
- “There’s you the person, and there’s you the job. Take yourself out of the job and just look at the job.” -Doris Onyango, CYLS, #190
- “Podcasting as a space is very brand new, if someone says they are an expert in podcasting, they’re lying. In this ecosystem of ours it’s brand new.” -Doris Onyango, CYLS, #190
- “It’s okay to make a mistake and go through the learning. But it’s really important that the person you’re working with is willing to allow you room to learn.” -Dan Aceda, CYLS, #190
- “Forget perfection. Get better every day.” -Dan Aceda, CYLS, #190
Resources Mentioned
Favorite Book
- Animal Farm by George Orwell -Doris Onyango, CYLS, #190
- Shoe Dog: By the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight -Dan Aceda, CYLS, #190
Favorite Quote
- “You cannot buy a dog and bite yourself.” -Doris Onyango, CYLS, #190
- “In the end, you will win. If you are not winning, it is not the end.” -Dan Aceda, CYLS, #190
3 Keys to create your best life
Doris
- Try, try, try, and try again.
- Find your family.
- Do what you can with what you have.
Dan
- Forget perfection.
- Get better every day.
- Have no fear.
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: www.kevinybrown.com
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
SemaBOX
Twitter: semabox
Instagram: semabox
Facebook: semabox
Website: https://semabox.net/
Doris Onyango
Twitter: dorisonyango
Dan Aceda
Twitter: danaceda
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Episode Summary
In this introductory episode your host, Kevin Y Brown, returns to the Create Your Life Series after some time off. He discusses his move to Kenya, his continued dedication to providing value and resources for his listeners, as well as his shift into all aspects of podcast creation. Kevin introduces Africa X, a series dedicated to highlighting conversations and experiences with experts across different industries who are from Africa, live in Africa, and can talk about Africa responsibly.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin leads Afripods’ multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine, and many more…
Insight from this episode
- Kevin’s return to the Create Your Life Series
- Podcasting requires a lot, especially when doing it outside your country and culture
- Introducing the series Africa X
- Amazing and talented people who live in Africa will contribute to Africa X
- Strategies from trailblazers to follow their footsteps
Quotes from the Show
- “Working in the business of Podcasting requires a lot. And so does doing it outside of your native country and culture.” -Kevin Y. Brown, CYLS, Episode #189
- “But Create Your Life fam, I want you to know I have never forgotten about you. I actually miss you dearly.” -Kevin Y. Brown, CYLS, Episode #189
- “You know the Create Your Life Series is only for self-starters who are looking to live life on their own terms.” -Kevin Y. Brown, CYLS, Episode #189
- “I have had the fortunate opportunity to rub shoulders and converse with so many amazing, talented people on the continent of Africa.” -Kevin Y. Brown, CYLS, Episode #189
- “Keeping up with the standard that we have built with the Create Your Life Series over these last seven years, you can be sure that Africa X will provide you with the same great strategies behind the success of today’s trailblazers by uncovering experiences, daily habits, and defining moments of high achievers.” -Kevin Y. Brown, CYLS, Episode #189
Stay Connected
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: www.kevinybrown.com
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Episode Summary
On his adventure to explore Africa, Kevin Y Brown gives his experience traveling in Africa and how he discovered the young market of podcasting on the continent. He highlights the lessons he learned from visiting six countries on the continent and how it has impacted his life. In this episode, Kevin discusses landing a job at Afridpods as the Chief Content Officer and Head Of Strategy and what to expect from CYLS.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia, and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Insights from this episode:
- Kevin’s experience in Africa
- Kevin’s curiosity about podcasting in Africa
- How his trip to Africa impacted him
- Kevin’s transition from an entrepreneurship to office culture
- Kevin’s move to Kenya and getting recruited to work at Afripods
Quotes from the show:
- “I knew there was an opportunity on the continent, and I understood the importance of podcasting and what it could do in order to preserve the language, the traditions, and customs for people on the continent” –Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #188
- “I had the opportunity to see the lineage of black excellence, and culture in all these different countries: unity, family ties, and so much more” –Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #188
- “I had to learn that people don’t work around the clock 24/7 like I had been doing” –Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #188
- “I knew that I saw an opportunity and I needed to get back to Africa, but I just didn’t know how” –Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #188
- “Living in Africa definitely has its pros and cons, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and I am very thankful” –Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #188
- “Staying focused, staying true to myself always really helped me and has been a true North even when it seems like things are blurry” –Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #188
Stay Connected:
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: www.kevinybrown.com
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Create Your Life Series, Kevin is a guest on Afros & Audios IGTV, where he talks with Talib Jasir about why he made the leap into podcasting and how his experience in other industries laid a foundation for his podcast success. This uplifting interview on personal evolution and being committed to excellence will inspire you to keep making the hard choices that will bring the success and happiness we are all seeking.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Talib Jasir
Talib Jasir is a storyteller, author, podcast producer, and advocate for the people and their collective power.
Born a twin in Baltimore, MD, he spent his earliest years traversing the backwoods of Maryland’s Eastern Shore under the guardianship of his Great Grandmother. Reared by a village of irrepressible folk, he learned the paramountcy of kinship, love, and the dynamism of language.
Talib is a creative entrepreneur with over 15 years of professional experience in marketing and advertising. Founder of the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival and the Vanguard Podcast Network, he is also a dual-certified Life Coach with a focus on supporting creatives, podcast creators, and entrepreneurs. Talib received his BA in Public Policy/Urban Studies, Africana Studies and Social Justice (Summa Cum Laude) from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, NJ.
Insights from this episode:
- Details on why Kevin started on a radio platform, how he built his catalog of shows to launch on SiriusXM, and how that led to starting Podcast Laundry.
- Differences between being a creative person versus a business person and how to bring those two aspects together to succeed.
- How to set goals and be intentional in achieving what you desire and the life that you want through personal work and personal evolution.
- Difficulties Kevin experienced that helped him find a better way forward.
- Benefits of using a podcast production company beyond just the technical aspects.
- How to build and surround yourself with a community that provides support and opportunity for everyone.
Quotes from the show:
- “You’ve got to think outside the box. If you have places that already have a large distribution network, this is just a way to increase your reach.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “I approached [podcasting] like a business from day one.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “Audio is a cornerstone. It is an opportunity to expand so far into different creative aspects.” – Talib Jasir, Episode #187
- “These legal and small things like that make people come in and respect you and your show on another level and I think that helps to raise your bar.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “In order for you to get where you’re needing to go, you’re going to have to do your due diligence.” – Talib Jasir, Episode #187
- “Sometimes the absence of expectation allows you to breed creativity.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “Personal work is what helps you maximize your potential in this lifetime.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “If you have thoughts that don’t serve or support you, then they don’t challenge you to do anything different.” – Talib Jasir, Episode #187
- “Protect what you bring into your life … protect your peace.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “The only resource you can’t get back is your time.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “Community leads to opportunity.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “Business is cool but you’ve got to be human. You’ve got to want to see other people evolve.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #187
- “As you manifest your vision, your vision starts to manifest you.” – Talib Jasir, Episode #187
Stay Connected:
Create Your Life Series
Facebook: Create Your Life Series
Instagram: Create Your Life Series
Kevin Y. Brown
Website: www.kevinybrown.com
Instagram: kevinybrown
Twitter: kevinybrown
Facebook: kevinybrown
Talib Jasir
Website: talibjasir.com
Website: afrosandaudio.com
Instagram: @afrosandaudio
Instagram: @iamfwdmvmt
Facebook: Afros & Audio
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)