What if I told you there’s a secret world filled with stories that tickle your imagination, conversations that spark joy, and perspectives that make you go ‘aha!’? Welcome to the portal of podcasting.
So, what is a podcast, and how does it work? Well in this article we get clarity on that and gain insight from a local, empowering podcaster as we immerse ourselves within the podcastosphere.
Delving into Podcasts
A podcast in simple terms, is a form of entertainment in a digital medium consisting of audio (or video) episodes that relate to a specific theme. The hosts of a podcast are referred to as “podcasters.” People might listen to a podcast to learn more about a topic, keep up with current events, or to get a good laugh.
Podcasting is still a relatively youthful medium, nevertheless podcasters have loudly made their presence felt. One of the most appealing things about podcasts is how easy they are to enjoy. Many podcasts are free to listen to, and people can listen to them at home or on the go. Since there are many types of podcasts, virtually anyone can find a podcast that appeals to their tastes and interests.
Uninterrupted with David Mbeha
To provide more context within the podcasts landscape in Namibia we spoke to media personality David Mbeha. Who is the First African Presenter on TLC Entertainment on DSTV and winner of Next Great Presenter 2015. More notably, recently, he was the official host of Miss Namibia 2023 and launched his podcast, Uninterrupted with David Mbeha. Which is focused on motivation, authenticity, empowering and enlightening conversations. The podcast channel has over 400 subscribers on YouTube and includes episodes with the likes of Cassia Sharpley (Miss Namibia 2022), Christine Mboma (Namibian Olympic medalist) and Dillish Mathews (Big Brother Africa winner S8,2013), just to mention a few.
David Mbheha on his Inspiration and Podcast Monetization
David shared that his inspiration was born from his own experience trying to navigate the complexities of life. He says he felt like he was on a quest to understand himself better and how he responds to failure, victories or just trying to create a purposeful life. He added that, the more he opened up to other people, the more he realised that we are all on the path of self-discovery and that is why he created a platform where people could feel seen and celebrated for their remarkable stories.
In terms of monetization Mr.Mbeha expressed that the podcast is still in its infant stage and is yet to be monetized. However, the platform has helped open many doors for speaking engagements for him, which is one way of generating income. An example of such engagement is when Mr.Mbeha gave a speech to students who had podcasting aspirations at a workshop hosted by One Economy Foundation. He shared with the interests students expert guidance on content creation, storytelling, recording techniques which will in return empowering them to produce engaging and captivating podcasts.
Managing Typical Podcast Challenges
Life is all about balance and having other commitments and finding time to record a podcast can be challenging and as an individual who travels frequently what has worked for him is planning ahead. He further indicated that sometimes the guest’s schedule just doesn’t permit for them to film so it’s hard to find the right schedule. However, he always tries to schedule as many interviews as possible to cater for the days when he is out of the country or travelling locally to generate income from affiliate advertising.
Most Memorable Moment and Advice from David Mbeha
David was able to share with us that thus far his most memorable moment was when he interviewed Olympic silver medalist; Christine Mboma. In an episode in which she shared her remarkable story of how she rose from extreme poverty to becoming a national treasure. According to David her story is full of so much loss at such a young age and it is one of my most compelling interviews. “It truly highlights what I want to do with my podcast, which is sharing stories of hope, success, failures and lessons, but mostly celebrating every story,” he explained.
David advised aspiring podcasters not to compare themselves to others as there are so many podcasts out there. He encouraged them to rather focus on why they started, “Let your why be strong enough to keep you going and always remember that we all have something unique to offer to the world. Your voice matters and your story is just as important”, he added.
And there you have it, Remember, podcasting is the only place where it’s perfectly acceptable to talk to yourself and geek out in full view of thousands of people who are all dedicated to soaking up knowledge ambiently.
Listen to Uninterrupted with David Mbeha at https://www.youtube.com/@UniterruptedwithDavidMbeha/featured
Until then Stay POD-TASTIC.
You started the article well Obama ????
This article is filled with empowering lessons and inspiration too. Thanks to Mr Mbeha for the reminder that my voice matters and my story is just as important!