Podmeet is a networking project for people interested in the South African and African podcasting industry, founded by journalist Elna Schütz. In the first Jamfest session focussing on podcasting, she spoke to Oyinkansola Aderele, cohost and creative director of Pod Save Africa.

The podcast focuses on telling the African story through the lens of African people and creating a history that they can build a great future upon. The show has been running since 2018 and speaks to people across the continent about social and political issues.

Aderele said Pod Save Africa aimed to change the narratives about Africans by sharing perspectives that all Africans are not the same and at the same time showcasing strengths and shared experiences.

The podcast has found its grooves since launching three years ago, with the team finetuning its strategy over time. Aderele said becoming a podcaster had not been without its challenges. Being an introvert meant she was more comfortable being in the background. But for her personal growth, she had to learn to come out of her comfort zone and be more assertive. She also wears many hats within the company and juggling all the roles has been tricky.

Aderele added that navigating personal and team changes had been trying but it was important to communicate challenges with your audience. “Your audience is human, they will understand if you communicate.”

Tips for podcasters

• Putting yourself under the microscope is a vulnerable experience so don’t be intimidated, you’re not alone.
• Start where you are, with what you have. When Pod Save Africa was created all they had was a laptop or a phone and they simply started having a conversation.
• Podcasting is ideal for people who are not comfortable in front of the camera. The audio alone helps to preserve comfort level.
• Have guests who will explore different perspectives to your own.
• Be clear about what your podcast is about and who it represents.
• Be consistent with your output and determine whether it is a weekly, biweekly or monthly podcast.
• Prepare and plan ahead for when there is no content. Record your episodes in bulk if you can.
• Pay attention to what your audience is interested in and what they write in or comment about.

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Key takeaways:

• Keep track of analytics. Aderele said their audience enjoyed informal, round-table discussions of about 30-40 minutes long.
• Take feedback seriously.
• Build an audience on social media platforms and leverage it.
• Listenership will fluctuate, don’t be discouraged by that.
• Define your reason to keep going. For Pod Save Africa it has been the desire to build a community.
• You will learn new skills as you progress but don’t be afraid to outsource other skills.
• How are you going to fund your podcast and which brands are you willing to collaborate with?
• Be picky with your sponsors, some may dilute your brand or message.

Have a look at other sessions from Jamfest Africa 2021 here.