Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a 22-year-old male from Voi, Taita Taveta County. Goes to Rongo University, Migori. Currently in second year, taking a degree course in Bachelor of Science Communication and Public Relations.

What was growing up like?
Life was nice. I can’t complain but it doesn’t mean that there were no hard times.
Hard times have always been there but looking back at mum, I have no reason to look like my problems. I was raised to be an optimistic fella and was also allowed to make the hard calls on my own. I can say that it’s hard for a mother to single handedly raise a male child and not turn out to be a sissy. I’m forever grateful to my mum.

Who first introduced you to podcasting? And how was the experience like?
Jackson Ngari, my classmate. At first I was not sure if I could do it but here I am today. Following the course I am doing, I’d say it’s great. Having to practise what is taught and what I aspire to do professionally.

You’re currently attached to ‘The 4_Reigners’. Share with us more about the podcast.
The podcast is all about informing and educating our listeners. Most of the time we address matters that happened recenctly or those that are slighty controversial. We try to give views and answers to situations as youths.
Most things these days revolve around the youths and the world is changing, we try to give the adults various points of view. The world we live in today is not the same as our parents’. We make things clearer for them. Most adults stereotype people with dreadlocks but today that’s not the case. Having dreadlocks is a trend that we’ve gotten into and many other things.

How do you get to balance between school and podcasting? It’s not hard, I only have classes on week days and on weekends is when we have a session of podcasting.

Apart from podcasting, what else do you do?
I’m student as I said earlier and in one way or the other, I run errands that gets me little cash.

In life, who has been your top-notch influencer?
(Laughs) This one is hard. My mum I can say. She supports almost everything I want to do in life. I remember my Mum was like ‘wewe utasoma mpaka university’. I was like ‘ok’ because I didn’t know what a university was. She was speaking blessing upon me, I came to realize.
Just the other day I asked her whether she recalled that she wanted me join the university. She laughed. She was happy, I was happy. Looking back at how I was raised, I can also say that I’ve dreams and visions. I don’t want to be like anyone or greater but I want to be me. I want to leave my own legacy. I can also say that I am my own influencer.

How would you rate the performance of podcasts here in Kenya?
Podcasting has been with us but most people have no idea. It has not been fully embraced; from creating content for discussion and the audience.

Apart from enjoying positive vibes as a podcaster, what are some of the challenges you’ve encountered so far? And how best have you overcome them?
People haven’t embraced podcasting. Most people don’t even know what podcasts are. Thus the audience is not large.
Consistency works magic, with the few listeners you’ve got and a marvelous discussion then nothing will hinder two or three listeners from sharing the good work. Who knows where the discussion will end up?
Having done research on the topic to be discussed brings about a successful session.

Tell us the happiest day in your life, so far.
Back in high school when I was told to give a lecture to the Form 3’s while in Form 4. It was literature class. I had never done such a thing, I was good. From then on I was also asked to give another lecture with a different class.
I think I’d be taking Education today, it’s just that it wasn’t my path.

What about your most embarrassing moment?
There was this time as a kid, I didn’t know how to ride a bike. My friends pushed me while on the bike and I wasn’t ready. I ended up hitting two women. I was slapped hard, I still remember that because they laughed at me, they laughed hard.

What advice would like to offer to those who want to venture into the world of podcasting?
For a start, it might be tough but the topics for discussion matter alot.
Apart from that; dedication, consistency, research and passion will do. Podcasting is not a bed roses that you’ll just wake up and start doing. It takes time but not much.

Communication and media studies, Rongo university

BY MAXWELL KAMAU