How podcasts energise the youth
Youth-led podcasts are emerging as a powerful tool for amplifying marginalised voices in Malawi. These podcasts, created and hosted by young Malawians, are tackling social issues, sharing personal stories and promoting diverse perspectives. Contributor MADALITSO MTUKULA talked to Podcast in the North chief executive officer Matthew Bota about his work. Excerps:
Q
: Tell us about yourself?
A
: I am Matthew Bota, a philanthropist, recording artist, public speaker and entrepreneur.
Q
: How did Podcast in the North start?
A
: We started in 2022, but only started releasing episodes in 2023.
Q
: What inspired you to start the podcast?
A
: After hosting several events and musical shows, I started conversations with friends on the need to document stories of creatives, innovatives and unique citizens, especially in the North where access to media is minimal.
At the same time, we wanted to ensure that we market the North and Mzuzu through our podcast. That’s how we started the journey.
Q
: How many interviews have you done so far?
A
: We’ve done 16 episodes so far, but we have some episodes that will not be released due to technical issues. And the biggest episode has been with Zeze Kingstone.
Q
:How do you select guests and what criteria do you use to choose topics for discussion?
A
: Our team selects guests based on various factors, including following requests from our audience, identifying the rising stars as well as through encounters during networking platforms.
Our podcast is an unfiltered and unscripted conversation, as such, topics are brought up based on research and requests from our audience.
Q
: What challenges do you face as a podcast team?
A
: The main one is technical as podcasts are not scripted. Once we start recording, we’re done. Sometimes guests are uncomfortable with how they answered certain questions. However, the bigger challenge is not just for the podcast, but also the creative industry as a whole and the high cost of data.
Q
: What are your future plans as Podcast in the North?
A
: The plan is to collaborate with several brands and market Mzuzu so that travellers can know more about Mzuzu through our Podcast.
Q
: How do you see podcasts evolving in the next years here in Malawi?
A
: We expect it to be a bigger platform where segments can be introduced, thereby reaching thousands if not millions of the young and old.
Q
: How has the podcast impacted your community and what feedback have you received from listeners?
A
: Our listeners get to know the side of guest that is not usually shared in mainstream media. We are able to inspire many people to pursue their God-given talent.
