Empower, Encourage & Inspire Women By Sharing Stories Of Victory

My name is Carol Oyola, host of the Overcome Today Podcast. By day I am a Communications Manager - I've had 14 years' work experience in the field of broadcast journalism and strategic communications. My podcast is a platform to empower, encourage and inspire women through real stories of hope and victory. My listeners are young women (and lately men, have joined the bandwagon too) aged 18 - 34 who are looking for relatable stories relevant to their current season in life and need to know they are not alone.

To be honest, I wasn't a fan of podcasts until October 2018 when I listened to one podcast that absolutely changed my life. I began listening to more and realised that the Kenyan (and African) podcast scene was still very green, with need for more African storytellers. With my background in TV journalism, I knew this was a good fit for me so I sat down and did lots of research on podcasting. I started my podcast because I wanted to share real stories that would evoke hope and inspire change - especially to young women who are trying to navigate life. I didn't have a mentor growing up so this was my way of sharing life tips and challenges to women younger than me. After lots of research and prayer, I took the leap in April 2019 and started The Overcome Today Podcast. The initial name was KenyanMamaTales but I relaunched in April 2020. It didn't take me very long to produce the first episode because I decided to just take the leap and start!

I release episodes every week - which is not as easy as it sounds. I learned in 2020 the importance of planning my episodes in advance and even producing them in bulk. I use weekday evenings or some weekends to plan for my podcast episodes. I also take time to reach out to my guests in advance and write up talking points or questions I'd like them to answer. I then also draft talking points for my intros and outros, record and edit. With a demanding day job, it has been tough but since it's my passion, I make time for my podcast. Since 2019, I have been running solo. I host, record, book and interview guests, edit, post and market through social media. I haven't spent any money other than boosting posts on Instagram but I intend to level up in 2021 with new equipment and more opportunities for partnership/sponsorship.

I haven't had a sponsor for my podcast since I started it - though I have plans to reach out to a few brands/organizations to sponsor or partner with me this year and beyond. My podcast analytics are good so far with over 4,000 downloads in total (may not seem like much but it is to me smile) so I think it's a good time to get out of my comfort zone and scale up. My podcast has gained me new friends, expanded my knowledge in various topics and opened my mind to the pain and challenges others face. I have also learned that vulnerability is crucial to healing. I learned this when I shared my story on depression and anxiety when I relaunched my podcast in 2020. But most of all, my podcast is my calling and my purpose and so I find lots of fulfilment in it.

My podcasting process starts with random ideas which I jot down on a notebook or on my laptop. I get ideas from people I follow on social media, or from conversations I have with friends, or from the news. I have all my ideas in one place and begin to schedule how I'll implement each one of them (starting with the easiest of course). From there, I note down the guest that would be perfect for each topic and reach out to them either by messaging them on social media or email. If it's a friend, I call them up. I then send the guest questions/prompts that I'd like them to address - though they are free to add/subtract from it. Due to the pandemic, I started interviewing my guests via Zoom. The audio quality was not that great though due to differing internet connections, so I opted to have the guest send me a voice note. I guide them through recording using their phone and how to ensure flow in their story. Once they send their voice note, I listen to it and edit where necessary, I record my intros and outros, include them in the final edit and upload.

I solely use social media to market my podcast. I have a Linktree link on my social media accounts that has a breakdown of all direct links to the various platforms my podcast is available. I also list my podcast on as many podcast directories as possible for greater exposure. I've also found that collaborating with other podcasters provides opportunities for new listeners. For analytics, I use Anchor since it's where I host my podcast.

For aspiring or new podcasters, my advice would be: know your WHY, know your target audience, take the leap and start, and be consistent. It's important to know what the goal is so that it keeps you going even when the money isn't in sight. I haven't made money from podcasting in two years, but I'm still producing episodes because that's not my ultimate goal. By knowing your target audience, you will be more effective in your reach because you will be meeting their needs. Let go of fear, doubt and imposter syndrome and start - after you've defined your WHY and done your research of course. Many people wait for the 'right' time but let me burst your bubble, the right time is NOW. You can perfect your craft as you move along. And lastly, be consistent. Consistency will give you reach, exposure and will draw your audience to your content. Buzzsprout, PRX and Google Podcasts have been helpful resources for me.

You can learn more about my podcast on my social media accounts: Instagram: @overcometoday Facebook: @overcometoday and Twitter: @overcometoday_ To learn more about my professional experience, check out my LinkedIn account: linkedin.com/in/carolgaturaoyola