A podcast for young people passionate about self development and pouring into themselves.

My name is Guy-Martins, and I’m the host of the podcast called Almost 20: A Journey to Self. I’m a young Nigerian currently studying Computer Science, but beyond academics, I’ve always been deeply passionate about self-discovery, growth, and meaningful conversations. My podcast was born out of that desire, to create a safe and relatable space for young people, especially those in their late teens and early twenties, who are figuring out who they are and what they want out of life.

Almost 20 is more than just a podcast to me, it’s a personal journey that I invite others to join. Every episode touches on different aspects of self-development; from navigating friendships and heartbreaks to building confidence, setting boundaries, and learning how to heal and grow. I often speak from my own experiences because I believe that honesty and vulnerability connect us more deeply than perfection ever could.

The podcast is aimed at young people who are passionate about becoming better versions of themselves, even if they don’t have it all figured out yet. Most of my listeners are in their late teens to mid-twenties; students, creatives, and everyday people who just want to understand themselves better. They’re people who value deep reflection and want to be intentional about how they live.
 

I started my podcast, Almost 20: A Journey to Self, in November 2024, and honestly, it began from a very simple but genuine place which was the desire to connect and to help. I’ve always been the kind of person people come to for advice or just to talk about life. I don’t say that to brag, but it’s something I’ve noticed over time. I’ve always had this sense that I know how to connect with people, how to listen, understand, and make them feel seen. And one day, I just thought: why not create something that lets me share that same energy and perspective with more people?

Podcasting felt like the most natural way to do that. I’m a huge fan of podcasts myself, from Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” to Emma Chamberlain’s “Anything Goes”, and many others. I love how intimate solo-hosted podcasts feel; it’s like you’re having a personal conversation with someone. There’s something powerful about hearing someone’s voice talk about real relatable struggles, lessons, and growth in such an honest way and I wanted to build that same connection.

When I started, my initial goal was simple: I just wanted to talk about what’s on my mind. If what I said made sense to people and resonated, then I’d keep going. I wasn’t chasing any external validation, I just wanted to express, reflect, and share value while being on this same journey of self-development myself. Within a week of having the idea, I recorded and released my very first episode. I didn’t overthink it, I just started. Looking back, that decision changed everything. Now, almost 11 months in, with over 1,000+ listeners, I’m still going strong, growing, learning, and connecting with people who find pieces of themselves in my words.
 

Finding time for my podcast has always been about intention rather than perfect scheduling. Right now, I don’t have a full-time day job, just internships and some remote work, so that flexibility allows me to dedicate time to creating episodes. Still, it’s not always easy to balance everything, especially when life gets busy or unpredictable, but because this podcast means so much to me, I always find a way to make it work. I release new episodes bi-weekly, and I’ve found that this schedule gives me enough space to plan properly without feeling rushed. On average, it takes me two days to produce an episode, from brainstorming and outlining to recording and editing. If I have a guest, it might stretch to three days, just to make sure everything aligns perfectly.

I fund the podcast myself. I honestly don’t spend much because I’ve learned that if you really want something to work, you’ll find creative ways around your limitations. I started with the basic tools I had (my phone, my laptop, free editing software) and a lot of learning along the way.
 

What I gain from podcasting goes far beyond numbers or recognition.

It's the warm feeling I get after releasing an episode and realizing it truly resonated with someone. There’s nothing like hearing people reach out to say how much they loved an episode or how it helped them in some way, that alone makes everything worth it. I’ve had one sponsorship so far, and yes, I’m open to more in the future. Beyond that, podcasting has helped me refine my communication skills, build confidence in expressing myself freely, and connect with amazing people and communities I might never have met had I not been a podcaster. Every episode feels like both personal growth and shared healing, and that’s something I deeply value.
 

I use the free software Audacity whenever I plan to record a solo episode, but whenever a guest reaches out to me or I reach out to them, we'd use Riverside FM to locally record the episode.

I streamline the preparation of episodes into these processes; Think, Write, Outline, Record.
 

At first it was solely through word of mouth from me. Then it progressed into my contacts helping me spread the word and their contacts doing so. I would say currently the process is still the same, but my listeners mostly spread the word alongside me.
 

My advice to new podcasters is to learn the basics, understand how things like your RSS feed, hosting platforms, and distribution work. It’ll save you a lot of stress later. Also, try to plan and record a few episodes ahead before your first release; it helps you build consistency and momentum. I didn’t do that when I started, but I’ve learned how valuable it is. Most importantly, have fun with it. Create episodes you’d actually enjoy listening to, revisit your old ones to learn and refine, but don’t lose the joy in the process.
 

You can find my Personal Instagram account here:
https://www.instagram.com/_guymartins?igsh=MWw1d2picmxsY3Qycg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
You can find my Podcast's Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/almost20podcast?igsh=MTJydXU3MW11Z2s3ZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr