THE STROLL LIVE — So you interview public figures around the world, and so what?
Last April I marked 3 years of awesomeness! Some people may not really understand my obsession with the success of the “The Stroll”, but for me who saw myself grow from being an idle Personality-Biography-Googler (aka a boy who sits all day searching for bios of prominent people on Google) to a not-so-bad interviewer who as at June 2016 has engaged over 120 public figures around the world from all continents — starting in 2013 with just his little phone and crappy internet. That is something guys, don’t you think so?
But as good as this story sounds and as wonderful as the conversations I’ve had with these celebs are, the question is besides me and my resume, who does it help? (Or like a popular Nigerian slang will put it, “who e epp?”)
Image vs Impact
This is what two of my role models in Port Harcourt, Mr Donald Okudu and Founding Curator of the World Economic Forum Port Harcourt Global Shapers Hub, Mrs Bitebo Gogo, defined as the difference between image and impact.
Image — this is Ebenezar; young 24-year old dude. He has interviewed this and that, he organized that event, won this big award, and writes for every international platform you can think of, fullstop. Wonderful resume. It can open doors for Ebenezar and give him a voice. Good for him. But how does that help, Ken, a teenage secondary school (high school) leaver who is still confused about what he really wants to do with his life? At best Ebenezar’s wonderful image will inspire Ken to be like him, maybe start a blog suspecting that blogs are the way to the top. Perhaps create a Facebook page and then begin to feel inferior when he can’t get as many Facebook likes as Ebenezar. And don’t get me wrong now, inspiration is great. We all need to be inspired to energize our belief in ourselves and our dreams. That “if-he-did-it-I-can-do-it” feeling is wonderful. But inspiration, my dear, is not enough.
If we really want to change the world we need to move from just being comfortable with good resumes and years of social sector work experience. We need to move from “Image” and “Inspiration” to impact, and this is what I plan to achieve with “The Stroll Live”
So what is all this talk about Impact and The Stroll Live?
Just as I have shared at different forums prior to this time, growing up, the BBC and my shortwave transistor radio were my best friends. I grew up (late childhood and all through teenagehood) listening to BBC HARDtalk; watching Larry King Live (and later on Amanpour); and downloading podcasts of BBC Radio 4’s ”Desert Island Discs” (the world’s longest running interview series) and “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” every night after watching Aunty Femi Oke on “The Stream”.
These shows had an impact on me because I later got the chance to interact with some of the hosts and producers of the various shows and most of them, when they had the time, were willing to answer all my burning questions. Some even agreed to mentor me, after I had bombarded their mailboxes with emails having subjects like, ”I want to be like you”, “Please be my Mentor”, “The Destiny of a Young Boy rests in your Hands”. (LOL, Kids don’t try that sort of blackmail please). But it all worked out fine right? I guess it did.
So, since last year I’ve been thinking of how to pay it forward and support the next generation by doing what I am passionate about. One day sitting at KIR Foundation, ED Mrs Bitebo Gogo suggested that one way I can make “The Stroll” go beyond me is to connect the guests to other young people around the world who may need mentoring. Just then, it struck me, “Mentorship!” That was what made the whole difference in my own life.
It was very unpopular for a 90s kid like me in Nigeria to say he wants to give up a seemingly-lucrative career in the Oil and Gas industry to follow his passion for “writing”. “What is ‘writing’, my Dad asked me one of those days in anger, do you think in the real world they pay you for writing fancy stories? (LOL) In those dark years, I was inspired by the TV shows, books, and radio interviews I came in contact with, but Inspiration alone wouldn’t have saved my life.
God used these authors, journalists and pastors and other mentors he brought into my life (If I start listing names we won’t finish today) who inspire me to help answer those questions from their different perspectives and it gave me a broader view of life as I eventually decided to make the switch from science to arts — and I have never regretted that move more than 9 years after secondary school.
Ask Mentors, Get Solutions
The Stroll Live will open the mic for 5 other young people every month, or week (depending on how soon I can get the logistics right) to ask those career or life questions they need answers for. Just like, “BBC World Have Your Say” which is basically a show where one host moderates conversations from various guests around the world on a conference call.
The Stroll Live will happen on a conference call or any other virtual conferencing platform where 5 young people selected from all over the world who aspire to get into a certain field similar or same with the field the mentor of the day (one or more of my guests from “The Stroll) will be placed on a call with this mentor(s) at a certain time which will be announced to the general public — which means anyone can tune in, or call in to hear the conversation — and they will be given the chance to ask 1 question each, after which one or two other questions from social media will be taken.
I will only just be moderating the session, like Aunty Femi Oke when she’s at the UN General Assembly (Hehe). In 20–25 minutes tops the session should be done. It will be recorded and uploaded online for others who missed the conversation to download, listen, and share. The long term dream will be to have an actual offline-mentoring session where these young people will get to interact with the mentors in flesh and blood — But for now let’s start here.
So will this make the difference? Like my Twinnie, Jennifer Uchendu suggested, there will be some sort of follow up on these young people and their projects to see if they are making good use of the advice given to them. Updates will also be made on social media showing their progress as they grow. They will also be given the opportunity to keep in touch with the mentor via email and other private channels — with the consent of the mentor.
Does this mean that other interview series which sample awesome guests and share great stories around the world are not good enough? Naaah I didn’t say that. I’m still the biggest fans of web series like, “The Platform” hosted by my buddy ThankGod Okorisha and other one-on-one interview shows like, “Susty Person of the Week”, At Random with Yeesha, The Pavlina Show, etc
This is entirely a personal thing, and has nothing to do with the sacred art of interviewing in Journalism. This for me will be a new journey, and hopefully the next time I will be writing about “The Stroll Live” I pray I wouldn’t be saying I have interviewed over 120 global leaders, rather I’ll be saying I have helped to connect over 120 young people to mentors (famous-busy-people) around the world and this has made the young people develop themselves and reach for their potential.
Shout out to Tamunotonye Harry for inspiring me with one of the cover graphics I’ll be using in course of “The Stroll Live”. For me it’s not even about the art or the techniques he used. Some annoying people will look at the design and say, “This is basic, or wetin be this?”. Ehn, I agree. Keep your sophisticated design to yourself. Where were you when I needed help? Love is the greatest virtue that can turn this world around, and I appreciate Tonye’s love and support even when he had to stay up very late, abandoning his own projects to make “The Stroll Live” a reality. Tonye, I want to be like you when I grow up :)
I’ll close with this quote Uncle Uche Igbe shared on Whatsapp last night, “Legacy is not about leaving something FOR people; it is about leaving something IN people. Legacy is building something that outlives you!!!…”. Go out today and do something for someone other than yourself. God bless.
Interested in being one of the mentors or mentees on #TheStrollLive? Hit me up on Whatsapp+2348073244817
