I launched a podcast two years ago: here’s what I’ve learned in the process
Reflections on my journey building The Immunology in Africa Podcast
I embraced the idea to launch a podcast in 2021 out of sheer curiosity. I wanted to learn about African immunology — about local African scientists and their contributions to the rapidly evolving global field of immunology. However, I didn’t want to do so by just reading long, complex journal articles. While I felt it’d be super cool to directly hear these scientists talk about their work, I couldn’t find any audio platform to tune in to. Podcasting had become a thing then, so I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start one — but I wasn’t particularly excited about doing so. Here’s why.
I got into science communication as a writer, mainly because I considered writing a convenient route to expressing my ideas. Podcasting, however, was inconvenient — it would entail forcing myself out of my little, cosy shell into a larger, unfamiliar sphere. The challenge it presented was also different — I didn’t think I had what it would take to host an immunology podcast. So, I reached out to Julius Wesche to learn the ropes — and a few weeks later, on January 28, 2022, he would school me on the tools, dos, and don’ts of podcasting.
August 1, 2024 made it 2 years since I launched The Immunology in Africa Podcast to satisfy my curiosity about African immunology research. Over this time frame, I have been awed by the invaluable contributions of African immunologists to making the continent and the world a healthier place. I have spoken with professors, postdocs, and PhD students, exploring topics from how HIV/ART (antiretroviral therapy) disrupts immune function in infants born to women living with HIV to why Africans tend to generate weaker immune responses to routine vaccines. Guests on the podcast have shared insights into a wide range of diseases, including neurocysticercosis, tuberculosis, cancer, Lassa fever, and alpha-gal allergy. And with their help and our team of volunteers, ImmunoAfrica has spread ‘the gospel of African immunology’ across more than 50 countries, in just 2 years.
Here are some of the most valuable lessons I’ve gained from my experience building Africa’s first immunology podcast.
Pay attention, but start anyway
It is not uncommon to feel uneasy when starting out on a new project. There’s nothing really special about this feeling apart from the obvious signal it sends that you’re stepping into unfamiliar territory. However, while it’s perfectly okay to ignore it and go ahead to take that bold step, you could also exploit it to assess and improve your preparedness. Your doubts and fears are not just roadblocks to unleashing your potential, they could also present opportunities for maximising it. Rather than letting them paralyse you, remember that you do not have to feel ready enough before you launch.
Your doubts and fears are not just roadblocks to unleashing your potential, they could also present opportunities for maximising it.
Build from your comfort
Almost every motivational speaker out there would ask you to ‘step out of your comfort zone’ — but I do not think of comfort zones as something you step out of, like you would a moving train. I prefer to think of them as something you maximise, multiply, or manage (like money). When you have wealth, you don’t just step out of it (throw it away) because you seek something novel. No! You think of what it can do for you, what it can bring you, or where it can lead you. That is how to think of a comfort zone.
I’ve never really left my comfort zone. I’ve only grown, stretched, and built from it. I started science communication as a writer because writing was convenient, and I had been trained as a scientist. That! was my comfort zone — I only had to stretch out to accommodate science communication, leveraging the tools I had at my disposal. Podcasting wasn’t any different. I started an immunology podcast because I had a keen interest in the field. That interest, alongside the science communication experience I had gained overtime, became my comfort zone. Even if you don’t fully agree with my idea of a comfort zone, my point is to always think of how the skills, experiences, or networks within your reach can facilitate your flight into new terrains.
Think of how the skills, experiences, or networks within your reach can facilitate your flight into new terrains.
Plan and stay organised
‘If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail’, is my most cherished planning quote. I heard it first from one of my teachers in secondary school. The many technicalities involved in successfully running a podcast, especially one that involves hosting busy scientists, make planning non-negotiable.
Planning for me often involves listing out tasks on a to-do list, assigning time-frames (when possible) or deadlines, and reviewing progress. My task list can contain anything from ‘reach out to guest x’ to ‘edit y episode’, ‘Canva’ (for graphics design), or prepare a ‘social media post’. Your plans do not have to be detailed or structured, so long as they help you stay on track. An unspoken philosophy I try to live by is that an unstructured or incomplete plan offers far more help than no plan at all.
Your plans do not have to be detailed or structured so long as they help you stay on track…an unstructured or incomplete plan offers far more help than no plan at all.
Document your journey
I wasn’t always interested in taking stock of my journey until I realised I was missing out on valuable growth opportunities. So, I did what any considerably wise person would do: I started documenting, so I could mine those opportunities.
Keeping records allows you to not only measure your progress but also identify the threats and opportunities that may be impacting it. Most records may not mean so much on day one, but by day 100 or 1,000, you’d realise how much comfort they bring. Another side benefit of documenting is how it facilitates insightful reflection and decision-making. Taking stock of your journey can offer in-depth insights that empowers you to understand patterns, spot interconnections, and unravel the unique cadence in your process. But you really do not have to be the one who reaps these rewards. It’s also OK to just document for the sake of posterity.
Most records may not mean so much on day one, but by day 100 or 1,000, you’d realise how much comfort they bring.
Watch out for the second part of my reflection!
For the mean time, you can check out The Immunology in Africa Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Pocket Casts, Audacy, Amazon Music, and other streaming platforms.
