Resilience Spotlight: Through her lens, stories come alive at Stories Next Door Podcast

Real lessons and insights...

1. Overview of who I am

If you’d told teenage me that one day I’d have my own podcast and a book in the works, I would’ve laughed probably with a mic in my hand. Growing up in Tanzania, I discovered my love for radio early, working part-time at my local station in high school. I was hooked. But like many African parents, mine wanted me to pursue something “serious.” So, I went on to complete my MBA in London, then built a career in education and later in tech.

Yet storytelling never let me go. It kept tugging at me until I finally listened. That’s how Stories Next Door was born, a platform to shine a light on everyday people with extraordinary stories.

In just a year, we’ve explored resilience, identity, culture, grief, and community, proof that storytelling really can heal, connect, and inspire. I’m still knocking on doors, and trust me, the stories have been worth it.

2. The Challenge 🚧

Starting the podcast was the easy part. What has been difficult is the consistency to sustain the podcast, that was the real challenge. I quickly realised that running a show meant juggling guests, editing, equipment, promotion, and of course, the necessary admin like consent forms.

Initially, I assumed passion and a strong idea would be enough. But passion alone doesn’t edit audio at midnight or build an audience.

The real hurdle was consistency and credibility. Without structure, discipline, and a focus on building trust with both guests and listeners, it would have been impossible to maintain momentum and grow the platform.

3. The Resilient Solution 🛠️

🛑 Spoiler alert… passion alone doesn’t edit podcasts at midnight.

I had to get practical and embracing structure. I built habits around recording and committed to consistency, even while balancing work and personal life. Creating a safe, respectful space for guests to share their often deeply personal stories became central to the podcast.

I also leaned on my community and made networking my secret weapon. Through those connections, I secured support from entrepreneurs like Simon Squibb, who believed in the vision enough to sponsor my Stories Next Door book project. That not only validated the platform but also expanded its reach and impact.

Every time I hit a wall, I reminded myself: flexibility is power.

If one path doesn’t work, pivot. If the door closes, knock louder. That mindset, coupled with community and resilience; is what has kept the podcast alive and growing.

4. The Outcome & Takeaways 📈

The outcomes have been sweeter than I imagined, with both growth and impact to show for it:

• Podcast success:
  Stories Next Door just celebrated its first year, with a growing audience across YouTube, Instagram, and streaming platforms.

• Book project:
  A sponsored book is in motion, extending the podcast into a tangible format, with a portion of sales supporting Kwanda, a cooperative funding community projects, which makes this project even more meaningful to me. It’s not just about telling stories; it’s about making an impact.

• Community impact:
  The platform has become a safe space where people feel seen, heard, and inspired; proving that everyday voices really do matter.

As the African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This journey has shown me the power of community in building something meaningful and lasting.

My biggest takeaway?

Don’t wait for perfect - start scrappy.

You’ll figure it out along the way, and that’s exactly where resilience is built. By showing up, learning quickly, and leaning on your community to keep moving forward.

p.s. Also, be nice… people remember nice.