1 hr 5 min
CYLS 203: Africa X Podcasting - The Blueprint to Building Ghana’s Most Successful Podcast Network with Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee Create Your Life Series
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- Mental Health
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Africa X series, Kevin Y. Brown is joined by Cyril Afeku and Donald Ayree, cofounders of The Gold Coast Report. The GCR is a thriving podcast network based in Accra, Ghana, whose unwavering mission is to forge accessible avenues for visibility and to curate impactful experiences that empower individuals and communities alike. Cyril and Donald explain how the World Cup led to their initial idea for The Gold Coast Report, which changed from being a single podcast to the beginning of a network in the same week. They discuss the milestones they’ve passed so far and where they hope to go, the shows they’re most proud of, and how they were able to turn a passion project into a self-sustaining business. As leaders they share their tips for creative compromise and amplifying the creativity of their team, along with their thoughts on the importance of sharing their knowledge and experience with others in the community. In the Turnaround, Kevin opens up about how his trip to Africa in 2018 influenced his understanding of legacy, of family, and his responsibilities as a Black man, and how it led to him moving back to the Continent and joining the movement to amplify African stories through podcasting.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee
Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee met in high school and reconnected after university where together they created The Gold Coast Report, a podcast network based in Accra, Ghana. They produce shows covering a variety of interests such as sports, women-focused issues, religion, sex, pop culture, social issues, entertainment and more. Cyril and Donald are results-driven and inquisitive professionals with a vast expertise in developing podcasting infrastructure in Africa. Their passion revolves around amplifying African creativity and nurturing self-sustaining communities, providing them with the space to incubate, flourish, and achieve their aspirations. Every action, word, and endeavor The Gold Coast Report undertakes is a dedicated stride to realizing this vision.
Insights From the Episode
Tips for dealing with difficult clients and creators
Where to look for guidance when you’re an early adopter in a burgeoning industry
3 tips for new podcasters looking to join an established network
How to stay rejuvenated and focused as a leader
Advice for handling conflict between teammates
Tips for dealing with negative feedback
Thoughts on the keys to personal growth
Strategies for directing your energy so you don’t overextend yourself
Quotes from the Show
“At the time this was just two friends in a room trying something out. When you look back and zoom out to what it is now, it’s kind of crazy. We thought that we could tell our own better stories, and we also felt like there was some creativity in everyone.” - Cyril Afeku, Create Your Life Series, #203
“[The schedule] helped build consistency within the team. That helped also build some level of planning. We obviously got better at the editing and figured out the mechanics that came to podcasting, and we figured out how to actually run and operate as a network because that wasn’t a skillset that we had coming in.” - Donald Aryee, Create Your Life Series, #203
“All those shows are not failures, because those really are learning opportunities. All those episodes that we didn’t record correctly—all those whe
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Africa X series, Kevin Y. Brown is joined by Cyril Afeku and Donald Ayree, cofounders of The Gold Coast Report. The GCR is a thriving podcast network based in Accra, Ghana, whose unwavering mission is to forge accessible avenues for visibility and to curate impactful experiences that empower individuals and communities alike. Cyril and Donald explain how the World Cup led to their initial idea for The Gold Coast Report, which changed from being a single podcast to the beginning of a network in the same week. They discuss the milestones they’ve passed so far and where they hope to go, the shows they’re most proud of, and how they were able to turn a passion project into a self-sustaining business. As leaders they share their tips for creative compromise and amplifying the creativity of their team, along with their thoughts on the importance of sharing their knowledge and experience with others in the community. In the Turnaround, Kevin opens up about how his trip to Africa in 2018 influenced his understanding of legacy, of family, and his responsibilities as a Black man, and how it led to him moving back to the Continent and joining the movement to amplify African stories through podcasting.
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.
Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…
Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee
Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee met in high school and reconnected after university where together they created The Gold Coast Report, a podcast network based in Accra, Ghana. They produce shows covering a variety of interests such as sports, women-focused issues, religion, sex, pop culture, social issues, entertainment and more. Cyril and Donald are results-driven and inquisitive professionals with a vast expertise in developing podcasting infrastructure in Africa. Their passion revolves around amplifying African creativity and nurturing self-sustaining communities, providing them with the space to incubate, flourish, and achieve their aspirations. Every action, word, and endeavor The Gold Coast Report undertakes is a dedicated stride to realizing this vision.
Insights From the Episode
Tips for dealing with difficult clients and creators
Where to look for guidance when you’re an early adopter in a burgeoning industry
3 tips for new podcasters looking to join an established network
How to stay rejuvenated and focused as a leader
Advice for handling conflict between teammates
Tips for dealing with negative feedback
Thoughts on the keys to personal growth
Strategies for directing your energy so you don’t overextend yourself
Quotes from the Show
“At the time this was just two friends in a room trying something out. When you look back and zoom out to what it is now, it’s kind of crazy. We thought that we could tell our own better stories, and we also felt like there was some creativity in everyone.” - Cyril Afeku, Create Your Life Series, #203
“[The schedule] helped build consistency within the team. That helped also build some level of planning. We obviously got better at the editing and figured out the mechanics that came to podcasting, and we figured out how to actually run and operate as a network because that wasn’t a skillset that we had coming in.” - Donald Aryee, Create Your Life Series, #203
“All those shows are not failures, because those really are learning opportunities. All those episodes that we didn’t record correctly—all those whe
1 hr 5 min