The Spotify Podcast Club Recap by Yeni Fadiya
My experience at the Spotify podcast club was phenomenal. It was great to be part of an initiative where individuals share their views on various topics surrounding community and culture. I am glad to have rubbed shoulders with creatives within the Voltage Revolution cohort. I also had the opportunity to engage with current members of the Spotify team who were indeed gems in their own right.
Meeting with the Spotify team once a month was a tremendous experience as it enabled me to uncover emerging trends and garner ideas of what succeeding in the creative field looked like. Besides that, speaking with Joel, the Senior Editor at Spotify was a monumental moment for me. It was a pleasure to get insight into his job role and what it takes to venture into a corporation like Spotify.
Over the past few months, the podcast club has had an engaging and informative series of meetings. In each session, we discussed various topics such as the following:
First Session: Race
The first-ever session kicked off with the topic of "Race". We reflected on the podcast "Google talk - The First Time I Realised I Was Black", - which featured Dr. Stephanie Hicks, a lecturer from Michigan University. Dr. Hicks shared her realisation of being black for the first time and her false impression of the black experience in America. It was profound to hear Dr. Hicks's view in comparison to our reality in the UK.
Second Session: Mental Health
In the second session, the discussion was about Mental Health and everything in between. The podcast reviewed was "Azryah Harvey: Emotional Regulation - Is it ADHD." It highlighted the condition "ADHD" and its impact on individual emotions and impulsiveness. Azryah Harvey, the podcast guest shared the importance of self-diagnosis for ADHD symptoms.
Final Session: Motivation & Purpose
For the last session, we took notes on the podcast - "The Real Trick To Long-Term Motivation". The entrepreneur, Steven Bartlett hosted a New York Times Bestselling author Daniel Pink. Mr. Pink breaks down his method of motivating individuals and those around them. Mr. Pink's idea of motivation spurred an intriguing discussion. For example, are personal inspirations discovered by past mistakes/upbringing? Or are individuals' motivations based on future opportunities and desired goals?
Key Takeaways from the Podcast club:
1. To be proud of being black & not allow other people's prejudices to get in the way of my life.
2. Be my biggest cheerleader and reward myself when I achieve an aim/goal, big or small.
3. Do not allow prior mistakes or upbringing to dictate my future and the outcome of my vision and goals for my life.
Below you will find testimonials of individuals who were part of the Voltage revolution and involved in the podcast sessions.
"Meeting the Spotify team was amazing. What I loved the most was the uniqueness of each member of the team. Nobody looked or sounded the same. That uniqueness allowed each of them to express their thoughts, opinions and experiences in their own way. And for me, that made the Podcast Club a gold mine of knowledge. I found that everybody had their own individual input and each contribution to the discussion was of value. I loved that the podcasts we were told to listen to and the topic discussions were current and relevant. Along with Helin's great hosting expertise, the discussions with the group were acknowledging, warming and a great learning experience, especially for the young black creatives present, that are trying to get into the creative industry."
- Emmanuella
"The Spotify Podcast club was great, and I am honoured to have partaken. From the topics discussed to the people involved, it was an experience I'll forever be grateful for. Hearing other people's opinions on issues such as race and motivation was really interesting because there were loads of differing views that taught me a lot. As for the team, they were great!! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Spotify team; it was actually on my list of things to do in 2022 and for it to happen is pretty wild. From how Helin led sessions to how Tobi, Radika, Richard and Daniel faced excellent insight into particular topics, I loved every session; it was definitely worth partaking in."
- Zayanne
I am optimistic about what the new year has for the podcast club. Being a part of the podcast club has been an enriching experience. The podcast club is enriching and helps me feel motivated - ready to tackle any challenges that come my way.
Written by Yeni Fadiya.
