Ever wondered what happens when you gather 12 incredible African women, add a dash of Mount Everest adventure, sprinkle in some entrepreneurial magic, and let their stories inspire people from Finland to Qatar? The season finale of Kadara Woman podcast wraps up exactly that kind of amazing journey, with host Lola Soyebo Harris reflecting on three months of powerful storytelling. With listeners tuning in from 17 countries and 22 US states, and downloads climbing by 37% weekly, these stories of triumph, resilience, and purpose-driven living have clearly struck a chord with audiences worldwide.
Shownotes:
[00:01] - Welcome and Introduction to Season 1 Finale
[00:33] - Purpose Behind Kadara Woman Podcast Launch
[01:48] - Season 1 Achievements and Global Reach
[02:23] - Highlighting Guest Stories and Key Lessons
[03:32] - Featuring African Women Entrepreneurs' Journeys
[05:25] - Host's Personal Reflections and Learning Moments
[06:35] - Future Plans and Season 2 Announcements
[07:08] - Gratitude and Closing Remarks
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00:01 - 00:33
Lola: Hello everyone and welcome to the final episode or should I call it the wrap up episode of the Kadara Woman podcast season 1. I am your host Lola Soyebo Harris and what an incredible journey it's been for the past 3 months. We've had over 13 episodes and we've had the privilege of amplifying the voices of remarkable African women who are truly living purpose-driven lives. And I'd love to take a moment to just share again why I started this podcast. It's for many reasons, but for 1, I know and you know that Africa is more than just
00:33 - 01:10
Lola: a single negative narrative where so much more than the stories that are out there in the media and I wanted a platform that would amplify positive stories and take a poke at that narrative. I also wanted to tell stories from the lens of women of African descent, who are usually often overlooked in the media, and thought the podcasts could be a place of inspiration, empowerment. It will offer fresh perspectives on universal themes of personal growth, overcoming self-doubt, career development, and societal impact. But I'll say this though, even though I'm spotlighting African women's stories and experiences, these
01:10 - 01:48
Lola: stories are human stories, and they should resonate deeply with the global audience of ambitious, forward-thinking women and men who are seeking inspiration and practical insights. But it doesn't stop there. I also hope that by curating these stories of women who have pursued their own authentic calling, their own kadara, that it also galvanizes you in your own quest, whatever that might be. So what did we accomplish in season 1? Well from climbing Mount Everest to curating Afrocentric Home Goods in a way that's never been seen before, our 12 guests have shared their inspiring stories, challenges, triumphs, and
01:48 - 02:23
Lola: the mindsets that got them there. And I'm extremely proud to say that we featured voices of women from 8 African countries, but of course we still have so much more work to do. I'm also thrilled to share that the Kadara Woman podcast reached listeners in 17 countries, including Finland, Qatar, Maldives, and Singapore. Oh, fun fact, I've never been to these countries by the way. And it's also reached 22 states within the US. We surpass our weekly download targets, averaging 37% increase every week, steadily growing our unique listener base every month. And it's all thanks to you,
02:23 - 02:53
Lola: our listeners. I cannot say how much your enthusiasm and support for the podcast has meant to me. It's been truly overwhelming and I thank you for that. I want to take a moment to also revisit some of the stories we heard from this season. So starting from the very beginning, we had Yetunde Shorters setting the stage and sharing that it's not enough that you know what your purpose is, but that the work is in the mastery of that purpose. And so if you haven't listened to that episode, do yourself a favor and just check out the
02:53 - 03:32
Lola: first 2 episodes. I think they're nuggets that would just inspire you to figure out whatever it is you're supposed to do on this earth. And then we have Sarah Kumalu, who shared her near-death experiences, not once, but 3 times, as she became the first black African woman to summit Mount Everest. We had our corporate mavens, Irene Asare, Rashida Abdullai, who dared to become entrepreneurs and create impact-driven businesses that tied back to the continent. And in 1 of our most popular episodes, Sade Curry shares how she overcame the traditional norms around divorce, found her purpose in becoming
03:32 - 04:09
Lola: a relationship coach, and also reminded us that we can all take a bet on ourselves and the courage we need to do so is within us. And then we have our entrepreneurs. Actually, I think every single woman who was featured this season as an entrepreneur has been 1 or is currently 1. But in this case we have Ola Erogbogbo with her Family Jewelery line, Favilla Fongang an award-winning serial entrepreneur, Kudzi Zhanje who was pioneering African beauty products in Zimbabwe. And then we had Kemi Lawson with the Afrocentric home goods and how that's propelling our narrative in
04:09 - 04:43
Lola: a different lens. All these women have overcome self-doubt to pursue the dreams that set their souls on fire, but also recognize the importance of representation in whatever they're doing. And then who can forget Joy Ekuta who overcame 32 rejections to medical school to leading the charge for the Juneteenth corporate revolution here in the U.S. Which is a big deal by the way. And then we had our author, Leine Akanza, who had us laughing with her courage yet self-confident recounts on her journey to becoming a children's author and publishing her first book. And then last but not
04:43 - 05:25
Lola: least, we wrapped up the season with purpose, just like we started, thanks to Foluso Gbadamosi, who reminded us that we should challenge societal and self-imposed limitations and instead embrace our true selves and pursue our unique paths. As you can see, these women are representing so much more than a single story. Collectively, their stories have touched on themes of resilience, courage, overcoming self-doubt, overcoming fear, representation, self-discovery, a strong mindset, and faith. And these are things that I hope resonated with you at some point during the season. For me, 1 of the biggest takeaways was that I saw
05:25 - 06:02
Lola: a bit of myself in every single 1 of these stories, either from where they came from, their childhood dreams, the decision to pivot from an academic track or a career track that wasn't quite the right fit, to overcoming fear, self-doubt, procrastination, and ultimately taking a bit on oneself. We also had our laughs, lots of laughs, and who would have thought that I would have a TikTok account and also participate in the TikTok trend. Very demure, very mindful.
06:02 - 06:35
Lola: The point is that these stories remind us of the incredible potential within each and every 1 of us, and the power we have to make a difference in our environment, our sphere of influence, or in the spaces that we take up. Like some of you, all these women have had to pivot at some point in their journey. Some had to pivot multiple times, and they were fine with it because it was aligned with their calling for their lives. And if I had to summarize everyone's collective thoughts on Destiny, it's quite simple. It is up to us to make do with the seeds that have been planned within us.
06:35 - 07:08
Lola: And as we look ahead to season 2, I'm excited for the new guests that we have lined up, more amazing women sharing their stories. We're also working on some new exciting features, including a newsletter and a website to bring you even more inspiration and connection to our growing community. We're launching a LinkedIn page to increase our reach so now listeners and fans of the podcast can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok at Kadara Woman. And All these updates will be pushed through social media, so make sure you stay tuned and have your notifications on.
07:08 - 07:46
Lola: From the very bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you to my team, to my friends and family, and last, the listeners. Because without you and your support, it would not have been possible to weave this vibrant tapestry of African narratives and reshape the global perceptions that are out there today. And so until next season, keep dreaming big, breaking those barriers, and remember that your Kadara moment of clarity may have already happened and all you need to do is step into it and embrace it. This is Lola Soyebo Harris signing off for now, so stay inspired and see you soon for season 2 of the Kadara Woman podcast.