Your Podcast Playlist | Featuring Podcasts To Enhance Your Listening Experience
2024| ISSUE 6
Melanin Made For Us, They Not Like Us
Tosin Sulaiman
“My hope is that great ideas get recognised regardless of who or where they come from.”
Tosin Sulaiman is the producer and host of Made For Us, a podcast exploring the intersection of innovation and inclusion. Tosin started her career as a journalist, working as a business reporter with the Times of London and Reuters.
What is the podcast/ what is it about: My podcast is called Made For Us. The goal is to share stories about people finding clever solutions to problems others hadn't noticed or had gotten used to. The first season explores some of the best examples of inclusive design and provides insights from the pioneers in this field that other companies and entrepreneurs can learn from.
Why is there a need for podcasts like yours: You probably won't find another podcast that looks at product design from the perspective of those who are often overlooked in the design process. I couldn’t find one so I decided to create the kind of podcast that I would want to listen to.
What's one thing you wished you'd known about podcasting when you started: I feel like I’ve seen both sides of the industry - I’ve seen what it’s like to work on a podcast when you have the backing of a big news organization and what it‘s like to do it solo.
While I like the freedom of being an independent podcaster, one thing I hadn’t anticipated is the decision fatigue that comes with it! Having to make every decision - who to interview, what the cover art should look like, when to run episodes, not to mention marketing decisions - is hard work. I miss having a team to brainstorm with, who can provide input on certain decisions, or even come up with better ideas. Having said that, my family and friends have been really supportive.
What are 3 resources or tips you've learned in your podcast journey: I came across Gimlet Academy, a series of 5 podcasts by Gimlet founder Alex Blumberg on how to produce a podcast. It’s a great resource for anyone starting out.
I found the Wit & Wire podcast by Melisssa Guller to be another great source of inspiration. I also signed up for her Podcast Launch Accelerator, which I’d highly recommend for anyone who’d like to launch a podcast within a certain timeframe and would like a bit of guidance from someone who’s been there.
A great book to check out is NPR’s Podcast Start Up Guide.
The Melanin 360 Podcast
Host: Jorae Williams
The Melanin 360 Podcast covers topics through the lens of people of color navigating through today’s society.
Why are They so Angry
Host: Dr. Carol François and Kourtney Square
This podcast takes you on a journey into unexplored territory to unlearn what you thought you knew about American history and being Black/African American in the United States. Episodes examine how systemic racism is steeped into every institution of American life from education, business/labor, healthcare, housing, religion, criminal justice, pop culture, and politics.