There’s power in having your own reality drive your podcast’s narrative, as Ekua, the host of Afrolit, demonstrates in her show. Her experience growing up in Africa but living in London, Geneva, and New York is the beating heart behind her episodes — it’s what drives her to connect to every topic and guest that encounters her podcast.

Ekua’s been recording her podcast for almost 3 years, publishing over 70 episodes. The first two years of her show look inward through personal discussions with her former co-host about dating, social media, health, activism, and more. But after her co-host amicably departed from the show after the 54th episode, Ekua was faced with the decision to continue or call it a wrap. Instead of halting production, she decided to turn the show outward — engaging her community of artists, journalists, chefs, musicians, and actors with African roots living all over the world and talking with them about their life experiences. A setback in her podcast’s usual flow allowed for her format to transform, and ultimately mature, inspire, and become so much greater than herself.

Through answering listener questions, keeping up an active presence on social media, and hosting a live show in Africa, Ekua has built her brand as a culture-driver and community-builder. She teaches us that our innate experiences are the most valuable starting points for conversation, and we talked more with her to hear how she podcasts.