Reflexive Growth

Welcome to The Hello Frequency, My Dear Listeners: I am your host, Caya. 

This is my latest episode, “Reflexive Growth”. This episode is a unique introspective journey where I delve into my podcasting experience thus far. It’s structured as a self-interview, a Q&A with myself, offering fresh perspectives. I hope it strikes a chord with you. If it does, I would appreciate your comments and a 5-star rating. Your feedback is motivational and enhances my growth. Enjoy the episode! 

Thank you for tuning in to “The Hello Frequency”. 

Remember, in a world where discord echoes loudly, let empathy be our pluriversal language! 

Until next time, this is Caya, tuning out from the Hello Frequency. 

Copyright and Citation

© Divakalala, C. (2024). Reflexive Growth. The Hello Frequency, A Lifestyle Podcast. 

Remember, in a world where discord echoes loudly, let empathy be our pluriversal language!

Transcript

The Hello Frequency Podcast acknowledges the Tainui people of the Waikato region, on whose land this recording took place. We respectfully celebrate the wisdom of the elders, those who have passed, those who are present, and those who are yet to emerge. 

Welcome to The Hello Frequency, My Dear Listeners: I am your host, Caya. 

This is my latest episode, “Reflexive Growth”. This episode is a unique introspective journey where I delve into my podcasting experience thus far. It’s structured as a self-interview, a Q&A with myself, offering fresh perspectives. I hope it strikes a chord with you. If it does, I would appreciate your comments and a 5-star rating. Your feedback is motivational and enhances my growth. Enjoy the episode! 

1.       What are my learnings as a rookie podcaster? 

a.     My journey began in 2017 when I started exploring this medium. I listened to various podcasts, consulted with podcasters, and loved ones, and even recorded a few trial episodes. This process helped me realise that I indeed relate to this medium, and hopefully, you have been enjoying the results over the past 10 weeks. My key learnings revolve around the concept of experiential learning. I have learned that one is never 100% ready and that it’s essential to start somewhere. I have learned from doing, making mistakes, setting high standards for myself, and accepting when I don’t meet them. I have learned to manage my time better, to say no when necessary, to step out of my comfort zones, and to let go of the pursuit of perfection. There are many more learnings, but these are the ones at the forefront of my reflections at this juncture. These learnings have accompanied me on many journeys, but this is the first time they have been applied in the context of podcasting. 

b.     I launched my first episode, along with an introduction, on the 10th of May 2024, which coincidentally is also a friend’s birthday. I’m hopeful that she’ll join us as a guest in a future episode. 

c.     Content Creation: I’m a self-proclaimed research nerd who thrives on the process of creating content. My journey begins with diving deep into random thoughts, nurturing them into meaningful ideas, and meticulously taking notes. I research to see if these ideas have been explored by others, write extensively, and then reflect and fine-tune my writings. While this might sound exhausting to some, it becomes almost effortless once you immerse yourself in the process. The key is to enjoy this process as well. Or perhaps, it just feels that way to me because I’m so passionate about research! Whatever the answer may be, I genuinely hope that you have been enjoying the fruits of this labour of love and compassion. I certainly do. 

d.     Episode Planning: I find immense joy in the process of planning each episode. It involves identifying emerging themes, finding individuals who can provide valuable insights on those themes, ensuring a diverse and intersectional flow, and much more. I have a colour-coded spreadsheet to keep everything organised! So far, I have produced an introduction that works like a trailer and 10 episodes, three of which provide context for why I started this podcast, and seven feature esteemed guests who have generously shared their wisdom. Despite the relatively short span, it feels as though I have been engaged in this process forever, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

e.     Highs and Lows: My podcasting journey is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, all of which are part of the process. These peaks and valleys often interchange, influenced by the time of day, my mood, and my reactions to life events. I believe we are all interconnected, regardless of our location, values, or social status along with a myriad of identities. Whether I watch the news or not, I’m influenced by global events. This might sound philosophical, but it’s just how my mind works. I hope you find this perspective as fascinating as I do. 

#AcceptingHighsAndLows

f.       Guest Conversations: The conversations I have with my guests linger with me for weeks. Even if I have known some of them for decades, I learn something new every single time. As I write this, I’m smiling, reminiscing about our conversations.  

#PleasantFlashbackMementos

g.     Social Media Exploration: This is the first time in my life, I am on social media for my podcast. I created an Instagram account for The Hello Frequency and am still learning the ropes. I also tried Facebook, but it didn’t feel right to promote my work on that platform, so I decided to step back. 

#ComingOutOfMyComfortZones

h.     Feasibility and Engagement: One of my key learnings is the importance of creating content that is both feasible and engaging. I strive to be realistic and avoid overcommitting. Balancing part-time jobs and life in general, I’m committed to producing one episode a week, usually on Fridays. For now, I’m sticking to the audio format until I gain more confidence. While I see the value in video podcasts and other social media platforms, I have decided to set healthy boundaries for myself and help my audience navigate their expectations of my work on this platform. This approach keeps me motivated and prevents burnout, which is crucial for producing meaningful content consistently. 

#Consistency

2.     The second question I asked myself in the process of creating this episode is - Why am I sharing my reflections at this juncture?   

a.     Critical Reflection: Critical reflection has been a lifelong tool for me. As a teenager, I did not have the language of critical thinking, but I practised it when I questioned societal divisions based on ethnicity, sex, class, and other identities. You can find more insights on these in Episodes 1, 2, and 4. Later, my understanding of critical thinking deepened when I volunteered in refugee camps in the early 2000s. This experience sparked many questions about our values, actions, the people involved in humanitarian work, the people in need of assistance, the resources at play, and the politics of it all. Such reflections and more have been part of my growth since then. My mind is always active, often waking up with a flurry of thoughts. Meditation and yoga help me ground these thoughts. This journey of critical reflection, which started at a tender age, has been both enlightening and challenging. It’s painful when I realise the limitations of my thinking or behaviours, but I’ve learned not to ignore these moments of discomfort. I’m profoundly grateful for the mentors who guided me during this consciousness-expanding journey. These inspirational individuals showed me the power of critical thinking, a tool I will never let go of. In short, I’m a lover of all forms of reflexology, and critical reflection is no exception. 

#CriticalThinking 

b.     Exploring New Mediums: For those of you interested in exploring this medium, I understand that embarking on a new journey or stepping out of your comfort zone can be challenging. We tend to conjure up all possible reasons to convince ourselves that we might not excel at it. Self-motivation can be significantly undermined by the fear of potential pitfalls. However, finding ways to swim with the tide, and aligning our efforts with what works for us, can help us reach our goals with our motivation and dignity intact. That’s the approach I took. For instance, I had always avoided social media due to deep-rooted insecurities stemming from war trauma and my experiences as a whistleblower. While I can not delve into the details of what I just said, I want to share that starting a social media account for my podcast and posting my photos was a significant challenge. It was a trigger, but I’m working through it. By sharing this vulnerability with you, my dear listeners, I hope to inspire those of you who need a gentle nudge to share your unique offerings with the world. If your contributions stem from a place of genuine positive intent, rest assured that they are needed, especially in these challenging times. 

#HealingAndTransforming

c.     Building Trust: I hope these reflections provide context and help build a trusting virtual relationship with me. Understanding what I hope to offer, why and how, and what drives me might help you decide to join me on this journey. I share immense gratitude and keep you all in my daily spiritual prayers. 

#FollowMyWorkPlease #Gratitude #SpiritualPrayers

3.     To conclude, I would like to share two key thoughts. Firstly, I reaffirm my commitment to fostering positive change. I will persist in creating valuable content on this platform. If you choose to engage with my work by listening, rating, sharing, or providing feedback, I assure you that your efforts will be put to productive use. Secondly, I am a staunch advocate of collaborative work. My experiences with community work since my teenage years have instilled in me the profound power of collective action. This philosophy has seamlessly transitioned into my podcasting journey, where I have chosen a conversational approach with my guests. In addition to this, I have co-created another podcast in Tamil, my first language, called “Milir மிளிர்” (மிளிர் வலையொளி) with my long-term friend, Thisa. Our shared history of on-the-ground activism in various parts of Sri Lanka for over a decade forms the backbone of our podcast. “Milir,” which translates to “shining brightly” in English, encapsulates our ethos - to shine in our unique ways despite life’s struggles. We delve into a wide array of topics centred around conscious living, with a particular focus on fighting injustices and solidarity building. Our conversations feature guests with whom we have worked in the past. We aim to publish an episode every month. The insights gained from podcasting in another language with a comrade have been invaluable to my growth as a podcaster. 

#ThePowerOfCollectiveJourneys  

On that note, 

Thank you for tuning in to “The Hello Frequency”. 

Remember, in a world where discord echoes loudly, let empathy be our pluriversal language! 

Until next time, this is Caya, tuning out from the Hello Frequency. 

Copyright and Citation

© Divakalala, C. (2024). Reflexive Growth. The Hello Frequency, A Lifestyle Podcast.