In July 2020, I started @themalayalipodcast out of nothing more than curiosity and a desire to understand how podcasts work. I wasn’t a content creator. I had no roadmap. All I had was a mic, an idea, and the willingness to learn.

My first listeners? Just two close friends.

But slowly, episode by episode, that small start grew into a community. And as the podcast evolved, I evolved too — both as a creator and as a person.

Every conversation, every story, every moment spent preparing an episode taught me something new. Sometimes it was from research, sometimes from listening to my guests, and sometimes from simply reflecting on the ideas I was sharing.

People often ask me: “What do you get out of podcasting?”

The truth is, it’s given me something far more valuable than numbers or reach — it’s helped me understand myself.

We often forget to talk to ourselves. We show up for our friends, our colleagues, our family — but rarely do we show up for our own thoughts and feelings. Podcasting became my space to do that. It taught me the power of self-reflection and the importance of listening to your own voice.

So, on this #InternationalPodcastDay, I just want to say:

🎧 Give yourself the gift of time.

💭 Speak to yourself more often.

🌱 And never stop exploring the stories inside you.

Thank you to everyone who has listened, supported, and been part of this journey. Here’s to many more conversations ahead.