Transcript
Speaker: Welcome back to the Spark It podcast where we explore stories, experiences and insights that spark a fire within so you can go and make that next big move.
Speaker: And I am your host Patrick CJ and today i am joined by a wonderful South Sudanese, a trailblazer and a content creator and storyteller that hosts one of the biggest ah that has taken over TikTok and beyond.
Speaker: And he's the founder and host of the Chill Talk podcast, a show that unites South Sudanese, Ugandans and Kenyan voices through unfiltered conversations with celebrities, influencers and changemakers, the one and only King George.
Speaker: Welcome to the Spark It podcast. well Thank you so much. That introduction is too much. But thank you so much. Honestly, it does little for the amazing work you're doing.
Speaker: Yeah, thank you. Yeah. Thank you. i really appreciate that. yeah I'm really very glad that we are finally having this conversation. Definitely. Definitely. Yeah. Yeah. I've been following the work you're doing and it's amazing.
Speaker: Oh my God. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you so much. I'm humbled. Thank you You're welcome. Thank you so much. Yeah. You're welcome. And so i I literally thought, you know,
Speaker: This is a conversation that I've been looking forward to in a while, and I thought we could start it by going back to the very beginning, the very beginning of Chill Talk.
Speaker: And we could maybe start by you as the person who founded the Chill Talk podcast. Who is King George before the Chill Talk podcast?
Speaker: Yeah, ah like before the Chill Talk podcast, yeah I am George Levy. George Levy. Yeah, a South Sudanese.
Speaker: But then most of my life, I think I live in Uganda. I grew up in Uganda. i studied my I studied in Uganda, like my primary high school up to my uni.
Speaker: was in Uganda. So I think um I just started, I think, um from nursery up to I think up to P2 in South Sudan.
Speaker: But the rest of the years, I was in Uganda. But then um in 2016, I went back to South Sudan.
Speaker: When I was there, then that is when the war broke out. Then I became a refugee. I became a refugee where? In Uganda. So before Chill Talk, ah well I am George, a refugee who was living in Uganda.
Speaker: I think that is me. And then um I did IT in Bugema University. So that was me before Chill Talk.
Speaker: Wow, that's amazing. Yeah, it's a ah it's it's almost like the story of most South Sudanese I meet, either in Koboko or um in Arua. Most of them are refugees and most of them probably came to Uganda around that time too.
Speaker: Yeah, like it's my first time even like being a refugee. I didn't even, i like I didn't have an idea of being a refugee. But yeah, it happens.
Speaker: Yeah. Like most refuge most South Sudanese who are in Uganda, definitely. They could be, or no, but most of them are refugees. Right. Yeah.
Speaker: Interesting. And so given your background, Yeah, of being a South Sudanese refugee, you know, living in Uganda. And you're quite successful for your age.
Speaker: um You've gone, got done with the school and you're super good at what you do with IT and the podcast and everything. What made you start the Chill Talk podcast?
Speaker: Was there like a moment you thought that I think I have something that I want to say that I would like the world to hear? Wow, thank you so much.
Speaker: um So before then, when I was in the refugee camp, I was staying in Rhino. ah I started doing some little work. ah I started it working, like my first time, I worked with a white child Holland.
Speaker: Yeah, so I worked with the children. ah So the idea was like to work and raise some capital so that I can come and pay myself in the uni. So I worked for about three years, two to three years like that.
Speaker: Then I resigned from the work. Then I came to Aroua. When I came to Aroua, I rented a house. went to the school. I registered.
Speaker: I got an application first, and then dad admitted me. Then I paid my tuition. I started moving to school. When I'm done, like, yeah, when I'm done, when I got done with my studies,
Speaker: I sat down like, yeah, I have my papers and I'm here in Uganda. Like in Uganda, it's rare like for you to get job. Like being a foreigner, sometimes it needs you to have the national IDs.
Speaker: So was like, no. So then I have like, as time continues, like for me being in Naroa, I got to realize like South Sudanese are very many here, but the content of South Sudan is not consumed there a lot.
Speaker: So then i think of an idea So the one thing that came in into me, it was Jacksona and Barnabas. That time, they started doing music.
Speaker: So when they started doing music, I started posting because these are close friends. I called them like my brothers. So they started posting ah they are so their are songs on YouTube.
Speaker: Then because it's these are close people, you have to post. So I got it. I started posting. I think among all the people who are posting, I became like ah the highest.
Speaker: And Barnabas like, now from there, Barnabas started calling me like promoter judge. Promoter judge, promoter judge. Then like, so it became like, now people like promoter judge, promoter judge.
Speaker: Then from nowhere, he was like, where can't we open a a page? A Facebook page. Like, we open a page and then it becomes a promoter, George. Then you talk about South Sudan music here in Aroa.
Speaker: Then we opened it. I started doing things. Writing blogs, writing blogs, writing blogs. The idea is to sell out South Sudan content in Uganda.
Speaker: But then I sit down. You see, almost all the social media of South Sudan, almost they do blogs. And then, but when you read, lot of people don't read A lot of people listen reading.
Speaker: They just see the highlights or the title or the heading. They run to comment section and that's all. And I'm like, okay, why can't I open a podcast under a multi-judge as another way of reaching or selling out certain content?
Speaker: Then the idea of the podcast came in. So that time I didn't have even like equipments. I have nothing, but then I have the idea. Then the person who was so close to me was Romeo.
Speaker: Romeo has equipments, have mic, like has the camera, like that time he has a phone that ah that was iPhone. So I reached out to him. was like, hey, I want to do a podcast. so And guy laughed at me. Like, I was telling people, like, want to do a podcast.
Speaker: Like, man, what are you going to do in podcast? And since he's a very professional in whatever thing he's doing, but it's just like, I want to do it. So what what happened is like, I started doing research about podcasts.
Speaker: Like right now in my phone, if I give somebody my YouTube, you get bored. Because they're all podcasts. I watch podcasts like every day. So was like, ah, there's no problem.
Speaker: I started doing a setup. And we started recording.
Speaker: And when we recorded, Yeah. Though i was not that perfect, but I just had i had a zil. Like I didn't go to the school or podcasting. I didn't go, like I know nothing, but just I have to cram like, hey, yes, they do it like this, they do it like this.
Speaker: That is how it started. But I'm so glad that right now it has become one of the best podcast platform in the country where people recognized it and people owned it and they continue saying that right now anything I post,
Speaker: Really want people know like here. and And there are lot of episodes right now that now the workload is too much on me. That's why maybe be who knows one day, ah employ people and that stuff to come and work for me.
Speaker: But right now, it is good. So that is how Child Talk came about. Yeah, from a story of brothers who didn't have a platform for sharing their music.
Speaker: And I feel like it could be an an idea of creating that platform for all of them. Like there are many who are out there who needed a platform so that their songs, maybe their voices to be heard.
Speaker: and that' stuff then then then Then I think the the idea developed into big, it grew from very limited, and maybe space, limited people, content, then it became broader.
Speaker: yeah Wow, that is such a story. it's it's it's It almost sounds like it's something that happened accidentally.
Speaker: Yeah, like the coming of it is like, was like, no, what if this guy didn't become musician?
Speaker: Maybe it won't happen. But we don't know also, maybe it might happen. But still, at the end of the day, it happened. I really appreciate them, by the way, because since they became musician,
Speaker: And since we have friends, i like I go to everybody's contact. Like, hey, this guy, have I think there are some videos I check. Some guys go to their videos. yeah yeah When this guy releases his song, Manga Manga, yeah.
Speaker: I used to share, man, like all over, like on Facebook. At that time, I didn't have like a page. It was just George Levy. I was like, ok okay, let me be there.
Speaker: But then later I discovered like, no, maybe let me go deeper. And right now, yeah, it's doing Right now you have one of the the biggest podcast, ah I would say from South Sudan.
Speaker: The most listened. Yeah. I think people listen to it a lot, especially on TikTok. Yeah, yeah, yeah. TikTok. It has the biggest the following. Yeah.
Speaker: Which I think is fantastic. And Facebook? Yeah, and Facebook. And Facebook. Yeah. And honestly, like... um it's it's It's very inspiring to me to see that when we recognize a challenge, we acknowledge it, and then we start, instead of you know coming out to complain, ah coming out to blame people, you went to find a solution to the problem.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Instead of going around blaming people, you know what? These people are not giving us platform. You decided to create your own. yeah Yes. And now the platform that you created to give yourself space and to give others the space and their voice to be heard now is it has grown and is now providing space for people beyond your inner cycles that the platform was designed to do from the initial start.
Speaker: yeah yeah sure yeah i feel like it's one of those things that we as south danese youth we need to take up this mentality that you have you know of recognizing of of seeing a problem that exists and instead finding ways to solve this problem yeah yeah you're right like um There is ah there's this does this podcast I read.
Speaker: I think I watched, it's podcast, I think documentary about how Nike came, the Nike shoes. So the Nike shoes came in a very simple way. So this person was telling me, i was saying Nike shoes came in a very narrow problem.
Speaker: Like they saw people playing football. But then the they the they were using, i think shoes, but these shoes, I think they were not comfortable.
Speaker: they do one They are not, like that they are really, really not comfortable with it. So they thought of, think, okay, I should cut that story because it's not clear with me.
Speaker: We will cut that part. okay Yeah. So, but then according to the idea was like, there was a problem that Nike saw. Think either these people were playing bare feet, then they thought of introducing shoes.
Speaker: Okay, I cannot recall the story. I cannot recall the, yeah, maybe we'll cut all these parts.
Speaker: Yeah. I think it's either of football or running. Yeah. So when they saw the problem, so when Nike saw the problem, they started thinking of bringing shoes for these athletes.
Speaker: So they thought of like, what if they get the shoes that can make these people feel comfortable, they feel light when they are running and also increases their speed.
Speaker: You know when the shoes are light and you're comfortable, it increases your speed. But now when the shoes are very like heavy on your road, on your leg, sometimes even lifting it, you're really reducing some energy.
Speaker: So when they saw that ah that that problem, they thought of reducing what? the the They thought of solving that that problem. When they solved it, the thing became worldwide.
Speaker: So like at that point when you brought like narrowing it to a friend, then it became something big. Yeah, like I'm really, really happy right now because you find that there are people who their voices are not heard.
Speaker: And there are very many, many people out there that their voices needed to be heard. But they don't have the platform. But now when Chill Talk came in, a lot of people now started, oh George, can I share my story? Can I share my story?
Speaker: it's It's definitely amazing that you took up the initiative and initiated the Chill Talk podcast. Yeah, because I feel like, you know, just like we have already discussed,
Speaker: Sometimes we see and identify a problem that really is one, but we do not spend much time and thinking about a but ah solution to that problem than we do maybe complaining about that problem.
Speaker: You see, like I've i've i spoken to a lot of you know people who are either you know unemployed and you will hear some of them just complain about how they're not getting called back and stuff like that, but they never really concentrate on maybe rethinking how else they could get employed or maybe by just employing themselves, starting something else of their own and you become your own employer.
Speaker: Yeah. And you see right now, ah you are self-employed and you're already talking about employing others. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. You see? Yeah.
Speaker: So from from from a refugee camp, you are now a job creator. Yeah, which is kind of very inspiring. But also another thing I see really is I think it's really good that the Chill Talk podcast has inspired other podcasts into existence.
Speaker: that are now able to tell ah South Sudanese stories. Yeah. um and And basically sell South Sudanese content. And I think now we have lots of podcasts in existence and others that are still coming up.
Speaker: And we now see South Sudanese content almost everywhere. And that is important. yeah Because it contributes to strengthening, let's say, our music industry, our fashion industry, our economy in general, including attracting investors and tourists into the country.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. So it's it's it's amazing to have you know ah huge assets to the country like yourself.
Speaker: Yeah, man, like, ah thank you so You're making me look big, man, like, but thank you. Honestly. Yeah. Yeah. It's amazing.
Speaker: Yeah. and And you know, one thing I love about how you started the Chill Talk podcast is how um you did not wait to have everything perfect before you could start.
Speaker: Yeah. You did not wait to have all the equipments for you to start. Of course. And I feel that is a mistake we make so many times. So now this is a thing. ah I think...
Speaker: i have I have this thing with me. Like, a sometimes when I go inside, yeah bro, like I read, i like I watch a lot. I watch a lot about documentaries.
Speaker: I watch a lot about people, especially people are successful, wherever, wherever. And then almost all of them say like, start with what is available.
Speaker: Because like, if you don't start, How will you know that it will work out? just i um and This friend, Sassanit, Shasha, I was having an idea of doing Njuba.
Speaker: oh So I have some crazy idea I wanted to do in Juba, but I'm kind of afraid of doing it. Then I told her, she was like, if you didn't do, you will not know what the result will be.
Speaker: What if you do, George? Find out. Because right now, if you don't know, if you didn't do it, you will not know what is the result. And I was like, oh. But still, I did not do it. I think when I go back, I'm going to do a bad death.
Speaker: Yeah. So I feel like doing something, is more crucial than without doing, than just saying, and also being consistent. I know I'm not perfect. Like my podcast is not the perfect podcast. There are lot of better podcasts in South Sudan wherever.
Speaker: But just what I put myself is like, at least somebody will know that there's something new coming out. Being consistent in the game, And it gives you room for improvement.
Speaker: Even sometimes there are certain things that I know they are mistakes that I see them happen. Sometimes I do them purposely so that I give time so that when I do changes, I do changes people know like, oh, there's growth.
Speaker: There's room for growth. But now, like you start perfect, there are a lot of people who have started perfect. But they know how to be seen. You don't know what happened? They the best horse, they have better cameras, better mics, whatever. They are nowhere to be seen.
Speaker: You don't know why. So just i have that belief like, yeah, George, you can do it. With, without, just go. Yeah. And I feel like honestly, da there's no more powerful message than what you've done.
Speaker: It speaks for itself. Yeah. Yeah. If you have an idea, start now. Yeah. You don't need to wait to have everything for you to start.
Speaker: Start it straight away. Yeah. The challenges you meet are going to teach you. You're going to learn along the way and you'll make improvements along the way. Of course. Yeah. but when there are no challenges, how will you solve your problem?
Speaker: Because those challenges gives you to think. And then it it helps you also strengthen the vision of whatever thing you're doing. Because these things come in like this. There are people because they have seen, ah, since it's all over, maybe let me start my podcast.
Speaker: Without knowing, like, hey, nigga, there are a lot of challenges people go through. ah Sometimes even when you can go to a and the guest, like, I don't want to be hosted. Like before when I started hosting, nobody wanted to be hosted.
Speaker: Because I feel like I'm too young, like for the podcast is too young, the platform is too small. How can you host me wherever? But at the end of the day, when that thing comes from you and you have the passion of doing something, you can do it.
Speaker: But then there are people, because they've seen maybe the Chris Brown, the John Frog have organized big shows in Juba. Maybe let me become a musician. me Who knows that? i la But then, one, maybe you don't have the talent.
Speaker: Two, maybe you don't have the passion of doing it. Because you've seen these people are looking good. You want to do something. But i think I think it doesn't work like this. Yeah, it works with what I think is good with you and you feel you enjoy whatever thing i'm doing you're doing.
Speaker: Like for me, whether there is money or there's money, I i just do my thing and I enjoy it. And the part of enjoyment is the thing that makes it so sweet. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. yeah And honestly, agree with you because if it is not something you love, it's almost hard for you to stay consistent when you're hit with the challenges.
Speaker: Yeah. You can almost just quit. Yeah. So yeah, I totally agree with you. It's like very, very important to to do it out of love and to have a very strong reason why you're doing it.
Speaker: Because that will be your strongest in motivation. Of course. When things get hard. Of course. Yeah, sure. Yeah. Because definitely it's not going to be a bed of roses. Yeah.
Speaker: Damn. And right now, it's this is this is inspiring because from a refugee camp, ah to founding and hosting one of the biggest podcasts currently, which is amazing.
Speaker: And I'm just wondering, like, for you, I know you hinted this already from the start. ah What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as you were starting early on?
Speaker: Yeah, like, one, I didn't have knowledge about doing podcasts, but totally. I'm just seeing them, like, even, like, the word podcast, like, Okay, podcast.
Speaker: It's like not our thing. I just got to learn about it. Like you see them from the Western, the Western world, you see from the whites, or at least you come to Nigeria, you come to Uganda and you see in in Central also.
Speaker: Like you see with people who speak good English. um maybe, man, like, it's something crazy, like, so big. So, one, I didn't have knowledge about what podcast is.
Speaker: I didn't think of one day that even I would do, I would have a a podcast. Yeah. So, but then, the good thing is, like, I was living with the people who have ideas about podcast and that stuff.
Speaker: And then, What I did a lot, I was using the internet a lot to do research, like to go and watch. Even sometimes I go like, how do you start?
Speaker: Like for the introduction part, how do you start a podcast? How do you start a conversation? and didn't go to the class for it. I just, I learned, I go do research. Like YouTube becomes like my university.
Speaker: I go, I see how people start a podcast. how a podcast is set up how can you introduce a guest how can you make your guest comfortable how can you make your guest like those kind of conversation like like my my search bar is just like how how how like until like every day like i'm obsessed like my data burns out out of that So like one, I lacked knowledge at the at the beginning, which was the biggest challenge.
Speaker: But then I kept doing it. Secondly, I lacked like um equipment. Because trust me, a lot of people say they want to do podcasts, wherever, wherever. Those things are very expensive.
Speaker: Like a mic, mic is expensive. Camera is expensive. Like to have lights, like it's not an easy thing. Like it's really, really expensive.
Speaker: So those are some of the challenges I get. And sometimes movement, going to one location because I i don't have a studio. Like I have to go to hotels like, hey, can you give me a space? I want to host my guests wherever.
Speaker: But then you find that sometimes this hotel accepts, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they want you to pay money. Okay, if you want to access our space, pay us money. Then when there's no money,
Speaker: You will not record an episode. You get it. And then there are some guests. you There's ah some guests. When I was starting, they think, you know, I reached out to him. i was like, hey, can I host you and that stuff?
Speaker: Guy accepted. They did for the hosting. Like, hey, where are you? Guy doesn't pick calls. You call. We call like over 10 times. They didn't pick calls. Ah, was so disappointed.
Speaker: So you find that there are some guests they accept and at the end of the day they reject. yeah But right now they're chasing me. They're now the one coming. Yeah, they're now, they wanted to be hosted. Yeah, but I will host them though. I will not pay back.
Speaker: Yeah. Life is always like that, you know? Yeah. Yeah, but... um Yeah, do does that those are some of the challenges that Honest Life is, and sometimes finance. Like, um I left my job, like the work I was doing.
Speaker: I was just too much putting like 100% of my time, but still working the podcast, the little money I get, I pour all in the podcast, buy equipments and that stuff, all to make sure that what, these podcasts grow.
Speaker: So like ah financially like this, and really big challenge. Because now the idea is big, like is it's going to be beyond podcasts. Like it's going to be beyond podcasts because the thing is that There are a lot of people out there who have talent, like maybe better than me and that stuff. They have ideas about content creation and whatever.
Speaker: Now, what if I think of having a platform, like creating, maybe having a content hub space where you can come in and train people, people learn about content creation.
Speaker: We'll learn about branding. How important is branding? How they can do like the way other people do? How can they earn from their what? From their content and that stuff.
Speaker: Because I was like, there are lot of challenges like in the country beyond even sharing our information. So like, um that was the idea. That is the idea because now the more like these days when I've been in Juba, I was seeing, just my going there.
Speaker: Yeah, people see like I'm having fun whatever. But no, I'm seeing what challenges are there. How can I fix those challenges using my platform? Okay, beyond my platform, apart from sharing, because now, yeah, I can bring you in my podcast and we have conversation.
Speaker: What next? There are people out there who they would want to be like maybe the artist or would want to be like the entrepreneur, or the business person or whatever. Then like maybe i will think of having a space and then train people about content creation or maybe be having a studio where if people cannot afford to what?
Speaker: To go to the hotels and whatever, they can come in and host with a very cheaper price. You get it. So like finance right now is one of the things that is killing me. But lucky enough is that I document everything of mine. I put it down so that ah so that I get prepared because um but somebody was like, man, don't don't don't get money when you're not prepared.
Speaker: ah Because there are people that if you don't know how to use money or you get money when you're not prepared, you're going to misuse the money.
Speaker: Time will come in where money will come in and you'll know that, ah, yes, have this project, I have this gap to fix, I have this but gap to fix. So right now, like I'm preparing myself. In every step, every day, I write things down, preparing my myself to become a very powerful platform that is not only doing podcasts, but doing other events, doing other activities around. Right.
Speaker: That's amazing. Thank you. Yeah. yeah you You're a dreamer. i Yeah, very good. i love calling myself to be a visionary. Like, I want to be a visionary. Like,
Speaker: This name started like recently. like I think a lot. like i want to be i think like i just are like I want to be a visionary. Like a vision thing. Then I put it down and I want those things to happen.
Speaker: Yeah. So I love when you brought that man because that thing was in me because i was like, judge be a visionary. Yeah. Yeah. Like you see beyond today, see beyond tomorrow and think something that is going to last forever because now whatever I'm dead, God forbid though. Yeah.
Speaker: God forbid. Yeah. We still need you. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Is Chiltok going to die? No, that's not a thing. Chiltok has to continue. yeah It has to live on. Yeah, that is it. yeah and and And one thing, honestly, that I've loved about some of the challenges you talked about and some of the ways you know you responded to resolve some of those challenges is amazing. I think that...
Speaker: um sometimes we we are able to recognize that we have, for example, let's say gaps in knowledge or skills about a particular thing.
Speaker: But ah we know for sure that there are people within our circles that exist who could come in and help us. But for some reason, we are always either afraid to ask for help or are too proud to ask for help.
Speaker: But in your case, it was different. you were able to go and ask for help. yeah And it paid off. It did big time. Yeah, now, this is the, so I don't know maybe how I'm met, but I'm very happy because you'll find that this chill talk became very powerful.
Speaker: It's just not through my struggle, honestly. Friends came in and supported. Sometimes I may not get a equipment from here. Other people can come like, George, I have equipment. Come and record your thing.
Speaker: Even sometimes for free. Guys motivated me. Like, George, you can do it. I swear, it's just from people. And like, it's like, oh, sometimes there are some equipment I use, very powerful equipment.
Speaker: But then if those guys were to give some people, they pay. But me, they don't pay. Like they don't ask for any charges like George Rikard. Anytime you want, you're welcome.
Speaker: I know. You see that? It's amazing. I know. Yeah. It's amazing. What can happen when you're able to ask for help when you need one? That is it. Yeah.
Speaker: It doesn't like matter whether those people are going to give you or not. You lose nothing by asking for help. Yeah, you lose nothing. yes Yes. Yeah. That's I think there's this Bible thing that is sticking me.
Speaker: And that is the truth. If you don't ask, you don't receive. If you don't knock, the door won't be open. Somebody will just be there at the door. And if that person on doesn't knock, we'll not know.
Speaker: And I swear that thing works. It is better you ask than never. Who knows this person has? Unless this person doesn't have. Then you're like, hey, no, sorry. Honestly, i don't have.
Speaker: But I wish I have. I call. Then this person, sometimes there are those people like, okay, since I don't have, maybe let me first try to find out from one of my friends. And she continues.
Speaker: And sometimes the other friend will have and they will help you. Yeah. and And so honestly, I love this because I feel like sometimes we lock ourselves out of opportunities that we would have access to because we refuse or are too proud to ask for help.
Speaker: Yeah. and And it's amazing that, you know, your friends and community showed up for you. That is it. Big time. Big time, yeah. And they they are continuing helping me, man.
Speaker: Like, I'm very happy. Honestly, big up to them. Yeah. I feel like, you know, um and it it it is connected to the idea of asking for help because I feel like if you are in need of something,
Speaker: ah and your friends and community do not know, it can be difficult for them to show up for you. Yeah. But if you're able to share it someone might have something. They can say, oh, I have, you know, you can use it.
Speaker: Or they would say they do not have it because truly they lack it. And they have someone in their own cycle that has what you're looking for. And they could become the link between you and what you're looking for.
Speaker: Yeah. So honestly, feel like super important. Ask for help. Yeah, ask for help. Like if you can, do it. Because they say sometimes problem being said is half solved.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. So if you don't ask, My brother, you won't get it. yeah Unless if you have everything. But it's still sometimes even you may not have salt, but the neighbor has.
Speaker: Go and ask, man. Keep that pride down. Put the ego down. You lose nothing by asking. Yeah, for sure. And also leverage your friends and community.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. They will show up for you. And honestly, another thing is, ah as you were speaking, I was like, I like this guy.
Speaker: Yeah, because you know you you knew, you recognized that you had a problem and the problem had to do with the knowledge. And now if you if if you want to do something, ah if you want to do something, you definitely probably want to get to understand what that thing is and maybe the basics, at least the fundamentals on how to do something like that. And in this case for you, it was the podcast and you knew You did not have the skills for it, the knowledge for it.
Speaker: And what you did was you made the internet your friend. While other people are just busy on rails of people dancing and work, you were busy learning tutorials on how to do a podcast.
Speaker: And I feel like we need to improve on how we use the internet. yeah Yeah, because most times, look at you, you used the internet very constructively.
Speaker: And as a result, today we have one of the biggest podcasting platforms in South Sudan. Imagine if you just used it, you know, for just watching those dancing and the reels and that you're endlessly scrolling.
Speaker: and You learn nothing and forget nothing.
Speaker: Not to cut you short, a yeah like i live a lot with Jaksana. So, Jaksana is one of the guys who is very, like this guy is intelligent.
Speaker: This guy is very wise. He was like,
Speaker: why is he going to the internet?
Speaker: Have you ever asked him, why do you go to the internet? And then sometimes he was like, I'm just going for TikTok. Why watching the TikTok? but Just to have fun. Then what next?
Speaker: So, ah then he was like, you know what, George? I have this idea like, just don't want to go to the internet. Even if I want to go to the internet, I should go and search for what I want, then come out.
Speaker: Because here, the internet is so addictive that if you're not serious, you'll be there. You'll not learn anything. You'll just laugh. So, like, trust me, my search bar on YouTube, you'll get bored.
Speaker: It's all on like podcast.
Speaker: Even today, like, no, this is what I've done for myself. I trained myself. Since I'm in the podcast world, I have to make sure be in my standard.
Speaker: I have to make sure have to improve in improving my standard. by watching different kind of people, even the way how they speak, how they interact with people.
Speaker: It's very important because look at, the there are some people who feel like they are professionals in whatever thing they do, Because of ego, pride, not giving like a room for learning, there are people who just come and overtake them.
Speaker: They are bankers, managers. They feel that they are comfortable working there, but they don't know there's somebody who have learned even time is 10, 9 times. yeah And can speak the bank language in and out.
Speaker: And for you out there, you think like you're the best. But now, I was like, nah. So what I do is, even I watch our own podcast.
Speaker: I watch Spark It. I see, what lesson can I learn from the Spark It? And I love Spark It podcast. Yeah. So, like, a good I go there, watch.
Speaker: I watch, I see conversation. I see how you people do Because at the end of the day, it could be nice thing, the way how you set up, the way how you start conversation, the way how you raise questions.
Speaker: And like, there could be a lot of things that one can learn. And also like, our fellow South Sudanese, their podcast, I compare every day with mine. So that I make sure I be in the landmark.
Speaker: So that I don't be behind, but I make sure that I have to be there. So like, I make sure I use the internet as well. Like any person out there, like trust me, you have internet, the career, whatever, even if you're a teacher, use the internet to hack some of the um ah some of the ways of how you can do your work.
Speaker: um There are a lot hack ways of how you can make your work so easy. You're musician. Now every day have to make life simple for you by learning new things, new styles, so that you don't be behind. So, like,
Speaker: I go to the internet, I post, I go, youtube like YouTube becomes my everything. Just right now, I cannot live without the internet. Like internet becomes like one of my basic needs.
Speaker: And have to make sure that what? It pays me back. Right. Yeah. And it does. Yeah, sure. It does. does. Yeah. yeah And honestly, totally agree with you.
Speaker: Like we have to be open to learning. yeah Every single day. single day Learn something new. Like every day.
Speaker: At least learn something new. From a person, from the internet, from their book, from anything. From a song you're listening to. Learn something. Just don't live your life.
Speaker: Because at the end of the day, honestly, Patrick, if you don't have value in a society, nobody gives a damn for you. There are people that say like, and no, if I become rich, that is when I will earn respect.
Speaker: Yeah, trust me, you get the respect, but there does there are the respects being earned by some value where you create those values, some characters that you come with it.
Speaker: Now imagine you have those characters and then the money comes in. The respect is time is time. But then you have the money. Yeah, of course, people can respect you. Let the money go away.
Speaker: Nobody respects you again. But then there are some standards of living where create a value for your life. like Create something that somebody can point at you. Like, oh, you know what? That is my friend.
Speaker: But nigga, be that reckless. Who would want to point that? That's my friend. Even your girlfriend won't point. Like, you know, that is my boyfriend. Or that is my girlfriend. Yeah, so for for me, I feel like creating a value for yourself is really, really, really, like very important. Yeah, that's yeah that's true.
Speaker: I agree. Yeah. And each time we learn, we are adding value. We're adding value, that is it. Yeah. yeah So the value comes in when you're learned. That's why some people, when they go to the school, when they go, they maybe they go to the community lot and they're like, this person is learned.
Speaker: And then when the learned person does something stupid, like, what's wrong with this person? He's learned. yeah I think you have ever come across these things like, man alus sukulu like he has gone to the university, but he's acting so stupid.
Speaker: Instead of those people who did not learn, learn from him. It means learning brings value to your life. But then if you don't learn, it means you're losing your value in the community.
Speaker: And also if you've gone to school and you've learned and you behave like someone who read the back of the book
Speaker: Yeah. Becomes an issue. It becomes a very big issue. Yeah. And honestly, for me, like a key takeaway from here is we need to become lifelong learners.
Speaker: Yeah. We should learn every single day. Yeah. Oh, man. This is good. And, you know, like um the idea of documentation that you mentioned earlier is really good.
Speaker: I love it. Yeah, it's like, it's it's it's a very good way to actually, you know, stay on track. ah Should do you, for example, get to resources that may be allocated to what you have documented or maybe not, you know, you just get a whole sum amount of money, maybe from somewhere that, you know, this is for you. Invest in the podcast or invest in yourself.
Speaker: And if you'd not have, you know, some of these things documented, You almost do might not know what to invest in and you might just, you know, misuse the money, use it recklessly, and in no time, all of it is gone.
Speaker: And you're back to where you were before you received a penny. Yeah. Yeah. So I love that you're doing that. is yeah You're documenting and you're budgeting and forecasting, you know, what you would want or how much you would want to make the improvements you want to see.
Speaker: That's amazing. Yeah, it's it's honestly one of those things that I feel even in our own personal lives, we need to do. Yeah, with our personal finances or our business finances, if we have a business or something like that.
Speaker: Yeah. Definitely. Yeah. We need to. Yeah. But I think, honestly, listening to your story, one thing that I see is, you know, great things. Yeah.
Speaker: can you start from unexpected places. Yeah. Who would have thought that your displacement to the refugee camp, that experience would produce one of the biggest podcasts in South Sudan?
Speaker: Yeah. So that is it. Like, like there a lot of questions, question marks a lot, but then the question mark is still like, what if I didn't come Uganda?
Speaker: What if I didn't come to the refugee camp? Like what if I didn't come to Arua? I remain in the refugee camp. Also, that is another thing. You know, there's ah this there's an author. I don't know if you know him.
Speaker: He's called Robert Hill Shuler. He wrote a book called Tough Times Never Last, but Tough People Do. In that book, he says, there are always opportunities in problems, but those opportunities can only be seen and found by people who are willing to look for them.
Speaker: Yeah. Otherwise, you just look at problems as problems. But you know what? Problems are not just problems. They can be signposts that are directing, you know what?
Speaker: You need to do maybe A. You need to do B. Yeah. You see? Yeah, I love that. Because sometime back I used to be, I don't know why I've become too lazy in reading, but I used to read a lot.
Speaker: Somebody was telling me how problems are. And until I felt like problems are you important in a society. Like problems are very, very important because now what if there was no problem? Like ah imagine back then people were footing.
Speaker: yeah Now you want to go a long distance. It's a problem. Then people are like, oh, now we're footing, what should we do? There's somebody here like, what if we make something like a bicycle?
Speaker: What if we make a car? Maybe flying. Now like problems, that's why um there was a, I had my phone, the other phone got lost. so I had a phone, that phone I screenshot. They said like, how can you get money?
Speaker: This guy brought like four steps of how you can get money.
Speaker: Because he was like, true problem, right? So this problem needs to be solved. So either you provide a service to solve of the problem, right?
Speaker: Now like for example, it's a hospital. Hospital provides service, which is what? Healing people. So the service you're providing is what? Healing people.
Speaker: So deep down you is healing people. It's a problem you're solving. But at the end of the day, it is generating for you the money. So like putting the focus of solving the problem, at the end of the day, it's generating for you the money.
Speaker: You get it? Now like for me right now, I'm solving a problem where right now my focus will be in solving the problem. Then what? Thinking of the money.
Speaker: Because by default, the money will come. Yes, as you solve the problems. As I've solved the problem. But when you fail to solve the problem and then you look into the money, just so you find that ah some hospitals have the death threats.
Speaker: And when the death threats are high, people fear going there. Because you find that one maybe the hospital becomes very too expensive and then the people that are brought in, they are not qualified.
Speaker: And then since they are not qualified, there are lot of cases. Instead of thinking of what can we do so that we have low death rate and we solve that problem.
Speaker: And the moment you people have less death rate, you have high chances of what? of customers. And that's why you find that, like let me say, for example, where we are in Auroa, they compare with the buses, which buses has a lot of accidents.
Speaker: So when anyway they see ah a bus company, there's a lot of accidents, people feel going there. You get it. But now where they see less, it means they're providing a service that is so sufficient,
Speaker: safe, and then you find business continues. Yes, absolutely. Yeah. That is so true. So, like, thinking on on how to solve the problem should become like a paramount. Absolutely.
Speaker: Absolutely. Yeah. Problems are important. Very, very important. It's how we, as a society, yeah make progress. mog Yeah. And when you put zeal into it and solve the problem,
Speaker: Trust me, you'll get something up Absolutely. Actually, ah my friend Isaac, ah that we co-founded Jobs to Apply with, ah he said, the more problems we solve, the more money we'll have.
Speaker: That is it. Yeah. True. And that's true. Very true, bro. but It's so true. Yeah. Yeah. Because look at these millionaires. Yeah.
Speaker: These people are not sleeping. Always they they have to find problems. They're always identifying what is the problem. What is the problem? Yeah. What can be a solution to it? And I feel like we need to start having that as our day-to-day mentality.
Speaker: We don't just look at problems just as they are. Yeah, we look at the problems, we try to understand them deeper and we start to think, how can we solve this?
Speaker: Yeah, and probably will solve it in a way that can bring money to our pockets too. Yeah, amazing, amazing. Yeah, and and so I wanted to actually ask you this because Chill Talk feels deeply rooted in culture, but it's also very unique and different.
Speaker: and in how it is how do you strike the balance between uh spotlighting trends for example maybe you know in music because you do a lot of you know uh celebrity interviews the the guests that you host and stuff like that but also staying authentic to your own purpose of creating the podcast yeah so now when I came up with the idea of creating the podcast, just so you can see, I hear the name chill.
Speaker: Like, it's a chill conversation. So you find that when you're having a chill conversation, like a very relaxed conversation, is where you find that honesty comes in. It's where you live freely. It's just not like an interview where you have to pump this person. Like, you know how journalists, huh?
Speaker: Huh? well well What? Like, you know? they Like they pump a lot to you and then you have to answer those questions. And that is not the style of how I do my podcast.
Speaker: So like, it's like a conversation where I need to have a conversation with this person. So sometimes I tell my guests like, hey, this is not a place, what? Of hype.
Speaker: Like you come and hype yourself. I'm this, I'm this, I'm this. I'm like, no, be yourself. You get it. speak the part of you, be like, speak that part of you because people wanted to know who you are.
Speaker: You get it. Then just you want to make noise. It's a platform to create a trend for yourself. But at the end day, like, no, that's not the kind of the the the interviews I do.
Speaker: That's why South Sudan, there are a lot of interviews where people do a lot of interviews. But at the end of the day people wanted to create an interview where should create a trend where this person has to talk like ill maybe upon the other person or the other person, or maybe they're like, you ah you talk about your dressing code, how much do you spend in a day?
Speaker: Do you have a car, whatever? No. So I remain like, I keep my ah my my conversation just why like sometimes I don't want to sound in my conversation.
Speaker: ah There was a guy, there was a guest I hosted Well, like, for you, your podcast is like, it needs a lot of explanation. And definitely that is what I want.
Speaker: Explain your point. Explain why you're doing this thing. So that your fans or your audience listens to you, knows why you're doing certain things. You get it.
Speaker: So it's just not about like, yes, I want to interview you're celebrity. Just like there are some people, I don't think you will go and interview them. Yeah. There are some people that I know because like you keep yourself high class, you'll be there.
Speaker: If you feel like your information is important, be there. You get it. But then there's people are like, hey, please let us have a really good Be yourself. Like the way how other countries will find that they have this kind of podcast where they really speak the inner part of themselves.
Speaker: yeah Their weaknesses and that stuff. And that is the idea of how I wanted this podcast to be. Like, no hurry. That's why there was um and there was a guest, Emmanuel Lasuima.
Speaker: He's a legend in the industry. Oh, you hosted him? Not yet. Okay. So i was I wanted to host him, so he was not feeling well. I think family staff and that stuff, the dad is sick and that stuff.
Speaker: I'm like, no, I can host him in that kind of situation. Because at the end of the day, he can be maybe traumatized, stressed, because of the dad and that stuff. So at the end of the day, you may not get good information from this person.
Speaker: I feel like now, have to relax. Let everything be okay. You feel like you're comfortable, you're okay. Then we have the conversation. Yeah, that's that's very lovely. I love that you have concern for your guests.
Speaker: That's very important. I feel like sometimes um we really don't you pay attention to the health and mental health of our guests or maybe how those conversations are going to impact their health or mental health.
Speaker: And I feel it's super important we do. Yeah, as podcasters, as people with the platform, we need to pay attention to that such that our guests feel safe and we can have honest, unfiltered con conversations that add value.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah, to to the community and and and to what we are doing. Yeah. Yeah. Amazing. And and you've you've done almost like close to 40 episodes right now. Yeah. I think close to 40. Yeah, it's 35.
Speaker: 35. Yeah. So you're approaching the 40 mark. Yeah. That's very close. Yeah, very. It's been such a ride. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah It is. is such a ride. It is. Yeah. I remember when, you know, we hit our, our 10 mark and we were like, damn, we never thought we would do this because for us, you know, we started it just for fun.
Speaker: but Like, no, we have free time in our hands, a couple of hours or so. Why did we just, you know, share our thoughts there? Yeah, so it's amazing that you're doing that. Now, out of like the 35 episodes that you've had so far, what is the most memorable interview that you had with maybe which guest or maybe the most memorable moment and why you think so?
Speaker: Well,
Speaker: one of the, ah like, I think one of the conversations that I really had
Speaker: Like, man, almost all of them are memorable. Yeah. But one of the thing is, like, like the conversation I had with Epos, because that is my first episode I hosted alone.
Speaker: Yeah. Like, I sit down, I see it. And with the musician who is a superstar in the country, I go back and see, like, George, you did it.
Speaker: Like, it's one of the episodes that I easily don't forget about it. Because, like, I started, like, before we used to host two. But then, like, yeah, time come time came in where, yeah, George, you have to take it.
Speaker: And when I went, I started with big person.
Speaker: was like, then I had that conversation and how honest he is. And what makes it more memorable is It's one of the first episode that bloggers from the central tagged me.
Speaker: Because that was a time when A.P.A. a is releasing his album. he He mentioned that the date of when he was going to release his current album.
Speaker: He mentioned it in Chill Talk. And then there's this Eboo report that does bloggers in Kampala and that's that. It's not easy like to get even those people posting about you, even tag you.
Speaker: They talk, why did they get the information? From Chill Talk. And that was my first time. I'm like, oh my God. I'm like, I hold my hand. I'm like, George, you did it. You did it. Yeah. Yeah. Like, I was so happy because now imagine there are how many ah media houses are in Kampala. There are very many.
Speaker: Then the George, who is just from the refugee camp, APAS just came to share his release of his album. And he's talking, talked very nicely and there were a lot of quotations. And then APAS even shared it. I was like, now imagine a lot of people are seeing me in APAS platform.
Speaker: It was good. It's amazing. Yeah. It's lovely, honestly. Indeed. Yeah. And actually, wow. It's amazing. I feel like for me, when when i when I look at, because that episode I think is one of the most watched episodes.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's one of the most watched. And when when you, for me, when I look at it, you know, it was your first time interviewing by yourself or hosting the podcast only by yourself.
Speaker: I feel like it says a lot about your own confidence and self-esteem. That is it. Yeah. Yeah. It takes a lot of courage. Yeah.
Speaker: and And confidence and self-esteem to be able to go and do something like that for the first time. And not just, you know, with an upcoming artist. A superstar.
Speaker: A superstar, my brother. Yeah. A superstar. Huh? grow You grow up listening to him. Yeah. Then the end of the other day, sit with him. Yeah.
Speaker: And it became a news. Yes. Which is lovely. Yeah. Honestly, I feel like... Listening to you right now, it's like you you you give me more reason to, you know, encourage people to really be confident.
Speaker: Because sometimes it's, it's we we miss out on a lot of opportunities just because we have lost self-esteem. We are not confident enough. You see?
Speaker: Yeah. If only, you know, we can just trust our God. If only we could believe in ourselves a little bit. You never know where it would take you. Yeah.
Speaker: The first time, of course, it will be scary. Yeah. You're like, what the hell am I going to Yeah. But eventually, you know, you you you you you get it done with and you're like, oh, shoot, I did it.
Speaker: Yeah. And before you know it, you have the second. You have the third. The third. And now you have 35. Man, 35. 36 is coming. I know. Oh, man. Like...
Speaker: Bro, like somebody i was telling me, that judge you know, right now you have the, you are the only person that has the highest episodes currently in South Sudan, among us all podcasts.
Speaker: Like, oh, I didn't know. Because for me, what I do, I have to make sure on Sunday I post. Because the thing is like, I didn't put myself like in the room, like I want to compete with the other platforms, but I make sure that in encourage, i let them open more podcasts.
Speaker: Because that helps a lot because ah there's this gap, there's this problem that came in. You know, I do Wikipedia articles, like I create articles on Wikipedia.
Speaker: I do contribution and that stuff. Man, like you want to talk, you want to write about our fellow artists, you want to write about people who are very, very important in the society.
Speaker: You cannot write a about them because they their information is not on the internet. yeah know Because Wikipedia is full of facts check. Like you have to get a a link. Like, my name is George Levy. Where is it written? judge e His name is George Levy.
Speaker: Or King George. Where is it written? Okay, he does podcasts. Where did you find that information? Put it there. Like, Wikipedia is like that.
Speaker: So that is the reason why Most of us as a new artist are not there. And because of what? There are less platforms that are organized. I get it.
Speaker: So I'm very, very like i'm very very happy like seeing a lot of podcasts around. And like, because so I just have that hard, like, please come ask me in case you have something.
Speaker: and yes i was know When I was in Juba, there are some people, some content creators, they come and what? They request for my mics. They request for anything that i have. I was like, man, use it. Don't bring back to me, but make sure it should not get spoiled.
Speaker: Because one day, it may help you. So like... Just please, I'm not, I don't make myself like I want to be a very, very hard person to reach to.
Speaker: I'm very easy, like to reach to wherever you want do your thing and you find difficulty. It is people who helped me to be where I am. Why should i be just hard? Nah, that's not the hard I have.
Speaker: that's amazing and and honestly like you i i believe that as young south sudanese and as podcasters and though for me i am not a full-time podcaster but as young south sudanese i think it's super important uh to help each other grow yeah helping each other grow is super important Yeah, it's like, you know, instead of getting into this business of trying to compete with each other, yeah how about we get into this business of working together with each other?
Speaker: And then, you know, amplifying our work as a collective. Yeah, before you know short have most powerful platforms. we have the mostlyist powerful platform Yeah.
Speaker: And these platforms play a huge role in amplifying our music, our economy, our fashion, and everything, our culture. Yeah. And this is the way how people rate, like, how the country is, like, in terms of development.
Speaker: There are people who wanted to, maybe to address, before they come into a country, um let them search about South Sudan. Or maybe when they reach South Sudan, maybe they want to meet these people, these kind of people. maybe there could be some coding creators. Yeah.
Speaker: What do they do in South Sudan? Yeah. It's very important. It is. It is, yeah. It is very important. too um and And honestly, like, one one thing i see is, you know,
Speaker: It's very important for for platforms like this to not only exist, but also to work with each other and to compare knots whenever possible and to just generally know help each other grow. It's the only way.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. Rather than remaining islands. And honestly, for me, i believe that we rise by lifting others. By lifting others. Yeah. Definitely. Yeah.
Speaker: I believe in that hundred percent. Yeah. Yeah. So we got to support each other. We have to get, yeah. We have to support. Yeah. We have to support. Yeah. So ah I know like, you know, this is something you actually mentioned that, and it's so true.
Speaker: There are so many ah podcasts that are now mushrooming because of the Chill Talk podcast, because of many other podcasts that are existing.
Speaker: and And I have been meaning to actually ask you, like for you, when you look at all of these podcasts that are now coming and maybe Many other content creators or young people who'd be from South Sudan who would also like to start a podcast.
Speaker: What is the behind the scenes work that they don't see ah about podcasting that you would wish they see? Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: It's not hard, but it's hard. It's not hard, but it is hard. Break it down for us. So, like I always say, starting something, have a reason why you're starting something.
Speaker: Like when you know the reason, definitely you'll succeed in whatever thing you're doing. Have your target audience. Don't go just all over.
Speaker: Don't go everywhere. Or maybe according to the target you have, you have these particular people, particular people, particular people, and then you reach out to them because not that everyone you can please in this world.
Speaker: You get it? There are people who don't like my podcast. are people who like my podcast. And there's no way I can convince those people who don't like to like my podcast to play according to their tune.
Speaker: No, do your stuff. But there are major things that you should learn about podcasts. One, because podcasts need, there are two types of podcasts though. Like there's audio and then visuals, where you can decide like to be offline like a radio and then just record your audio and then you share.
Speaker: And then there's this one where right now we're doing visuals, both audio and video. So you decide which kind of podcast you want to do. So now if you're coming to audio, make sure you know how to what?
Speaker: Edit audio. That's another behind scene that you have to learn. Learn audio editing.
Speaker: Or else, you make sure get good mics and start using. Or else, you use what is available, which is what?
Speaker: The phone. You record it. Coming to audio and what? Video. Make sure you know to edit video.
Speaker: So those are some of the skills that how also important podcast brings to you. You start learning how sound is, the importance of video. And at the end of the day, you can become a director. You start shooting for people videos.
Speaker: But then you have to learn how to edit video, which is a very, very important thing. Like ah before, it's just not about speaking. Make sure you know your audio quality is very good.
Speaker: The visual is very good. Then the other thing is that I think podcast is just not about like, just not about interviews. It's about be what do you want to gain from this person?
Speaker: It's the most important thing. Yeah. At the end of the day, I can laugh. I can do all that. But at the end of the day, You have to pick something that you want the audience to know. You get it.
Speaker: So that is another thing. Like, know why you're doing something. Why are you hosting this particular person? You get it. Those are the behind things that you have to have it in your head.
Speaker: Yeah. Why you want to, why you're getting this person in your podcast. The reason why you're hosting him. Know how to edit videos. Because those are the things that are very important. and Your audios.
Speaker: And I think it's very, very important. yeah Absolutely. Absolutely. And honestly, I feel like ah ah just adding on to what you've already said, which is solid, you don't need to have a perfect setup.
Speaker: Yeah. Start with what you have in your hands. True. Start with the available resources. True. Yeah. Very true. Grow up from there. Grow up from there. Yeah.
Speaker: gro Like you can see my podcast, many so a godda like in terms of venues, today you can see me in a very fancy place. Next day you see me in a very, but was like, no, I have to record.
Speaker: Record it. Let them be there. Five to 10 years, you see back like, is that me? Yeah. Those are steps of growth. Like starting where you are is good for me. Like as you said, start it.
Speaker: Don't think of the setup. Today you may not have the good camera, but the phone you have, and for you they work. Yeah. And before you know it, you never know.
Speaker: yeah Yeah. You're somewhere far. You're somewhere far. like George. Ha ha ha ha
Speaker: oh For sure. Yeah. So, i ah you know, like ah you, you have grown so much. Yeah. Within a very short time.
Speaker: And honestly, it gives hope, I think, to many young people, to to many podcasters, because you have stayed consistent. And it's very important for anyone who would like to start a podcast or another thing.
Speaker: Doesn't matter. You have to stay consistent. Yeah. That is like the key ingredient to almost everything. So you have been very consistent and you have been constantly learning along the way.
Speaker: And because of that, your podcast has grown so much ah to a point that you now have a partnership with Locker Discovery TV. Yes. Huge.
Speaker: Yeah. How has that changed Chill Talk Podcast? Wow, like it has changed a lot. I want to really appreciate um um ah Local Discovery TV.
Speaker: They do mainly online streaming, like online interviews, like live. So ah it's so funny, like how we met.
Speaker: It is just like, I've just believed like there are lot of people out there watching. though you're doing what? Trust me, there are people who are watching you. yeah So for me, the thing is, when I was just doing my podcast, I just continued interviewing.
Speaker: I don't know. I just, yeah, i see them, Local Discovery, on Facebook. They are doing, because they hosted some of my friends wherever I see them. But I just didn't i didn't think that one day or we can do some work together.
Speaker: Yeah. was then doing my thing. i was like, oh, they're doing interviews. That's wonderful. You get it. Even there was a day i got pissed up with them. Yeah. A lot of time came up now, i was telling the boss like, hey, you know, that you people are going to know it over.
Speaker: So there was ah an episode we recorded. Yeah. This was Franco and Jixana in that episode.
Speaker: Then I found out these people were, the short clips eye I post on ah TikTok, they download it, they post it on their platform. They download it, they post it on their platform without what?
Speaker: Giving me credit. It's like, what the hell? What is happening? But then I was like, some people say I should confront them. was like, and let me leave them.
Speaker: Let me leave. I just left. Then later I found out, So now, Kumbe, this person, the owner of local discovery, started looking for me.
Speaker: who is this guy who is doing this Chill Talk podcast? who is the Where is this guy from? was asking the people who knows me. But it so unfortunate that some of them denied me.
Speaker: Like, ah, this guy we don't. Yeah, like, they denied me. Like, they don't know who is this guy. Even some of them, like, ah, these are guys who i just grew up in Uganda, in Aruwa.
Speaker: I think maybe they are Logwara, whatever. And this is a person that sometimes we eat together, man. Yeah, we eat together. Ah, this person denied me and that stuff.
Speaker: Yeah, like three times, this person continued asking about me. I think just this person saw something in me and then he continued asking for me.
Speaker: continue asking for him Then ah one day i woke up in the morning around 6 a.m. m There was no sleep. Then I got my phone, I went to TikTok.
Speaker: Then on the TikTok, I found some people that I know, they're on their live streaming on TikTok live. Then I joined the live. Then that person brought me to join the live.
Speaker: So when I joined the live,
Speaker: then this person greeted me in the local language. Ah, a child. Well, then I responded, ah, all of them got shocked. Like some of them got shocked like, hey, so it means you can speak this language.
Speaker: I'm like, yeah, I speak it. No, they don't know. They thought that I'm a Ugandan. They thought that I'm a person from Arua, wherever. They don't know. um like like, you are our owners. Like, yeah, guys, guys, come on. I mean, South Sudanese started speaking in the language.
Speaker: So, from there, and then then they love the T-shirt. They was like, hey, since i we saw you, you know, doing a lot of ah advertisement of the Chiltok T-shirt, can you, how can we, because most of them are abroad.
Speaker: Some of them are in Canada, Australia, America, wherever. So they are like, how can we get these T-shirts? I was like, no. How can I send these t-shirts to those freelancers?
Speaker: Then what I did is like now, since it is very hard, I'm offering you people my logo. Just I was saying for you, the logo, you can print for yourself.
Speaker: And they not going to pay me. I'm just going to it because they love it. Then they gave me, was like, now what you have to do? You send for your WhatsApp numbers. Some of them send for me their WhatsApp number.
Speaker: And that is in when we came link up with ah with the Local Discovery. And the owner of Local Discovery is Podjulu Quinn. Yeah, she's called Leila.
Speaker: Then we started having conversation. The first time we had the conversation, it took us like two hours. getting to know each other, conversation, conversation.
Speaker: Then he found out almost what I have in my brain is what they are having. They're trying to build. Then she was like, George, can we be partners?
Speaker: Since we're doing the same thing and that stuff, i was like, Oh, partners. Okay. ah So I did not rush into like accepting the thing because since they have a team, i was like, no, I can just not accept it like that.
Speaker: ah First call down your team, brief them about who I am. Because some of them don't know. Yeah, brief them who I am. And then... Tell them who I'm going to be like with them.
Speaker: Then they briefed. All of them are happy. They welcome me. So that is how Chiltok came together with the local discovery. And I'm really enjoying it.
Speaker: It's a nice partnership. Yeah, like I'm really, really happy. That's amazing. Yeah, that's the story. it it It appears that... Your partnership with Local Discoveries TV has changed the Chill Talk podcast a lot.
Speaker: Yeah, definitely. like um Because you'll find that Local Discovery has its own followers, its own views, and it is a people who watch them and that stuff.
Speaker: So like when they're so chill talking, it gave like a very important boost to the platform. Like people get to know like, oh, so there's Chill Talk. And also like, since also I'm doing a partnership with them, there are those people who follow me. Wow, so Chill Talk is not doing with Lokha.
Speaker: You get it. They start following. Then it became, now they continue seeing me both sided. I'm like, ah, I think these people are working together. So, like, it just it was, it is really, really very beneficial.
Speaker: Like, to all of us, it deb boosted a lot. Like, even my, sometimes my trip that I go to Juba, which is facilitated by them, by the locker, they give me everything I want.
Speaker: And because ah there's work, because there's something that like they want that I provide. and they see it very important. and So I go and do for them and that stuff. But I'm really, really happy.
Speaker: That's amazing. I'm really happy for you. Yeah, it's it's it's very good partnership. And I think honestly, it has already ah started and is still taking the Chill Talk podcast to new heights.
Speaker: And honestly, for me and your other colleagues, I think we just can't wait, you know, to see what Chiltok will become in the next 5, 10, 20 years down the road.
Speaker: Yeah, it's it's it already looks a very exciting journey. Yeah. And will. Yeah, it will. It will. And one one thing I've learned from, you know, your encounter with the local Discoveries TV team is that you have to put yourself out there.
Speaker: You have to put your work out there because you never know who's going to see it. You see? And you never know who's going to be interested in it. Exactly. maybe depa the next investor is out there.
Speaker: That is it. Yeah. There could be another watching. yeah Like Jojo, I want to work with you. Yes. You see? Yeah. And before you know it, they start reaching out. And all of a sudden, you have a partnership like the one you have.
Speaker: Yeah. But also, honestly, another thing that I think I've learned from what you were saying is, and and this is probably for anyone that uses just social media, is that it's very important to give credit for someone's work.
Speaker: And not just social media. Any kind of work that you do, if something was created and is the intellectual property of another person.
Speaker: Credit that person. It doesn't kill you. It doesn't make you any less. You know? It's, if anything, it actually gives you ah credibility because people will say, oh, you respect people's work rather than stealing it.
Speaker: It brings the shame on you and so forth and all this stuff. Yeah. So it's super good to give credit. Yeah. Belongs to someone, give them credit. Yeah. And honestly, that is how you build a relationship too. Because work hard for that thing. I know, man. And then at the end, somebody just won't take it like that. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. So that time I was really pissed. So when we bring that story up to now, we end up laughing. Like, you know, that I was annoyed with people. And now at the end of the day, we are now a family. Yeah. It's amazing, honestly.
Speaker: Like... um Like, you see, you with the partnership that you now have with the local discoveries and now the big names that now come onto your show, ah you know, that you host, there must be a lot of pressure now that you experience than when you did, when you started Chilito, let's say, a couple of years ago.
Speaker: And probably they you now, you are more famous. than you were before. And I'm just wondering how, as a very young person that you are, how do you manage that?
Speaker: How do you stay grounded from the pressure, the fame, and the many things, and the girls too? ah Yeah. So, man, like, I have a very simple life for myself.
Speaker: um Right now, I don't believe myself that I'm famous. It's always people tell me that, George, you're not... But I just said, to like, no, I'm not known. And that helps me a lot, like, in terms of how I be.
Speaker: So I live with everyone, like, I'm okay with everyone. I dress, like, the way I am. Because, like, There are some people where since maybe they've been with other people, other artists, interact with different kind of people, man, even they forget their friends, like they don't want to grade.
Speaker: Maybe they start changing their style. of ah it But was like, nah, think that's not me. I think that's not what I want to create the podcast for. Because like some people create something maybe be for the starters.
Speaker: But no, that's not what I want.
Speaker: Like I don't see pressure, trust me. I don't see pressure because I put in my brain like, George, you're still, you're not known. And that gives me room to do more work.
Speaker: Because the moment I make that mistake that like, oh, since I'm known, i mean it will give me what? A room of relaxing. Relaxing. So, like, I believe, like, whatever thing I'm doing is still.
Speaker: So it means I have to make time is too, like, extra energy, extra pressure. ah like the fame, like, yeah, ah like in Juba, like when not when I go to Juba. Yeah.
Speaker: Even, like, I don't believe myself. I was in the car, I was in custom. I was seeing people just wearing chill talk. Mm-hmm. And I was like, do these people know that I'm the owner of children? So find that I feel excited, but at the end of the day,
Speaker: Sometimes even when I pass next to them and they don't know. You get it? Which was good. Which is a good thing. Because at the end of the day, if I create like celebrity lifestyle, want to create attention, want to create this.
Speaker: No, like that is not what I want. that is the That is not the goal I want. I just want to live my life, enjoy my life, be with the people. and i know right now I'm still not famous. I know after two two two to three years, I'll be known like more and more and more.
Speaker: But still, it won't change anything for me. It won't change anything, even my dressing coat. You always see me in my children. It won't change my look.
Speaker: The way you found me is just the brain will change. Because there will be a lot of growth. That is one of the things that I have to what? Instead, make this brain but grow?
Speaker: Unless something that will make me distant from you is unless we don't reason together. Because trust me, there are a lot of friends who have left me. Some of them say like I brag. Some of them say like I'm proud or whatever.
Speaker: But at the end of the day, it's not that. It's about now. Do we reason together? Do we have something in common? You get it? That's why you find that there are some people live with other people because they have the same thinking.
Speaker: But now, like for me, right now, the reasoning I want, I want somebody who wants development, somebody who wants growth, somebody who's so, like, is so angry of doing something, I want to come out from where he is to change a life.
Speaker: So like when I find such kind of person, I think we're together. Let's just join hand and do it. You get it. So I think I don't see it because the pressure ah for the girls, like it's crazy.
Speaker: It's crazy. The good thing is that like girls fear me.
Speaker: Yeah. So like, I think some of them say I look rude. Some of them say, sometimes when I come, I greet them. They just greet me and they walk away.
Speaker: So, which was a very, which is a very good thing. ah And then at the end, at the end of the day is like, it it helps me. Like when they say like, George,
Speaker: there was do you know like I've been dated so this is what happened yeah you've been dated yeah like several times so there was a this period of time where
Speaker: when I was advertising the t-shirt so I put my numbers there for Richard then somebody called me like hey is this George she's like yeah ah she won the t-shirt She was like, yeah, in a t-shirt, I said, okay, which color? Then she described and that stuff. was like, wait, there's something I want to tell you. I like, yeah, you tell me.
Speaker: said, what? I'm in love with you. Wow. I want us to date and that stuff. She's a straight shooter. Yeah. She was like, I was like, hey, where do you get that confidence? Because I told her, where do you get that confidence to date me?
Speaker: She was like, yeah, I have to ask it. I was like, no, no, I don't want. so She begged. Yeah, like she begged, but I felt bad for her.
Speaker: But I didn't accept it. You get it? I didn't accept it. So the thing is that right now, you find, fine
Speaker: ah like, I don't, because you find, and ladies are good people. Yeah. But right now I'm not in the room like to bring them in in my life because I'm still building something that can be there to sustain her.
Speaker: So I be careful in that stuff. Like I be very sensitive in this thing because I don't want to spoil myself. I just don't want to get somebody pregnant and and that stuff.
Speaker: Just in every way because I want to use my fame because people know me. I have to go to ladies. Nah, I'd rather be like a very supportive person. We change their yeah brain of thinking because a lot of them think like being dated with the people who are known.
Speaker: It's a flex. It's not a flex. you're ruining your life. So that's not the kind of platform that I'm thinking to build, like just to to get a ladies with it.
Speaker: you are You are definitely a different breed.
Speaker: oh This thing is very careful. It's very, very important. and Trust me. Since somebody having a platform and using that an advantage for ladies, it's very bad.
Speaker: You'll destroy that platform. The artists have died because of sicknesses. Some of them maybe being even killed by fellow ladies.
Speaker: Some of them, like their career died because of that. Like a lot of like, I see mistakes because also, by the way, I go and watch mistakes of people who have fallen from the industry in whatever thing they do.
Speaker: And some of them could some of them are ladies. Ladies spoil them.
Speaker: So one has to be very careful with the relationships. Yeah, like have a type of a woman you want. It's very important. Absolutely.
Speaker: If you don't have a type, then of course you go to anyone. That's why for me, I have the type of the woman I want. Which kind of woman I want. Then if you're not part of it, because women, are the ladies are beautiful out there.
Speaker: You cannot please all of them. You cannot have all of them. But have something for yourself that can what? Sustain that you think can make you happy. But not because I'm females, want to do the A, B, C, D. That is when you're going to spoil yourself.
Speaker: yeah So ladies, men, I'm very careful with that.
Speaker: Honestly, I think it goes even both ways, even for ladies. I think it's just very important to be careful about who you get in a relationship with. yeah And for men, the same thing.
Speaker: yeah Because you know some relationships might destroy your life. yeah yeah so Some decisions, you know. You say in the like in the in the name of know love and so forth, but some of the things they can lead you to, you can never come back from if you're not very careful.
Speaker: Yeah. Wow. Okay. um Maybe as ah we we wind up, um what what do you hope... the Chill Talk podcast ah would help with when it it comes to changing, let's say, the narrative of maybe South Sudan or South Sudanese or refugees in general?
Speaker: Yeah. How do you hope, you know, the Chill Talk podcast can you contribute to changing narratives around this?
Speaker: Yeah. It's like,
Speaker: Because right now I'm seeing a lot of people, like a lot of people giving me like things like, George, thank you so much. You're doing well. You're so inspiring and that stuff. yeah So it like came, like people are seeing like some great progress, like in my life because Chill Talk right now is on feeding me, Chill Talk take care of me and that's how that but platform.
Speaker: So like if somebody sees that, And then me who is coming from a refugee camp, who's a refugee and that stuff, it means they believe that they can do it.
Speaker: So it it becomes a platform of hope, like somebody sees like this guy, like there are those people in the camp like, you man, you're chilling with these big people.
Speaker: Chilling with the big dogs. Yeah, chilling with the big dogs. Like, how did you do that? You get it. So, but at the end of the day, it's about ah believing in yourself.
Speaker: Like, Chill Talk should become a platform where people can believe in themselves that they can do it. So, the thing is that it's not only going to narrow it into content creation, but in anything you do.
Speaker: oh I was in Classic FM and then they asked me a question like, George, what advice do you have? was like, man, I don't have the best answer in this world, advice in this world.
Speaker: But the best thing is like believing in yourself. Like create something that you think is going to help you. You get it?
Speaker: So, like, that is the whole idea right now. like Because right now, Shell Talk one day is going to become a company that is going to employ people. You get it? It's going to employ people.
Speaker: and And that is the goal where it's going to contribute into the development of the country, reducing job opportunities, creating job opportunities for people.
Speaker: ah Like, there are those people who are out there who can do very good videography. And I bring them, it's contributed to somebody's life, you get it. And then like, maybe with time, or we need tutors, we'll come and train people ah about content creation.
Speaker: I've already employed someone, and at the end of the day, I'm impacting some fellow South Sudanese, who learn some new skill that they don't have. So the platform becomes like, lead people on it.
Speaker: A platform that is coming to give back to people. Because there will be a time where I was thinking, like just it's money. um like Maybe one day reaching out to the communities, doing charitable work.
Speaker: You get it? like Even there's people that I cannot manage to host them, but I can reach to them and give them the little I got. Giving back to the community is the idea right now I'm reaching out.
Speaker: You get it? Giving back to the community, helping the needy. There are those people who cannot walk. Maybe they will need some ah wheelchair. How can Chiltok do that?
Speaker: So like the dream is big. That's what I was telling some people. If you're thinking like to do a podcast, you want to be like maybe Chill Talk, please, Chill Talk has his own brain.
Speaker: Do something that you know that can change something. I'm not running for the fame. Maybe you're running because you want to be famous. No, do something that you think you can impact people.
Speaker: o Right now, I'm not running for the fame, but I'm running for a platform that, a proud South Sudanese will say, there will be, you know, there's this kind of argument, like ah back then when we were young, you know, when we were in school, these South Sudanese and the Ugandan would be like, who is the best artist in Uganda?
Speaker: They were like, Jose Camillion. And then when we were young, ours was who? It was Double J the King, the Silver X, Kawaja. And you find that you feel proud mentioning because These are the people that when these Ugandans go and search, you see their work and their work is good.
Speaker: And that is the kind of the platform that I want to create so that people will be proud to say like what? Chiltok is one of the South Sudanese platform that is doing well. They are proud. They can mention it.
Speaker: Like what the hell are you talking about? Podcasts, look at this, it's doing well and start comparing. if it And it creates like a pride of the country. Yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker: Yeah, that is honestly amazing. and and And I think like you have achieved that already and you're continuing to achieve more. Not yet. People are already, you know, pointing the Chill Talk podcast as, you know, the bar.
Speaker: And so you've set a very high bar for for all of us. Yeah, big shoes for us to fill. And it's good shoes because we need that kind of a challenge. It's very important. That's how we grow.
Speaker: Yeah. So, you know, thank you for doing that. ah Maybe in just like, i don't know, 30 seconds, when you ah reflect on your journey, you know, from a refugee in Rhino refugee camp,
Speaker: to becoming a student, to founding and now hosting the Chill Talk podcast, what's the biggest lesson you have learned that you would want anyone who would come across this episode to learn to?
Speaker: I have a lot to think. ah Yeah, so I think one thing that I would learn from all this journey yeah is like, George, you can do it.
Speaker: Trust me, that is the only thing I have. That is the voice I have inside me. Even sometimes there are some people that you feel like you cannot reach them, but then at the end of the they're like, George, you can do it. irada i always have this saying, like don't envy, but learn that thing that you want to learn.
Speaker: Sometimes I can be crazy that I see some people having cameras wherever. Instead of envying, thinking of how you can get that thing. You get it.
Speaker: So like, I i be humbled. I be disciplined in my life. Because that is the most important thing. Like, I feel like I have to be humble in life.
Speaker: I have to be disciplined. Discipline yourself. And then believe that, George. I always say, like, George, you can do it. I don't know, I cannot speak good English, but it's still like, George, you can go on and watch movies, you can go read, so that you can improve on your English.
Speaker: Learn, like, that is the thing, like, out of all this journey, it's not an easy journey, but I put the belief in myself that, yes, George, I can do it. And trust me, i have it a person that when I hear that person, I host that person,
Speaker: I'm like, yes, you have achieved it. I feel like, yes, I've done something. You get it? Yes. Who is that person? I won't tell you. I won't tell you. It could be you because still I didn't host you.
Speaker: Yeah. So that is, it's a surprise. It's my own thing. Yeah. Yeah. But trust me. It's not an easy journey, but always saying to yourself, to anyone there, that you can do it.
Speaker: Trust me, you can do it. Always think positive, put negative energy out. Because when you think, the brain is a very funny thing. I even, you know that I reach up to extent of ah watching things related to the brain.
Speaker: How the brain function. How even the brain is divided. Where is the part of thinking? Where is the part of keeping, like, and so that i make sure that what? I be in the right track.
Speaker: A lot of people talk bullshit about me. George, you cannot do it. George, your episodes are trash. George, this, this. George, your audio. George is like, George, you can do it.
Speaker: That's all. and Being positive in your life means a lot. But when you put all those negative, trust me, you'll get all those negative. ah Advice. Thank you. Honestly, ah King George, thank you very much for sharing your story, your experiences, and your insights with us at the Spark It podcast.
Speaker: I really appreciate it. You have your story and you have shown us that it's very important to believe in ourselves and to start and keep learning along the way.
Speaker: And to our listeners, please go and check out the Chill Talk podcast. on all platforms that you listen to your podcast and on TikTok. Until next time, take care and thank you very much.
Speaker: Peace. Peace.
