Africa has no shortage of creators.
What it lacks are systems that pay them.

In this episode of Conversations & Plugs, we sit down with Cedric Nzomo content strategist, systems builder, and one of the quiet architects behind Africa’s creator economy to unpack what actually turns content into income.

We talk about:

• Why most creators stay busy but broke

• The difference between content, distribution, and monetization

• How trust, partnerships, and systems shape sustainable creative careers

• What brands misunderstand about creators

• How AI changes leverage — without erasing human value

This conversation goes beyond hype and motivation.
It’s about structure, value capture, and long-term thinking in Africa’s creative economy.

📌 This episode also marks our return after a period of pause, reflection, and real life. We’re back — grounded, honest, and focused on conversations that matter.

00:00 – Welcome back to Conversations & Plugs
02:45 – Why Africa has creators but not creator wealth
06:30 – Cedric’s journey into content systems
10:20 – Why most content never pays
14:40 – The myth of “more content = more money”
19:30 – Trust, betrayal & partnerships in business
25:10 – What brands get wrong about creators
30:45 – Building systems that outlive individuals
36:20 – AI, leverage & the future of African creators
42:15 – What content with real value looks like
48:10 – Advice to creators trying to monetize
52:30 – Closing reflections
54:00 – What’s the plug?

If you’re a creator, founder, or brand trying to understand how value is actually built and captured, this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for more grounded conversations
👉 Like & share with someone building in the creative economy
👉 Follow us: @ConversationsAndPlugs

Anne Muhia walked away from a cushy CFO post at the height of COVID, opened a neighbourhood butcher shop, and—armed with TikTok and a handful of automation tools—turned chaos into community. Tap any timestamp to jump straight to the insight you need:

00:00 Intro – Why “Unprepared” Wins

01:12 Quitting the CFO Desk

04:25 Startup Heartbreak (3-year sales cycle, 4 M KES price tag)

07:45 Distribution-App Success (Unga Farmcare, Karirana Tea)

11:05 COVID Pivot → Butcher Shop (startup costs & first-week sales)

14:30 Automation Trio (Wave, Zapier & WhatsApp API = 15 hrs saved/wk)

18:00 TikTok → 70 % of Sales funnel

21:30 Early-Intervention Mindset (six therapy sessions/week → business lesson)

24:45 Peer Mentorship Framework (5-person “board” in 24 hrs)

What you’ll learn

• Pivot Math: the real costs and break-even timeline behind Anne’s “spreadsheets ➜ steaks” leap

• Automation Hacks: tools that slash admin time by 40 %—links in the show notes

• Mentorship Made Easy: a peer-group template you can copy this afternoon

• Early-Action Advantage: Why moving before you’re “ready” beats waiting for perfect plans

🎧 Follow & rate to help us empower 10,000 African businesses—one unprepared step at a time.

#AfricanEntrepreneurship #InnovationAfrica #BusinessGrowth #CommunityBuilding

Episode Description:

Adelle Onyango doesn’t just tell stories, she disrupts systems. In this powerful episode, she shares how grief, rage, and radical softness shaped her departure from mainstream radio and her journey into building pan-African platforms.

Expect hard truths on tokenism, gender politics, content as currency, and what it means to create from scars, not for claps.

🎙️ Highlights:

• Why she left radio despite “success”

• How rage and rest coexist in healing work

• What African storytelling needs now

🔊 Listen now and join the movement to reclaim our narratives, together.

🎧 Subscribe, Rate & Review on your favorite platform🔗 www.conversationsandplugs.africa📲 Follow us: @ConversationsAndPlugs

One year ago, we hit record — not fully ready, but fully willing.
In this special reflection episode, your hosts Wangu Joy and Clifford Kinyua look back at the stories, guests, and raw moments that shaped Season 2 of Conversations and Plugs.

✨ We talk:

• Why small beginnings matter

• The guests who changed our mindset — from BBM cake hustles to billion-shilling dreams

• What it means to lead with authenticity

• How podcasting forced us to grow

• Africa’s rising wave of fearless entrepreneurs

🎙️ Featuring reflections on:Mackinlay Mutsembi, Brendah Mwirichia, Esmeralda De-Souza-Obwaka, Maria Nkumba, Zainab Nasser, Dr. Zena Onsongo, Dan Aceda, Moses Kemibaro, and Lynn Ngugi.

This one’s for anyone navigating the messy middle, daring to build, and learning as they go.

💡 What we’ve learned?
You’re not behind. You’re just building.

#ConversationsAndPlugs #Season2Reflections #AfricanEntrepreneurs #PodcastingJourney #BuildAnyway

She didn’t wait for permission from anyone

Full Episode Description:In this powerful episode of Conversations & Plugs, we sit down with media disruptor and digital storyteller Lynn Ngugi. She shares the raw truth of going unpaid for two years, quitting mainstream media, and still showing up to tell the stories that matter.

🎙️ If you're a content creator, entrepreneur, or visionary building without a blueprint — this is your permission slip to keep going.

In this episode:

• Why Lynn left traditional media

• How she built LNN from scratch

• Surviving 2 years without a salary

• Staying authentic under pressure

• Reclaiming African narratives in the digital age

🎧 Stream now & follow @conversationsandplugs
💬 Favourite quote from the episode: “You don’t need permission to be powerful.”
💡 If this moved you, it will help.
📩 Contact: [email protected]

In this episode of Conversations & Plugs, we chat with Dan Aceda—activist, musician, architect, and founder of Semabox. We discuss how activism and business intersect and how his passion for social change influences his entrepreneurial journey. Dan also shares his thoughts on the future of African podcasting, the importance of IP protection for creatives, and the infrastructure needed to nurture Africa’s creative economy.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Dan Aceda’s journey
04:30 - How activism influences business
12:15 - The future of podcasting in Africa
20:45 - Building Africa’s creative economy
29:00 - Why IP protection is key for creatives

🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell to stay updated with more empowering stories from African entrepreneurs and innovators.
💬 Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts on activism in business!

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation on how activism is shaping African businesses today!
🔔 Follow us for more empowering stories from African entrepreneurs and innovators

Join Moses Kemibaro, founder of Dot Savvy and renowned digital strategist, in this compelling episode as he unveils the keys to mastering content creation and digital innovation for African businesses. Moses dives deep into his entrepreneurial journey, practical strategies to amplify your brand's visibility, and how to successfully pivot amid technological shifts like social media and AI.

Gain actionable insights, learn how to become your own media house, and discover the power of authentic storytelling to elevate your business.

Timestamps:
[00:00] Episode Introduction
[03:15] Moses’s Entrepreneurial Beginnings
[14:42] Building Brands through Content Creation
[27:20] From Traditional Media to Digital Innovation
[39:30] Navigating Digital Challenges and Opportunities
[51:10] AI: The Next Frontier for African Businesses
[58:45] Closing Advice and Key Takeaways

Follow us and join the conversation:
Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads: @conversationsandplugs
X (Twitter): @convosandplugs

Connect with Moses Kemibaro:
🌐 moseskemibaro.com
🌐 dotsavvyafrica.com
🔗 LinkedIn Profile
📧 Pure Digital Passion Newsletter

Subscribe, rate, and share to support and connect African entrepreneurs!

In this episode, we sit down with Brendah Mwirichia, the visionary Founder and CEO of Peak & Dale Group, one of Africa's leading independent tech marketing agencies.

In this insightful conversation, Brendah shares her journey from a tech enthusiast to a pioneering entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of leveraging local talent and crafting solutions tailored for African markets. We delve into:

• Building Strong Company Culture: Discover how culture drives success at Peak & Dale and its role in scaling a business.
• Empowering African Businesses: Learn about Brendah's passion for empowering local brands and her vision for a unified African economy.
• Navigating Challenges: Hear about the barriers she's overcome as a woman entrepreneur in tech and her advice for aspiring leaders.
• Authentic Storytelling: Explore the significance of telling African stories the African way and how it impacts business growth.
• Scaling Across Africa: Gain insights into strategies for expansion amidst diverse regulatory and cultural landscapes.
• Embracing African Heritage: Understand the role of African culture and education in shaping successful businesses.

This episode is packed with inspiration, actionable advice, and deep insights into African entrepreneurship, innovation, and community building.

Join us as we illuminate the journeys of African businesses, highlight opportunities for growth, and foster connections across the continent, ultimately contributing to a globally recognized, interconnected African economy.

Connect with Us:

• Follow Conversations & Plugs for more inspiring stories.
• Website: www.conversationsandplugs.com
• Instagram: @ConversationsAndPlugs
• Twitter: @ConvosNPlugs
• LinkedIn: Conversations & Plugs Podcast

Connect with Brendah and Peak & Dale Group:

• Website: www.peakanddale.com
• LinkedIn: Brendah Mwirichia
• Twitter: @PeakandDale

#ConversationsAndPlugs #BrendahMwirichia #PeakAndDale #AfricanEntrepreneurship #LocalSolutions #WomenInTech #AfricanBusiness #BusinessGrowth #TechMarketing #AfricanInnovation

• 1:00 – The Healthcare Spending Gap:
  An overview of the challenges with current curative-focused spending in Africa.

• 4:00 – Introducing Sante Reva:
  The founding team—Dr. Z, Dr. Wambui, and Dr. Sally—shares their vision and journey.

• 7:00 – Personal Stories & Insights:
  Founders explain the personal experiences that led them to champion preventive care.

• 14:00 – Shifting to Preventive Care:
  In-depth discussion on why proactive, data-driven preventive care is essential for a healthier future.

• 20:00 – Impact and Future Outlook:
  Final reflections on the benefits of preventive care, measurable outcomes, and a call for community action.

How does African storytelling and community-driven play shape our future leaders? In this Conversations & Plugs episode, we chat with Zainab Nasser, founder of Play Academy, about why early childhood development might be Africa’s best-kept secret for sparking innovation. From debunking myths about “kids just being kids” to showing how caregivers can champion local narratives, Zainab reveals how play can transform a child’s worldview and fuel the entire continent’s next wave of entrepreneurs and changemakers.

Tune in to discover how parents, educators, entrepreneurs, and communities can unite to uplift the next generation—building a globally recognized, interconnected African economy one sandbox at a time. Whether you’re a caregiver or a business leader, this conversation offers actionable insights on the power of representation, the importance of inclusive support systems, and the balance between passion and practicality.

00:00 – Intro & the Miracle of Early Childhood 00:20 – Meet Zayne & Her Journey to Play Academy 05:44 – Adults Need Play Too: Rediscovering Creativity 10:15 – Local Storytelling: African Narratives in Kids’ Books 17:40 – Empowering Caregivers, Empowering Communities 24:40 – You Can’t Eat Passion, But You Need It: Balancing Purpose & Profit 31:12 – Q&A: How Do We Scale Community Hubs? 40:20 – Zainab’s Vision: Shaping Africa’s Future Through Early Learning 50:30 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts on Building a Child-Centric Africa Subscribe for more authentic African business stories and join our mission to empower 10,000 African ventures by 2030.

Share this episode if you believe in the power of play to transform Africa’s future.

Connect with us on social media @conversationsandplugs

Write us at [email protected]