Friday Five: Kobi Omenaka, host of The Wire Stripped Podcast and Flixwatcher Podcast

Tell us a bit about your job?

I guess the best way to describe me would be to say that I’m a Digital and Growth Marketer by day working primarily with UK Startups. I’m a podcaster by night working both on mic as a host and presenter, and behind the scenes putting the shows together.

What are the key ingredients for success?

Just get on with it and surround yourself with people that are better than you! Try to have that “can do” attitude when presented with new tasks and opportunities and you’ll often find that you’re creating your own luck. If you always have the appetite and desire to learn from others and improve then I think you’ll be just fine. Importantly you should never be afraid to fail.

Describe a normal day?

I’m one of those annoying early risers! If it’s dry and not too cold then I’ll typically be on my bike in Regent’s Park for an hour or so from around 5.30am (You can find me on Strava if you don’t believe me!). If the weather’s bad I’ll practice the guitar for a while instead. I normally answer a few emails at home before heading to the office. I currently work with a FinTech start up in “The City” which is great fun. The pace is a bit more measured than the with other start ups but there’s always plenty to do from managing and working on the website, writing press releases or script content for promotional videos. I tend to record podcasts in the evening so that will often occupy my time in the early evening, otherwise it about catching a film or settling down in from of Netflix!

For those trying to break into the industry, could you explain how you got to where you are today?

For Podcasting – you should just get started! You can start using your phone to record episodes and there are zillion tutorials on YouTube that can tell you everything about how to record, where to host and how to market your show.

If you want to get into Digital Marketing the good news is that if you are on social media then you probably have a healthy headstart. Start doing things organically and learn how to set up a blog, build mailing lists, send newsletters and start following and commenting on people and brands that you admire. There will always be people that need your help and early in my career I was happy to build websites for local charities and the sports team that I was a part of. This gives you experience with clients and experience on the job. If you do do work pro-bono make sure that you get something out of it whether it’s completely altruistic, a learning experience or the promise of connecting you with people that you could potentially work with further down the line

What are you reading, watching and listening to just now?

Ahh – always soo much. I’m reading the new Bill Bryson book “The Body” and have just finished Re-reading Philip Pullman’s “The Amber Spyglass”.

I’m watching Netflix’ “Unbelievable”, “Big Mouth” and “The Good Place” and looking forward to “His Dark Materials” starting on BBC 1/ HBO.

Listening? How much space have you got?!! Well I’m never more than a button press away from the “Hamilton” soundtrack. Podcast highlights are ALL the film podcasts such as Empire Magazine, Black Men Can’t Jump [in Hollywood], Kermode and Mayo, and Pilot TV Podcast. I’m also a huge fan of Adam Buxton’s podcast, The Bake Down – which is a companion podcast to Great British Bake Off and most of my news comes from The Daily podcast from New York