I had spent several years in Mumbai, where I worked as a TV host and a freelance voice artist, following my one-on-one coaching with renowned voice artist Kodas Wadia. When I returned to my hometown, I continued freelancing as a voiceover artist alongside teaching media communication. I’ve always been fond of the audio medium, so when the opportunity came to contribute to Toastmasters beyond club meetings, I knew I had to take it.
After a nudge from my mentors, I decided to serve as the Podcast Chair for District 101 Toastmasters. I wanted to build something meaningful, something that would inform, inspire, and elevate the Toastmasters experience for members across the district.
But, truth be told, I didn’t know many people.
Networking was a big challenge at first. I had very few names on my list, but once I started reaching out, one conversation led to another. My mentors helped connect me with people. Slowly but steadily, I began building a circle of inspiring communicators and leaders, each with a story worth sharing.
The best part? The conversations.
Whether it was brainstorming with guests, listening to their Toastmasters journeys, or discussing how they found leadership lessons in everyday challenges—it was powerful. Talking to someone like Club Growth Director Wendy Fan, for instance, gave me the courage to take on a leadership role myself—as Vice President of Membership in my home club.
What truly made the experience special was the team I worked with.
From Tonia Eaton—who helped shape the podcast vision—to Grace Curtom, who brought it to life through thoughtful design, I had the privilege of working with people who were committed, creative, and full of heart. We operated across time zones, cultural nuances, and even the occasional miscommunication. But through it all, we held space for each other’s ideas.
There were small bloopers in the recordings, sure—but I chose to keep them. Because the idea was to make these episodes feel real, conversational. I wanted to sound like two friends chatting—not a scripted show—and our guests appreciated that. In fact, some of the best moments happened after we hit stop on the recording—casual chats, deep reflections, and genuine gratitude exchanged.
And then something incredible happened…
From just 414 YouTube views in April 2024, our podcast shot up to 6,378 views in April 2025. We went from 81 subscribers to over 500. The feedback was overwhelming.
When my term ended, I felt there was so much more to share—so I requested to continue. And with full support from the new PR Manager, I am thrilled to continue for another term! What started as an idea grew into a passion project—and now, a full-fledged platform for inspiring voices.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself, or thought, “I don’t know enough people,” let this be a reminder: You just have to start. One conversation, one connection, one story at a time.
I invite you to listen to the episodes—and be part of the journey we’ve built.
Listen to the podcast here 🎧 https://d101tm.org/destination-101/
(*Disclaimer: This blog article was originally published in the author’s personal blog. You can find the original article here.)
The author Sneha Sharma. Ph.D. is a member of Impact Toastmasters Club in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, and an online club: San Jose Toastmasters Club. She has her doctorate in media management, is a voice artist, a permanent faculty in Rennaisance University, Indore, and a published writer. For more information, visit drsnehasharma.in