RCG Podcast

TM Community channel interviews one of the first podcast creators in the Toastmasters Community in Kazakhstan - Azamat Makhsudov.

Azamat is one of the creators of Random Conversation Generator podcast. He and his companion Omar-Sayan created podcast in 2017 and ever since sister of Azamat Aiman joins some episodes. For now there are more than 40 episodes released.

Photos are retrieved from official Facebook and Instagram pages.

In the new educational system Pathways creating a podcast is one of the options when achieving leadership goals. Perhaps this interview will inspire you to start your own podcast.

Where you breathed in the first air:

• I was born in Uzbekistan, in a little town called Parkent, around an hour away from the capital - Tashkent.

Dream city:

• Dream city is the one I could design/build myself. From the existing ones - Chicago, New York, and Seattle.

Favorite dinosaur:

• Not a fan of dinosaurs. If I have to choose, it would be a herbivore, preferably the type that can be domesticated.

Most ugliest architecture design you found and where:

• I don't travel much and can't really appreciate good architecture. But I think almost everyone can see bad architecture. For me it's panel apartments from the Soviet period. 

CC project #:

• It's a little embarrassing that in three years of being a part of ATC, on and off, I've only completed three CC projects, ice breaker included.

Your first impression about ATC:

• I've experienced two "first times" at ATCs, once in 2010 and once in 2015. Those are two very different ATC at first glance, but both times I very much enjoyed the aura of young people energy. 

Your personal outcomes from being in TM community:

• I can't say I've learned a whole lot at ATC. But what I've gained is the fun times with the fellow toastmasters.

Any skills you've developed or earned in TM and helped you to start and manage podcast? 

• On Public Speaking side - I don't think so: it has long been one of my favorite things, I've known it's fundamental principles before ATC, and practiced them more outside the toastmaster community. 
• On Leadership side - not really: I haven't been a part of leadership team at ATC, and can't elaborate on how it could affect my podcasting skills. 

What kind of leader are you? 

• I'm the least effective type of leader - the one that micromanages a lot and prefers to do everything himself. I can't say how ATC links to RCG in terms of leadership.

Speaking in front of audience and to the mic. Does it same level of fear?

• Speaking in front of the audience is nothing like speaking into the microphone, because in the latter there is no audience. I'm not afraid of public speaking - I'm nervous, and I've been telling this for a long time - nervousness is good. It's your friend, who keeps you focused. If you don't feel nervous in front of the audience, you're doing something wrong, or do not care. Public speaking should be about caring about your listeners.

Your personal techniques to manage your voice and make self- confident that your audience will listen you for sure:

• Voice and articulation come from training, tongue twisters, and proper breathing.
• Confidence comes from knowing what you want to say, or knowing the topic well.
• I can't MAKE the audience listen to me, I just can do, or talk about, what I enjoy, and if the audience enjoys too, then there's a connection.

What are pros and cons of podcast in English in Kazakhstan?

• You need to define the WHY. Why do you need a podcast in English in Kazakhstan? Chances are there are no pros. But if you really want to and have at least a tiny reason - there are no cons either.

Is RCG successful? How do you measure success?

• Measure of success for a podcast is the number of subscribers/listeners. I think RCG is more successful than we thought it could be, but less successful that we now want it to be.

Name three things that make you maintain a podcast:

• It's fun. I like it. I think we can make it better

Can you show some graphs showing latest statistics?

• Sorry but no.

Best you can apply for leading podcast from TM?

• As with anything in life, first ask yourself why. Why do you need a podcast, why did you join ATC? Why are going to your job?
• When you have a believable answer, start podcasting.

• Second, have goals. Personally, I joined ATC without a goal to complete CC, or to become a distinguished TM, that's why I haven't achieved much. Goals are important.