I walked in feeling like a kid on their first day of school uneasy and unsure - I was made to feel reassured as soon as I noticed a familiar face. I quickly found my footing and with it my long-lost skills of navigating conversations with adults - which didn’t include my favourite parenting technique, or Baby Shark.

As I walked into the main room the atmosphere was vibrant and a sense of belonging immediately enveloped me. The International Women’s Podcast Festival (IWPF), spearheaded by Imriel Morgan brought together female podcasters from around the globe, each with their own stories and perspectives. The room was bustling with people engaged in animated conversations and laughter that echoed off the walls. The room was adorned with flowers and brightly coloured banners, adding a sense of vibrancy and warmth. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air imploring me to have my second cup of the day.

I was captivated by the stories shared by influential podcasters like Courtney Boateng and Renée Kapuku from To To My Sisters, Karen Arthur from Menopause Whilst Black, and Natasha Miller from Bitter/Sweet. Each speaker radiated as they imparted their wealth of knowledge and experiences not just in podcasting but in life.

Their candid discussions about vulnerability and authenticity reignited my own desire to share my story. I found myself taking notes feverishly, jotting down not just ideas for content, but also reflecting on my own journey and the reason why I initially fell in love with podcasting and sharing the human experience.

But the conversations that struck the biggest chord were the ones I had in the main room where we exchanged ideas and discussed the challenges we faced. Their encouragement was infectious, reminding me that I wasn’t alone in my creative struggles. I felt empowered - it was a powerful reminder of the magic that happens when we come together.

There was an energy at the festival that I could only describe as divine - there is power in women gathering together as we did that day. The energy was magnetic and powerful. We were all there for a single purpose - to learn and inspire one another so we could collectively share the human experience from the female perspective. I met some of the most inspiring women working and building careers in an industry saturated with the male narrative or voice.

Inspired by the stories I heard and the connections I made, I am now ready to relaunch my podcast and start anew. By the end of the festival, I had a plan and I felt a fire in me to create - lit ablaze by a passion I had not felt for a long time.

The journey ahead may have its challenges, but armed with the inspiration and community I found here, I am more than ready to embrace it.

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Mary Raftopoulos is 32 and started This is Impt during lockdown as a way to help highlight the racism we face every day in the UK. She wanted to continue the conversation that the Black Lives Matter movement started and the discussion about racism in the UK. She collects stories from black women and men for publication because she believes the more we talk about racism and share our stories the more people will realise the severity of it. Speaking up and being vulnerable is something she has always shied away from on social media but she hopes these conversations help people understand the Black British experience. Mary is also an Editor at The C Word Magazine.

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