Feeling like you’ve stumbled across yet another crossroad in life? Motivational speaker Mohit Patel says he has been there, too. And he share some secrets of his successful manoeuvres as he prepares to launch his first podcast ‘Moving with Mohit’ in an exclusive interview

The lights turn red at the studio, the thin lines on the screen begin to waver after picking up the sound of someone breathing slowly… All of a sudden, his heart starts pounding, louder and louder, and his palms get cold with sweat. For motivational speaker and budding podcaster Mohit Patel, this feeling is all too familiar.

From the time his university blog – Let’s talk – earned more than five-thousand views online, to the day he finally submitted his thesis paper, and the days he spoke at venues such as TEDXConcordia University 2021 or public peaking contests held by the Toastmasters International Organisation in Muscat, Mohit has always dreamt about connecting with audiences – seen or unseen.

Whether he’s speaking on a crowded stage or the four empty walls of his friend’s recording studio, he remembers that he is never alone when he faces this feeling. He warmly smiles and starts speaking because this feeling is the best one he’s ever had. Excerpts from a friendly chat:

Could you tell us about yourself and the influences that fanned your ambitions? 

I had always been inspired by erudite speakers like Sadhguru and Shiv Khera, people who offer ‘life-wisdom’ to people to improve their lives. One can tell tell that their teachings were the result of decades of experience and came straight from their hearts. As a foreign PhD student in Canada, with no idea of what lay ahead, I somehow felt like doing the same to impact people’s lives in a positive way. 

I’d conduct research on their teachings and make my own observations. Then I’d write a blogpost on those observations in my spare time. Slowly, via that little blog, I managed to reach thousands of people in Canada, Muscat and India.

When did you actually consider motivational speaking as a career?

When I received an invitation to speak at the TEDx Concordia University event in my 2nd year there, I decided to take up motivational speaking as a full-time career after I graduated. From there, I took up free offers at live venues as well as opportunities to coach people I met on public speaking. I think, these experiences and connections gave me the confidence needed to realise my dream. 

Why did you want to launch your podcast in Muscat?

Funnily enough, I happened to live and study in Muscat before I moved to Canada to pursue my future studies. I didn’t initially plan on moving back here, but then I read some of the comments, posted by familiar faces and strangers alike, when in Canada, I was so happy to discover that so many people here related to my personal adventures within the city. I also heard about other stories from people there who struggled with the same issues I faced in my PhD days – such as, feelings of being lost or confusion in a constantly changing environment, general lack of confidence in oneself to progress in life without additional support, homesickness, burnout and fatigue, etc. 

Who is your target audience in Oman?

The goal of this new podcast – Moving with Mohit – is to, well, move people. I want to motivate anyone who has gone through those types of struggles in Muscat, whether Omanis or expatriates. My target audience is residents who are navigating their way through various stages of their lives such as graduation, new jobs, new relationships and so much more. That’s why I plan to promote it on platforms such as Spotify as well as in live shows. 

How do you plan to connect with your target audience? 

From my time moving back here, I’ve made many connections with scores of incredibly talented and driven individuals. Some of them are fellow motivational speakers who I’ve enlisted as guests in my podcast and some of them are Omani influensers who’ve agreed to promote a few of the initial episodes on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Some have also run their own successful podcasts and have been generous enough to give me tips as well as access to their recording equipment.

Do you anticipate your podcast will be well received?

I think that these connections and my past public speaking ventures give me an edge over others in the fray in Muscat. I also think that the general topic scheme, consistent schedule, and high-production quality may provide the potential to grow a wider online community surrounding the podcast, as long as I can get the word out about it quick enough. 

Can you share some of the hurdles you faced?

I’d say that the biggest challenge of working on this podcast – Moving with Mohit – has been about familiarising myself with the technical equipment. I didn’t  know a thing about using audio software, such as Audacity, to edit my recordings and make them sound more professional. One of the reasons why I decided to upload my first episode later this month was paucity of funds to cover costs of uploading it on Spotify.

Did any issues dampen your spirit?

When I started out, I was very confident about my skills. But I soon realised that running a successful podcast isn’t just about speaking well. Fortunately, I am not ashamed to accept my shortcomings. I’ve quickly learnt to embrace my flaws and never be afraid to take risks or ask for help when needed. I’m sure, my fears and imperfections do resonate with my audience as much as my triumphs do.

Do you have any future plans with this podcast? 

I don’t speak a lot of Arabic, which is, indeed, an area for improvement, if I want to connect well with Omani listeners. Making hours of content accessible to Arab-speaking audiences on my own is definitely going to be difficult. Once we officially launch, I intend roping in local translators to dub these episodes in Arabic, as well.

When is your targeted launch date?

If everything goes according to plan, we should release ‘Moving with Mohit’ by August 25at 5am. My team and I have worked very hard to get this on track, so, I hope, the fruits of our labour would materialise very soon. 

(Contributed by Ishita Shetty)