The Danger of a Single Story

One of the most influential and impactful TED Talks I’ve ever watched is The Danger of a Single Story by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. As one of my favorite authors, she eloquently highlights a profound truth that has shaped much of my thinking: the danger of allowing a single story to define a person, community, or place. In her TED Talk, Adichie illustrates through her own personal stories how the singular narratives we often hear about others can rob them of their dignity and flatten the complexities of their experiences.

The Consequences of a Single Story

There are a few quotes from this talk that have stayed with me, and I’ve often reflected on them when working on some of my most meaningful projects. The first quote is:

This speaks to the heart of the issue: when we only hear one side of a story, it distorts our view of reality. We miss the fuller picture, the diversity of experiences that make up the human condition. Adichie also says:

Growing Up with Limited Access to a Range of Local Stories

These words hit home for me, especially as someone who grew up in Zimbabwe. For many years, broadcasting in Zimbabwe was limited, with one state television channel, which left me—and many others—with a narrow view of local stories. Most of what I saw online or in the media about Zimbabwe was focused on our struggling economy, hyperinflation, or political turmoil. While these stories were true, they weren’t complete. They didn’t tell the full story of Zimbabwe or the richness of its people and culture.

Creating Zimbabwean Voices to Share Positive Stories

Years later, I decided to do something about it. I started my own podcast, Zimbabwean Voices, with the goal of sharing positive stories about Zimbabwe that weren’t being told. I wanted to offer a counter-narrative that focused on the good things happening in our community, stories of people doing impactful work in various fields that shed a positive light on who we are as a people.

It was one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever worked on, producing 32 episodes and reaching 200 monthly listeners. But it was also incredibly challenging. Learning how to make a podcast from scratch was difficult. I spent hours trying to figure out how to edit, and when I started researching the problem, I realized that I wasn’t alone.

The Barriers to Podcasting and the Birth of Shanda

That’s a staggering number! It means that despite their passion and desire to share their stories with the world, many people quit because editing a podcast is too hard or too expensive to outsource. For beginners, most editing tools are complicated, and the learning curve is steep. The result? So many important stories go untold.

To address this problem, I reached out to my friend Paul, who I had met while living in Scotland during our undergrad at university. Serendipitously, we reconnected years later at Georgetown University for Business School, where Paul—an experienced software developer—helped me start exploring solutions. Paul’s background as a Math major and his love for solving complex problems made him the perfect partner for this project. On top of that, he has a deep passion for audio. Not only does he still DJ, but he also has a strong connection to and support for internet radio.

Alongside an amazing community of contributors, we developed Shanda, a web application designed to simplify podcast editing, especially for beginners. Our goal is to eliminate the functional barriers that prevent people from telling their stories. Through a simple, streamlined, and intuitive interface, we make it easier for people to create and edit their podcasts. We also offer workshops and one-on-one consultations to help people get started.

Beyond Functional Barriers: Overcoming Emotional Hurdles

But what we’ve learned along the way is that it’s not just functional barriers that hold people back. There are emotional barriers too. Many people hesitate to start their podcasts because they look around and see that “everyone” seems to have a podcast already. They ask themselves: “What could I possibly have to say that’s worth listening to? What value can my story add to the world?”

That’s where our mission comes in. Going back to Adichie’s TED Talk, she says:

Shanda's Mission: Empowering Storytellers

At Shanda, we believe in creating that paradise. Our mission is to empower storytellers and thought leaders by giving them the functional tools they need to create their podcasts. But beyond that, we provide the emotional support and encouragement that their stories matter—that they have something valuable to say that can impact others.

We’ve built a community of creators who have overcome both functional and emotional challenges to share their stories, and we want to continue building on that foundation. Whether through workshops, consultations, or simply being part of a supportive network, our goal is to ensure that no one’s story goes untold.

Join Us in Telling Many Stories

If this resonates with you, if you believe in the power of many stories, we invite you to join us. Sign up today with Shanda and let us help you share your story with the world.

Many stories matter. Let’s tell them together.