By Antonia Howard
“In an era of political noise and shrinking civic space, podcasts like Honestly Speaking demonstrate the power of listening, storytelling, and new media to foster accountability and shape Sierra Leone’s future”.
Across Africa and the world, podcasts are becoming one of the most dynamic forms of storytelling. They bridge radio’s intimacy with the digital age’s reach, free from many of the constraints of traditional broadcasting. In Sierra Leone, where public discourse is too often trapped between political point-scoring and shallow debate, podcasts offer something rare: depth, honesty, and connection.
It was from this conviction that Honestly Speaking with Antonia Howard was born: a space designed to strip away performance and pretence, and to confront mindsets, values, failures, and hopes. The platform grew out of questions that go beyond daily headlines; questions that demand reflection. Who are we as Sierra Leoneans? What values guide us? And what must change if we are to move forward as a cohesive, just, and thriving society?
Twenty episodes later, the podcast has revealed not just the perspective of its host or guests, but a broader portrait of Sierra Leone itself. Conversations with entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and activists have highlighted both the fractures that hold the country back and the values that could propel it forward.
What stands out most is how deeply people want to talk about these issues. At a time when misinformation and division dominate the public sphere, Honestly Speaking has become a consistent, principled space for honest engagement. Listeners do not simply consume; they engage, respond, and carry the dialogue into their homes, workplaces, and communities.
This is the unique promise of podcasts: they do not just broadcast, they invite participation.
Podcasts are also distinct in nature from traditional media. They are intimate and conversational, yet flexible enough to hold complexity. They allow for depth, nuance, and honesty at a pace that encourages reflection rather than reaction. In Sierra Leone, where radio still dominates but is often constrained by politics and commerce, podcasts represent a new frontier. They provide the freedom to reclaim stories in Sierra Leonean voices, without waiting for gatekeepers. Honestly Speaking is one example of how these tools can open national reflection and demonstrate that dialogue itself is a form of leadership.
Listening is, in itself, an act of nation-building. The lessons drawn from twenty episodes show that progress begins when uncomfortable truths are confronted. Yet no single podcast can shoulder this work alone. If Sierra Leone is to be better, citizens must create, support, and amplify spaces for honest dialogue. The digital tools exist for this generation to utilise, but tools alone are not enough.
With them comes responsibility: the responsibility to keep asking difficult questions, to hold space for truth-telling, and to help imagine the Sierra Leone that is still to come. When digital communication tools are combined with civic responsibility, they demonstrate the power of independent media to rebuild trust and amplify the public interest.
Initiatives such as Truth Media, led by journalist Amadu Lamrana Bah, show what happens when tools and responsibility come together. They reflect Sierra Leone’s hunger for fearless, citizen-focused journalism, and prove that the country is not short of people willing to stand for truth, even in the face of difficulty. Like podcasts, they highlight the power of independent voices to strengthen accountability and reclaim public trust.
Twenty episodes of Honestly Speaking confirm that progress demands more than conversation. It demands courage, the courage to challenge, to question, and to imagine. Who are we? Who do we want to become? These are the questions the podcast will continue to confront as it sharpens its vision as a space for accountability, civic education, and social connection.
The call to action is clear: listen, share, and reflect. Support independent voices and amplify conversations that matter. Build platforms where truth is not silenced. Challenge leaders, but also challenge yourselves. Above all, keep talking, and keep listening. The Sierra Leone we want will only be built if there is courage to speak honestly about the one we have today. In the end, good leaders can only emerge from good citizens.
