Local company FiredUp Studios, founded by Zik Nwanganga, hosts a podcast that highlights local entrepreneurs, change-makers and influencers who are making a positive impact in Kansas City. He gets them to talk about purpose, leadership and principles to help his audience succeed in life.
FiredUp Studios originally started as a UMKC campus organization that Nwanganga, then a student, founded. The group met weekly to talk about how graduating students could bring value to the marketplace. Later that year after hearing from several entrepreneur guest speakers, the organization evolved into a campus radio show focused on entrepreneurship called “FiredUp UMKC.”
In December 2019, Nwanganga launched the “FiredUpKC” podcast with its first episode, “Defining the Purpose of Man” with guest Dylan Dilworth.
“At that time, it was just me and my iPhone, chronicling Kansas City trailblazers one at a time,” he said.
By early 2022, Nwanganga had over 100 podcasts under his belt and wanted to expand his capabilities. He founded the FiredUp Studios production company and added five to the team. Alex French is videographer, Gwen Gillette handles marketing, Bing Low is event organizer, Eric Mulondayi serves as videographer and drone pilot and Aljon Torres is editor.
In addition to its own podcast, FiredUp Studios produces other podcasts and events and marketing materials such as head shots, video testimonials and documentaries. Next spring, the studio will produce a networking event to connect local entrepreneurs with investors.
Since its inception, FiredUp Studios’ podcast has hosted spiritual leaders, local entrepreneurs, elected officials like Mayor Quinton Lucas and community leaders like Community Builders of Kansas City’s CEO Emmet Pierson, Jr., and GIFT’s Brandon Calloway. Topics have ranged from advice on starting a business or networking to racism and local politics. The podcast has produced 120 episodes.
“I think there is nothing more important than learning about people,” Nwanganga said. “I love telling stories of who they are, their journey and how their successes and failures have led to where they are today. I’ve learned so much, and the two recurring themes are that there is struggle in every situation, and that to become confident you need to upgrade your skills to be the expert in your particular field.”
Learn more about FiredUp Studios at https://www.firedupstudiosfilm.com/ or listen to the podcast on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Kim Young TV on Roku, Spotify or YouTube.