Meet Nathan, a Birmingham podcaster who’s giving a voice to rising stars.

    Nathan Keseka at the Scratch Radio Studio located in Birmingham City University

From recently graduating in August 2022, Birmingham City University alumni, Nathan Keseka has created a platform to allow students, rising talents and upcoming entrepreneurs to voice their passions and share their unique perspectives.

Nathan, 22, explores this by inviting a diverse range of people to be an “inspiration for others to pursue their own passions by hearing from those who have done the same.”

This podcast show, “Opportunity Chats” was created with students in mind and allows people from all walks of life to instil hidden gems and empowering conversations to listeners by sharing their own stories.

Nathan talks about how Opportunity Chats may have also “created a sense of belonging of community and support for students and listeners who are interested in similar fields or career paths.”

When asked about his first ever interview, Nathan did not shy away about how he felt and/or any initial difficulties but how that also pushed him to where he is now, successfully carrying out Opportunity Chats prompting many others to be inspired.

“My first interview came about unexpectedly when a group of students approached me to interview them after they had hosted a massive event with over 3,000 attendees”, he said. “While I was initially nervous due to my lack of confidence in using the radio systems, I was fortunate to have Djamila, who was knowledgeable about the equipment, guide me through the process.”

“Despite my initial apprehension, the interview turned out to be an amazing experience. My guests enjoyed being on the show and complimented me as a natural interviewer.”

From this little hiccup in the beginning, Nathan’s self-confidence improved massively, and this became the driving force that inspired him to pursue his passion, the platform that he speaks so eloquently on and continues to inspire others with, “Opportunity Chats”: a dynamic podcast that’s earning plaudits for diving into real life experiences of his subjects.

The official page for snippets of Opportunity Chats can be found on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@opportunitychats?_t=8bmHcRqMb1O&_r=1

Want to get in on the conversation? Click this link below which will take you to the Spotify page for Opportunity Chatshttps://open.spotify.com/show/0UMJ2PK92zYsoeYuiy6Lu3?si=B-T8eVMSTPqAbbUhs0FFmA&dd=1&nd=1

Creating a podcast that caters to a specific audience means that a routine takes place for things to be communicated before hitting the record button. 

For Nathan, speaking to his guests beforehand and gauging their type of job and their experiences will determine the questions he has ready for them – always making sure that his guests feel most comfortable and are aware of what may come up, which would allow for any nervousness to be calmed.

Nathan said, “I aim to feature one guest per week on Opportunity Chats, and I carefully select each guest based on their interests, experiences and passions. I start by asking potential guests a series of questions to get a sense of what they would like to discuss on the show.” 

Creating this routine helps Nathan to ensure that each episode that he creates with his guest(s) is engaging and informative for his listeners.

“Once I’ve selected a guest, I have a conversation with them to discuss how the show will flow and ensure that they feel comfortable and prepared for their appearance”, he said.

“My goal is to showcase a diverse range of voices and perspectives and I strive to give as many students as possible a platform to share their passions and interests, both within and outside of the university.”

One segment of the show that Nathan enjoys the most has been what he calls “Quote of the Day”, where he asks his guests to close the conversation with an empowering quote. Many of the inspiring ones have included:

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer” – Karenm

“Thank people for the small things they do that make you feel loved” – Liz

“Progress is better than perfection” – Elijah

Understanding the many points of view of current students and creating his platform on the grounds of the same university he graduated from, Nathan is always determined to allow inclusivity, representation, promotion and accessibility to be key components when it comes to choosing his guests and their stories – creating room for stories that can be relatable and can change lives.


Nathan delves deeper into some of his most memorable interviews he has had on his podcast show, Opportunity Chats and the way in which these incredible guests have given some amazing insight and knowledge through their conversations.

He shares two memorable interviews to really pinpoint his goal in inspiring his listeners and keeping it relatable when it comes to who he chooses each week.

My most memorable Interview: Henry Gyamfi, University Student

One of his guests Henry, is a dedicated university student who is passionate about inspiring others to reach their full potential.

“The goal is to die empty, not old” – Henry Gyamfi

Nathan Keseka with Henry Gyamfi

Nathan said, “During our conversation, we delved into the teachings of the late Myles Munroe, explored the seven mountains of influence, discussed the importance of entrepreneurship, and even engaged in a lively debate about the appropriate age to start university.” 

“It was an incredibly enjoyable experience for me, and I was thrilled to receive numerous positive messages from our listeners who also appreciated the interview.”

The memorable quote that Henry left the listeners with was, “the goal is to die empty, not old.”

This inspirational quote allows the audience to understand that it’s about allowing your talents, hopes and dreams to leave this earth before you do. 

Not letting your dreams die with you but for them to come into fruition on this earth and not to be buried with you in the ground – where no one will be able to see how much of an impact you really could’ve had and “what if.”

Another memorable Interview: Manny Singh, Scratch Radio’s Social Media Manager

Nathan talks about another memorable interview that really stood out to him, being with social media manager of Scratch Radio, Manny Singh. Another interview that has become a core memory for Nathan and for the show.

Nathan Keseka with Manny Singh

The experiences and skills that Manny has possessed in his role of being a social media manager are notable ones for Nathan in his own role of broadcasting as they share similarities.

“My interview with Manny Singh was particularly special to me because he too is a radio presenter, and he even manages Scratch Radio’s social media”, Nathan said.

“Speaking with someone who shares my passion for broadcasting was truly inspiring and I found myself able to relate to him on a deeper level.”

“Through our conversation, Manny provided me with fresh ideas on how to better engage both my audience and guests. For example, I adopted the “underrated and overrated” game from his show, which has been a hit with my own listeners.”

By speaking to a likeminded individual like Manny, it’s opened up a way for Nathan to feel more comfortable and his ability to express himself to someone that is on the same path increased as a result of this, as he was in the presence of someone who gets it and someone he can relate to when it comes to broadcasting and speaking to people.

This is the same kind of experience that Opportunity Chats wants it’s listeners to have and to feel when someone they too can relate to, joins the show. 

From new entrepreneurs taking first steps into the business world to a sporting icon of the future or a social media manager who manages one of the main radios of BCU (Birmingham City University), Nathan is determined to give this platform to people who he admires and for them to express themselves on the show in a way that evokes emotion but also keeps others inspired and listening.

NameNathan Keseka
Age22
Podcast addresshttps://open.spotify.com/show/0UMJ2PK92zYsoeYuiy6Lu3?si=B-T8eVMSTPqAbbUhs0FFmA&dd=1&nd=1
Contact Infounion.opportunitiesandcommunity@bcu.ac.uk

Have you got an interesting story to share? Contact me on joyce.asamoah@mail.bcu.ac.uk

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