Nollywood actress and podcaster Susan Pwajok has revealed that she started her podcast, Surviving Lagos, during her gap year, explaining that her goal was to create a platform where young people could openly discuss issues affecting them.

Pwajok made the revelation during an interview on JayonAir, where she spoke about her journey from being a child star on The Johnsons to becoming a podcast host.

Asked why she chose to launch a podcast despite already facing public criticism as a young actress, Pwajok said the idea was not driven by a desire to expose herself to more scrutiny.

Instead, she explained that she had taken a gap year after convincing her mother that she needed time away from school. With the break underway, she felt she needed to do something productive.

“I couldn't just sit at home because I also had convinced my mother that I wanted a gap year,” she said. “So it was like, okay, now you're at home. You're not doing anything. This gap year that you so desperately wanted, what are you doing with it?”

Pwajok recalled being on a call with her friends, Kela and Dera, when she decided she wanted to start a podcast.

She said she believed there were few young people hosting podcasts at the time and wanted to create a space where young people could sit down and have honest conversations.

“For me, it was really just like, how can I get young people to sit down and just have conversations? Because we have a lot to talk about,” she said.

The actress also revealed that she had already developed the concept, including the name and logo, before reaching out to Kesh with a presentation outlining what she needed for production.

Surviving Lagos debuted in September 2022. The podcast explores Pwajok’s experiences living in Lagos, with its early episodes featuring conversations about dating and nightlife in the city. 

Pwajok became widely known for playing Blessing in the television sitcom The Johnsons, having started acting at a young age. She has also spoken publicly about taking a gap year to focus on her career before pursuing further education. 

Her latest account offers insight into the thinking behind Surviving Lagos, showing how the podcast began as an effort to give young people a platform to discuss their experiences and perspectives.