Interview with Deepak Pareek, Co-founder at Iceberg Creations, Social Media Influencer

An exclusive interview with Deepak Pareek, Co-founder at Iceberg Creations, Social Media Influencer, TEDx Speaker, and Content Creator

Deepak Pareek, a name that resonates with creativity and inspiration, is a visionary co-founder of Iceberg Creations, a dynamic social media influencer, a captivating TEDx speaker, and a prolific content creator. With a multifaceted career spanning the worlds of business and digital media, Deepak has carved a niche for himself in the ever-evolving landscape of content creation.

His journey is a testament to the power of innovative storytelling and the influence of social media. Join us as we delve into the life and experiences of this remarkable individual.

Deepak, could you share the inspiration behind the inception of “The Chill Hour” podcast, and how it aligns with your work and identity as a social media influencer known for motivational content and public speaking?

Deepak Pareek: I believe content creation is a very creative profession and considering its nature, one needs to evolve and keep bringing in newer aspects so that the audience evolves with the creator. In my opinion, every creator goes through a phase of new and old ideas every 6-8 months, and similarly for me, podcasting seemed to be the right option and that is how ‘The Chill Hour’ came to be.

In fact, I consider myself late to the game because I now understand the worth of it, having started in May 2023. My usual content involves motivation and public speaking, so podcasting is like a new fish in the pond which opens up new doors of opportunity for me.

“The Chill Hour” is a distinctive venture within your portfolio. How does it complement your mission of engaging and inspiring your substantial Instagram following, while also offering a fresh platform for your audience to connect with your ideas?

Deepak Pareek: I’ve always wanted to segue from short-form to long-form content seamlessly and hence, podcasting seemed to be the best option to do so. I’ve also wanted to enter the podcasting space for quite some time now and the only reason I didn’t start earlier was because I was figuring out the theme and the way it needs to be shot.

But I later realized that this might as well be the theme for the podcast – candid and unfiltered. Hence, The Chill Hour is a way to add value to people’s lives in the form of knowledge as well as entertainment, which perfectly fits in well with the theme of my short-form content as well.

Your podcast explores a wide range of lifestyle topics beyond fashion. Can you elaborate on how “The Chill Hour” adds depth and diversity to your content, providing your audience with insights into areas like travel, health, wellness, and more?

Deepak Pareek: The Chill Hour is actually the perfect medium for us to talk about any topic under the sun. The theme is such that we can delve into topics like neuroscience, mentalism, science fiction, content creation, podcasting, comedy, movies, etc. It can cover almost everything that is the basic theme of the show – conversations driven by curiosity. 

As a 7-time TEDx speaker, how has your experience in public speaking influenced the format and themes of “The Chill Hour,” and what unique value does your podcast bring to your audience?

Deepak Pareek: Public speaking has actually helped me in ways I couldn’t even have imagined. It has taught me how to hold conversations at events, keynote sessions, panels, and even podcasting because podcasting is nothing but a conversation.

The unique proposition that the podcast brings in is that conversations are not repeated. It brings in a different flavour that actually blends information, humour, with a tinge of candidness.  

In your role as the host of “The Chill Hour,” how do you ensure the quality and value of the content delivered to your audience, aligning with the high standards you’ve set for your social media content?

Deepak Pareek: The idea here is to create good quality, highly engaging content for the audience. This of course comes from insights. I didn’t want the podcast to be very serious and at the same time, I didn’t want it to be entirely candid. I also feel the success of the podcast is directly proportional to the personality of the host, which is both serious and funny, and hence the format.

I along with my team also do our research before we start shooting so we have a fair bit of idea of where I want to take the conversation. In fact, this is also done during the shoot where we ask the guest where they’d like to take the conversation.

Podcasting is an evolving medium. How do you intend to stay innovative and adaptable to meet the changing needs and preferences of your podcast’s listeners while maintaining the high standards you’ve set?

Deepak Pareek: As I said earlier, since I have just entered the space, I want to stay as consistent as possible, get a hang of it properly, get as many diverse guests as possible, work on leveling up the way I have conversations and keep doing the same thing over and over again so that I am able to form a cult community of podcast listeners.

Can you share some of the challenges and learning experiences you’ve encountered as the host of “The Chill Hour,” and how you’ve overcome these obstacles in your journey to engage, inspire, and connect with your audience?

#1 The art of listening:

When I started recording episodes for the show, I thought it’ll be like any other offline conversation. But, no. In a normal conversation, you can respond by saying “hmm”, “yeah”, “alright”, but if you respond similarly, these will be recorded as well which looks like you’re interrupting the guest even if you’re not.

So the idea is to just listen intently without saying anything. One of the ways to show the guest that you’re interested and you’re listening is by just smiling or nodding your face.

#2 Technical glitches:

I have faced technical glitches during the shoot of ‘The Chill Hour’s’ episodes and frankly, that is not something under control. Even if you make sure everything is on point, there might still be some glitches. It’s okay.

The idea is to not panic and tell the guest that it’ll be rectified in a few minutes. Meanwhile, you can ask the guest for some tea/coffee, have the team fix the issue and you can indulge in some nice conversation before the actual shoot begins.

#3 Podcast fillers:

Sometimes, even after having fully prepared for the podcast, you might need some filler questions to skip from one major question to another. The idea is to have certain fun, quirky questions prepared as backup which might act as fillers and the audience also feels like taking a breather from the serious conversation.

Initially, I had a lot of difficulty in holding the conversation and after a while I thought to myself, “what else should I talk about?” But after having those filler questions, it’s been a smooth ride.

For individuals aspiring to make an impact in the realm of podcasting and content creation, especially within the domain of lifestyle and motivation, what advice or insights can you offer based on your experiences and success in the field?

Deepak Pareek: After having experienced the various niches of entrepreneurship, podcasting as well as content creations some of the advice I can share are:

#1 Success takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Slow growth is the best growth because you learn from your failures and implement the same in your journey.

#2 Have good company, always. Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself. Have nothing that drains your energy.

#3 Don’t focus on numbers. I know this is tricky but try not to. This will help you to stay grounded and keep putting in the work.

Deepak Pareek’s story is a testament to the transformative power of passion and dedication. As the co-founder of Iceberg Creations, a TEDx speaker, and a social media influencer, his journey reflects the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the digital world.

Deepak’s insights, creative prowess, and inspirational speaking have left an indelible mark on his audience, resonating with those who seek to embrace the endless possibilities of the digital age.

His life’s work serves as a reminder that, in this age of innovation, each of us has the potential to become an influencer, a creator, and a source of inspiration.

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