I lost my job during the pandemic. So I went all in on podcasting.
I’m Niall Mackay. People call me The Podcast Guy. I started my first podcast in 2019 with zero experience. That show is now in the top 5% worldwide. I went on to build a podcast production company that works with businesses and creators across the world.
This is how it happened.
From zero to 100+ podcasts in five years.
Started podcasting
Launched A Vietnam Podcast as a hobby. Had no idea what I was doing.
Lost my job
Pandemic hit. Contract not renewed. Decided to go full-time on podcasting.
Built the company
Rebranded to Seven Million Bikes Podcasts. Went from editing to full-service production.
100+ podcasts worldwide
Clients across 6 countries. Award-winning. Host of Vietnam Explained on VTV.
Host of Vietnam Explained on VTV
I was recently chosen as the host of Vietnam Explained, a brand new show on VTV, Vietnam’s national television network. It’s a huge honour and something I’m really proud of.
If you’ve ever wondered whether podcasting builds real authority, this is what it looks like. Years of showing up consistently, building an audience, and proving you know your stuff. That’s exactly what I help my clients do.
How I ended up here.
Before podcasting, I was a teacher, fundraiser, and comedian.
I moved to Vietnam and spent years working in education and corporate social responsibility, helping underprivileged children get access to quality schooling. In May 2019, we opened a new school in the Mekong Delta after raising $70,000. Proudest day of my life.
I was also hosting comedy shows around Saigon. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I started a podcast called A Vietnam Podcast. Just for fun. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
Then the pandemic changed everything.
Vietnam closed its borders. Student numbers dropped. Fundraising stopped. By the end of 2021, my employer told me my contract wouldn’t be renewed. The company was cutting costs just to survive.
I had a choice. Look for another job, or bet on myself. I chose the second one.
Seven Million Bikes Podcasts was born.
Originally, Seven Million Bikes was an entertainment company. Comedy shows, music gigs, quiz nights, podcasts. But during the pandemic, I faced setback after setback. So I stripped it back to the one thing I was most passionate about: podcasting.
I rebranded to Seven Million Bikes Podcasts, stopped everything else, and went all in. It started with just editing. Then strategy. Then full-service production. Now my team and I work with businesses and creators across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, the US, and Vietnam.
And the podcast that started it all?
A Vietnam Podcast, the show I started with zero experience in 2019, is now in the top 5% of podcasts worldwide with over 130,000 downloads. I went on to create three more shows of my own, including Smarter Podcasting, where I share everything I’ve learned.
I’ve also just been chosen as the host of Vietnam Explained on VTV, Vietnam’s national television network. Not bad for a guy who started with a $50 microphone and a YouTube tutorial.
The Seven Million Bikes Podcasts story.
Hear it in my own words. How a hobby podcast turned into a production company working with clients across six countries.
It was just me at first. Now there’s a whole team behind this.
Niall Mackay
I run the company, work directly with every client, and still host my own shows. If you work with us, you’ll be talking to me.
Adrie Lopez Mackay
Charlotte Lewis-West
Linh
Dante Le
Huynh Nguyen
A few things I’m proud of.
Best Producer in Asia
Asia Podcast Awards
Host — Vietnam Explained
VTV, Vietnam’s national television network
BritCham Great Company Award
British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, 2024
Speaker — Podfest Asia
Philippines, podcast industry conference
Featured in media
The Evolution of Niall Mackay — Comedian, Podcaster, and Founder
Guest on podcasts
Good Podcasting, Creators In Vietnam, Talking From Experience, Stumble Across Podcast
Now you know my story. Let’s talk about yours.
Book a call with me. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a conversation about your podcast and how I can help.