Shows
Business Excellence - TOP 5 SeriesIn Conversation - Lee Benson Top Five Tips For Aligning Your Team Around One Most Important Number“We develop leaders very surgically there to create value the fastest and best way that we can.” Lee Benson Top Five Tips For Aligning Your Team Around One Most Important Number1. Define your Most Important Number (MIN) clearly 2. Clarify and teach the business model3. Packaging to scale4. Connecting culture to value creation5. Surgical Leadership Development TIME STAMP SUMMARY01:43 What is the most important number?07:39 The pricing policy15:58 The importance of culture...
2026-02-0825 min
Business Excellence - TOP 5 SeriesIn Conversation - Brendan Lee Top Five Tips For Improving Your Digital Ads Conversion Rates“People get caught up with digital and data and thinking, 'Oh, I've got to game the system. I've got to know the algorithm. But at the end of the day, remember that there's actually a human on the other end." Brendan Lee Top Five Top Tips For Improving Your Digital Ads Conversion Rates1. Know who you are most going to be able to help2. Speak specifically to that target audience3. Talk about the problem they have that you will magic make go away4. Offer something small o...
2025-07-2117 min
Business Excellence - TOP 5 SeriesIn Conversation - Lee Stewart Top Five Tips For Embedding Sustainability In Your Business Strategy“The key is finding ways that collaboration can benefit all parties and lead to greater sustainability impact than any one organization could achieve alone.“ The Top 5 Tips for Embedding Sustainability in Your Business Strategy1. Confidence 2. Commitment 3. Consistency 4. Courage5. Collaboration TIME STAMP SUMMARY01:07 Understanding the global issues that affect sustainability.06:39 Why maintaining frameworks is a major key.13:25 Taking accountability for your role in the damage.18:00 Community is important in achieving s...
2024-11-1020 min
Business Excellence - TOP 5 SeriesIn Conversation -Wendy Lee Adapting without losing your personal brand“We will go in and we will look into the business and see how we can translate that in order for your corporate executives to be able to live and breathe the brand.” “Number one would be what is the product or services that you are selling? Yeah, and number two, which kind of customers are you targeting.”“Appearance, behaviour, communication, the ABCs of image. So, there is no point in you dressing up very nicely, but at the end of the day, when you communicate, it doesn't sound professional. The language that you use, you know, yo...
2022-01-3027 min
Business Excellence - TOP 5 SeriesIn Conversation- Victoria Lee Using Social Media to Market“And for the team as well, it means that we've got wider access to talent, because we don't have to nail down into one particular geographical location” “Prior to the pandemic, people were commuting for at least two or three hours a day getting to the office and getting home again. And suddenly their commute is from their bedroom to their office or their living room. And they've freed up so many hours in their day. So maybe you do end up doing 15 minutes, half an hour extra work in the day, but yet you actuall...
2021-11-0724 min
SeedpodSeason 2 IntroHello again, its me, Lee, I am back finally with season 2 called Big Questions.This is just an intro and small taste of whats to come.Look out for new episodes dropping soon!
2021-10-1203 min
Seedpod93: Nhlanhla Mahlangu - Chant of a nationIn this week's episode I jump back to an interview I did at Design Indaba earlier this year but the relevance of the content has not changed and if anything in light of recent events is that much more powerful to listen to. I had the privilege of a half an hour conversation with Nhlanhla Mahlangu known both locally and internationally for his richly choreographed theatrical productions and his work with the famous South African artist William Kentridge. Nhlanhla is the very embodiment of tenacity. Born in Phola Park informal settlement on Johannesburg’s East Rand during the height of...
2020-08-1129 min
Seedpod92: Justin Needham - The business of wasteJustin Needham, my last guest for the plastics free July series, has been involved in recycling for many years on a grassroots level. Having started one of the first consumer recycling collections businesses in South Africa he has first hand knowledge of how the system works and what the inherent shortfalls are. After spotting a gap in the market he is now pioneering the sector once again by bringing the reverse vending machine concept to our shores but tweaking it for local application and backing it with data and a custom consumer app.We discuss the state...
2020-07-291h 16
Seedpod91: George van der Schyff - Pristine heartIn his latest incarnation, this weeks guest, George van der Schyff heads up Pristine earth, an NGO based in Cape Town working in the environment and specifically plastics waste and pollution. Their goal is to form collaborations and bring stakeholders together to enhance the best solutions in order to support them to achieve maximum impact.One of the projects they have involvement with at the moment is brimming the Litterboom concept to Cape Town which provides a simple yet innovative way or retrieving litter from rivers.Our conversation traversed plastics pollution, our plastics industry, poverty a...
2020-07-221h 11
Seedpod90: Paul Cocksedge - Inspiring joyLondon-based Paul Cocksedge has worked on projects as diverse as a flower-powered light, a canopy for the world’s largest botanical gardens, and furniture that fuses different metals through a freezing process. It’s impossible to pigeonhole the restlessly inventive Cocksedge, who studied industrial design at Sheffield Hallam University and product design under Ron Arad at the Royal College of Art in London. Few people are more adept at seeing everyday problems that cry out for design solutions – and he’s intent upon solving these problems in elegant and unexpected ways.For me to sit and unpack the crea...
2020-07-1437 min
Seedpod89: Ian Dommisse - To Ecobrick or notThis week for plastic free July I chat to eco pioneer Ian Dommisse who is an architect with a passion for alternative, environmentally friendly construction methods. In 2013 he founded The EcoBrick Exchange (EBE), a recycling non-profit, which aims to use upcycled plastic waste as a building material. Ian now also focuses on landscaping projects, education and training as his way of making a difference.We chatted about many of the myths around Ecobricks and how they can best be used to divert waste from landfill and microplastics from the ocean. Going into the conversation I was speculative...
2020-07-071h 21
Seedpod88: Manu Prakash - Democratising scienceThis weeks guest Manu Prakash, who I met at the design Indaba earlier this year, did his master’s and PhD in applied physics at MIT before founding the Prakash Lab at Stanford. “Manu works at the molecular scale to literally try and understand how the world really works. he is the co-inventor of the Foldscope and co-founder of Foldscope Instruments. Manu is dedicated towards inventing and distributing “frugal science” tools to democratize access to science , diagnostics of deadly diseases like malaria and convening global citizen science communities to tackle planetary scale environmental challenges such as mosquito surveillan...
2020-06-3027 min
Seedpod87: Rowan le Roux - Business for goodAs part of my Foodnext conference series I had the privilege to interview Rowan le Roux, who has been involved in sustainable activities for over 15 years from ecological economic research, to environmental finance to being sustainability manager within a large plastic manufacturer. Rowan believes, wholeheartedly, in business as a force for good and in the role that purpose driven businesses can play in restoring environmental and community systems in South Africa. Rowan is currently Operations Director at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship South Africa where changing business for good is their businessI learnt a hell of a...
2020-06-231h 07
Seedpod86: Catalina Lotero - Natural by designTogether with a multidisciplinary team, Catalina Lotero is tackling the global energy crisis with a surprisingly simple, plant-based idea. The Colombian-born American, who studied industrial design in Bogotá, Colombia, and is currently doing her Masters in design at Keio University in Tokyo, came up with the sustainable solution to solve a pressing problem. One in eight people worldwide does not have access to electricity, with 84% of them living in rural areas. Lotero’s ‘Raiki’ – essentially an autonomous generator – is sure to be a game-changing project. This conversation was one of the inspiring interactions I had at Design Indaba earli...
2020-06-1737 min
Seedpod85: Pavitray Pillay - Active awarenessThis weeks guest, Pavitray Pillay, is the manager of the WWF (SASSI) program or Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative. She has been involved in consumer awareness, education, outreach and public engagement on sustainable seafood and marine conservation for the last 5 years. Coming from humble beginnings and a background in marine biology Pavs brings both passion and deep knowledge to the work she does. She is now heading up behaviour change at WWF using the experienced gained through the SASSI program combined with behaviour science to bring a new edge to the campaigns WWF are running aimed at driving real c...
2020-06-081h 19
Seedpod84: Debbie Millman - Design your life“Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, and “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is also an author, educator, curator and host of the Design Matters podcast.As the founder and host of Design Matters, one of the world’s first and longest running podcasts, Millman has interviewed nearly 500 artists, designers and cultural commentators over the past 14 years. Design Matters won a 2011 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, in 2015 Apple designated it one of the best overall podcasts on iTunes, and in 2018 the show was honored by th...
2020-06-0237 min
Seedpod83: Nicki Russell - Big heart, big impactLast year as part of the Foodnext series I had the privilege of chatting to Nicki Russell, head of Innovation at Pick n Pay.Nicki is a passionate foodie and product developer demonstrating a 20 year history of working across multiple categories in food retail. She is skilled in trend analysis, creating and landing new concepts and inspiring teams and suppliers to push product boundaries. Her world is “all about the product,” and the customer experience is key to ongoing growth.We had a great conversation focused on innovation in the retail space from supporting, growing and...
2020-05-2542 min
Seedpod82: Vukheta Mukhari - Nature sees no wasteEarlier this year I had the privilege of attending the Design Indaba before lockdown. This weeks guest, similarly to last week really impressed me with his energy, passion and focus toward making our world a better place.A born innovator, Vukheta Mukhari was always going to be at the forefront of human knowledge. As a Masters candidate in civil engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT) he is passionate about greening the economy, and the ground-breaking project he is currently involved with seeks to develop more eco-friendly building materials, such as bricks. What makes these ‘bio-bricks’ uniqu...
2020-05-1851 min
Seedpod81: Gift Lubele - What it means to be humanIts been quite a long time since this conversation was recorded and the world has changed significantly but I feel its even more relevant today where we are busy evaluating the world we want to see post Covid.Gift Lubele is the co-founder of Kudoti – South Africa’s first data and analytics recycling platform that increase efficiency and reduce costs in food, general and other waste operations. Kudoti was named one of the 25 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company SA. He is one of the 2019 top 20 under 30 entrepreneurs by Fast company and currently works as a research engi...
2020-05-111h 15
Seedpod80: Stephen Fern - A new world ArkThis week I had the fortune of connecting with Stephen Fern who has a background working with many of the worlds wealthiest families and helping them to find purpose in their wealth.He has now created his own project called Ark2030 which has among others the ambitious goal of restoring 500 Million hectares of land to their pre-industrial state by 2030. He aims to do this using a unique organisational and funding model which I will leave you to listen to the conversation to discover. This conversation left me feeling inspired and motivated knowing that there are people like...
2020-05-051h 09
Seedpod79: Jon Duncan - Shared valueEarlier this year I had the privilege of chatting to Jon Duncan, head of Responsible Investment at Old Mutual. An engineer by training, with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Jon has over 20 years of professional experience in the field of sustainability research and engagement. He has worked extensively throughout Africa across a range of sectors supporting organisations with strategic social, environmental and sustainability related issues. Jon now leads the Responsible Investment Programme at Old Mutual. The Programme is focused on driving the systematic integration of material environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues across the man...
2020-04-281h 18
SeedpodCOVID-19 Series: Episode 4 - Seraj ToefySeraj Toefy joins me on Seedpod again bringing with him a wealth of knowledge to talk about entrepreneurship and what is like for business owners during this difficult time of COVID-19. He has some practical advice for what we can as business owners do now to minimise the damage while we try to reach the other side and then some things to start thinking about for when we can start operating again. Seraj is a father, husband, entrepreneur, mento, speaker and awesome human, we also speak about the juggle that we are all facing being at home with kids...
2020-04-2158 min
SeedpodCOVID-19 Series: Episode 3 - Fred RoedFred Roed runs the Heavy Chef events platform and entrepreneurship community, is a seasoned entrepreneur himself and is well respected across the board for good reason. Fred is a legend. So I thought it would be great to get his perspective on the COVID-19 crisis we find ourselves in, the business side of its impact and take a peak behind the scenes at Heavy Chef and find out what it takes to turn your business into a digital one practically overnight. Fred is also filled with wisdom and advice but you will need to listen to the episode to...
2020-04-141h 18
SeedpodCOVID-19 Series: Episode 2 - Gavin ShaskolskyIn this conversation I tap into the deep wisdom and intentionality that Gavin brings to everything he does. To find out more about the phenomenal human that is Gavin please listen to the first episode of this podcast. We discuss some deep penetrating ideas about what this time means for us as humans and bring it back to some practical steps and advice on how to move through this time in the best was possible for each of us. The episode is packed with information so might even require more than 1 listen. Gavin helps me remember what it is...
2020-04-051h 11
SeedpodCOVID-19 Series: Episode 1 - Thomas BrennanI have decided to pause my normal content stream in light of the current paradigm we are living through and attempt to bring you conversations that will be of value around the COVID-19 topic. Thomas lives in China half his time, has worked in healthcare and now in finance so I believe has a unique perspective to bring and I hope some clarity and ideas for moving forward in this unprecedented time.
2020-03-291h 12
Seedpod74: Bas Timmer - Seeing the unseenThis first guest from Design Indaba has done just that, he is looking at the people who live on the fringe of society on the streets and how he can help them using the skills that he has. Bas Timmer is a Dutch independent clothing designer who created the shelter suit after a father of a close friend died from hypothermia after finding himself on the streets. The shelter suit aims to protect the homeless from the elements by providing them warmth, protection from the wind, cold and rain using recycled materials from top outdoor gear manufacturers. Bas and...
2020-03-1627 min
Seedpod73: Zachariah George - Be human for a little bit.Ever since I had Zachariah George on the show last year we have been threatening to get him back in the studio. There are 2 sides to Zach, the startup, corporate, finance, hustle side and the free flowing, hippie, musician side. Last time we spoke business and ran out of time so I thought it was time to show you his alter ego. This week Zach is in studio sharing his philosophy of life, a few songs and why travel is a big part of who he is. It was a fun, thought provoking conversation filled with some great pearls...
2020-03-091h 20
Seedpod72: Lee Rael - Who am I?This week the tables are turned and I am interviewed by my friend Rayne Stroebel. Our conversation doesn't really go into what I do for a living and my work but rather asks the deeper question of who I am? Its a tough question to answer if anyone has really spent time thinking about and articulating this its not that easy. I hope it makes for interesting listening because I have always said this podcast is not about me but rather the people I interview. For those who are interested in finding out a bit more about me, enjoy...
2020-03-021h 36
Seedpod71: Karoline Hanks - Carry your ownThis weeks guest Karoline Hanks is a passionate anti-SUP campaigner, and has been spear-heading a campaign against the use of plastic water sachets in road running in South Africa for over five years. She is a competitive Ultra distance trail runner, and recently scooped her fourth Puffer (80k) win. On the back of her latest race, she managed to raise R14 000 for a community project she manages with her partner in Noordhoek: Project Noordhoeked. She started a small business three years ago (called SUPA) making single-use plastic alternative products, which has grown from strength to strength, and which upskills...
2020-02-241h 04
Seedpod70: Sipamandla Manqele - Let us be gracious and kindThis podcast is the next in the series that was recorded at the foodnext conference at the CTICC in September 2019.This weeks guest, Sipamandla Manqele is a 28-year-old entrepreneur breaking fresh ground in the realm of agro-processing with her business, Local Village. She produces a variety of artisanal and organic foods and has built a compelling value proposition within a niche health market. Manqele’s business has been running for three years and has already proven itself a viable and valuable startup, providing employment and community growth.Sipamandla has been named one of South Africas’ top...
2020-02-1756 min
Seedpod69: Carmen Stevens - Anything is possibleThis week's guest Carmen Stevens is an award-winning winemaker selling her own brand of wines on the international stage. She is the first post apartheid Black female wine maker and her story is an incredible one. Growing up on the cape flats experiencing the effects of gangsterism and drug first hand she was determined to live a different life but becoming a winemaker in an all white, all male Apartheid South African industry brought a whole new set of challenges. She now has a foundation that feeds over 5000 children every year and has just opened her own winery.
2020-02-101h 33
Seedpod68:Thomas Brennan - Lets be FrancThis week I sit down with Franc co founder Thomas Brennan who is a Rhodes scholarship recipient, ex Google employee, MIT researcher and ex Discovery Health technology and innovation team leader with a passion for the health sector and finance. Once he realised that the financial products currently offered to the general market weren’t as good as it could be and excludes much of the population he sought about finding a solution. After taking the leap from the comforts of a pay-check he founded Franc and is on a mission to bring financial instruments to the lower end of...
2020-02-031h 13
Seedpod67: Abe Cambridge - Monetized SunshineAbe Cambridge is a serial energy entrepreneur who establishes businesses and projects that use solar energy to effect socio-economic change. In 2012, one of his businesses, The Renewable Energy Co-operative, was nominated ‘International Co-operative of The Year’ in the UN Year of Co-operatives. He now lives in South Africa, where in 2014 he launched Sun Exchange, a global solar micro-leasing marketplace that closes the funding gap for commercial- and community-scale solar projects in emerging markets, while streaming monetized sunshine all over the world. Sun Exchange has been named Best Bitcoin & Blockchain Business in Africa two years in a row.I wa...
2020-01-271h 25
Seedpod66: Nicola Jenkin - Where does your food come from?Nicola Jerkin has 20 years of experience working in the sustainability field with a particular focus on adding value to the supply chain, sustainable food systems, food waste, alien vegetation and forestry, ocean plastic, packaging and green skills. She holds a MEd in Environmental Education (Rhodes University); BSc (Hons) in Environmental & Geographical Science (University of Cape Town); and a BA in Geography and Anthropology (Rhodes University).She is the founder of Pinpoint, which provides independent and advisory services. Nicola is a member of the UN’s One Planet Network’s Sustainable Food System’s Multi-Actor Committee and is curren...
2020-01-211h 13
Seedpod65: Goodby and thank you 2019This is a short podcast wrapping up the year and giving you a few hints about whats coming next year. Thank you if you support this podcast as a listener!
2019-12-1311 min
Seedpod64: Tracey Davies - Social CapitalThis weeks guest Tracey Davies runs Just Share which is a non-profit shareholder activism and responsible investment organisation that promotes the use of investor power for a fairer South Africa.Tracey spends her days fighting for transparency, equality and positive impact in the private sector or corporate sector of South Africa. She advocates that in order for South Africa to begin to find solutions to our problems the corporate sector need to shift their focus from shareholder profit and the bottom line to the greater responsibility they have to improve the lives of the people of this b...
2019-12-031h 19
Seedpod63: Lorren de Kock - A world of plasticThis week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Industrial engineer turned WWF plastics consultant Lorren de Kock. In her mid 30’s Lorren realised she needed a change in a career path and needed to do something that made a difference so she went back to University part time while still working and raising a familNow Lorren heads up the Plastics team at WWF where she works with the various stakeholders in the industry to find solutions to the problems we face.We discussed many aspects of the plastic problem from bioplastics and wh...
2019-11-191h 19
Seedpod62: Makoma Lekalakala - Will you stand up?Makoma Lekalakala is a soft spoken, unassuming South African human rights activist and the director of the Earthlife Africa in Johannesburg. Earthlife Africa is an environmental NGO that lobbies the SA government to ensure environmental and climate justice in our communities. Makoma and Liz McDaid, were awarded the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize for the African region, for their groundbreaking work on using the justice system to stop a Russian-South African nuclear deal in 2017. Makoma believes that we all have a part to play, and that together our small contributions complete the bigger puzzle that brings change. In...
2019-11-121h 09
Seedpod61: Mkhululi Silandela - How secure is our food?Joining us for this week’s episode is Mkhululi Silandela, Senior Manager for the Sustainable Agriculture & Smallholder-Support program at WWF-SA. This podcast is part of a series in partnership with Foodnext.africa. FoodNext.Africa is a b2b food event where startups, food innovators, foodtech businesses, investors and partners who are redefining the food industry from farm-to-fork are able to connect.Mkhululi launched his career in the food & beverages industry, and later worked as the regional manager for Fairtrade Africa before Before joining WWF in 2012. With a B.Sc. Honours in Agribusiness & international food-chain management from...
2019-11-0458 min
Seedpod60: Camille Olianti - Letting GoOn the 18th of October 2019, this weeks guest Camille Olianti set off for Reunion Island where she challenged herself to run a 114km trail run with 6500m of altitude gain. The challenge was motivated by her love of nature and running, as well as her passion to bring about change. Camille ran to raise funds for the South African Endurance Academy (ENDUROCAD) based in Stellenbosch which helps female athletes from underprivileged backgrounds get an education and develop their talent in athletics. Camille has deep care for helping people to succeed which comes through in her being the Wi...
2019-10-281h 24
Seedpod59: Sarah Robyn Farrell - Collective futureSarah Robyn Farrell, aka Sustainable Sarah, joins me this week to speak about her contribution to a more sustainable world. She is really multitalented working as a writer, environmental communicator, climate justice activist, and musician with a conscious work ethic combined with creativity, passion and a drive for instilling positive change. She is both the founder and creative director of transparenCI, creative agency that specialises in sustainability communications and a founding member of the African Climate Alliance, a youth-centered climate justice affinity group. Sarah's climate activism is centred around intersectional grassroots climate action that focuses on the yo...
2019-10-221h 07
Seedpod58: Rayne Stroebel - Consciousness is never lostUnlike most children, Rayne Stroebel grew up in an Aged Care Home where his mother was the Matron. There the seeds were planted that later developed into his heart for better care. He founded GERATEC which is a person-centred community where older people can live in a home-like environment and make their own decisions. They achieve this with a holistic and compassionate approach, meeting individual needs, encouraging independence and continued growth, rather than manage their decline. Through this, their dream is to transform and re-model long term care in South Africa. One of the striking concepts for m...
2019-10-151h 55
Seedpod57: Emile Fourie - Making waste matterThis week's guest, Emile Fourie, is focused on looking at waste differently. Emile is the CEO & Co-Founder of Ywaste, a company that specialised in Food Waste Management by transforming wasted food into organic compost. Ywaste started as a small company that manufactured domestic-scale worm farms, but in just 8 years they transformed into a substantial operation that diverts more than 1 500 tons of food waste from landfills each year. Scarily, 90% of South Africa’s food waste ends up in landfills, and soon we’ll be running out of space. Emile is a visionary and believes he has a globally relevant solution to ou...
2019-10-081h 35
Seedpod56: Tracey Gilmore - Second ChancesFrom humble beginnings, Tracy Gilmore has created a powerful personal development ‘sisterhood’. It started when she and her partner convinced retailers to donate excess garments, and empowered unemployed single mothers by teaching them basic business skills. The reach of their influence has expanded greatly and they have equipped 1000’s of women with the knowledge and ability to create a bright future through a healing, supportive entrepreneurship training programme. Above all, the programme strives to restore the pride and self-worth of participants. By doing so, the women are empowered to help themselves and their families, and grow a successful, profitable busine...
2019-09-301h 04
Seedpod55: Christina Kaba - Change begins with youChristina Tenjiwe Kaba is proof that anything is possible. Better known to locals as Mama Kaba, she cares for her community and goes out of her way to prevent anyone from going to bed hungry. Her conquest for change originated in Lesotho, when she started using her land to grow vegetables to contribute to the nutritional needs of her community. Today, Mama Kaba has founded numerous communal gardens in various South African townships. She exceeded expectations when she rose to the top and became a CEO, despite having only completed formal education up till halfway through standard 2. For her...
2019-09-231h 12
Seedpod54: Paddy Upton - The art of leadershipThis week I have the pleasure of chatting to the barefoot coach aka Paddy Upton. He has been part of the coaching staff of the SA cricket team that reached World 1 ranking, he helped take the Inidian cricket team to a world cup win in 2011 and is Head Coach in four of the world's premier T20 cricket tournaments. He is also a mental coach to professional athletes from multiple sporting disciplines, leadership coach to business executives and teams, a professional speaker, and was recently appointed as a Professor of Practice at Deakin University’s Business School in Aus...
2019-09-161h 14
Seedpod53: Eugene Oppelt - Cultivating healthy masculinityFrom a young age Eugene Oppelt was been inspired by his mother, a nurse, and watching her help and care for others helped shape his career as a psychologist. He is passionate about helping people reach their full potential in life.He’s currently focused on peak performance for elite athletes & teams, South African Olympians, & Paralympians. He is also a leadership advisor, team focus builder, change management consultant, and facilitation leader for a forward-thinking and dynamic international organization that trains men to live powerful and authentic lives.During my conversation with Geno, we discussed what it...
2019-09-091h 28Seedpod52: Aron HaLevi - Gift of HopeAron Halevi is a musician, songwriter, producer, and social innovator with a self proclaimed obsessive percussive disorder. He is also a father, husband, dreamer and hummus addict.After Starting the highly successful Freshlyground in 2002, and an amazing seven year journey, spanning three albums, four SAMA awards, one MTV award, over 50 songs and 1000's of performances later, he decided to pursue his own career as a composer and producer. Besides enjoying his music, his hope is that his songs might touch you, move you, and possibly even inspire you to look within, to step up, and to dream b...
2019-09-021h 26Seedpod51: Marlon Parker - Leading from LoveMarlon Parker is a leading social entrepreneur who uses information technology to empower communities. His passion for technology and innovation has led him to founding of R Labs which focuses on skills training and economic empowerment opportunities. He also co-founded JamiiX, one of the largest mobile chat counseling networks in the world with more than 4.5 million people being reached since inception.The Mail and Guardian named Marlon as 1 of 300 young South Africans you have to take out to lunch. He has been listed as one of the 100 World Class South Africans, an alumni of President Obama’s Yo...
2019-08-261h 19Seedpod50: Shani Kay - An MBA in positivityThis weeks guest Shani Kay calls herself a Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist who works with global clients to design, produce and amplify content and tools that are relevant, compelling and inspiring.One of her recent projects is SA INC., a new 20-part series set to air on local TV channels with the objective of changing the narrative in South Africa to highlight and celebrate the country’s successes and achievements.In our thought provoking conversation we discussed the state of our beautiful country from the perspective of someone who spends every day looking for go...
2019-08-191h 07Seedpod49: Brad Shorkend & Andy Golding - Work shouldn't suckIn this weeks episode for the first time I had 2 guests, Brad Shorkend and Andy Golding who have written a book together called “We Are Still Human!... and work shouldn’t suck!”.Brad is an agitator & thought provoker… he has summited 3 of the seven summits, and expeditioned to Everest Base camp. He is an architect, entrepreneur and has been coaching, mentoring and facilitating leaders across all industries since 2007.Andy is an employee experience specialist and co-founder of Still Human. She works with companies to craft and build cultures that are always innovation ready as well as design...
2019-08-121h 20
Seedpod48: Rob Stokes - Saving the worldRob stokes is the epitome of an entrepreneurial spirit, he just oozes it. He started off by founding Quirk, arguably South Africa’s most successful digital agency eventually selling to WPP in 2014. He is on the board of a multitude of businesses some of which he helped start and today spends most of his time at the Red and Yellow School of Business. Rob is passionate about developing, transforming and growing new and established businesses predominantly in the technology and education sectors.I dont think I have ever spanned so many topics inside an hour of conversation, we to...
2019-08-051h 07Seedpod47: Sally-Anne Kasner - Question Everything!There are many things that we take for granted in our lives and we place trust and power in others hands where sometimes we should be questioning more. This is at the heart of todays guest Sally Anne Kasners approach to life and sustainability, basically question everything. Sally-Anne heads up Circular Vision and is constantly trying to find new ways to change our current linear economy model to be more Cyclical or Circular. Dont know what that means, listen on. Her focus and passion lies in designing waste out of our system. Our conversation was extremely enlightening looks at...
2019-07-291h 14Seedpod46: Max Pichulik - Does pain breed success?Todays guest Max Pichulik lives and breathes social impact, at scale. Since 2006 After leaving the corporate banking sector Max has been involved in driving access to capital for scalable, impact ventures on the African continent. Currently his titles include co-founder of impact amplifier, director of earth capital and co-founder of greenfingers mobile. In recent years max focused his personal efforts in helping leaders understand the sub conscious drivers of their success, By Waking Up, Growing Up, Cleaning Up and Showing Up. Our conversation went pretty deep into the meaning of success and purpose in life and work, the role...
2019-07-221h 37Seedpod45: Grace Stead - Just do what you canGrace Stead is one of those people who is involved in so many things that I am left wondering how she does it all. She is a stalwart in the sustainability space here in South Africa who is truly dedicated to her work. She is currently the MD at Abalimi Bezekhaya - an NGO teaching people in the townships to grow their own veggies, Co-Founder of Wrap -zero focusing on sustainability in the film industry and founder of Steadfast Greening her own environmental consultancy. What I really loved about our conversation and what I walked away with was some...
2019-07-151h 18
Seedpod44: John Sanei - Future ForesightJohn Sanei is fascinated by the cross-section of human psychology and future studies, He brings these subjects to audiences around the world through inspirational talks and has just written his third book. He is the first African member of the Singularity University Faculty. Over the past 20 years, John developed a set of frameworks, perspectives and questions to contextualise business trends and innovation in today’s hyper-connected world.Our conversation went into detail on how John optimises all aspects of his life to be the person he is striving to be on all levels. From physical, to spiritual and m...
2019-07-011h 18Seedpod43: Marine Goldenberg - Digital for the PlanetMarine Goldenberg is a French import to South Africa who is small in stature but definitely not in spirit. Living for extended periods as a woman alone in both India and Nigeria prove that she has courage and tenacity. She now brings that character to the organisation she now works for called Digital for the planet. Our conversation traversed some of her experiences as a lone female traveller to how we are all impacting our planet through our daily digital habits and addictions. I learnt a lot and gained new awarenesses that I know will benefit you too.
2019-06-241h 08
Seedpod42: Marcus Coetzee - Minimalist clarityMarcus as a management consultant with over 20 years’ experience in providing strategic support to organizations that have a social impact – primarily social enterprises, non-profits organizations, high-impact businesses and government departments.He wants to help organizations like these to cultivate strategic clarity and hope, so that they can navigate a successful path into the future.We went into a detailed conversation about the concept of minimalism and how marcus uses it to great success in his life. Its a concept he brings to the organisations he works with to help them achieve strategic clarity.
2019-06-191h 30Seedpod41: Bernard Lembeck - Chemical ActivismWhat do you get when you mix a german paint chemist with an environmental activist? Bernard Lembeck is just that. He is an interesting mix of personality with a very measured, scientific and gentle approach to life intertwined with a courageous pioneering entrepreneur who has been making environmentally friendly paint products under the brand Pro nature for almost 20 years, before it was even a thing. I enjoyed seeing a completely different perspective of our beautiful country and exploring the ins and outs of an industry I previously knew nothing about. Our conversation left me w...
2019-06-111h 16Seedpod40: Joshua Cox - How will you contribute?This weeks guest Joshua Cox is Passionate about justice and social change, and the power of technology to create positive change at scale. He worked in international development and social activism for 10 years before founding his social enterprise (www.fixforward.com) Five years ago which creates opportunities for tradesmen from low-income communities to grow successful businesses. Josh is one of the many South Africans who are truly involved in driving change in the country and has a very positive outlook on our future. We discussed how he decided to become a social entrepreneur and some of the challenges he...
2019-05-271h 17Seedpod39: Dave Duarte - Digitising the revolutionDave is a real digital native who has a global voice teaching organisations to create change through building communities and cultures online. he is passionate about what he does having worked with the UN, presented to world Leaders at Davos and is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. We spoke about education, the influence of digital media on our lives and how we create change within this landscape.
2019-05-201h 15Seedpod38: Alex Cousins - Have you suffered enough?Alex's passion has always been in health and human optimisation. Her teachings are a very unique amalgamation of shamanism, mysticism, a deep understanding of the human body through her studies of Ayurveda and Natural Hygiene; steeped deeply into Christ consciousness and the knowing, that we as a species are evolving beyond what we ever thought possible. Everything Alex teaches, she lives -fully without compromise whilst constantly evolving and refining the process. Alex is a true pioneer in her field and has the ability to guide people through massive transformations and healings in the most elegant and deeply authentic of wa...
2019-05-132h 04Seedpod37: Haldane Martin - Rebellious love for chairsThis week I had the privilege of sitting down with one of South Africa’s design legends, Haldane Martin. Haldane is a multi award winning, internationally acclaimed furniture and interiors designer. You may know some of his classics like the Zulu mama Chair and the Shongololo Sofa. Our conversation spans his early years as a rebellious skate border to falling in love with the chair to his latest collection which is focusing on sustainability. We delved into how his mind works, how he continues to keep innovating and some of his design processes. Anyone with an interest in de...
2019-05-051h 32Seedpod36: Leonie Joubert - Rewiring your brainLeonie Joubert is a multi-award-winning South African author, who has contributed to more than 10 books, and uses different ways of storytelling to help people grapple with many of today's tough issues as we try to find ways to live together on a this planet. She focuses on topics like climate and environmental change, energy policy, cities as development hubs, food security and more recently, her work delves into the realm of public mental health. Our conversation specifically looks at the uses of psilocyben in the treatment of mental issues such as anxiety and depression through Leonie's own viewpoint and...
2019-04-281h 23Seedpod35: Aunnie Patton Power - The rules need to changeThis week I have the pleasure if sitting down with Aunnie Patton Power to discuss her view on our current financial models, innovation coming out of South Africa and some of her experiences as a women in the Impact Investment arena. Aunnie is a global thought leader on Impact Investment, Innovative finance and Technology for Impact. She works with organisations across the globe, has been published by leading publications including WEF and SSIR, and currently resides as a lecturer at the GSB in Cape Town.
2019-04-221h 25Seedpod34: Brett Schlesinger - Right place right timeBrett divides his life into before his time at the Ranch with Osho and after, it was that impactful in his journey to discovering himself. In this weeks podcast we delve into some of his experiences there and how they have left a lasting impact on him. From the series of events that took him across the world to Oregon to him creating the Moonbag and the Drumcafe, Brett has always found himself at the right place at the right time to hugely positive effect time and time again. Join us on this entertaining journey.
2019-03-301h 22Seedpod33:Kate Ball - The power of spiritKate Ball is a wellbeing entrepreneur who focuses on creating ways in which to help people improve themselves through yoga, meditation and healthy food. She relies on the signs of the universe to guide her from one endeavour to the next while using her own life experience to drive her decisions. From new age breath work to ancient plant medicines, Kate has tried them all and approaches life with a diverse tool set for contentment and wellbeing.
2019-03-241h 16Seedpod32: Deon Robbertze - Crisis can change our world.From commercials director to sustainability entrepreneur, Deon Robbertze is shaking up the closedmindedness of society towards climate change. He calls himself an Anglicised Dutchman. But his real passion is Africa - her people, her music, her many cultures. And to create a circular economy. It's about opportunity - see the problem, find the solution and capitalise on it. There is hope! Jobs can be created while we clean up our mess.
2019-03-171h 16Seedpod31: Zachariah George - More collaboration - less condescensionZachariah George is changing the narrative in Africa. For a kid born in the South of India, raised in Muscat, Oman, who received his Masters of Finance at Standford, USA, he breaks out of all boxes. People assume there is no innovation coming out of Africa he says. Not if his initiative 'start up bootcamp' has anything to say about it.
2019-03-091h 19Seedpod30: Andries Rautenbach - Circular ways of reconnectingA revolution is needed on this planet we call Earth. Sure, we sit where we sit because of first world greed, or Big Corporates right? Andries Rautenbach, a seasoned engineer and coach, urges us to look to our own contribution: we all know we cannot carry on this way.
2019-03-031h 14Seedpod29: Justin Maxwell - A Passion and Party for ChangeContinuing on from our conversation in episode 7... In today's world we are flooded with information, opinions, confusion, and isolation. We often think we have no choice but to join the rat race and feed into the system, a system which we do not think to question. Justin Maxwell, like many of us, grew disillusioned with this way of living and decided to make this change.
2019-02-161h 18Seedpod28: Verity Price - Crowdfunding CourageYou have the passion, you have the dream, and you have the ability. What's stopping you? Fear, reckons Verity Price, fear of the unknown, fear of discomfort, fear of failure. Verity Price joins Seedpod to share her journey through fear and how it led her to and beyond her dreams.
2019-02-091h 07Seedpod27: Nic Rabinowitz - Wandering, Wondering JewWhat does a Jewish kid with a business science degree do with his life? Nik Rabinowitz defied his destiny and instead of a suit, decided that red fake snakeskin pants were more his thing. His “shy kid” childhood birthed the observer, and then the performer in him.Many brave and brazen moments leading up to his first gig included cold calling for an acting job, digging long-drops around Africa for a theatre troupe (whilst cooking the books on the side), and jumping out from under tables in the bizarre phenomenon that is corporate theatre. The man is very, very...
2019-02-021h 09Seedpod26: Glen Tyler - 12 Years - the global countdownGlen Tyler is an environmental activist working for 350.org. 350.org empowers and supports people to take action against climate change. He believes that we need to act communally in order to attack the systemic problems, not just reactively treat the symptoms, which he aptly likens to putting a Band-Aid on an amputation.
2019-01-261h 09Seedpod25: Ryan Fortune - 7th Day ApocalyptomistFor Ryan Fortune, the phrase, “the end of life as we know it” is not a concern for future generations; it’s a reality he reckons we will be facing within our foreseeable future. Fortune recalls his journey from a conservative 7th Day Adventist, who’s nose was permanently buried in a book and was taught to keep his questions to himself, to a man who has made it his mission to expose the realities we would rather not face. Once a trouble-making writer in the church journal, Ryan Fortune would soon be covering the stories of “the New South Afri...
2019-01-122h 01Seedpod24: Goodbye 2018 - Lee RaelI would like to thank all those people who have helped me to get this podcast going and helped sustain it. And that includes you! Enjoy the Holidays. See you next year!!
2018-12-1808 minSeedpod23: Warren and Tom - Walk with usTwo young pioneering Mzungu’s and best friends, Tom David and Warren Handley, after summiting Kilimanjaro, undertook to walk home to South Africa. They survived on a mere $2USD a day, and the inherent kindness of strangers. Why on earth? To raise awareness about the frightening statistics of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa, and to raise funds for early childhood development.Those 6000 km took them six months. Six arduous months of illness, hunger, sore feet, exhaustion. They learnt that big plans fall away when you’re surviving day by day, and that walking is a slow...
2018-12-091h 13Seedpod22: Schalk van der Merwe - Courage wears a velvet dressSchalk Willem Jacobus van der Merwe is as (white) South African as you can get. By name only. Born and raised in Bellville, Cape Town in the 70’s, he ironically credits Apartheid, the National Party and the N.G. Kerk as his greatest influences. He believes you don’t have to be a struggling artist to be a good artist. He describes his work as raw, honest, emotional and visceral, and without bullshit. From a velvet dress-wearing musician, turned advertising mogul, turned full-time artist, (with enough Instagram followers to fill a rugby stadium), he shares insight into ho...
2018-12-021h 34Seedpod21: Paul Hudson - Showing upPaul Hudson is an entrepreneur, father, musician, pilot, and creative leader, and not all in that order. He’s dedicated to embracing the heart of vulnerability in all aspects of his life, and inspired by youth who actively practice the mantra “be the change you wish to see.” We chat about staying present, challenging the assumptions we make, building a personal mindfulness toolkit, and things you learn when flying in storms (literally.)
2018-11-261h 15Seedpod20: Glen Jordan - Understanding money to work with moneyIf you’ve got a “can do” attitude, you can do it. These are the wise words of Glen Jordan, Director of IMB – a financial services firm set on empowering people to learn how to work with money. But this podcast is not just about money and tech, it’s about embracing our roots, and the challenges that refine us. It’s about unveiling toxic masculinity, and about being both vulnerable and thick skinned at the same time. It’s about persisting when you have nothing to your name, and learning how to maximize what little you have. Glen knows he is wh...
2018-11-181h 20Seedpod19: Frank Solomon - Making wavesThe ocean can be both a beautiful, and scary place. But imagine riding a 50-foot wave – roughly the height of a 5-story building… Today’s guest is Frank Solomon, a water-man, professional big wave surfer, Emmy award-winning filmmaker and unwitting environmentalist. We get frank with Frank about tenacity, conquering fear, being mindful, about sharing his passion for the ocean by teaching kids to surf, and how determination always triumphs.
2018-11-121h 14Seedpod18: Fred Roed - Never trust a skinny chefFred Roed has been through the proverbial entrepreneurial ringer. Bankrupt, and with over a million Rand in debt at age 27, we hear the story of how he balanced and reframed “failure” to now head up “Heavy Chef”, a platform that connects people through learning experiences. Heavy Chef’s objective is to inspire people to start things, and then empower them to succeed. This hugely inspiring chat reminds us that as pioneers we need to retain a healthy perspective on failure, and to cherish the journeyman inside us all.
2018-11-0458 minSeedpod17: Susan Hill - A Heart of ServiceSusan Hill, recent Woman of the Year Winner, is the Director of Ikhaya le Themba, an NPO situated in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, Cape Town. Susan talks about her journey of faith, leaving middle class comfort in America behind, relocating her family to South Africa, and in so doing, literally giving it all up for the greater good of serving others. The heart of her vision is to create necessary places of comfort and safety, and to inspire collaboration with others, essentially to rebuild broken and vulnerable lives.
2018-10-281h 21Seedpod16: Warren Goodman - Live well travel wideToday I am joined by Warren Goodman, owner and founder of Wazoogles Superfood. Wazoogles is a 100% plant-based superfood protein blend.Warren is a passionate surfer, chef, traveller and yogi. His travel experiences have grounded him and inspired him to live the nomadic lifestyle he does today.Wazoogles was born out of necessity. In his twenties, Warren suffered with a low immune system and was always getting sick. After eventually going to get tested by GPs and ENTs and when western medicine couldn’t give him any real answers, Warren turned to a holistic approach to th...
2018-10-211h 20Seedpod15: Michael Cowen - Change and disruptionMichael is a podcast host and keynote speaker. He co-hosts the Think WTF podcast with Brett St. Clair. Together they try to make sense of the rapidly changing digital world.Listeners to Cliff Radio will recognise Michael from the Futurology show which he began co-hosting in 2011. Michael and I do a deep dive into some of the pressing questions around digital technology and tackle questions around reality, consciousness, and what we want as a society.What started out as a conversation around digital technology turned into something much more profound.
2018-10-141h 06Seedpod14: Donna McCallum - Spread your financial wingsAs South Africa’s Fairy Godmother, Donna McCallum educates people on how to relate to, manage and build wealth around the world. She helps people break down barriers and build futures filled with hope and abundance.Her path to becoming the Fairy Godmother started on a bus ride in Argentina 13 years ago but her story is more complex than that and far from linear.
2018-10-071h 32Seedpod13: Nic Heinamann - Let's talk regenerationWith the Constitutional Courts landmark ruling allowing all South Africans to cultivate and use Cannabis in the privacy of their own homes, we chatted to Nicholas Heinamann, founder of the non profit Afristar who recently produced a documentary on this subject - Cannabis “the Peoples Plant. He joins us in the seedpod to chat all things regeneration, sustainability, and the advantages of hemp use.
2018-10-011h 20Seedpod12: Gina Flash - Living your purpose courageouslyMENSCH Founder Gina Flash joins us this week to share her remarkable story. Gina is a change maker in the truest sense and works to help others and empower those less fortunate for the betterment of society as a whole.
MENSCH brings together Jewish people working and volunteering in social development, social entrepreneurship, education, and academia for the benefit of communities outside of their own.
It was clear during our conversation how purpose-driven Gina is. Ingrained in her is the drive to help others and empower those less fortunate for the betterment of society as a whole.
2018-09-2459 minSeedpod11 - Alex Hetherington: There is no Planet BLeading environmental consultant Alex Hetherington joins us to chat about climate change, the future we face as a nation, as well the crucial role that the younger generation will have to play in helping enact sustainable change.
2018-09-171h 13Seedpod10 - Mandy Myerson: Bring the change by being itIn this episode, we are joined by Mandy Myerson, founder of Human Waking.
For the past few years, Mandy has undergone a spiritual and professional metamorphosis having first made her name in the art world.
Her own awakening inspired her to start her new company, or as she refers to it, a revolution that encourages people to become more conscious consumers and to forge a stronger connection to the planet they inhabit.
Mandy’s courage and passion inspired us throughout this thought-provoking conversation. I hope you enjoy.
2018-09-101h 12Seedpod09: Marc Rogatschnig: What makes a leader?In this episode we are joined by Marc Rogatschnig. Marc is a a renowned consulting psychologist to leadership teams around the globe, public speaker, and author.
His company, Tidal, helps individuals and organisations shift their beliefs and shape their own behaviors towards higher performances.
Marc is a leader in the truest sense. From his school days and throughout his professional career, it was clear that he was ideally suited to a leadership role.
From shifting the behaviors of his school peers, to advising his clients, Marc’s leadership approach has always been to facilitate conversations with the people around him in...
2018-09-031h 10Seedpod08: Tatum Prins: The adventure of a lifetimeIn this episode, we are joined by Tatum Prins, a world-renowned endurance and adventure racing athlete. Tatum was one of, if not the top female athletes in her field, competing in some of the toughest events we have ever heard of. Her ultimate challenge however has been the journey of becoming a mother.
She has since co-founded Mountain Runner, an events company that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle while enjoying the awe-inspiring scenery that South African trails have to offer.
Tatum’s story is one of triumph over tremendous obstacles. Physically she has endured things we couldn’t possibly fath...
2018-08-271h 08Seedpod07 - Justin Maxwell: The authenticity of expressionEpisode 7 of Seedpod features an illuminating conversation with Justin Maxwell, founder of the Muizenberg Festival. Justin is a practicing Sangoma, a life coach, a thinker, activist, and one of the most interesting people we've had the pleasure of sitting down with. He made us think, and we know he will make you too.
2018-08-201h 26Seedpod06 - Alex Peel: A closer look at consumptionAlex Peel is the owner of the Organic Route store in Hout Bay. Her passion for healthy food is matched only be her dedication to promoting the well-being of those on the lower rungs of the food production ladder. In this frank discussion, Alex helps us unpack the nature of food production in South Africa, and why we need to look deeper in how we consume our products.
2018-08-1343 minSeedpod05 - Justin Bonello: Orchestrating an ecological symphonyIn this episode, we are joined by South African filmmaker, chef and television personality Justin Bonello. Amongst other things Justin is best known for starring in his own cooking and travel show, Cooked. But there is so much more to him than that.
Justin is a passionate advocate for food and its environmental impact and believes that a fundamental shift is needed in society with regards to our relationship with the food we eat.
We will be exploring Justin’s history, his vision for South African food entrepreneurs, as well as unpacking his new endeavour, the neighbourhood farm project.
2018-08-081h 14Seedpod04 - Janna Kretzmar: Impact, Courage, and CommunityIn this episode, we sit down with Janna Kretzmar. Janna is the founder and director of the The Earth Child Project NGO.
Earth Child Project works with underprivileged kids teaching them yoga, meditation, gardening and life skills. Janna is a long time mediation practitioner and is a qualified yoga instructor.
We’ll be unpacking her story, why she does what she does, and what motivates her to keep inspiring a new generation of young leaders through the Earth Child Project. Enjoy!
2018-08-071h 10Seedpod01 - Gavin Shaskolsky: How discomfort breeds successIn this, our very first episode of Seedpod, we chat to world-renowned personal development Leadership coach, facilitator, and business owner, Gavin Shaskolsky. Gavin's discipline and purpose has seen him not only carve out a reputation as one of, if not the, preeminent coaches in the country, but has also seen him take on incredibly strenuous physical endeavors such as desert marathons as well as several Comrades. Throughout our conversation, Gavin inspires us with his passion for learning, growth mindset and determination to live a purpose driven life which contributes to the greater good. Enjoy!
2018-08-061h 05Seedpod02 - Seraj Toefy: It's time to start investing in ideasSeraj Toefy is the MD at Bespoke Media and has been publisher of some of the leading lifestyle brands in South Africa that include Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and Sports Illustrated.
His eye for content creation has seen him transition seamlessly into the digital space where he and his team now offer a full range of content creation services.
Seraj also lectures Entrepreneurship at the University of Stellenbosch Business School where he inspires the budding entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We know you’ll enjoy this one.
2018-08-061h 06
The Good Intentions PodcastEpisode 005 | Nicole Lee
Nicole Lee talks with Dave Rael about being brave, living the life you want, international human rights work, parenting, understanding, and blame
Chapters:
0:52 - Getting familiar with Nicole8:19 - Nicole's experiences with defending human rights14:10 - Interviews with violent criminals and the complexities of motivations for abhorrent actions22:30 - Loving people with views inconsistent with your values29:52 - Moving society forward requires action39:26 - Preparing families for a multicultural world43:42 - Nicole's ability to talk about difficult and uncomfortable topics47:59 - The meaning of social justice and the good and bad of the call-out culture62:14 - Recognizing threats67:26...
2017-09-1100 min
Developer On FireEpisode 177 | Lee Brandt - Community Rewards
Guest:
Lee Brandt
@leebrandt
Full show notes are at https://developeronfire.com/podcast/episode-177-lee-brandt-community-rewards
2016-10-2700 min