Gareth's Guests

Mike Abel joins Gareth and Phumi to discuss unlocking dormant potential in South Africa, and the need for active mentorship. He also touches on how to consciously decide who to vote for in the upcoming election. Plus, what you can expect from his podcast. www.cliffcentral.com

Legendary SA actor, director and playwright, John Kani joins Gareth in studio for an in-depth chat about his life’s work… from his early days as a struggling playwright, and how that was impacted by the South African experience. They also delve into his involvement in the making of the Black Panther movie, and John recounts his greatest moments on the world’s biggest stage - Broadway. www.cliffcentral.com

Israeli diplomat Daniel Taub is Gareth’s Guest this week. Daniel speaks on Israeli and Palestinian relations, and recounts some of the most memorable moments in his career as a negotiator. Daniel also highlights the optimistic vision that Israelis have for the future. www.cliffcentral.com

Brendan O'Neill is a British journalist, author, and commentator known for his controversial and dissenting views on contemporary political and social issues. He rose to prominence as the editor of the online magazine Spiked, and has been a vocal advocate for free expression, individual liberty, and personal autonomy. Gareth and Brendan sit down to discuss progression vs regression in politics, whether the British people rely on democracy, and a recent trend of 'national self-loathing'. www.cliffcentral.com

She might have a more recognisable voice than Gareth Cliff... South African icon and news veteran Leanne Manas joins Gareth to reminisce about her 20-year career in media - from breaking the biggest news stories the country has seen, to the impact of Vuyo Mbuli’s passing on her personal life. www.cliffcentral.com

Tristan Kapp - aka ‘The Friendly Satanist’ - is here to debunk all the myths behind the ‘Satanic’ label, and culture behind Satanism. Gareth Cliff, taking an atheist stance in this subject, takes Tristan on in a battle of history surrounding religion. From the early noted biblical times, to Gareth’s favourite era of the Roman Empire, Tristan slates the perverted ideas of animal sacrifice, demon possession, and a so-called ‘devil’ - and breaks down the real satanic views on life. www.cliffcentral.com

Dr Dan McMillan has spent nearly four decades on a journey to understand the multi-faceted answer to the wrenching question: How could something as horrific as the Holocaust have happened? www.cliffcentral.com

John McCook - otherwise known as Eric Forrester to most of us - has been the anchor of ‘The Bold and The Beautiful’ for almost 37 years. His iconic character is known around the world, but specifically resonates with so many South Africans, who grew up watching the soapie every afternoon. Gareth Cliff goes behind the scenes of the long-running production. John also speaks about his various other roles in television shows, such as ‘Murder, She Wrote’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’, meeting his wife on set, and his connection to South Africa. www.cliffcentral.com

Graeme Codrington is a futurist, scenario planner and an expert on the future of work. Gareth speaks to him about local and global politics, remote work, where the workplace is headed in 2024, how we can make technology work better for us, ChatGPT, education and what we should be leaving behind in 2023. www.cliffcentral.com

Stephen A. Newton is the MD of Aleph - the company representing X, TikTok, Snapchat and Spotify in Africa. With social media channels fast becoming an opportunity for employment, Stephen is passionate about upskilling the African youth, who by approximately 2050, will be the workforce of the future. He also explains Aleph's Digital Ad Expert, which is on a mission to provide free digital marketing expertise. www.cliffcentral.com

Francesca Emerson - otherwise known as 'The Chocolate Bunny' - sits down with Gareth Cliff to share some highlights from her new tell-all book. Being one of the first black women at the Playboy Club in New York during the 1960s, Francesca’s life has been one wild rollercoaster involving sex, love, scandal and opportunity. From working on film sets featuring some unbelievable names, to almost stabbing one of her exes to death, she has done it all! www.cliffcentral.com

Al J Venter, a retired intelligence agent who worked for the CIA, is opening up about his time in the agency after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Al discusses Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, and their involvement in South Africa. He also has a near-death experience with a KGB spy in Johannesburg! www.cliffcentral.com

Mumsy Malinga (Campus Head of Diversity and Head of the Centre for Dialogue and Conflict Resolution) joins Gareth Cliff, alongside Ronan Meltzer (student head of judiciary at Redhill School), to talk about their Centre for Dialogue and Conflict Resolution - as well as their their blueprint on how to grow a culture of understanding, diversity, and inclusivity among students, staff, and parents. www.cliffcentral.com

In a world of many greats, few choose to dedicate their career to a cause bigger than themselves. Since joining YouTube in 2011, South African Dan Mace has worked on growing his audience with his unique storytelling abilities and editing styles. Having met YouTube sensation, Mr Beast, during his visit to South Africa, Dan was approached with an opportunity that would change his life forever. Teaming up with Beast Philanthropy as the CCO, Dan is able to not only improve the lives of millions across the globe but also entertain while doing it. Gareth Cliff sits down with Dan in Cape Town at his production studios, Joe Films, to discuss the unimaginable journey of his life as a filmmaker - putting his own work on hold and moving halfway around the world to get on board with Beast Philanthropy. www.cliffcentral.com

Kanthan Pillay is a wise voice, with experiences only one in a million could have... from a maestro chef to South African political activist. Gareth delves into his family background, education and early work life overseas - before returning to settle in South Africa, where his heart belongs. www.cliffcentral.com

Growing up in Yemen, Luai Ahmed was pre-programmed with hate and biases within his culture... but with a curious mind and determination to find the truth, he moved to Sweden. After learning Swedish and immersing himself in the culture, he gained quite a following on social media for expressing his controversial thoughts. Luai and Gareth delve into the Israel-Hamas conflict, the difference between Islamophobia and 'Muslimphobia', as well as some of the Swedish government's behaviour behind closed doors. www.cliffcentral.com

The remarkable Jaco van Gass shares his extraordinary journey - from surviving a rocket-propelled grenade blast in Afghanistan, to becoming an adventurer and professional athlete. Jaco's gripping autobiography delves into the harsh realities of war, the challenges of rebuilding his life after losing a limb, and his conquests from scaling the world's highest peaks to competing in international cycling events. Despite facing near-death experiences and navigating uncharted territories, Jaco's unwavering determination and refusal to let adversity define him are profoundly inspiring. www.cliffcentral.com

Tony Leon is a South African icon in post-apartheid politics. He's the longest serving leader of the opposition in Parliament, and he led the Democratic Alliance for 13 years. Having exited leadership in 2007 and later the public political space in 2009, Tony lived through a political movement that did not involve the loud voices of social media and the intense racial criticism the DA experiences now. Gareth and Tony take a look into the possible futures of South Africa, with the different links of coalitions - as well as some analysis of South Africa’s state of deterioration over the years. www.cliffcentral.com

Join Gareth as he chats with global sensation Jen Su - from her journey on Taiwan Idol to her Hollywood encounters. Discover her path from childhood to fame, navigating personal struggles… plus her encounters with Siya Kolisi, Meghan Markle, and more. www.cliffcentral.com

What brings out your creativity? David Chislett is a published author, poet, musician, and entrepreneur. Having lived in South Africa for most of his life, he has deep roots within the old music scene and a firm stance on local vs international music exposure across the country. Gareth gets into his career as a 'Creativity Activator' - as well as his new life in The Netherlands. www.cliffcentral.com

Drugs, fraud, and prison found Nikki Munitz reflecting on the lowest points that turned her life around. She lets Gareth Cliff and Lebang Kgosana pick her brain about her time behind bars, her experiences as an addict, and her venture in running a rehab for fellow addicts. www.cliffcentral.com

In a world where fame, fortune, and scandal meet, your world as you know it could change in the blink of an eye. In this case, Tol A$$ Mo’s world was turned upside down, and after a prolonged court case, he is now trying to return to his normal life as an MC, comedian, and entertainment figure. Gareth uncovers his journey as a sangoma and his new path to happiness. www.cliffcentral.com

Gareth Cliff sits down with Penuel The Black Pen - an internet personality known for wild, controversial opinions that often go against the grain of society. Together they tackle the upcoming elections that will decide the fate of millions across South Africa. Gareth does a deep dive into Penuel’s own religious concept 'Penuelism', and the idea of man-made beliefs. www.cliffcentral.com

If you’re a true South African at heart, you’ll know Sello Maake kaNcube. From a local soapie hero, to a director of international stature, “Archie” walks us through some history of his outstanding work over the years, including reproducing an original John Kani production - Nothing but the Truth. Strap in with Gareth and Sello as they go down the memory lane of South African entertainment. www.cliffcentral.com

From orgasms and cult leaders, to elephants and the Dalai Lama... it's a real family affair as the legendary Kate Turkington - 89 years young - is joined by her daughters Tiffany and Tara for stories that cover their shared love of travel, sibling rivalry, crazy expeditions, and some embarrassing anecdotes! www.cliffcentral.com

‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid?’ One of Facebook’s many mantras that struck a nerve for Michal Oshman, and so it became the title of her latest book. Inspired by her grandmother - a holocaust survivor - Michal has lived day by day looking over her shoulder in fear, but recently turned her life around to encourage people to live, fail hard, learn and connect. Currently working in the TikTok realm, Michal is also using her voice to spread the message of social culture in the workplace far and wide. www.cliffcentral.com

If you recognise the name “Carrie Bradshaw”, you lived in an era of prime time television, where 'Sex and the City' dominated the airwaves for years, but also became a cultural phenomenon - redefining modern relationships. Gareth sits down with the creator of the series, Candace Bushnell, to discuss her inspiration behind the literature and how it was picked up on television, being a single woman in New York, and even ideologies she is not a fan of. Plus she also shares some dating tips and tricks! www.cliffcentral.com

You might ask, who still writes columns... let alone who still reads them? Aspasia Karras is the editor-at-large of Sunday Times Lifestyle, and she joins Gareth for a general catch-up. They dive into interesting topics like vaping, self-inflicted pain, and the trappings of branding and self-image. www.cliffcentral.com

Tim Urban has spent years writing stick-figure-illustrated posts on his blog, Wait But Why. Thanks to his creative and unique way of seeing the world - and all of its issues - he has now written his first book, What’s our Problem? Gareth speaks to him about the book, and some of the compelling topics that Tim tackled in it. www.cliffcentral.com

Avid gamer, professional streamer, author and academic... Thea seems to be doing it all at the age of 25, while keeping a cool head and conquering the world. Gareth discusses her accolades in neuropsychology (in which she is obtaining her Master’s degree), and her relationship with the King of YouTube - Mr Beast. Not to mention everything in between from writing her book, 'The Marked Children', to her work in Esports and her plans for the future. www.cliffcentral.com

South African treasure Louise Carver joins Gareth Cliff and Lebang Kgosana in the studio for a long overdue catch-up. With 7 albums, 11 South African Music Award nominations, and 2 Billboard No. 1’s, it’s a no-brainer that Louise is easily one of South Africa’s most precious talents. Together, they discuss life after COVID, her booming business ventures, the tragic death of Derek Watts, and her recent relationship. www.cliffcentral.com

Bruce Fordyce - A household name and South African legend. Best known for winning the South African Comrades Marathon a record nine times, the "Winged Messenger" sits down with Gareth Cliff to discuss the special moments in his career, his involvement in today's athletic culture, and his interests in anthropology and archaeology. www.cliffcentral.com

As we enter the final months of 2023, many of us are feeling a weight on our shoulders... unsure about the future of South Africa. It’s cool-headed, focused individuals, like Vusi Thembekwayo, that we rely on for leadership and insights. Gareth Cliff speaks to Vusi about SA’s business landscape in the current political climate, the role every concerned South African should play, and what Vusi's steps forward would be - if he had the opportunity to run things his way. www.cliffcentral.com

Paul Slabolepszy is a literal legend of South African theatre. He tells Gareth Cliff about his family's history, mixing sport and drama, his lifelong partnership with Bill Flynn, the new version of one of his famous plays, what inspires his writing, and the true meaning of legacy. www.cliffcentral.com

You might know her as Dr D from her many years on 702, but in this in-depth discussion, Dorianne Weil shares some personal stories about meeting Mandela, her arduous fertility fight, grieving the loss of her husband, and how to find happiness. www.cliffcentral.com

Ben Goldsmith has written a beautiful book about a terrible tragedy. After losing his teenage daughter in a freak accident on the family farm in Somerset, England in 2019, Ben was drowning in the depths of grief and despair. His deeply personal story of how he found his way back through the healing power of nature is both moving and inspirational for anyone who has experienced a great loss. www.cliffcentral.com

Award-winning writer, Darrel Bristow-Bovey joins Gareth to talk about his new book ‘Finding Endurance: Shackleton, My Father and a World Without End’. Don’t miss this somewhat philosophical discussion about the relationship we have with our fathers, the true meaning of success, and how to ‘win’ at the game of life. www.cliffcentral.com

She is a notorious South African actress who has released a new book, exposing the truth about the local entertainment industry. Not only does Vatiswa Ndara talk about her experiences within that world, she also drops some big names that have treated her and many others wrong. It has been a pretty dark road for Vatiswa over the last few years, and Gareth sits down with her to unpack her career, her reputation, and some deeply personal stories… all while having a laugh!

Gareth Cliff sits down with Howard Sackstein, a lawyer by training and an entrepreneur by profession, to talk about his life and career in the political space. Howard is the founding member of the Jewish anti-apartheid movement, which actively fought against the apartheid regime. With tons of other accolades such as heading up the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as Executive Director, and non-executive chairperson of the SA Jewish Report newspaper, Howard finds a way to warm our hearts and inspire us with his optimism about SA and his general zest for life!

Mike Teke - a man of principle and passion in South African business - sits down with Gareth Cliff to discuss his fascinating life growing up in the townships during the apartheid era, as well as his outlook on life. He explains why relationships built on professionalism and respect are extremely important - as well as keeping a line between people in business and his personal life. Enjoy listening to the journey of a man on a mission to push South Africa forward.

Slikour has been as busy as ever in the world of entertainment. Having released a new book, he joins Gareth Cliff and Lebang Kgosana in studio for a tell-it-all interview about his life, career, and recent realisations about the world. One hour with the South African hip hop mogul is not nearly enough to unpack his legacy, as well as his new platform that will change the music industry on take-off. We also find a common connection between Lebang and Slikour from way back when. www.cliffcentral.com

Daisy de Melker... a widow and nurse living in Johannesburg, South Africa became a notorious offender worldwide in the 1930s. This serial killer with blatant intent and disregard for the law is covered by South African author, Ted Botha - who had no intent on writing this book, but stumbled upon the largely untold story and decided to do a little digging.

Harry Oppenheimer is an icon of South African history, with an extraordinary life wrapped up in a nexus of politics, business, and wealth. Author Michael Cardo has been granted first-hand access to the Oppenheimer chronicles and historical documents from within the family - to script a truthful, but gripping biography. Gareth sits down with Michael to discuss some of the behind-the-scenes experiences with the Oppenheimer family and his fascination with their heritage and history on both the local and international stage.

Meet the man behind the political commentator! Solly Moeng - a columnist, expert in brand reputation, and regular contributor to the Burning Platform - joins Gareth in-studio to discuss his life overseas as a part-time lecturer and full-time South African. Due to political reasons, he has been chased out of the country and is waiting for his chance to return. Solly divulges some interesting information about his personal life and more in this special interview.

A man of history, a man of culture, multiple personas... and one proudly South African legend. Pieter-Dirk Uys sits down with Gareth Cliff to discuss his life, career, family and precious moments. Hear about where he grew up, his family, the influences for his satiric characters, and some heartwrenching moments that changed his life.

Michael Jordaan, FNB’s youngest CEO and a notoriously successful entrepreneur - both locally and internationally - has a one on one with Gareth Cliff to discuss his incredible career and the current entrepreneurial space in South Africa and the world. Don't miss this inspirational and patriotic conversation on South Africa’s business landscape.

Samsung’s former African powerhouse, Sung Yoon sits down with Gareth Cliff to discuss his journey around the world, working for one of the biggest and most competitive organisations on the planet. He also describes his love for South Africa, and the consumers on the African continent.

Dr John Laband is a Professor Emeritus of History at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. He has authored, co-authored and edited over 20 books on warfare and military culture in Africa, specialising in the Zulu kingdom and in 19th-century colonial conflicts in southern Africa. He speaks to Gareth about his latest book, where he explores the strategies of both the Trekkers and the Zulu Empire run by Shaka Zulu.

UnCancelled brings you another thought-provoking conversation, this time featuring Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng. In this episode, she sits down with Gareth Cliff and Phumi Mashigo to share her thoughts on higher education in South Africa, and discuss the controversy around her split with UCT. As a respected academic who is unapologetic about setting out to make education fashionable, Prof Phakeng holds nothing back in this discussion. She provides insightful perspectives and valuable insights that are sure to resonate. Plus, a live Q&A session with the audience.

Gareth Cliff and Simon Sebag Montefiore finally meet in person for another history geek out session. They delve into the process of writing about historical people and events, ancient empires, and modern wars. Plus, some fantastical fun as they imagine travelling back in time to some bygone eras.