Gareth's Guests

Gareth has a candid conversation with Jesse and Jaron Clegg, as they talk about the release of their father Johnny's memoir, Scatterling of Africa. The brothers open up about the process of compiling the book, spending their childhoods touring the world, and the 'nature vs nurture' of talent and creativity. www.cliffcentral.com

Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha, the iconic and award-winning South African actor, grew up knowing his real father, but without knowing that he was actually his father. In this conversation, he explains his complex relationship with masculinity and fatherhood, the deep, meaningful contribution of his wife and lifelong partner, and the lessons he would like young South African men to learn from his story. As a wise elder, we could all benefit from his new memoir, I Am A Man. www.cliffcentral.com

Desmond Dube is a South African singer, actor, mime artist and entertainer. He joins the team to have a catch-up on how lockdown has affected him, whether or not he is Lillian’s son, and this year's Janice Honeyman pantomime Cinderella, where he stars as the hilarious Ugly Sister, Fanny Flatulina. www.cliffcentral.com

You might know Ben Miller from recent shows like Bridgerton, Professor T, and Death in Paradise - but he was also part of the comedy duo, Armstrong and Miller... and he starred alongside Rowan Atkinson in the Johnny English franchise. Before Ben turned his attention to acting, he studied for a PhD in quantum physics at Cambridge University. Don't miss this highly entertaining interview as Gareth Cliff gets into Ben's head about science, how he memorises his lines and lots more! www.cliffcentral.com

Angelo Agrizzi is the man who spilt the beans on Bosasa at the State Capture commission. In this interview, he also spills the beans on Gavin Watson’s death, crooked and venal politicians (and how cheaply they can be bought) and how he was poisoned. With the release of his second book, and plenty of frightening evidence, Angelo isn’t backing down - he’s upping the ante. Hear about the tactics of State Capture, the people involved, and the amounts of money that changed hands. www.cliffcentral.com

Glynis Horning experienced something no parent ever should. Her 25-year-old son Spencer committed suicide two years ago. Glynis shares her deeply moving and personal story with us, and approaches it from the point of view of being a mother, and also as an award-winning journalist, who has specialised in the field of mental health. This isn’t an easy interview to listen to, but it’s something we should all think about, and hope not to experience ourselves. www.cliffcentral.com

Dr Tshepo Motsepe, South Africa’s First Lady and Patron of the Early Care Foundation, shares her thoughts and passion about the importance of early care for children. ECF is an organisation dedicated to increasing access to early childhood development in disadvantaged areas through upskilling women and providing support for home based creches. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this already fragile sector. Thousands of parents and early care practitioners have lost their jobs, which also means that thousands of children in vulnerable communities lose their access to safe, educational early care facilities and the associated daily nutrition the creche provides. Early Care Foundation has launched #NoOneLeftBehind campaign to help get at least 1000 children back into a stimulating learning environment and providing a roadmap for women back into employment. www.cliffcentral.com

Muzi Kuzwayo has written an inspirational book on how we can make South Africa live up to its incredible potential. He and Gareth explore the ways we can get South Africa to deliver on the promise - the promise of 1994 and the bright future we could have. www.cliffcentral.com

Travis Brown is a filmmaker and philosopher who has just produced a documentary series about the religion of wokeism. In this discussion, he and Gareth talk about the parallels between established religion and the current, obsessive ideology of leftist wokeism, both in the US and the rest of the world. www.cliffcentral.com

Would it be better to have never been? If you’re not having an existential crisis yet, then this interview might just give you one. Professor David Benatar of UCT is one of the world’s greatest philosophers and proponents of antinatalism - the idea that it is wrong to bring sentient human life into being. He and Gareth wrestle with the idea of parenting, overpopulation, bio-ethics and the idea of purpose. www.cliffcentral.com

Kenny Xu is a brave author - brave enough to publish a book on an issue none of the major parties in America care about. But they should, because it’s actually about an attack on merit. Kenny and Gareth discuss some of the parallels between Harvard’s discrimination against Asian Americans and affirmative action in South Africa, and what it means for finding the best people in any job, without politicians interfering or grandstanding. Kenny's book, 'An Inconvenient Minority', is all about active discrimination which prejudices some the hardest working people in the United States, with many lessons for the rest of us. www.cliffcentral.com

Living through 2020 and 2021, you could be forgiven for thinking the conspiracy theorists were right. Looking back on the big events in South Africa and the US (not to mention the rest of the globe), there’s enough fertile ground for every wild grain of paranoia to take root. Chris Wyatt - a retired US Army Colonel, and someone who has been paying a lot of attention to South Africa for many years - weighs in on the violence in KZN, the demise of the ANC, racial politics, and even a false flag operation on January 6th. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg... www.cliffcentral.com

Ian Goldin is a professor and globalist at Oxford University, but he’s also a South African who served in the Development Bank during the Mandela years. He and Gareth Cliff discuss his book, RESCUE, and argue about big government, the ways the pandemic could change the world for better or worse, and whether anyone handled COVID well at all. www.cliffcentral.com

What is hope during times of crisis? Is it passion? Perseverance and grit? Or faith? And how do we look beyond the current situation to inspire and acknowledge others? Should we look to the bravery and resilience of others, to hold each other strong? Gareth and Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean and Director of Henley Business School in Africa, have a candid conversation about hope being the new currency. www.cliffcentral.com

Greg Ellis is a star of the stage, the screen and the digital world. He has sung for the Queen, starred in Pirates of the Caribbean and Titanic, and even voiced some of your favourite video game characters. The reason we wanted to speak to him was to hear his story - the story of a father caught in the expensive, unfair and cruel world of custody law. In this emotional discussion (wait until the end), Greg and Gareth discuss toxic masculinity, the war on competent masculinity, and the forces that are trying to destroy the family. www.cliffcentral.com

Kojo Baffoe is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed retired poet. His life story has been a book waiting to happen. He and Gareth have a candid conversation about his book, ‘Listen to Your Footsteps’, which dives into reflections on losing his mother as a toddler, being raised by his father, forming an identity, living as an immigrant, his struggles with substance abuse, and a whole lot more. www.cliffcentral.com

The world is going through tremendous chaos and change, individuals and corporations are trying to adapt to this change with little or no guide or reference point. What is the public ‘bidding’ for? Emotional stability? Consistency? Answers? Hope? Leadership? A blueprint? An escape? Dr Hanan Bushkin - renowned psychologist and head of the Anxiety and Trauma Clinic - chats to Gareth about all this and more. www.cliffcentral.com

To know him is to like him… ProVerb is one of the warmest and talented people you’ll ever meet as a TV host and producer, musician and entrepreneur. But most recently he's given readers an unprecedented look into his life in his memoir, “The Book of ProVerb.” Gareth speaks to him about it, as he provides an honest account of his life’s hustle in the ebbs and flows of the entertainment industry, which he hopes will invoke the awareness of self in others. www.cliffcentral.com

David Weiss - a businessman, podcaster and Flat Earth believer - joins Gareth to have a candid conversation about his conspiracy theories, how belief is the enemy of knowing, and the most important secret of the elite. This conversation will certainly leave you thinking and maybe even convince you to see things differently. www.cliffcentral.com

Even though many of us would rather not mention 20/20 vision because it reminds us of last year, let’s find out though... how are your eyes doing? And what should you be concerned about when it comes to taking care of them? Dr Rob Daniel, Chief Specialist Ophthalmologist, chats to Gareth about a new eye surgery, the impact on our eyes from our cellphones and laptops, and how to better protect them. www.cliffcentral.com

In the midst of these crazy times, it’s astonishing that Pepe Marais has been able to not only raise the bar at Joe Public United, but also inspire and assist people towards being the best version of themselves through his writing. Gareth talks to him about his new book, and finding your purpose. www.cliffcentral.com

John Hunt’s new novel, ‘You Never Really Know’, has been described as one that is “filled with warm humour and serves up a double shot of pathos as it moves from playful satire to true tragedy, whilst examining the inner workings of power.” He chats to Gareth about how life has been for him over the past year, and shares his writing process with us. www.cliffcentral.com

Molly Bernstein (Development and Communications Manager) and Sita Cacioppe (Head of Health and Medical Sector) from IsraAID, which is an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation based in Israel, to chat to the team about their massive task of rolling out a vaccine programme in Eswatini. www.cliffcentral.com

She’s the woman of the moment - calling the shots as a number of men chase after her affection. She’s the star of South Africa’s very first 'The Bachelorette SA'... Qiniso Van Damme joins the #GCS team to talk about her dating experience and what she is looking for when it comes to love. www.cliffcentral.com

He’s probably been on more Zoom calls than anyone else under lockdown... Rich Mulholland joins the team to talk about adapting to the new normal of doing things, why “Zoom fatigue” is a myth, and a few apps that will improve your virtual experience. www.cliffcentral.com

With a career spanning over 40 years, Cindy Alter joins the team to talk about her new single, 'Last One Standing', her album - having sold 12 million units to date... and she also shares some interesting stories about what she got up to back in the day. www.cliffcentral.com

Live from his car and still in his PJs is Idols judge and media personality, Randall Abrahams. He takes us on a musical journey like no other, letting us into his music room and sharing how he connects with music. Plus a random fun fact on why he thinks kids are overrated. www.cliffcentral.com

"Larry King was passionate about radio... he was the king of talk." - John Berks. The iconic Larry King has passed on. Gareth reminisces about his life and times with another legendary broadcaster, John Berks. www.cliffcentral.com

In this special edition of Gareth’s Guests, Prof. David Block - astronomer and author, Emeritus Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand - gets to know the remarkable Dr Edith Eger. Dr Eger is a holocaust survivor and psychologist. At 93 years old, she has a stunning amount of experience in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Following on some insight from her international bestselling book, 'The Choice - Embrace the Possible', she speaks about what she knows for sure about life, and in her way, leaves you looking up in this special one-on-one. www.cliffcentral.com

With the advent of Covid-19, most of the world has had a sharp response to external factors, but what are the controllable factors which we have ignored for far too long? Though jobs have been lost en masse, is there any hope for the global citizenry as we leave the pandemic behind? What is the difference between complex and complicated modes of economic activity? Should we still have a desire to go back to what we once considered 'normal'? John's new book is called 'FutureNEXT' and is available now. www.cliffcentral.com

The Covid-19 lockdown has affected the global economy, but the life of citizens has been different on each continent. Laurel McCulloch of 'Pumpkin Patch' fame - who is now a New Zealand citizen living in Australia - joins us to discuss how living in the first world isn't blissful during a global pandemic. How stringent is Australia's lockdown? Laurel also shares a touching story surrounding the tragic mosque shooting in Christchurch. www.cliffcentral.com

Can you fall in love with someone in two months? Are you able to love more than one person at a time? What if your intentions are pure, but you enter a reality show where it's all about ratings? Is the magic of television lost if you understand the tricks of the trade? Lee Thompson from 'The Bachelor' talks about his mental health struggles after being thrust into stardom, and being part of a contrived idea of what love is. He gives us "the truth behind the rose". www.cliffcentral.com

What is the role of political commentary in society? Can humour address incompetence effectively? Should satire be restricted only to certain parts of society? Cartoonist Jeremy Nell (Jerm) has in the space of 12 months been de-platformed on Facebook, Vimeo and YouTube. Who decides which voices and opinions can be heard, and why is Jerm being marginalised? The satirist and content creator joins us to discuss his journey with cancel culture, and possible alternative platforms for content creators. www.cliffcentral.com

When a 30-year habit ends, how does one adjust? As a man who loved radio so much that he failed a year in high school, Aki Anastasiou has pulled the curtain down on being the voice of traffic information in South Africa... so where to now? What other business interests does he have, how will he pivot as the future unfolds? What life lessons did other radio legends share with him over the years? One thing is for sure, Aki will never be forgotten in the hearts and minds of South Africans everywhere. www.cliffcentral.com

How does gender-based violence fall on the shoulders of men in this day and age? This is what Gareth Cliff discusses with educator, filmmaker, and author Jackson Katz. He is also the Founder and President of MVP Strategies, and has a lot of insight to share to interrogate what a man truly is. www.cliffcentral.com

Has the art of erotica been lost as it's become commercialised? Some say the dismissal of sensuality as smut has led to relationships becoming stale and lifeless. What role does adult entertainment play in modern day society? Are dancers expressing feminine power, or are they victims of the commodification of their bodies? Is it all chaos and debauchery, or is decorum the name of the game as a dancer and strip club owner if you want to be the best? Money, power and sex... the holy trinity of the post-modern age. www.cliffcentral.com

The COVID-19 lockdown has created many social and economic problems, and those affected by sexual and gender-based violence are at even more risk than normal in these abnormal circumstances. What can be done to deal with this pandemic of violence? How can the community play its part? What are the consequences of the shame and stigma associated with SGBV? Join Gareth Cliff in conversation with Monica Adhiambo Onyango, Sophie Hobbs and Miranda Jordan-Friedmann. www.cliffcentral.com

When we talk about sexual and gender-based violence, there's always a lot mentioned about women... as victims, what they can do to protect themselves, etc. But what about the men? What are they doing to help fight this social pandemic? Gareth Cliff speaks to a few men who are doing extraordinary work in the SGBV battle - Jackson Katz, Mark Ramsing, Charley Pietersen, Tumelo Mokowe and Jacques Rousseau. Brought to you by Absa. www.cliffcentral.com

The ownership of a lethal weapon is often characterised as 'men's territory'... well Lynette Oxley is having none of that. Firearm training of young women is starting around the age of 11 now. The aim isn't to create gung-ho gunslingers, the reality of the world means the safety of women is in their own hands. 'Girls on Fire' is allowing women to have a safety valve - should it ever come to that. Safety first, that's the motto. www.cliffcentral.com

The pandemic has been brutal for the arts, but Netflix and the digital revolution have allowed actors to continue to thrive, even during the global lockdown. Fulu Mugovhani - star of ‘Seriously Single‘ - divulges the pleasures of working with comedy legend Tumi Morake, and who she uses as a muse for her characters. She's on screens in 183 countries now, but is her family proud of her? ‘Seriously Single’ is available on Netflix. www.cliffcentral.com

A study conducted by global audit firm KPMG in 2014, found that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) costs South Africa between R28.4bn and R42.4bn a year. It’s time for corporate South Africa to acknowledge that SGBV is not just a social risk... but a chronic political, market and financial risk that affects multiple industries, sectors and geographies. Join Gareth Cliff in conversation with Hermien Botes, Head of Sustainability Engagement for Anglo American; Andrew Davies, MD of ICAS, providing health and wellness programmes and counselling services to corporate South Africa; and Nadine Mather from law firm Bowmans, who will look at constructive steps that employers can take to address SGBV in the workplace. Brought to you by Absa. www.cliffcentral.com

Death by its very nature is always a very messy topic, but somebody has to deal with the practical side... which is the cleaning up, after a traumatic event becomes a crime scene. From bereaved families to gross filth, Marelize and Benjamin van den Berg of Crime Scene Cleanup take care of the most horrific scenes, in order to make them habitable for human beings in future. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear hazmat suits. www.cliffcentral.com

With domestic violence escalating during COVID-19 lockdowns, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against girls and women a “second pandemic” raging in our country. Our nation has one of the world's highest rates of rape and femicide, and recently, several brutal killings have caused horror and public outcry. Join Gareth Cliff in conversation with Dr Roze Phillips (Head of People and Culture at Absa), feminist social worker Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse, and Busi Mkhumbuzi-Pooe (activist and entrepreneur), whose friend Tshegofatso Pule was brutally murdered in June. www.cliffcentral.com

Is the extended, voluntary hard lockdown bringing South Africa to its knees financially? Is there an irrational side to hard lockdowns, even with a global pandemic being declared by governments globally? What are the metrics for success in order to end the lockdown completely? Reyno de Beer of the Liberty Fighters Network joins us to speak about the constitutionality of lockdown, and why the government must be challenged before it's too late for South Africa's citizens and their civil liberties. www.cliffcentral.com

Two entrepreneurs - Andile Ramaphosa and Brad Fisher - are doing their part in the fight against Covid-19, by providing ventilation technology to taxis in Gauteng. This is a major development, but has been marred by controversy, given that Andile is the son of President Cyril Ramaphosa. With so many allegations regarding the funding of the project circulating, the co-founders of SDI Force speak to Gareth Cliff about the inaccuracies in the media's reporting on this. www.cliffcentral.com

Your civil liberties are not a given, they are constantly to be fought for. Mark Sham of #SACitizensUnite challenges South Africans to not be silent in the fight for a better country. How can you get actively involved, how can you protest together, and will technology be the saviour of society against poor governance? It's okay to want a better life, but what are you willing to do to have that life? www.cliffcentral.com

How much of what, and how you think is holding you back right now? Would you care to know? Harvard psychiatrist and brain scientist, Dr Srini Pillay, has a career that spans three decades and he's dubbed his recent learnings, 'The Science of Possibility: Leveraging your Brain for Future Success'. He gives Gareth a few tips and tricks on how shifting how you use your brain, could shift the way you do things for the better. www.cliffcentral.com

Across the country, we are currently experiencing many schools dealing with students, both past and present, who have had enough. For years now, some high-profile schools have been hiding a wide-range of abuse behind “heritage”, “reputation” or “legacy”. Using the story of Collan Rex (the former water polo coach at Parktown Boys High School, found guilty of 144 charges of sexual assault and 14 of assault, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison) as a background, Sam Cowen chats about uncovering what has been dubbed “institutional abuse” in her new book, Brutal School Ties - The Parktown Boys’ Tragedy. www.cliffcentral.com

If your love language is to touch and hug, how does one deal with social distancing? What are the rules for making movies during lockdown? How long can creatives make it in South Africa without working? South Africa's marginalised populous is largely looked after by grandmothers and single moms, and Hlubi has put together a terrific initiative to help these 'imbokodos' in trying to feed their families. For more info go to relate.org.za. www.cliffcentral.com

The rise of the South African black opera singer may be a surprise to some, but this maestro believes that the nature of South African social culture is to sing in choirs, so where better to find and breed talent? The lack of patronage for South African artists has driven Njabulo to help South African artists by starting the Voices of South Africa International Opera Singing Competition. Yes, there's prize money to be won, but there's a far bigger prize for those who are scouted, and it's truly life-changing. Bravo Maestro! www.cliffcentral.com