Good Things Guy [2018 - 2021 episodes]

Many things have changed as we pause our lives to fight the coronavirus. The world is facing an unprecedented time. The virus has to date infected over 1,2 million people globally, resulting in more than 69 000 deaths as of Monday 6 April, leaving more than two billion people around the world in some form of lockdown or self-isolation. With over 1655 cases of coronavirus recorded in South Africa as of today, there's no denying that the statistics surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic can feel overwhelming, but in the face of immense stress and trauma. On top of that South Africans are strapped for cash and in turn many of our charities and NGOs are suffering for it but one charity has found a way to bring help to the kids they look after with a simple social media post! Julia Sotirianakos, CEO of the Reach For A Dream Foundation has joined Brent Lindeque today to talk about the foundation, COVID-19 and how they're planning for unlock down day.

Starting today, MOFFIE , the story of a young conscript who battles to survive compulsory military service in apartheid-South Africa while coming to terms with his sexual orientation, will be available to stream online. Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque chatted to some of the cast before we went into lockdown. Take a listen. Visit www.moffiefilm.com/stream for more info. Stream the movie now

Graeme Codrington, a South African author, futurist and strategy consultant, has been very vocal about the Coronavirus and what it means for South Africa. He's talked about the elderly, the people with underlying illnesses and the poor. But he has also added a different perspective and ultimately… hope. Graeme joins the Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque via a video call - a first for this podcast but one we feel that is necessary as we become responsible, active citizens during the global pandemic. Listen to the discussion here & follow Graeme at https://www.facebook.com/graeme.codrington. Follow Graeme on Facebook

While still riding high on the success of his debut single release 'I’m Just a Boy' -that has already reached over 7 million listeners on South African radio, John Tsenoli has just dropped his next single, Long Road, available across all digital platforms since Friday. The same hit-making team, Ryno Zeelie and Matthew Marinus joined forces with John once again to write and produce this endearing and inspiring track that continues to tell the story of John’s journey from Lesotho to Johannesburg 4 years ago - and is sure to tug at the heartstrings. It’s a song about perseverance, hope, strength and staying true to your journey; about leaving a legacy that the generations after you can be proud of and hold onto. Add John’s powerful, soulful, velvet vocals to these messages of inspiration, and you have a sure-fire track that'll have listeners sitting up and paying attention. John joins Brent in studio this week to chat about his journey and the long road he’s been on. Long Road video · It's Just a Boy video

This week, Brent chats to Taffia Keight - Owner & Director at Whacked Entertainment Management - about the revival of the Cape Town Comedy Festival - and more. Taffia left her senior position at MTN; taking a huge pay cut - to help build her company from a small one-person operation to the industry leader it is today. She shares her journey with Brent in today's podcast episode...

Infertility: One in six couples in South Africa is facing fertility issues, making it a far-reaching issue. In today's podcast, Brent Lindeque talks to four incredible women who've been on the journey of facing fertility challenges. Lucia Oreb, Michelle Borgia Groenewald, Natasha Fagri and Saskia Williams discuss what is happening in South Africa at the moment. House of Fertility website

The ManKind Project South Africa is a nonprofit organisation that conducts life-changing programs for men at every stage of life - supporting a global network of peer-facilitated men's groups, where men mentor men through the passages of their lives. They empower and support men so they can make a difference in the lives of others - men, women, and children around the world. And Mlu Sibanda, Centre Director for JHB; Jihaad Rossouw - Head of Marketing and Josh Murphy - Member - join Brent Lindeque to talk about this initiative that's sweeping the nation. Official website

Tsitsi Chiumya is a young comedian from Lebowakgomo, a small township in Limpopo. He's fast become a talent to be reckoned with, winning admirers across South Africa, the continent and internationally - for his ‘awkwardly relatable stories’. Tsitsi was singled out by South Africa’s greatest comedy export – The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah – to take part in the new comedy TV series, Trevor Noah Presents: NationWild. Tsitsi's also appeared on BBC Arts Hour, which featured Spike Lee in the same season. Tsitsi joins Brent Lindeque this week to chat about his inspirational journey into comedy.

Hard enduro expert Kirsten Landman officially finished the 2020 Dakar in 55th position, while Taye Perry completed the grueling race in 77th position. But both of these talented South Africans have been named as the first women from Africa to ever race and finish the Dakar on motorcycles! The 42nd edition of the Dakar took competitors over 7800km from the shores of the Red Sea in Jeddah, around the canyons and mountains of the western part of the country, over the dunes of the Empty Quarter and all the way to the Qiddiya Sports and Culture Complex near the capital Riyadh. Southern Africa had ten competitors who crossed our borders and made their way to the 2020 Dakar in Saudi Arabia, but it was two South African women who've made our country so incredibly proud. And Kirsten joins the Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque to chat about the gruelling race:

Investec have made a contribution to real economic empowerment in South Africa through the distribution of title deeds to homeowners in various townships. It's distributing 3,600 title deeds for houses in 15 different townships around Gauteng. Investec has, at its own cost, cancelled the mortgage bonds registered over the properties. The title deeds are being returned to the registered owners, and the substantial underlying debt is also being waived by Investec. “One of Investec’s most cherished values is that we strive to live in society, not off it. This is something of a mantra inside the bank that we live by,” says Richard Wainwright, CEO of Investec Bank Ltd. CSI head Setlogane Manchidi joined Brent to discuss the incredible initiative.

Author Constantinos Carastavrakis, known to his friends as Costa, talks to Brent Lindeque about his life story: growing up Greek and gay in Joburg; suffering trauma and falling into a devastating crystal meth addiction. From Meth Addiction to Marathons: It's a South African story of healing. Costa brings light and humour to the darkness of addiction and shows that true body, mind and spirit recovery is possible for anyone who cares enough to heal themselves.

Valenture Institute is an exciting new global, online education space set to offer South African learners a highly engaging and socially rich learning experience supported by expert tutors and mentors. The Institute’s mission is to evolve what it means to “go” to school by transforming physical limitations into digital opportunities. Robert Paddock is the ex Co-Founder of GetSmarter, an online education company that has educated over 90,000 working professionals from 134 countries around the world, and partners with Universities such as Harvard, Cambridge, MIT, Oxford, LSE and Stanford. And he joins Brent to chat about all the good stuff they’re doing.

Nick Jordaan and James Boland join the Good Things Guy to chat about their two versions of their band… one in Afrikaans and one in English. It’s a crazy interview that will leave you laughing, and really wondering who actually writes the music!

Morne Basson recently finished a crazy event where he ran 72 half marathons on a treadmill in 72 days to better a Guinness World Record while raising awareness for people suffering from Motor Neuron Disease. The passionate athlete opens up to Brent Lindeque about why raising awareness matters so much.

Candice Mama met the Apartheid assassin who brutally took her father's life, but instead of hatred, she felt love and shared the experience in an open letter to SA, encouraging forgiveness. Since then she’s become a Forgiveness Advocate and been named Vogue Magazine's one of 33 Most Inspiring Women alongside Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman and Malala, to name a few. Candice joins Brent Lindeque to speak about the moment she faced Eugene de Kock and how forgiveness has opened so many doors for her.

Over the past decade, the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation has had a remarkable impact on the people and communities in which it works. Through dedication, collaboration and a commitment to creating positive change, the incredible foundation continues to build on previous achievements to create a South Africa we can all be proud of. The Executive Director of the Foundation - Chantelle Oosthuizen - has joined Brent in studio with two of her students.

This week, Brent Lindeque sits down to talk with one of South Africa's top consumer journalists, Wendy Knowler. She has weekly radio shows on 702, East Coast Radio and Cape Talk, and also writes weekly print and online columns for TimesLive, Daily Dispatch and Weekend Post. Brent and Wendy talk about the power of social media; company culture and overflowing email inboxes in this episode of Good Things Guy. Wendy's website

Cupcakes of HOPE is a South African Non-Profit Company who’s aim is to raise awareness and funds for families in need of medical assistance, and they do this all through the love of baking cupcakes. They've several events during the year but their main event is hosting South Africa’s National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer every September. This is an entirely community-driven project and an amazing event that brings the whole community together for an awesome cause! Sandy Cipriano (Aunty Sandy), the founder of Cupcakes of HOPE, joins the Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque to chat about her incredible foundation; the kids she helps and her chance meeting with Oprah. Kegan's story · Official website

He is a three time, stage four brain cancer survivor who overcame all the odds of beating cancer whilst at the same time competing in some of the world’s toughest endurance events, including six Ironman triathlons in that time. He is an expert on the power of the brain, change management, authenticity, and understanding how to overcome literally anything. He is an incredibly inspirational South African who is unbelievably passionate about our country, and a voice that we need to hear right now. His name is Richard Wright, someone who I have followed for years & he’s finally on the Good Things Guy Jacpod!

This episode of Good Things Guy is not Brent Lindeque's usual format. He continues to highlight crimes against South Africa's women and children, following one of our darkest weeks. The TEARS Foundation's founder Mara Glennie joins Brent in studio to talk about the crisis, and how TEARS is helping those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. It's an important listen. TEARS Foundation

Parts of South Africa are on fire, women are being raped, violently beaten and murdered & numerous children have been kidnapped. But that was just Monday this week. When you think about what is going on in SA, it is easy to get lost in negativity, and the anger. But this is what we need to do feel to figure out how we fix it, together! Danny Painter and Philicity Reeken - two powerhouse women from Jacaranda FM - have joined me in studio to start the conversation, and understand the current state of the nation. It's not my usual Good Things Guy episode, but it's perhaps my most important.

On an evening in December 1994, an extraordinary event took place in Alison’s ordinary life. She was abducted by two men and taken to the outskirts of the coastal city of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, where they raped and brutally assaulted her. She was stabbed in the abdomen more than 30 times and her throat was slit from side to side. The men left her for dead in the bushes. But somehow she lived. Somehow she was able to find her way back to the road where she collapsed. A car finally stopped and found the near-dead Alison. Despite the odds, she lived. Woman INpowered really started when Alison Botha got up and decided to live in December 1994, but the idea was born in 2000 when Mark Grobbler wrote his thesis. It became a full time concern in 2012. WIP as its known is an extremely simple, easy to learn yet devastatingly effective self INpowerment system that has been designed specifically for Women (and now men too) to give them the ability to make a choice in a threatening situation. Mark joins Brent Lindeque in a candid discussion about Alison, the WIP program and how it saved a Miss South Africa’s life. Listen to the JacPod episode here.

At GREEN HOME, sustainability is their passion, their vision and their daily work. They exist to supply South Africa with a great range of environmentally friendly food packaging in the best way they can. They are here to change some trends, rewrite some rules and usher in a big-picture-thinking way of serving food on the go. And Guy Cronje has joined Brent Lindeque to chat about why biodegradable packaging is so important in South Africa (and around the globe).

GirlCode strives to alleviate South Africa’s high unemployment rate through targeted technology skills and capacitation initiatives, including a GirlCoder Club, workshops and a Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) accelerator. They facilitate collaboration between women from divergent backgrounds in creating innovative and sustainable solutions. They believe that the more women who get involved with technology, design, development and leadership, the more successful and diverse companies and their products will be in the future! The team from GirlCode join the Good Things Guy to chat about the amazing work they're doing.

Kirsten Landman is a professional offroad and hard enduro rider from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She's been riding since the age of 8 and turned professional at the age of 22. What started as just fun with her family, has now turned into Kirsten making history and a name for herself worldwide in the hard enduro racing scene! Competing in major international events, the talented rider has become the first female to finish races such as Redbull Romaniacs, Redbull Sea to Sky, Redbull Megawatt 111, Redbull Braveman & the Roof of Africa. Since then, Kirsten has achieved her South African Springbok colours while competing at the top level of her sport all over the world and, most times, being the only woman to do so. And now South Africa's top female enduro racer is taking on the ultimate endurance challenge... The Dakar! Listen to her incredible story here on the Good Things Guy Jacpod! Kirsten's Website

Alfred Adriaan is a well rounded, hilariously funny and relatable comedian and his comedy is deeply rooted in everyday life. He's been nominated for 5 South African Comics Choice awards in only 4 years. He has also performed to international audiences in New York City at the Broadway Comedy club as well as the New York Comedy club in Manhattan and was invited to perform at the prestigious Sydney and Perth Comedy festivals in Australia. He is also known for acting in the KykNet movie Hospitaal op Horrings and for his work in TV and online adverts for Nokia, Savanna and Come Dine With Me for the BBC. He has performed on major Stand-up shows such as Mass Hysteria, Aweh Mzansi (as aired on MNET) and Blacks Only where he performed alongside celebrated South African acts such John Vlismas, Marc Lottering, Joey Rasdien, David Kau and many more. And he joins Brent Lindeque on the Good Things Guy today…

The South African National Blood Service and Western Cape Blood Service recently came together to showcase how they intend to save more lives using drone technology. That’s right… blood will be delivered by drones in South Africa! Jonathan Louw, CEO of the South African National Blood Service, joined Brent Lindeque in studio to chat about blood in SA as well as this new incredible technology.

In 2005, Shaun Hide was knocked down on the highway after experiencing trouble with his vehicle. He was dragged for approximately 900 meters and spent 3 months in hospital. Shaun's led a relatively normal life since then and achieved so much with a 'broken' body, even learning to walk on his own. But a few months ago things started going horribly wrong and Shaun began losing feeling in his legs and is now confined to a wheelchair. The remarkable Shaun joined Brent Lindeque in studio to chat about his 14 year journey.

AlphaCode Incubate is inviting start-ups with game-changing business ideas in financial services to become part of AlphaCode. Eight businesses will each qualify for a R2 million package. It’s like a real life Shark Tank for small businesses, with BIG ideas! Andile Maseko joins Brent Lindeque to chat about last year’s competition and how the businesses have grown in the past few months (adding jobs to our economy as well as new innovative ideas to the business space). 2019 applications were meant to close on the 18 June but AlphaCode decided to move this to the 24 June after appearing on the show. The packages consist of: - R1 million in grant funding - A R500 000 12-month customised financial services programme with access to experienced mentors, RMI capital and an extensive network of thought leaders - R250 000 worth of comprehensive business support services - R250 000 worth of premium office space at AlphaCode’s exclusive Sandton co-working space and the opportunity to immerse in an unrivaled community of experts, potential clients and like-minded entrepreneurs. Ntandoyenkosi Shezi is the co-founder of iSpani Group which provides sales channels for insurance distribution in informal markets and collects data for financial inclusion and is currently part of the programme. He explains that Incubate has accelerated his exposure in financial services and to the RMI companies. Apply here

James de Villiers, a journalist at Business Insider has created an Instagram video series where he shoots 1 minute videos with inspirational South Africans. James joined Brent Lindeque in studio today to discuss his series and also what inspires him about South Africa!

There are the cutest teddy bears being made locally which not create jobs but also much needed awareness for Rare Diseases South Africa. The Rare Bear Project is all about supporting their community. From providing support to families with rare diseases, to creating jobs and income generating opportunities to the women of Kya Sands. 100% of any income goes straight back into this project. Megan Hunter joins Brent Lindeque in studio to chat more about the incredible project, and what else Rare Diseases South Africa does. Rare Diseases website

This week we’re getting a little sporty but it’s not that different because it’s also sport with a bit of good! joberg2c is riding the off-roads less travelled and trails never explored across four provinces of South Africa. It is sharing a passion for mountain biking with those who love riding. The communities, the trails, the landscapes and the feast of flavours all conspire to make this a journey for the soul. Craig Wapnick, a passionate mountain biker and an ex-advertising guy joins Brent Lindeque to tell us about joberg2c and the good work they do! Joberg2c website

'Does God hate Gays' and 'Where are our gay South African role models' are just a few episode titles of SKEEF, a new South African documentary series that sets out to expose the realities of being LGBTI+ in South Africa. This Afrikaans documentary is a raw representation of modern Queer life – the highs, the lows, and even the high heels! The harsh backlash that dating show, 'Boer soek ‘n vrou' recently received after introducing a gay farmer, as well as the recent reports of Brunei enacting strict new Islamic laws that make gay sex punishable by stoning to death, served as poignant reminders that the fight against LGBTI discrimination and oppression is far from over, making conversations about these issues more significant than ever before - especially in South Africa. Renaldo Schwarp, a Jacaranda FM presenter, joined Brent Lindeque to chat about his new documentary.

Jason Greer is an accomplished Master of Ceremonies, TV presenter, actor, voice artist and current host of 'The Bachelor SA’ - the very popular dating and relationship reality show. And being the final of the Bachelor SA this week, Jason joins Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque in studio to chat about it - and to possibly even dish some inside info...

If you've heard of Shark Tank, 90 Rules for Entrepreneurs, or the Beancounter then you would have heard of Marnus Broodryk... an entrepreneur, best selling author & massive advocate for small businesses in South Africa. He joins Brent Lindeque in the JacPod studio... Watch video · sme africa website

What happens when two hosts get inside the same studio to chat about podcasting, South Africa and all the good things in-between? They realise that perspective, kindness and communication can change the world! Yup… the future of podcasting is that it is the perfect medium to talk, listen and make a positive difference! Listen as Brent Lindeque gets interviewed (and interviews) Kev Sanders, a fellow South African do-gooder and content creator!

On 23 November 2018, an armed gang opened fire on Lyle Houldsworth, a construction manager paying employees after a project. Lyle was rushed to hospital where doctors treated him for heavy wounds in his throat. The prognosis was unknown, doctors hoped that he would survive but knew that he would face a long road to recovery, and may never speak again. It was one of the toughest interviews I have ever done... and only because I was holding back the tears, but both Lyle and his wife Bronwyn joined me in studio to talk about the tragic incident; about healing and miracles.

Life is the best gift you can give. It’s why TELL (Transplant Education for Living Legacies) helps educate South Africans about organ and tissue donation. TELL was created with heart, for hearts (and other organs). One of the founders, Fawn Rogers, joins Brent Lindeque in studio to discuss her first hand experience, having received a life-saving lung transplant. This not only gave her a second chance at life, but it places her in the unique position to make a difference in the transplant community. Fawn’s experience allows her to identify various barriers to organ transplantation and it is TELL’s mission to solve as many of these obstacles as possible. One of the biggest problems we face in South Africa lies in the process of identifying and referring potential donors. South Africa already has a shortage of organ donors, and the lack of education around the situation is only making matters more difficult. It is also important to note that in South Africa, the donor’s family has the final say in whether or not organs are permitted to be donated. And that is why Brent got a tattoo, to TELL the world that he’s an Organ Donor (and kick off their amazing campaign where many tattoo studios are offering these free tattoos to those that want to TELL the world). TELL's Facebook page · Get me to 21

The Children’s Hospital Trust has just launched a campaign aiming to raise R150-million over the next two years for projects and programmes to help heal the children of The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The campaign launched with a tragic true story about the Weber family who lost their 2-year-old son Conner who drowned in a bucket filled with water stored outside the house during the drought in Cape Town. Chantel Cooper - the Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Children’s Hospital Trust - joins Brent Lindeque to chat about the campaign and the Weber story.

In this day & age of the 21st century one would think that all credible world first explorations have been done... but they haven’t. Over the past decade, Riaan Manser has re-written the definition of tenacity & become the epitome of courage & determination. Riaan rose to prominence on becoming the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa and had gone on to the wildest expositions from circumnavigating Madagascar to kayaking from Africa to New York. He joins Brent in studio to talk about his latest adventure... the Odyssey Row!

Pride Factor is a life skills academy dedicated to improving the quality of young people’s lives by inspiring, guiding and mentoring them to challenge their assumptions, broaden their aspirations and develop entrepreneurial thinking. Dene Botha, the MD and founder of Pride Factor, joins Brent Lindeque on the Good Things Guy to chat about the incredible initiative and everything else he is currently up to. Pride Factor website

The countdown has begun for South Africa’s self-styled “CrazyBikeGuy”, Grant Cameron-Smith, as he prepares to embark on the journey of a lifetime. A tough three month, 8,800km solitary trek on a specially configured mountain bike from London to Istanbul for a worthy cause: the future of autistic young adults. The CrazyBikeGuy joins the Good Things Guy to chat about this arduous journey.

Two women left their jobs, sold their homes, moved in with their parents and worked for four years to make a film about Rhino Poaching… and the documentary keeps winning incredible international accolades! Bonné de Bod and director Susan Scott risked their lives, placing themselves in incredible danger to document the war on rhino poaching. They planned to tell a story so brutal and heartbreaking, all to spread one message… That rhino poaching must stop. Their documentary film called “STROOP” has been shown on screens across the globe and became big South African news after winning incredible international awards and Bonné's joined the Good Things Guy Jacpod in the studio today to chat about it.

There are no words that have been invented to explain what it’s like to lose a child. The nightmarish heartache of it. The unexplainable trepidation that follows. The child may be gone, but the years the child were meant to live remain behind, solid in the mind like an aging ghost. There are no words. Natalie Beveridge is a mother who recently lost her child “Tiny the Mighty”, but a mother who has also put all her focus and energy into honouring her son by inspiring hope. She joins Brent Lindeque on this week’s Good Things Guy Jacpod to tell her story.

Robby Kojetin is an ordinary guy with an extraordinary story. In 2006 Robby broke both ankles in a climbing accident, permanently damaging both ankles and putting him in a wheelchair for the longest year of his life. With crippling debt, severe depression and constant pain, Robby spiraled into an abyss of despair and hopelessness, with literally nothing left. Nothing, but the power to decide, and a dream. This is a story about losing everything and what it takes to rebuild a life from absolute rock bottom and not giving up until you reach the ultimate goal...the summit of Mount Everest. Robby is not the first, youngest or the fastest to summit Everest ... just the most driven and he has joined Brent Lindeque today on the Good Things Guy.

Miss Teen Social Entrepreneur SA is a fresh, new and exciting female youth empowerment and acceleration program for young women in high school with the goal of creating awareness around social responsibility and developing social entrepreneurship skills. Tarryn Ogle, the founder and CEO, joins The Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque to chat about the initiative. Official website

xameliax.com is an international luxury lifestyle blog and YouTube channel which has been shortlisted for the Cosmopolitan Blog awards and Best Vlogger in the Blogger's Lounge Awards. Amelia, the owner of xamelaix has joined the Good Things Guy Brent Lindeque to chat about her recent trip to South Africa and give us some insights to what she thinks about the place we call home. Amelia's blog

#GivingTuesdaySA is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organisations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesdaySA will take place on November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back. Laura Parker, Executive Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, and the Global Lead for #GivingTuesdaySA joins Brent Lindeque in studio for this week’s Good Things Guy Jacpod. Official website

The #KlipdriftCup national finals took place recently in JHB. It's hosted by Fives Futbol, which has established itself across the country, offering world class 5-a-side facilities. The Fives format of soccer has grown rapidly in South Africa. Many people play it socially, but with the increased growth comes increased difficulty to be the best. The Orlando Pirates Fives finished top of their log after 3 group games and one of their founders and members, Conrad Botha, chats to the Good Things Guy about the new team (who may be sent overseas to play as well).

There may be a feeling of despair in South Africa when it comes to politics, the economy and business but the truth is business is actually booming in our incredible country with phenomenal South Africans making waves locally and abroad. Entrepreneur Mike Sharman and 'Follow the Bounce', also known as Ben Karpinski - join the Good Things Guy to discus why opening a business in South Africa right now could be the best thing for you and the country.