The Almost Perfect Podcast

How to Run an Award-Winning Gig with Chuma Bentele

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:39:36 GMT

Chuma Bentele is a Cape Town-based animator and comedian who is part of the Comics Choice Award-winning That's Not Funny team, and has worked on the Disney animated Afrofuturist anthology series, Kizazi Moto. With a love of the absurd, and a fearless approach to dissecting race dynamics in South Africa, Chuma has steadily built a name for himself as one of the most exciting new voices in South African comedy.

In this episode, we talk about how Chuma’s creative process flows between organising and performing stand-up gigs, animation, and writing, we dig into the nuances of the Cape Town comedy circuit, and why bombing on stage can sometimes be the best thing for your career. We also get into his experiences of living in Jeppe for 3 months, and the time he was mistaken for Tshepang Ramoba from Blk Jks in Stellenbosch. Enjoy.

Keep up with Chuma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chumanotchuma/

Follow That's Not Funny: https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotfunnycpt/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

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Sophie Joans on AI-Proof Theatre and Unfiltered Comedy

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Sophie Joans is a theatre-maker, comedian, and the kind of performer who doesn’t just toe the line — she cartwheels over it. From playing the devil in a satirical German production where Elon Musk stands in for Faust, to getting her tits out for laughs at the Armchair, Sophie’s work blurs the boundaries between clowning, comedy, and full-blown chaos.

In this episode, we talk about Sophie’s recent international tour, creepy encounters in Germany, and why she believes live theatre will always be “AI-proof.” We also get into the origins of her production company Spark in the Dark, how it launched 14 shows at the National Arts Festival (7 of which won awards), and why building community beats chasing algorithms. Along the way, there are stories about Andrew Tate-inspired satire, nipple-related nicknames, and the ethics of turning exes into punchlines. Enjoy.

Keep up with Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solo_joans/

Check out Spark in the Dark: https://www.instagram.com/sparkinthedarksa/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

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Bonus: For whom the bell tolls

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:56:49 GMT

Reflections on death and dying.

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#176 - Melt Sieberhagen (Actor / Comedian / Writer - District 9 / Proesstraat / 7de Laan)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Melt Sieberhagen has been part of South Africa’s entertainment industry for over two decades - acting in beloved Afrikaans TV shows, performing stand-up, and dabbling in everything from insert directing to voice work. But beyond the credits, Melt is a sharp social observer and cultural critic who’s unafraid to talk about the complexities of identity, privilege, and navigating a creative career in a country as layered as South Africa.

In this episode, we reflect on Melt’s comedy roots, the absurdities of Afrikaans conservatism, and what it means to perform for an audience that doesn’t always want to be challenged. We dive into uncomfortable truths about race, language, and culture - from Afrikaner myth-making to the politics of pride and prejudice - all while remembering that the first job of a comic is to make people laugh. Enjoy.

Keep up with Melt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meltsieb/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

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Re-Release - Muzi from 2019

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 10:53:26 GMT

I'm still in the trenches so we're running back this interview with Muzi from 2019.

"Muzi is a musician who was successful long before you (or I) knew who he was. The DJ, producer, singer, and recent father is starting to blow up in South Africa, but he’s been making moves around the world for the better part of this decade. Muzi is the musician who I’ve interviewed the most in my career. His continued growth has been a beautiful thing to witness and is something I draw inspiration from, from time to time.

In this episode, we get into going where you’re wanted and finding your tribe by being yourself. We get into how Muzi’s navigated the music industry and avoided most of its pitfalls by continually reinvesting in himself. Muzi explains why he dropped out of med school and how it lead to him diving headfirst into making music. We also talk about necessity being the mother of invention when a set getting shortened lead to a whole new element being added to Muzi’s repertoire. There’s a lot of advice here for up-and-coming independent artists of all industries but musicians, in particular, should enjoy Muzi’s perspective on “The Industry” and his career. Enjoy."

Keep up with Muzi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvziou/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

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Re-release - Loyiso Madinga from 2019

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:16:10 GMT

Fortunately for me, but unfortunately for those of you wanting new interviews, I've been hella busy lately. So, we're digging in the archives once again to bring you one of my favourite interviews, now with slightly better sound quality and a less annoying introduction.

"Loyiso Madinga is a comedian, actor, writer, and MC. Loyiso is one of four South Africans to have a half-hour special with Netflix as part of their Comedians of the World series. He’s the African correspondent for Trevor Noah’s Daily Show. Locally, he’s featured on LNN with Loyiso Gola and Bantu Hour and has two one-man shows under his belt. Oh, and he stars in the upcoming Netflix original series Queen Sono with Pearl Thusi. He’s achieved more than most in the SA entertainment industry but that doesn’t mean everything is going great for him.

As you’ll learn on this podcast, success can lead to self-doubt and insecurities that can be debilitating. While from the outside it looks like Loyiso has a career many would be jealous of, internally there are struggles that many of us will find relatable. This is a candid and open discussion about what success really means as a South African artist from someone who is well on his way to greatness but is scared he may never achieve it."

Keep up with Loyiso on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loyisomadinga/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

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Re-Release - Loyiso Gola from 2021

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Things have been a little slow at Almost Perfect headquarters so I decided to re-release an old episode from the archives with updated audio. The original Loyiso Gola episode didn't have the best sound quality, but thankfully technology has gotten quite a bit better since then and I've been able to spruce up the audio a bit. I'll be back with new episodes soon enough, but for now, I hope you enjoy this blast from the past.

"Loyiso Gola is a comedian. The twice Emmy-nominated host of Late Night News with Loyiso Gola has had a phenomenal career. He's travelled the world telling jokes and earned many milestones that used to seem out of reach for South African comedians. He's performed on Live at the Apollo, was a guest on QI, and recently dropped a one-hour special on Netflix that he's been working on for the last six years called Unlearning.

On this episode of the podcast, we get into the intricacies and nuances of learning and unlearning. Loyiso is a deep-thinker who sets aside time to just ponder about the world, and we get to enjoy some of the fruits of that pondering. We discuss the value of extending empathy and understanding to people we disagree with. We get into balancing career and personal life and spending one's time intentionally. And we learn some behind the scenes details about how Unlearning got put together. Enjoy."

Keep up with Loyiso Gola on Instagram.

Support the podcast on Patreon.

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#175 - Yaaseen Barnes (Comedian / Director of the Jive Funny Championship)

Fri, 09 May 2025 12:03:47 GMT

Yaaseen Barnes returns for the second half of our rather extensive chat. This time we get into the history of the Cape Town comedy scene and the important role the Armchair Theatre has played in South African comedy, we hear how Yaaseen handles the responsibility of being a prominent Muslim figure in typically haram spaces, and we discuss Zionism in South African comedy. Enjoy.

Keep up with Yaaseen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ya_a_seen_him/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Bonus: It's Not the End of the World

Fri, 02 May 2025 11:11:23 GMT

Hey team, this week was a bit hectic what with me doing my solo show 'It's Not the End of the World', so I didn't have time to finish editing the second half of the Yaaseen Barnes interview.

But, since I promised an episode this week, I figured I'd share my experience of doing the show on Wednesday and put it in the main feed instead of releasing it as a Patreon exclusive.

Enjoy.

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#174 - Yaaseen Barnes (Comedian / Director of Jive Comedy Championship)

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:23:20 GMT

Comedian Yaaseen Barnes has had a career most comedians would be jealous of, yet he didn't pull the ladder up behind him and instead has helped the Cape Town scene climb to new heights. As the Director of the Jive Comedy Championship, Yaaseen is able to focus his passion for building up the comedians around him. Comedy has given Yaaseen an incredible life, with just a matric, so he feels compelled to share the love and the stages.

In this episode, we hear about Yaaseen's approach to directing the Jive Funny Championship, we get into the necessity of leveraging social media as a stand-up comedian, and we discuss the role of competitions and awards in the comedy industry. Enjoy.

Keep up with Yaaseen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ya_a_seen_him/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to It's Not The End of the World: https://groundculturecafe.com/event/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/

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#173 - Colin Moss (Actor - Black Mirror / Jessica Jones / Unseen)

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 11:47:35 GMT

Colin Moss knows all too well that fame is a prison. Thankfully, it's a prison he managed to escape when moving to New York to pursue his acting career. Colin took a massive risk by giving up a rather successful career on TV in South Africa to start at the bottom in one of the most cutthroat cities to be an actor. Judging by his extensive IMDB page, which features credits on Black Mirror, Jessica Jones, and The Deuce, it's a risk that's paid off, although it took a few lucky breaks and many failures to get to a place where he's consistently booked and busy.

In this episode, we get into Colin's early days as a stand-up comedian and TV presenter, we discuss the dreaded Heat magazine era of fame in South Africa, and we learn about the realities of giving up local fame for international success. Enjoy.

Keep up with Colin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colmoss/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to It's Not The End of the World: https://groundculturecafe.com/event/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/

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#172 - Andie Reeves (Writer / Comedian / Podcaster / Crafter - Two Freaks Notice / Cape Town Craft Club)

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:11:16 GMT

The multi-talented Andie Reeves has lived the kind of life where she just casually drops details that some people would write whole books about as if they're just backstory.

Like the time she sailed halfway across the world on a catamaran as a private tutor, which she casually mentions while discussing the award-wining Two Freaks Notice podcast. The writer, podcaster, comedian, and crafter has kept herself busy and found a few ways to contribute meaningfully to the world. Like the six years she spent as a Montessori teacher, writing about sustainability in fashion, and starting the Cape Town Craft Club.

Keep up with Andie: https://www.instagram.com/andiereeves/

Listen to Two Freaks Notice: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/two-freaks-notice/id1625873687

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to It's Not The End of the World: https://groundculturecafe.com/event/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/

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Patreon Preview - Rabobi: Homecoming

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:04:37 GMT

Hey Almost Perfectionists,

As some of you know, I occasionally drop bonus episodes of the podcast over on Patreon.

If you'd dig to hear them, you can sign up for free.

Here's a taste of what you're missing.

Listen to the full episode: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

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#171 - Khanyisa JamJam (Comedian - Sorry for the Weight)

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:56:49 GMT

Khanyisa JamJam aka JamJam The Comedian is the biggest cheerleader of all things South African, but especially sports. Who knew you could go from leading war cries at school to kicking it with the biggest names in South African sports, and selling out comedy shows in SA and abroad? JamJam's success is no fluke though as he's worked hard at being consistent both online and on stage. While everything seems to be clicking into place for JamJam, it hasn't always been an easy ride.

In this episode, we learn why JamJam got a degree in Politics and how it helps with his comedy, we get an honest account of his struggles with addiction, and we have a rather frank discussion about race and privilege in South Africa. Enjoy.

Keep up with JamJam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamjam_the_comedian/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to Bob's WIP performance of It's Not The End of the World: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/307177-its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/#/

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In Memory of Ebenhaezer Dibakwane

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:30:54 GMT

The South African comedy community is in mourning as we all found out about the passing of Ebenhaezer Dibakwane this weekend. Ebenhaezer was beloved by everyone in SA comedy and touched the lives of countless people with his infectious energy. Eb was a truly original thinker who never shied away from his truth.

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Eb at his flat in Joburg in early 2020 before COVID hit. To this day, it's one of the most honest interviews I've ever done and has stuck with me ever since. We do speak rather candidly about some very dark topics, so this may be a bit too heavy for some people to listen to right now. Still, I think it's important to know who Eb was and how he thought, and I think this conversation helps do that through his own words.

The original interview has been edited to sound a bit better as the original recording isn't great.

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#170 - Céline Tshika (Actor/Singer/Comedian - Politically Aweh / Jess Goes West / Bad African)

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 09:54:44 GMT

Not many people in comedy have an engineering degree to fall back on (they're usually doctors), but Céline Tshika is, uh, built different. You probably know Céline from her viral musical sketches that have skyrocketed her to online fame, but those videos are the culmination of years of experimenting and growing as a multi-faceted artist. After making her parents happy by earning an engineering degree, Céline ventured to the Cape Town of USA, Los Angeles, and studied acting, where she created, wrote and starred in her award-winning comedy web series, Jess Goes West. Now she's back in the Los Angeles of SA and combining her love of theatre, music, and comedy with her debut solo show, Bad African.

In this episode, we hear how things literally changed over night for Céline and discuss the pressures of delivering a great live show when you've built an audience online. We get into Céline's journey with religion and the anxiety of talking about it on stage in a typically conservative country. And we learn about the realities of going viral on the wrong parts of the internet. Enjoy.

Keep up with Céline on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celinetshika/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to Bob's WIP performance of It's Not The End of the World: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/307177-its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/#/

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#169 - Phil de Lange (Comedian/Podcaster/Radio Producer - Nation Wild/Petty Crime South Africa/Smile FM)

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 09:24:26 GMT

Despite being called a "gimmick act" by older comedians early in his comedy journey, Phil de Lange has had a career many of them would be jealous of. He has a Comics Choice Award under his belt, performed as part of Trevor Noah's Nation Wild tour, and regularly headlines shows all across the country. All that while producing the breakfast show on Smile FM, and putting together his podcast, Petty Crime South Africa, which won the SA Podcasting Award for best comedy podcast. As an alt music scenester from a small city, Phil and Bob share many similarities, which makes Phil the perfect guy to give Bob tips on how to navigate his recent move to Cape Town.

In this episode, we hear how Phil and Bob were both at the same small punk festival in Bloemfontein, we discuss the surprisingly controversial topic of musical comedy and whether or not Phil sees his ukulele as a crutch, and we gush about our mutual love of Marc Maron and audio-only podcasting. Enjoy.

Keep up with Phil on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeyourphil/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#168 - Di Frost (Comedian/Writer/Strategist - Comedy on Kloof/Frost Creative)

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:55:49 GMT

Comedian Di Frost is one half of the team behind Comedy on Kloof, a queer and women friendly weekly comedy gig in Cape Town that recently celebrated it's second birthday. She's also a creative strategist and content creator who helps other creative types with their online presence through Frost Creative. Oh, and she's double jointed, which, oddly enough, helped her when she was having a stroke. She'll explain how on the podcast.

In this podcast we get into the highs and lows of running a queer and women friendly gig in a typically masculine industry, we get some tips and tricks on how to make your TikTok pop, and we learn how she found out that her closet was more of a glass cabinet. Enjoy.

Follow Di on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/difrost_/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#167 - Jaryd Pillay (Comedian/Actor - Jive Funny Competition 2024 Winner/Resident Evil)

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 09:57:54 GMT

You know what they say, it takes 10 years to become an overnight success. Comedian and actor Jaryd Pillay is living proof of the adage. With a decade of performing stand-up comedy under his belt, Jaryd finally had a breakthrough year in 2024 where everything he'd been working on started to click into place. He won the Jive Funny Championship after years of not making it past the first round, which saw him performing to hundreds of people at the Baxter every night for nearly a month at the Jive Comedy Festival. He's also crafted his solo show The Passion of the Curry to a point where standing ovations are a regular occurrence, and his weekly gig at Ground Culture is one of the most popular in Cape Town.

In this episode, we hear about how he got dumped on the way to perform at the National Arts Fest, his disastrous Durban debut and triumphant return, and how he became the Ferryman in the Resident Evil TV series. Enjoy.

Keep up with Jaryd on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatraaj/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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Bonus: So Long And Thanks For All The Bunny Chows

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:19:15 GMT

You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

Anyway, I'm moving to Cape Town.

See you soon.

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#166 - Loopy (Musician/Writer - Fruits & Veggies/The Lake)

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 11:39:53 GMT

Loopy is a local legend. If you spent any amount of time at The Winston Pub in Durban, or Lefty's in Cape Town, there's no doubt Loopy would have hustled a sip of your drink at least once. Loopy has fully lived the skollie punk life, engaging in debauchery and crashing on couches around the country as a member of one of Durban's most chaotic bands, Fruits & Veggies. These days, she passes for a respectable member of society with a journalism degree under her belt and a writing portfolio established at The Lake.

In this episode, we reminisce over the glory (citation needed) days of Durban's alternative scene and The Winston Pub. We hear about the rise and fall of Fruits and Veggies. And we learn how Loopy became the unlikely manager of Lefty's. Enjoy.

Keep up with Loopy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/looptroop021/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#165 - Nina Hastie (Comedian/Writer/TV Presenter: Only Jokes Allowed/Trending SA)

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:00:44 GMT

You know Nina Hastie. You've seen her on TV, Netflix, social media, and you've no doubt her voice in countless ads and voice overs. She's been everywhere and done everything, yet she feels like she doesn't have a concrete body of work to point to. This has lead her putting all her focus on developing a new hour of comedy that tells the world exactly who she is.

In this episode, we get into managing ADHD, addiction and recovery, why you should do a S.W.O.T analysis on yourself, and having a 20 year plan. Enjoy.

Keep up with Nina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatninahastie/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#164 - Nate Levinrad (Comedian: That's Not Funny)

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:11:10 GMT

Nate Levinrad is a comedian and one half of the That's Not Funny team putting on gigs in Cape Town. He also occasionally dabbles in music journalism, although he picked the worst time to get into that industry. Nate calls himself a "loud Jew " who advocates for a free Palestine.

In this episode, we get into growing up Jewish in a small town, how his parents inspired his political activism, and how his history in the music scene gave him the skills to organise successful comedy shows. Enjoy.

Keep up with Nate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natevuyolevinrad/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#163 - Callum Hitchcock (Comedian: Comic's Choice Awards Best Newcomer)

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 10:46:46 GMT

2024 Comics Choice Newcomer Callum Hitchcock has had an unconventional career in the three years he's been doing comedy. In his first five gigs he opened for Khanyisa Bunu, put on a gig where he made more money than some headliners, and did a one-man show at the National Arts Festival. Turns out being from PE was a blessing in disguise.

In this episode, we hear about his journey starting comedy in a small town in between lockdowns, we learn about the advantages and pressures of winning an award so early in his career, and we get into the joys and pains of being a Hotspurs fan. Enjoy.

Keep up with Callum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callum_hitchcock/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#162 - Simmi Areff Returns (Comedian/Podcaster: Badvice/Lesser Known Somebodies)

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 08:45:53 GMT

Comedian and podcaster Simmi Areff is the go-to-guy when it comes to podcasting in South Africa. These days he's the co-host of the hilarious Badvice podcast and founder of the All Ears podcast network, although he started out hosting Lesser Known Somebodies and built his CV as a producer through POC Podcasts.

We get into the business of podcasting, how to network as a misanthrope, and why he believes in magic.

Follow Simmi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simmiareff/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#161 - Gareth Wilson (Musician: Black Cat Bones/A&R: Virgin Music South Africa)

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:46:34 GMT

Gareth Wilson has spent his entire life either on stage or behind the scenes of South African music. From starting a band with his brother to eventually working with artist like Emtee as A&R for Virgin Music South Africa, Gareth shares a winding tale that has seen him take on almost every role available in the music industry.

We hear about his booking philosophy for Oppikoppi, the good, the bad, and the ugly of owning and running Good Luck Bar, and we get into what it takes to make it as a musician in the social media age. Enjoy.

Follow Gareth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwilly_jhb/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/almostperfect

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#160 - Kate Goliath (Managing Director: Goliath & Goliath)

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 06:54:29 GMT

Managing Director of Goliath and Goliath, Kate Goliath, gets serious about comedy with us.

We learn what it takes to work behind the scenes with the biggest names in SA comedy, how Kate's mom gave birth to Goliath & Goliath (both literally and figuratively), and why lockdown forced them to expand beyond live comedy. Enjoy.

Keep up with Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kategoliath/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#159 - Lindy Johnson (Comedian/Writer)

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:41:50 GMT

Comedian and writer Lindy Johnson joins us for a hilarious chat about learning to give a fuck again.

We get into "eternal naps", writing for roasts, and, uh, whether or not being a gynaecologist is a dream job for men.

Follow Lindy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindyyay/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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#158 - Angela de Klerk (Musician: Japan and I/Rambling Bones/West of the Moon)

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:23:35 GMT

Angela de Klerk is a musician. She started singing for Japan and I as a teenager after a successful night of karaoke and hasn't looked back. Since then, she's been a part of the folk-punk collective Rambling Bones and the jazz duo West of the Moon. Oh, and she just got back from a European tour with The Shabs. Unfortunately, being a life-long musician in South Africa isn't exactly a recipe for financial stability, so Angela made the daunting choice of becoming a yacht stewardess in her 30s to supplement her music career.

In this episode we discuss the difficulties of trying to sustain a music career through the decline of media, the joys of making music and going on tour with your friends, and finding the balance between having fun and being professional. Enjoy.

Keep up with Angela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alittlehappymess/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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#157 - Keagan Bennewith

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:48:04 GMT

Keagan Bennewith is a musician and event organiser. He's the bassist for Poster Boy and one of the guys behind Reverberate. If you're part of the Durban alt scene, you've definitely seen Poster Boy play as they performed about 100 shows in their first year together. You've also probably been to a Reverberate gig as they filled in the gap left after COVID and have put on some of Durban's best gigs in the last few years.

In this episode, we chat about the joys and struggles of being in a band in Durban, how a house party lead to an events company, and what it's like to work with legendary producer David Birch. Enjoy.

Keep up with Keagan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebigmanooza/

Check out Poster Boy: https://www.instagram.com/posterboyband/

Reverberate:https://www.instagram.com/reverberate.za/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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#156 - Akhil Maharaj

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:32:50 GMT

Akhil Maharaj is a comedian. He's sardonic, awkward, and depressive, which makes him a perfect fit for the Not Quite Right Comedy crew. He also drives to Durban from Richards Bay almost every Wednesday for our open mic, which is an unreal level of commitment to the craft.

In this episode, we chat about Akhil's love of Norm Macdonald, how he used Reddit to find a vape in India, and his experiences with depression and therapy. Enjoy.

Keep up with Akhil on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akhilmaharaj_/Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#155 - Catherine Grenfell

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:12:26 GMT

Catherine Grenfell is a DJ, and executive producer at Audio Militia. You probably know her from her 15 years in radio as a producer and presenter at 5FM. Life these days is quite different from the chaos of her youth, with water shots, pottery, and yoga replacing the hangovers, junk food, and saying "yes" to everything.

In this episode, we chat about transitioning from life in the public eye, the importance of making time for hobbies, and what she's learned from being a sober cobra. Enjoy.

Keep up with Catherine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathgrenfell/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#154 - Aaron Peters

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 10:01:26 GMT

Aaron Peters is a cultural curator. That's a fancy way of saying he does a whole lot behind the scenes of Cape Town's music community. Aaron has been a pivotal force behind CT's music scene for most of his adult life. He started out as a manager, booking agent, and promoter, leading to him working at Black Major, before starting up The Other Records and The Other Radio. He's also responsible for booking the lineup for the Search Festival, amongst many other projects.

In this episode, we get into the hustle of making money from underground music in South Africa, how working at the CT Jazz Festival as a teen laid the foundations for his career, and what it's like to fall asleep with the sounds of Alice Phoebe Lou writing songs next door. Enjoy.

Keep up with Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronwpeters/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#153 - Spoek Mathambo/Nthato Mokgata

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:02:15 GMT

Spoek Mathambo/Nthato Mokgata is a musician and filmmaker. He's a master of collaboration, with roots tracing all the way back to the seminal The Fantastic Kill with Watkin Tudor Jones and Sibot, which lead to projects like Sweat.X, Playdoe, Moleke Mbembe, Fantasma, Batuk, and his most recent collaborations with Laliboi. I'm definitely leaving some stuff out, and that's not even to mention his personal catalogue of albums, but the point is that the man has kept himself busy.

Not just with making music. In 2014, he worked on a documentary called Future Sound of Mzansi that is, to this day, one of the best explorations of South African electronic music. He's worked on a number of documentaries before and since, and has delved into a number of facets of filmmaking. Most recently, he was a writer and director for the "Surf Sangoma" episode of Disney's Kizazi Moto animated anthology series. We get into all of the above as well as learn about some of the pitfalls of working with international labels, explore the benefits and hurdles of modern music distribution, and discuss why he feels like there are still musical magic tricks from SA music history that haven't been explored fully. Enjoy.

Keep up with Spoek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spoekmathambo/

Buy his music on Bandcamp: https://spoekmathambo.bandcamp.com

Watch Future Sound of Mzansi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TaFtLHkbxE

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#152 - Kamaney

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:29:17 GMT

Kamaney is a comedian. Growing up, Kamaney didn't know stand-up comedy was an option for her. The only funny women she saw were on sitcoms, so she set out on that path by studying Drama at UKZN. She hated it, but she got a masters degree to not disappoint her mother. Thankfully, it eventually lead to her doing stand-up comedy, which she'll explain on the podcast.

In this episode we get into internal motivation vs external validation, her struggles with finding purpose, and some of the hassles of being a woman new to a scene dominated by men. Enjoy.

Kamaney doesn't have social media but you can book her: https://notquiterightcomedy.co.za/book-a-comedian-or-mc/kamaney/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#151 - Vincent Joseph

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:51:50 GMT

Vincent Joseph is a comedian and cinematographer. He's also part of the Not Quite Right team, so we've been spending a lot of time together this year. Whether behind the camera or on the stage, Vinnie is infectiously enthusiastic.

In this episode we laugh at a lot of dark shit. We also hear about the struggles of starting comedy just before the pandemic, how he got into cinematography despite studying IT, and why he feels restricted by always having to play it safe. Enjoy.

Keep up with Vincent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinnies_vision/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#150 - Ambrose Uren

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:43:13 GMT

Ambrose Uren is a comedian although he grew up spinning on his head as a b-boy. It turns out the two artforms have quite a few similarities. We reflect on a youth spent breakdancing, the 11 year journey to being a full-time comedian, and what he learned from doing 4 shows a day at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Keep up with Ambrose on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambroseuren/

Bob's Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#149 - Candice Chirwa

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:26:03 GMT

Candice Chirwa is the Minister of Menstruation. While not an official government position, Candice is more productive in enacting change than most politicians. Through her NGO, QRATE, Candice educates the youth on menstrual health, and campaigns against period poverty.

In this episode, we hear how Candice utilised her academic background to become an activist, and how she's used the power of social media to actually do some good. We discuss the multi-layered issue of period poverty. We also hear how Candice grew into her role as an activist and educator, and discuss the challenges she faces while trying to enact real change. Oh, and we discuss period sex. Enjoy.

https://www.instagram.com/candice_chirwa/

https://www.candicechirwa.co.za

Bob's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/⁠

Almost Perfect Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/⁠

Support the podcast: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#148 Liam Whitcher

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:59:11 GMT

Liam Whitcher is a filmmaker and comedian. He comes from the Robert Rodriguez school of filmmaking (even though he studied at UCT) in that he's a rebel with a very small crew, and not much budget, but still manages to create feature films that win awards and get picked up by film festivals.

We share early memories of watching films we were far too young for, we find out what Liam's mom learned from Wolf of Wall Street, and we discuss how to approach talking about butt stuff on stage. It gets pretty explicit, so take this as your heads up. Enjoy.

Keep up with Liam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theliamwhitcher/

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#147 - Robby Collins

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 09:59:42 GMT

Robby Collins is a comedian and actor. One of the most well-known and well-loved acts in SA comedy, Robby has recently been focusing his efforts on breaking into America through consistent trips to New York. When he's not in New York or travelling around SA for gigs, Robby calls Durban home once again.

In this episode, we hear why he's returned home to Durban, how the pandemic made him re-evaluate himself and what matters to him, we discuss the effects of cancel culture, and we hear what he's learned from working with Dave Chappelle and Trevor Noah. Enjoy.

Keep up with Robby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbycollins_/

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#146 - Andy Mkosi

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:06:10 GMT

Andy Mkosi is a musician, photographer, filmmaker and cultural practitioner. She's someone who is obsessed with documenting the world around her through a multitude of mediums, and has been instrumental in adding to South Africa's cultural archives.

We chat about her upcoming live album, the nuances of access as a documentary photographer, and the balance between documenting a moment and living in it. Enjoy.

Keep up with Andy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andymkosi/

Check out her website: https://andymkosi.com/

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#145 - Henk van der Schyf

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:48:43 GMT

Henk van der Schyf is a booker, promoter, venue owner, restaurateur, and there are probably quite a few titles I'm leaving out. Point is: the man keeps busy. He's been hella instrumental behind the scenes of SA's music scene, first through the legendary Hotbox Studios (They never recorded a single song but knew how to throw a party) and now through festivals like Park Acoustics and Mieliepop.

We hear how Henk has managed to carve out a sustainable career in an incredibly difficult industry to have any sort of longevity. And we get a lot of actionable advice on how to put together your own events. Enjoy.

Keep up with Henk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hempvdschyf/

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Not Quite Right Comedy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcQncWXBTCpwHS947zXbSUQ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 144 - Sonny Phiri

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 10:16:24 GMT

Sonny Phiri aka Sonny the Jobber is a YouTuber and wrestler. If you're a member of the IWC (Internet Wrestling Community) you've probably come across Sonny's videos on YouTube. He's racked up over a million views just by sharing his passion for wrestling, although that success is a double-edged sword. We get into how he found his niche, creator burnout, copyright strikes, and why he wants to go to Japan to further his wrestling career. Oh, and we talk about wrestling, a LOT.

Check out Age of Wrestling on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgeOfWrestling

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 142 - Sophie Joans

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 09:20:34 GMT

Sophie Joans is an actor, playwriter, comedian, and clown. Her debut solo play 'Île' (Baxter Theatre, 2-6 May) has earned awards and much critical acclaim. As an independent producer of her own work though, putting on an award-winning play still comes with its difficulties. We get into the struggles and triumphs Sophie has experienced taking 'Île' across the country. We also hear how her burlesque clown act came about (seriously), and why you shouldn't eat curry before going on the slides at uShaka (seriously). Enjoy.

Buy tickets to 'Île': https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1527482079

Keep up with Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solo_joans/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/solo_joans

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/SoloJoans

Buy tickets to the preview of 'It's Not The End of the World', 29 April, Station Collective: https://almostperfect.co.za/shows/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-preview/

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 141 - Zama Dlamini

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:25:07 GMT

Zama Dlamini is an artist, designer, and DJ. Her colourful creations adorn clothing across the country and her eclectic track selections get booties popping and dropping. We chat about her love of cartoons, the new Jackie Extreme album, and writing poetry from the perspective of a snake. Well, that and how she maintains her childlike wonder and joy. Enjoy.

Keep up with Zama on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babypinkicecubes/

Behance: https://www.behance.net/zama_

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/zhero_dj/tracks

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 140 - Justin McGee

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:27:37 GMT

Justin McGee aka Sweatface is a photographer. If you were a joller in the 2000s and early 2010s, Justin probably smashed his flash in your face at some point. The man was ubiquitous in party scenes throughout the country. We hear about the come up and come down of earning your reputation as a party photographer who likes the party a bit too much. Justin shares some of the sketchy situations always saying "yes" got him into. We also hear how life has mellowed out since and how Justin has found confidence in himself and his work. Enjoy.

Keep up with Justin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweatface/

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

We have a Discord server now: https://discord.gg/HWDNnkyy7k

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 139 - Mo Vawda

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 09:16:51 GMT

Mo Vawda is a comedian and statistician. When he's not making people laugh on stage or online he's lecturing the youth about stats. We get into the intricacies of being a Muslim comedian in a scene of degenerates, we hear how his father's passing lead to him starting comedy, and we share tales of terrible gigs. Enjoy.

Keep up with Mo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mo.vawda/

Check out Shop Boys on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vBUeDfmRNc&t=219s

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 138 - Khensani Mohlatlole

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:02:17 GMT

Khensani Mohlatlole is a fashion writer and youtuber, and sewist. Khensani is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about fashion, with particular interests in sustainability and fashion history. In the episode, we get into some of the difficulties of covering fashion history in South Africa and why she chooses to document local fashion the way she does. We also chat about the politics of what we wear, get some tips on what to look for in quality clothing, and uncover the simple motivation behind her distinct style. Enjoy.

Keep up with Khensani on Twitter: https://twitter.com/glitterdaiquiri

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okbaddiek/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Khensani

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 137 - Cayleigh Bright

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 09:48:54 GMT

Cayleigh Bright is a writer, editor, and co-founder of the writing agency Letterhead. Hear how a youth as a library monitor and drama kid lead to a fruitful career slinging words for the likes of Mail & Guardian, GQ, Glamour, and a number of high-profile glossy and online magazines, as well as being the person responsible for all those damn Superbalist newsletters. We learn about the origins of Letterhead and how it's grown into a massive collective of writers servicing a broad range of clients. And we get into the current shape of the media landscape whilst looking back at how we got here. Enjoy.

Keep up with Cayleigh on her website: https://www.cayleighbright.co.za

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CayleighBright

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohhicayleigh/

Photo by Nick Gordon.

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Almost Perfect Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 136 - Tibs Dumi

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 09:36:04 GMT

Tibs Dumi is a comedian, actor, writer, and director. After a youth spent people pleasing, Tibs has finally learned to just do things for himself. It's lead to him having a fantastic year on stage and having the confidence to pursue his own creative projects. We get into the lasting impact of private school education, the limitations of the Durban comedy scene, and, uh, sharing with friends.

Keep up with Tibs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tibsdumi_official/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectmedia/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Bob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 135 - Neil Green Returns

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 09:16:21 GMT

Neil Green is a comedian. Durbanites will fondly remember him from his time on East Coast Radio and comedy stages across the city, but Neil is a long way from Durban. Dublin, Ireland is where he lays his head now. Naturally, things are very different. We get into what inspired the move and just how hard it was to give up a flourishing career in South Africa to start from the bottom of the comedy ladder once again. We dig into the differences between comedy in Ireland and South Africa. Neil also shares the story behind his latest project, 'Educating Cade: A Rap Retrospective', a podcast for Neil's son that dives into his history with rap music. Enjoy.

Listen to Educating Cade: https://open.spotify.com/show/6EQTfEPKdVA1yimmjXJecQ

Keep up with Neil on Twitter: https://twitter.com/neilgreen82

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neilgreen82/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/neilgreencomedian/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 134 - Yola Plaatjie

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 10:45:27 GMT

Yola Plaatjie is a actor and radio presenter who recently tried her hand at directing for the first time for the 48 Hour Film Festival. A film which Bob wrote and they both starred in called 'The Sound of Murder'. We get into the dynamics of working under pressure with people for the first time and how having your partner on set can be really helpful for keeping tensions down. We hear about Yola's childhood in the Eastern Cape and what she learned from her mom and her gran growing up, and we find out how her love of acting was emboldened when she went to school in Rome. Yola also tells us how she came to play Dr Nangamso Jack on Durban Gen and the challenges of playing a character who is so different to her. Enjoy.

Keep up with Yola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yola_plaatjie/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 133 - Dillan Oliphant Returns

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:38:03 GMT

Dillan Oliphant is a comedian and probably South Africa's most well-known Man Utd fan. While Dillan has been one of SA's most popular comedians for a while now, he feels like he's finally reached the skill level to make jokes about the things he really wants to talk about. His latest show, "Chooses Violence", digs into why South Africa is such a violent country and explores the effects it's had on us. Sounds heavy, but Dillan knows how to make you laugh whilst he's making a point. We chat about how he put the show together and why, we hear about the responsibilities of being a popular Man Utd fan, and we dig into how therapy has helped Dillan and why he talks about it on stage. Enjoy.

Keep up with Dillan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dillanoliphant

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dillanoliphant/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/dillan.comedian

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 132 - Live with Waylene Beukes and Rob Forbes ft. Mojak Lehoko

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:22:30 GMT

It's the first ever live episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast and what a great episode it is. Hands down the funniest episode of the podcast to date. Content creating comedian Waylene Beukes and seasoned radio DJ Rob Forbes provided many laughs trying to tell me their life stories whilst nursing hang overs. Being the only person not on the jol the night before, Mojak Lehoko helped get the ball rolling by joining us for the first 5 minutes.

Ja, next time I need to get a mic for the audience, and I need to describe things better for the listener at home, and the sound could be better, but for a first time? It's almost perfect. Enjoy.

A big thank you to The Chairman for hosting us, thanks to the Point Waterfront Arts Festival for asking me to get involved, and thanks to everyone who came and joined us.

Keep up with Waylene on Instagram, Rob on Twitter, and Mojak on Instagram.

Photo by Matthew Cuthbert.

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 131 - Takunda Bimha

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:34:40 GMT

Takunda Bimha is the festival director of the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival and the founder of Podium, a comedy agency that helped boost the careers of some of South Africa's best comedians. We hear how Kagiso Lediga took a chance on him as a producer on the Pure Monate Show and how that opened his eyes to the potential of South African comedy. He saw the role he could play behind the scenes to help it reach that potential which is what lead to him starting the agency. Now his clients are all household names and the JICF is SA's premier comedy festival. We hear how it all came about. Enjoy.

Keep up with Takunda on Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/takundabimha

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takundabimha/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 130 - Haji Mohamed Dawjee

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 08:37:15 GMT

Haji Mohamed Dawjee is an author, editor, and columnist. You've probably read her weekly column on EWN or know her from her work with Mail & Guardian. Perhaps, you've even seen her tweeting passionately about tennis, but this podcast is mostly about her latest book, "Here's The Thing". We learn how the book shifted and evolved from what Haji originally set out to write and how long COVID affected her work. We also hear how her grandfather instilled a deep love of writing in her, how she'd use an hourglass to go to "writing gym", and we get into the joys and pains of publishing in South Africa. Enjoy.

Keep up with Haji on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sage_Of_Absurd

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 129 - King Shaft

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 07:21:42 GMT

King Shaft is a director, producer, and writer. He co-directed "1960" which opened this year's Durban International Film Festival and won the award for Best South African Feature Film at the fest. We chatted the morning after the opening where the elated director shared his joy over the achievement, especially since project faced a number of issues and was mostly fuelled over the finish line by passion. Shaft shares how budget limitations actually allowed them to focus more on the human stories they told rather than getting distracted by big action scenes. We also learn from Shaft's experiences directing Skeem Saam and Uzalo, and we reflect on an impressive career that spans nearly 2 decades. Enjoy.

Keep up with King Shaft on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menelikfather/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 128 - Bonie Sithebe

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 09:15:55 GMT

Bonie Sithebe is a director, producer, and co-founder of Durban Motion Pictures. We met up to discuss her feature film "Valley of a Thousand Hills" which is part of this year's Durban International Film Festival. It's a film she's incredibly proud of as it's taken nearly 20 years in the industry to get here. Bonie shares how her early experiences in the film industry lead to her losing her car and house, and how her tenacity carried her through the tough times. Since then, she's produced and directed a plethora of films for Mzansi Magic, written for Imbewu, and attended Cannes three times. Now she's using that experience to bring her stories to life on the big screen. Enjoy.

Keep up with Bonie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms_bonie/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EP 127 - Jet Wentworth

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 10:01:15 GMT

Jet Wentworth is a rapper and graphic designer. While Jet's rap career started by getting booed off stage at a talent show in high school, perseverance and guidance from the OGs like T.R.O. and Illuminating Shadows lead to him joining Big Idea and eventually going solo when the band broke up. Jet reflects honestly on a rollercoaster of a career, both the highs and the lows. Jet also shares some of the dark thoughts that recent times have produced and how he now feels that the path before him is clear now that the darkness has lifted. Enjoy.

Listen to Sano: https://li.sten.to/jetwentworth

Follow Jet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetwentworth/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/JetWentworth1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JetWentworth

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 126 - Ali Heath

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:04:31 GMT

Ali Heath is a bassist and a film lecturer. You might know him from City Bowl Mizers, HOURS, or Hated Related, or maybe you've sat in his class as he explained the genius of David Lynch, but I'll always remember him as the guy who spoke to me about music on The Winston couches 19 years ago. Ali and I have been friends for over half our lives and have many great memories together, although, looking back, a lot of those memories were just us being assholes to everyone else.

We get into some of the realities of the "rockstar" life as Ali shares his experiences with addiction and recovery. Ali shares some of his darkest moments and the struggles he faced trying to get clean on his own. Now, he's found a recovery program that works for him and a community of recovering addicts to learn and grow with. It's given him a new lease on life and has opened him up to ideas he may have shunned in the past, like spirituality. We get into the good, the bad, and the ugly in this over two-hour long conversation. Enjoy.

Keep up with Ali on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alfatecats/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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In Memory of Jaedon Daniel

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 10:52:28 GMT

The South African music scene has lost a beautiful soul. Jaedon Daniel has passed on. It's a heartbreaking shock to everyone who knew him. Jaedon was one of the most talented and prolific musicians to come out of Durban in recent history. His impact will be felt for years to come.

Jaedon was one of the earliest guests on the podcast so I'm reposting it with an updated intro for those of you who might not have heard it before.

"Jaedon Daniel is a phenomenal young musician from Durban who literally just released his debut album, Hold The Game. You might know him from his band of youthful prodigies, Blvck Crystals, or you might have seen him playing as a session musician for other dope artists. Now it’s time for Jaedon to take everything he’s learned over the last few years and use it to elevate his own career to that next level.

There is no doubt that Jaedon Daniel is going to become one of the most prominent names in the SA music scene. For now, though, we get to hear the story of a talented, young musician on the come up. It’s a captivating story full of highs and lows that you’re going to want to hear for yourself. Enjoy."

Listen to Hold The Game: https://open.spotify.com/album/72h2b4X9z4gCewtDZY3Vi9

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Episode 125 - Nondu Lehutso

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 10:30:01 GMT

Nondu Lehutso is a podcaster and journalist. The host of The NDL Show has had a lifelong love of broadcast journalism that she traces back to watching 3 Talk With Noeleen with her mom. Since then, she's been on a steadfast path that has lead to her working in finance journalism when she's not podcasting. Whilst doing her Honours last year, Nondu was shot by police during a student protest. She shares the effects it had on her and how it made an already difficult year much worse. We also learn what it's like to grow up as a pastor's daughter, and get into the joys and pains of podcasting. Enjoy.

Keep up with Nondu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NDL_ndumeey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NDL_ndumeey/

Listen to The NDL Show: https://linktr.ee/theNDLshow

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 124 - MX

Fri, 27 May 2022 07:55:55 GMT

MX is a rapper who streams freestyle sessions on Twitch. MX has been a part of the Durban rap scene since he was a teen, but recently he's found himself part of an international community of likeminded people thanks to streaming. As an introverted artist, MX has found freedom through the internet. We get into the importance of living with purpose and learning to define success for yourself instead of confirming to societal ideals. Enjoy.

Keep up with MX on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mxsouthafrica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxsouthafrica/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MXsouthafrica

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 123 - Whan Zulu

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 07:55:26 GMT

Whan Zulu is a film producer, entrepreneur, and the first Black South African to have a pro model skateboard. In 2002, at the age of 18, Whan became a pro skater. At 38, he runs a production company called Pitch Black Post. We reminisce over youths spent on boards and discuss how the skate scene has evolved for the better over the years. Whan shares how his skating career fortuitously lead him to editing and how that lead to him running his own production company. This is his third attempt at entrepreneurship and it's finally working out the way he's hoped. If there's one thing that skating teaches you, it's how to get back up until you eventually land on your feet. Enjoy.

Keep up with Whan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whanzulu/

Here's the playlist Whan mentioned in the interview: https://music.apple.com/za/playlist/mix-masala/pl.u-EdAVRJrCXb2RBm

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 122 - Nina Erasmus

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:32:18 GMT

Nina Erasmus is a dancer, actor, and visual artist. Multifaceted to say the least, creativity is the driving force behind Nina's life. Nina's lifelong passion for dance saw her studying dance and drama at CODA, which opened up the world of acting to her. We get into how she balances her various artistic endeavours with making a living. Nina shares how she found her passion for teaching through Pilates. We also get into the importance of dreaming big and staying focused on your goals whilst learning as you go. Enjoy.

Keep up with Nina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifyoulike_ninas_collages/

https://www.instagram.com/n.ina93/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 121 - Desire Marea

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 05:20:55 GMT

Desire Marea is someone who I consider to be a once-in-a-generation artist. While he's probably best known as a musician, Desire's creativity knows no bounds. That being said, while Desire oozes a calm confidence, they open up about struggling with imposter syndrome. We hear how a friendship with Fela Gucci, formed out of a love of fashion and music, led to FAKA, a musical project that had an impact on more lives than just their own. It led to them travelling the world together and even meeting Donatella Versace. Since then, Desire has released a phenomenal debut solo album and returned home to KZN to become a sangoma. We learn about the calling and how it's impacted Desire's life. Enjoy.

Keep up with Desire on Twitter: https://twitter.com/desiremarea

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desiremarea/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 120 - Shanray van Wyk

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:34:24 GMT

Shanray van Wyk is a comedian, actor, and writer. While he says he's lazy, his output says otherwise. We hear what it was like to manage the Melville Comedy Club, how lockdown brought everything to a halt, and what the journey of getting back on stage has been like for him. Shanray kept busy during lockdown, and thanks to his nightly Instagram Live shows, he is currently the face of Outsurance. Run George, a short film he wrote with Bongani Dube, was also finished during the pandemic and has been picked up by festivals around the world. Shanray shares the particularly brutal criticism they got about the first draft of the script from an older comedian. Enjoy.

Keep up with Shanray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanrayvwyk/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 119 - Khanya Mtshali

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 09:13:22 GMT

Khanya Mtshali is a writer and a critic. Khanya has bylines in pretty much every noteworthy publication in South Africa, and quite a few overseas too. Not only that, she's now a published author as she spent her time in lockdown writing a book on South African advertising called "It's Not Inside, It's On Top". The book takes a critical look at how advertising has been shaped by the politics of the time and gives some fresh perspectives to phrases and images that are burned into our collective consciousness. We chat about the decline of the media industry, the mental minefield that is social media, the challenges of writing a research-based book in a pandemic, and wrestling. Lots, and lots of wrestling. Enjoy.

Keep up with Khanya on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kublakhanya

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 118 - Olivia Mortimer

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 08:08:07 GMT

Olivia Mortimer is a photographer and filmmaker. Her work has been featured in Times Square and magazines around the world although, surprisingly, she failed photography in varsity. Olivia's faced a number of hurdles trying to enter into the film and photography industries but, through letting go, life-changing opportunities serendipitously found her. We get into mindfulness, therapy, and coming of age as a teenager in Pretoria and Joburg's creative scenes.

Keep up with Olivia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mortimer_olivia/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OliviaMortimer

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 117 - Richard Rumney

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 11:07:10 GMT

Richard Rumney is a producer, DJ, and cultural curator. You might know him as Maramza or Richard The Third, although he was probably most influential with his work for Red Bull Music SA. Richard has been involved in various aspects of the underground SA music scene since the 90's so this episode is a great history lesson the early days of hip-hop and kwaito. We also chat about how distribution has changed over the years. From having to hustle to get on compilations to songs being shared via WhatsApp. Enjoy.

Keep up with Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rick_rumbo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard_the_third_music/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richardthethird

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 116 - Aluta Null

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 22:00:00 GMT

Aluta Null is a digital artist and game designer. She works in a variety of mediums including AR and VR and her work is both personal and political. She tackles issues surrounding mental health and black womanhood through a glitchy lens, and aims to use technology to create more accessible experiences of her artistic visions. She's someone who is always thinking, always imagining, and always creating. We get into everything from funding applications to the masks we wear online. Oh, and obviously we talk about NFTs. Enjoy.

Keep up with Aluta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alutas_theory/

Check out her games on Itch: https://alutas-theory.itch.io

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 115 - Mitch Harper Returns

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 06:15:16 GMT

Mitch Harper is a freelance curator, cultural programmer, and film producer. Mitch returns to the podcast to fill us in on what he's been up to over the last three years. We hear about the challenges of taking the Durban Film Mart online due to the pandemic, how Mitch got into producing, and what he learned from working in a tattoo shop. Enjoy.

Watch the trailer for 'Deliver Me': https://vimeo.com/558692412

Follow Mitch on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mharperarts/

Follow Almost Perfect Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/almostperfectza

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 114 - Audiomarc

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:25:13 GMT

Audiomarc is a DJ and producer who has been with Ivyson since day 1. The "Trap Addict" producer shares how he and Nasty C became friends and how much they've grown since. We hear how his parents instilled a deep love of music in him and how it took a bit of time for him to find his confidence. Now that he's found it, there's no stopping him.

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Or buy some merch: https://almostperfect.co.za/shop/

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Episode 113 - Catching up with Colleen Balchin and Mojak Lehoko

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 10:36:05 GMT

I recently found myself in Joburg again so decided to once again record a couple of my catch up sessions with ex-guests of the podcast. This week you're in for a treat as Mojak Lehoko and Colleen Balchin fill us in on how life has been since we last spoke.

Mojak Lehoko is a comedian who has used the pandemic to expand his skillset. He talks about his desire to work more behind the scenes than on stage every night.

Colleen Balchin is an events organiser and DJ who has had a massive impact on Jozi nightlife through Pussy Party. Coco shares the struggles of being a promoter in a pandemic and the need for more empathetic events organisers.

Keep up with Mojak on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mojaklehoko

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojaklehoko/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/mojaklehoko

Keep up with Coco on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cocolovesdanger

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coco_as_in_butter/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/RosieParade

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 112 - Jumping Back Slash Returns

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:15:42 GMT

Jumping Back Slash is a musician, producer, and mix engineer. You probably know and love Jaybles already as he's been rather influential behind the scenes of South Africa's underground electronic music scene. JBS has mixed many of your left-of-center favs and given plenty of helpful advice to younger producers. We don't talk about any of that though. If you want to get to know JBS's life story, go listen to the first podcast that we did. If you want to listen to a man discuss his slow descent into madness and the music that came out of it, then do we have the podcast for you.

In this podcast, we chat about Jumping Back Slash's upcoming album, 'A Map Of The Hills I Chose To Die On'. The darkness and isolation of the last two years definitely seeped into JBS's creative output and the album is truly a product of its time. JBS and I also dig deep on the lessons learned (or the lack thereof) during the pandemic and how it's often the gigs you don't take that make the biggest difference. We also talk about the importance of burning bridges, trying to stay present and grateful, and how he found a guitarist for the album on Fiverr. Enjoy.

Keep up with Jumping Back Slash on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisjbs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisjbs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumpingbackslash/

Check Swak Catalogs for 'A Map Of The Hills I Chose To Die On' on 3 December: https://swakcatalog.bandcamp.com

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 111 - Jabu Newman

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:41:54 GMT

Jabu Newman is an artist and filmmaker who uses her work to explore and promote intersectional feminism. The multi-award-winning director and photographer has had an incredibly impressive career in the relatively short time she's been on the scene. It all kicked off by creating a web series with friends that focused on a fictional group of activists during the Fees Must Fall protests called Foxy Five. Since then, she's gone on to assist on the critically-acclaimed This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection, and has written and directed her own highly lauded short films like The Dream That Refused Me which won two awards at the Ciclope Africa Awards Festival 2021 as well as a Silver Cannes Young Director Award.

In this podcast, we find out that being a director comes with a lot of rejection. Personally, I never really considered the realities of getting work as a director so it was enlightening to hear about the process first-hand. It's obviously not all bad though as Jabu has relished the opportunities to creatively make sense of the world around her and have an impact on it through film. We hear about her political upbringing and growth, and how it influences her art. We also learn the steps she took to go from creating Foxy Five to directing ads for brands like Adidas, and working on films like This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection. Enjoy.

Keep up with Jabu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JabuNadiaNewman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jabunewman/

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/jabunewman

https://almostperfect.co.za/jabu-newman-almost-perfect-podcast-111/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 110 - ByLwansta Returns Again

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:02:14 GMT

ByLwansta is a musician, designer, and label owner. You already knew that though as this is the third time the independent rapper is joining us on the podcast. Things have changed a ton since we last spoke. Moving to Joburg has had its effects both professionally and personally, and has lead to a ton of growth.

In this episode of the podcast, we dive deep into relationships, sensuality, and sexual frustration as creative inspiration. ByLwansta's latest single, ASMR, is on the saucier side and we hear the story behind it. We also get into the art of the rollout and why ByLwansta puts so much effort into promoting his releases. Enjoy.

Keep up with Bylwansta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasesaythe_by/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByLwansta

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ByLwansta

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 109 - Catching up with Eric Jansen, Rofhiwa Maneta, and Leah Jazz

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 07:37:53 GMT

This week you're in for a treat. It's a 3-for-1 special as I made the most of my recent Jozi trip and convinced a few ex-guests to let me record our "Ah, we should totally catch up," conversations. I met up with Eric Jansen, Rofhiwa Maneta, and Leah Jazz, and had 3 vastly different conversations.

Eric Jansen was originally on episode 51 which, at this point, feels like a lifetime ago. Things were looking up for Eric the last time we chatted, but, like most comedians, he found his career coming to a screeching halt when the pandemic hit. Eric shares just how tough things have been and we also discuss the awkwardness of getting back on stage now that things are steadily opening up again. Keep up with Eric on Instagram.

Rofhiwa Maneta and I actually chatted pretty recently on episode 102 but we still had plenty to talk about when we met in person for the first time. His book about his policeman father, "A Man, A Fire, A Corpse" is finished and will be published in November. We find out what it's like to write honestly about your own blood and we discuss some of the realities of being a cop. Keep up with Rofhiwa on Twitter.

Leah Jazz and I go waaaaay back but we haven't chatted in a while so this was really just catching up with an old friend. Leah was last on the podcast for episode 33 when her radio career was just starting to take off. Now she's a regular part of the 5FM lineup with a boundary-pushing show that airs every weeknight at 10 pm. We chat about making the most of opportunities as you never know how long you'll have them for. Keep up with Leah on Instagram.

This feels like a return to the roots of this podcast as these are the first in-person interviews I've done since the pandemic hit. It's pretty weird to think that I've done more interviews for this podcast via remote recording than in person, but I'm super grateful that I've had the opportunity to keep things going. That being said, I've thoroughly missed doing these interviews in person and I'm looking forward to getting to have more face-to-face conversations.

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Episode 108 - Samora Chapman

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:45:46 GMT

Samora Chapman is a photographer, writer, and journalist. Samora will be exhibiting at the Durban Art Gallery with Cedric Nunn in an exhibition called 'Revelations' from 23 Sep - 10 Nov. Quite an achievement for a street photographer who first started exploring the streets as a graffiti artist. Samora has come a long way since his rebellious youth although he still regularly nurtures the surfer/graf kid inside.

In this podcast, we take a look at the journey that got Samora to this point in his career. From the humble beginnings of just trying to get photos of his paintings to being exhibited in one of Durban's most prestigious galleries. Samora has constantly hustled by creating his own exhibitions and opportunities. Now, he's earned a place on hallowed walls. We reminisce over our shared experiences in the Durban creative scene. Samora was the editor at Mahala whilst I ran things at Durban Is Yours so we exchange tales from those trenches. We also hear where Samora has faced backlash and what he's learned from it. Enjoy.

Keep up with Samora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samora_chapman/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 107 - PJ Black

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 09:07:14 GMT

PJ Black is a professional wrestler. He's wrestled in 65 countries over his storied career and it all began under his father's tutelage here in South Africa. PJ has held titles in countless wrestling promotions including the WWE as Justin Gabriel, but these days it seems like he's mostly just focused on having a good time both inside the ring and out. When he's not doing 450 Splashes off the top rope, he can be found jumping off of buildings and out of planes.

In this podcast, we get into the history of how PJ went from refereeing matches in South Africa to wrestling at Wrestlemania and beyond. PJ shares how a potentially career-ending injury lead him to meditation and the life-changing impact that it's has had on his life. It turns out that there are also meditative aspects of falling through the sky. We get into why PJ chose ROH over going back to the WWE. We discuss the creative aspects of wrestling and what it's like to always be performing on a razor's edge in front of a live audience. PJ shares how he came to join Lucha Underground and just how fun it was to team with Jack Evans. And we also chat about what it would mean for him to achieve his life-long dream of wrestling at The Tokyo Dome. Enjoy.

Keep up with PJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pj450/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 106 - Sipho The Gift

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:19:50 GMT

Sipho The Gift is a musician. He started out his journey as a kid with a guitar but soon found himself drawn to ALL the instruments. It's this deep love of all the mechanics of music that gives him a unique edge. While Sipho is best known as a rapper, I think his production might actually be his biggest strength. I've watched his career steadily grow over the years so it was a treat to get to chat with him at a point where it seems like everything is coming together for the independent artist.

In this podcast, we dig deep into what it's like to be an independent alternative artist in a genre that's saturated with copycats just trying to get signed. South Africa has an amazing diversity of hip-hop being created and consumed online but you'd never know it by listening to the radio. We also chat about how the internet has made Sipho's independence possible. That independence takes a lot more work though, as you'll learn as we discuss the business side of the music business. Enjoy.

Keep up with Sipho on Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsmesipho

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/thexgift

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siphothegift/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 105 - Atalya Chana

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 08:15:36 GMT

Atalya Chana is a writer, actor, and director. You might have seen her on your screens in The Haunting of Maria Smit, On Isibindi Street, or the critically acclaimed feature film Necktie Youth. If you haven't yet, well, you'll get to see her in the upcoming feature film Thokoza, or in Sweet Wild Things which is set to air on BET Africa. Atalya keeps busy, and not just in front of the camera. Thorns, which was written and directed by Atalya, recently aired on SABC1 and will be touring the festival circuit while she starts working on bringing her next short film to life.

In this podcast, we learn just how adaptable and tenacious the dynamic artist is. She originally started her career as a dancer before an accident brought that to a premature end. Not only is she adaptable, but she's resourceful. Atalya's career is one that's been built through constant collaboration and dog-eared determination. It's also a career that's been built on portraying darker roles, and we get into why. Atalya shares how acting can be a vehicle for healing and self-discovery. We also hear how her acting and writing experience gave her the foundation she needed to start directing without feeling like too much of an imposter. Enjoy.

Content Warning: Suicide.

Keep up with Atalya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atalyachana/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 104 - Fortune Shumba

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 07:52:19 GMT

Fortune Shumba is a musician and brand strategist. The soulful singer has had an incredible journey fraught with highs and lows that's lead her to a space where she's found peace with herself and empathy for others. While she used to dream of achieving fame and fortune through music, it became a tool for self-discovery and expression instead.

In this podcast, Fortune shares the importance of letting her light shine through the darkness. We hear what it was like growing up queer in small towns and how Fortune used music to unleash her true self. Fortune shares the heartbreaking story behind her trilogy of EPs. We also chat about some of the nuances of gender identity as Fortune shares her experiences as a trans woman. It's an eye-opening chat. Enjoy.

Content warning: Suicide and rape.

Keep up with Fortune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortune_shumba/

Photography by Loyiso Mzamane.

Makeup and art direction by Qondile Dlamini.

Hair by Navelye Ntumba.

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 103 - Stiff Pap

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 09:22:20 GMT

Stiff Pap is an electronic music duo made up of Ayema Problem and Jakinda. The post-kwaito musicians recently released their second album TUFF TIME$ and it's taking the internet by storm. It's the only place they can take by storm at the moment, with lockdowns now a regular part of life in South Africa. TUFF TIME$ is a direct result of being locked in a room for months with only your anger and frustration fueling you.

In this podcast, we hear about Stiff Pap's move to Joburg just before the pandemic hit. Things were going great for one of SA's most exciting musical projects. They had international tours and experimental local events in the pipeline but that came to a screeching halt in 2020. While we obviously talk about the shit that we're currently in, we also have plenty of laughs as we look back at the early days of Stiff Pap. We hear how they became friends thanks to Soundcloud and how it eventually lead to them making music together. You're definitely gonna get a feel for their relationship through the back-and-forth banter. It turns out brutal honesty is the secret to their high-quality output. We also hear their plans and ideas for when it's safe to perform again and what they'd like to do when given a decent budget. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/stiff-pap-almost-perfect-podcast-103/

Keep up with Stiff Pap on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StiffPap

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/StiffPap

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stiffpap/

Photo by Unathi Mkonto: https://www.instagram.com/unathimkonto/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 102 - Rofhiwa Maneta

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 09:00:31 GMT

Rofhiwa Maneta is a writer and arts and culture journalist. He's been incredibly influential in documenting SA's cultural scene over the years. You've no doubt read his work in the likes of New Frame, City Press, the Mail & Guardian, the Sunday Times, Vice and The Fader. Rofhiwa has also self-published multiple books, with his latest, Your Father, The Hip-Hop Head, drawing praise from his contemporaries and mentors alike. It's a collection of candid essays about fatherhood and black boyhood through the lens of hip-hop that expresses the fears, insecurities, and self-reflection that comes with bringing another life into this world.

In this podcast, we lament the decline of journalism and share our tragic tales of chasing invoices when you're on the freelance grind. We learn what it's like to grow up with parents who are in the police force, especially when you're listening to music that doesn't have the kindest things to say about cops. Rofhiwa and I nerd out on Bo Burnham, Henry David Thoreau, and Jean Baudrillard. And Rofhiwa shares why he thinks you should never self-publish, or buy property when you're young. Enjoy.

Keep up with Rofhiwa on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Rofhiwa_

Look out for his book, A Man, A Fire, A Corpse, from Blackbird Books in September: https://blackbirdbooks.africa/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 101 - Caryn Welby-Solomon

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 08:56:57 GMT

Caryn Welby-Solomon is an entertainment journalist and podcaster. Like many of us, Caryn saw her life turned upside down when lockdown hit. After years of grinding away, she'd finally been hired as the entertainment writer for Cosmopolitan magazine- a dream job- only to have her dreams come crashing down when Cosmo closed its doors. After a week of feeling sorry for herself, Caryn got to work. A year later, she's got bylines with most of SA's top entertainment publications and her podcast 'What's IGN Crushing On' has just celebrated its first birthday.

In this podcast, we learn the importance of creating opportunities for yourself. Caryn has constantly invested in herself even when opportunities have been scarce. It's allowed her to be ready when they do present themselves. Caryn has a genuine love for entertainment journalism and it comes through in this conversation and in her work. Her ambition and tenacity are an inspiration. You're gonna finish this one feeling motivated. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/caryn-welby-solomon-almost-perfect-podcast-101/

Keep up with Caryn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carynwelbys

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carynwelby/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/almostperfect

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Episode 100 - The Retrospective

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 12:25:57 GMT

Holy shit, we fucking did it. 100 canonical episodes of a podcast that nobody asked for but now you can't live without, right? Well, I can't.

This is a look back at the last two and a half years of celebrating fuck ups, failures, and falling flat on your face. I've gathered together 14 clips from the past 99 episodes that I think represents the best of what this podcast has to offer. It would have been a few more snippets if Eskom wasn't a poes but here we are. Here's who features in this retrospective:

Episode 3 - Neil Green

Episode 7 - Lindy Johnson

Episode 18 - Leigh Vermaak

Episode 19 - Nas Hoosen

Episode 38 - Charl Blignaut

Episode 49 - Loyiso Madinga

Episode 53 - Ebenhaezer Dibakwane

Episode 61 - Nicci St. Bruce

Episode 63 - Annie Brookstone

Episode 65 - Majozi

Episode 79 - Phumlani Pikoli

Episode 81 - Moonchild Sanell

Episode 90 - Hallie Haller

Episode 94 - Loyiso Gola

Enjoy.

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Episode 98 - Vulane Mthembu

Fri, 21 May 2021 08:12:17 GMT

Vulane Mthembu is a musician and someone I'm convinced is trying to bring about Skynet. You might know him from his work with BIG FKN GUN and Moonchild Sanelly, but lately, Vulane has been diving deep into the worlds of AI, VR, XR, and a bunch of other initialisations I don't know about yet. Most notably, Vulane guided AI into creating an album he called 'Nguni Machina'. It's all open source for anyone to experiment with however they like.

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about how the future is here and is forcing interesting conversations. We get into some of the potential applications of AI in music and art and what that means for humans. Vulane is passionate and optimistic about using tech to bring about a better world but is aware of its dangers too. Vulane shares details on a number of forward-thinking projects that he's working on with the Goethe-Institut, from creating uniquely South African VR spaces to using Wikipedia to decolonise the internet. It's a fascinating chat. Enjoy.

Keep up with Vulane Mthembu on Instagram, Twitter, and Mixcloud.

If you have 2 minutes and would like to help make the podcast better, please fill out this short survey? Thank you.

Enjoy this interview? Check out these Almost Perfect interviews with more South African musicians.

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Episode 97 - Kai Pretorius

Fri, 14 May 2021 11:02:32 GMT

Kai Pretorius is a dancer and teacher. Originally from Ramsgate, Kai now calls Amsterdam home after growing up in Durban. While Durban gave her a solid foundation and regular work at the top of the food chain, moving to Amsterdam saw Kai having to come to terms with being a small fish in a big pond. She had to find different ways to support herself whilst reimagining what the dance dream meant for her. Through perseverance, self-reflection, and learning new dance forms and practices, Kai has been able to overcome her initial failures to carve out a fruitful and meaningful life in Amsterdam.

In this episode of the podcast, we get into how Kai got into teaching dance and why it's such a good fit for her. Kai shares how she had to let go of what she'd learned before to incorporate new dances into her skin. We learn about the somatic practice and discuss how dance, movement, and touch can be a catalyst for physical and mental healing. Kai and I reminisce about our past as frenemies and how much we've grown since our more fiery days. We also dig into Kai's reality TV past as we hear about her So You Think You Can Dance journey. Enjoy.

Keep up with Kai on Instagram.

If you have 2 minutes and would like to help make the podcast better, please fill out this short survey? Thank you.

Enjoy this podcast? Check out these Almost Perfect interviews with people who cut their teeth in Durban.

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Episode 96 - Tell Us More Crossover

Fri, 07 May 2021 08:36:04 GMT

Tell Us More is a podcast hosted by comedian, writer, and TV personality Mojak Lehoko. Mojak and I have interviewed each other on our respective podcasts before so we figured we'd team up to give you the crossover episode that nobody asked for but everybody needs.

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the realities of comedy, writing, and podcasting in South Africa. Both Mojak and I share our thoughts and opinions freely in what turned out to be a rather cathartic chat. This is more of a back and forth conversation than our usual interviews. We find a lot of common ground but also get to have some interesting discussions where we differ. It turns out we're just two skater boys brought up by single moms trying to forge our own paths in the world. Enjoy.

Listen to Tell Us More on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Follow Mojak Lehoko on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

If you have 2 minutes and would like to help make the podcast better, please fill out this short survey? Thank you.

Enjoy this podcast? Check out these Almost Perfect interviews with more South African comedians.

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Episode 95 - Paul Gioia

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 10:29:35 GMT

Paul Gioia is a musician, teacher, and recording studio owner. He's the guitarist and singer for ATFN, a punk-influenced prog band that was formed back in 1998, and has been recording bands and artists at Asylum Studios since 2000. He also holds an Honours in Music from Tuks. Paul's had an extensive career but a hand injury at the peak of ATFN's fame nearly ended it too soon. Thankfully, Paul managed to work through it. After a 14-year hiatus, the band put out a new EP called 'Reverence' in 2019. 2021 has seen them get picked up by Mongrel Records with a number of singles on the way. The first of which is 'Pathology or Pantomime' which dropped today.

In this episode of the podcast, we get into the highs and lows of making, teaching, and recording music. Paul talks us through the whirlwind ride of starting a band and going on to find success, only to have the dream come crashing down around him. He shares how he went overseas to get over the pain of not being able to do what he loved, and how The Slashdogs were instrumental in bringing him back home. Paul also explains ATFN's Durban roots as we explore the strong Durban and Pretoria connection in the 2000's rock scene. We touch on mental health issues and the ways we deal with them. We also discuss the reimagining of the meaning behind the band's name (All This For Nothing) now that the members have matured. Enjoy.

Keep up with Paul on Instagram.

Keep up with ATFN on Instagram, Facebook, and Bandcamp.

If you have 2 minutes and would like to help make the podcast better, please fill out this short survey? Thank you.

Enjoy this interview? Check out these Almost Perfect interviews with more South African musicians.

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Episode 94 - Loyiso Gola

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 09:06:06 GMT

Loyiso Gola is a comedian. The twice Emmy-nominated host of Late Night News with Loyiso Gola has had a phenomenal career. He's travelled the world telling jokes and earned many milestones that used to seem out of reach for South African comedians. He's performed on Live at the Apollo, was a guest on QI, and recently dropped a one-hour special on Netflix that he's been working on for the last six years called Unlearning.

Keep up with Loyiso Gola on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

If you enjoy this interview, check out these Almost Perfect interviews with more South African comedians.

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Episode 93 - Sibaphiwe Matiyela

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:30:40 GMT

Sibaphiwe "Sibs" Matiyela is a voice-over artist and newsreader. You'll probably recognise her dulcet tones from 5FM although she's had an impressive career that spans multiple radio stations. Starting out at campus radio, Sibs has worked her way through news desks across the country for over a decade. Voice-over work is a natural extension of her talents and something she's excelling at now, but it turns out breaking into the industry was a lot tougher than she first expected. While her radio journey has been put on hold for now due to the SABC's recent restructuring, Sibs is a tenacious and talented woman who won't be held back by adversity for too long.

In this episode of the podcast, we get into life before and after 5FM. We hear how she's been dealing with the recent upheaval and discuss some possibilities for the future. Sibs takes a fond look back at her extensive career. She fills us in on how hard she hustled to eventually earn a slot on national radio. It's a journey filled with endless phone calls, rejections, and perseverance. Whenever she has been given an opportunity to shine she's done just that. We also discuss her journey with queerness and the importance of representation in media whilst taking a look at some of the more troubling aspects of broadcasting. It's an enlightening and entertaining chat. Enjoy.

Keep up with Sibaphiwe Matiyela on Twitter. Check out her voice-over reel on the OSM Website.

If you have 2 minutes and would like to help make the podcast better, please fill out this short survey? Thank you.

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Episode 92 - Nax

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 09:05:55 GMT

Nax (Matthieu "Makkie" Auriacombe) is a musician and producer. Born in France but raised in Pretoria, Nax was destined to make music due to his dad, his uncle, and his brother (Johan Auriacombe) all being musicians. His mom even bought him and his brother their first instruments. Since then it's been a whirlwind ride that's taken him all over the country in a number of different bands.

In this podcast, we hear about Nax's early days as the kidofdoom merch guy before becoming the bassist. We get into his solo project, Hello Beautiful, and his time with Beach Party before diving into his current band, Van Pletzen. It turns out that while Van Pletzen is all love, they occasionally have to deal with hate. Nax tries not to let it get to him and shares how he's managed to turn haters into lovers. We learn about Nax and Peach's relationship at Planet Awesome before they formed Van Pletzen. Nax also shares a number of behind the scenes stories that you've never heard before. Enjoy.

Keep up with Nax on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yo_nax/

Keep up with Van Pletzen on their website: https://vanpletzen.co.za/

https://almostperfect.co.za/nax-almost-perfect-podcast-92/

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Episode 91 - Werner Olckers

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:41:34 GMT

Werner Olckers is a musician, marketing manager, and sneaker enthusiast. You might remember him as the frontman for the indie-pop band Wrestlerish. Or you might have bought some sneakers from him at his sneaker boutique, Cop Capital. Werner has a wealth of experience under his belt as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of many facets of pop culture, so this is a fascinating and entertaining chat.

In this episode of the podcast, we find out what it was like to be a successful band during the peak of SA's band scene. Learn about the highs, the lows, and why bands both loved and feared touring Durban. We get nostalgic whilst also discussing the traps of nostalgia and living in the past. Werner shares his love/hate relationship with Afrikaans culture and where he's seen positive changes to the culture through alternative music and art. We hear about the effects of growing up surround by pop culture and the entertainment industry thanks to his parents. And we discuss what life has been like since Wrestlerish broke up. Enjoy.

Keep up with Werner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wernerolckers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wernerolckers/

If you have 2 minutes spare and would like to help make The Almost Perfect Podcast better, please could you fill out this 10 question survey? Thank you. https://us19.list-manage.com/survey?u=2531d05c0dd107158fa4a540a&id=8818aa09e9

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Episode 90 - Hallie Haller

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:30:04 GMT

Hallie Haller is a writer, director, and creative strategist who cares about media, the future and you. She is the writer and director of the utterly charming short film, Belovely, and is currently working on a couple of different documentary based projects. Hallie is also a ForCreativeGirls mentor, a One World Media documentary fellow for 2020, and a representative of Girls in Film's South African chapter. Not only is she multi-talented, but she's passionate about developing talent and collaborating with others.

In this podcast, we get into the cinema vs content debate and the need for balance between artistic and commercial work. Hallie tells us about her struggles with imposter syndrome and some of the difficulties she's had navigating the film industry. We hear how Hallie has learned to be more intentional with who she works with and we also discuss issues of access when it comes to film. Despite the hurdles, Hallie is a huge advocate for starting where you are with what you have and just creating for the joy of it. There's a lot to learn from this one. Enjoy.

Keep up with Hallie on her website: https://www.halliehaller.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sixthsensei_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sixthsensei_/

Watch Belovely: https://www.halliehaller.com/work/brine-lemnx

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Episode 89 - ByJono

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 09:14:43 GMT

Jonathan Ferreira aka ByJono is a photographer, content creator, and streamer. Jono started his career with a passion for documenting the scene in his hometown of PE. He has gone on to become one of the most recognisable names in SA music photography.

In this podcast, we get into the struggles of trying to make things happen in a small town. We hear how he came to work for Red Bull and what it was like to be mentored by photographers he idolised growing up. We look back on the time we were in a blogging competition against each other. And, we chat about streaming and the positive effects it's had on his mental health during lockdown. Enjoy.

Keep up with Jono on his website: http://byjono.co/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/byjono

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjono/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/byjono

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/husbint

If you have 2 minutes spare and would like to help make The Almost Perfect Podcast better, please could you fill out this 10 question survey? Thank you. https://us19.list-manage.com/survey?u=2531d05c0dd107158fa4a540a&id=8818aa09e9

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Episode 88 - Conrad Koch

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 09:05:07 GMT

Conrad Koch is a comedian and ventriloquist with a background in anthropology. You probably know Chester Missing, one of Conrad's creations who has come to take on a life of his own in the public eye, but you probably don't know that Chester has existed in some form or another for over 2 decades.

In this episode, we learn how one starts talking to themselves as a career. We get into how Conrad balances his corporate comedy act that pays the bills and his more challenging work that gets him sued. We take a deep dive into the history and identity of Chester, and the backlash that Conrad has received for it. We hear about the early days of the Cape Town comedy scene and how he and Chester came to work for LNN with Loyiso Gola, which helped skyrocket the character to national recognition. Enjoy.

Keep up with Chester on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chestermissing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrchestermissing/

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Episode 87 - DORMANTYOUTH

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 09:21:26 GMT

DORMANTYOUTH aka Thelma Ndebele is a DJ and an architect. Weirdly enough, it was through doing their dissertation that they became a DJ (or "clang curator" as they put it), but I'm gonna let them tell you that story on the podcast. DORMANTYOUTH has only been DJing for about 3 years yet they've earned a resident slot with Vogue Nights, regularly plays Pussy Party, and have played virtual sets for the likes of Boiler Room and CTM. They're definitely someone you should have your eyes and ears on if you don't already.

In this episode, we get into the art of clearing a dancefloor and learning to balance what you want with what the crowd wants. We hear what exactly makes Chicago Footwork such a captivating genre to Thelma. The discussion also delves into different kinds of space-making and how architecture influences their approach to DJing. Enjoy.

Keep up with DORMANTYOUTH on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DORMANTYOUTH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dormantyouth/

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Episode 86 - Rose Bonica

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 09:14:25 GMT

Rose Bonica is a music producer, 3D animator, and owner of the record label Roses are Red. In the four years that she's been making music, Rose has quickly become your favourite producer's favourite producer with her incredibly emotive compositions. While her career skyrocketed in 2020, it was a rather tough year emotionally and creatively for Rose.

This episode is an honest chat full of laughs. We dig into the daunting task of overcoming writer's block whilst simultaneously being praised for your previous work. We get into the nuances of navigating press and PR as a musician, and we hear about the time she flew to Berlin for a 6-week tour and came home after 4 days. Oh, and we also hear how Rose's journey with 3D animation has mostly been fueled by free cellphone apps. Enjoy.

Follow Rose on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosebonica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosebonica/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/rosebonicarose

Bandcamp: https://rosebonica.bandcamp.com/

If you have 2 minutes spare and would like to help make The Almost Perfect Podcast better, please could you fill out this 10 question survey? Thank you.

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In Memory of Nas Hoosen

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 08:44:45 GMT

On the evening of Monday 25 January 2021, Nas Hoosen passed away due to complications with COVID-19. Nas was an incredible storyteller who mostly told stories through screenwriting and comics. He was a pop-culture polymath who absorbed trivia and could recount even the most seemingly inane details and moments with incredible insight. He was the biggest champion of his friends and was someone who would always offer words of encouragement and wisdom. The world is a darker place without him in it, but he did leave many candles burning to guide us forward.

This episode was originally released on 21 Feb 2019 and features an updated introduction.

Laugh along to Nas's critiques of movies here: https://letterboxd.com/naswho/

Have a think and a laugh at his comics here: https://www.instagram.com/naswho/

And if you'd like to know about more Nas's work, we discussed the nuances of screenwriting in this episode of Almost Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mc_rdVHXd8&t=555s&ab_channel=AlmostPerfect

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Episode 85 - Sia & Big Sexy

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:42:59 GMT

Sia and Big Sexy are pornstars. They're a couple in their mid-30s who have both tried their hands at a variety of careers before finding success with sex work. While they were already in the industry before COVID hit, it was alongside other side-gigs until the lockdown pushed them to commit to it full time. It turns out making porn together is a great way to earn money from home, although it obviously comes with its challenges.

In this episode, we get into the ins and outs of making porn in South Africa. From the strange hours due to catering to different timezones, to your neighbours recognising you from your work. We get into the business side of things and learn how it's similar to many other types of online content production. And we also hear how their family and friends reacted to the news of their career change. Enjoy.

Follow Sia and Big Sexy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SiaBigSexy

And OnlyFans: https://onlyfans.com/siabigsexy

And check out their website: siabigsexy.com

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-85-sia-big-sexy/

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Episode 84 - Dylan Buckle (Noobslice)

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 08:29:46 GMT

Dylan Buckle aka Noobslice is the events manager for South African esports company ATK. He started out his career in esports as one of the early adopters of streaming in South Africa. Dylan steadily built his name and community on Twitch whilst also gaining experience in the corporate side of tabletop gaming. Both lead him to his current position, something he could have never seen coming when he started out.

In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of esports and streaming in South Africa. Obviously, South Africa has its own unique challenges compared to the more developed countries, but more and more we're seeing local teams hold their own on the international stage. We also get into the difficulties of organising events during the pandemic, and we get some very useful advice for those of you looking to start streaming. Enjoy.

Keep up with Dylan on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/noobslice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noobslice/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoobsliceZA

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Episode 83 - ANG

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 11:23:18 GMT

ANG (Angela Weickl) is a DJ and the Culture and Network Manager at Levi's Haus of Strauss Africa- a job she was uniquely qualified for after 15 years of contributing to the music industry. ANG got her start in the music industry as a sound engineer at open mic gigs but soon found herself becoming a prominent part of the Cape Town scene as a club manager and DJ.

In this episode, we get nostalgic over the pre-social media era where being handed a flyer was how you found out where you were jolling that weekend. ANG talks us through the early days of her career, from mixing bands she grew up listening to, to becoming the manager at Armchair in her early 20s, and how that all lead to a successful DJ career that she could have only dreamed of growing up. It's a wonderful look at one of the golden periods of Cape Town's music scene through ANG's eyes. Enjoy.

If you have 2 minutes spare and would like to help make The Almost Perfect Podcast better, please could you fill out this 10 question survey? Thank you.

https://us19.list-manage.com/survey?u=2531d05c0dd107158fa4a540a&id=8818aa09e9

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Bonus: Top 10 of 2020

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 10:10:03 GMT

A somewhat positive look back at the top 10 things that got me through 2020.

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Episode 82 - Parabyl

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:21:13 GMT

Parabyl (Ciarán Slemon) is an electronic music producer and tech-loving autodidact who has spent countless hours behind the PC either creating art or absorbing as much information as possible. It's probably why he's wise beyond his years and has quite a few nuggets of wisdom (and facts) to share with us.

In this episode, we get into being the weird kid in school who was teased for enjoying learning, but now that constant desire to learn more has helped him develop into a well-rounded artist and human-being. We chat about having realistic expectations about a career in music whilst still continually trying to create work that he finds fulfilling. We discuss the value of having peers who are honest with you, and we also get into the nuances of being introverted during the lockdown. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-82-parabyl/

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Episode 81 - Moonchild Sanelly

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 08:15:16 GMT

Moonchild Sanelly is an icon. There's just no other way to put it. How many other South African artists do you know who have worked with Beyonce, Gorillaz, and Diplo? On top of that, she has her own clothing label and is planning to release a range of sex toys. She's a true original who does things her own way which is reaping the rewards now but saw her spending much of her career as an outsider in the industry.

In this episode, we learn how her mom instilled a fierce rebellious nature in her and taught her to never follow. We get into Moonchild's formative years in Durban where she would hustle to get behind every mic she could get her hands on whilst studying fashion, working a job in retail, and eventually earning a slot on radio. We obviously touch on working with Beyonce and what it means for Moonchild, and, naturally, we talk a lot about sex. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-81-moonchild-sanelly/

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Episode 80 - FonZo

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 20:23:28 GMT

FonZo is a rapper and producer from Cape Town who put out one of the dopest rap releases in SA this year with his album, 'Days of the Future Past'. He's been taking rap seriously since he was 15 and has spent his life continually adding skills to his repertoire- from lyrics, to flow, to production he's put in the work and it shows. He's at the top of his game and he knows it, but he credits criticism (both external and internal) for making his craft the best it can be.

In this episode, we talk A LOT about rap, rapping, and rappers. Naturally. We delve into FonZo's early influences, touch on his heated foray into battle rapping, and discuss how he's managed to stay consistent through the trends. We dig into the nuances and politics of the Cape Town hip-hop scene and have a look at what's holding the city back. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-80-fonzo/

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Episode 79 - Phumlani Pikoli

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 07:38:19 GMT

Phumlani Pikoli is a writer and multimedia artist who has recently been on the receiving end of some "buzz" with the publishing of his debut novel 'Born Freeloaders'. Phumlani has been creating art since he and his brother started a rap group in their teens and has since used almost every medium available to express himself and interrogate the world around him.

In this episode, we reminisce over our early days as music journalists and the unbridled freedom that came with being a creative South African in the 2000s. Naturally, both of us being artists and critics, we get into the art of criticism and its value to artists. We also dig into writing what you know, the importance of offering new perspectives on being young and black in South Africa, and we discuss reframing traditional narratives around recreational drug and alcohol use. Oh, and we also lament the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Enjoy.

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Episode 78 - Hannah Shone

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 08:44:36 GMT

Hannah Shone is an illustrator and graphic designer with an incredible sense of humour. Like, if there's one thing I can promise you about this episode, it's that you're going to laugh. When she's not cracking self-deprecating jokes, she's creating quirky and fun artworks with subtle dark undercurrents. Hannah's accomplished a ton already with multiple solo and group exhibitions, collabs with hip/popular brands, designing both Diamond Thug and Mx Blouse's debut albums, and has even had her work tattooed on people at a music festival.

While Hannah was paying the bills with a steady office job, she chose 2020 of all years to break free from the confines of agency life for the freedom (and chaos) of freelance. We get into why the ad world isn't necessarily for her, and why the art world didn't seem like it was when she was in school. We also chat about the pressures of designing album covers for popular artists and dig into the relationship between art and music. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-78-hannah-shone/

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Episode 77 - Thanda Kunene

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 12:41:47 GMT

Thanda Kunene is an art director and photographer who is not afraid of discomfort. Thanda is a rather nomadic soul who seems to forever be on the move and has carved out his own space in the SA creative scene by being an original thinker and staying true to himself. Thanda has played an essential role in capturing Durban's alternative music cultures and has countless photos of some of SA's biggest stars before they blew up.

These days, Thanda is expanding his talents as an art director and is relishing working with a team after so many years as a one-man-band. In this podcast, we reminisce over the glory days of the Durban live music scene and look at some of the reasons for its collapse. We also find out how someone who is so bad at social media was able to carve out a career in an industry that's often fixated more on reach than talent. Oh, and we talk about the time we dodged a hail storm of rocks together during a riot in the CBD. Enjoy.

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Episode 76 - Daniel Friedman

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:45:26 GMT

Daniel Friedman is a comedian, musician, and writer who you probably know better as Deep Fried Man. Daniel has worn many hats in his career and we take them all off to uncover a career originally built on a love of music. After almost making it as a musician a couple of times, Daniel turned to comedy. He soon found himself skyrocketing to success on this new path but it came with unforeseen hurdles. On this episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast, we get into whether or not Deep Fried Man is dead, we find out what it's like to be "cancelled" by SA's right-wingers, and we talk a LOT about music. We learn about Daniel's early days at JHB Live and the final days of SL magazine before getting into the many times Daniel has drawn the ire of powerful people with his words. There are a lot of lessons and laughs in this one. Enjoy.

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Episode 75 - Kevin Goss-Ross

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 09:45:10 GMT

Kevin Goss-Ross is a photographer who got his start in the moshpits of Durban and is now a creative director at an ad agency in Dublin. Kevin made a name for himself as a photographer who captured debauchery, dicks, and drugs, which saw him being pigeonholed by the local industry before he spread his wings and explored new boundaries by moving to Ireland.

This is a deeply nostalgic episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast as we dig into the history of Durban alternative scene, the characters and egos involved, the spaces that enabled it to thrive, and what it was like to capture the chaos. We also touch on some of the technical aspects of photography, we dig into Kevin's influences and mentors, and we find out how Kevin got into photography by chance. Enjoy.

Keep up with Kevin Goss-Ross on Instagram, Twitter, and his website.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-75-kevin-goss-ross/

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Episode 74 - Mbali Ntuli

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 11:40:37 GMT

Mbali Ntuli is a politician who is currently challenging for the leadership of the DA. Considering the DA's history with young black women in their party, it seems like a rather ambitious task, but Mbali is up for the challenge and hopes to be a positive change for the DA and the country.

While we obviously get into politics a bit, most of the conversation is taken up by a shared love of literature and sci-fi. We hear about Mbali's political awakening before digging into the really important topics, like Star Wars, Isaac Asimov, and The Handmaids Tale. It's a laidback chat with someone whose day-to-day life is anything but laidback. Enjoy.

Keep up with Mbali on Twitter.

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Episode 73 - Gilli Apter

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 08:24:08 GMT

Gilli Apter is a comedian, writer, and director who has learned to be patient with her passions. You might have seen Gilli on Trevor Noah's Nationwild or Frizz Pop on Showmax, or on stages all around the country as Gilli is certainly one of the hardest working comedians in SA. Gilli has a razor-sharp wit that she honed for years as a writer before eventually starting stand-up comedy. The funny thing is, she only started writing because she wanted to get into directing. Now, she does all three and makes juggling multiple careers look easy.

In this episode, we get into what it's like growing up as a first-generation South African in an Israeli household, the value of a non-restrictive creative education, and how your dreams can get derailed if you're not careful. We also get into the nitty-gritty of joke writing, the differences between being a comedian and being a funny person, and we go through some of the advantages and disadvantages to starting stand-up later than most of her peers. As always, there's a lot to learn from this one. Enjoy.

Keep up with Gilli Apter on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Photo by Andrew Berry.

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Episode 72 - Carvin Goldstone Returns

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:34:18 GMT

Carvin Goldstone is a comedian but you already knew that. Carvin is one of the most successful comedians to come out of Durban. With multiple successful international tours under his belt and a couple of popular specials on TV, Carvin has been living the stand-up comedy dream for a while now. So imagine my surprise when Carvin started this interview by talking about how much he's been enjoying staying put and withdrawing from public life.

Like many of us in the entertainment industry, Carvin started the lockdown by furiously creating content but soon found himself questioning "Why?". In this episode, we chat about the online rat race and not wanting to participate in it anymore. We get into the importance of protecting your peace but how you have to try different things to really know whether or not they're for you. We also find out some behind-the-scenes info on how selling a comedy special in South Africa works, and we have an honest discussion about the past, present, and future of Durban comedy. Enjoy.

Keep up with Carvin on Facebook and Instagram.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-72-carvin-goldstone-returns/

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Episode 71 - Red Robyn

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:08:56 GMT

Red Robyn is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Wentworth who recently moved to Cape Town to pursue her dreams before, well, you know. The sweet-voiced songbird used to dream of being Britney Spears but these days she just wants to travel with her guitar and spread love. Naturally, that's a bit difficult at the moment, so Robyn has found herself focusing on the more business side of the music business.

In this episode, we get into how dreams evolve over time and how to maintain a healthy balance with success and failure in the music industry. We discuss her formative years studying drama and music at UKZN where she became a part of the phenomenal jazz-fusion band Blvck Crystals. That time period helped Red Robyn mature into the person and musician she is today, even if it was rather chaotic. These days Red Robyn has management and finds herself carefully scheduling her time between her solo career and as a band member in The World of Birds. Listen in as we find out how she went from releasing songs on Soundcloud to becoming one of SA's most exciting young musicians. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-71-red-robyn/

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Episode 70 - Lazola Gola

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 08:49:01 GMT

Lazola Gola is a comedian, writer, and director who first got on stage to tell jokes in high school. While you're never too young to start, you're also never too old to try something new which is why Laz has spent his 30s pursuing directing alongside his comedy and writing. Laz has had such an impressive career already, but it feels like he's only just begun exploring what he's truly capable of.

In this episode, we learn how being exposed to comedy gigs at an early age helped make stand-up a tangible career for Laz. We get into the freedom and limitations of stand-up comedy, and why some ideas work better on screen than on stage. Laz shares the importance of sticking to the script (literally) whilst also giving consideration to the many ways you can bring a script to life. And we get a peek into what it was like to be a part of the LNN writing room. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-70-lazola-gola/

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Episode 69 - Kylie Wentzel

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 11:13:06 GMT

Kylie Wentzel is an artist. While she can create art in almost any medium, painting is her first love and what she's most known for. With recent exhibitions at highly acclaimed art spaces and upcoming online exhibitions with noteworthy names, Kylie Wentzel is an artist on the rise. Getting to this point though has been a journey fraught with self-doubt, soul-crushing institutions, and trying not to be taken for a ride.

While Kylie studied Fine Art at the prestigious Michaelis School of Fine Art in Cape Town, it nearly broke her, and it was outside of formal education that she found her style and inspiration for art-making. We get into the complexities and nuances of navigating the art world as an "up-and-coming" artist whilst also looking at how Instagram has been a tool for connecting outside of traditional art spaces. We also get into why Durban is a fantastic city to create art from and briefly reminisce over GMT and Unit 11 days. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-69-kylie-wentzel/

Keep up with Kylie on Instagram.

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Episode 68 - Patrick Duff

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 22:32:48 GMT

Patrick Duff is the Marketing Director for Vans for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. A pretty big title but the journey to that title began with working at skate shops in Gateway and giving a hitchhiking 50-year-old bodybuilder a lift. Pat has worked for brands like Nike, DC, and Bata, before finding his home at Vans, so he has a wealth of knowledge and experience under his belt which he shares freely on the podcast.

I've always appreciated Pat's vibe and approach to life, and it's seemed to have worked out pretty well for him. Although, as he'll tell you on the podcast, it came from making specific choices towards the life he wants. Pat got a degree in Economics and chose to go and work in a skate shop, which should tell you a lot about the kind of person Pat is. Pat's also the kind of guy who shows initiative and makes the most of his positions, which is why he went from working the till to living the dream in Switzerland in just over a decade.

We get into the importance of staying young at heart, at being true to who you are, and finding a balance between corporate and creative. We also look at how the current situation has lead to a more efficient work environment while looking at what it means for our personal futures. It's a deep yet laid back chat with a deep yet laid back cat.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-68-patrick-duff/

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Episode 67 - Tiny Mungwe

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 11:16:04 GMT

Tiny Mungwe is a producer, director, and project manager (among many other job titles) who has been instrumental behind the scenes of some of Durban's most important cultural projects. It all started with a bossy phone call 14 years ago and there have been many more ever since. While Tiny has been heavily involved in the Durban International Film Festival and Durban Film Mart, as well as various other festivals around the country, her day job is as a documentary producer for Steps. She's also been working on a documentary about sex work in South Africa with Shanelle Jewnarain for the last 6 years and has been building a pan-African creative retreat in Inanda brick-by-brick for the last 4 years.

Tiny is tenacious and driven and always seems to find a way to get things done whilst also showing great consideration for others. We get into the politics of curatorship and some of the concerns when it comes to programming a festival, and we also get into the nuances and hurdles that come with making a film about sex work in South Africa at this time. We learn how Tiny has forged her own path by constantly "just doing the thing" and not letting any setback stop her. As always, there's a lot to learn from this one. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-67-tiny-mungwe/

Here's the article about Jahdatta that Tiny mentioned on the podcast: https://thenetline.com/the-sad-truth-about-jahdatta/

Support Sisonke: http://www.sisonke.org.za/

Support S.W.E.A.T: http://www.sweat.org.za/

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Episode 66 - Matt Knight

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 11:19:36 GMT

Matt Knight is a pastor. Or, as he prefers, a pastor*. The asterisk is because, while Matt does officiate weddings and funerals from time to time, his role these days is mostly in HR and admin for a collection of 11 churches and an NGO that tackles multiple projects in Cape Town. Matt and I first met in the Burn, Willowvale, and Unit 11 days of the Durban music scene and would occasionally work together on various projects to try and make things in the city a little bit better in the ways that we knew how. While things have changed a lot for both of us over the last decade, that drive to make the world a better place and our love of music and Simon Amstell has never wavered.

The thing that might make this all rather interesting, I guess, is that I'm an atheist yet one of my favourite people is a pastor. Matt has been a good friend to me who even invited me to his wedding but I'm also kinda known as the guy who swore God on Easter Sunday at Splashy. For us, it's never really been an issue, and I've grown a lot since my angry atheist days, so this was a cool opportunity to discuss some big ideas about the universe whilst also getting into the importance of acting locally. Maybe you've never really thought about why someone gets involved in the church, or maybe you have, either way, I think the reality of it all is probably different to what you might expect and I think Matt's perspective will be useful regardless of your personal beliefs. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-66-matt-knight/

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The Almost Perfect Audio Press Release

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:30:36 GMT

When launching a brand, there are many different approaches to take to get the word out there about who you are and what you do.

While most companies will write up a press release and send it to all their media contacts, we here at Almost Perfect Media would rather bury all the information in a 20-minute monologue that nobody is going to listen to. Game-changing.

Check out the home of Almost Perfect Media: https://almostperfect.co.za/

Thank you to The Printroom for partnering with us on our merchandise: https://www.theprintroom.co.za/

Support Sisonke: http://www.sisonke.org.za/

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Episode 65 - Majozi

Fri, 29 May 2020 10:53:17 GMT

Majozi is a musician who first shot to fame in 2015 with his debut pop hit "Fire", although he originally started his music career playing in punk and metalcore bands with friends from school and church. While you may know him from the radio, I know Majozi from the moshpit which I think makes this a rather enlightening interview.

In this episode, we reminisce about Majozi's early days in the Durban punk and hardcore scene before getting into the pressures that come with being a full-time musician on a major label. We learn about how crucial the church was in Majozi finding confidence in himself and also how important the support has been in his success. We also have a few laughs over him getting flooded with messages intended for Sho Madjozi and how he saw her rise through his Google Alerts. It's a fun and informative chat, enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-65-majozi/

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Episode 64 - Martin Evans

Fri, 22 May 2020 10:14:08 GMT

Martin Evans is a comedian who has grown tired of the grind of the stand-up circuit so he's bought a boat and is looking to sail away the second he gets the chance. Martin is one of the funniest comedians in South Africa and has an incredible resume, he just feels like he's reached a ceiling in SA stand-up that he's tired of trying to breakthrough. Personally, I get it.

We learn all about Martin's early days in comedy and his meteoric rise in the London comedy scene before coming back home to SA. We get into the realities of being a stand-up comedian who doesn't walk the corporate path in South Africa before we take a look at the wealth of opportunities that Martin sees before him now that he's not tied to getting his laughs on stage. Martin has been using this lockdown to get introspective and look ahead to the future rather than dwell on past successes and current difficulties. Martin is someone who I have looked up to in South African comedy for quite a long time now, click play to find out why.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-64-martin-evans/

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Episode 63 - Annie Brookstone

Fri, 08 May 2020 12:08:55 GMT

Annie Brookstone is a former magazine boss type and current freelance writer and editor who has recently moved from Cape Town to Berlin. Annie pretty much has the dream career as she’s lucked out into watching porn, smoking weed, and masturbating, and then also getting to call it 'research'. When she's not writing about sex, cannabis or travel, her interests include getting tied up, learning how to fight the biggest guy in the room, and snacking. She's also kak at wearing clothes.

Annie is someone who I have followed online for years and through her writing is partially responsible for some of my (and maybe your) sex education. We get into her early days starting out as a sex columnist for FHM and how it put her on her journey of publicly exploring the kinkier side of life. Annie's career has spanned across publications and continents, from writing for the likes of Men's Health and FHM to being the Acting Deputy Editor of Cosmopolitan and more recently contributing to the wonderful weed focused website, Kush Kush. We talk about being tied up with ropes and we also talk about getting tied up in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. No surprises that the two share some similarities. It's fair to say Annie lives life on her own terms- there's truly so much to learn from her. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-63-annie-brookstone/

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Episode 62 - Schalk Bezuidenhout

Fri, 01 May 2020 11:32:56 GMT

Schalk Bezuidenhout is an actor and comedian who has been ridiculously prolific in the decade or so he's been in the game. He's got multiple specials out, he's toured the country many times, he's in TV shows and movies, and he even performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. Schalk has a lot of experience under his belt but still feels like he has a lot to prove to himself and desires that next level of success beyond our shores.

Schalk and I get into some pretty deep topics whilst also cracking jokes about moustaches, which I guess is kinda Schalk's vibe. We chat about being bullied in school and we also get into some of the nuances of growing up white and Afrikaans in 90s South Africa. Racism and homophobia were norms around many of us growing up so we reflect on that and how it influenced the work we create and the people we are today. I enjoyed this chat a lot because I think it perfectly straddles that fun and casual/deep and honest line that I like to ride with this podcast. I hope you enjoy it too.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-62-schalk-bezuidenhout/

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Episode 61 - Push Push

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 10:04:13 GMT

Push Push aka Nicci St Bruce is a musician and one of my favourite human beings on planet earth. Although sometimes I wonder if she even is human and from this planet at all. Nicci is a phenom and someone who has lived a rather eventful life already, so she has a lot to share whilst things aren't all that eventful for most of us.

I initially thought we were going to have a fun chat about wrestling and rap music but due to current circumstances, instead, we discuss the current stresses of Corona both in the USA and SA. From how the fuck we're meant to pay rent to the effects on mental health, things get rather political and somewhat philosophical before we get nostalgic for days gone past and regretful of the people we used to be. Oh, and Animal Crossing. We briefly chat about Animal Crossing- the prime source of joy for many atm.

This is one of the more candid and open episodes of TAPP and it truly goes all over the place but there are plenty of nuggets of wisdom amongst the chaos.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-61-push-push/

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Episode 60 - Jumping Back Slash

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 09:01:39 GMT

Jumping Back Slash is a rather prolific producer and sound engineer who calls Knysna, South Africa home after originally being from a small town in Wales and spending his youth in the London music scene. JBS has had a long career in the entertainment industry but he's currently loving living out his "late-era Kate Bush" life, creating music in his studio far from the reaches of city life and music scenes.

This conversation truly goes all over the place as JBS and I work through the last decade (and more) of his career here in South Africa whilst also sharing many, many opinions on "The Industry" and what it means to make and consume original music in these oversaturated and overstimulated times. We talk about our mutual love of Spoek Mathambo and how instrumental he was in JBS's career, and we also get into how important it is to connect and work with people who are on a similar wavelength. I know I always say this, but, there's A LOT to be learned from this one. Enjoy.

Follow Jumping Back Slash on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisjbs

Listen to Obscure Artist Diets here: https://swakcatalog1.bandcamp.com/album/obscure-artist-diets

Listen to the podcast: https://bit.ly/thealmostperfectpodcast

Support the cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/almostperfect
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Episode 59 - Judd Campbell

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:46:32 GMT

Judd Campbell is a restaurateur who has been feeding Durbanites for the better part of a decade. While many of you will know Judd from his plethora of coffee shops and restaurants, I doubt you know the story of how Judd got started in the world of hospitality. I'll let Judd tell you how he became a waiter on the cast, and from there you can learn how he's translated his passion for food and customer service into multiple successful businesses starting with the legendary Corner Cafe.

Judd has recently opened up a restaurant called A Pizza my Heart so a fair bit of our discussion goes towards pizza and what makes their's unique. We also hear stories of "back in the day" and reminisce over old haunts like Home, and hear tales of Judd's adventures in hospitality around the world.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-59-judd-campbell/

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Episode 58 - Robin Thirdfloor & Rhea Blek

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 08:45:54 GMT

Robin Thirdfloor and Rhea Blek are two of Durban's most original musicians. Back in the day, that would have been a problem but these days Durbanites are supporting unique and original sounds more and more so things are looking good for Durban's musical power couple. We sat down together the morning after a particularly raucous First Thursdays event put together by Roots Up and had a chat about making music work for you in the 031 and beyond.

We get into being outsiders and how that can drive you creatively, The Law of Attraction (which I very incorrectly call "Manifesting Destiny", turns out that does not mean what I thought it did), and their dreams and fears for the future.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-58-robin-thirdfloor-rhea-blek/

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Episode 57 - Kate Pinchuck and Ryan Harduth

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 07:46:44 GMT

It's a two for one special on this episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast.

Kate Pinchuck is a comedian, actor, writer, and teacher, and Ryan Harduth calls himself a "comedy uncle" but really he's one of the people behind the scenes getting a lot of comedians on TV and stages around the country. I was meant to chat to them separately but things didn't work out that way so instead, the three of us waffled on about comedy and life over some waffles.

In this conversation, we dig into the differences between acting and comedy, we look at the highs and lows of being a comedian in SA today (as well as get a little history lesson), we discuss getting broken up with via text, and we touch on ADD and mental health.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-57-kate-pinchuck-ryan-harduth/

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Episode 56 - Birthday Q&A

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 12:33:13 GMT

"And he looks at her and he says 'We're going to a party
It's a birthday party, it's your birthday party
Happy birthday, darling
We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much'"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GHyLhbdzN0

It's my birthday this Friday so I thought I'd get a bit reflective by fielding some listener questions for this episode. Find out what Pokemon I'd be if I was a Pokemon, what my favourite South African venues are, which wrestler I'd like to play MTG against, and a whole bunch of other weird shit you probably didn't know you wanted to know about me. A big thanks to everyone who submitted questions and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Across Dress the Universe 2: Intergalactic Boogaloo at The Winston Pub this Friday 21 February.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-56-birthday-qa/

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Episode 55 - P-Kuttah

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 11:59:46 GMT

P-Kuttah aka Verdine Peterson is a DJ, producer, and events coordinator based in Jozi but who got his start in music in Durban. This turntablist extraordinaire is a former SA DJ Champion and SAHHA winner who has been a part of influential bands like T.H.O.T.S (Tree Houses on the Sea) and has been instrumental in helping build the Jozi hip-hop scene as part of Kool Out Concepts.

In this conversation, we learn how Verdine earned his place in the industry and we take a walk down memory lane as we get into his early days in the Durban scene. We get into what makes hip-hop so hard to DJ well and what makes playing vinyl records so satisfying. We also chat about whether P-Kuttah will get back into the battle scene, the excitement and fears behind his upcoming EP, and so much more.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-55-p-kuttah/

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Episode 54 - Cath Jenkin

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:44:24 GMT

Cath Jenkin is a freelance writer (and chameleon of sorts) who I used to troll on forums back in the day. I know, shocking. Who would have ever thought I was on forums? Despite our early online interactions, Cath has become someone I respect and admire greatly. While she started out in IT, she's continually adapted as the years have gone on and has been supporting herself and her daughter by churning out regular articles across various niche topics for clients across the world. I find support myself as a freelancer is tough enough, which makes Cath's success even more impressive.

We get into the highs and lows of freelance life, the pressures and sacrifices that come with getting your kid into a good school, and we reminisce about the old online escapades of Durban's alternative scene.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-54-cath-jenkin/

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Episode 53 - Ebenhaezer Dibakwane

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 12:20:14 GMT

Ebenhaezer Dibakwane is a comedian and actor who has been on the rise for a minute now but it's been a hell of a journey to get to where he is today. Ebenhaezer grew up religious but found his life falling apart when he lost his faith. From suicide attempts to living on the streets, we get into some very real topics in this conversation. It's not all hectic though as Ebenhaezer has turned his tragedies into comedy and provides plenty of laughs and commentary on standup comedy between the realness.

Follow Ebenhaezer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Our_Ebenhaezer

Listen to the podcast: bit.ly/almostpod

Support the cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/almostperfect
Sign up to the newsletter: mailchi.mp/17b96443cdfe/almostperfectnewsletter
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: web.facebook.com/almostperfectpod/
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Twitter: twitter.com/almost_podcast

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Episode 52 - Mojak Lehoko

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 12:08:32 GMT

Mojak Lehoko is a comedian, writer, actor, TV presenter, podcaster, and musician. Mojak started out his entertainment career in the rap game before transferring those skills to comedy stages around the country. For my money, Mojak is the best host in SA comedy and I know I'm going to have a good night if he's the MC. Through countless club gigs, multiple one-man shows, and becoming a familiar face on TV stations like MTV, Mojak has made an impressive name for himself but 2019 saw him questioning where he's at in life and his career.

We get into Mojak's early days in the SA hip-hop and comedy scenes and how the skills he learned from rap translated to comedy. Then we get what made 2019 such a tough year for Mojak and where his head is at going forward. Mojak is a deep and honest cat so this one should leave you with a lot to think about.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-52-mojak-lehoko/

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Episode 51 - Eric Jansen

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 10:57:29 GMT

Eric Jansen is a lekker ou. That, and an actor and comedian. You've probably seen Eric on your TV screens as part of Trevor Noah's Nationwild on Showmax and as an Afrikaans soapy star on 7de Laan and Binnelanders. Only 5 years into game and Eric is already killing it. He's paying the price for his success though by being beaten up by grannies in the street for his role on 7de Laan.

Eric is a laid back, funny guy who is easy to get along with so this conversation flows smoothly and is full of many laughs. While Eric goes through tough times like all of us, he tries to keep it posi and approaches life with an open mind. Learn what it's like to see your face on a billboard and how not to handle grannies in parking lots in this episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-51-eric-jansen/

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Episode 50 - Muzi

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:53:03 GMT

Muzi is a musician who was successful long before you (or I) knew who he was. The DJ, producer, singer, and recent father is starting to blow up in South Africa, but he's been making moves around the world for the better part of this decade. Muzi is the musician who I've interviewed the most in my career. His continued growth has been a beautiful thing to witness and is something I draw inspiration from, from time to time.

In this episode, we get into going where you're wanted and finding your tribe by being yourself. We get into how Muzi's navigated the music industry and avoided most of its pitfalls by continually reinvesting in himself. We learn why Muzi dropped out of med school and how it lead to him diving headfirst into making music. We also talk about necessity being the mother of invention when a set getting shortened lead to a whole new element being added to Muzi's repertoire. There's a lot of advice here for up-and-coming independent artists of all industries but musicians, in particular, should enjoy Muzi's perspective on "The Industry" and his career.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-50-muzi/

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Episode 49 - Loyiso Madinga

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 08:39:32 GMT

Loyiso Madinga is a comedian, actor, writer, and MC who I'm pretty certain you're familiar with. Loyiso is one of four South Africans to have a half-hour special with Netflix as part of their Comedians of the World series, he's the African correspondent for Trevor Noah's Daily Show, has featured locally on LNN with Loyiso Gola and Bantu Hour, has two one-man shows under his belt, and stars in the upcoming Netflix original series Queen Sono with Pearl Thusi. He's achieved more than most in the SA entertainment industry but that doesn't mean everything is going great for him.

As you'll learn on this podcast, success can lead to self-doubt and insecurities that can be debilitating. While from the outside it looks like Loyiso has a career many would be jealous of, internally there are struggles that many of us will find relatable. This is a candid and open discussion about what success really means as a South African artist from someone who is well on his way to greatness but is scared he may never achieve it.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-49-loyiso-madinga/

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Episode 48 - Nipho Hurd

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:17:09 GMT

Nipho Hurd is a musician and entrepreneur. If you're a part of the Durban music scene, you've no doubt seen and heard Nipho, either on stage or in the crowd supporting other artists. Nipho puts herself and other artists she's passionate about on by organising gigs through her company In Your Backyard, and she pays some bills by helping you look fly for cheap with her thrifting company Tinz.

We get into the difficulties of the Durban music scene whilst also looking at what's working and how Nipho is having an impact. We learn the somewhat seedy origins of Tinz and dig into what drives Nipho's entrepreneurial spirit. We also get into some very real talk about depression and suicidal thoughts, so please consider this your trigger warning.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-48-nipho-hurd/

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Episode 47 - ByLwansta Returns

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 13:15:45 GMT

ByLwansta has had a rollercoaster of a year which is why the rapper/designer/art director is the first returning guest on The Almost Perfect Podcast. ByLwansta has taken himself out of his comfort zone and it's taken him around the world.

We get into the differentiation between ByLwansta and Lwandile, how he's learning to collaborate more, and we learn how he got on Colors and has found himself travelling the world with his art.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-47-bylwansta-returns/

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Episode 46 - Russel Hlongwane

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:44:46 GMT

Russel Hlongwane is a cultural producer and creative industry consultant who has been quite busy behind, and occasionally in front of, the curtains of Durban arts and culture. Russel has been involved in a plethora of projects that have had varying degrees of impact, but what surprised me the most was to find out he's only been on the path of his current role for about 5 years. Russel is a deep thinker and one of my favourite people to talk to in general so it was only a matter of time before I got him on.

We get into a myriad of topics from design, to culture, to race, and how they all intersect. Russel is endlessly fascinated and driven by the tensions at play in his own life and the world around him. It's a fascinating chat. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-46-russel-hlongwane/

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Episode 45 - Tasmin Naidoo

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 13:10:11 GMT

Tasmin Naidoo is an illustrator and comic book creator. She's the creator of Avocat and his Gaucrocket and The Rusty Bolt - two very different titles that explore subject matter that you may find interesting: pessimism and bar fly stories. We chat about Tasmin's rural upbringing in the KZN midlands and how a childhood of reading books and drawing lead to her creating her own comics as an adult.

We also get into "Con" life, being an outcast in school, why studying Fine Art wasn't for her, and the creative decisions that you sometimes need to make to put food on the table.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-45-tasmin-naidoo/

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Episode 44 - Matthew Rightford/Albany Lore

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 11:49:00 GMT

Matthew Rightford is a musician who creates music under the monicker of Albany Lore. Matthew's music is so smooth and groovy and just hits the right spot for me so he's been on my list for a while. He's recently released a track and video called 'Payphone' and has an EP about to drop soon, so we get into all of that as well as his musical upbringing, his love of South African Jazz and Nu-Age Kwaito, playing solo vs with a band, and we veer off into AI and Big Brother territory before bringing it back to the music.

If you wanna know what it's like to grow up learning to play sax at SACS or the skills you can learn from getting a day job whilst you work on your craft, this one is for you.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-44-matthew-rightford-albany-lore/

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Episode 43 - Sam Turpin

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 11:14:35 GMT

Sam Turpin is a musician who mostly makes hip-hop music, but not the hip-hop music you’re used to. Sam makes music out of left field that’s inspired by the greats but doesn’t copy them. In this episode, we get into what it's like growing up in a creative household and how Sam found his purpose in music after the loss of his mom. Sam is a deep cat so the conversation gets pretty real at times. We also get into the importance of broadening your skillset to make your art the best it can be and how not blowing up too soon can be a good thing.

Listen to Sam on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2MtG854GUzPy5GtJoXkzB3

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsamturpin/

Support the cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/almostperfect

Social Media:

Facebook: web.facebook.com/almostperfectpod/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/almostperfectbob/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/almost_podcast

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Episode 42 - Jarcque Henning

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 11:49:25 GMT

Jarcque Henning is the owner of a gaming store in Pretoria called HQ Gaming that specialises in Magic: The Gathering. Regular listeners of the podcast will know that I love playing MTG, and HQ Gaming is one of my favourite stores to play at in SA. Jarcque quit his job in IT to pursue his passion for selling pieces of pretty cardboard to nerds like myself. It's a bold move but it's one that seems to be paying off as Jarcque has attracted a regular customer base through competitive pricing and offering players generous incentives.

We get into the difficulties of selling a relatively obscure luxury product in the current South African economy and we also hear tales of Jarcque's international competitive experiences. Jarcque is one of the few store owners who is also a competitive player which gives him a unique perspective on the wants and needs of his player base. We also get into the future of South African MTG and Jarcque's role in it. HQ Gaming along with Easy Gaming Group will be hosting the first-ever Africa MTG Open Series at Comic-Con Africa with a first-place cash prize of R3000 for each day, so I expect to see the best in the country duking it out to secure the loot.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-42-jarcque-henning/

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Episode 41 - The End of the World (As we know it)

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 12:26:02 GMT

It's another solo episode. This time I go over the Heat City Comedy Festival and my one-man show The End of the World. Putting both together at the same time was rather challenging and brought with it many lessons. So, this podcast is a look back at those lessons, both for myself and for anyone who is interested in learning from my experiences. It's kinda the whole shtick of this podcast.

Join me as we delve into the highs and lows of putting together a comedy festival in Durban on a tight budget, whilst writing and performing a one-man show for that festival at the same time.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-41-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/

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Episode 40 - Sanele Cele

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 11:16:01 GMT

Sanele Cele is a fashion designer and entrepreneur who has always gone against the grain. His unique hustle has lead to him building a unique career where, along with creating his own highly sought-after label that all your favourite musicians wear, Tepracha, Sanele has worked with brands like New Balance & Markham, and exhibited at SA Fashion Week as well as countless other fashion events. Not bad for a creative kid from Umlazi who was told he'd never make it in fashion by members of his own family.

I met Sanele in 2011 where we teamed up for a blogging competition of all things. It was for a street culture event in Jozi called STR.CRD where everyone had shoes that cost more than our phones. It was a surreal experience for us but one that laid the seeds for our friendship and also our careers. As you'll hear on the podcast, Sanele found ways to leverage the experience and has continued to build on every opportunity he gets. We reminisce over the early days of our careers and talk through some of the lessons we've learned since. We get into the importance of talking about money as creatives. We also look at some of the weaknesses of the fashion industry in Durban and what changes can be made to improve them. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-40-sanele-cele/

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Episode 39 - Camilla Pontiggia

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 11:09:53 GMT

Camilla Pontiggia is a multi-media artist who mostly wears the hat of filmmaker these days. Camilla recently took the plunge from the safety of gainful employment to the unbuckled roller coaster that is freelance life. This lead to her attending the Durban Film Mart at this year's Durban International Film Festival where we met at a round table discussion about documentary film making that I was facilitating. I was intrigued by the questions she asked about experimenting with the form of documentaries so I picked her brain a bit after the discussion and quickly realised she'd be a perfect guest for the podcast.

Camilla has always known her purpose was to create art that has a positive impact on the world, but the who, what, when, where, and how haven't always been as clear. Her artistic journey has been one of insecurity and uncertainty, something many of us can relate to, but with introspection and experience, Camilla is finding her voice and what she wants to say more and more. We get into the intricacies of the spaces between identities, and what people with dual identities have to offer the world. We also get into what Camilla learned at the DFM (and art school), the power of mockumentaries, and what makes The Mighty Boosh and Parks & Rec so great.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-39-camilla-pontiggia/

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Episode 38 - Charl Blignaut

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 11:27:04 GMT

Charl Blignaut is one of the most important people in South African arts and culture but he'll tell you he's just doing his job. Charl is a prolific writer, producer, critic, teacher, mentor, and all-around contributor to making art in South Africa, and someone who engages deeply with that art. Charl has written and produced countless important South African stories and feels it's his duty to pass on the skills he's learned to promising young writers from all backgrounds, with a focus on queer and black writers.

Charl shares stories of growing up queer in Apartheid South Africa and how it instilled in him his spirit of rebellion that's guided him throughout his life. We venture into deep and dark topics, but I left with a renewed sense of duty and critical curiosity, and a reminder of how young I still am and how little I still know. This one is not for the faint of heart and will have you reconsidering your privileges and role to play in this world.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-38-charl-blignaut/

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Episode 37 - Q&A

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 19:27:54 GMT

You've probably been wondering what's happening with the podcast. Don't worry, there are still plenty of cool interviews lined up for you but for now I'm focusing on organising the Heat City Comedy Festival and finishing writing my second one-man show "The End of the World". That means I haven't had the time need to prep up and interview someone else, but that doesn't mean I can't interview myself with questions submitted by you, the listener.

Thanks so much to everyone who submitted questions, this was a lot of fun to answer if rather personal. I guess that's the point though. I hope you enjoy getting to know me a bit better and this tides you over until the next proper episode of the podcast. Like I said, I have some really interesting guests lined up in the very near future so you won't have to wait too long for some new stories to learn from.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-37-qa/

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Episode 36 - Ross Charles

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 15:56:59 GMT

Ross Charles is a musician who recently made the top 16 of The Voice SA. Ross definitely deserves it as he has a phenomenal voice and has been putting in the grind as a regular feature on the Durban gigging circuit for a few years now with Stone Palace and as a solo act. I still remember the first time I heard him sing and that's probably the highest praise I could give a vocalist.

This one was actually recorded about 2 months ago when Ross first made it through the audition stages of the competition but we couldn't post it because of contractual obligations. Since Ross has gracefully bowed out of the competition (and I've been hella sick), it seems like a good time to take a look back at Ross looking forward to the competition. We get into what the competition means to him and why he entered, and we also get into his approach to the competition. We learn about the years of work and dedication it's taken to get to this point and we dive deep on the frustrations of trying to make a living as a musician in Durban. Hopefully, it'll be less of a struggle now that more people know Ross's name, but he knows that he has to make the most of the opportunities it's opened up for him.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-36-ross-charles/

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Episode 35 - Mx Blouse

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 11:22:03 GMT

Mx Blouse is a musician who took the long road to get there. They started out as a political journalist and then got into fashion journalism, before immersing themselves in the Cape Town music scene and coming out of it as someone who no longer just contributes to the pages of magazines but instead now graces the covers. Mx Blouse is gender non-binary and we get into the positives and negatives of being a non-binary creative in 2019. It's wonderful that there's more and more representation, but there are still many closed doors for queer artists so Mx Blouse has learned to get around the more traditional ways of "making it".

We hear what it's like to go from interviewing artists to creating music with them, and how conversations on nights out can lead to a change in careers. We also hear a funny story about Gwede Mantashe and we get into the early days of blogging and influencer culture. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-35-mx-blouse/

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Episode 34 - Keenan Cerff

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:57:03 GMT

Keenan Cerff is a comedian who is on the pursuit of happiness, whether it's providing it for others or just doing the one thing that makes him happy- stand up comedy. That pursuit seems to be working out well for Keenan as he's now travelling the country doing comedy, although he really wants to share his jokes with the world. He's opened for some of the biggest names in the game and even cracked the nod as one of the talented acts selected for Trevor Noah's second Nationwild show.

Keenan is a sensitive and thoughtful cat. We get an honest perspective on life in Lavender Hill, hating your job, and pursuing your dreams at all costs. We also get into the importance of making the most out of opportunities and continuing to build momentum. If you're stuck in an office job that you hate, this might just inspire you to quit. Or it'll just help you get through the next hour of your life. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-34-keenan-cerff/

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Episode 33 - Leah Jazz

Thu, 30 May 2019 11:03:04 GMT

Leah Jazz is a comedian, writer, and radio presenter on 5FM. Leah has tried her hand at a few different careers in her 24 years on this planet but seems to have finally found her purpose with comedy and radio. Her path is an unconventional one but looking back, it all makes sense that it would lead her to where she is today.

Leah and I have known each other for years and are incredibly close. She was my sub-editor at Durban is Yours for about a year, we had a social media company together for a very short while, and we worked together on different shows at DYR1051. But before all that, we were friends. It's been a real pleasure to watch Leah grow over the years and I have no doubt that she still has an exciting life ahead of her. We get into small-town life vs big city dreams, travelling vs community, and not knowing what you want to do with your life. We also find out how Leah got her position at 5FM, and how she's learning to deliver her messages in effective ways.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-33-leah-jazz/

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Episode 32 - Luke Molver

Wed, 22 May 2019 10:00:00 GMT

Luke Molver is an illustrator, writer, and comic book creator. He's independently created his own universes and pushed his own titles for years, but recently he's been hired to work on a series of books about Shaka Zulu, the first of which has already received praise and awards both locally and internationally. Luke is deeply passionate about comics and creative storytelling and has MANY opinions on both, which makes for an entertaining interview.

Luke and I get into what it's like to exhibit at conventions across from your idols, why he hates superheroes, and why he can't stick to one genre. We also dig into his misspent youth as a rapper, the struggles of publishing comics independently, and what it's finally like to see one of his books in colour. Luke is a prime example of following your passion and finding ways to create what you want with the resources you have until others take notice. He went from drawing in his bedroom to being invited to cons around the world. Learn how he did it and take a deep pop culture dive with us.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-32-luke-molver/

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Episode 31 - Jon Shaban

Wed, 15 May 2019 09:00:00 GMT

Jon Shaban is a musician who plays both as a solo act and in the band The Shabs. He also has an events company called Sit the Folk Down that specialises in putting together gigs for singer/songwriter types in and around Cape Town. Jon is a phenomenal artist who creates deep, heartfelt, catchy folk-punk songs. Whether on his own or with the band, Jon knows how to command a crowd with his powerful voice, natural charisma, and emotional tales. Jon's got that gift of being an emotive and epic storyteller through music.

We chat about The Shabs' latest album, 'Can You Hear us at the Back?', and we learn about how they've built a following in European countries, one tour at a time. Jon has been in the game for nearly 2 decades and has managed to make a living gigging as an independent artist, which is no mean feat. Now his band is signed to a label and he's getting to travel the world with his friends. It's a good life, but it hasn't been easy achieving the level of success they have so far. Learn what it takes to keep the dream alive and how to adapt to an ever-changing environment from a man who has earned his success the hard way.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-31-jon-shaban/

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Episode 30 - Samkelo Gambushe

Wed, 08 May 2019 18:26:25 GMT

Samkelo Gambushe aka The Sports Mjita is a sports presenter on Gagasi FM. Samkelo has a passion for radio is one of the most driven and hard-working people I've had the pleasure of working with, and it's paying off for him. Samkelo and I worked together at DYR1051 on The Real Drive and I always admired his work ethic and self-belief, even when the chips were down.

As you'll hear on the podcast, Samkelo has overcome some of the biggest obstacles someone can go through. He's turned tragedy into triumph, and through talent, hard work, and dedication, he's earned his place at one of KZN's biggest radio stations. He's paying his dues but he's hungry and looking to make the most of his latest opportunity. If you're looking for some inspiration or want to know just how hard it is to make it in South African radio, then put this in your ears.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-30-samkelo-gambushe/

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Episode 29 - Jess Sole

Wed, 01 May 2019 12:28:02 GMT

Jess Sole is an actor and musician who is annoyingly talented, but thankfully she's self-deprecating and self-aware enough to make sure you don't feel too annoyed by your own lack of talent. If you've been in the Durban music scene for a while, you might have enjoyed Jess's vocal performances in acapella trio Dr Fly and the Nurses, or you might know her from Veranda Panda's Pineapple Sunday, but these days you can find Jess on theatre stages across the country as she morphs herself into different characters for some of South Africa's biggest (and occasionally smaller) productions - or taking the piss out of acting life and Instagram culture in her Instagram stories.

Jess is hilarious, smart, and so full of insight, as well as many opinions. Thankfully for both of our careers, we didn't dive into too many sticky topics, but we do get an honest look at the life of an actor in South Africa - specifically in theatre. While Jess is a top-class actor getting to play incredible roles, there are still many struggles to deal with. Of course, it's also an incredibly fun and exciting job, so we also dig into what makes it rewarding, and learn why Jess chose this path over other lanes open to her. If you're interested in becoming an actor, or just want to know the reality of what it's like, this podcast is for you. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-28-anna-travers/

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Episode 28 - Anna Travers

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 12:07:56 GMT

Anna Travers aka Tigertitz is a tattoo artist who is currently plying her trade at Trade Mark Tattoo. Anna started her journey as a tattoo artist as an apprentice when she was just 18 but took a detour to study for a few years before diving back into her true passion. With dedication and hard work, Anna has developed her own style and amassed a client base that features everyone from cute grannies to bikers. Anna's work is inspired by the Kamasutra and traditional American tattoos, with a particular love for the colour black.

Anna and I go way back so we dig into being a part of the music scene during the days of Unit 11, we explore her tattoo journey, and we learn about her recent wedding. We also find out whether or not you should get a tattoo at a music festival, how to get into tattooing, and how many dicks Anna has engraved into people's skin. It's a fun and informative one, enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-28-anna-travers/

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Episode 27 - Matt Olivier

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 16:51:36 GMT

Matt Olivier, along with his brother Luke, owns The Winston Pub, a legendary Durban music venue that has stood the test of time. Matt and his brother took over "The Pub", as it's affectionately called, 6-and-a-half years ago and it's been a roller coaster ride for them ever since. If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to run The Winston, well, you're about to find out as Matt and I dive into the trials and tribulations of living the dream of owning a music venue. Not only that, but we find how everything in Matt's life lead him down this path. From being in bands from a young age and studying sound engineering to starting an events company and buying a sound and lighting rig, it's all culminated in one day owning The Winston Pub.

We take a trip down memory lane and get nostalgic about Durban's musical past whilst also looking to the future of The Winston Pub. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-27-matt-olivier/

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Episode 26 - Binwe Adebayo

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:33:37 GMT

Binwe Adebayo is a writer, strategist, and academic who is currently using cyber-ethnography to do her masters degree on Black Twitter. Yeah, I had no idea what cyber-ethnography was either, but you'll find out just like I did on the podcast. Binwe is goal orientated and because of that has achieved quite a lot in her 25 years on this earth. She's already racked up valuable experience across multiple disciplines, from being a journalist for City Press to finding a passion for being a strategist at Retroviral. She now holds the title of Senior Associate and Strategist at Nicola Cooper and Associates whilst also working on her masters.

We get into giving up drinking to focus on her studies, the complexities of Black Twitter, the effects of social media and advertising on our lives, and we look at the positives and negatives of influencer culture. It's an eye-opening chat about things that affect us all daily, enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-26-binwe-adebayo/

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Episode 25 - Cam Lofstrand

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:38:58 GMT

Cam Lofstrand is a musician and illustrator/graphic designer who you’ve probably seen on a stage near you in one of his many, many bands over the years. Cam’s played as either the guitarist or drummer for Black Math, Fruits & Veggies, The Sisters, Ex-Con, Feast of Famine, Hadeda, Taekwando Sleepover, and probably a few other bands that I’ve forgotten. Not only that, but he regularly designs some of the sickest posters, and records a number of underground bands in his home studio, whilst holding down a 9-5 at Disturbance.

Cam’s importance to the Durban and South African music scene is unparalleled, and yet he’s incredibly bashful whenever you throw him a compliment. We get into Star Wars, how important it is to have support as a creative youngster, growing up in a religious household and becoming atheist, what drives him to create SO MUCH, and we dive into the recent history of the Durban music scene through his many bands.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-25-cam-lofstrand/

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Episode 24 - Troy Tesla

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 11:36:48 GMT

Troy Tesla is a stand-up comedian with an incredible amount of hustle. In the few years that he's been in the comedy game, he's carved out his own path by repeatedly knocking on doors until someone lets him in. I admire his tenacity and the success it's brought him, and I think there's plenty to learn from how Troy operates.

Troy is a Zimbabwean who has called Durban home for many years, although recently he's made the move up to Joburg like many artists before him. We get into the politics of telling jokes about Zimbabwe, we lament the difficulties of making a career work in Durban, and we look forward to the future of a bright, young, ambitious, comedian.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-24-troy-tesla/

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Episode 23 - Caelin Roodt

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:43:47 GMT

Caelin Roodt is a photographer who has recently become a Visual Arts student in her 30s, on top of being a single mom and having a 9-5. Caelin is someone I’ve respected and admired for a long time, both for her hustle and her views on the world. She’s consistently called me out on my bullshit, and for that, I am grateful. She also takes remarkable photos, and for that, I'm even more grateful.

In this podcast, we find out how she started her photojournalism career with the Times of London, we get into the struggles of freelance vs the security of a 9-5, and we discuss how to juggle a career, studying, and motherhood. We also get into the politics of life in South Africa a lot, even though I was mostly looking to chat photography in this one, but as you’ll learn on this cast, photography IS political to Caelin. It's a deep one.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-23-caelin-roodt/

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Episode 22 - Kwanda Radebe ft Thami Dlamini

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 13:56:49 GMT

Kwanda Radebe is a comedian who never wants to have a job. Thankfully for him, he's one of the rising stars of the Durban comedy scene so it just might work out for him. He's a consistently funny act who has won a number of competitions and cracked a nomination for the audience choice award at the Comics' Choice Awards. We're joined on this cast by Thami Dlamini, a fellow comedian who weighs in with some poignant points as the conversation goes on.

We discuss whether or not you can make it from Durban, we take a deep dive on language in South Africa, and we learn about why alcohol and knives are a bad combination when you're a teenager. It's quite a roller coaster.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-22-kwanda-radebe/

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Episode 21 - Dillan Oliphant

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 13:52:22 GMT

Dillan Oliphant is by far one of the funniest comedians in South Africa. His level of wit his hard to match and he has a knack for really putting you in his world with his stories. And yup, I said stories. If you haven't seen Dillan in a while, you might still think of him as a one-liner guy, but he's evolved into a storyteller with depth and insight.

We get into how a kid from Eldorado Park who grew up being inspired by Chris Rock specials, now has his own stand-up specials and is an inspiration to his own community. We get into the struggles of starting out, and how much things have changed since early days 9 years ago. It's been quite a journey. We also get into his love of Man Utd. and how it's lead to his new role as a hilarious sports pundit online.

If you're an up-and-coming comedian looking for a bit of inspiration from a local source, this might just be the podcast for you.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-21-dillan-oliphant/

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Episode 20 - Colleen Balchin

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 12:09:52 GMT

Colleen Balchin aka Rosie Parade aka Coco is a promoter, DJ, actor, and mama to honeys in Jozi and around the country. Colleen and her partner Ri make up Broaden a New Sound, an umbrella label they use for the events and projects they put together.

Together they manage the promoters at Kitcheners and book their own lineups there as well as whatever other cute spots they can find. Their philosophy is always to try and broaden perspectives and introduce people to new sounds, people, and ideas, and the work they’ve done has had a major impact on the underground scene in South Africa.

Colleen also heads up Pussy Party, a collective of people who are seeking to change the landscape of the SA party scene.

We get into how the art of clowning comes into play when working the door, what goes into booking a good lineup, and we learn about how they put together a 24+ hour non-stop celebration of music called Churn.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-20-colleen-balchin/

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Episode 19 - Nas Hoosen

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:12:50 GMT

Nas Hoosen is a cartoonist, writer, and lover of most things nerd culture. I've always enjoyed reading his many opinions online, so it was a real treat to pick his brain IRL and find out his thoughts on Skynet as a reality, Jeff Bezos vs Elon Musk as Lex Luthor, The Killing Joke, Zack Snyder, liars vs truthsayers, reptilian brains and ego, mental health, and so much more. We go FULL NERD on this one and I love it. I've got a feeling you will too.

Correction on my pronunciation on the cast: It's Nas like Ass, not Naas, like Botha. And who-sen, not who-sin.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-19-nas-hoosen/

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Episode 18 - Leigh Vermaak

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:14:53 GMT

Leigh Vermaak is one of the smartest and most world-worn people I know. She’s lived a life that’s taken her all around the world and back to Durban, where she now works as a wardrobe and prop stylist. It took her quite a while to figure out that being a stylist is actually what she wants to do though. In this cast, we discuss the myriad of job titles Leigh has donned, from teaching in Thailand to writing Creed reviews for Saltwater Girl, to managing bands, to eventually landing up as an accounts manager in advertising, and eventually getting out.

Often, we hear the stories of people who feel their calling from a young age and find success early, but for Leigh, finding her calling only came in her 30s. She found herself sacrificing and going hungry for her dream job at a time where most other people are aiming for promotions. A few years later, she couldn’t be happier and is thriving in a relatively small industry back at home.

Leigh is a fantastic storyteller and has quite an interesting story to tell. If you're struggling to find your way in life, this might just be for you.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-18-leigh-vermaak/

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Episode 17 - Aewon Wolf

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 10:44:00 GMT

I've got a feeling that you probably think you know who Aewon Wolf is. The rapper has been on our TV screens and radio airwaves for years and has achieved success by most measures, but over the last 2 years, he's taken a step back from the spotlight to find himself and open a creative centre and events venue called The Werehouse.

In this interview, we find out why Aewon took a step back from living the rap fantasy and how he's stepped into his new role as a creative father of sorts to a new wave of Durban artists. We also find out about his early days of starting a hip-hop club at Westville Boys High and how it lead to he and Sketchy Bongo starting a lifelong friendship.

There's a lot to learn from this one about what it really means to be successful and how sometimes the thing you think you want isn't really what you need.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-17-aewon-wolf/

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Episode 16 - Simmi Areff

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:00:27 GMT

Simmi Areff is a comedian, podcaster, and maverick. The dude is living that Frank Sinatra life and doing things his way, and he's finding success doing so. His podcast Lesser Known Somebodies is one of the most popular in South Africa, and his one-man show Lesser Known Somebody was picked up by Showmax after being made for just R9k, so there are more than a few lessons to be learned from this one.

I enjoy Simmi's honesty as much as I enjoy when he's full of shit, and we go back a long way, so this episode has plenty of both from both sides. We dive deep on SA comedy, podcasting, our personal lives, and so much more.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-16-simmi-areff/

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Episode 15 - Sabelo Mkhabela

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:22:59 GMT

Sabelo Mkhabela is one of my favourite music journalists in South Africa. His knowledge and insight into hip-hop, and the way he breaks it all down, make him a valuable asset to the Okay Africa team. He's clearly very passionate about hip-hop, but it takes more than passion to cut it in as a music journalist in the click-bait era.

We get into all kinds of discussion about hip-hop and local music journalism. From the future of the written word to why the public always wants to put rappers up against each other. It's an insightful chat.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-15-sabelo-mkhabela/

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Episode 14 - Lex LaFoy

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 11:33:52 GMT

Lex LaFoy might be one of the deepest thinkers we've had on the podcast so far. This rapper, activist, graduate, mother, poet, and all-around dope person has just so much of herself to share. She's an eternal student who is constantly reading and learning and has a lot of interesting ideas of her own.

We get into so many different topics, from the difference between meditation and prayer to meeting Beyonce. We also talk all about her musical journey, from Lexicon the poet to Lex LaFoy- The Honey Bass Queen, and we also get into her upcoming EP release, twentytwo. It's a wild and thrilling ride.

I make one or two mistakes on the cast, like saying Honey Bass was released in 2018 or that the Bible had nothing against nudity. But hey, it's called The Almost Perfect Podcast for a reason.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-14-lex-lafoy/

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Episode 13 - Mitch Harper

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 09:44:39 GMT

Mitch Harper is straight-up one of the most interesting people I know. He’s a multifaceted dude who has had a big impact behind the scenes in Durban. You might know him as the vocalist for hardcore band Life Below, or you might have known him when he was a journalist for IOL, but the work that Mitch made the most impact with was helping put together the Durban International Film Festival, Poetry Africa, Jomba and Time of the Writer with the Center for Creative Arts. He’s currently freelancing and has found himself working on film festivals around the country, which gives him a unique perspective on the South African film scene. Few people have spent as much time behind the scenes of SA film festivals as Mitch has over the last few years.

That being said, we spent most of this podcast talking about punching Nazis, the early days of Durban HxC, and Sunday nights at Joe Kools.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-13-mitch-harper/

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Episode 12 - ByLwansta

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 10:49:30 GMT

ByLwansta is straight-up one of my favourite artists in the country. This rapper, producer, designer, video editor, and now promoter is a kindred spirit in DIY and is an example of (relatively) successful self-sufficiency, although it's starting to weigh on him a bit. We get into the struggles of freelancing and being a DIY musician, whilst also looking at the potential value in letting others in on your projects. We also find out how ByLwansta started rapping, and we get the philosophy behind NORMVL- ByLwansta's umbrella brand for all his projects. It's a super honest discussion and I think a lot of artists will relate to the insecurities and struggles shared.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-12-bylwansta/

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Episode 11 - Jamie de Bruine

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 11:32:08 GMT

Jamie de Bruin is a model and sports presenter on DYR 105.1. Ok, that's underselling her by quite a large amount. Jamie is Miss Junior South Africa 2016, Miss Africa South 2017, and Miss Africa Tourism World 2017- and she didn't even want to be a model in the first place. Growing up, Jamie was a tomboy who had a promising sporting career until life threw her a major curveball that changed her trajectory forever. I'll let Jamie tell the story on the cast, but she's had to overcome quite a lot of pain, both physical and mental, to get to where she's at today. And while where she's at today is rather impressive, Jamie has BIG plans for the future, which we get a few exclusives on in this chat. Jamie is only 21 yet she's super motivated and is constantly putting in work to develop herself further. It's pretty inspiring, especially since I was a shiftless layabout who was always caught up in the jol when I was 21. We get into the horrors and joys of being a model and learn about the differences between pageantry and the less competitive forms of modelling. We also discuss what it's like mentally to constantly be judged on your looks and the pressures to conform to the norms of the modelling world. Plus we dig into what it's like being a sports presenter in what's seen as a typically male-dominated industry. It's an enlightening chat.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-11-jamie-de-bruine/

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Episode 10 - Jaedon Daniel

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 12:04:22 GMT

Get to know one of the most exciting musicians to be making music in Durban at the moment in today's podcast. Jaedon Daniel is a phenomenal young musician who literally just released his debut album, Hold The Game. You might know him from his band of prodigies, Blvck Crystals, or you might have seen him sessioning for other dope artists, but now it's time for Jaedon to take everything he's learned over the last few years and use it to elevate his own career to that next level. I have no doubt Jaedon is going to become a prominent name in the SA music scene, but for now, we get the story of a talented, young musician on the come up. It's a story you're going to want to hear.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-10-jaedon-daniel/

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Episode 9 - Richelieu Beaunoir and Yaaseen Barnes

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 13:24:05 GMT

You’re getting a 2-for-1 special with today’s episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast. I sat down with comedians Richelieu Beaunoir and Yaaseen Barnes when I was in Cape Town for the first multi-person TAP pod, and it’s as chaotic and hilarious as you’d expect. Richelieu is a Comedy Central Roast Battle Champion and one of the true OGs of the Durban comedy scene, although he mostly applies his trade elsewhere these days. Yaaseen is one of the most popular names of the SA comedy circuit at the moment with a whole host of big gigs and accolades under his belt, as well as a tweet with 26K retweets. This isn’t really an in-depth look into what made them who they are but rather a candid discussion about comedy in South Africa. We get the lowdown on what it takes to win a Roast Battle, we discuss the nuances of language around the country, and we get into all the idiosyncrasies of the SA comedy circuit.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-9-richelieu-beaunoir-yaaseen-barnes/

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Episode 8 - Louis de Villiers

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 09:47:57 GMT

Today’s episode is with the artist formerly known as Skullboy, Louis de Villiers. Louis is an artist and graphic designer born in Richard’s Bay, bred in Durban, and currently living in New York. Well, he’s currently in Durban for a few days, which is how I got to sit down and speak to him, but you know what I mean. Louis has been back in SA for a few months to exhibit and do a few commissioned pieces around the country after kicking it to New York 3 years ago. Before leaving, Louis was one of the most prominent artists in Durban and was hugely instrumental in making art in Durban cool for a while. We have an open and candid conversation over a few blunts and beers about life since he’s left. It’s an honest look into the struggles of trying to make it in New York and South Africa at the same time, the differences between living and jolling here and there, and the kind of attitude that’s needed to continually take bold leaps. We find out how this delinquent went from tagging bathrooms to being asked to decorate heritage sites, and how he still has a mischievous spirit even if Skullboy has grown into Skullman. This is probably the loosest episode to date and there are some issues with outside noise, but I hope you still enjoy the conversation as I think there’s a lot to learn from Louis de Villiers.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-8-louis-de-villiers/

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Episode 7 - Lindy Johnson

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:04:08 GMT

I'm going to assume you've at least heard of Lindy Johnson if you haven't yet seen her face on a billboard near you. Lindy is a rising comedy star who is currently on your TV screens (if you have Showmax) thanks to Trevor Noah's Nationwild, but she's been rapidly making a name for herself in the 2 years she's been doing comedy. Yes, just 2 years! Lindy is a naturally funny person who takes the time to put thought and effort into her material, and it's paying off for her. In this episode, we learn about how she got started in comedy and her journey since. It's definitely a unique path that's hard to replicate without a lot of talent and a little bit of luck. We get into her joke writing process and the difference between writing for Twitter and writing for the stage, we talk about sleeping on couches in the city after gigs, and we discuss dying on a stage that most comedians never die on. We also discuss the issues she faces as a coloured woman, some of the issues the coloured community faces in Cape Town, and how her identity has shaped her and provided some of the opportunities she has today. It's an in-depth and hilarious look into the early years of someone who will no doubt be a household name in a few years. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-7-lindy-johnson/

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Episode 6 - Altaaf Sayed

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 10:43:26 GMT

In today's episode, we learn that it's not what you say but how you say it with Altaaf Sayed. Altaaf is a comedian, strategy consultant, and promoter who is a straight-up addict for stage time. The guy is literally ALWAYS trying to get spots, so much so that he's set up his own rooms and even started busking on the streets of Cape Town. I appreciate his hustle and love of the craft of stand up comedy, which is why we sat down and had a chat at The Lab in Muizenberg during the Muizenberg Festival which we both performed at. We get into the intricacies of the Cape Town comedy scene, the painful process of working out new material on stage, and what it's like living with a rare neurological degenerative disease.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-6-altaaf-sayed/

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Episode 5 - Thor Rixon

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 14:31:45 GMT

Thor Rixon is one of South Africa's musical treasures. He's an ever-evolving and truly unique character who creates impressive art that often resonates with me deeply and almost always leaves me moved in some way or another. I've written about him and his music a few times over the years but I'm really stoked we got to have this longer, more in-depth chat than we've had on the record before. I think we managed to cover enough for you to get a decent peek into Thor's brain and what makes him tick, and I think there's a lot of value in learning how he's managed to carve out a rather successful career making music that's adventurous and honest. In this episode, we learn about how instrumental his mom has been in his career, which is why he's named his latest album after her. We also find out all about the embarrassing early days of being in ska bands and being inspired by Jack Johnson, before finding his love of synths and electronic music.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-5-thor-rixon/

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Episode 4 - Fuego Heat

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 08:53:07 GMT

That's right, today I sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, Fuego Heat. If you're a Durban musician, you no doubt know Fuego Heat aka Ryan van Rooyen aka Right Hand Ryan (for those who have been around for a while). He's either been front row at your show, sold you a record or sold your record for you, or he's put you on stage so you can let your talent shine. He's a man who has been an integral part of the Durban music scene for a while now, but it's the work he's been putting in in the last 2 years or so that's really had a noticeably positive impact on the industry. We go all the way back to his early days of driving down to Durban from Maritzburg for Burn's Punk nights, to taking over a distro, to becoming a wedding DJ, to working at Khaya Records, and now to his latest and most important venture to date- starting an events, artist management, and booking agency with Meshack Newman called Roots Up. There's a lot to take away from this one, enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-4-ryan-van-rooyen/

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Episode 3 - Neil Green

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 10:58:17 GMT

Neil Green is a comedian, radio host, and podcaster- so we have a lot in common. We actually co-host the Live from The Winston podcast together and have been good friends for a long time, so this isn't your standard interview but rather a candid conversation about the state of stand-up comedy in South Africa, coloured stereotypes vs representation, balancing corporate vs art, and his early days as a sci-fi/fantasy writer.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-3-neil-green/

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Episode 2 - Bob Perfect

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:34:20 GMT

Yeah, you read right. This week's guest is me. I rookied out and didn't get a guest in time for this week's episode, so I improvised and asked my adoring public/a few friends on Facebook to ask me questions to answer on this cast. It actually turned out pretty cool. There's a diverse range of questions and I tried to be as open and honest as possible. I feel a bit nervous to put this up because it's so personal, but it also felt hella therapeutic to do and I know there are a few of you who might get value out of it. I'm also looking forward to listening back in a few years to see where my head was at on the day weed stopped being super illegal. We, that's you and I, get into how I got my stage name, whether or not I think I'm addicted to weed, who my influences are, how social media helped me find my public voice, and my biggest mistake- casual. There's actually a whole lot more, so if you ever wanted to really get to know me, here's your chance.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep2-bob-perfect/

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Episode 1 - Carvin Goldstone

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 23:05:05 GMT

In the first episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast I get to know Durban's comedy godfather, Carvin Goldstone. We dig into the early days of his comedy career, we discuss the pressures of his role in comedy, we learn a bit about his rap and journalism careers, and we find out what he gets from his parents. We also chat about his Comic's Choice Award wins this weekend and why he's not accepting them. I'm stoked this is the first episode of this podcast, Carvin is one of my favourite people and we'll definitely be doing this again down the road.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-1-carvin-goldstone/

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