Happy birthday to us,
Happy birthday to us,
Happy birthday African Couch Potato - the Mash-Up,
Happy birthday to us.

A year of lessons and laughing. A look back on the year that was and a look forward to the future. We also celebrate our very first nomination, and it's from across the continent.

Our first nomination - we are finalists in the African Podcast and Voice Awards so please vote for us. It's really easy.
Go to:
https://awards.apva.africa/voting/ 

Choose the podcast category

Find the Lifestyle and Entertainment segment

Click on it and vote for us (Option 4)

We take a look at how it all started and how far we have come over the last year, followed by all the stats for African Couch Potato - the Mash Up.

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

This week's episode finds Gino sitting down with an actress who has gone through more roles than Connie Ferguson. Born of a Zulu mother and an Italian father in 1993, she was raised by her mother, who instilled in her a strong sense of self-worth and resilience.

Angela Sithole has certainly made her mark on the South African film and TV landscape. She currently stars as Winnie Bhodoza in the Showmax Original Empini. Many of you may also recognise her as Thando in the Netflix African Original Savage Beauty.

Angela's career kicked off in 2015 when, after a guest role on Isibaya, she landed the part of Terry on Mzanzi Magic's Zabalaza, where she impressed the viewers and critics with her complex and charismatic character portrayal.

In 2016, Angela got her second major role as Tai Chi or Angel on the eKasi Plus drama series Hustle. She played a young and ambitious singer and successfully showcased her singing and dancing skills, as well as her ability to handle emotional scenes.

In 2017, Angela joined the cast of the Mzansi Magic drama The Queen, where she appeared in four seasons of the show and earned praise for her villainous role.

The crime drama series Diamond City followed in 2018, and then in 2019, Angela made her film debut in the romantic comedy All About Love, where she shared the screen with Katlego Danke and Chris Attoh, two of the most prominent actors in Africa. She played Minky in the 2019 film Knuckle City.

Numerous roles followed and Angela turned up in the e.tv soapie Imbewu: The Seed, the SABC2 telenovela Lithapo, Savage Beauty and Lingashoni. In April 2023, she joined the e.tv series Smoke And Mirrors.
 
In her chat with Gino, the still-young actress shares how her mother has and still does actively support her in her far-from-over career.

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

Welcome to African Couch Potato season 2. In this episode Gino goes full fanboy as he gets the chance to chat to Dr Micki Pistorius, advisor for the TV adaptation of her autobiographical Catch Me a Killer. This hit true crime TV series is based on cases worked on by Micki in the 1990s in her role as forensic psychologist and South Africa's first police profiler. It stars British actress Charlotte Hope as Micki.

As a child Micki always wanted to be a writer. She matriculated in Pretoria, with Afrikaans, English, Maths, History, Bible Studies and German as her selected subjects. She enrolled for a BA at the University of Pretoria and studied Afrikaans and English literature, French, Criminology and Psychology.

She embarked upon a career as journalist and covered various stories for the SABC. She also worked for a number of local publications. 

Her journalistic career spanned a decade, when she heeded the calling to become a psychologist. Immediately upon qualifying in 1994 she joined the SA Police Service as a profiler, where she hunted criminals for another decade. She obtained her Doctorate’s degree and achieved international acclaim in this field and travelled to Britain, Scotland, USA, France and Hungary.

The success of Catch Me A Killer has brought Dr Pistorius back into the world of crime. 

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

In 2021 the MultiChoice Talent Factory South Africa Scriptwriting Incubator hosted 12 interns who would be mentored by Tshedza Pictures in association with the Wits University Film & Television Department and included practical workplace experience over the course of 12 months, with a mixture of virtual and physical sessions. 
One of those interns was Khanyani Luhlongwane, and this week Gino sits down with this talented writer to talk all things storylining and scriptwriting.

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

In this episode Gino takes on the role of job interviewer with AFDA graduate Ofentse Mojapelo in the hot seat.  

Ofentse studied Motion Picture Medium (Television Production) at AFDA from 2016, majoring in TV Directing, Writing & Producing, graduating in 2019. 

Taking a break from television production, she completed her Bachelor of Laws degree before taking up a position at Red Pepper as a technical director for Big Brother Mzansi Season 3. In 2022 she won a Netflix Scholarship.

As well as her television talents, Ofenste also runs her own clothing company, The Naked Line. 

Ofentse says "I am intentional in bringing my talents to work and my skills sets as they will get sharper through every experience and every opportunity given."

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

Dave Levinsohn's on-the-spot skills often make it look like he’s making it up as he goes... that’s because he is!   
This week Gino has a front row seat with one of SA's top comedians. Find out how far Dave will go, why he likes it when people don't laugh and how not to introduce him at your braai. 

This popular and original comedian has been honing his skills as the host at the Coffee Lounge comedy club since 1997, and is a regular face at the Vodacom International festival and the Smirnoff comedy festival. Television viewers are familiar with Dave's quirky, irrepressible humour from his ‘Big Black Box’ ads, or as the zany co-presenter in the first series of the SABC's ‘Going Nowhere Slowly’, as well as a character (and writer) in the latest “Tonight with Trevor Noah Show”, (MNet).
On the comedy stage, his material darts into more lateral territory... With his "slightly-weird-guy-next-door" approach to every subject under the sun, Dave is odd, without being offensive. His anarchic re-examination of everyday topics has won him fans at every appearance, as does his ability to improvise when interacting with the crowd.

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

Award winning broadcaster and creative momtrepreneur Lebang Kgosana joins us this week for some insight into her 15 years of experience in the media and  entertainment industries. With a degree in Marketing and Communications, followed by her training at the YFM Academy, Lebang’s expertise includes advertising, broadcasting, and events management.

Lebang began her career at the Creative Counsel where she was an account manager, branched into broadcasting at YFM where she was a presenter and producer, and went on to content produce an array of TV shows on eTV and Channel O before starting her creative agency, BBB Media. She also did time at Cliff Central.

She is passionate about positive and present parenting and is the host of a weekly podcast #LifeWithLebang, which in 2023 received recognition and acclaim at the African Podcast Awards, where it was honored with the Podcast of the Year Award. Her brand is all about family, positivity, relationships, and parenting lifestyle. The HipHopMom is on air with “TheFreeLunch”. Monday to Friday from 12 - 3pm on 919fm.

She is definitely loudly and proudly South African.

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

We take a break from in-studio guests to have a look at Showmax. This is what to check out on Africa’s biggest streamer.

Chasing the Sun 2
The Springbok journey to the Rugby World Cup final 2023.

Empini
Set against the backdrop of the dangerous private security industry, Empini is a high-stakes drama that follows Ndoni Themba, a deeply troubled private security bodyguard on a quest for answers.

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip SA
Various members of the "Real Housewives" franchise from across South Africa get together on a luxurious Jamaican getaway, filled with unexpected friendships, fun in the sun and plenty of drama.

And two extras that Showmax managed to get out before the other leading streamers.
Oppenheimer
Barbie

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
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[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

In today's episode we reach new heights when Gino gets the opportunity for a one on one with the legendary Mandlankayise Walter Dube. Director, producer, co-screenwriter, Mandla (to his friends) is a writer and award-winning South African cinematographer. His diverse work includes documentaries, shorts, theatre and feature films. Mandla’s work in feature films includes Tsotsi, The Italian Job, Strike Back, Silverton Siege, Angel Heart, and Heart of the Hunter. His 2017 feature film, Kalushi won Best Film of South Africa and Best Original Song at the RapidLion Film Festival, and also won the Chairman’s Award at the Zanzibar International Film Festival. Mandla has also served as a lecturer in cinematography at both Wits Television and Tshwane University of Technology. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in the same from the American Film Institute in L.A.
Mandla is currrently busy with Yasuke. the story of the only person of African ancestry to have reached the rank of samurai.  

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025

 Ever wondered who takes the leap off a building or crashes cars in movies while the stars take the credit? That’s the work of a stuntman.  Special effects teams, directors, and cameramen all rely on the expertise of stuntmen to realize their creative ambitions.This collaboration creates the pulse-pounding moments that keep audiences on the edge of their seats. 

In this episode Gino gets an insight into the world of these unsung heroes. We chat via Zoom to Katja Hopkins and Craig MacRae of Cape Town's Titan Stunts about their stunt careers and their launching of the very first SAFFA Stunt Awards, recognising, appreciating, and acknowledging the exceptional contribution stunt performers and co-ordinators bring to our screens.

and. . . Action!

Yes? No? Send us a text

Let us know what you think, what movie or series you would like to see featured, or just to tell us how brilliant it all is:
instagram.com/africancouchpotato
twitter.com/africancouchpot
[email protected]

WhatsApp Channel: Mzansi Film News, Views and Reviews

YouTube; African Couch Potato - YouTube

https://www.patreon.com/c/AfricanCouchPotato

Gino Shelile’s profile • Letterboxd
Member of the Film Critics Association of South Africa (FCASA)

Produced by Ted Loukes and A10 Consulting
[email protected]

Music by The_Mountain from Pixabay

© SANTE MEDIA 2025