Corona Diaries

The final episode of season 6 is here! Yes, that’s right, after an exciting and content-packed season full of stories about life after the scary times of COVID-19. Despite the highs and lows we all experienced, we took a different route this season. We started to be a bit more optimistic. This is telling of an optimistic life beyond COVID-19. For this season, we adjusted our tempo ever so slightly as we shared with you some content that looks ahead. Our host Nosipho Hlophe introduces us to Andrea Cole, who talks with Sheba Mbondo about her experience of how the pandemic affected her mental health and well-being. Then, we touched on how this pandemic affected our education. Our audio diarist, Siboniso Ngwane, spoke to Sifiso Ngwane, who recalls her experience in the performing arts industry during the beginning of COVID-19 and the lockdown with all the regulations. Finally, we end the episode with Tumiso Maseng, who took us through the experience of educators during the pandemic as she spoke to Olebile Manyaapelo to find out how they, as a school, survived the pandemic.

In this episode, we listen to interviews that our diarists conducted with their family and friends about how they feel being part of this podcast and what stories would they want to hear. Our host Tumiso Maseng introduces us to Nosipho Hlophe, who spoke to some of the people in her inner close circle to hear what they think of sharing parts of their lives with us on this podcast. Then, we touch on the kind of stories they would like, where our audio diarist, Kerry Lanaghan, spoke to some of her friends about how they feel about telling their pandemic related stories with her. Finally, we end the episode with Tatenda Muntungwe interview with members of his household and some of his friends. They shared with him their point of view about the on-going pandemic and how they overcame the challenges they faced during the pandemic.

The final episode of season 5 is here! Yes, that’s right, after an exciting and content-packed season full of stories about life in South Africa in the times of Covid-19, it is time to Say goodbye for now. We listen to interviews that our diarists conducted with their family and friends about the lessons they learned from living during the time of Covid-19. Our host Jemaine Chettiar introduces us to Qiniso Ngubane, who talks with Xolani Mcala. He discusses how his family felt when he was at the receiving end of the novel coronavirus in 2021. Then, we touch on the lockdown restriction implemented by President Cyril Ramaphosa, where our audio diarist, Lwethu Somala, speaks to some of his friends and family about their thoughts on these restrictions. Finally, we end the episode with Ria’s experience with the pandemic of how her life drastically changed when her parents lost their jobs. Our diarist Anoka Latchmiah takes us through her experience.

In this episode, we take on an emotional roller coaster journey across Mzantsi. We hear from our storytellers about how the pandemic has affected their lives and those around them. Host Luyanda Dube connects us with these storytellers. We first connect with Saneliso Mchunu, who shares her experience of self-discovery during the covid-19 pandemic and her mental health. We then journey to the streets of Johannesburg, where Abigail Van Heerden takes us on her story about the death of a loved one during the covid-19 pandemic. Finally, we end the episode with Andile Mfundisi, who, surprisingly enough, had a different experience from the rest of our diarists. She explains to us that despite the covid-19, the pandemic turned out to be one of the best years of her life.

Corona Diaries is back for a 5th season! In the first episode of this new season audio storyteller and member of the 2022 second-year journalism class Qhama Yawa introduces us to a new cohort of storytellers. In a soundscape, Cassandra Scheepers, welcomes us into a space that she calls her second home in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape. We get to hear from those closest to audio diarist Mihle Mdashe who share their insights about being part of this body of work. We end this episode with Andiswa Dlamini who spoke to her family members and friends from different parts of the country how the pandemic has had an impact on their personal lives, school, and businesses.

The final episode of season 4 is here! We know goodbyes can be sad, so we found a sweeter way to do it. In this episode, we're hosted by Keren Banza who introduces us to Yolanda Pondo and her love for South African culture. Then, we log into the world of online entertainment for a 'live stream" by Jessica Freedman, where she discusses virtual YouTubers. Finally, we end off the episode with Andrew Rautenbach, who tells us why LoFi became so popular during the pandemic.

In the second episode of season four Jessica Freedman takes us on a storytelling journey. Audio diarist Zinam Klaas chats with her mother who decided to open a coffee shop business during a pandemic. Then, Aurora Manique has a chat with her friend and house mate, Arno Cornelissen who took the lockdown period as an opportunity to do some self-reflection. Ponagatso Mhlongo introduces us to Sinomhlobo Ndlela who is a Xhosa praise poet and what this means for her. We end this storytelling journey where we connect with Kuhle Dladla who speaks to her younger sibling to hear how our younger audience understands the lockdown.

The Corona Diaries podcast is back for a fourth season! In the first episode, host Yolanda Pondo introduces us to more storytellers who share with us their audio talks. First, Jessica Freedman talks about how Covid-19 has affected people with hearing impairments. Then, like many other people who had to adjust to online and remote work, so did Nwabisa Moyo, who shares the highs and lows of her experience of online and remote studying. We end of this where we meet with Keren Banza, who shares with us how anime was an escape for her and help with her feelings of loneliness

Welcome back to a new season of Covid Connected. In this episode, Aarifah Loonat, Noxolo Manyati and Lesego Thekiso dissect their experience as tutors of the podcasting course, and share with you three of the first editing exercises from the 2021 second semester class.

In this last episode of season three of the Corona Diaries podcast, we journey with Aiden Daries, who connects us with more storytellers. We connect first with Mathews Nthinya connects us with two members of the LBTIAQ+ community Rethabile and Khanyisile, about the challenges and discrimination they face. We then journey to Mpumalanga, where Rebone Thobela connects us with Mbali Nkosi, a recovering drug user who resorted to drugs after a traumatic life experience. Our journey brings us back to Makhanda, where Liam McPherson and his residence friends share their shared passion and love for soccer. Then we meet up with Arno Cornelissen who began creating a home-brewed