Good Things with Brent Lindeque 📺

In the lead-up to World TB Day (on the 24th of March), I sat down with Doctor Anura David, Senior Medical Scientist at the Wits Diagnostics Innovation Hub, for a podcast that puts people, progress and possibility at the centre of South Africa’s fight against tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) can feel like a distant topic for many, something that lives in statistics rather than everyday life, but this conversation changes that. It breaks things down in a way that is human, accessible and, most importantly, hopeful.

“South Africa has already made incredible progress in reducing TB,” Anura shares. “The next step is making testing easier, treatment shorter and care more accessible so that we can reach more people, faster.”

That progress is real. Since 2015, South Africa has reduced its TB incidence rate by 61%, a shift that speaks to the work being done across communities, clinics and laboratories. But what makes this moment exciting is what comes next.

In the episode, we unpack the innovations already on the horizon… from potential vaccines to a simple tongue swab test that could make diagnosis far less invasive, as well as shorter treatment options that could change how patients experience recovery.

“We are seeing technologies emerge that could completely shift how we detect and treat TB,” she explains. “The goal is to remove barriers so that people can get diagnosed early and start treatment quickly.”

This week’s podcast is not about overwhelming you with science, it is about showing how South African expertise is shaping real solutions with global impact and how those solutions translate into better care, earlier diagnoses and more lives changed.

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Eight years ago, South Africa held its breath. Parents refreshed their phones, communities shared posts at lightning speed and strangers whispered prayers for a tiny baby they had never met. It was a moment when the country collectively leaned forward, hoping against hope for the ending everyone was desperate to hear.

On the 2nd of May 2018, the Pink Ladies organisation for Missing Children in South Africa issued a kidnapped child alert after it was alleged that a domestic worker had taken a baby named Eden for a walk from the family home in Brackendowns, Alberton.

Eden had been tied to her back with a light blue blanket.

She never returned.

The story gripped the nation almost instantly. Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, and South Africans across the country found themselves emotionally invested in a story that felt far too close to home. Parents hugged their children a little tighter, timelines filled with messages of support and an entire country hoped for a miracle.

And then four days later... that miracle arrived.

Baby Eden was found and reunited with his family. It was good news that travelled just as fast as the heartbreak had days earlier. Relief swept across the country, and the story restored something powerful in the national spirit: the reminder that hope still exists, even in moments that feel impossibly dark.

Later that same year, Eden’s mom, Bronwyn Laird, joined me in studio on the Good Things Guy podcast to talk about the experience and the emotional whirlwind her family had been through. What she shared that day stayed with many of us long after the microphones were switched off.

“We’ve seen miracles happen and prayers answered,” Bronwyn said at the time.

“We cannot allow what 6 individuals, 5 of whom we have never even met – what they chose to do – to affect how we see the world, how we evaluate relationships going forward or how we live our lives.

Hate just isn’t in our vocabulary. Hate changes nothing but love changes everything. Love wins.”

Now, eight years later, Bronwyn joins me again on this week’s episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque. This time the conversation is about the past but also about the incredible journey that followed. Bronwyn has written a book about the entire ordeal, sharing the raw, human experience of those terrifying days and the powerful lessons that came afterwards. In a full-circle moment, the Good Things Guy podcast and our original conversation even form part of that story.

While the chapter that began in 2018 started with fear and uncertainty, the pages that followed are filled with healing, growth and a family that chose love over bitterness.

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Protecting wildlife is not just a job for Brendan and Danelle Murray... it is a life’s calling, and this week’s episode of “Good Things with Brent Lindeque” dives into the incredible work they are doing to save some of South Africa’s most vulnerable creatures.

I got to chat with Brendan Murray, co-founder of the Owl Rescue Centre, about how he and his wife turned their lifelong passion for wildlife conservation into an organisation that now rescues and rehabilitates thousands of animals every year. Brendan explained that their journey began when they realised owls were disappearing at an alarming rate and had become one of the most common wildlife casualties arriving at veterinary practices.

“Realising that there was a rapid decline in owl numbers and that owls had become one of the most common wildlife casualties brought into veterinary practices, we decided to focus all our efforts on conserving them.”

That decision led to the creation of the Owl Rescue Centre in Hartbeespoort, where the team now takes in roughly two-thousand owls every year through rescue efforts. Injured owls are rehabilitated and, when ready, released back into the wild at the Owl Sanctuary, a farm situated within a 12,000-hectare conservancy where they can hunt, nest and thrive again.

Over time, the organisation has grown to protect a wide variety of wildlife species and contribute to important conservation and research projects, all driven by Brendan and Danelle’s dedication to protecting vulnerable animals.

“When we acquired the farm now known as the Owl Sanctuary, our dream was to secure a place for the owls where they would be protected and looked after, a piece of habitat that would always belong to them.”

If you want to hear the full story behind the Owl Rescue Centre and the incredible conservation work happening just outside Hartbeespoort, you can listen to the full conversation below (or wherever you watch or listen to your favourite podcasts).

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South Africa’s unemployment crisis remains one of the biggest challenges facing our country. The statistics are heartbreaking, with millions of capable and talented South Africans struggling to find meaningful work.

But alongside the challenges, new ideas are emerging that help connect local talent with global opportunities in ways that were almost impossible just a few years ago.

This week on Good Things with Brent Lindeque, we chat with South African entrepreneur Anton van Heerden about how he is helping South Africans work for international companies while staying right here at home. Through his company, DNA Employer of Record (DNA EOR), Anton is creating pathways for skilled South Africans to access global careers, earn international currencies, and still live on home soil.

Anton’s career is deeply rooted in South Africa’s growth story. He built and led VIP Payroll, which was later acquired by Sage, where he spent more than 20 years leading a multinational team before launching DNA EOR. His mission is simple: help South Africans access global opportunities safely, compliantly, and without ever having to leave home.

The idea is powerful. Instead of relocating abroad to find international work, South Africans can now effectively become “digital nomads” in their own country, working remotely for global companies while remaining connected to their families, communities and the place they call home.

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The human spirit is a powerful thing, especially when it refuses to be defined by a single moment, no matter how devastating that moment may have been.

On this week’s 'Good Things with Brent Lindeque', we sit down with Kelvin van Baalen, an incredible South African who is a flipping inspirational human.

Kelvin survived a tragic paragliding accident that left him fighting for his life, spending 413 days in ICU, being resuscitated 9 times along the way, having 27 surgeries and facing a medical aid bill that climbed to a staggering R21 million. Against all odds, he didn’t just survive, he rebuilt his life, found joy again, and now shares his journey with humour, honesty and a deep appreciation for simply being here. He was just 21 years old.

As specialist nurse Katinka Rheeder explained at the time, “When Kelvin arrived here he had sustained severe burns to approximately two-thirds of his body surface… local trauma statistics indicated a mere 30% predicted survival rate for burn injuries of this extent and severity.”

What stands out most when chatting to Kelvin now is not the scale of what he endured, but the way he speaks about moving forward. Even after coming home, the hard work continued, one lap of the house at a time, slowly building strength and confidence again.

“I had to push myself to walk around our house, adding more laps each day. Well, it was worth it, I can now walk around the entire golf course,” he says, with a grin you can hear through the mic.

Kelvin also speaks openly about embracing his body and refusing to let scars dictate how he shows up in the world.

“I do not allow my burns to hold me back from living life to the fullest. I play golf in shorts because I want to feel comfortable and play well. You can’t change what happened, but you can embrace what you have achieved. It’s all part of your story,” he shares, offering words that will resonate far beyond burn survivors alone.

Today, Kel is back on the golf course regularly, playing to a two handicap, competing in disabled tournaments, and joking that some of the top players are starting to get nervous. More than that, he is living proof that life after trauma can still be full, meaningful and joyful, especially when you choose to show up with humour and heart.

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A message, a click, a moment online can change everything, which is why conversations about cyber safety matter more than ever. This week’s episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque does exactly that, shifting the narrative towards understanding, awareness and the good that exists within the digital space.

On this week’s poddie, I sat down with Rianette Leibowitz, the founder of SaveTNet Cyber Safety, a Brand SOUTH AFRICA Play Your Part Ambassador, author of Maak jou kind SKERMSLIM, TV and podcast presenter and digital parenting expert. Rianette has spent more than a decade helping South Africans navigate the online world safely, while supporting victims of cybercrime and educating families, schools and organisations.

We chatted about what cyber safety looks like in 2026, unpacking how both kids and adults can show up online with greater awareness and confidence. The conversation touched on scammers, why they are becoming more sophisticated and practical ways to avoid being caught out, without turning the digital world into something scary or overwhelming. Most importantly, we focused on the good things about the cyber space, from connection and education to the power of informed choices.

When we understand the online world better, we are far more equipped to use it safely, wisely and in ways that genuinely add value to our lives.

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On this week’s 'Good Things with Brent Lindeque', we sit down with Joey Evans, a man whose journey reads like something out of a movie, except every hard-earned step, scar, and triumph is real.

Joey’s life changed forever after a motorbike accident left him paralysed from the chest down, with doctors telling him that he would never walk again.

Instead of surrendering to the limits placed in front of him, Joey chose to chase a dream he had carried since childhood: competing in the Dakar Rally, widely regarded as the toughest off-road motorsport event on the planet. What followed was a ten-year odyssey filled with physical recovery, emotional battles, setbacks that would break most spirits and a level of determination that is genuinely humbling to witness. Against all expectations, Joey learned to walk again, rebuilt his life piece by piece and ultimately qualified for the Dakar Rally, achieving something most able-bodied riders will only ever dream of.

The story did not end at the starting line, though, and in many ways, the greatest challenge was still waiting. After riding nearly 9,000 kilometres across brutal South American terrain, with exhaustion etched into every kilometre, disaster struck just two days from the finish when Joey’s bike was destroyed by a rally car. Stranded, injured, and seemingly out of the race, that moment could have easily become the closing chapter. Instead, through sheer will, ingenuity, and an unshakable belief in finishing what he started, Joey found a way forward and crossed that finish line, a moment that went on to capture hearts and headlines around the world.

Since that extraordinary achievement, Joey has continued to share his story far beyond the race itself. He has written a best-selling book that delves deeper into the lessons forged along the way, and in 2024, he was inducted into the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa Speakers Hall of Fame, recognising not just what he has overcome but the impact his words and lived experience now have on others.

Joey is also one of those rare humans who carries all of this without ego or bravado. He is humble, kind, deeply present, and a really flipping lekker guy to spend time with. I walked away from this conversation inspired, energised, and more convinced than ever that you are going to love this poddie... and quite possibly want to be Joey’s best friend too.

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At just 24 years old, Mikhail Edwards is showing what is possible when focus, curiosity and drive come together at the right moment.

And this is only his beginning. 

On this week’s Good Things with Brent Lindeque, I chat with Mikhail, who has just completed his Master’s in Information Technology in an astonishing 10 months. Most people take two years to reach that milestone, but Mikhail managed it while working, lecturing and publishing research internationally, and he did it all with distinction.

What makes his journey even more remarkable is that he did not study IT at school. His interest started in business and how systems operate behind the scenes, before evolving into a passion for technology and innovation.

Since then, his academic path has moved fast, from a BCom in Informatics in 2022, to Honours by the end of 2023, and now a completed Master’s, with a PhD already underway. During his Master’s year, Mikhail also worked as an assistant lecturer, UX Lab coordinator and intern at the BMW IT Hub, where his research into artificial intelligence and cloud-based systems took shape. That work earned him a place presenting at an international conference in Portugal and later led to publication in a peer-reviewed journal, an achievement few reach so early in their careers.

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Hope is a word we use often, but this week’s episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque explores what it looks like when hope is backed by real action, accountability and a deep respect for human dignity.

Chris Lomas is the founder and CEO of Hope4, and after connecting on LinkedIn, we jumped onto a Zoom call to talk about the work they have been doing around the world. Somewhere halfway through that conversation, I stopped him and said, “No, this can’t just be a Zoom chat. You have to come into studio.”

Some stories deserve more time, more space and a proper microphone and Hope4 is one of them.

On this week’s poddie, Chris joins me to unpack the incredible impact Hope4 has had internationally and, excitingly, right here in South Africa too. Guided by compassion and a deep respect for human dignity, Hope4 works in communities affected by poverty, human trafficking, conflict and natural disasters, offering both immediate relief and long-term, sustainable solutions that help people move from crisis to resilience.

What stood out for me is how grounded their approach is. Hope4 believes that every person deserves dignity, security and a real opportunity to build a stable life, and they back that belief with transparency, strong local partnerships and community-driven action.

As Chris explains, it is never just about aid, it is about empowerment, trust and lasting change.

There is also a very special announcement in this episode. Hope4 is heading to Kilimanjaro, turning a tough climb into a powerful platform for hope, awareness and impact, and if you know anything about me, you know that mountain already has a special place in my heart.

This conversation is full of heart, purpose and perspective. Watch it below:

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The future is arriving fast. Faster than most of us can properly process. One minute you’re scrolling memes and making coffee, the next minute AI is writing essays, building businesses, changing industries and making people wonder what’s going to happen to the human part of the story.

That’s why this week’s episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque feels so important. I sat down with Carmen Murray and had a conversation about the future. And AI. And business. And women. And neurology.

Carmen is a "cultural translator and creative provocateur", building the bridge between business, humanity and the future. She equips organisations to turn uncertainty into opportunity, and in a world where AI is changing everything, her message is clear: the goal isn’t to compete with technology… it’s to collaborate with it. She believes our human potential is reached when we strengthen the qualities that make us irreplaceable... critical thinking, emotional sovereignty, creativity and foresight.

In other words, becoming more human, not more robotic.

And because it’s me… the conversation also goes to fun places. Ja, we chatted about numerology. Which of course means 11 makes an appearance.

But there’s another message in this episode that really matters: the future doesn’t only need better technology, it needs better leadership, and that means more women in leadership. Carmen explains how organisations that embrace what women bring to leadership. Collaboration, adaptability and systems thinkin don’t just build better businesses; they build stronger, more sustainable ones. She calls it the Sprinkler Effect, where women’s leadership creates ripples of innovation and cultural transformation that extend far beyond the boardroom.

This episode is hopeful, practical, energising, and feels like a deep breath. If you’ve been feeling uncertain about where the world is heading (even though it's only the start of the year), this conversation might help you reframe it all.

It might remind you that AI doesn’t erase the human story.

It amplifies it… if we choose to show up fully.

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📆 New episodes drop weekly.

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❤️ Stories that matter. Conversations that count. All about South Africa's Good News Podcast! ❤️🇿🇦