Learn how Bongani Mapumulo is transforming accessibility and innovation for students living with disabilities in low-income communities in the Global South on this podcast conversation featuring disability rights, inclusive innovation, and assistive technology trends.

🎙️ About This Episode

In this episode, we talk to Bongani Mapumulo, a leading disability rights advocate and champion of inclusive innovation in South Africa. Bongani shares a personal and professional journey shaped by systemic challenges, transformative learning, and a passion for social and redistributive justice.

With a robust background in Political Science, Sociology, Social Anthropology, and advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication from Stellenbosch University, Bongani is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the UCT Graduate School of Business. 

His pioneering research focuses on advancing assistive technologies and inclusive design within low- and middle-income contexts, promoting universal access as a foundation for equity and human dignity.

👉 In this episode, we cover:

• (00:00) - Introduction

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Referenced works

This episode mentions material from Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021), edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). 

Explore Bongani Mapumulo's contributions in Chapter 6 (Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion) and Chapter 7 (Bongani’s Story), whose personal experiences and insights on disability and transformation feature in this discussion.

Available: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-55567-2

Notable Thanks 

- Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation

- Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship

- UCT's Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching One Button Studios 

 Connect with Bongani

- LinkedIn

- Facebook

- Instagram

📧 For Speaking & Partnerships

Host Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking, collaborations, features, workshops, and partnership opportunities. To connect, reach out on LinkedIn or via [email protected].

Creators & Guests

It's just us today and what a season this was. Also, we got listed on The Top 100 Outstanding Role Model Lists supported by INvolve and YouTube.

Join us for the season wrap-up and key calls to action.

00:00 - To More Top Moments

00:30 - 2024 Top Lessons

02:28 - Showing up on people's issues

05:20 - Psychological safety and values

06:40 - BTS

07:55 - What we can still do

🔗 You can view the full lists here: https://bit.ly/3Anx93M

In case you missed it:

1. Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas.
2. You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones.
3. Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.

My friend, what should be happening to resolve the problems South Africans face with spaza shops? 
Want to find the right niche?

Today, we delve deep into the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship, exploring the challenges and opportunities that shape the landscape for modern business owners and reflecting on South Africa's potentially limiting identity crisis.

Join us as we sit down with Avelile Nontanda, the founder and CEO of Mayhem Digital with more than 10 years of experience helping businesses and brands live their best digital lives from Google to social media and father. Avelile gets candid about shared realities such as dealing with Black Tax, not-so-friendly spaza shops and the importance of a self-reliant economy. 

We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs today, the importance of a strong brand identity, and the power of digital marketing. 

In this conversation, we'll cover:

00:00 - Finding Your Niche: Being a Jack of All Trades, Master of Niche 

06:25 - The Google Dilemma and Exploring Ownership

15:51 - Dealing with “Pull Him/Her Down” Syndrome and The Discount Mentality

21:29 - Finding a Balance After Groove and Equal Focus

26:10 - First World and Third World Fallacies 

29:15 - Black Tax is Good and Bad at the Same Time

40:54 - Digital Nomads, Why start in Cape Town, and Can Looks Be Deceiving?

Resources:

• Mayhem Digital
• Follow Avelile Nontanda on LinkedIn
• Listen to the related episode 8 with Melilizwe Gqobo
• Google's market dominance and antitrust
• Microsoft and ChatGPT are not what Elon Musk intended
• The Evolution of Spaza shops
• Spaza shop food health inflicting children and who to blame

Call to Action:

1. Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas.
2. You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones.
3. Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.

Briefly 1 Newsletter: Beyond Milestones

We are celebrating 1,000 downloads and community growth in our first audio newsletter.

What is covered in this newsletter:

• Thank you!
• Beyond the first time, every time
• Beyond safe spaces: building competent community
• 'No DNA, Just RSA'
• Feeling left behind: "When is our turn?"
• Evolving allyship for a more inclusive future

Annemarie Shrouder (she/her), international speaker, consultant and author of Being Brown in a Black and White World, which shares the personal and organisational costs of polarisation, joined me today to talk about the essentials for community building and what we can borrow or learn from post-COVID-19 amid waning global commitments.

On today’s episode:
0:00 - Intro & welcome
0:24 - Common frustrations shared since the start
2:47 - Inclusion vs Belonging and other polarisations
4:12 - “Healing requires that we all need to do our own work”
5:52 - Learning from parenthood for the best workplace
9:42 - The impact of COVID-19 on community and balance
15:09 - The tools we can use today
17:39 - The power of intersectionality on how we show up
20:58 - Wellness and heart-based exercises as impact drivers
24:20 - “Everyone is doing the best they can with the trauma they carry”
26:15 - Looking ahead with 5% more courage
30:53 - Wrap-up

RESOURCES
Annemarie’s Book: https://annemarieshrouder.com/book/
(Amazon) - https://www.amazon.com/Being-Brown-Black-White-World-ebook/dp/B09224CN47
The HeartMath Institute: https://www.heartmath.org/

More About Annemarie Shrouder:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieshrouder/
Website: https://annemarieshrouder.com/

Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

Today’s guest, Melilizwe Gqobo (he/him) - Founding Director of Hubspace (Khayelitsha) and Venture Scout, has successfully created space for founders and entrepreneurs to thrive by strengthening and reinforcing their capacity or ability to seek opportunities.

With the hindsight of co-founding Hubspace, a pioneering startup ecosystem or incubator space to bring communal offices and resources to entrepreneurs and founders within the township economy, meaningfully contributing over 5% to South Africa’s GDP, Melilizwe shares key lessons and insights on what it takes to make a successful venture while highlighting examples from Bolt and Uber’s entry to the South African/African market.

What's Covered On This Episode:
0:00 - The Entrepreneurship and Founder Ecosystems

1:23 - Founder Lessons and Challenges

4:40 - Reasons why I became an Entrepreneur

6:02 - The Opportunity Set – NGOs

8:07 - Making a successful venture

10:51 - Does First Mover Advantage Exist?

12:50 - The Role of Enterprise Development

14:51 - The Township Economy

25:39 - The Importance of Patient Capital, Support, Routine and Mindset for Preservation

32:57 - Allyship: Creating space and an intentional community

38:29 - Innovation and AI

46:17 - Wrap-up: Key Takeaways

RESOURCES:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/04/04/397101933/far-from-silicon-valley-a-disruptive-startup-hub

https://disruptafrica.com/2014/11/15/townships-offer-real-investment-opportunities-hubspace/

https://www.news24.com/news24/partnercontent/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-township-economy-20230621

https://www.parliament.gov.za/news/multifaceted-approach-needed-deal-protection-fee-and-business-extortion-syndicates-ncop-hears

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5reve8476o

Follow Melilizwe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melilizwe-gqobo-6229a729/

Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E7: We delve into the concept of visibility vs freedom in the LGBTQ+ community with the multi-talented Creative, Writer, Performer, and Organiser, Udoka Maya Okonkwo (they/her).

They begin with a personal "Visibility Journey" followed by a thought-provoking discussion on articulating the idea of freedom for LGBTQ+ individuals today.

The conversation explores navigating different Pride experiences (Black, Trans and Commercial) by addressing community needs more while stressing the importance of finding the right community. Self-acceptance goes a long way in underscoring this as Udoka reminds us that: "there is no such thing as being Queer enough, or Trans enough, or Gay enough. You Are Just Enough."

In our conversation, we shift focus to widening opportunities and access within the community, before tackling critical issues that necessitate collective action and intersectionality. Strategies for addressing injustices, continuing allyship, and organising are explored.

RESOURCES

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/big-brother-nadia-almada-empowering-exclusive-newsupdate/

https://www.consortium.lgbt/member-directory/black-trans-foundation/

https://www.instagram.com/londontranspride/

https://www.ukblackpride.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/miseryparty/?hl=en

https://www.leonardcheshire.org/get-involved/campaign-us/cost-living?gad_source=1

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/04/un-body-calls-uk-end-detention-people-disabilities

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68849843

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9602/CBP-9602.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/11/a-new-abyss-gaza-and-the-hundred-years-war-on-palestine

CLUBS

https://dalstonsuperstore.com/

https://www.instagram.com/heavenlgbtclub/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/tboys.club/?hl=en

BOOKS

• Against Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion (Ryan Conrad)
• The Discworld Collector's Library (Terry Pratchett)
• Global Black Narratives for the Classroom (BLAM UK)
• Kindred (Octavia E. Butler)

Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E6: We have now emerged from Covid-19 to a climate of war. We still have losses and are yet to see recovery. Will there also be a war on DEI in South Africa? 

Today, we spoke with diversity, equity and inclusion speaker and facilitator Roy Gluckman-John about what conversations we need to urgently have to bring much-needed change and build a community with a better sense of belonging.

Reflecting on the past few years, we speak of a shared view that there is so much to be said about grief and loss. Not just a loss of community but also the grief of not being heard leaving many voiceless.

_____________________________________________________

Follow Roy Gluckman-John:

- 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-gluckman-a0101027/

Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E5: “Hi, will you be my valentine?”😅

It took you months to build up the courage to say at least “hi” to someone you like without feeling like a heart attack is imminent or you might spend a while in a critical unit with minimal recovery.

In today's episode, we connected with the phenomenal communications expert, storyteller and trailblazing leader, Thabani Mtsi (he/him), and were deeply inspired by his humbling beginnings with public speaking and leading takes of how to speak with conviction, presence and power while pitching your ideas effectively.

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Follow Thabani Mtsi:

- 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thabani-mtsi/

- 📸 @thabani_mtsi (Instagram)

- 🤳 @thabani.mtsi (TikTok)

Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E4: "Helping someone go to their next step...or career goals is more powerful."

Is any dream too big?

Leonore van Wyk, influential DEI and global corporate culture builder, details how impactful representation is, from broad media narratives to icons such as Rihanna. Relating to different levels of opportunity strengthens the possibility of what is possible and attainable.

In her own phrasing: “You are more than capable.”

_____________________________________________________

Follow Loenore van Wyk:

- 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonore-van-wyk-b6761094/

Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.