The Almost Perfect Podcast

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

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Hey team,

Due to scheduling conflicts and one of my guests getting COVID, this week is another solo episode. 

I discuss:

Helping my mom and gran move into their new home.

My gran's rehab for her stroke.

A missing cat.

Vaccine passports.

Alan Watts.

The movie 'Network'.

And why I've removed the Liam Lynch episode of the podcast. 

Enjoy. 

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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.

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

Vibes are bad. Times are hard. 

We'll hopefully be back to regularly scheduled programming next week. 

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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.

Ok, I'm being a bit dramatic with the title, but yeah, I've got COVID. It's not a vibe. 

Thankfully, I haven't had as rough a go of it as many other people have but I've still been man-down for a week now, and there's always a nagging feeling in the back of your head that things could go very wrong at any moment. There are a LOT of horror stories going around right now and I'm just grateful to not be one of them (at the time of writing).

So, obviously, I didn't interview anyone else this week as I really wasn't feeling up for it. Instead, I asked the patrons and followers on social media to ask me some questions which I answer in today's episode. 

If you ever wanted to hear what I did before I started my career in media, how I think the world is going to end, or how I rank the Star Wars films, this episode is for you. 

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

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

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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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

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