The Gareth Cliff Show

Gareth and Ben kick off Friday by taking aim at influencers who are willing to literally beg for brand deals just to make it to Coachella — but are influencers even influential anymore? The conversation then shifts to the surprising return of old-school dating trends that feel straight out of the early 1900s. Mash jumps in to stir things up with a take on “looksmaxxing” and body image, before DA Deputy Federal Chair Cilliers Brink joins the show to unpack the party’s 2026 manifesto and their plan to fix some of South Africa’s most broken cities.

Gareth and Ben kick off their Friday unpacking the latest drama from the Madlanga Commission — including a mysterious stray tissue that’s got people talking. They dive into the bizarre world of looksmaxxing after its so-called leader, Clavicular, nearly overdoses, raising serious questions about the trend. The Comments Section LIVE returns with Bitcoin Boet… who’s baking bread? Yes, really. Plus, Clinton Els from Your Africa joins the guys to spotlight some of the continent’s most exciting travel destinations. Gareth wraps things up with a look at the latest stories making waves around the world.

Gareth and Ben unpack our strange obsession with celebrity downfalls — especially those raw DUI body cam moments that go viral. They also break down rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and why it matters globally.

Tumi Morake brings humour and perspective, from her joke about coming back as a butch lesbian to the impact of a new game she’s worked on that’s shining a light on African talent. Plus, Gareth and Tumi tackle Helen’s pothole stunt and the bigger question: who’s to blame for failing basic service delivery?

Gareth Cliff is back, unpacking the rise of AI-generated “slop” and asking where real content disappeared to. Dr Hanan breaks down the Greater Male Variability Hypothesis (and why women aren’t actually “crazy”), while Jonathan Warncke from the SA Podcasters Guild weighs in on potential government regulation—and what it means for authenticity in podcasting.

Gareth and Ben kick off Friday with their take on South Africa’s first LIV Golf event, before diving into the risks of buying steaks and seafood from Temu—and the absurdity of convenience culture in 2026. Maria Watkins joins the team to talk about Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda, and how even the President helps on Spring Cleaning Day.

Dr Alastair McAlpine breaks down what you actually need to know about GLP-1s, and Haydn Porteous shares his journey through mental health struggles and his comeback to pro golf.

Gareth kicks off the show with a fiery rant about the current state of government and South Africa’s global alliances. Ben joins the conversation to break down the latest in sport, including the buzz around the first LIV Golf event on South African soil. Mash dives into the property market in Orania and unpacks the curious trend of “Ozempic Face,” with some well-known celebrities showing the effects. And, Beverly Stock, mother of the late Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, joins the show to reflect on the loss of her son and the profound impact his life — and passing — has had on South Africans.

Gareth and Leigh-Ann unpack the shifting landscape of global geopolitics and what South Africa’s potential role could look like in the event of a wider global conflict. Hanan delivers a powerful monologue on eating disorders, questioning whether society truly treats them as the serious mental health issue they are. Simon Wilkins from Galetti joins the conversation to discuss his incredible 36km swim across the icy English Channel, and Gideon Joubert weighs in on a major issue facing South Africans right now — the proposed new gun laws and what they could mean for personal safety and security.

Did we get it wrong from the start? Gareth Cliff and Leigh-Ann Mol kick things off by unpacking why people cling to unnecessary memories instead of holding onto the small bits of good that actually matter. Dr Hanan joins the conversation as the team asks a bold question: in a world where everyone is self-diagnosed as depressed or anxious, where did all the actual crazy people go?

Things take a chaotic turn as the crew ranks the Top 10 lesbians purely on who looks the part — fashion, energy, and unapologetic confidence all count. And finally, Matt C Smith sits down to share his journey to the Olympics, including some unforgettable and slightly wild stories from inside the Olympic Village.

Did we have it all wrong the whole time? Gareth Cliff and Ben Karpinski start their day diving headfirst into the Epstein Files and the explosive question of whether Michael Jackson may have been a protector of children, not a predator. Dr Hanan joins the show as the team challenge the long-held myth that women are naturally more empathetic — the science might surprise you. Mash steps in to unpack cognitive development and how “TikTok slop” is hijacking attention and rewarding dopamine addiction. And in an era of outrage, algorithms, and misinformation, is telling the truth harder than ever? Investigative journalist Lourensa Eckard weighs in from the front lines of truth after more than a decade in the field.

Do we need to suffer for kids to bloom? That’s the uncomfortable question that kicks off today’s conversation as the team unpacks Gen Z mental-health buzzwords and the culture shaping them. Levi Brown joins the show to talk DeInfluencing — what it really means, why it matters, and how he’s using his platform to push back against brands like Virgin Active in the name of accountability.

Gareth Cliff and Ben Karpinski then dive headfirst into the latest Epstein file drop, attempting to connect the dots as the rabbit hole gets darker and deeper. Plus, Matthew Fubbs from The Holiday Factory breaks down which countries South Africans can travel to visa-free — and why now might be the time to pack a bag.