The Incredible Machines

Welcome to Episode 66 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Richard Gorven, a filmmaker, creative director and communicator, youth leader for Trulife, and author of Before You Call Yourself a Mentor. 

His story moves from growing up in Durban, navigating a difficult family environment and intense bullying at school, to discovering creativity, filmmaking, music and a deep commitment to investing in young people. He reflects on the teachers and leaders who recognised his potential, the challenges that shaped his convictions and the experiences that eventually led him to rethink what mentorship actually means. 

At the centre of the conversation is Richard’s belief that mentorship is not simply a title somebody claims. It is a mantle carrying the weight, privilege and responsibility of being invited into another person’s life. He also shares the concept of unreasonable mentorship and how unexpected acts of care can break down barriers and create genuine trust. 

05:59 – Introduction to Richard Gorven and his journey into mentorship 

“I think the fruit of great mentorship is a great relationship." – Richard Gorven 

“Well, I couldn’t speak his language I couldn’t even understand a word, but I knew the meaning was what I decided I had heard” – Kyle Gordon (one of Richard Gorven’s favourite quotes) 

MTN Cheese Boy Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH4ZYjWBDcI 

Allan Gray Mark Lives Campaign: Richard also highlights Allan Gray’s Father’s Share campaign. He admires how the campaign sells the emotional outcome behind the brand rather than focusing solely on the financial product. For him, the campaign demonstrates how marketing can reveal the intention behind somebody’s actions and completely change the audience’s understanding of a character. 

Allan Gray Mark Lives Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVv15eQL368  

Before You Call Yourself a Mentor Website: https://beforeyoumentor.com/   

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa   

Welcome to Episode 65 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Liza Clifford, the founder of Liza Clifford Professional Bra Fitting Studio, mother of two, and an advocate for women’s confidence, body acceptance and entrepreneurship. 

Her journey stretches from a free-spirited childhood on a farm to building a business around something many people overlook: the impact that proper support can have on a woman’s confidence, comfort and ability to move through the world. 

The conversation explores gender and education, motherhood, perfectionism, social media, entrepreneurship and the pressure women face to meet impossible beauty standards. Liza also shares the story behind Bra Squad, a campaign that began to create authentic South African content and became something far more meaningful. Through unretouched images of real women, the campaign challenged assumptions around what women’s bodies are supposed to look like. At the heart of Liza’s philosophy is a simple idea: Put on Courage. 

01:04 – Introduction to Liza Clifford  

“A goal without a plan is a dream.” – Brian Tracy 

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.”– Theodore Rosevelt 

Liza chose the Always #LikeAGirl campaign because it represents the kind of marketing she values most: marketing that goes beyond selling a product and changes a conversation. 

The campaign took the phrase “like a girl”, which had become associated with weakness, and challenged people to think about what that message was teaching girls. In the advert, adults and older children act out running, throwing and fighting “like a girl” as weak or silly, while younger girls simply do those things as strongly as they can. 

For Liza, the insight was powerful because it showed that girls eventually learn to associate being a girl with being less capable. 

She also admired that Always did not make the product the hero. The brand identified a cultural tension and made that conversation the campaign. The #LikeAGirl hashtag then allowed people to participate in, share and reinterpret the idea themselves. For Liza, the lesson is simple: great marketing does not always need to sell the product directly. Sometimes it changes the conversation around the problem the brand exists to solve. 

Always #LikeAGirl Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olUAKw66y2k 

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa 

Welcome to Episode 64 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Claire Armstrong, a consumer marketing insights leader at Unilever, mother of three, and a professional in marketing with nearly two decades of experience understanding why people do what they do. 

She reflects on a journey that has taken her from growing up in Westville and moving to the UK at 16, to studying sociology, entering market research and ultimately building a 12-year career at Unilever. Along the way, she shares how her career became a source of stability through some of the most difficult periods of her personal life. We also unpack why human understanding, adaptability and strong relationships remain essential in an increasingly AI enabled world. 

The conversation explores “Yesterday’s Best”, her belief that what is meant for you will never pass you by, and the importance of remembering that difficult seasons aren’t permanent. Claire also shares how becoming a mother changed her approach to ambition, leadership and work, and why she believes being a working parent has made her a better leader. 

00:47 – Introduction to Claire Armstrong and the Lifeline Exercise 

"What's meant for you will never pass you by" 

“It will either be great or a great story”  

– Claire Armstrong 

As Claire explains, the campaign demonstrates the power of understanding the emotional role a brand already plays in consumers’ lives. She describes it as “the most beautiful South African example of real consumer behaviour that is absolutely covered in love and emotion.” 

Vaseline's 'Mntana ka Gogo' Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1QNAOA2Q64  

👣 Relevant Links & Mentions  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa   

Welcome to Episode 63 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Dr. Candice Bailey, a journalist, science communicator, researcher and coauthor of We Were Always Here: Stories of Black Inventors Across the African Diaspora. 

Her relationship with storytelling began early. She started a small community newspaper while still at school, later helped launch a campus newspaper, worked as a crime and investigative journalist and eventually completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand, a path she describes as almost accidental. 

Through stories of inventors working across telecommunications, space exploration, medicine, sustainability and everyday technology, Candice and the hosts explore a recurring theme: innovation rarely arrives without failure. From Victor Lawrence’s contribution to modern telecommunications to inventors turning environmental problems into practical solutions, the episode looks at the perseverance behind invention and the importance of approaching familiar problems differently. 

01:04 – Introduction to Dr Candice Bailey and We Were Always Here 

“When you are enthusiastic about what you do, you feel this positive energy. It’s very simple.” – Paulo Coelho 

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." – Newton's Third Law of Motion 

Volkswagen's classic South African TV Campaign: https://youtu.be/DkWmA8hcRPc?si=qyHEwCziBK-UiU5Y 

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 62 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Professor Linda Meyer, an experienced higher education leader and passionate advocate for lifelong learning, women in leadership and greater access to quality education across Africa. 

Professor Meyer reflects on a career that has taken her from working as a flight attendant and full-time trade unionist to the CCMA, government, justice, statutory institutions and senior leadership in higher education. She explains how these experiences shaped her understanding of dignity; fairness and the responsibility institutions have to improve people’s lives. 

Jon and Linda discuss artificial intelligence in education, the challenges facing first generation students, graduate employability and the urgent need for stronger collaboration between public and private institutions. Professor Meyer also discusses Rosebank International’s partnership with the University of the Free State and her ambition to expand high-quality African education across the continent. 

00:47 – Introduction to Linda Meyer and artificial intelligence in education 

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou. 

“The campaign is particularly relevant to my work in leadership, higher education and labour-market policy because sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination are not merely interpersonal problems. They are institutional and workplace governance failures that restrict women’s participation, progression and psychological safety. “Me Too” demonstrated how personal testimony, shared at scale, can challenge entrenched power and compel organisations to examine cultures that formal policies alone have failed to change. Its enduring lesson is that institutions cannot claim to support women while tolerating environments in which misconduct is concealed, complainants are discredited and perpetrators remain protected.” 

The campaign changed the global conversation; the continuing challenge is to translate that visibility into due process, prevention, accountability and lasting institutional reform. 

Me Too Movement: https://metoomvmt.org/  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 61 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Pierre du Plessis, a strategist, keynote speaker, coach (and co-consoirator), author and founder of Be Brave, a Cape Town based Strategy Design Lab. 

Drawing on more than two decades of experience across strategy, design, human development and leadership, Pierre helps people and organisations find clarity, make brave decisions and navigate complexity. He is the author of four books, including Train Naked: A Guide to a Meaningful Life and Work That Matters, and the host of the Through the Fog podcast. 

Pierre discusses the daily writing practice behind his newsletter, his journey from theology to professional speaking and the responsibility that comes with receiving another person’s attention. He also explores how leaders can use listening to help people feel seen, why myths and archetypes give us a framework for navigating life and what it means to show up without masks or pretence. 

The conversation moves through philosophy, Japanese culture, mental health, depression, wolves and sled dogs, and Pierre’s current body of work, Only the Brave.  

00:33 – What Pierre would tell his younger self 

“The most important thing in the world is to figure out who you are.” – Pierre du Plessis 

Pierre uses the story as a metaphor for the decisions people face in their careers and lives. Neither path is inherently better. The real question is whether you currently need the independence of the wolf or the shared mission and security of the sled dog.  

Pierre du Plessis Website: https://thisispierre.co/  

Train Naked signed copy book: https://thisispierre.co/books  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 60 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Helen Nicholson, the founder and CEO of The Networking Company, author, speaker and personal branding expert. 

Helen reflects on her journey from studying accounting to building and selling her first business in Dubai before returning home to South Africa. She explains how a backpacking crisis in Malawi revealed the true power of having a strong network and inspired her to make networking her life’s work. In this episode we go through her practical networking techniques, including the groups of three principle and her Observe, Ask and Reveal method. 

She also discusses burnout, learning to balance performance with recovery and the importance of protecting your health in an increasingly demanding world. She also discusses the risks of becoming consumed by AI and why sustainable performance begins with personal wellbeing. 

The conversation explores the unwritten rules of business, the four people everyone needs on their personal board, and why authenticity, generosity and reciprocity are essential for building meaningful professional relationships.  

This episode is a must listen for professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders who want to build stronger relationships, grow their influence and take greater ownership of their lives and careers. 

00:45 – Introduction to Helen Nicholson and networking in groups of three 

“Stop waiting, you are the one you’ve been waiting for.” – Helen Nicholson 

Thinkbox’s “Every Home Needs a Harvey” Advertisement: https://youtu.be/kYg_Rb2STAE?si=Q56CPq-s09M2-_ad 

Helen Nicholson Website: https://helen-nicholson.com/  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 59 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Les Owen, a negotiation and persuasion specialist whose career has taken him from industrial relations and high-stakes trade union negotiations to advising some of the world’s largest companies. 

Les reflects on working for PUTCO (the Public Utility Transport Corporation) during a defining period in South African history, studying Zulu before the rise of the black trade union movement and developing his negotiation skills alongside influential union leaders. He also shares his experience as a trustee of the Independent Mediation Service of South Africa, the organisation that later helped shape the CCMA. 

He also discusses the difference between persuasion and manipulation, the role of power and fairness in negotiation, the lessons he learned from business failure, South Africa’s 1994 elections and decades of resolving conflict. 

The conversation explores the psychology behind negotiation and persuasion, including how body language, colour, timing, seating and preparation can influence an interaction before anyone has presented an argument.  

This episode is a must listen for leaders, business owners, salespeople and anyone who wants to communicate more effectively, navigate conflict and become a better persuader. 

00:45 – Introduction to Les Owen, Psychology of Persuasion and 1976 Soweto uprising 

“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” – Friedrich Nietzsche (one of Leslie Owen’s favourite quotes) 

Cremora’s “It’s Not Inside, It’s On Top” Advertisement: https://youtu.be/0_t15vNuXP0?si=fWlNvRrvyD7Eidvt 

Les Owens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-owen-b9a50526/   

Owen, Adendorff & Associates Website: https://www.owenaden.com/    

Purchase the We Are Always Here book via this link: wewerealwayshere.com

TED Talk on Being Wrong – Kathryn Schulz: https://youtu.be/QleRgTBMX88?si=dksQ1RuVptUASdon  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa   

Welcome to Episode 58 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Ryan Butcher, a world champion paddleboard athlete, entrepreneur and co-founder of Hurricane Surf. 

Ryan reflects on growing up in Johannesburg, developing a deep connection with the ocean and committing himself to competitive surfing and surf lifesaving. That determination eventually led him to national titles, a world championship and the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event, where he competed despite breaking his leg weeks earlier. 

He also shares how his sporting experience shaped his approach to business. From identifying a gap in the South African surf market and building Hurricane Surf to helping reposition Value Added Life and Procydin, Ryan explains the importance of authenticity, teamwork, brand DNA and creating genuine value. 

The conversation explores the challenge of marketing a complex health product without presenting it as a cure for everything. Ryan explains how the team returned to the science, history and purpose behind Procydin to communicate a clearer essential nutrients story. 

This episode offers practical insights into performance, entrepreneurship, brand building and the urgency required to turn ambitious ideas into action. 

00:45 – Introduction to Ryan Butcher and procrastination, pressure and urgency 

“Stop being patient when it comes to trying to achieve your ten-year goal. Figure out how to do that in six months and put all your effort into doing your ten-year goal in six months.” – Elon Musk (one of Ryan Butcher’s favourite quotes) 

Ryan discusses the work behind communicating Value Added Life’s essential nutrients story. The campaign focuses on helping people understand what modern diets may be missing and how the company’s products are positioned to support the body’s natural processes without presenting them as a cure for everything. 

Ryan Butcher’s LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/ryan-butcher-515b28312  

Hurricane Surf Website https://hurricanesurf.net/   

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa   

Welcome to Episode 57 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Graeme Stiles, the founder, CEO and Chief AI Officer of Algorithm, to unpack a journey that started with uncertainty and self-doubt and eventually led to building a global performance marketing agency. 

The conversation explores what happens when a technical specialist becomes a business owner. Graeme shares the realities of starting Algorithm from a bedroom while preparing to become a father, learning to sell, building a team, expanding internationally and navigating the increasingly complex challenges that come with scaling beyond a founder led business. 

AI also takes centre stage. He explains why automation does not necessarily remove the need for expertise, how Algorithm is approaching AI internally, why junior talent still needs to master the fundamentals and what happens when people begin outsourcing their thinking to technology. 

This episode gives an insight about confidence, leadership, performance marketing, AI, entrepreneurship and the importance of knowing when technology should accelerate your thinking rather than replace it. 

00:80 – Introduction to Graeme Stiles and what he would tell his younger self. 

“Service is one of my core values, and I do that because I get more from it than I think.” – Graeme Stiles 

"Prioritise and execute" Jocko Willink (one of Graeme Stiles’ favourite quotes). 

Spotify Wrapped Concept: https://support.spotify.com/td-en/article/spotify-wrapped/  

Graeme Stiles’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graemestiles/  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa