Welcome to Episode 51 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Pieter “PG” Geldenhuys, an author, business coach, leadership facilitator, storytelling expert, and the mind behind Boks to Business.  

From growing up in Stellenbosch and Strand, to travelling through Austria, London, Israel, South America and beyond. He reflects on his early love of reading and writing, and the way his parents’ travel business became an early classroom for leadership, systems and service.   

PG also unpacks the power of storytelling, from the hero’s journey and Joseph Campbell to Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, the Springboks and Rassie Erasmus. And explores how Covid forced hard decisions in tourism, why entrepreneurs need to understand whether they are acting as founders or investors, and how risk, creativity, urgency and imposter syndrome all play a role in entrepreneurial life. 

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, coach, writer, sports fan or someone trying to build something meaningful, this conversation offers a practical and deeply human reminder: the real work is to keep showing up. This episode is packed with sharp business insight, personal reflection, humour, rugby wisdom and powerful lessons on systems, storytelling and resilience.   

00:48 – Introduction to Pieter Geldenhuys 

“The real work is not to show up when it’s easy. The real work is to show up when it’s hard.” – Pieter Geldenhuys 

The campaign was created for Bell’s Whisky by King James in South Africa, directed by Greg Gray of Velocity Films, and published in 2014. It remains one of South Africa’s most emotionally memorable adverts because it makes the story the hero, focusing on perseverance, pride and quiet recognition. 

Bell’s “The Reader” Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy7fxLwfOnQ  

Pieter Geldenhuys’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgtops/    

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa   

Welcome to Episode 50 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Sbonelo Mbatha, an entrepreneur, author of The Petrol Attendant, founder of Petro Connect, and one of South Africa's most reputable voices in the fuel retail industry. 

Born and raised in rural KwaZulu Natal, his journey is an incredible story of resilience, faith, and relentless action. From growing up without electricity to becoming the owner of multiple petrol stations and building a multi-million-rand business empire, his story challenges the standard thinking about success, opportunity, and creating wealth. 

Sbonelo shares how he went from being a university graduate struggling to find work to becoming a petrol attendant, a role he still regards as one of the most important titles he has ever held. Through the conversation, he reveals lessons on funding businesses with other people's money, race and transformation in South Africa, and the devastating impact of the 2021 riots that destroyed much of what he had spent years building. 

Today Sbonelo is helping create the next generation of fuel retail entrepreneurs by sharing the lessons, systems, and opportunities that transformed his own life. This episode is a must listen for business owners, leaders, and anyone who has ever wondered whether they've got what it takes to build something incredible from humble beginnings. 

00:48 – Introduction to Sbonelo Mbatha 

“Every time you took a step forward, the path became clearer. The key is don't stop walking. The path will always get clearer as you walk.” – Sbonelo Mbatha 

Nike, Just Do It Campaign: Nike - Just Do It (1988) - Very first commercial 

Sbonelo Mbatha’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbonelo-mbatha-7836a947/  

Petro Connect Website: https://petroconnect.co/  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 49 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this deeply moving and uplifting conversation, Jon Oliff sits down with Jessica Hare, founder of Ditch the Lump and co-founder of Smart Meeting Rooms South Africa. 

Jessica shares the life experiences that shaped her faith, resilience and heart for people. She reflects on her early years as a teacher, her time in missions and community development, the burnout that forced her to slow down, and the relationships that helped her rebuild. From growing up in Durban and dreaming of adventure, to travelling through America, Hawaii and India. 

The conversation moves into Jessica’s breast cancer journey: finding a lump, advocating for herself when she knew something was wrong, receiving her diagnosis in February 2024, undergoing a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and further surgery, and learning how to navigate motherhood, marriage and identity through it all. 

Jessica speaks honestly about fear, vulnerability, humour, faith, femininity, the power of female friendship, and the deep loneliness many people experience during treatment. She also shares the story behind Ditch the Lump, a growing platform and walking community created to remind people going through cancer that they are not alone. 

This episode is for anyone walking through uncertainty, supporting a loved one through illness, rebuilding after burnout, or learning what it means to show up with courage. 

00:45 – South Africa, Hawaii and the Feeling of Home 

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” – Brené Brown, one of Jessica Hare’s favourite quotes. 

The campaign originally launched as a digital-first film in 2014 before being adapted into a 2015 Super Bowl commercial. It went on to become one of the most recognised purpose-led campaigns of its time, winning the 2015 Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial and major Cannes Lions recognition, including the PR Grand Prix. 

Always #LikeAGirl Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joRjb5WOmbM  

Bethany Hamilton: https://bethanyhamilton.com/   

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa   

Welcome to Episode 48 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Marc O.Stöckli , a Swiss entrepreneur, investor, board member, former Global Chairman of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and author of Make Boards Work. 

Marc shares a deeply practical and reflective account of how discipline, trust, humility and curiosity have shaped his life and work. From his upbringing in Switzerland and formative leadership lessons in the Swiss Army, to his international career across Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York and Switzerland. His journey moves from law and investment banking to strategic consulting, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, board leadership and the behavioural dynamics that make or break high-performing teams.  

Marc also shares practical tools from Entrepreneurs’ Organisation and the boardroom, including one-word openers, start-stop-continue feedback, trust-building exercises, after-action reviews and the value of a beginner’s mindset. This episode is packed with practical wisdom and thoughtful leadership lessons.  

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, board member, team leader, founder, coach, or someone interested in building better spaces for decision-making and growth, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that trust, curiosity and discipline are at the heart of better leadership. 

00:43 – Introduction to Marc Stöckli 

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill, one of Marc Stöckli’s favourite quotes. 

Can find more information about the campaign here: https://www.patek.com/en/manufacture/inside-patek-philippe/the-generations-campaign   

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 47 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Justin Apsey, the former Managing Director of Unilever South Africa. We discuss his remarkable journey from his early days in Cape Town to leading one of South Africa's most iconic companies for over 25 years. 

He shares insights on finding your purpose, creating goosebump moments, and building truly inclusive organisations. The conversation covers his transformative "red pill" moment that awakened his understanding of South Africa's complex social landscape, his experiences living and working across Australia and East Africa, and the bold, boundary-pushing advertising campaigns he championed throughout his career. 

Justin's reflections highlight the importance of courage, long-term thinking, and staying connected to both the people you lead and the country you love. He also shares his thoughts on the concept of blending the "wizard and the kid" within yourself as you navigate life's next chapter. 

This episode is packed with personal stories, practical leadership lessons, and a deep passion for Africa and its people. Whether you're a seasoned executive, an aspiring leader, or simply someone looking for inspiration to take your next bold step, there's something here for everyone. 

00:43 – Introduction to Justin Apsey and Power of Storytelling in Leadership. 

"Storytelling is how I like to lead, but also how I like to develop and talk to people.” – Justin Apsey 

Omo "Ooo eh eh" Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsBTOV8paS0 

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 46 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Laura Jane Thomas, an award-winning CMO, brand strategist, and founder of The Aligned Woman Co. We discuss her incredible journey from her early days at Vega, to launching her agency Salt and Candy with Coca-Cola as her first client, to navigating burnout, loss, and personal reinvention. 

She shares raw insights on the pressures women face to "tick the boxes," the dangers of masking burnout with medication, and the transformative power of finally asking for help. The conversation covers everything from psychedelic healing and nervous system regulation, to the inspiration behind her flagship course built on the ALIVE methodology - a framework designed to give women the education they were never taught. 

Laura's reflections highlight the importance of authenticity, resilience, and the courage to rebuild your life with purpose, even when it means starting over entirely. 

This episode is packed with honest conversations, hard-won wisdom, and a deep passion for women's empowerment and education. Whether you're navigating burnout, building a business, or simply trying to figure out where to start "doing the work," there is something profoundly valuable here for you. 

00:39 – Introduction to Laura Jane Thomas and The Aligned Women Co. 

" If I could just help one woman not have to go through what I went through, my job here is done.” – Laura Jane Thomas 

Allan Grey 2008 “Beautiful” Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0b7AJvkkFo  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Shaun Tomson, a legendary South African surfing world champion, entrepreneur, author, and leadership speaker. From his remarkable upbringing in Durban, shaped by two extraordinary parents who each survived the Second World War, to becoming one of the most celebrated surfers of his generation, Shaun's story is one of courage, resilience, and profound purpose. 

He shares the origins of the iconic Instinct brand, his time at Patagonia under Yvon Chouinard, and the deeply personal journey that led him to develop the Surfer's Code; a powerful 12-line framework for living with intention, hope, and integrity. Shaun speaks about his loss, redemption, and the transformative moment at a wave called Sunrise that helped him find his way back. 

Now a globally sought-after leadership speaker and educator, Shaun has taken the values of surfing into boardrooms, schools, universities, seal teams, and rehab clinics. He’s helping hundreds of thousands of people shift from stress, anxiety, and disconnection toward hope and purpose.  

This episode is packed with wisdom, humour, heart, and hard-won life lessons. Whether you're a surfer, a leader, an entrepreneur, or simply someone looking for a better way to navigate the waves of life; this one is for you. 

00:57 – Introduction to Shaun Tomson 

"Human stories, human experience, and human interaction are what's going to save humanity.” – Shaun Tomson 

Shaun Tomson CGTN Africa TV Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-OUNCfi7UI  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Colleen Wilson, a Durban-based transformational consultant, coach, speaker, trainer and mentor whose work brings together the Enneagram, nervous system literacy, parenting support, personal development and team dynamics.  

From growing up in Durban and reflecting on a privileged, steady childhood, to experiencing early loss, complex relationships, chronic illness, motherhood, entrepreneurship and personal reinvention, Colleen shares the life experiences that shaped her path into human development. Colleen describes herself as an Enneagram 5, and her work is rooted in helping people understand themselves more clearly, navigate life more consciously and show up with greater honesty, steadiness and humanity.  

They explore the extraordinary within ordinary life, the cost and gift of struggle, what it means to be “okay in the not okay”, and why self-awareness is not a luxury but a practical tool for better relationships, better leadership and better living. 

This episode moves through themes of grief, parenting, the Enneagram, nervous system regulation, and the ongoing work of becoming more at home in yourself. Whether you’re a parent, leader, entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to navigate life with more grace, this conversation offers a powerful invitation: know yourself, grow yourself and show yourself. 

02:43 – Introduction to Kevin and a Remarkably Ordinary Life

💬 Quote of the Episode 

" I really wanted to like myself. I really wanted to get to that point where I liked who I was, as a wife, as a leader, as a mum, as a daughter, as a friend.” – Colleen Wilson 

PlayStation Double Life Advert: This is not the kind of advert Colleen Wilson would typically choose, but that’s exactly why it stands out. What resonated with her is how it challenges the way we define ourselves. We’re often quick to label who we are, but through her work with the Enneagram, she encourages a shift from saying I am to I can be. Identity isn’t fixed, it’s fluid, shaped by context, environment, and experience. 

Colleen values how the advert reflects the full range of who we are, including the parts we tend to avoid. By embracing both the visible and shadow sides of our personality, we move closer to wholeness rather than limiting ourselves to a single identity. At its core, it speaks to her belief in knowing yourself fully, not just the parts that are easy to accept. 

PlayStation Double Life Advert: https://youtu.be/QIW4HMl81hw  

The Enneagram: Colleen describes the Enneagram as a powerful framework for understanding personality, unconscious patterns and the pathway towards healthier self-expression. Her own site describes it as a tool that offers insight into why we behave as we do and how we can move towards the highest expression of ourselves. View our package for teams: https://colleenwilson.co/at-work/leadership-team-enneagram-discovery-journey/  

Odyssey Magazine: Colleen mentions writing for Odyssey Magazine and sharing work around coming home to yourself. Odyssey has also featured Colleen in conversation around the Enneagram, healing and navigating life’s threshold moments. 

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa  

Welcome to Episode 43 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Simon Nicolson, an Executive for Institutional Advancement at Emeris, and the driving force behind one of SA's most significant private higher education rebrands.  

From his formative years growing up in Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg, to navigating the challenges of national service, university life, and a career that took him from newspaper advertising to retail and ultimately into private higher education, Simon shares a fascinating and honest account of the journey that shaped him. 

He reflects on the landmark rebranding of Varsity College to Emeris, the evolving landscape of private higher education in South Africa, the transformative power of sport as a brand-building tool, and his deep belief in campaigns that don't just communicate but genuinely change the world. Along the way, we explore themes of lateral thinking, conscious capitalism, kindness as a leadership philosophy, and the exponential potential of paying it forward. 

This episode is packed with hard-won insights, candid self-reflection, and a genuine passion for education, people, and the future of South Africa. Whether you're a marketer, an educator, a leader, or simply someone who loves a good story, there is something here for everyone. 

00:07 – Introduction to Kevin, Early Life and Family Background 

"AI is going to be bigger than the invention of the World Wide Web; it will enter every aspect of life, and it’s crazy to think you can avoid or suppress it; you have to incorporate it” – Simon Nicolson 

MTN Qhubeka TV Advert: https://youtu.be/mmYVbW5yisc 

Emeris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emeris/  

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa 

Welcome to Episode 42 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Kevin Parry, a Durban-based creative director, designer, and endurance athlete. He shares his journey from discovering his creative passion at a young age, navigating the ups and downs of the local design industry, to ultimately leading award-winning campaigns. 

He unpacks his personal challenges that shaped his career and outlook; including experiences with failure, family struggles, sobriety, and the importance of vulnerability and mental health, especially for men. The discussion also delves into Kevin’s love for adventure and trail running, his unique approach to design thinking, and the powerful role of community. 

Whether you’re a fellow creative, an endurance enthusiast, or just someone seeking resilience and authenticity, this episode offers genuine inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that we all have stories worth sharing. 

00:41 – Introduction to Kevin, and Humour Preferences  

Robertson’s Spice Reinvention Kitchen Campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMxYqVQU7WU 

👣 Relevant Links 

In The Beginning Website: https://cargocollective.com/inthebeginning 

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa