Rwanda is often celebrated as a conservation success story, known for its national parks, gorillas, and protected ecosystems. But how much of the country’s natural world has already disappeared? 

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, scientist, photographer, and conservationist Gaël Vande Weghe discusses his research on Rwanda’s biodiversity, including a comprehensive study documenting 229 mammal species.

This conversation examines wildlife conservation, biodiversity loss, African environmental policy, and the future of nature in Rwanda and East Africa, asking whether conservation is preserving ecosystems — or simply protecting the last fragments of them.

Sponsors:

Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/.                                                    

Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com/ 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

Why do people sometimes trust comedians more than politicians? 

In this episode of The Long Form, Ugandan comedian Patrick “Salvador” Idringi joins us in Kigali for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, politics, social media, and public criticism in East Africa. Salvador reflects on the pressures of making audiences laugh while navigating political debates, online controversy, and the expectations placed on public figures. 

This conversation explores the intersection of comedy, media, culture, and politics in Africa — and why humor often reveals truths society struggles to say out loud.

Sponsors:

Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/.                                                    

Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com/ 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

For decades, Africa has depended on imported medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect its people. But what happens when a country decides to manufacture its own? 

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, economic strategist Michael Fairbanks explains the ambitious vision behind Akagera Medicines, a Rwanda-linked biotech company developing treatments for drug-resistant tuberculosis. 

Backed by Rwanda’s national pension fund, this project raises difficult questions about pharmaceutical sovereignty, global health inequality, African industrial policy, and the risks of building a biotech industry from scratch. Can Africa truly compete with global pharmaceutical giants? And what happens if the bet fails? This conversation explores the intersection of science, capital, geopolitics, and the future of African healthcare innovation.

Sponsors:

Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/.                                                    

Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com/ 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

Can drugs like ketamine, LSD, and marijuana really “rewire” the brain?

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Dr. Lisa Ndejuru, clinician at the King Faisal Hospital Ketamine Treatment & Research Centre in Kigali, breaks down the science and controversy surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy, mental health treatment in Africa, and the global rise of ketamine clinics. We discuss Elon Musk’s public use of ketamine, Silicon Valley’s investment in psychedelics, African traditional plant medicine, marijuana culture among young Africans, and whether modern pharmaceuticals are healing trauma — or simply reshaping perception. 

Sponsors:

Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/.                                                    

Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com/ 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

What does heroin actually do to a human being — and why are so many young Africans falling into addiction? In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Steve Khald Maridadi a Rwandan filmmaker, opens up about heroin addiction, cocaine, laced marijuana, recovery, psych wards, and the system that failed him. We explore how drug addiction works biologically and psychologically, why jailing addicts may be the wrong solution, and how stigma pushes addiction underground.

Sponsors:

Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/.                                                    

Akagera Medicines- https://www.akageramedicines.com/ 

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

This week on The Long Form, Sonia Mugabo — founder of one of Rwanda’s most recognizable fashion houses — opens up about the trauma, ambition, and emotional cost behind success. Sonia reflects on grief, resilience, entrepreneurship in Africa, motherhood, identity, and the psychological weight of being perceived as “strong.” This conversation explores trauma in Rwanda, African entrepreneurship, creativity under pressure, women in business, post-conflict identity, and the unseen emotional realities behind building a brand in East Africa. A raw and intimate look at success, survival, and what it really means to build something after loss.

Sponsors:
Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, we sit down with Joel Kashaija, a cybersecurity insider and ethical hacker working at the frontlines of digital risk in Africa to unpack why most people, businesses, and even governments misunderstand online security. From smartphones and public Wi-Fi to VPNs, SIM cards, the dark web, and corporate cyber-espionage, this conversation cuts through myths to explain how cyber threats really work — and why Africa’s future depends on getting digital security right. 

Sponsors:
Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

Davido gets real in this episode! From being young and wild to leaving the club scene, he talks about President Kagame picking him up from the airport, why he’s building a holiday home in Rwanda, and how his music makes Africa come alive. He also speaks on the West’s obsession with Afrobeats and why the world still doesn’t see African music beyond it.  

Sponsors:
Threat Informat - https://threatinformant.io/

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

Charcoal is a normal part of daily life across Africa, yet its true cost is rarely examined. In this episode of The Long Form, Claudia Muench, CEO of Biomassters, reflects on health, climate, and power — and what it would take for Africa to move beyond charcoal.

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media 

Joshua Baraka on blowing up young, surviving fame, and building longevity in African music. In this episode of The Long Form, Uganda’s rising star opens up about money, pressure, purpose, and protecting his art. 

We explore Uganda’s music ecosystem, the financial realities behind streaming success, and how artists can turn creativity into sustainable, generational wealth. Joshua also reflects on identity, relationships, and staying grounded in a world that constantly demands more — while offering lessons for musicians, entrepreneurs, and young Africans chasing success in any field.

Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or directly to our phone number: +250795462739

Visit Sanny Ntayombya's Official Website: https://sannyntayombya.com

Produced by LF Media