Wide Awake Podcast

In this weeks episode I speak to Ellen Pakkies. She was known as a loving mother, a religious woman and an upstanding member of her community in Lavender Hill. But on a September morning in 2007, she killed her own son Abie by strangling him with a rope.

In this episode we discuss Ellen's early years and the horrific abuse she went through, how addiction destroyed her family, the days leading up to the tragic incident with her son Abie, and the reasons behind her actions. We also went into great detail about the day she murdered her son and what happened afterwards!

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In this week's episode of the Wide Awake Podcast I had a conversation with the leader of the DA, John Steenhuisen. During our chat we discussed John's epic clashes with Cyril Ramaphosa in Parliament, the questionable release of Jacob Zuma from prison, the riots that erupted in Durban and Cape Town, Cyril Ramaphosa's $4 Million Couch Scandal, John's thoughts on becoming the president of South Africa, addressing the growing issue of homelessness in Cape Town, the challenges related to drugs and gangs in the Cape Flats, concerns about police corruption, Gayton Mckenzie, what BRICS means, the recent legalisation of marijuana in SA and much more!

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In this week’s episode of the Wide Awake Podcast I had a chat with the leaders of the Bad Boys gang and Pastor Andie. During this episode we talk about what it was like growing up in one of South Africa’s most dangerous areas, how they joined and eventually became the leaders of the Bad Boys gang, life inside South Africa’s most notorious prison, how they make money for the gangs, corruption in South Africa, where they see themselves in 10 years and much more!

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In this week’s episode of the Wide Awake Podcast, I had a chat with Penuel Lungelo Mlotshwa, self-proclaimed "God Penuel". During this episode we talked about Penuel’s journey of self discovery, his pursuit of knowledge and identity, how he made and lost millions of his own and other people’s money, being reborn as a God and starting his own “religion” which he calls a Cult.

We also had a heated debate about Antisemitism, Andrew Tate, Kanye West, how Cult leaders use their influence to manipulate their followers and much more!

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From Social media to one of South Africa’s fastest rising musical talents. This week I speak to Will Linley. This chat was one of the most insightful discussions I’ve had about the music industry and what it takes to become successful at such a young age. During this episode we discussed what Spotify actually pays artists, the story behind the song that put Will on the map, advice for other artists trying to make it in the industry, opening for One Republic and much more.

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In this week's episode of the Wide Awake Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Jonathan Shapiro, South Africa's most acclaimed and controversial political cartoonist, better known as Zapiro. Despite facing lawsuits, death threats, and enduring a stint in South Africa's notorious Pollsmoor prison, he remains unwavering in expressing his opinions and fearlessly confronting influential figures. Tune in to hear the remarkable journey of this acclaimed and controversial artist!

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In this weeks episode of the Wide Awake Podcast I spoke to social media influencer and medical doctor, Dr Siya.

We spoke about how Siya gained over 3 million followers on social media, the reality inside South Africa's township hospitals, how Siya survived a brutal attack by Skinheads in Russia, sex education and medical misconceptions, the strangest injuries he has treated and much more.

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In this episode of the Wide Awake Podcast, I had a heartfelt conversation with my dad. We delve into his upbringing, the challenges he faced, and how he emerged as the amazing person he is today. We also talked about my recent trip to America and shared stories about some of our favourite guests from previous episodes.

During this episode we also discussed my journey as a recovering addict, the changes I've experienced over the past four years and some SHOCKING new developments.

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In this weeks episode of the Wide Awake Podcast I speak to former gang member, Thando. His journey is unique because instead of joining a street gang he chose to stand alone in Africa’s most dangerous city, Cape Town.

During this episode we discussed his childhood and how he transformed from an innocent kid to a ruthless gangster. Thando also shared his experiences inside Pollsmoor, South Africa's most notorious prison. We delve into the story of the Numbers Gang, how he survived after being shot 11 times, his confrontations with other street gangs and the reasons behind his decision to leave his life of crime. Thando also shared some of the most unbelievable stories I have ever heard and much more..

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In this episode of the Wide Awake Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dariusz Dziewanski. Dariusz is an experienced researcher, journalist, and author who has dedicated the last fifteen years to international development and humanitarian work.

He specialises in research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, with his main focus on gangs. His extensive academic research has resulted in the publication of a book titled "Gang Entry and Exit in Cape Town: Getting Beyond The Streets in Africa’s Deadliest City," as well as numerous articles in esteemed peer-reviewed journals.

During our conversation, we delved into Dariusz's journey of working with gangs in South Africa and explored why Cape Town holds the unfortunate distinction of being Africa's deadliest city. We discussed the Cape Flats and examined the most influential gangs in South Africa. Additionally, we explored the reasons behind individuals joining gangs and the various pathways they take to exit such environments. Dariusz also shared an insane story about a lone gangster engaged in an extraordinary battle and much more…

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