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Top 11 Podcasts in South Africa This Year

November 29, 2024

Top 11 Podcasts in South Africa This Year

Experiences and our interactions with others usually make up the curriculum of our existence, but podcasts offer their own distinct value. They let you listen, learn, and grow while you’re getting ready in the morning, going for a jog, driving around, or even working on your business.

But, with more than three million podcasts available, how do you choose where to start?

To help you out, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best podcasts in South Africa. Whether you’re looking for business advice or a motivational push, these top podcasts are worth a listen.

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are audio series dedicated to sharing insights and tips about business. Typically there will be a host or two who discuss specific business-related topics in episodes that run from 20 minutes up to 1.5 hours, often with a special guest who’s brought on to share their unique perspective on the topic.

Top 11 Podcasts in South Africa

1. Today Africa Podcast

Host: Orji-Oko Uzor and Chibuike Orji-Oko
Length: 20 minutes – 1 hour
Video format: YouTube
Listen: Spotify

Today Africa Podcast was launched in 2024 and is about learning from the remarkable stories of African entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, experts, etc. We interview them and share the stories behind their businesses and careers. In each interview, we ask how they got started, how they grew, and how they run their business today.

These stories are inspiring and also provide specific advice and a blueprint for starting a business. By sharing these stories, we want to help others get started and thrive. You can also watch every episode- in full- on our YouTube channel.

As a bonus, guests on Today Africa Podcast often share their business models, their hobbies, and other information you usually won’t get from other shows.

2. The Joe Rogan Experience

Host: Joe Rogan
Length: 1-5+ hours
Video format: YouTube & Spotify
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts

In 2019 The Joe Rogan Experience podcast was listed as the highest earning podcast in the world, making the equivalent of some R475 million. The comedian rolls out the red carpet for celebrities and experts who unpack intriguing topics about life, books, politics and more.

The show takes a long-form conversational format common among many American podcasts. With episodes pre-recorded in advance, episodes are released daily, with 3 to 4 a week at 20:00 South African time.

3. Podcast and Chill with MacG

Host: Macgyver Mukwevho
Length: 20 minutes – 2+ hours
Video format: YouTube
Listen: Apple Podcast, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.

Dubbed as SA’s number one podcast, Podcast and Chill with MacG takes the form of a chat cast, with main host MacGyver and co-hosts Sol Phenduka and the mysterious Ghost Lady. It is released every Tuesday and Thursday. With celebrity guests who often offer a tell-all is a frank show unpacking anything and everything. Though commonly under public scrutiny for their controversial episodes, the host also launched Chillers Market, a platform for businesses to promote products or services.

4. On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Host: Jay Shetty
Length: 20 minutes – 1+ hours
Video Format: YouTube
Listen: Apple Podcast, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.

Believed to be the number one health podcast in the world, the former monk and life coach from the UK has 301 released episodes to date. Shetty releases new episodes on Mondays and Fridays. In the latest episode, the host tells of the ten lessons he has learnt from the last 300 episodes of On Purpose.

The podcaster has a wide celebrity portfolio who are known to be inspirational icons, heroes and experts, including of the likes of Kobe Bryant, Alicia Keys, Dr. Steven Gundry, and David Goggins.

If you’re looking for a daily dose of motivation coupled with practical and applicable gems of knowledge this is might be a podcast for you.

5. Dear Daughter, the BBC World Services

Host: Namulanta Kombo
Length: 4 – 26 minutes
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.

Newly released podcast Dear Daughter from the BBC World Services features the BBC’s International Podcast Competition winner, Namulanta Kombo, creating a handbook to life for daughters.

If you’re a daughter or have a daughter this podcast is for you. In the introduction episode Kombo describes her journey and love for podcasting. She gathers letters from people all over the world. In the four episodes thus far, the stories are narrated by women and young girls.

Released weekly the podcast debuted on the 10 December 2021. The show depends on audience engagement, letters are written to Kombo. Kombo shines light on pregnancy and the fears of motherhood, among other subjects.

6. True Crime South Africa

Host: Nicole Engelbrecht
Length: 20 minutes – 1+ hours
Format: Individual episodes
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts

This podcast, published in conjunction with Arena Holdings and hosted by Nicole Engelbrecht, deals with solved and unsolved crimes in South Africa.

7. TED Talks Daily

Host: Elise Hu
Length: 7-50 minutes
Format: Individual episodes
Listen: Apples Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts

From the TED Audio Collective, TED Talks Daily covers just about any topic you can think of. You can listen to thought-provoking experts, pioneers, creatives, and more. The episodes are fairly short, with quick bursts of information, released daily.

8. The Money Show, Primedia

Host: Bruce Whitfield
Length: 35 minutes – 1 + hours
Format: Individual episodes
Listen: Apple Podcast, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.

Bruce Whitfield’s popular 702 slot, The Money Show on weekdays from 18:00 to 20:00, is published as a podcast by Primedia Broadcasting as a catch-up service. It has a loyal following.

9. Global News, from BBC Podcasts

Host: BBC World Service
Length: 25 – 50 + minutes
Format: Individual episodes
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms where you find podcasts.

This podcast from the BBC World Service brings the latest news from around the globe. Episodes are released every day, twice on weekdays and one daily on weekends. It is presented by news anchors of the BBC.

10. Our Love Journey With Mpoomy & Brenden

Host: Mpoomy Ledwaba & Brenden Praise
Length: 20 – 30+ minutes
Video Format: YouTube
Listen: Apple Podcast, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.

South African couple Mpoomy Ledwaba and Brenden Praise take listeners on journey of their love story. The content creator Ledwaba and musician Praise talk about a range of topics throughout their three seasons, covering marriage, lifestyle, mental health, and more.

Coupled with a YouTube channel, the couple post both a video and audio format. Videos can be watched on Mpoomy Ledwaba’s YouTube channel.

Ideal for couples, this podcast makes a good listen for those who are married, in relationships – and the single looking for relatable experiences to engage with.

11. VT Podcast “Ideas that Matter”

Host: Vusi Thembekwayo
Length: 8 – 40+ minutes
Format: Individual episodes
Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms where you listen to podcasts.

This podcast produced by Sound and Sounds features Thembekwayo, a professional and global speaker, author and business mogul. His debut episode aired 13 November 2020. A year and some change later, his topics have varied from love to fear, and wealth.

Keep a pen and paper on hand if you’re looking to be more intentional and driven about how you tackle life.

What Podcasts Do You Listen to?

As you can see, there’s a variety when it comes to podcasts in South Africa. The more you listen, the more you’ll find you prefer certain hosts over others, or certain formats and lengths. But whatever your preference, podcasts can be helpful companions in your life.

There are a lot of podcasts on this list, and with new ones going live every day, it can be difficult to keep up with all of them. So we’d like to turn it over to you: What podcasts do you subscribe to that have been a huge help in running and growing your business?

Share it with us by leaving a comment below! And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out these best books for entrepreneurs.