Advertise on podcast: Gareth's Guests

She might have a more recognisable voice than Gareth Cliff... South African icon and news veteran Leanne Manas joins Gareth to reminisce about her 20-year career in media - from breaking the biggest news stories the country has seen, to the impact of Vuyo Mbuli’s passing on her personal life.

Tristan Kapp - aka ‘The Friendly Satanist’ - is here to debunk all the myths behind the ‘Satanic’ label, and culture behind Satanism. Gareth Cliff, taking an atheist stance in this subject, takes Tristan on in a battle of history surrounding religion. From the early noted biblical times, to Gareth’s favourite era of the Roman Empire, Tristan slates the perverted ideas of animal sacrifice, demon possession, and a so-called ‘devil’ - and breaks down the real satanic views on life.

Dr Dan McMillan has spent nearly four decades on a journey to understand the multi-faceted answer to the wrenching question: How could something as horrific as the Holocaust have happened?

John McCook - otherwise known as Eric Forrester to most of us - has been the anchor of ‘The Bold and The Beautiful’ for almost 37 years. His iconic character is known around the world, but specifically resonates with so many South Africans, who grew up watching the soapie every afternoon. Gareth Cliff goes behind the scenes of the long-running production. John also speaks about his various other roles in television shows, such as ‘Murder, She Wrote’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’, meeting his wife on set, and his connection to South Africa.

Graeme Codrington is a futurist, scenario planner and an expert on the future of work. Gareth speaks to him about local and global politics, remote work, where the workplace is headed in 2024, how we can make technology work better for us, ChatGPT, education and what we should be leaving behind in 2023.

Stephen A. Newton is the MD of Aleph - the company representing X, TikTok, Snapchat and Spotify in Africa. With social media channels fast becoming an opportunity for employment, Stephen is passionate about upskilling the African youth, who by approximately 2050, will be the workforce of the future. He also explains Aleph's Digital Ad Expert, which is on a mission to provide free digital marketing expertise.

Francesca Emerson - otherwise known as 'The Chocolate Bunny' - sits down with Gareth Cliff to share some highlights from her new tell-all book. Being one of the first black women at the Playboy Club in New York during the 1960s, Francesca’s life has been one wild rollercoaster involving sex, love, scandal and opportunity. From working on film sets featuring some unbelievable names, to almost stabbing one of her exes to death, she has done it all!

Al J Venter, a retired intelligence agent who worked for the CIA, is opening up about his time in the agency after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Al discusses Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, and their involvement in South Africa. He also has a near-death experience with a KGB spy in Johannesburg!

Mumsy Malinga (Campus Head of Diversity and Head of the Centre for Dialogue and Conflict Resolution) joins Gareth Cliff, alongside Ronan Meltzer (student head of judiciary at Redhill School), to talk about their Centre for Dialogue and Conflict Resolution - as well as their their blueprint on how to grow a culture of understanding, diversity, and inclusivity among students, staff, and parents.

In a world of many greats, few choose to dedicate their career to a cause bigger than themselves. Since joining YouTube in 2011, South African
Dan Mace has worked on growing his audience with his unique storytelling abilities and editing styles. Having met YouTube sensation, Mr Beast, during his visit to South Africa, Dan was approached with an opportunity that would change his life forever. Teaming up with Beast Philanthropy as the CCO, Dan is able to not only improve the lives of millions across the globe but also entertain while doing it. Gareth Cliff sits down with Dan in Cape Town at his production studios, Joe Films, to discuss the unimaginable journey of his life as a filmmaker - putting his own work on hold and moving halfway around the world to get on board with Beast Philanthropy. 

Kanthan Pillay is a wise voice, with experiences only one in a million could have... from a maestro chef to South African political activist. Gareth delves into his family background, education and early work life overseas - before returning to settle in South Africa, where his heart belongs.

Growing up in Yemen, Luai Ahmed was pre-programmed with hate and biases within his culture... but with a curious mind and determination to find the truth, he moved to Sweden. After learning Swedish and immersing himself in the culture, he gained quite a following on social media for expressing his controversial thoughts. Luai and Gareth delve into the Israel-Hamas conflict, the difference between Islamophobia and 'Muslimphobia', as well as some of the Swedish government's behaviour behind closed doors.