Gareth's Guests

Drugs, fraud, and prison found Nikki Munitz reflecting on the lowest points that turned her life around. She lets Gareth Cliff and Lebang Kgosana pick her brain about her time behind bars, her experiences as an addict, and her venture in running a rehab for fellow addicts. www.cliffcentral.com

In a world where fame, fortune, and scandal meet, your world as you know it could change in the blink of an eye. In this case, Tol A$$ Mo’s world was turned upside down, and after a prolonged court case, he is now trying to return to his normal life as an MC, comedian, and entertainment figure. Gareth uncovers his journey as a sangoma and his new path to happiness. www.cliffcentral.com

Gareth Cliff sits down with Penuel The Black Pen - an internet personality known for wild, controversial opinions that often go against the grain of society. Together they tackle the upcoming elections that will decide the fate of millions across South Africa. Gareth does a deep dive into Penuel’s own religious concept 'Penuelism', and the idea of man-made beliefs. www.cliffcentral.com

If you’re a true South African at heart, you’ll know Sello Maake kaNcube. From a local soapie hero, to a director of international stature, “Archie” walks us through some history of his outstanding work over the years, including reproducing an original John Kani production - Nothing but the Truth. Strap in with Gareth and Sello as they go down the memory lane of South African entertainment. www.cliffcentral.com

From orgasms and cult leaders, to elephants and the Dalai Lama... it's a real family affair as the legendary Kate Turkington - 89 years young - is joined by her daughters Tiffany and Tara for stories that cover their shared love of travel, sibling rivalry, crazy expeditions, and some embarrassing anecdotes! www.cliffcentral.com

‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid?’ One of Facebook’s many mantras that struck a nerve for Michal Oshman, and so it became the title of her latest book. Inspired by her grandmother - a holocaust survivor - Michal has lived day by day looking over her shoulder in fear, but recently turned her life around to encourage people to live, fail hard, learn and connect. Currently working in the TikTok realm, Michal is also using her voice to spread the message of social culture in the workplace far and wide. www.cliffcentral.com

If you recognise the name “Carrie Bradshaw”, you lived in an era of prime time television, where 'Sex and the City' dominated the airwaves for years, but also became a cultural phenomenon - redefining modern relationships. Gareth sits down with the creator of the series, Candace Bushnell, to discuss her inspiration behind the literature and how it was picked up on television, being a single woman in New York, and even ideologies she is not a fan of. Plus she also shares some dating tips and tricks! www.cliffcentral.com

You might ask, who still writes columns... let alone who still reads them? Aspasia Karras is the editor-at-large of Sunday Times Lifestyle, and she joins Gareth for a general catch-up. They dive into interesting topics like vaping, self-inflicted pain, and the trappings of branding and self-image. www.cliffcentral.com

Tim Urban has spent years writing stick-figure-illustrated posts on his blog, Wait But Why. Thanks to his creative and unique way of seeing the world - and all of its issues - he has now written his first book, What’s our Problem? Gareth speaks to him about the book, and some of the compelling topics that Tim tackled in it. www.cliffcentral.com

Avid gamer, professional streamer, author and academic... Thea seems to be doing it all at the age of 25, while keeping a cool head and conquering the world. Gareth discusses her accolades in neuropsychology (in which she is obtaining her Master’s degree), and her relationship with the King of YouTube - Mr Beast. Not to mention everything in between from writing her book, 'The Marked Children', to her work in Esports and her plans for the future. www.cliffcentral.com

South African treasure Louise Carver joins Gareth Cliff and Lebang Kgosana in the studio for a long overdue catch-up. With 7 albums, 11 South African Music Award nominations, and 2 Billboard No. 1’s, it’s a no-brainer that Louise is easily one of South Africa’s most precious talents. Together, they discuss life after COVID, her booming business ventures, the tragic death of Derek Watts, and her recent relationship. www.cliffcentral.com

Bruce Fordyce - A household name and South African legend. Best known for winning the South African Comrades Marathon a record nine times, the "Winged Messenger" sits down with Gareth Cliff to discuss the special moments in his career, his involvement in today's athletic culture, and his interests in anthropology and archaeology. www.cliffcentral.com

As we enter the final months of 2023, many of us are feeling a weight on our shoulders... unsure about the future of South Africa. It’s cool-headed, focused individuals, like Vusi Thembekwayo, that we rely on for leadership and insights. Gareth Cliff speaks to Vusi about SA’s business landscape in the current political climate, the role every concerned South African should play, and what Vusi's steps forward would be - if he had the opportunity to run things his way. www.cliffcentral.com

Paul Slabolepszy is a literal legend of South African theatre. He tells Gareth Cliff about his family's history, mixing sport and drama, his lifelong partnership with Bill Flynn, the new version of one of his famous plays, what inspires his writing, and the true meaning of legacy. www.cliffcentral.com

You might know her as Dr D from her many years on 702, but in this in-depth discussion, Dorianne Weil shares some personal stories about meeting Mandela, her arduous fertility fight, grieving the loss of her husband, and how to find happiness. www.cliffcentral.com

Ben Goldsmith has written a beautiful book about a terrible tragedy. After losing his teenage daughter in a freak accident on the family farm in Somerset, England in 2019, Ben was drowning in the depths of grief and despair. His deeply personal story of how he found his way back through the healing power of nature is both moving and inspirational for anyone who has experienced a great loss. www.cliffcentral.com

Award-winning writer, Darrel Bristow-Bovey joins Gareth to talk about his new book ‘Finding Endurance: Shackleton, My Father and a World Without End’. Don’t miss this somewhat philosophical discussion about the relationship we have with our fathers, the true meaning of success, and how to ‘win’ at the game of life. www.cliffcentral.com

She is a notorious South African actress who has released a new book, exposing the truth about the local entertainment industry. Not only does Vatiswa Ndara talk about her experiences within that world, she also drops some big names that have treated her and many others wrong. It has been a pretty dark road for Vatiswa over the last few years, and Gareth sits down with her to unpack her career, her reputation, and some deeply personal stories… all while having a laugh!

Gareth Cliff sits down with Howard Sackstein, a lawyer by training and an entrepreneur by profession, to talk about his life and career in the political space. Howard is the founding member of the Jewish anti-apartheid movement, which actively fought against the apartheid regime. With tons of other accolades such as heading up the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as Executive Director, and non-executive chairperson of the SA Jewish Report newspaper, Howard finds a way to warm our hearts and inspire us with his optimism about SA and his general zest for life!

Mike Teke - a man of principle and passion in South African business - sits down with Gareth Cliff to discuss his fascinating life growing up in the townships during the apartheid era, as well as his outlook on life. He explains why relationships built on professionalism and respect are extremely important - as well as keeping a line between people in business and his personal life. Enjoy listening to the journey of a man on a mission to push South Africa forward.