PAGECAST: Season 1

“When love hurts, what remains of who we are?” In the final live Pagecast episode from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, Joy Watson sits down with Karina Magdalena Szczurek for a thoughtful conversation about Because I Love You, Joy's latest book exploring gender, power, violence, and the complicated realities of love through the stories of three women. Drawing from her work as a researcher, writer, and feminist storyteller, Watson reflects on the difficult questions the book asks about relationships, identity, survival, and what happens when love becomes harmful.

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio, Veruska De Vita speaks to Charlotte Bauer about Deep Blue. Veruska De Vita is the author of Deep Blue, a love letter to the sea that explores humanity's deep connection with water and the bliss of swimming, diving, dipping, and simply being in salt water. The latest episode of Pagecast, recorded live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, is out now.

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio, Bronwyn Williams and Paige Nick are in conversation about AI, the economy, and the trajectories shaping the years ahead, in a way that actually makes sense. Bronwyn Williams's new book is The Future. Bronwyn Williams is a futurist, economist and business-trends analyst. She is the co-author of The Future Starts Now, Rescuing Our Republic and The Future, a columnist for leading business and technology publications, and a well-known global keynote speaker and media commentator on future trends and economic trajectories. Paige Nick is a South African novelist, columnist, and advertising copywriter. She founded The Good Book Appreciation Society on Facebook, and has co-authored A Girl Walks Into a Bar, a series of choose-your-own-adventure erotic novels.

A little reminder to look up. Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio, Bridget McNulty and Sarah Bullen are in conversation about the small, glimmering moments that make up a year, and the practice of noticing them. Bridget McNulty's new book is Daily Glimmers: The Art of Finding Tiny Joys Every Day of the Year. Bridget McNulty began her career as a magazine journalist and has since written the novel Strange Nervous Laughter, The Grief Handbook, and her most recent book, Daily Glimmers. After being diagnosed with diabetes, Bridget co-founded the NGO Sweet Life Diabetes Community, through which she publishes books and a regular magazine. She also co-founded Now Novel, an online writing course. Sarah Bullen is a multi-published author and renowned writing coach who leads international writing retreats and adventures in Europe and Africa. A former financial and magazine journalist, her most recent book The Other Side delves into stories of near-death experiences and spiritual encounters. Sarah's work reflects her passion for storytelling and exploration of the human spirit.

This one's pure joy. Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio, Africa Melane and Fehmz get into food, family, and the stories behind the recipes, and you can hear the laughter from a mile off. Fehmz's debut cookbook Damn Good Food features over 80 recipes. Fehmz is a city girl from Johannesburg chasing her dreams as a food, lifestyle and travel influencer. She is a strong believer in keeping things real and authentic, and her vibrant personality infuses every recipe with energy, colour, and bold flavours inspired by her Muslim heritage. Africa Melane is a South African broadcaster, journalist, and moderator known for hosting the Early Breakfast Show on both CapeTalk and 702. He is admired for his measured, inquisitive, and respectful interview style, and brings more than a decade of experience in South African broadcasting.

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio, Justice Malala joins Lester Kiewit for a wide-ranging conversation on South Africa's political trajectory and the questions shaping our democracy. Justice Malala is an award-winning South African political analyst, journalist and bestselling author. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including We Have Now Begun Our Descent and The Plot to Save South Africa, which examine the country's political trajectory and democratic challenges. Lester Kiewit hosts CapeTalk's Good Morning Cape Town. Filmed & edited by Curt Ruiters at @Quickclickproductions_

What does it take to turn years of investigative reporting into a book? Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio, Jeff Wicks opens up to Qaanitah Hunter about the craft, the process, and the personal toll of putting his new book on the page. Jeff Wicks is a journalist with News24's investigations team. His reporting on the assassination of Babita Deokaran was shortlisted for the Global Shining Light Award, which recognises watchdog journalism in developing countries carried out under threat, duress or the direst conditions. Qaanitah Hunter is an award-winning South African political journalist and founding editor of The Debrief Network. She is the author of several non-fiction and fiction works, including the co-authored Who Will Rule SA?, which has helped shape public discourse around South Africa's political future.

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio. Sven Axelrad's new book is The Dogs of Vivo. Sven Axelrad is the author of four novels: Buried Treasure, God's Pocket, Nicotine Gospel, and now The Dogs of Vivo. He has published short stories in New Contrast and Fragment Collective and has been longlisted for the Desperate Literature Prize in Madrid. Sven is an accountant who just loves reading and writing. Riley Henry-Herbert is a fiction writer and book reviewer based in Cape Town. He reviews books on Book Choice for Fine Music Radio and shares his thoughts on social media and on his Substack page, Underline. Filmed & edited by Curt Ruiters at @Quickclickproductions_

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival Pagecast Studio. Tara Roos's new book Where To From Here? is a book for anyone wanting to understand the future of South African politics and the choices that will define it. Get your copy at Exclusive Books at the Franschhoek Town Hall! Tara Roos is a political analyst and the parliamentary correspondent for Business Day. Emma Swart is a Cape Town-based book reviewer, content creator, and co-host of The Reading Chatroom podcast. She is also the founder of The Shared Shelf, a literary community that brings readers together through book clubs, author conversations, and reflective reading spaces. Through her work, she shares a deep love for books and the conversations they make possible. The latest episode of Pagecast is out now! For more festival insights, follow along with the News24 livestream of the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Filmed & edited by Curt Ruiters at @Quickclickproductions_

Pagecast is coming to you live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Rémy Ngamije's new book is Only Stars Know, a collection of short stories that explore love, loss, identity, and human connection, centred on the life of an aspiring writer. Rémy Ngamije is a Rwandan-born Namibian writer and photographer. He is the founder of the Doek Arts Trust, an arts organisation which publishes Doek! Literary Magazine, Namibia's first literary magazine, which he cofounded and serves as editor-in-chief. In conversation with Wamuwi Mbao, columnist for Business Day's Wanted magazine, SALA-winning literary critic for the Johannesburg Review of Books, and lecturer in English Studies at Stellenbosch University. His book Years of Fire and Ash brings together fifty years' worth of South African protest poetry into one collection. Filmed & edited by Curt Ruiters at Quickclick Productions.

In hierdie episode van Pagecast gesels die meningsvormer en leier van die burgerregte-organisasie Kaapse Forum Heindrich Wyngaard met die bekroonde ondersoekende joernalis en skrywer Julian Jansen oor sy nuwe boek Op die Spoor van die Stasiemoordenaar. Jansen, wat ook die skrywer is van boeke soos Moord op Stellenbosch en Die De Zalze-moorde, is bekend vir sy aangrypende, diep menslike joernalistiek en hierdie roerende gesprek het net weer bewys waarom hy bekend is daarvoor dat hy altyd die storie agter die storie gaan haal. Van 1986 tot 1994 het die sogenaamde Stasiemoordenaar die mense van die Kaapse vlakte geterroriseer – 22 seuns en jong mans, die meeste tussen 9 en 14 jaar oud, is naby treinstasies ontvoer, seksueel aangerand en vermoor. Norman Simons is in 1995 skuldig bevind aan een van die moorde en is in 2023 op parool vrygelaat, maar steeds spook tergende vrae oor die saak. Jansen het op die spoor van die seuns en die destydse polisieondersoeke gegaan om lig te werp op hierdie donker raaisel. "Ons moet die kind se identiteit, sy menswees onthou," sê Jansen. Agter elke naam in hierdie verhaal was 'n lewe, 'n gesin, 'n toekoms wat weggeruk is.

In today's episode of Pagecast, Joy Watson is in conversation with someone who knows her better than most - her sister, and fellow author, Mary Watson. It's an intimate kind of interview, the kind where the questions go somewhere deeper because the love in the room is already established. Settle in for this one. More about the book: What does it mean to lose yourself inside a relationship? Not dramatically. Not all at once. But slowly, quietly, in the small erosions that accumulate until one day you look in the mirror and struggle to recognise the person looking back. That's the territory Joy Watson walks into with unflinching clarity in her extraordinary new book, Because I Love You. This is not a book about breakups. It's about erasure. About the quiet harm that can live inside love, the kind that doesn't leave bruises on the skin but rewrites the architecture of your mind. It's about gaslighting and silence, withdrawal and control - and the slow, destabilising experience of being made to doubt your own reality by someone who claims to love you. Watson traces the inner lives of three women - Zara, Mira and Thuli - whose stories unfold in fragments, the way real experience does. And woven through their stories is her own. It's for anyone who has ever wondered whether they were overreacting, too sensitive, too much, too little. Anyone who has asked: Am I the problem? More about Joy and Mary: Joy Watson is a feminist researcher, writer, and Book Editor-at-Large at the Daily Maverick. Because I Love You is published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. Mary Watson is from South Africa and now lives on the west coast of Ireland. She has a PhD from the University of Cape Town, where she taught for many years. She won the Caine Prize for African Writing for her adult publishing in South Africa, and in 2014 was named on the Africa39 list of writers under 40 with the potential to define trends in African literature. Her YA novels have been nominated for the Irish Book Awards and the Carnegie medal. Her adult debut, The Cleaner, was an instant Irish Times bestseller.

In hierdie episode van Pagecast is Hanlie Retief in gesprek met Louis Jansen van Vuuren oor sy nuutste boek, Biltong en Dior: Avonture van 'n Afrikaanse Fransman. Meer oor die boek: As grootoog seun in die ou Oos-Transvaal het Louis Jansen van Vuuren nooit kon dink dat hy eendag 'n château in die Franse platteland sou besit nie. Louis se kostelike vertellings oor sy lewe in Frankryk word verryk met boeiende brokkies oor die Franse geskiedenis en raad vir hoe om te oorleef in 'n samelewing met 'n haas onleerbare taal en eiesoortige gewoontes. Uiteindelik gee dié Afrikaanse Fransman se lewe in die vreemde hom ook 'n nuwe waardering vir dit wat hom uniek Suid-Afrikaans maak. #Pagecast #LouisJansenvanVuuren #BiltongenDior

In this episode of Pagecast, Shana Fife interviews Zubayr Charles about his unflinching debut novel, Haram. About the book: As a young man in a close-knit Muslim community in Woodstock, Muhammad used to feel trapped between who he was and who he was expected to be. But then he met Riyaaz, and his world shifted in unexpected ways. Many years later, on the day of his wedding, Muhammad is pulled into memories of his adolescence – a time when faith and forbidden desires collided. Haram is an unflinching tale alive with hidden and unspoken desires.

This week on Pagecast, Khaya Dlanga interviews Pepe Marais about his book, One Word. About the book: One Word reveals the transformative power of discovering and embedding your organisation's true purpose – captured in a single word. In this thought-provoking and practical guide, based on the author's doctoral research and business experience of growing South Africa's most successful advertising and communication group, Joe Public, you will uncover a clear framework for translating corporate purpose into lived organisational culture. #Pagecast #PepeMarais #JoePublic #SouthAfrica #BookPodcast #KhayaDlanga

Selokela Molamodi is in conversation with Dr Mzamo Masito about his book, This Country Hates Our Boys, a searing exploration of the complex relationship South African society holds with its Black and Coloured men and boys. More about the book: The widely accepted phrase ‘amadoda zizinja' – men are dogs – is more than a colloquialism; it's a symptom of a society where positive masculine role models are scarce. This linguistic shortcut flattens the nuanced reality of masculinity into a single, simplistic concept of patriarchy, obscuring the complex, chaotic social issues at play. Through the vital work of African Men Care, a non-profit organisation, Dr Masito unpacks the interlocking crises facing Black boys and men: educational disparities, mental health struggles, pervasive violence, and fractured relationships. More crucially, the book illuminates a clear path forward. ‘Every man is every boy' is not merely an observation but a powerful call to action. The struggles of adult men today are often rooted in the unaddressed needs and unrealised potential of the boys they once were. The lament ‘awekho amadoda' (there are no men) serves as a stark warning: without decisive intervention, we risk losing entire generations. This book reveals how individual trauma metastasises into a collective crisis. When boys lack robust interior lives and positive identity models, the repercussions echo through families, schools, and communities. Hurt boys mature into hurting men, perpetuating cycles that impact everyone, including the girls and women in their lives. #Pagecast #ThisCountryHatesOurBoys #SouthAfricanLiterature #DrMzamoMasito

This week on Pagecast, Shaun de Waal sits down with acclaimed author Michiel Heyns to discuss his new novel, The Wildest Beauty. Danny Marais is the twin brother of the beautiful, talented Charlie. The Wildest Beauty is a remarkable novel, an account of their early childhood to their eventual enlistment in the First World War. From their placidly peaceful Stellenbosch schooldays to, ultimately, the battle of Delville Wood, Danny keeps a loving but half-resentful eye on his brother. Though set largely in wartime, this novel is an intimate account of a small group of friends and family, inter alia the loving parents left behind in Stellenbosch. And then there is Danny's life-changing encounter, in the darkened streets of wartime London, with a wryly cynical, battle-scarred officer. In the midst of the greatest conflict in history, facing the wild beauty of ‘the abyss of unmeaning,' Danny discovers the power of love, between friends, family – and even foes. #Pagecast #MichielHeyns #TheWildestBeauty #SouthAfricanLiterature #WWIFiction #HistoricalFiction #bookpodcast

In this Pagecast episode, Craig Foster sits down with father and son duo Charles and Matthew Griffiths to chat about their book, Explore the Shore, a guide to discovering the creatures and features shaping the South African shoreline. More about the book: Did you know that limpets grow their own seaweed gardens? Or that sea anemones fight one another to defend territories? What's up with whelks surfing the waves in search of food? How does a starfish move? Does the paper nautilus really have a shell? All this – and much more – about South African marine life is explained in Explore the shore. Written in an engaging and conversational style, the book encourages curious but novice naturalists of all ages to head to the shore to explore for themselves. Readers will learn not only about general life on the shore but also about some weird and interesting aspects of creatures' behaviour. Armed with the information in this book, a beach walk can be more exciting than any safari! Pop-up features like personal anecdotes from the authors, interesting fact boxes and tongue-in-cheek comments from their adorable labradoodle Ben, who accompanies them on their beach visits, will make for personal, inviting content that readers will love.

This week on Pagecast, host Arini Vlotman sits down with acclaimed local author Nivashni Nair Sukdhev to discuss her new novel, It's Complicated. They talk about second chances, hidden secrets, and the healing power of true love. More about the book: Love. Secrets. Second chances. Nivashni Nair Sukdhev is back with another enchanting story set in the little town of Rally in KwaZulu-Natal. After walking away from the big city and an international modelling career, Kaavi Archary is beginning to find an inner peace. She is making friends, volunteering in a programme for troubled teenage girls and relishing a fresh start in life. But she has a secret: her estranged husband, Neel. So when Neel shows up in Rally with divorce papers, Kaavi's life is thrown into chaos. He says he's here to end things — but what he really wants is to win her back. Beneath the heartbreak lies a chemistry that neither of them can resist. As Kaavi faces the truth about her past and her family, she and Neel must decide if they can trust each other again. It's Complicated is a heartwarming tale about finding your way home — and discovering the quiet miracle of true love. This is the second book in the Rally romance series and can be read as a stand-alone story. GET THE BOOK: Grab your copy of It's Complicated by Nivashni Nair Sukdhev — available now at all major bookstores and online. Perfect for fans of heartfelt romance and second-chance love stories! #SouthAfricanRomance #Pagecast #RomanceBooks #NivashniNairSukdhev #LocalAuthors

Discover the untold stories of South African women who changed history. In this episode of Pagecast, Nancy Richards sits down with Professor Lizette Rabe to talk about her book, 101 Remarkable South African Women. From ancient trailblazers like the "Eve of the West Coast" to modern icons including Thuli Madonsela, Caster Semenya, and Tyla, this essential book restores women to the centre of South Africa's story. Journey through profiles of celebrated figures like Miriam Makeba, Olive Schreiner, and Ruth First, alongside overlooked heroines such as Zwarte Maria, Mantatisi, Nongqawuse, and Gladys Mgudlandlu. Spanning politics, literature, sport, activism, and art, these powerful narratives celebrate women's courage, intellect, creativity, and leadership that have shaped our nation and continue to drive the struggle for gender equality. Malibongwe Makosikazi – let the women be praised! About the Author: Lizette Rabe is an emeritus professor of journalism at Stellenbosch University, with over 20 years of field experience before leading SU's journalism department. An acclaimed author and editor of key works on South African media, she has received major teaching and research awards, including the Chancellor's Award and the prestigious Stals Prize for Communication and Journalism. About the Host: Nancy Richards is an independent print and radio journalist, podcast host, and media trainer. She is the founder of Woman Zone, an NPO, and The Women's Library at Artscape. Her memoir, The Skipper's Daughter, was published in 2021.

This episode of Pagecast is brought to you in collaboration with the ARTdacity podcast, ahead of the Investec Art Fair. This week, Jo-Ann Strauss interviews Chris Soal about his book, To Sharpen our Senses and Soften our Touch. Through his use of discarded and mundane ephemera, such as toothpicks and bottle caps, along with concrete, rebar, electric fencing cable, sandpaper, and other industrial materials, the artist intuitively develops the familiar to the point of the uncanny. Soal's works can be considered social abstractions influenced by a reinterpreted Arte Povera that is deeply rooted in and reflective of his upbringing in Johannesburg, South Africa. Working symbiotically with his materials, Soal utilises the inherent physical characteristics of the objects to transform them through processes of aggregation, combination, and erosion. You can find ARTdacity here: https://www.artdacity.co.za/ #Pagecast #capetownartist #artbookrecommendations

This episode of Pagecast is brought to you in collaboration with the ARTdacity podcast, just in time for the Investec Art Fair later this month. This week, Jo-Ann Strauss interviews Nicola Brandt about her book, The Distance Within, which features photographs and video stills made over more than a decade. The Distance Within reflects on Nicola Brandt's German and Namibian inheritance and deconstructs certain established ways of seeing Namibia. Brandt traveled the country extensively, documenting landscapes and people, structures and encounters, to reveal ensnared histories of German colonialism, National Socialism and apartheid. Markers of these histories range from the ephemeral and private, such as a dilapidated mound of stones as a roadside memorial, to official sites of remembrance and resistance, particularly for colonial atrocities. Alongside her images, Brandt assembles texts by thought leaders in photography, postcolonial cultures, memory and genocide studies, as well as material from private and public archives, to understand enduring blind spots. The result is an intersectional argument in favor of reclaiming suppressed indigenous stories and identities, undoing romantic notions of whiteness, and, ultimately, illuminating what has not been visible. You can find ARTdacity here: https://www.artdacity.co.za/ #Pagecast #capetownartist #artbookrecommendations

We have a bonus episode of Pagecast for you today featuring Claire Dinhut (Condiment Claire) and Karen Dudley. This is the perfect conversation ahead of the festive season as the two chat all about condiments, bold new flavours and secrets about how to elevate any dish. More about The Condiment Book by Claire Dinhut: The definitive condiment compendium by expert and TikTok sensation Claire Dinhut aka Condiment Claire Are you Team Ketchup or Team Mustard? What are your Top 3 condiments? And is butter really a condiment? Let Claire guide you through the condiment world of flavour starting with the Classics that we all know and love – Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard and Butter – right through to Hot Sauces, Ferments and Pickles (think Miso and Kimchi), Dressings & Oils, Fruit in Jars and Dips. With illustrations and charts throughout, The Condiment Book covers everything from failsafe recipes for much-loved condiments, hundreds of variations and flavour pairings, condiments from across the globe, fascinating historical facts (did you know that Aztecs used chillis as a weapon?) – it is the definitive guide to this class of food that isn't strictly necessary yet to most of us is indispensable. More about Upwards by Karen Dudley: In Upwards, Karen Dudley invites us on a culinary journey that transcends the ordinary, encouraging us to look up to what is true and essential – living simply and well. In this follow-up to Onwards, Karen, with her signature warmth and insight, shares how the act of cooking can – and should be – a letting go of life's daily preoccupations, a way to connect with ourselves and others, by paying attention to the pleasure and enjoyment of cooking something beautiful, delicious and even surprising. Sharing recipes from a vibrant palette of flavours, Upwards lifts Karen's loyal community towards the next level – to learn new skills, to look up to quality over quantity and to pay attention to the splendour that can come from the meditative act of cooking. Upwards is thus a call to be inspired, to create and to connect, all the time looking up, up, up, as we invite into our kitchens new dishes, new flavours and new possibilities. #PagecastPodcast #CondimentClaire #KarenDudley #TheCondimentBook #FestiveFlavours #FoodieConversation #CookingInspiration #ElevateYourDish

Ons eindig 'n jaar van fassinerende boekpraatjies op Pagecast met 'n opwindende gesprek tussen Deon Meyer en Beer Adriaanse oor die topverkoper Skorpio. Bennie Griessel en Vaughn Cupido ontvang die blye tyding dat hulle uiteindelik weer bevorder is tot die rang van kaptein. Maar hul vreugde is van korte duur. Die vergruisde liggaam van een van Cupido se beste vriende is gevind onder die motor waaraan hy in sy motorhuis gewerk het... was dit 'n ongeluk, of koelbloedige moord? En op 'n imposante plaas buite Stellenbosch ontplof 'n woonwa. Onverklaarbaar. Nadat die vuur geblus is, word 'n liggaam in die wrak gevind... #DeonMeyer #BennieGriessel

In this episode of Pagecast, Bongani Bingwa interviews Pieter du Toit about his latest book, The Dark Prince, an unflinching portrait of Paul Mashatile's controversial rise through the ANC ranks to the doorstep of the presidency. About the book: Having survived scandal, controversy and the Zuma years, Paul Mashatile has risen through the ranks to the doorstep of the presidency. Over a political career spanning 30 years, he has successfully navigated the corruption and factionalism that the ANC has become known for. Now he wants to take charge of the party – and the Union Buildings. The question is: Should he? Is Paul Mashatile suitable for the highest office? • He has been associated with the ‘Alex Mafia' for more than 30 years. What influence do they have over Mashatile? • He leads a lavish lifestyle, living in luxury homes in Johannesburg and Cape Town. How were they acquired? • He has been outspoken about the economy, black economic empowerment, and South Africa's foreign relations. But does he have firm principles? • And how has his string of lovers affected his professional life? This meticulously researched account by bestselling author Pieter du Toit answers these vital questions and reveals the dark truth about the ANC's crown prince. #SouthAfricanBooks #PagecastPodcast #TheDarkPrince #PieterduToit #PaulMashatile #SouthAfricanPolitics #ANC #BookPodcast #Political

In this episode of Pagecast, Sindeka Mandoyi interviews Lebo Mazibuko about her latest novel, Fabrics of Love. This family saga is told through the lens of the third generation of women who surround Lemohang Ntoi, the head of the family, as he struggles to hold onto life as he knew it. It is the Ntoi women's assertiveness and drive that threaten Lemohang's position and ideals for this family. We see their attempts at healing past trauma while they pursue their dreams. Fabrics of Love navigates issues around culture, legacy, love and marriage. #PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #FabricsOfLove #LeboMazibuko #FamilySaga #WomenWritersSA #AfricanLiterature #BookPodcast #CulturalLegacy #SAFiction

In hierdie episode van Pagecast is Mia Spies in gesprek met Marita van der Vyver oor haar nuutste boek, My jaar van vrees en vryheid. Marita van der Vyver is een van die mees geliefde skrywers in Afrikaans en is bekend vir haar romans en kinderboeke wat lesers al oor dekades heen betower. Mia Spies is 'n gerekende multimedia joernalis en TV-aanbieder, wat bekend is vir haar deeglike storievertelling en insiggewende onderhoude. Meer oor die boek: My jaar van vrees en vryheid is Marita se eerlike, roerende en soms skerp-humoristiese verkenning van 'n sprongjaar in haar lewe — 'n tydperk waarin sy van veiligheid en sekerheid na vrees en onsekerheid beweeg het. Terwyl sy deur haar herinneringe reis, ontgin sy 'n leeftyd van belewenisse, verlange, liefde, verlies, groei en die soeke na sin in 'n wêreld wat voortdurend verander. Die boek verweef persoonlike vertelling met fyn waarneming: van die daaglikse ritme van haar lewe in Frankryk, tot drome van Suid-Afrika en die mense en plekke wat haar gevorm het. Dit is 'n verhaal oor vrees — maar ook oor bevryding, aanvaarding en die moed om weer te begin. Sluit aan by Marita en Mia vir 'n warm, diepsinnige en verhelderende gesprek oor skryf, identiteit, herinnering en die krag van verhaal. #Pagecast #MaritaVanDerVyver #MyJaarVanVreesEnVryheid #AfrikaanseBoeke #MiaSpies #SuidAfrikaanseSkrywers #Letterkunde #Boekgesprek #AfrikaanseLeeskultuur #SkrywersInGesprek

In this episode of Pagecast, Anthony Molyneaux is in conversation with Nicole Engelbrecht about her new book, Bare Bones. Nicole Engelbrecht is the creator and host of one of SA's biggest podcasts, True Crime South Africa, and is the author of Samurai Sword Murder: The Morne Harmse Story. Anthony Molyneaux is a Documentary Director & Video Journalist with over a decade of experience. He is the director of Netflix's 'Beauty and the Bester' (September 2025). More about the book: Nicole Engelbrecht is back with a new book that delves into the cold cases of her phenomenally popular True Crime SA podcast. In Bare Bones, she re-examines missing and murder cases she has covered in her podcast series, and revisits the leads and the interviews she conducted. Much of the information has never been made public before. From the bones of a Jane Doe discovered under a swimming pool to a troubled young man who seemed to vanish in the prison system, from a business trip turned deadly to a child snatched from outside her home, Engelbrecht sifts the evidence anew and shines a light on old and new unsolved cases in the hope of bringing closure to the victims' families and friends. Join her in the search for the truth behind the scenes of the podcast desk. #TrueCrimeSA #BareBonesBook #NicoleEngelbrecht #PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanPodcast #TrueCrimeCommunity #ColdCases #PodcastInterview #NetflixDirector #CrimeBook

In this episode of Pagecast, Rorisang Tshabalala interviews Nozipho Tshabalala about her book, After the Fires: Unlocking the Power of Letting Go. More about the book: When the flames of life's challenges have swept through you, who do you become from the ashes? Nozipho Tshabalala is a high-performing, excellence-driven, successful black woman. Being in control of everything in her life was crucial to her survival and success. For the most part, it had always served her well – until it didn't. In this captivating and deeply personal memoir, conversation strategist Nozipho invites you into her world – one shaped by political violence, professional triumphs on global stages and the intimate battles with loss that would test her most fundamental beliefs. Now in her 40s, she has realised that what she needed most to survive may not be what she needs to thrive. After the Fires is a call to reclaim the narrative amid life's unexpected turns. It honours the complexity of womanhood while celebrating the possibility of becoming exactly who you were meant to be, even when that person looks nothing like what you imagined. With vulnerability and wisdom, Nozipho demonstrates how surrender becomes not an act of defeat but a pathway to freedom. Her story reminds us that sometimes our greatest strength lies not in holding tighter but in opening our hands to release what no longer serves us. #memoir #AfterTheFires #lettinggo #womenauthors #personalgrowth #inspirationalbook #NoziphoTshabalala #Pagecast #resilience

In hierdie episode van Pagecast gesels Bouwer Bosch met Springbok rugbyspeler Eben Etzebeth oor sy outobiografie, Ten Slotte.  Eben Etzebeth is die speler wat al die meeste toetswedstryde in Suid-Afrikaanse rugbygeskiedenis gespeel het. Op die veld word hierdie slot se intelligensie, energie en aggressie gerespekteer en bewonder. Hy is lid van die senior Springbok-leierskapspan, en speel 'n groot rol in 'n ongelooflik suksesvolle era wat twee agtereenvolgende Wêreldbekers en die groep se huidige posisie van twee jaar boaan die wêreldranglys insluit. In hierdie eerlike en onderhoudende vertelling beskryf Eben van die vernaamste faktore van sy sukses, en hoe hy gefokus bly – op en van die veld af. Van sy nederige kinderjare in Goodwood – 'n voorstad van Kaapstad waar niks maklik kom nie – regdeur sy vroeë klubloopbaan, tot by sy swaar verdiende plek in die Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale span, vertel Ten Slotte die persoonlike kant van sy loopbaan, en wat dit geverg het om 'n wêreldkampioen te word.

In this episode of Pagecast, Lundi Khoisan Cavernelis interviews Reggie Peace about his inspiring memoir, Vredemaker. At 13, Reggie found refuge in a children's home that gave him stability and a chance to excel. Yet, he battled inner dissatisfaction and a longing for acceptance until he faced a life-changing choice: to choose life or a slow death. Reggie's powerful story of hardship, hope, and resilience reveals how faith in Christ helped him overcome challenges and emerge stronger. #Vredemaker #ReggiePeace #LundiCavernelis #Pagecast #MemoirPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #FaithAndHope #OvercomingAdversity #InspirationalStories

In this episode of Pagecast, Mike Nicol sits down with David Cornwell to discuss his gripping new novel, Hell of a Country. This reimagining of a true crime story from 1970s South Africa explores the intense and dark tale of Lorraine van Niekerk, a teenager trapped in a toxic relationship with her married lover. When her life crosses paths with Alfie Geemooi, a recent amputee, Lorraine hatches a dangerous plan that leads to murder. Dive into this haunting story of love, betrayal, and the high price one may pay. #HellOfACountry #DavidCornwell #MikeNicol #TrueCrimeSA #SouthAfricanFiction #CrimeNovel #BookPodcast #1970sSouthAfrica #Pagecast #LiteraryPodcast

Dive into the latest episode of Pagecast as Tessa Barlin chats with Veruska De Vita about her new book, Deep Blue. Discover why the sea captivates us, how cold water plunging boosts wellness, and the urgent impact of climate change on our oceans. From free divers to scientists, this conversation explores our profound connection with saltwater and the joy it brings. Perfect for sea lovers and curious minds alike. #DeepBlueBook #OceanLove #ColdWaterTherapy #FreeDivingLife #ClimateChangeAwareness #SwimmingWellness #MarineConservation #SaltwaterHealing #PagecastPodcast #VeruskaDeVita

Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, where we spoke with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this episode, Bongani Kona interviews Rémy Ngamije about his new book, Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space. Presented as a literary mixtape, Only Stars Know the Meaning of Space is a work that provides you with a uniquely modern reading experience. The A-Side, read as one narrative, tells the story of a soon-to-be thirty-year-old aspiring writer navigating a complicated world. The B-Side, taken as a separate experience, features (seemingly) independent and unrelated short stories. There's “Crunchy, Green Apples (or, Omo)”, a story about loss told by the strangest of narrative devices: a shopping list. “Sofa, So Good, Sort Of (or, John Muafangejo)” is a first-person account of a family's history and a long journey towards hope. A group of friends attempts to navigate a recent breakup in “From the Lost City of Hurtlantis to the Streets of Helldorado (or, Franco).” When read together, however, a third world emerges—a complex, intergenerational, and interconnected “journey across all genres” (Mukoma Wa Ngugi, author of Unbury Our Dead with Song) that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. Thank you to our furniture sponsor, Zorora: https://zororasofas.co.za/ #PagecastPodcast #OpenBookFestival #SouthAfricanBooks #BookInterviews #BookPodcast

Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, where we spoke with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this episode, Wamuwi Mbao interviews Siphokazi Jonas about her poetry collection, Weeping Becomes a River. Siphokazi Jonas is a weaver of seemingly discordant worlds; growing up in an Afrikaans dorpie, attending an English boarding school, and going on annual holidays to a village emaXhoseni during the transition years of South Africa's democracy made this a necessity. In Weeping Becomes a River she confronts the linguistic and cultural alienation experienced as a black learner in former Model C schools in the 1990s and early 2000s, then fashions the fragments to reclaim and rewrite her place within a lineage of storytellers. Migrating between forms, between poetry and intsomi, she navigates the waters of tradition, religion, intergenerational experiences of rural and urban spaces, and the ways in which family dynamics affect the body. She is not only a referee of the raging tensions within her, but she also pieces together a language for pathways of leaving and returning. Her poems grapple with the past, the present, and possible futures without forgetting that “the body is marked territory from birth, and the scent of it never leaves”. Thank you to our furniture sponsor, Zorora: https://zororasofas.co.za/ #PagecastPodcast #OpenBookFestival #SouthAfricanBooks #BookInterviews #BookPodcast

Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, where we spoke with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this episode, Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese interviews Nick Mulgrew about his latest collection, The Book of Unrest, as well as the launch of his new press, Batis Books, which is based in Edinburgh. More about The Book of Unrest: An ocean of floodwater. Shipwrecked toddlers. Skeletons that rise from pristine beaches. In his second book of poems, Nick Mulgrew confronts the natural and human disasters of the eastern South African coast – and, in the process, himself. An unflinching examination of ancestry and place, of ruined childhoods and a troubled present, The Book of Unrest conjures a world of alternating beauty and horror; a series of tainted land-, city and seascapes, increasingly hostile to those living in them. Drawing upon the wisdom of other Durban writers, Mulgrew interrogates the purposes of poetry and politics in such a fraught time and place. Can our traumas be learned from, or do they only shackle us to the past? In turns elegiac and nihilistic, witty and desperate, sprawling and precise, these poems sift through personal and collective histories of mistrust and violence, to find what, if anything, can bring us rest. Thank you to our furniture sponsor, Zorora: https://zororasofas.co.za/ #PagecastPodcast #OpenBookFestival #SouthAfricanBooks #BookInterviews #BookPodcast

Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, where we spoke with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this episode, Bongani Kona interviews Frankie Murrey about her latest work, A Collection of Gaps. There's this moon in the sky. And I want to say – not now, moon, I've got work to do. But you know the moon. She never listens. So I sit and watch her for a while. Admire those curves. Whisper secrets and cigarette smoke love. — from ‘Letter to the Night' Thank you to our furniture sponsor, Zorora: https://zororasofas.co.za/ #PagecastPodcast #OpenBookFestival #SouthAfricanBooks #BookInterviews #BookPodcast

Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, where we spoke with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this episode, Sindiswa Busuku-Mathese interviews Sarah Uheida about her debut poetry collection, Not This Tender. Sarah Uheida's Not This Tender is a profound exploration of memory, navigating the war-torn landscapes of North Africa, which she was forced to flee as a child. The collection offers a mythical yet deeply personal examination of longing and belonging, estrangement, loss, and the influence of family and language, conveyed through immersive portraits and the perspective of a fractured landscape. Thank you to our furniture sponsor, Zorora: https://zororasofas.co.za/ #PagecastPodcast #OpenBookFestival #SouthAfricanBooks #BookInterviews #BookPodcast

Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, where we spoke with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this first episode, Wamuwi Mbao interviews Foluso Agbaje about her moving novel, The Parlour Wife. Set in Lagos in 1939 during the start of World War Two, the story follows Kehinde, who must leave her dreams of writing to become the third wife of Mr Ogunjobi. Kehinde finds purpose selling snacks and later joining the Lagos Market Women's Association, fighting the British for women's rights. But if her husband discovers her defiance, she risks being abandoned. Can Kehinde find the courage to fight for herself and other women, or will she remain trapped as a parlour wife? Thank you to our furniture sponsor, Zorora: https://zororasofas.co.za/ #PagecastPodcast #OpenBookFestival #SouthAfricanBooks #AfricanLiterature #FolusoAgbaje #TheParlourWife #LagosStories #WomenWriters #HistoricalFiction #BookInterviews #BookPodcast

In this episode of Pagecase, Shaun de Waal interviews Justice Edwin Cameron about his book, Behind Prison Walls. More about the book: Since the Zuma presidency weakened crime intelligence, violent crime surged, with murder rates rising over 75%. South Africa faces severe femicide, and most murderers evade justice. Prisons fail by perpetuating crime; harsher sentences do not help. Edwin Cameron, after visiting prisons, advocates for reform. Along with colleagues, he suggests abolishing minimum sentences, cash bail, and decriminalizing drug use to improve safety and justice. #EdwinCameron #BehindPrisonWalls #CrimeReform #SouthAfricaCrime #BookPodcast #Pagecast #Authorinterview #Prison

This week on Pagecast, Qaanitah Hunter is in conversation with Jeff Wicks to talk about his new book, The Shadow State. More about the book: On 23 August 2021, a quiet, hardworking single mom was shot down as she drove home. Her name was Babita Deokaran, chief accountant at the Gauteng Department of Health. The izinkabi paid to kill her were caught, but the question remained: who ordered her murder, and why? Crime reporter Jeff Wicks set out to find the answer – a pursuit that would profoundly change, even endanger, his life. This is an explosive investigation into state capture and a moving tribute to the cost of integrity. #TheShadowState #JeffWicks #QaanitahHunter #PagecastPodcast #NewBookRelease #PoliticalThriller #MustRead2025 #BookDiscussion #SouthAfricaPodcast #LiteraryTalk

In this episode of Pagecast, Keanan Hemmonsbey interviews Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell about her prize-winning memoir, These Heavy Black Bones. More about the book: This is not a story about making history. Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell was once a double British Champion and the first Black woman ever to swim for Great Britain. As her body and mind are sharpened through gruelling training, press scrutiny and the harshness of adolescence, Rebecca charts her career's ascent and her singular love of the water, before explaining why she walked away from it all. A compulsive and unforgettable study of intensity, These Heavy Black Bones meditates on Blackness, identity and the ecstasy of peak physical performance, and lays bare the pressures within the swimming world. #TheseHeavyBlackBones #RebeccaAchiengAjuluBushell #Pagecast #BookPodcast #Swimming #Athlete #Book

In this episode of Pagecast, Janine Jellars interviews Nadia Cassim about her new book, Not Another Samoosa Run! This is a heartfelt conversation about the vibrant stories, rich cultural nuances, and powerful themes that make this book a unique and engaging local read. More about the book: In Tasneem's close-knit Muslim Indian community, the stigma of divorce is a heavy burden to carry, and her mother insists on finding her a new husband – even if it means orchestrating a traditional ‘samoosa run'. When she meets Aadil an unexpected connection sparks and they strike a deal: a pretend engagement to keep their families off their backs. But a simple ruse soon grows complicated because one of them is hiding a life-changing secret . . . #PagecastPodcast #NadiaCassim #NotAnotherSamoosaRun #BookDiscussion #SouthAfricanAuthors #CulturalStories #LiteraryPodcast #DiverseVoices #StorytellingMagic #BookPodcast

This week we have the incredible Sue Nyathi chatting with Busisekile Khumalo to discuss her novel, "Rubies and Rain." More about the book: Ruby has to deal with the news of her father's death and her sex scandal simultaneously trending on social media. Vimbai has been captured and Nosihle returns to Harare where her path crosses with Joshua, Shadow's second in command. Ruby is arrested and locked in the same cell as Vimbai. Will the two women be able to put aside their differences to survive this ordeal? Rubies and Rain is a page-turner filled with surprise twists and turns. #RubiesAndRain #BusisekileKhumalo #SueNyathi #Pagecast #AfricanLiterature #BookPodcast #WomenWriters #MustReadBooks #AuthorInterview #BookRecommendation

This week we have the incredible Sue Nyathi chatting with Busisekile Khumalo to discuss her novel, "Rubies and Rain." More about the book: Ruby has to deal with the news of her father's death and her sex scandal simultaneously trending on social media. Vimbai has been captured and Nosihle returns to Harare where her path crosses with Joshua, Shadow's second in command. Ruby is arrested and locked in the same cell as Vimbai. Will the two women be able to put aside their differences to survive this ordeal? Rubies and Rain is a page-turner filled with surprise twists and turns. #RubiesAndRain #BusisekileKhumalo #SueNyathi #Pagecast #AfricanLiterature #BookPodcast #WomenWriters #MustReadBooks #AuthorInterview #BookRecommendation

Step into the world of South African fiction as Wamuwi Mbao sits down with Alistair Mackay to explore his collection of short stories, The Lucky Ones. Discover what makes The Lucky Ones a “dazzling, poignant collection brimming with unforgettable characters and heart,” and why Mackay's voice stands out in contemporary literature. #TheLuckyOnes #AlistairMackay #WamuwiMbao #Pagecast #LiteraryPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #QueerLiterature #ShortStories #ContemporaryFiction #BookChat

Discover the story behind "Journey Kwantu" as Joy Fakude sits down with author Vusumzi Ngxande to chat about South African spiritual identity and beliefs. More about the book: “Kwantu means home” – Vusumzi Ngxande For decades, African spirituality has been demonised or met with suspicion. Many people have had to choose between being a believer, usually in the Christian faith, or believing in their ancestors. Yet often African cultural practices require the involvement of Ancestors in one form or another, which goes against Christian dogma. Journey Kwantu is inspired by Vusumzi Ngxande's popular podcast of the same name that delves into South African spiritual identity and beliefs and shows how it has evolved over hundreds of years. The book is rooted in extensive historical research, lived experiences and interviews with healers, teachers and ordinary people trying to live out their truth. With a unique ability to simplify complex issues and ask taboo questions, the author endeavours to answers questions like, “Who are we?” and “How did we come to believe what we believe?” In the process he deals with issues he has struggled with on his own spiritual journey, such as death and the afterlife and the authority of the Ancestors vs the Power of God to more practical matters like performing rituals in urban areas and understanding lineage and its impact on one's spiritual life. Deeply perceptive and engaging, Journey Kwantu offers a guide and spiritual sustenance to African believers. #JourneyKwantu #VusumziNgxande #JoyFakude #Pagecast #SouthAfricanBooks #BookPodcast #AfricanAuthors #Heritage #Culture

Join Pippa Skotnes on Pagecast as she chats with José Manuel de Prada-Samper about his new book, Fading Footprints: In Search of South Africa's First People. Discover the fascinating history, culture, and stories of the earliest inhabitants of South Africa in this insightful conversation. Perfect for listeners interested in South African heritage and indigenous history. More about the book: Part historical detective story, part memoir, Fading Footprints traces the author's journey into the magical folklore of the /xam hunter-gatherers of the Upper Karoo. Through archival research and on field trips in South Africa, De Prada-Samper reveals the tragic scope of the genocide of the /xam San by European colonisers. #Pagecast #PippaSkotness #JoseManueldePradaSamper #FadingFootprints #SouthAfricanHistory #IndigenousPeoples #BookDiscussion #CulturalHeritage #LiteraryPodcast #SouthAfricaBooks

Join Mila de Villiers in this episode of Pagecast as she sits down with acclaimed author Ted Botha to discuss his latest book, Hollywood on the Veld. More about the book: In 1913, a secretive American millionaire, who lived on the top floor of the famous Carlton Hotel, had a crazy idea: to make movies in Johannesburg. And not just any movies but the biggest in the world, huge spectacles with elaborate sets, thousands of extras and epic story lines. Isidore Schlesinger – better known as ‘IW' – built a studio on a farm called Killarney, where he set out to challenge a place in America that was in its infancy: Hollywood. The glamour, gossip and high drama of IW's studio fit perfectly into a city experiencing an intoxicating golden age. There was as much action on the movie sets as there was on screen: from political intrigue and the clashing of massive egos to public outbursts, fiery judicial inquiries, disaster and death. Behind this mad enterprise was a maverick, a tycoon, a recluse, a friend of the famed and the connected. IW could have held his own in California but he chose as his base the City of Gold, and his indomitable ambition saw his ‘Hollywood on the Veld' soar. This is the never-been-told-before story of the rise and fall of the strangest and most unique movie empire ever. #Pagecast #TedBotha #HollywoodOnTheVeld #BookPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #LiteraryPodcast #AuthorInterview #BookDiscussion #CinemaHistory #MustReadBooks

Join Mphuthumi Ntabeni in conversation with historian and author Bronwen Everill, as they discuss her book Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance. This conversation offers essential insights into how we can rethink the African continent's economic past, present, and future. More about the book: We need to think differently about African economics. For centuries, Westerners have tried to 'fix' African economies. From the abolition of slavery onwards, missionaries, philanthropists, development economists and NGOs have arrived on the continent, full of good intentions and bad ideas. Their experiments have invariably gone awry, to the great surprise of all involved. In this short, bold story of Western economic thought about Africa, historian Bronwen Everill argues that these interventions fail because they start from a misguided premise: that African economies just need to be more like the West. Ignoring Africa's own traditions of economic thought, Europeans and Americans assumed a set of universal economic laws that they thought could be applied anywhere. They enforced specifically Western ideas about growth, wealth, debt, unemployment, inflation, women's work and more, and used Western metrics to find African countries wanting. The West does not know better than African nations how an economy should be run. By laying bare the myths and realities of our tangled economic history, Africonomics moves from Western ignorance to African knowledge. #Africonomics #BookPodcast #AfricanEconomy #AuthorInterview #EconomicDevelopment #AfricanBusiness #PodcastEpisode #Pagecast #BronwenEverill #MphuthumiNtabeni

In this episode of Pagecast at the Kingsmead Book Fair, Sibongile Machika sits down with two dynamic South African authors, Siya Khumalo and Khaya Dlanga, as they explore how storytelling challenges norms, sparks dialogue, and drives social change in today's South Africa. Khaya Dlanga, author of Life Is Like That Sometimes, reflects on personal resilience, blending humour with profound social commentary rooted in his Eastern Cape upbringing. Siya Khumalo, author of The Queer Book of Revelation, discusses navigating the intersections of religion, sexuality, and activism through bold science fiction that challenges perceptions and inspires acceptance. Discover how these voices use their craft to confront complex issues of identity, justice, and transformation. #PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #StorytellingForChange #BookPodcast #SocialJustice #SouthAfricanLiterature #IdentityAndJustice #AuthenticVoices #LiteraryPodcast #CulturalDialogue