The Thinking Behind It All

In the fifth edition, we discuss the media's coverage of former apartheid president FW De Klerk's death. This news item had tongues wagging and thumbs thumping. Thus, we are in conversation with an interesting character, Louie, who is a South African farmer. We hope that the final episode of the season is informative, entertaining and enjoyable.

In the fourth edition, we discuss the sixth South African local government elections. Joining us is a community member, McDonald Mahlobo, who is in conversation with ordinary persons living in and around Johannesburg. He is talking to them about their views on democracy and a great deal more. We have delivered an informative, entertaining and newsworthy show that you will hopefully love listening to.

In the 3rd edition, we discuss whistle-blowing following the tragic passing of South African government official Babita Deokaran. For this discussion, we are joined by anti-corruption and social justice activists –Kavisha Pillay and Mashudu Masutha. We hope that you find the conversation insightful and informative.

In the 2nd edition, we unpack the media coverage of Covid19, vaccines and related issues. We are also discussing current affairs with writer, poet and social commentator, Ntsiki Mazwai. It's a spicy show with all your regulars. So, tighten your seatbelt and, hopefully, we can make this ride informative and entertaining.

In the first edition, we look at the civil unrest that ensued following the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma. We are joined by media personality, political commentator, author and journalist, Kim Heller, as we discuss and analyse various aspects relating to this extraordinary news event. To the fainthearted, this edition is intense and spicy. But, we hope that you all will find the episode informative and entertaining.

We have decided to produce a bonus episode in light of the fact that families and their babies have made headlines in South Africa recently. In this episode, we provide commentary and analysis on the baby formula dad and the Tembisa 10 news stories. Through a critical lens, we compare and contrast the coverage of various media that ran with the stories. Join Melusi with the debutant, his sister, Naledi as well as the legendary Ise as they dissect and look for underlining meanings in a multitude of media texts. It's a family affair.

A lot has happened since we last conversed and we have been silent. It so happens that hair and racism are the perfect ingredients for an episode. Therefore, we discuss an explosive event that occurred in South Africa that we felt warranted  some attention.

 In the 32nd edition, we begin the show with the USP (Usual Suspects' Perspective) segment. We discuss the upheaval in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe left by the cyclone Idai. We conclude our show with a discussion about South Africa's power utility, Eskom, following a consecutive six days of rolling electricity blackouts.  

In the 31st edition, we begin the show with a spicy USP (The Usual Suspects' Perspective) segment. We turn our attention to a bribery scandal that has rocked Universities in the United States of America. We conclude with a discussion of a high panel report which accuses the former South African president, Jacob Zuma, of abusing his powers in the administration of the State Security Agency.

In the 30th edition, the show starts with an exciting USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment in which we welcome our guest listener. It was a very news intense year with many contentious, light-hearted and tragic moments –we look at some of these in terms of TTBIA and society at large.

In the 29th edition, we kick-off the show with the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. George W. H. Bush’s funeral was held in the United States of America and we look at the media coverage of the late President’s legacy. Last but not least, JR (not “my ni**a”, but Johan Rupert) was interviewed on Power987FM, a local South African talk radio station, and we dissect what the second richest man in South Africa had to say as the God of WMC (White Monopoly Capital).

In the 28th edition, we start-off with a USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment that touches on the Global Citizens concert and South African media violating ethics. We then revisit a story that was talked about in the USP segment where an off-duty police officer killed a black man in his apartment, in the US. We finish the show with a discussion on John Steenhuisen’s, South African official opposition member of parliament, lack of education and the protection granted to him by his white privilege status.

In the 27th edition, we kick-off the show with a very spicy USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. We follow up with a discussion on the E Koli breakout in the United States of America. Our final story is of a very tragic account of the killing of a 7-year-old boy by his older sister’s former lover.

In the 26th edition, we dedicate the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment to the call on media to boycott US President Trump’s press conferences. Sadly, we find ourselves having to discuss the coverage of yet another killing of a black person by police in the United States. Our final topic is about the coverage of corruption and state capture stories in South Africa.

In the 25th edition, we discuss pop culture in the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. Our focus then turns to controversial Malusi Gigaba’s (South African cabinet minister) media spotlight in which there are calls for him to resign following several damning scandals. We close-off the show with a discussion on the midterm elections in the United States of America.

We present to you Gentrified Blackies -- Appendix A of a series of episodes that The Thinking Behind It All publishes in which we discuss and elaborate on some of the concepts and ideas that come up during our usual podcast. To coon or to be a coconut is a judgment call that is often made by woke folk when they speak about black people who have assimilated or sold out into whiteness. We talk about what this means and debate some well-known personalities’ characters in line with this notion.

In the 24th edition, we open the show with a USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment that is about gunshots, supposed plots to oust leadership and protestation against a national anthem. Afterwards, we discuss at length Serena Williams’s fightback against an oppressive and discriminatory system within tennis.

In our 23rd edition, we start-off the show with a mixed bag of news stories in the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. It was senator John McCain’s funeral in the United States of America and we dissect some of the politics arising from that event. We end the show with a discussion on how poorly media has been covering missing cases of black children.

In our 22nd edition, we start the show with a very lively USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. We then focus on the state capture commission that has commenced in South Africa. The show concludes with a conversation of part 2 of artist, musician and twelebrity, Ntsiki Mazwai’s interview.

In the 21st edition, we talk about a variety of issues in the Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP) segment. Our attention then turns to the media hype resulting from President Trump’s associates admitting to crimes of fraud. Finally, keeping up with the month’s theme #WomensMonth, we discuss part 1 of an exclusive interview we had with a well-known South African poet, musician and twelebrity, Ntsiki Mazwai.

In the 20th edition, we start the programme by showing respect to fallen heroes and heroines in the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. Following this, our focus turns to the sex crimes report released by a grand jury in Pennsylvania, USA, about more than a thousand cases of child abuse by Catholic priests. We then discuss the media coverage of Ms. Omarosa Manigault and President Trump feud since Ms. Manigault’s announcement of a book titled Unhinged. In keeping up with this month’s #WomensMonth theme, the show concludes with a talk on the responses we received from several interviews that were conducted with a diverse group of women.

In the 19th edition, we start the show in our USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment with a discussion on what womanhood means to a couple of the TTBIA ladies. We weigh in on the banning of Alex Jones’s content by several prominent internet platforms. Following this, we discuss a number of issues emanating from Women’s Day events in South Africa –including the South African President’s and opposition party’s (Economic Freedom Fighters) rallies on the day. We conclude the show with our analysis of the interviews that we have conducted with women from various parts of the world.

In the 18th edition, we highlight that it is Women’s Month in South Africa and thus marks our first of several shows dedicated to women issues among other trending news. In the Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP) segment, the team members share the significance of women’s roles in their lives. We focus on the racial incident wherein a white man, Jeffrey Whitman, harassed Charles Lovett, an African-American man, after following him all the way home. We look at the debates following Prof. Mayosi’s passing and we try to make meaning of the various points made. We then turn our attention to the elections in Zimbabwe –the first since former President Mugabe’s ousting. We close-off the show with a segment unpacking various women’s perspectives based on interviews we have conducted.

In the 17th edition, the show opens with the Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP) and, in this segment, we note other news items that were of interest to the crew during this past week. Farida Bembe slammed South Africa’s treatment of foreign nationals in a blog that she wrote which went viral -- we look at the issues emanating from her criticism. We then turn our focus to the uproar following Nomzamo Mbatha’s tweet in which she uploaded a photo of herself appearing on Cosmopolitan's cover for the August edition. We conclude the show with a discussion on the trade war between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China.

In the 16th edition, we devote the opening segment, The Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP), to the 16th Mandela Lecture by former US President Barack Obama. We then turn our attention to US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic missions in Europe. We conclude the show by focusing on the French government’s outrage to the remarks made by Trevor Noah that some of the players are of African descent.

In the 15th edition, we open the show with our regular feature, the Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP) –Beyoncé loyalists, please forgive the anchor for his insolence when talking about your queen. We turn our attention to Brett Kavanaugh’s nominee to the Supreme Court in the United States. Finally, we discuss the spotlight that was on Duduzane Zuma during this past week.

In the 14th addition, we speak about a variety of stories in the Usual Suspects' Perspective(USP) segment. We then turn our attention to the political drama that has occurred in Ethiopia. We look at the meaning behind America's Independence Day which was recently celebrated. Finally, we talk about the emotive land issue in South Africa.

In the 13th edition, we open the show with the Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP) and we look at a few issues that were of interest to the team. We turn our attention to Terry Crews’ allegation of sexual assault. Maxine Waters has made a call for social action against people serving in President Trumps’ cabinet –we speak about the reactions to this call. Finally, we close-off the show with a look at universal healthcare in the UK, SA and USA.

In the 12th edition, the newbie, Busi, takes over the Usual Suspects’ Perspective (USP) to discuss the Cartres’ new album. We then turn our attention to International Refugee Day and we follow this up with a look at what transpired in the USA with President Trump’s flip-flopping regarding the treatment of illegal immigrants. We close-off the show by revisiting the Windrush Generation story because this time around 22nd June is declared Windrush Day by the British government

In our 11th edition, we start the show with the USP (Usual Suspects Perspective). We talk mental health and what this means for the Pan-African in the diaspora. We also have a look at the latest developments on BREXIT (the UK's move to leave the European Union) and gauge the ordinary Joe's reaction. Finally, we consider the current state of affairs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the ICC's (International Criminal Court) ruling on a controversial warlord.

In our 10th edition, we kick-off the show with our anchor taking over the USP segment (acting like Ismail Momaniat). We talk about the arrest of a 10-year old child, in Chicago, USA. We then discuss the potential protest action by the Public Service Administration (PSA) and we conclude the show with a discussion on how the new dawn is showing the poor flames as the petrol price increases.

In our 9th edition, we kick-off the show with the Usual Suspects Perspective (USP), citing other news that interested the team. We turned our focus to the appointment of Siya Kolisi (as the first black captain of the South African rugby team). We also discuss the controversial tweet by actress/comedian Roseanne Barr and the implications thereof. Finally, we consider the third legal victory for the Gupta family and the mainstream media's reaction is telling.

In this 8th edition, we began the show with the Usual Suspects' Perspective (USP) a segment noting other news that peaked our team's interest. SA president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has 100 days and hundreds of powerful fans, yet we are still hungry (we unpack it all). The american National Football League (NFL) resolves, though be it bizarrely, the protesting of football players during the singing of the national anthem. Lastly, we look at the £32 million royal wedding.

In this 7th edition, we started the show with the Usual Suspects Perspective (USP) reviewing other news that peaked the teams' interest. In the UK, we turned our eye on the Grenfell tower disaster, in the US. We looked at the Fresh Kitchen video that went viral and sparked a language debate. Finally, in SA, we look at the opening ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem and South Africa's response thereto. We also consider the office of the president deploying the Deputy President, David Mabuza, on a special envoy to strengthen relations with Russia.

In our 6th edition, we open the show with the Usual Suspects' Perspective (USP), then we talked nuclear deal disaster, the profiling of black people, Caster Semenya and the IAAF, as well as the political twins (Supra Mahumapelo and Patricia de Lille).

In our 5th edition, our introduction considered other news events that peaked the interest of our team members ("the usual suspects" perspective). We then looked at SA's exclusion from steel and aluminium import duty taxes by the USA. We contemplated SA's national minimum wage proposed Bill and the criticisms from major trade unions. We had a look at Amber Rudd's resignation and the appointment of Sajid Javid, as the new Home Secretary in the UK. Finally, in the USA, we discussed Kanye West's controversial interview with popular YouTube tabloid TMZ.

In our 4th edition, we discuss the misappropriation of the Black struggle. We looked the opening of a memorial site for the victims of lynchings in Alabama, USA. We catch up on the latest regarding the Windrush generation. We discuss the outcome of a legal case regarding a child who died in a pit latrine. Finally we speculate the Democratic Alliance (DA) ridding itself of Patricia de Lille.

In our 3rd edition, we consider what racism means for our podcast. We looked at the South African president's, Cyril Ramaphosa, economic excursion, the ill-treatment of the Windrush generation in the UK, the Starbucks debacle and the aftermath of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's funeral.

In our 2nd edition, we contemplate what it means to be Pro-black. We looked at the latest revelations regarding Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and STRATCOM, the Facebook Cambridge-Analytica scandal and the composition of the Democratic Alliance's (the official opposition in SA) leadership following their elective congress.

In our 1st edition, we looked at the passing of an iconic figure (Winnie Madikizela-Mandela) in South African Politics. We also covered Racism in universities, the deportation of African migrants in Israel, women's reproductive rights and the appearance of former South African president, Jacob Zuma, in court.