BrightGuide Africa The Commute

The Commute

The Commute is a podcast for South Africans, at home and across the world, who are interested in some of the biggest questions of our time and what they might mean for South Africa. Short and nutritious, it’s a great way to keep your ears company during your taxi/ car/ aeroplane/ bicycle/ train commute. And if your commute is longer – listen to several in a row! Designed to provide a high value explainer from experts, The Commute gives you, the smart South African, the big ideas in small bites. Series 1 available now.
Occasionally English United Kingdom News · Society & Culture
19 Episodes

Episode 7: The idea of the North Korean Embassy in Pretoria

Counterfeit money, shipments of crack, ivory smuggling... no, this isn't a new Netflix series, it's just an average day in North Korea's underground world. And it's all happening just up the road. Jessica speaks to veteran investigative journalist Julian Rademeyer about South Africa, the DPRK, and why that North Korean…
9 May 2018 37 min

Episode 6: The idea of Expropriation Without Compensation

#GiveBackTheLand! Yeah! But which land? And how? And to whom? And through which process? The EFF and the ANC want the South African Constitution changed to enable expropriation without compensation. Jessica talks to Professor Ruth Hall about how we can put actual human beings and their needs at the centre…
1 May 2018 31 min

Episode 5: The idea of China's 'One Belt One Road' push

Xi Jinping, President of China, just got the go ahead to become president for life when his party abolished term limits. Who is Xi? Should South Africa worry about all those lovely loans it took from China? And what is the not-exactly-well-named "One Belt One Road" initiative announced in 2017?…
4 Apr 2018 30 min

Episode 4: The idea of a (functional?) Arts Ministry

Sometimes it feels like South Africa's Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) is a big nothing-burger. But given South Africa's extraordinary artistic talent pool (Trevor Noah, Black Coffee, Dada Masilo, Andile Ndlovu, Zanele Muholi etc etc etc), why do they seem to suck? Jessica talks to acclaimed playwright Mike van…
4 Apr 2018 30 min

Episode 3: The idea of Bitcoin

South Africa topped the charts in 2017 for Google searches for the word ‘Bitcoin’. What is Bitcoin? Why is everyone so excited about cryptocurrencies? Will I be able to buy my groceries at Woolies using Bitcoin soon? Jessica speaks to Claire Ingram Bogusz to learn more about this amazing new…
4 Apr 2018 30 min

Episode 2: The idea of Vladimir Putin

We know Vladimir Putin likes to pose shirtless while hunting bears, and that he and Donald Trump have something special going on, but how much we do know about the man himself? Jessica van Onselen continues her conversation with Irina Filatova about Putin and South Africa. The books mentioned in…
4 Apr 2018 28 min

Episode 1: The idea of the USSR and the ANC

It's Episode 1 of this brand new South African podcast, the Commute! We all know vaguely that the Soviet Union supported the ANC under Apartheid, and many of the USSR's ideas from the 60s and 70s still permeate ANC's big policy ideas. Jessica van Onselen talks to Professor Irina Filatova…
4 Apr 2018 42 min