Pagecast at Kingsmead Book Fair 2024: Ryan Blumenthal

Loading player...
In this captivating discussion, Pagecast host Maryam Adams engages in a thought-provoking conversation with the remarkable Ryan Blumenthal. Ryan is a seasoned forensic pathologist with over twenty years of experience in the field, based in South Africa. His book, Autopsy: Life in the Trenches with a Forensic Pathologist in Africa, published by Jonathan Ball Publishers in August 2020, became a non-fiction bestseller in South Africa. Ryan also gained widespread recognition through his eight-part documentary, Lightning Pathologist, which aired on People’s Weather (Channel 180) on DStv, attracting over 2.2 million viewers.

Join us as we explore Ryan's latest book, Risking Life for Death, which delves into Locard’s Exchange Principle and the daily dangers faced by forensic pathologists. Ryan shares his experiences and insights from his fascinating career.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as Ryan discusses his participation in the panel, When the Dead Speak, with Sunday Times Books online editor Mila De Villiers and fellow forensic expert Hestelle van Staden. They provide a unique glimpse into the world of forensic pathology and what it’s like to see dead people.

Enjoy!
27 May 2024 English South Africa Books · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

There's Something I Must Tell You by Sue Williamson (with Penny Siopis)

"The sweep of it, seeing all those years, is quite extraordinary for an artist." Internationally renowned South African artist Penny Siopis sits down with Sue Williamson for a wide-ranging conversation on her new book There's Something I Must Tell You, published to accompany her landmark retrospective at the Iziko South…
5 Oct 21 min

Kitsie: Memoir of a Bomb-Squad Bok by Steven Kitshoff (with Nick Mallett)

"There was a job to be done." Legendary Springbok coach Nick Mallett sits down with former Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff for a rich, generous conversation on his new memoir Kitsie: Memoir of a Bomb-Squad Bok. They unpack the origins of the Bomb Squad — the name that came from a…
23 Sep 29 min

The South African Cookbook by Nokx Majozi (with Zola Nene)

"An opportunity to hold and be held." This one is a joy from start to finish. Chef, food stylist and best-selling cookbook author Zola Nene sits down with Chef Nokx Majozi for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like two sisters at the kitchen table. Together…
14 Sep 36 min

Pagecast at OBF 2026: Athi-Patra Ruga and Lethogonolo Mokogroane in conversation

For the final episode of Pagecast at the 2026 Open Book Festival, Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is joined by Athi-Patra Ruga. Athi-Patra Ruga is a South African multidisciplinary artist whose work explores archives, spirituality, colonial histories and speculative world-building across performance, film, tapestry, sculpture and installation. He is also the co-founder of…
6 Sep 11 min

Pagecast at OBF 2026: Natalie Sifuma and Alma-Nalisha Cele in conversation

Natalie Sifuma is a Kenyan writer, researcher, and consultant currently based in Cape Town. She is the founder of Sisters in Climate — a Pan-African climate initiative — and is completing an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation at UCT’s Graduate School of Business, with a focus on social impact, climate, and…
6 Sep 11 min