Chuma Bentele is a Cape Town-based animator and comedian who is part of the Comics Choice Award-winning That's Not Funny team, and has worked on the Disney animated Afrofuturist anthology series, Kizazi Moto. With a love of the absurd, and a fearless approach to dissecting race dynamics in South Africa, Chuma has steadily built a name for himself as one of the most exciting new voices in South African comedy.

In this episode, we talk about how Chuma’s creative process flows between organising and performing stand-up gigs, animation, and writing, we dig into the nuances of the Cape Town comedy circuit, and why bombing on stage can sometimes be the best thing for your career. We also get into his experiences of living in Jeppe for 3 months, and the time he was mistaken for Tshepang Ramoba from Blk Jks in Stellenbosch. Enjoy.

Keep up with Chuma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chumanotchuma/

Follow That's Not Funny: https://www.instagram.com/thatsnotfunnycpt/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Joans is a theatre-maker, comedian, and the kind of performer who doesn’t just toe the line — she cartwheels over it. From playing the devil in a satirical German production where Elon Musk stands in for Faust, to getting her tits out for laughs at the Armchair, Sophie’s work blurs the boundaries between clowning, comedy, and full-blown chaos.

In this episode, we talk about Sophie’s recent international tour, creepy encounters in Germany, and why she believes live theatre will always be “AI-proof.” We also get into the origins of her production company Spark in the Dark, how it launched 14 shows at the National Arts Festival (7 of which won awards), and why building community beats chasing algorithms. Along the way, there are stories about Andrew Tate-inspired satire, nipple-related nicknames, and the ethics of turning exes into punchlines. Enjoy.

Keep up with Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solo_joans/

Check out Spark in the Dark: https://www.instagram.com/sparkinthedarksa/

Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colin Moss knows all too well that fame is a prison. Thankfully, it's a prison he managed to escape when moving to New York to pursue his acting career. Colin took a massive risk by giving up a rather successful career on TV in South Africa to start at the bottom in one of the most cutthroat cities to be an actor. Judging by his extensive IMDB page, which features credits on Black Mirror, Jessica Jones, and The Deuce, it's a risk that's paid off, although it took a few lucky breaks and many failures to get to a place where he's consistently booked and busy.

In this episode, we get into Colin's early days as a stand-up comedian and TV presenter, we discuss the dreaded Heat magazine era of fame in South Africa, and we learn about the realities of giving up local fame for international success. Enjoy.

Keep up with Colin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colmoss/

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to It's Not The End of the World: https://groundculturecafe.com/event/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/

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On the evening of Monday 25 January 2021, Nas Hoosen passed away due to complications with COVID-19. Nas was an incredible storyteller who mostly told stories through screenwriting and comics. He was a pop-culture polymath who absorbed trivia and could recount even the most seemingly inane details and moments with incredible insight. He was the biggest champion of his friends and was someone who would always offer words of encouragement and wisdom. The world is a darker place without him in it, but he did leave many candles burning to guide us forward. 

This episode was originally released on 21 Feb 2019 and features an updated introduction. 

Laugh along to Nas's critiques of movies here: https://letterboxd.com/naswho/

Have a think and a laugh at his comics here: https://www.instagram.com/naswho/

And if you'd like to know about more Nas's work, we discussed the nuances of screenwriting in this episode of Almost Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mc_rdVHXd8&t=555s&ab_channel=AlmostPerfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sia and Big Sexy are pornstars. They're a couple in their mid-30s who have both tried their hands at a variety of careers before finding success with sex work. While they were already in the industry before COVID hit, it was alongside other side-gigs until the lockdown pushed them to commit to it full time. It turns out making porn together is a great way to earn money from home, although it obviously comes with its challenges.

In this episode, we get into the ins and outs of making porn in South Africa. From the strange hours due to catering to different timezones, to your neighbours recognising you from your work. We get into the business side of things and learn how it's similar to many other types of online content production. And we also hear how their family and friends reacted to the news of their career change. Enjoy.

Follow Sia and Big Sexy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SiaBigSexy

And OnlyFans: https://onlyfans.com/siabigsexy

And check out their website: siabigsexy.com

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-85-sia-big-sexy/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dylan Buckle aka Noobslice is the events manager for South African esports company ATK. He started out his career in esports as one of the early adopters of streaming in South Africa. Dylan steadily built his name and community on Twitch whilst also gaining experience in the corporate side of tabletop gaming. Both lead him to his current position, something he could have never seen coming when he started out.

In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of esports and streaming in South Africa. Obviously, South Africa has its own unique challenges compared to the more developed countries, but more and more we're seeing local teams hold their own on the international stage. We also get into the difficulties of organising events during the pandemic, and we get some very useful advice for those of you looking to start streaming. Enjoy.

Keep up with Dylan on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/noobslice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noobslice/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoobsliceZA

If you have 2 minutes spare and would like to help make The Almost Perfect Podcast better, please could you fill out this 10 question survey? Thank you. https://us19.list-manage.com/survey?u=2531d05c0dd107158fa4a540a&id=8818aa09e9

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ANG (Angela Weickl) is a DJ and the Culture and Network Manager at Levi's Haus of Strauss Africa- a job she was uniquely qualified for after 15 years of contributing to the music industry. ANG got her start in the music industry as a sound engineer at open mic gigs but soon found herself becoming a prominent part of the Cape Town scene as a club manager and DJ.

In this episode, we get nostalgic over the pre-social media era where being handed a flyer was how you found out where you were jolling that weekend. ANG talks us through the early days of her career, from mixing bands she grew up listening to, to becoming the manager at Armchair in her early 20s, and how that all lead to a successful DJ career that she could have only dreamed of growing up. It's a wonderful look at one of the golden periods of Cape Town's music scene through ANG's eyes. Enjoy.

If you have 2 minutes spare and would like to help make The Almost Perfect Podcast better, please could you fill out this 10 question survey? Thank you.

https://us19.list-manage.com/survey?u=2531d05c0dd107158fa4a540a&id=8818aa09e9

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A somewhat positive look back at the top 10 things that got me through 2020. 

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Parabyl (Ciarán Slemon) is an electronic music producer and tech-loving autodidact who has spent countless hours behind the PC either creating art or absorbing as much information as possible. It's probably why he's wise beyond his years and has quite a few nuggets of wisdom (and facts) to share with us.

In this episode, we get into being the weird kid in school who was teased for enjoying learning, but now that constant desire to learn more has helped him develop into a well-rounded artist and human-being. We chat about having realistic expectations about a career in music whilst still continually trying to create work that he finds fulfilling. We discuss the value of having peers who are honest with you, and we also get into the nuances of being introverted during the lockdown. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-82-parabyl/

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Moonchild Sanelly is an icon.  There's just no other way to put it. How many other South African artists do you know who have worked with Beyonce, Gorillaz, and Diplo? On top of that, she has her own clothing label and is planning to release a range of sex toys. She's a true original who does things her own way which is reaping the rewards now but saw her spending much of her career as an outsider in the industry. 

In this episode, we learn how her mom instilled a fierce rebellious nature in her and taught her to never follow. We get into Moonchild's formative years in Durban where she would hustle to get behind every mic she could get her hands on whilst studying fashion, working a job in retail, and eventually earning a slot on radio. We obviously touch on working with Beyonce and what it means for Moonchild, and, naturally, we talk a lot about sex. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-81-moonchild-sanelly/

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FonZo is a rapper and producer from Cape Town who put out one of the dopest rap releases in SA this year with his album, 'Days of the Future Past'.  He's been taking rap seriously since he was 15 and has spent his life continually adding skills to his repertoire- from lyrics, to flow, to production he's put in the work and it shows. He's at the top of his game and he knows it, but he credits criticism (both external and internal) for making his craft the best it can be. 

In this episode, we talk A LOT about rap, rapping, and rappers. Naturally. We delve into FonZo's early influences, touch on his heated foray into battle rapping, and discuss how he's managed to stay consistent through the trends. We dig into the nuances and politics of the Cape Town hip-hop scene and have a look at what's holding the city back. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-80-fonzo/

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Phumlani Pikoli is a writer and multimedia artist who has recently been on the receiving end of some "buzz" with the publishing of his debut novel 'Born Freeloaders'. Phumlani has been creating art since he and his brother started a rap group in their teens and has since used almost every medium available to express himself and interrogate the world around him.

In this episode, we reminisce over our early days as music journalists and the unbridled freedom that came with being a creative South African in the 2000s. Naturally, both of us being artists and critics, we get into the art of criticism and its value to artists. We also dig into writing what you know, the importance of offering new perspectives on being young and black in South Africa, and we discuss reframing traditional narratives around recreational drug and alcohol use. Oh, and we also lament the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Enjoy.

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Hannah Shone is an illustrator and graphic designer with an incredible sense of humour. Like, if there's one thing I can promise you about this episode, it's that you're going to laugh. When she's not cracking self-deprecating jokes, she's creating quirky and fun artworks with subtle dark undercurrents. Hannah's accomplished a ton already with multiple solo and group exhibitions, collabs with hip/popular brands, designing both Diamond Thug and Mx Blouse's debut albums, and has even had her work tattooed on people at a music festival. 

While Hannah was paying the bills with a steady office job, she chose 2020 of all years to break free from the confines of agency life for the freedom (and chaos) of freelance. We get into why the ad world isn't necessarily for her, and why the art world didn't seem like it was when she was in school. We also chat about the pressures of designing album covers for popular artists and dig into the relationship between art and music. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-78-hannah-shone/

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The multi-talented Andie Reeves has lived the kind of life where she just casually drops details that some people would write whole books about as if they're just backstory.

Like the time she sailed halfway across the world on a catamaran as a private tutor, which she casually mentions while discussing the award-wining Two Freaks Notice podcast. The writer, podcaster, comedian, and crafter has kept herself busy and found a few ways to contribute meaningfully to the world. Like the six years she spent as a Montessori teacher, writing about sustainability in fashion, and starting the Cape Town Craft Club.

Keep up with Andie: https://www.instagram.com/andiereeves/

Listen to Two Freaks Notice: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/two-freaks-notice/id1625873687

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to It's Not The End of the World: https://groundculturecafe.com/event/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/

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Thanda Kunene is an art director and photographer who is not afraid of discomfort. Thanda is a rather nomadic soul who seems to forever be on the move and has carved out his own space in the SA creative scene by being an original thinker and staying true to himself. Thanda has played an essential role in capturing Durban's alternative music cultures and has countless photos of some of SA's biggest stars before they blew up. 

These days, Thanda is expanding his talents as an art director and is relishing working with a team after so many years as a one-man-band. In this podcast, we reminisce over the glory days of the Durban live music scene and look at some of the reasons for its collapse. We also find out how someone who is so bad at social media was able to carve out a career in an industry that's often fixated more on reach than talent. Oh, and we talk about the time we dodged a hail storm of rocks together during a riot in the CBD. Enjoy. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Goss-Ross is a photographer who got his start in the moshpits of Durban and is now a creative director at an ad agency in Dublin. Kevin made a name for himself as a photographer who captured debauchery, dicks, and drugs, which saw him being pigeonholed by the local industry before he spread his wings and explored new boundaries by moving to Ireland. 

This is a deeply nostalgic episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast as we dig into the history of Durban alternative scene, the characters and egos involved, the spaces that enabled it to thrive, and what it was like to capture the chaos. We also touch on some of the technical aspects of photography, we dig into Kevin's influences and mentors, and we find out how Kevin got into photography by chance. Enjoy. 

Keep up with Kevin Goss-Ross on Instagram, Twitter, and his website. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-75-kevin-goss-ross/

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Mbali Ntuli is a politician who is currently challenging for the leadership of the DA. Considering the DA's history with young black women in their party, it seems like a rather ambitious task, but Mbali is up for the challenge and hopes to be a positive change for the DA and the country. 

While we obviously get into politics a bit, most of the conversation is taken up by a shared love of literature and sci-fi. We hear about Mbali's political awakening before digging into the really important topics, like Star Wars, Isaac Asimov, and The Handmaids Tale. It's a laidback chat with someone whose day-to-day life is anything but laidback. Enjoy. 

Keep up with Mbali on Twitter.

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Gilli Apter is a comedian, writer, and director who has learned to be patient with her passions. You might have seen Gilli on Trevor Noah's Nationwild or Frizz Pop on Showmax, or on stages all around the country as Gilli is certainly one of the hardest working comedians in SA. Gilli has a razor-sharp wit that she honed for years as a writer before eventually starting stand-up comedy. The funny thing is, she only started writing because she wanted to get into directing.  Now, she does all three and makes juggling multiple careers look easy. 

In this episode, we get into what it's like growing up as a first-generation South African in an Israeli household, the value of a non-restrictive creative education, and how your dreams can get derailed if you're not careful. We also get into the nitty-gritty of joke writing, the differences between being a comedian and being a funny person, and we go through some of the advantages and disadvantages to starting stand-up later than most of her peers. As always, there's a lot to learn from this one. Enjoy. 

Keep up with Gilli Apter on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Photo by Andrew Berry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carvin Goldstone is a comedian but you already knew that. Carvin is one of the most successful comedians to come out of Durban. With multiple successful international tours under his belt and a couple of popular specials on TV, Carvin has been living the stand-up comedy dream for a while now. So imagine my surprise when Carvin started this interview by talking about how much he's been enjoying staying put and withdrawing from public life. 

Like many of us in the entertainment industry, Carvin started the lockdown by furiously creating content but soon found himself questioning "Why?". In this episode, we chat about the online rat race and not wanting to participate in it anymore. We get into the importance of protecting your peace but how you have to try different things to really know whether or not they're for you.  We also find out some behind-the-scenes info on how selling a comedy special in South Africa works, and we have an honest discussion about the past, present, and future of Durban comedy. Enjoy.

Keep up with Carvin on Facebook and Instagram.

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-72-carvin-goldstone-returns/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Red Robyn is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Wentworth who recently moved to Cape Town to pursue her dreams before, well, you know. The sweet-voiced songbird used to dream of being Britney Spears but these days she just wants to travel with her guitar and spread love. Naturally, that's a bit difficult at the moment, so Robyn has found herself focusing on the more business side of the music business.

In this episode, we get into how dreams evolve over time and how to maintain a healthy balance with success and failure in the music industry. We discuss her formative years studying drama and music at UKZN where she became a part of the phenomenal jazz-fusion band Blvck Crystals. That time period helped Red Robyn mature into the person and musician she is today, even if it was rather chaotic. These days Red Robyn has management and finds herself carefully scheduling her time between her solo career and as a band member in The World of Birds.  Listen in as we find out how she went from releasing songs on Soundcloud to becoming one of SA's most exciting young musicians. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-71-red-robyn/

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Lazola Gola is a comedian, writer, and director who first got on stage to tell jokes in high school. While you're never too young to start, you're also never too old to try something new which is why Laz has spent his 30s pursuing directing alongside his comedy and writing. Laz has had such an impressive career already, but it feels like he's only just begun exploring what he's truly capable of.  

In this episode, we learn how being exposed to comedy gigs at an early age helped make stand-up a tangible career for Laz. We get into the freedom and limitations of stand-up comedy, and why some ideas work better on screen than on stage. Laz shares the importance of sticking to the script (literally) whilst also giving consideration to the many ways you can bring a script to life. And we get a peek into what it was like to be a part of the LNN writing room. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-70-lazola-gola/

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Kylie Wentzel is an artist. While she can create art in almost any medium, painting is her first love and what she's most known for. With recent exhibitions at highly acclaimed art spaces and upcoming online exhibitions with noteworthy names, Kylie Wentzel is an artist on the rise. Getting to this point though has been a journey fraught with self-doubt, soul-crushing institutions, and trying not to be taken for a ride.

While Kylie studied Fine Art at the prestigious Michaelis School of Fine Art in Cape Town, it nearly broke her, and it was outside of formal education that she found her style and inspiration for art-making. We get into the complexities and nuances of navigating the art world as an "up-and-coming" artist whilst also looking at how Instagram has been a tool for connecting outside of traditional art spaces. We also get into why Durban is a fantastic city to create art from and briefly reminisce over GMT and Unit 11 days. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-69-kylie-wentzel/

Keep up with Kylie on Instagram. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Duff is the Marketing Director for Vans for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. A pretty big title but the journey to that title began with working at skate shops in Gateway and giving a hitchhiking 50-year-old bodybuilder a lift. Pat has worked for brands like Nike, DC, and Bata, before finding his home at Vans, so he has a wealth of knowledge and experience under his belt which he shares freely on the podcast. 

I've always appreciated Pat's vibe and approach to life, and it's seemed to have worked out pretty well for him. Although, as he'll tell you on the podcast, it came from making specific choices towards the life he wants. Pat got a degree in Economics and chose to go and work in a skate shop, which should tell you a lot about the kind of person Pat is. Pat's also the kind of guy who shows initiative and makes the most of his positions, which is why he went from working the till to living the dream in Switzerland in just over a decade.

We get into the importance of staying young at heart, at being true to who you are, and finding a balance between corporate and creative. We also look at how the current situation has lead to a more efficient work environment while looking at what it means for our personal futures. It's a deep yet laid back chat with a deep yet laid back cat.  

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-68-patrick-duff/

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Hey Almost Perfectionists,

As some of you know, I occasionally drop bonus episodes of the podcast over on Patreon.

If you'd dig to hear them, you can sign up for free.

Here's a taste of what you're missing.

Listen to the full episode: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tiny Mungwe is a producer, director, and project manager (among many other job titles) who has been instrumental behind the scenes of some of Durban's most important cultural projects. It all started with a bossy phone call 14 years ago and there have been many more ever since. While Tiny has been heavily involved in the Durban International Film Festival and Durban Film Mart, as well as various other festivals around the country, her day job is as a documentary producer for Steps. She's also been working on a documentary about sex work in South Africa with Shanelle Jewnarain for the last 6 years and has been building a pan-African creative retreat in Inanda brick-by-brick for the last 4 years. 

Tiny is tenacious and driven and always seems to find a way to get things done whilst also showing great consideration for others. We get into the politics of curatorship and some of the concerns when it comes to programming a festival, and we also get into the nuances and hurdles that come with making a film about sex work in South Africa at this time. We learn how Tiny has forged her own path by constantly "just doing the thing" and not letting any setback stop her. As always, there's a lot to learn from this one. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-67-tiny-mungwe/

Here's the article about Jahdatta that Tiny mentioned on the podcast: https://thenetline.com/the-sad-truth-about-jahdatta/

Support Sisonke: http://www.sisonke.org.za/

Support S.W.E.A.T: http://www.sweat.org.za/

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Matt Knight is a pastor. Or, as he prefers, a pastor*. The asterisk is because, while Matt does officiate weddings and funerals from time to time, his role these days is mostly in HR and admin for a collection of 11 churches and an NGO that tackles multiple projects in Cape Town. Matt and I first met in the Burn, Willowvale, and Unit 11 days of the Durban music scene and would occasionally work together on various projects to try and make things in the city a little bit better in the ways that we knew how. While things have changed a lot for both of us over the last decade, that drive to make the world a better place and our love of music and Simon Amstell has never wavered. 

The thing that might make this all rather interesting, I guess, is that I'm an atheist yet one of my favourite people is a pastor. Matt has been a good friend to me who even invited me to his wedding but I'm also kinda known as the guy who swore God on Easter Sunday at Splashy. For us, it's never really been an issue, and I've grown a lot since my angry atheist days, so this was a cool opportunity to discuss some big ideas about the universe whilst also getting into the importance of acting locally. Maybe you've never really thought about why someone gets involved in the church, or maybe you have, either way, I think the reality of it all is probably different to what you might expect and I think Matt's perspective will be useful regardless of your personal beliefs. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/almost-perfect-66-matt-knight/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When launching a brand, there are many different approaches to take to get the word out there about who you are and what you do.

While most companies will write up a press release and send it to all their media contacts, we here at Almost Perfect Media would rather bury all the information in a 20-minute monologue that nobody is going to listen to. Game-changing.

Check out the home of Almost Perfect Media: https://almostperfect.co.za/

Thank you to The Printroom for partnering with us on our merchandise: https://www.theprintroom.co.za/

Support Sisonke: http://www.sisonke.org.za/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Majozi is a musician who first shot to fame in 2015 with his debut pop hit "Fire", although he originally started his music career playing in punk and metalcore bands with friends from school and church. While you may know him from the radio, I know Majozi from the moshpit which I think makes this a rather enlightening interview. 

In this episode, we reminisce about Majozi's early days in the Durban punk and hardcore scene before getting into the pressures that come with being a full-time musician on a major label. We learn about how crucial the church was in Majozi finding confidence in himself and also how important the support has been in his success. We also have a few laughs over him getting flooded with messages intended for Sho Madjozi and how he saw her rise through his Google Alerts. It's a fun and informative chat, enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-65-majozi/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Evans is a comedian who has grown tired of the grind of the stand-up circuit so he's bought a boat and is looking to sail away the second he gets the chance. Martin is one of the funniest comedians in South Africa and has an incredible resume, he just feels like he's reached a ceiling in SA stand-up that he's tired of trying to breakthrough. Personally, I get it. 

We learn all about Martin's early days in comedy and his meteoric rise in the London comedy scene before coming back home to SA. We get into the realities of being a stand-up comedian who doesn't walk the corporate path in South Africa before we take a look at the wealth of opportunities that Martin sees before him now that he's not tied to getting his laughs on stage. Martin has been using this lockdown to get introspective and look ahead to the future rather than dwell on past successes and current difficulties. Martin is someone who I have looked up to in South African comedy for quite a long time now, click play to find out why. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-64-martin-evans/

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Annie Brookstone is a former magazine boss type and current freelance writer and editor who has recently moved from Cape Town to Berlin. Annie pretty much has the dream career as she’s lucked out into watching porn, smoking weed, and masturbating, and then also getting to call it 'research'. When she's not writing about sex, cannabis or travel, her interests include getting tied up, learning how to fight the biggest guy in the room, and snacking. She's also kak at wearing clothes.

Annie is someone who I have followed online for years and through her writing is partially responsible for some of my (and maybe your) sex education. We get into her early days starting out as a sex columnist for FHM and how it put her on her journey of publicly exploring the kinkier side of life. Annie's career has spanned across publications and continents, from writing for the likes of Men's Health and FHM to being the Acting Deputy Editor of Cosmopolitan and more recently contributing to the wonderful weed focused website, Kush Kush. We talk about being tied up with ropes and we also talk about getting tied up in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. No surprises that the two share some similarities. It's fair to say Annie lives life on her own terms- there's truly so much to learn from her. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-63-annie-brookstone/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Schalk Bezuidenhout is an actor and comedian who has been ridiculously prolific in the decade or so he's been in the game. He's got multiple specials out, he's toured the country many times, he's in TV shows and movies, and he even performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. Schalk has a lot of experience under his belt but still feels like he has a lot to prove to himself and desires that next level of success beyond our shores. 

Schalk and I get into some pretty deep topics whilst also cracking jokes about moustaches, which I guess is kinda Schalk's vibe. We chat about being bullied in school and we also get into some of the nuances of growing up white and Afrikaans in 90s South Africa. Racism and homophobia were norms around many of us growing up so we reflect on that and how it influenced the work we create and the people we are today. I enjoyed this chat a lot because I think it perfectly straddles that fun and casual/deep and honest line that I like to ride with this podcast. I hope you enjoy it too. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-62-schalk-bezuidenhout/

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Push Push aka Nicci St Bruce is a musician and one of my favourite human beings on planet earth. Although sometimes I wonder if she even is human and from this planet at all. Nicci is a phenom and someone who has lived a rather eventful life already, so she has a lot to share whilst things aren't all that eventful for most of us. 

I initially thought we were going to have a fun chat about wrestling and rap music but due to current circumstances, instead, we discuss the current stresses of Corona both in the USA and SA. From how the fuck we're meant to pay rent to the effects on mental health, things get rather political and somewhat philosophical before we get nostalgic for days gone past and regretful of the people we used to be. Oh, and Animal Crossing. We briefly chat about Animal Crossing- the prime source of joy for many atm.

This is one of the more candid and open episodes of TAPP and it truly goes all over the place but there are plenty of nuggets of wisdom amongst the chaos. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-61-push-push/

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Jumping Back Slash is a rather prolific producer and sound engineer who calls Knysna, South Africa home after originally being from a small town in Wales and spending his youth in the London music scene. JBS has had a long career in the entertainment industry but he's currently loving living out his "late-era Kate Bush" life, creating music in his studio far from the reaches of city life and music scenes. 

This conversation truly goes all over the place as JBS and I work through the last decade (and more) of his career here in South Africa whilst also sharing many, many opinions on "The Industry" and what it means to make and consume original music in these oversaturated and overstimulated times. We talk about our mutual love of Spoek Mathambo and how instrumental he was in JBS's career, and we also get into how important it is to connect and work with people who are on a similar wavelength. I know I always say this, but, there's A LOT to be learned from this one. Enjoy. 

Follow Jumping Back Slash on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisjbs

Listen to Obscure Artist Diets here: https://swakcatalog1.bandcamp.com/album/obscure-artist-diets

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Judd Campbell is a restaurateur who has been feeding Durbanites for the better part of a decade. While many of you will know Judd from his plethora of coffee shops and restaurants, I doubt you know the story of how Judd got started in the world of hospitality. I'll let Judd tell you how he became a waiter on the cast, and from there you can learn how he's translated his passion for food and customer service into multiple successful businesses starting with the legendary Corner Cafe. 

Judd has recently opened up a restaurant called A Pizza my Heart so a fair bit of our discussion goes towards pizza and what makes their's unique. We also hear stories of "back in the day" and reminisce over old haunts like Home, and hear tales of Judd's adventures in hospitality around the world. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-59-judd-campbell/

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Khanyisa JamJam aka JamJam The Comedian is the biggest cheerleader of all things South African, but especially sports. Who knew you could go from leading war cries at school to kicking it with the biggest names in South African sports, and selling out comedy shows in SA and abroad? JamJam's success is no fluke though as he's worked hard at being consistent both online and on stage. While everything seems to be clicking into place for JamJam, it hasn't always been an easy ride.

In this episode, we learn why JamJam got a degree in Politics and how it helps with his comedy, we get an honest account of his struggles with addiction, and we have a rather frank discussion about race and privilege in South Africa. Enjoy.

Keep up with JamJam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamjam_the_comedian/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/almostperfect

Buy tickets to Bob's WIP performance of It's Not The End of the World: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/307177-its-not-the-end-of-the-world-bob-perfect/#/

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Robin Thirdfloor and Rhea Blek are two of Durban's most original musicians. Back in the day, that would have been a problem but these days Durbanites are supporting unique and original sounds more and more so things are looking good for Durban's musical power couple. We sat down together the morning after a particularly raucous First Thursdays event put together by Roots Up and had a chat about making music work for you in the 031 and beyond. 

We get into being outsiders and how that can drive you creatively, The Law of Attraction (which I very incorrectly call "Manifesting Destiny", turns out that does not mean what I thought it did), and their dreams and fears for the future. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-58-robin-thirdfloor-rhea-blek/

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It's a two for one special on this episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast. 

Kate Pinchuck is a comedian, actor, writer, and teacher, and Ryan Harduth calls himself a "comedy uncle" but really he's one of the people behind the scenes getting a lot of comedians on TV and stages around the country. I was meant to chat to them separately but things didn't work out that way so instead, the three of us waffled on about comedy and life over some waffles. 

In this conversation, we dig into the differences between acting and comedy, we look at the highs and lows of being a comedian in SA today (as well as get a little history lesson), we discuss getting broken up with via text, and we touch on ADD and mental health. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-57-kate-pinchuck-ryan-harduth/

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"And he looks at her and he says 'We're going to a party
It's a birthday party, it's your birthday party
Happy birthday, darling
We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much'"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GHyLhbdzN0

It's my birthday this Friday so I thought I'd get a bit reflective by fielding some listener questions for this episode. Find out what Pokemon I'd be if I was a Pokemon, what my favourite South African venues are, which wrestler I'd like to play MTG against, and a whole bunch of other weird shit you probably didn't know you wanted to know about me. A big thanks to everyone who submitted questions and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Across Dress the Universe 2: Intergalactic Boogaloo at The Winston Pub this Friday 21 February. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-56-birthday-qa/

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P-Kuttah aka Verdine Peterson is a DJ, producer, and events coordinator based in Jozi but who got his start in music in Durban.  This turntablist extraordinaire is a former SA DJ Champion and SAHHA winner who has been a part of influential bands like T.H.O.T.S (Tree Houses on the Sea) and has been instrumental in helping build the Jozi hip-hop scene as part of Kool Out Concepts. 

In this conversation, we learn how Verdine earned his place in the industry and we take a walk down memory lane as we get into his early days in the Durban scene. We get into what makes hip-hop so hard to DJ well and what makes playing vinyl records so satisfying. We also chat about whether P-Kuttah will get back into the battle scene, the excitement and fears behind his upcoming EP, and so much more. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-55-p-kuttah/

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Cath Jenkin is a freelance writer (and chameleon of sorts) who I used to troll on forums back in the day. I know, shocking. Who would have ever thought I was on forums? Despite our early online interactions, Cath has become someone I respect and admire greatly. While she started out in IT, she's continually adapted as the years have gone on and has been supporting herself and her daughter by churning out regular articles across various niche topics for clients across the world. I find support myself as a freelancer is tough enough, which makes Cath's success even more impressive.

We get into the highs and lows of freelance life, the pressures and sacrifices that come with getting your kid into a good school, and we reminisce about the old online escapades of Durban's alternative scene. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-54-cath-jenkin/

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Ebenhaezer Dibakwane is a comedian and actor who has been on the rise for a minute now but it's been a hell of a journey to get to where he is today. Ebenhaezer grew up religious but found his life falling apart when he lost his faith. From suicide attempts to living on the streets, we get into some very real topics in this conversation. It's not all hectic though as Ebenhaezer has turned his tragedies into comedy and provides plenty of laughs and commentary on standup comedy between the realness. 

Follow Ebenhaezer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Our_Ebenhaezer

Listen to the podcast: bit.ly/almostpod

Support the cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/almostperfect
Sign up to the newsletter: mailchi.mp/17b96443cdfe/almostperfectnewsletter
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Mojak Lehoko is a comedian, writer, actor, TV presenter, podcaster, and musician. Mojak started out his entertainment career in the rap game before transferring those skills to comedy stages around the country. For my money, Mojak is the best host in SA comedy and I know I'm going to have a good night if he's the MC. Through countless club gigs, multiple one-man shows, and becoming a familiar face on TV stations like MTV, Mojak has made an impressive name for himself but 2019 saw him questioning where he's at in life and his career.  

We get into Mojak's early days in the SA hip-hop and comedy scenes and how the skills he learned from rap translated to comedy. Then we get what made 2019 such a tough year for Mojak and where his head is at going forward. Mojak is a deep and honest cat so this one should leave you with a lot to think about.  

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-52-mojak-lehoko/

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Eric Jansen is a lekker ou. That, and an actor and comedian. You've probably seen Eric on your TV screens as part of Trevor Noah's Nationwild on Showmax and as an Afrikaans soapy star on 7de Laan and Binnelanders. Only 5 years into game and Eric is already killing it. He's paying the price for his success though by being beaten up by grannies in the street for his role on 7de Laan. 

Eric is a laid back, funny guy who is easy to get along with so this conversation flows smoothly and is full of many laughs. While Eric goes through tough times like all of us, he tries to keep it posi and approaches life with an open mind. Learn what it's like to see your face on a billboard and how not to handle grannies in parking lots in this episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-51-eric-jansen/

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Muzi is a musician who was successful long before you (or I) knew who he was. The DJ, producer, singer, and recent father is starting to blow up in South Africa, but he's been making moves around the world for the better part of this decade. Muzi is the musician who I've interviewed the most in my career. His continued growth has been a beautiful thing to witness and is something I draw inspiration from, from time to time. 

In this episode, we get into going where you're wanted and finding your tribe by being yourself. We get into how Muzi's navigated the music industry and avoided most of its pitfalls by continually reinvesting in himself. We learn why Muzi dropped out of med school and how it lead to him diving headfirst into making music. We also talk about necessity being the mother of invention when a set getting shortened lead to a whole new element being added to Muzi's repertoire. There's a lot of advice here for up-and-coming independent artists of all industries but musicians, in particular, should enjoy Muzi's perspective on "The Industry" and his career.  

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-50-muzi/

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Loyiso Madinga is a comedian, actor, writer, and MC who I'm pretty certain you're familiar with. Loyiso is one of four South Africans to have a half-hour special with Netflix as part of their Comedians of the World series, he's the African correspondent for Trevor Noah's Daily Show, has featured locally on LNN with Loyiso Gola and Bantu Hour, has two one-man shows under his belt, and stars in the upcoming Netflix original series Queen Sono with Pearl Thusi. He's achieved more than most in the SA entertainment industry but that doesn't mean everything is going great for him.

As you'll learn on this podcast, success can lead to self-doubt and insecurities that can be debilitating. While from the outside it looks like Loyiso has a career many would be jealous of, internally there are struggles that many of us will find relatable. This is a candid and open discussion about what success really means as a South African artist from someone who is well on his way to greatness but is scared he may never achieve it.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-49-loyiso-madinga/

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The South African comedy community is in mourning as we all found out about the passing of Ebenhaezer Dibakwane this weekend. Ebenhaezer was beloved by everyone in SA comedy and touched the lives of countless people with his infectious energy. Eb was a truly original thinker who never shied away from his truth.

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Eb at his flat in Joburg in early 2020 before COVID hit. To this day, it's one of the most honest interviews I've ever done and has stuck with me ever since. We do speak rather candidly about some very dark topics, so this may be a bit too heavy for some people to listen to right now. Still, I think it's important to know who Eb was and how he thought, and I think this conversation helps do that through his own words.

The original interview has been edited to sound a bit better as the original recording isn't great.

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Nipho Hurd is a musician and entrepreneur. If you're a part of the Durban music scene, you've no doubt seen and heard Nipho, either on stage or in the crowd supporting other artists. Nipho puts herself and other artists she's passionate about on by organising gigs through her company In Your Backyard, and she pays some bills by helping you look fly for cheap with her thrifting company Tinz.  

We get into the difficulties of the Durban music scene whilst also looking at what's working and how Nipho is having an impact. We learn the somewhat seedy origins of Tinz and dig into what drives Nipho's entrepreneurial spirit.  We also get into some very real talk about depression and suicidal thoughts, so please consider this your trigger warning. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-48-nipho-hurd/

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ByLwansta has had a rollercoaster of a year which is why the rapper/designer/art director is the first returning guest on The Almost Perfect Podcast. ByLwansta has taken himself out of his comfort zone and it's taken him around the world. 

We get into the differentiation between ByLwansta and Lwandile, how he's learning to collaborate more, and we learn how he got on Colors and has found himself travelling the world with his art. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-47-bylwansta-returns/

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Russel Hlongwane is a cultural producer and creative industry consultant who has been quite busy behind, and occasionally in front of, the curtains of Durban arts and culture. Russel has been involved in a plethora of projects that have had varying degrees of impact, but what surprised me the most was to find out he's only been on the path of his current role for about 5 years. Russel is a deep thinker and one of my favourite people to talk to in general so it was only a matter of time before I got him on. 

We get into a myriad of topics from design, to culture, to race, and how they all intersect. Russel is endlessly fascinated and driven by the tensions at play in his own life and the world around him. It's a fascinating chat. Enjoy.  

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-46-russel-hlongwane/

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