Radio Workshop

Radio Workshop
  • 4.9 (7)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Forget the Africa you think you know. This is Radio Workshop. With real stories about young Africans. From Freetown to Cape Town, hear the world’s youngest population. One story at a time.

  1. Waste Not Want Not

    JAN 19

    Waste Not Want Not

    Aphiwe's grandmother taught her to flatten cardboard boxes when she was just a kid, selling the tiny "baby bundles" and saving the money in a piggy bank. Now 19, Aphiwe wears her grandmother's old work clothes and does the job alone — supporting her entire family. Waste pickers like Aphiwe recover 80% of South Africa's recycled plastic and paper, yet earn poverty wages in an industry that depends on them but won't protect them. Shownotes Support the work of Radio Workshop by donating today. Sources  Occupational Groups in the Informal Economy: Waste PickersInfrastructure News - Stop Pretending Waste Pickers Don’t ExistNature News - South Africa’s waste pickers deserve more recognition for environmental role Newcastillian News - SA’s Recycling Lie: What Really Happens to Your RubbishAcknowledgements This episode would not be possible without support from the UMI Fund. Special thanks to Hindenburg for supporting our projects across Africa with audio editing software. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    13 min
  2. I Will Not Grow Old Here: The Lights of Sandton

    12/30/2025

    I Will Not Grow Old Here: The Lights of Sandton

    To wrap up our December re-releases, here’s the third and final episode of our award-winning series.  Mary-Ann explores the contradictions of life in Alexandra. There are no easy answers, and not everyone will make it out of Alex—but there’s something infectious about the energy and persistence of young Alexandrians, a spirit Mary-Ann embodies and hopes will take her out of Alex. Some day... Three years later, Mary-Ann is still living in Alex. She says she doesn’t want to be there, but her family needs her. So for now, she’ll stay. She says, “Leaving won’t be impossible, I just need to be patient. I still refuse to grow old here, and that's never gonna change.” Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    31 min
  3. I Will Not Grow Old Here: The Air We Breathe

    12/23/2025

    I Will Not Grow Old Here: The Air We Breathe

    In episode two of our three-part series re-release, Mary-Ann steps out of her comfort zone to explore parts of Alex she's been warned about her whole life. Her search for answers leads her to places where past and present overlap. How will she find her way out of Alex when the legacy of apartheid lingers, practically in the air she breathes? Meanwhile, things in Mary-Ann’s personal life take a turn for the worse.  Since we published this episode, Mary-Ann says her personal life has been calm. But Alex remains the same. “Nobody’s coming to save you. It’s every man for himself.” She says she has to fight to have hope when nothing seems to be getting better. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    38 min
  4. I Will Not Grow Old Here: A Girl from Alex

    12/16/2025

    I Will Not Grow Old Here: A Girl from Alex

    Continuing with our December re-releases, today we’re sharing the first episode of the series that earned us our first Ambies nomination and first One World Media award.  This story starts with a number: 70%. That's how many young people in South Africa are unemployed. Youth hustle and hope to find success, but how do you make it in a place like Alexandra township in Johannesburg? And how do you get out? In this three-part series, 23-year-old Mary-Ann Nobele brings listeners into her life in Alex and says she has made this promise to herself: "I will not grow old here." Mary-Ann is 25 now. Back then, she was working five jobs to make ends meet. Although she has one full-time job now, she says, “One income is too close to no income. And the thing is, I’m still in Alex.” So she still has a way to go before she reaches the success she dreams of. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    29 min
  5. Zambia's Sacrifice Zone

    12/09/2025

    Zambia's Sacrifice Zone

    To continue our month of episodes from the Radio Workshop archives, we're revisiting a story from last year. Oliver grew up in Kabwe, Zambia. Nearly a century of lead mining has poisoned Kabwe's land, air, and water, making it one of the world's most toxic towns. Now Oliver is watching a new mining boom sweep across his country, this time for minerals that power clean energy. He faces an impossible choice: fight the industry, or join it to change it from within? Now 19 and a student at Copperbelt University, Oliver is determined to change the industry from the inside out. As Zambia rapidly expands copper exports, he says: "Mining is so important for our country, but we need good policies and practices for it to benefit us and not harm the environment." Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    25 min
  6. Love Is a Conversation

    12/02/2025

    Love Is a Conversation

    As we head into the holiday season, we’re re-releasing some of our favorite episodes you might have missed—this one is from 2023. The story takes us to Lagos, where we meet audio producer Mo Isu. Mo suffers from severe anxiety—so severe that he knows it's time to get professional help. But will his stern, old-school father approve? Mo decides to face his fears and have a tough conversation.  Since this episode was released, Mo has received an official diagnosis for generalised anxiety disorder. He says the episode became a point of connection, bringing his dad into his life in a new way. And when Mo shared his diagnosis, his dad had a surprising response: it all sounded relatable. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    21 min
  7. My Whistle My Voice

    11/24/2025

    My Whistle My Voice

    Last Friday, South African women shut down the country a day before the G20 Summit - an initiative led by Women for Change. Across the country, thousands gathered at midday to bring the country to a standstill and honour those who have lost their lives to gender-based violence and femicide. With 16 Days of Activism approaching, it’s crucial that we keep this momentum going.  Today, we’re re-releasing an episode born from 16 Days of Activism in Ethiopia, where — like South Africa — women face alarming levels of harassment and violence. Lella Miskir walks through the streets of Addis Ababa, armed with a small, red whistle. Her online campaign, #MyWhistleMyVoice, encourages women to blow their whistle every time a man catcalls them, acts inappropriately towards them, or assaults them. The shrill of her whistle is a reminder that across the continent, our struggles are shared.         Last year, Lella faced death threats for her campaign, forcing her to flee to a remote island. Now, Lella has emerged from a transformative year, declaring herself "the monster that keeps respawning after they thought they killed it." In a powerful new act of resistance, she is hosting a workshop at a feminist festival and committing to a unique act of solidarity: screaming once a day for all 16 days, recording her cry for women worldwide.  ________ Support the work of Radio Workshop by donating today. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    22 min
  8. Just Enough Light

    10/20/2025

    Just Enough Light

    For the past year, Siphesihle Magagula has been going door-to-door selling solar power. He convinced nearly all of his neighbours to buy a basic solar kit, bringing lights to about 400 homes for the first time. His neighborhood, Nomzamo, never had electricity before — despite being close to South Africa's biggest coal mines and power stations.  But some of his clients are disappointed. Their solar kits don’t have enough power to run fridges or TVs. Nomzamo is just one example of South Africa's attempt at a transition away from coal but will it bring justice to the 1.6 million homes that aren't connected to the power grid? Show Notes Access our free resources: To use our episodes on your radio show, refer to our toolkit.To host your own listening event, check out our guide.This episode is part of "Power to Change," a series of stories examining South Africa's transition from coal to renewable energy through the lives of young people living in coal communities. Listen to This Coal Life, an earlier episode in the series. We partnered with Context News, launched by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which published a companion piece, written by Kim Harrisberg. You can visit Peco Power’s website to read more about their solar power devices and their champion network. If you want to hear more of our award-winning climate storytelling, listen to Zambia’s Sacrifice Zone. Acknowledgements: This story was reported by Siya Mokoena and Dhashen Moodley. Production assistance from Mo Isu and Malvin Shabangu. Thanks to Khuthala Environmental Care Group, GreenCape, Peco Power, VOC FM in Ermelo, and the residents of Nomzamo for their support. This episode was edited by Lesedi Mogoatlhe, with help from Kerry Donahue. Original music by Qhamani Sambu at Edible Audio in Cape Town. Sound engineering by Jo Jackson and Mike Rahfaldt. Jo Jackson is our Managing Producer. Clémence Petit Perrot is our Impact Producer with support from impact strategist  Andy Jones. Mike Rahfaldt is our Executive Producer. Vuyo Lutseke is our Executive Director. This episode and the work of Radio Workshop would not be possible without support from the Doc Society, the UMI Fund, the African Climate Foundation, and the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. Special thanks to Rob Byers, and also thanks to Hindenburg for supporting our projects across Africa with audio editing software. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

    30 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Forget the Africa you think you know. This is Radio Workshop. With real stories about young Africans. From Freetown to Cape Town, hear the world’s youngest population. One story at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Radio Workshop
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Radio Workshop
  • Show Website
    Radio Workshop

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