What if you could feel more in control of your stress levels? Stress, anxiety and depression have become a sign of our times. We continue to face global crises like climate change and war or threats of war in parts of the world that affect us all through our shared humanity and the global economy. Then there is the continuation of a modern, fast-paced, highly competitive lifestyle to contend with, which can affect young and old alike. How have your stress levels been lately? Maybe stress has left you feeling depleted and tired, or moody and irritable. International bestselling and award-winning author, Noa Belling has put together a tried and tested, scientifically backed and power-packed toolkit to help you. It targets different ways that stress can show up in our lives, which might leave some of us depleted and depressed and others wired and anxious. Noa is in conversation with Award-winning radio host, acclaimed MC and voice-over artist, Sean Loots. Enjoy the chat!

After four months of only speaking over the intercom, when air traffic controller Pippa Edwards finally meets pilot Andrew Boyce-Jones face-to-face, they discover they've got much more in common than simply working at the same airport. In fact... they both need a date. Tired of every relationship ending before it's even begun, Pippa wants to evade the inevitable questions at her dreaded ten-year school reunion in Cape Town. Andrew needs to get his well-meaning family off his back about settling down. The solution seems simple. A pact - a fake dating pact - for as long as it's mutually beneficial. It's perfect. Or at least it would be if their very real attraction wasn't about to make Pippa question everything she thought she wanted... Jo Watson is a bestselling author of romantic comedies, including Love to Hate You which has sold over 100,000 copies. She's a two-time Watty Award winner with over 50 million reads on Wattpad and 85,000 followers. Love at First Flight is her latest book.  In this episode of Pagecast Jo is in conversation with author Gail Schimmel. 

Thanks for listening to this episode of Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers.  In this episode News24 Books Editor Shaun de Waal is in conversation with Author Siphiwo Mahala about Blame Me On History by Bloke Modisane. Feeling an exile in the country of his birth, the talented journalist and leading black intellectual Bloke Modisane left South Africa in 1959. It was shortly after the apartheid government had bulldozed Sophiatown, the township of his childhood. His biting indictment of apartheid, Blame Me on History, was published in 1963 – and banned shortly afterwards. Modisane offers a harrowing account of the degradation and oppression faced daily by black South Africans. His penetrating observations and insightful commentary paint a vivid picture of what it meant to be black in apartheid South Africa. At the same time, his evocative writing transports the reader back to a time when Sophiatown still teemed with life. This 60th-anniversary edition of Modisane’s autobiography serves as an example of passionate resistance to the scourge of racial discrimination in our country and is a reminder not to forget our recent past. Thanks for tuning in, enjoy the chat!

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Pagecast, a podcast series presented by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, we're joined by Sewela Langeni, the owner of Book Circle Capital, a bookstore specialising in African Literature. She sits down with Magogodi oaMphela Makhene, the author of the novel Innards, for an engaging discussion. Set in Soweto, the urban heartland of South Africa, Innards tells the intimate stories of everyday black folks processing the savagery of apartheid. Rich with the thrilling textures of township language and life, it braids the voices and perspectives of an unforgettable cast of characters into a breathtaking collection flush with forgiveness, rage, ugliness and beauty. Relax and immerse yourself in this compelling conversation, enjoy it!

Welcome to the Pagecast Festive Special! Join us in this episode as Hanlie Theron from Bargain Books shares her top picks for holiday reading and recommendations for your reading list. Tune in for a delightful conversation and a joyous holiday period!

Welcome to the Pagecast Festive Special! Join us in this episode as we drop by the Exclusive Books Sandton staff to discover their top picks for holiday reading and recommendations for your reading list. Tune in for a delightful conversation and a joyous December!

Welcome to the Pagecast Festive Special! Join us in this episode as co-producer of Pagecast Maryam Adams chats with Sewela Langeni about her holiday reading! Sewela is the owner of Book Circle Capital, an independent bookshop focusing on African literature based at 27 Boxes in Melville, Johannesburg. Tune in for a delightful conversation and a joyous December!

Welcome to the Pagecast Festive Special! Join us in this episode as we drop by the Exclusive Books Cavendish staff to discover their top picks for holiday reading and recommendations for your reading list. Tune in for a delightful conversation and a joyous December!

In the latest episode of Pagecast, Batya Bricker, General Manager of Books and Brand at Exclusive Books, engages in a fascinating conversation with the world-renowned classicist, Professor Mary Beard, about her new book, "Emperor of Rome." This book offers a unique take on the lives of Roman emperors, challenging traditional chronological storytelling. Professor Beard examines the true nature of imperial power, the actual dynamics within the Roman palace, and the lives of those surrounding the emperor, including his family, rivals, and the general populace. Her insightful narrative provides a fresh perspective on Roman history and its enduring influence on modern society. Tune in for an intriguing discussion!

In today's episode of Pagecast, join legendary broadcaster Jenny Crwys-Williams as she interviews Beverley Roos-Muller, the author who vividly brings to life the experiences of the Muller brothers during the Boer War. ‘. . . it is nine months this evening since I last saw the light in my own house, when I had to tear myself away from all that is dear to me. And today is also my little son’s birthday. Oh, how I long for home.’ So wrote Michael Muller in 1901 as he gazed at the lights of Cape Town from a ship bound for Bermuda, after months of internment in a British POW camp in Simon’s Town. The camps were full, so Boer prisoners were being sent to other parts of the empire. Michael’s brothers, Chris and Pieter, were exiled to Ceylon, while Lool was held in the Green Point camp in Cape Town. Remarkably, three of the brothers kept diaries – the only known instance of this happening in the Boer War. They recorded their intimate thoughts and turbulent emotions, and the diaries gave them agency. The scrawled notes of Chris on the evening after the legendary Magersfontein battle, the rain-dashed pages written by Lool in Colesberg, and the angry words penned by Michael about his treatment at Surrender Hill, have the urgency of men determined to go on record. When Beverley Roos-Muller first began to explore writing about the Boer experience of the war, she read the tiny war diary of Michael, grandfather of her husband, Ampie Muller. It led her to the discovery of the other diaries and many more documents. She also records the brothers’ difficult return home and examines the consequences for South Africa of the bitterness this strife invoked. This is a beautifully told account of the fellowship of four brothers in war, their capture and their eventual recovery.

Thanks for tuning Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In today's episode Joanne Lefson and Brandon de Kock chat about Pigcasso - The Painting Pig That Saved a Sanctuary. When Joanne Lefson took on a piglet at her animal shelter, the young sow proceeded to eat everything in her stable but a paint brush. In a flash of inspiration, Joanne attempted to introduce the pig to the art of painting - and thus Pigcasso was born. Starting out with a humble canvas on the sanctuary wall, Pigcasso's paintings are now owned by the likes of George Clooney, she has a Swatch watch design partnership, a wine label, and has eclipsed the previous world record holder for animal art. She's been commissioned by Nissan and has had exhibitions in Cape Town, Munich, and Amsterdam. More than that, Pigcasso's art funds the food and veterinary services for all the animals at the sanctuary. Pigcasso is the story of this unique pig and of the circumstances that brought her and Joanne together to take the art world by storm and form a unique and unbreakable bond. Enjoy the chat!

Thanks for clicking play on this episode of Pagecast. In today's chat, Mark Gevisser, editor of 'The Revolution Will Not Be Litigated,' is in conversation with activists Mark Heywood and Kumi Naidoo, two of the contributors to the book. Written from the maxim “it takes a lawyer, an activist, and a storyteller to change the world", The Revolution Will Not Be Litigated shows how the law and social movements can reinforce each other in the struggle for justice and freedom. In these vibrant narratives, 25 of the world’s most accomplished movement lawyers and activists become storytellers, reflecting on their experiences at the frontlines of some of the most significant struggles of our time. In an era where human rights are under threat, their words offer both an inspiration and a compass for the way movements can use the law – and must sometimes break it – to bring about social justice. The contributors here take you into their worlds: Jennifer Robinson frantically orchestrating a protest outside London’s Ecuadorean embassy to prevent the authorities from arresting her client Julian Assange; Justin Hansford at the barricades during the protests over the murder of Black teenager Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Ghida Frangieh in Lebanon’s detention centres trying to access arrested protestors during the 2019 revolution; Pavel Chikov defending Pussy Riot and other abused prisoners in Russia; Ayisha Siddiqa, a shy Pakistani immigrant, discovering community in her new home while leading the 2019 youth climate strike in Manhattan; Greenpeace activist Kumi Naidoo on a rubber dinghy in stormy Arctic seas contemplating his mortality as he races to occupy an oil rig. The stories in The Revolution Will Not Be Litigated capture the complex, and often-awkward dance between legal reform and social change. They are more than compelling portraits of fascinating lives and work, they are revelatory: of generational transitions; of epochal change and apocalyptic anxiety; of the ethical dilemmas that define our age; and of how one can make a positive impact when the odds are stacked against you in a harsh world of climate crisis and ruthless globalization. Contributors: Phelister Abdalla, Alejandra Ancheita, Joe Athialy, Baher Azmy, Pavel Chikov, Ghida Frangieh, Njeri Gateru, Mark Gevisser, Robin Gorna, Justin Hansford, Mark Heywood, Benjamin Hoffman, David Hunter, Ka Hsaw Wa, Julia Lalla-Maharajh, Kumi Naidoo, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo, Katie Redford, Jennifer Robinson, Ayisha Siddiqa, Eimear Sparks, Klementyna Suchanov, Marissa Vahlsing, Krystal Two Bulls, David Wicker, Farhana Yamin and JingJing Zhang.

Athlete. Icon. Activist. In this episode of Pagecast, Sias du Plessis, a media and communications consultant, chats with the phenomenal Caster Semenya. Aged eighteen, Semenya shot to fame on the global sporting stage for her blistering speed. But shrouding her monumental win were fierce rumours about her physical body rather than her phenomenal performance. Called ‘a threat to the sport’ and ‘not woman enough’, she found herself at the centre of the debate around the newly drawn line between gender and sport. Throughout the intense speculation, harmful rumours and long legal battle she has remained quiet, letting her running do the talking until she was banned from competing and defending her Olympic title in 2020. Now, Caster is ready to own her story and tell it in full. In this book, Caster speaks openly about growing up in a loving family and community that never regarded her as different, just Caster; of her early years understanding her agency, sexuality and athletic ability; and of her infectious spirit and tenacity to be the best. Told with conviction and humour, The Race To Be Myself is the story of a life lived in the spotlight, a manifesto for acceptance and change for all. This is the unforgettable story of one of the most recognisable athletes in the world, and of a woman’s journey to run free.‘ A story that makes us all interrogate our humanity and the world we build with our actions every day.’ Trevor Noah

At once epic and deeply personal, the second novel from prize-winning author Jennifer Makumbi is an intoxicating mix of Ugandan folklore and modern feminism that will linger in the memory long after the final page. As Kirabo enters her teens, questions begin to gnaw at her - questions that the adults in her life will do anything to ignore. Where is the mother she has never known? And why would she choose to leave her daughter behind? Inquisitive, headstrong, and unwilling to take no for an answer, Kirabo sets out to find the truth for herself. Her search will take her away from the safety of her prosperous Ugandan family, plunging her into a very different world of magic, tradition, and the haunting legend of 'The First Woman'. Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a Ugandan novelist and short story writer. She has a PhD from Lancaster University. Her first novel, Kintu (Oneworld, 2018), won the Kwani? Manuscript Project in 2013 and was longlisted for the Etisalat Prize in 2014. She was awarded the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for 'Let's Tell This Story Properly', which featured in her first collection, Manchester Happened (Oneworld, 2019). She was awarded the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction 2018 and lives in Manchester, where she lectures in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. In 2020, she was selected as one of 100 Most Influential Africans of 2020 by New African magazine.

When seven-year-old Jedza witnesses a tragic incident involving a train and the death of his close boyhood friend in his hometown Miner’s Drift, he is convinced that his life is haunted. Now in his mid-20s, Jedza is a down-and-out electrician, moving to Harare in the hopes that he will escape the darkness and superstitions of the small town. But living in the shadowy restless atmosphere of the Avenues with its mysterious pools of water rising under musasa trees, he is tormented by the disappearance of his sister and their early encounters with ancestral spirits, the shapeshifting power of the njuzu and a vengeful ngozi. To move forward, he must stop running away and confront the trauma of his past. An eclectic, experimental novel, Avenues By Train is a brash and confident debut by an exciting new voice.

At the very dawn of the country’s brave new democracy, Cape Town was at war. Pagad, which started as a community protest action against crime, had mutated into a sinister vigilante group wreaking death and destruction across the city. Between 1996 and 2001, there were more than 400 bombs – most famously at the popular Planet Hollywood restaurant at the V&A Waterfront – and there were countless targeted hits on drug lords and gang bosses. The police were at their wits end. The new ANC government was alarmed. The citizens of Cape Town were living in fear. Mark Shaw tells the incredible tale of how the police’s response pulled together former foes – struggle cadres and the apartheid security apparatus – to break the Pagad death squads. It is a story that has never been told in full and was not possible until recently, when many were released from prison or had retired and were finally willing to talk openly about this revealing chapter in South Africa’s recent history. Mark Shaw is the author of Hitmen for Hire and Give Us More Guns. He is also director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Shaw was previously the National Research Foundation Professor of Justice and Security at the University of Cape Town and worked for ten years at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. He has held a number of positions in the South African government and civil society, where he worked on issues of public safety and urban violence in the post-apartheid transition.

Thinking of moving to the UK but don’t know where to start? Overwhelmed by the information coming at you after a Google search? Baffled by visa requirements? Worried about how your kids and your beloved pet iguana would handle it? Fear not! Written by a seasoned mover who's been there, done that and even brought back the tea towel, Sam Beckbessinger will hold your hand in this end-to-end guide to moving from South Africa to the land of tabloids, tweed, and terrible weather. Inside, you'll find helpful tips, funny anecdotes and thorough to-do lists to keep you on track. This guide covers everything from the practicalities of finding a job and a place to live to the cultural quirks of British life (yes, they really are obsessed with tea), equipping you with everything you need to know about fitting in on this weird, adorable island. Sam Beckbessinger is the author of the bestselling Manage Your Money Like a F*cking Grownup and the novel Girls of Little Hope (co-authored with Dale Halvorsen). Her interactive story about climate change, Survive the Century, was featured in New Scientist and Gizmodo. She teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University, writes kids’ TV and picture books, once wrote for Marvel and is weirdly obsessed with spreadsheets. She grew up on a farm near Durban with a pet donkey named Mr Magoo but now lives in London. In this episode, author of the book - Sam Beckbessenger chats with the hilarious Jenna Berkowitz - Content and Social Media Specialist and recent expat.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. Today's book- Coloured by Tessa Dooms and Lynsey Chutel has been selected at News24's book of the month. Coloured as an ethnicity and racial demographic is intertwined in the creation of the South Africa we have today. Yet often, Coloured communities are disdained as people with no clear heritage or culture — ‘not being black enough or white enough.’ the book Coloured challenges this notion and presents a different angle to that narrative as it delves into the history of Coloured people as descendants of indigenous Africans and a people whose identity was shaped by colonisation, slavery, and the racial political hierarchy it created. Although rooted in a difficult history, this book is also about the culture that Coloured communities have created for themselves through food, music, and shared lived experiences in communities such as Eldorado Park, Eersterus, and Wentworth. Coloured culture is an act of defiance and resilience.

Rugby is een van my passies, een van my liefdes. – Gcobani Bobo, oud-Springbok Het jy al ooit gewonder hoe dit moet voel om vir die Springbokke gekies te word of hoe 50 000 ekstatiese ondersteuners op die pawiljoen klink? Met die Rugbywêreldbeker om die draai, het Hendrik Hancke die land deurkruis om met oud-Springbokke en ander rolspelers, insluitend breiers en’n skeidsregter, te gesels oor hul liefde vir rugby. Hulle deel oomblikke in die kleedkamer, persoonlike oorwinnings en voorheen ongepubliseerde stories oor wat van die veld af en op toer gebeur. Schalk “Schalla” Brits verduidelik waarom dit so noodsaaklik vir ’n Springbok is om ’n spanspeler te wees, terwyl Gcobani Bobo aangrypend vertel van sy reis met rugby van King Williamstown tot Nieu-Seeland. Frik du Preez verklap weer hoe hy en ’n voormalige Nobelpryswenner mekaar gevind het oor hul gedeelde afkeer van Brusselse spruite en Jean de Villiers gesels oor die hoogtepunte en uitdagings van Springbok-kaptein wees. As jy Saterdagmiddae kliphard vir die televisie skree of op die sypaadjie sal slaap vir ’n kaartjie na ’n groot wedstryd, dan is dié boek vir jou!

In this installment of Pagecast, we explore the behind-the-scenes process of creating Jonathan Ball Publishers' inaugural audiobook, "Children of Sugarcane" by Joanne Joseph. Bringing this compelling narrative to life is the talented South African actress and storyteller, Roshina Ratnam, who serves as the narrator. In our discussion, Joanne and Roshina provide insights into the audiobook's production journey and delve into the creative techniques Roshina employed to vividly convey the story's essence. About the book: Vividly set against the backdrop of 19th century India and the British-owned sugarcane plantations of Natal, written with great tenderness and lyricism, Children of Sugarcane paints an intimate and wrenching picture of indenture told from a woman’s perspective. Shanti, a bright teenager stifled by life in rural India and facing an arranged marriage, dreams that South Africa is an opportunity to start afresh. The Colony of Natal is where Shanti believes she can escape the poverty, caste, and troubling fate of young girls in her village. Months later, after a harrowing sea voyage, she arrives in Natal only to discover the profound hardship and slave labour that await her. Spanning four decades and two continents, Children of Sugarcane demonstrates the life-giving power of love, heartache, and the indestructible bonds between family and friends. These bonds prompt heroism and sacrifice, the final act of which leads to Shanti's redemption.

Thanks for clicking play on this episode of Pagecast, as we wind back the clock and chat about the south African way of war. In "20 Battles," historians Evert Kleynhans and David Brock Katz explore South Africa's evolving way of war over 100 years. They trace the development of the defence forces' doctrine and structure, uncovering historical continuity and lessons from past battles and operations. The book, and this chat, also highlights significant milestones, including their first deployment during the 1914 Industrial Strike, involvement in both world wars, large-scale cross-border operations during the Border War, and the recent, infamous Battle of Bangui. In this episode of pagecast Evert Kleynhans and David Katz chat with historian Archie Henderson. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode of Pagecast, Nicole Engelbrecht, True Crime Author and Podcaster, sits down with Ryan Blumenthal regarding his latest book, Risking Life for Death. About the book: Locard’s Exchange Principle underpins all forensic science and holds that the perpetrator of a crime will bring something to the crime scene and leave with something from it. Forensic experts use this principle daily to catch murderers and assailants. In Risking Life for Death, South African forensic pathologist Ryan Blumenthal offers a master class in this singular forensic technique based on real-life case studies. With more than twenty years’ experience in the field, Blumenthal explains how to look for clues and traces, and how what he does not find at autopsy is often more important than what he does find. In other words, the absence of evidence can sometimes be of greater value than the presence of evidence. His account also highlights the dangers forensic pathologists are exposed to daily. As they try to unravel the puzzle of someone’s death, forensic pathologists often face life-threatening infections, toxic gases and the hazards associated with high-profile cases – in effect, risking their life to solve someone else’s death. An understanding of Locard’s Exchange Principle can help you become a medical detective in your own life, can help you be a happier person and can even provide you with a better philosophy for growing older, Blumenthal argues. About the author: RYAN BLUMENTHAL is a forensic pathologist with more than twenty years’ experience in the field, and he is based in South Africa. His book Autopsy: Life in the Trenches with a Forensic Pathologist in Africa, which was published by Jonathan Ball Publishers in August 2020, became a non-fiction bestseller in South Africa. His eight-part documentary Lightning Pathologist was aired from 9 to 20 November 2020 on People°s Weather (Channel 180) on DStv. It was viewed by over 2,2 million people.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France begins on September 8th and ends on October 28th. All eyes are on the Springboks, winners of the 2019 World Cup. Can they win again? Join Nick Mallett, a renowned coach and commentator, as he delves into the tournament's core questions. The book, "Insights into the Rugby World Cup," is a must-read for everyone, whether a sports fan or not. In this Pagecast episode, Nick Mallett discusses the book with co-author Lloyd Burnard, also the Sports Editor of News24. Enjoy the conversation, and let's hope the Springboks lead us to victory!

In this episode of Pagecast, business author and journalist T.J. Strydom chats with Michael Vlismas regarding his latest book Elon Musk: Risking it all. About the book: Often in the news for his entrepreneurial exploits and his controversial tweets, Elon Musk is one of the richest and best-known people on earth. In 2022 he made headlines worldwide with his bid to buy Twitter. Who is this boundary-pushing billionaire with grand plans of inhabiting Mars, and what lies at the heart of his vision? Why is he so utterly unafraid of risk? As an awkward Pretoria schoolboy who loved comics and science fiction, Musk’s early years and singular family background were crucial in forming his stellar ambitions. Journalist and author Michael Vlismas, who attended the same high school as Musk, knows well the environment that shaped him and offers new insights into Musk’s development, including his troubled relationship with his father. Tracing his remarkable life, from his South African childhood to his move to Canada at 17 and then to the US – where Musk made millions out of PayPal and built Tesla and SpaceX into two of the world’s most famous companies – this is the story of a man driven to preserve the optimism he sees in humanity and find a future for humans ‘out there among the stars’ About Michael: Michael Vlismas is an award-winning journalist and author of six books, including biographies with Gary Player, Schalk Burger Snr and Tim Noakes. He lives in Somerset West near Cape Town with his wife and two sons.

In this episode of Pagecast, international speaker, entrepreneur, naturalist and adventurer Quinton Coetzee chats with Author, Conservationist, Social Entrepreneur and Wildlife Educator Grant Fowlds regarding The Buck That Buries its Poo! Is a zebra black with white stripes or white with black stripes? And why do flamingos stand on one leg while bats hang upside down? Did you know that a chameleon’s tongue can shoot out at five times the acceleration of a fighter jet? In The Buck That Buries its Poo, naturalist Quinton Coetzee answers these and many other intriguing wildlife questions. He also dispels countless myths and elucidates some of the legends that surround creatures in the South African bush we thought we knew all about. For example, bats do not get tangled in people’s hair (because they are far too adept at flying) and elephants are not afraid of mice (but they do fear bees!). Other tall tales you might hear around the campfire are that lions roll in animal dung, entrails or carcasses to disguise their scent, and that rhinos have a predilection for stamping out fires. What is true, though, is that hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs. This handy guide is based on Coetzee’s own research and that of others, and his experience gleaned over decades living close to nature and wildlife. It seeks to unravel the mysteries of nature in Africa – from mammals and birds to arthropods and plants – with fascinating information and fun trivia. It is a book that will enlighten and entertain. PS: Zebras are black with white stripes!

In this episode of Pagecast, Michael Morris, Head Of Media at South African Institute of Race Relations speaks with author Anthea Jeffery regarding her latest book, Countdown to Socialism. About the book: The National Democratic Revolution (NDR) is the policy blueprint of the governing ANC/SACP alliance, who have been implementing it in different spheres for more than two decades. It is intended to provide ‘the most direct route’ to a socialist South Africa and is the key to understanding events in the country since the 1994 transition. Although many important steps towards Expropriation without Compensation and other NDR objectives have already been taken or are well in train, most South Africans have never been informed about the NDR and its destructive goals. With growth stalling, joblessness at crisis levels, and governance unravelling, people cannot fathom why the ANC does not implement meaningful reforms. Understand the NDR, however, and its underlying priorities become apparent. If South Africa’s mainly capitalist economy was thriving, with high growth, low unemployment, and rising living standards, the ANC could not justify expanding state ownership or control. By contrast, with joblessness and destitution at unprecedented levels, the call for state provision and control becomes far more compelling – and even patently harmful policies such as Expropriation without Compensation seem justifiable.

When Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance was discovered below the Antarctic ice in March 2022, 106 years after it sank, the world thrilled anew with one of the greatest survival stories of all time. Acclaimed South African writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey has a deeply personal relationship with the story of Endurance and in this lyrical journey into past and present, into humanity and the natural world, above and below the Antarctic ice, he revisits the famous story wondering why it seems to mean more today than ever before.  Drawing on literature, natural history, personal memoir and the thrilling epics of polar adventure, this is a celebration of the human spirit. If this story tells us anything, it’s that in the face of a self-inflicted natural disaster, we can still pull off a miracle or two. Darrel sat down with South African author Mphuthumi Ntabeni at the book lounge in Cape Town to delve into one of the greatest stories of all time. Enjoy this episode of Pagecast!

CEOs can build up a business from nothing or turn around a company that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Inspiring with their relentless drive, strong leadership and innovation that can turn whole industries on their heads, they are the dynamos of our economy. What is the X factor that ensures a CEO’s success? KC Chesaina seeks to uncover the unique personality traits, business acumen and leadership values that have turned CEOs into captains of industry. Based on extensive research and focused interviews with the leaders of some of South Africa’s top companies, including Vodacom, Bidvest, Capitec Bank, RMB, Dis-Chem, Discovery Health, Nedbank, Sanlam, Momentum, Curro, Exxaro, Harmony Gold and MTN, Chesaina’s book takes you to the heart of corporate South Africa. In this episode of Pagecast, we have the pleasure of listening to KC in conversation with Rolland Simpi Motaung, avid reader, book reviewer, founder, educator, and facilitator at Trymph Education. Enjoy this episode!

Welcome to Pagecast, the book-centred podcast series presented by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, international best-selling South African author Lauren Beukes chats with Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen, co-authors of Girls of Little Hope. Three girls went into the woods. Only two came back, covered in blood and with no memory of what happened. Or did they? Being fifteen is tough – tougher when you live in a boring-ass small town in 1996. Donna, Rae and Kat keep each other sane with the fervour of teen friendships, zine-making and some amateur sleuthing into the town's most enduring mysteries: a lost gold mine, and why little Ronnie Gaskins burned his parents alive a decade ago. Their hunt will lead them to a hidden cave from which only two of them return alive. As the police investigate, Rae and Donna will have to return to the cave where they discover a secret so shattering that no-one who encounters it will ever be the same. SAM BECKBESSINGER is the author of the bestselling Manage Your Money Like a F*cking Grownup Grownup (over 70 000 copies sold). She’s also a cartoon scriptwriter, has published three picture books for young children, and wrote for Marvel’s Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire on Realm. Sam gets way too excited about gross body fluids and spreadsheets. She lives in London. DALE HALVORSEN is a writer and internationally award-winning book cover designer for authors like Lauren Beukes and Nnedi Okorafo. He is the co-creator of the Vertigo original horror series Survivors’ Club together with Lauren Beukes and artist Ryan Kelly. It is currently in development as a TV series. Dale lives in Cape Town.

In this episode, CEO of Jonathan Ball Publishers, Eugene Ashton, chats with Author and Historian Charles van Onselen about his new book, Three Wise Monkeys. In some settings, such as Ireland, contiguous Catholic and Protestant states are often not conducive to good relations or neighbourliness. In colonial and imperial southern Africa, formal inter-state arrangements took place at the expense of a third party – subjected African peoples. Three Wise Monkeys explores some of the contradictions, silences and oversights, and working misunderstandings that arise when an emerging Anglophone, Protestant, industrial and urbanising state – South Africa – develops side by side with Mozambique – a Lusophone, Catholic, commercial, rural colony. In three volumes, Charles van Onselen examines the intertwined relations between South Africa and Portugal’s chronically weak east coast colony, as expressed through the migrant labour system, the tourist trade, the rise and fall of LM Radio and the extraordinary tale of the Lourenço Marques Lottery. These areas constituted zones of cross-cultural, transnational interaction that both states were reluctant to acknowledge formally, choosing instead to ‘see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil’ for much of the 20th century. Three Wise Monkeys presents a startling new way of viewing the entangled, often hidden, economic, political and social dynamics that informed the rise of 20th-century South Africa, often at the expense of neighbouring Mozambique.

Welcome to Pagecast, the book-centred podcast series presented by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode. Tecla Ciolfi, the Founder & Editor of Texx and the City, will be chatting with Coco Mellars, the incredible author of the captivating novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein! For readers of Modern Lovers and Conversations with Friends, an addictive, humorous, and poignant debut novel about the shock waves caused by one couple's impulsive marriage. 'A tender, devastating and funny exploration of love and friendship and the yearning for self-evisceration. Coco Mellors is an elegant and exciting new voice' PANDORA SYKES, author of How Do We Know We're Doing It Right New York is slipping from Cleo's grasp. Sure, she's at a different party every other night, but she barely knows anyone. Her student visa is running out, and she doesn't even have money for cigarettes. But then she meets Frank. Twenty years older, Frank's life is full of all the success and excess that Cleo's lacks. He offers her the chance to be happy, the freedom to paint, and the opportunity to apply for a green card. She offers him a life imbued with beauty and art-and, hopefully, a reason to cut back on his drinking. He is everything she needs right now. Cleo and Frank run head-first into a romance that neither of them can quite keep up with. It reshapes their lives and the lives of those around them, whether that's Cleo's best friend struggling to embrace his gender identity in the wake of her marriage, or Frank's financially dependent sister arranging sugar daddy dates after being cut off. Ultimately, this chance meeting between two strangers outside of a New Year's Eve party changes everything, for better or worse. Cleopatra and Frankenstein is an astounding and painfully relatable debut novel about the spontaneous decisions that shape our entire lives and those imperfect relationships born of unexpectedly perfect evenings. Coco Mellors was raised in London and New York City. She completed her MFA in Fiction at New York University, where she was a Goldwater Fellow. Cleopatra and Frankenstein has been translated into over ten languages and is being developed for television by Warner Bros. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband.

Welcome to Pagecast, the book-centred podcast series presented by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, Shaun de Waal, News24 Books Editor, interviews South African writer Jonny Steinberg about his latest book, "Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage." In this captivating book, Steinberg explores the marriage between Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. As Mandela spent years in prison, his love for Winnie grew, portraying her in his letters as an idealized version of his wife, frozen in time like young lovers. However, Winnie, who was his political equal, became increasingly distant from her husband's political beliefs. Behind Mandela's back, Winnie attempted to orchestrate an armed seizure of power, a path that he feared would lead to an endless war. Jonny Steinberg narrates the compelling story of this extraordinary marriage, delving into its desires, obsessions, and betrayals, while also weaving it into the political tapestry of South African history. "Winnie and Nelson" is a modern epic that demonstrates how the trauma within a marriage can reverberate throughout an entire nation. It also resembles a Shakespearean drama, intertwining themes of love, commitment, and timeless questions about revolution, such as seeking retribution versus pursuing a negotiated peace. With powerful and tender emotional insight, Steinberg reveals the extent to which these inseparable leaders would go for each other, as well as the boundaries they set. Ultimately, they understood that their union was not just a marriage, but a struggle to define the policies of anti-apartheid. Thank you for listening, and enjoy this episode of Pagecast. About Jonny Steinberg: Jonny Steinberg is the author of several books about everyday life in the wake of South Africa’s transition to democracy. He is a two-time winner of South Africa’s premier non-fiction prize, the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award, and an inaugural winner of the Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prizes. Until 2020, he was professor of African studies at Oxford University, and he currently teaches part-time at Yale and is visiting professor at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (Wiser).

Thanks for clicking play on Pagecast, a book-centred podcast series brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, author and historian Mphuthumi Ntabeni chats with Sharon Dodua Otoo, regarding her latest book Ada's Realm! In a small village in West Africa, in what will one day become Ghana, Ada gives birth again, and again the baby does not live. As she grieves the loss of her child, Portuguese traders become the first white men to arrive in the village, an event that will bear terrible repercussions for Ada and her kin. Centuries later, Ada will become the mathematical genius Ada Lovelace; Ada, a prisoner forced into prostitution in a Nazi concentration camp; and Ada, a young, pregnant Ghanaian woman with a new British passport who arrives in Berlin in 2019 for a fresh start. Ada is not one woman but many, and she is all women - she revolves in orbits, looping from one century and from one place to the next.

A true crime classic about Daisy de Melker in ragtime Joburg –a city of murder, mayhem and gold. In this episode, Nicole Engelbrecht, True Crime Author and Podcaster sits down with Ted Botha to discuss his latest book, Daisy De Melker - Hiding amongst killers in the city of gold. Ted Botha takes the reader into the underbelly of Johannesburg in the 1920s and 1930s as he traces the fascinating story of the mysterious Daisy de Melker, who was hanged for poisoning her son. Many also believed she poisoned two husbands for their life insurance money. In the shadow of ever-growing mine dumps, she went about her business quietly and unnoticed–the most unlikely of killers. Even though people close to her kept dying, no one suspected a thing for twenty years. When someone finally spoke up, it led to one of South Africa’s most sensational trials. De Melker’s story unfolds in tandem with those of colourful Johannesburg characters of the same period such as the Foster Gang, Herman Charles Bosman, the dashing conman Baron von Veltheim and a Bonny-and-Clyde-style couple, Dicky Mallalieu and Gwen Tolputt. Some cross paths with each other and also those of famous writers of era such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sarah Gertrude Millin.

Thanks for clicking play on Pagecast, a book-centred podcast series brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode the wonderful Danielle Weakley, Brand builder, editor and writer is in conversation with Jo Watson, regarding her latest romantic comedy titled What Happens on Vacation... Two rivals. One holiday and A trip they will never forget. Watson returns with a hilarious and heartfelt new enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity rom-com! It's the book you won't want to go on holiday without! Enjoy this episode of Pagecast, thanks for tuning in! About Jo Watson: Jo Watson is a bestselling author of romantic comedies, including Love to Hate You which has sold over 100,000 copies. She's a two-time Watty Award winner with over 50 million reads on Wattpad and 85,000 followers. Jo is an Adidas addict and a Depeche Mode devotee. She lives in South Africa with her family. Visit her website www.jowatsonwrites.co.uk for exclusive extras, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @JoWatsonWrites.

In this episode, journalist and author, Andrew Harding interviews Justice Malala about his new book – The Plot to Save South Africa. Today it seems as if the defeat of apartheid was inevitable, but Chris Hani’s assassination on the Easter Weekend of 1993 nearly tipped the country into all-out war. Now, bestselling Justice Malala tells the story of the week that followed the ANC firebrand’s murder by Janusz Waluś in riveting, cinematic fashion. In this meticulously researched new book, the reader is taken into the thought processes and consequential actions of the key players – from Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk, the police investigating the murder, dangerous right-wingers like Clive Derby-Lewis, and leaders such as Cyril Ramaphosa, Bantu Holomisa and Tokyo Sexwale. On the 30th anniversary of Hani’s death, this book tells us just how close South Africa came to civil war and how Mandela and De Klerk – despite provocation and despite their own fears, failures and doubts – chose the path of peace. We hope that you enjoy the episode.

Thanks for clicking play on Pagecast, a book-centred podcast series brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode author and historian Bill Nasson chats with author, and member of parliament, Michael Cardo regarding his comprehensive biography of Harry Oppenheimer. In the first, full-scale biography of Oppenheimer, based on unrestricted access to his subject’s private papers and extensive interviews with family members and close associates, Michael Cardo eschews both the corporate hype and the political propaganda to produce a vivid, fully-rounded portrait. He brings to life the places, people, events and relationships that shaped Harry Oppenheimer’s long and rich career at the intersection of business and politics. Cardo also tackles thorny questions of legacy and Oppenheimer’s complicity with the oppressive racial order of the past. We hope that you enjoy the episode.

Chris Hani’s assassination in 1993 gave rise to one of South Africa’s greatest political questions: if he had survived, what impact would he have had on the ANC government? On the 30th anniversary of his murder by right-wing fanatics, this updated version of the best-selling Hani: A Life Too Short reevaluates his legacy and traces his life from his childhood in rural Transkei to the crisis in the ANC camps in Angola in the 1980s and the heady dawn of South Africa’s freedom. Drawing on interviews and the recollections of those who knew him, this vividly written book provides a detailed account of the life of a hero of South Africa’s liberation, a communist party leader and Umkhonto we Sizwe chief of staff, who was both an intellectual and a fighter. In this episode of Pagecast, CapeTalk presenter and journalist Lester Kiewit chats with Janet and Beauregard regarding this best-seller. About the authors: JANET SMITH is a former newspaper editor and the author of Patrice Motsepe. She was also a co-author of The Coming Revolution: Julius Malema and the Fight for Economic Freedom and The Black Consciousness Reader. Award-winning journalist BEAUREGARD TROMP is the Africa editor of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. He has also worked for the Mail & Guardian and The Star newspaper.

On Monday 20 March 2023, amidst a National Shut Down in South Africa, local author Mphuthumi Ntabeni met up with Simon Sebag Montefiore, in a quiet nook of the Book Lounge in Cape Town, to discuss Simon’s exquisite new book - The World. The world is a fresh and original history of humanity, unlike any previous world history book: it uses family, the one thing all humans have in common, to tell the story. In his new book, Simon steers us through an interconnected world via palace intrigues, love affairs and family lives, linking grand themes of war, migration, plague, religion, medicine and technology to the people at the heart of the human drama. It features a cast of extraordinary span and diversity. The World is both a celebration and an indictment that takes the human story, from caves to drones, in a single narrative by a master storyteller. We hope that you enjoy this episode of Pagecast.

Thanks for clicking play on Pagecast, a book-centred podcast series brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, Sewela Langeni of Book Circle Capital is in conversation with Lesley Mofokeng, author of The Man Who Shook Mountains Journalist Lesley Mofokeng investigates the life of his remarkable grandfather, Mongangane Wilfred Mofokeng, a prominent Dutch Reformed Church evangelist who built a thriving community out of the dust of the far North West. The journey takes him from Joburg’s Marabi-soaked townships of the 1930s to his childhood home of Gelukspan near Lichtenburg and then to the rural Free State and the remote mountain kingdom of Lesotho. In what becomes a spiritual quest, he traces the inspirational footsteps of his ancestors and the legendary King Moshoeshoe. In the process, Mofokeng proudly claims his heritage and also uncovers a long-lost chapter of South African history and the church of the apartheid regime. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode,  author Amy Heydenrych chats with author scriptwriter and script editor Pamela Power about her latest book - My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced.  The title says it all – this is an honest, fun and humorous look at a grown woman’s love-hate relationship with alcohol. In My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced, Pam takes a hard look at her drinking habit and realises that although she does not need to find an AA group immediately, she might be a serial binge drinker and needs to take back control. Set against the backdrop of Covid-19 pandemic that pushed most of us to the limits. Pam and her family are no exception, they face several challenges including financial woes and uncertainty about the future of SA. While other sober curious books are often dry and portray sobriety as the only answer, Pam finds a sweet spot between total sobriety and binge drinking - moderation. Through her, we experience all the frustration, the discomfort of the withdrawals and the reaction from friends and family to her decision to go dry. With the alcohol bans in South Africa and the national outrage that followed, Pam’s experiences are very relatable and coloured by her cheeky larger-than-life personality. About Pamela Pam is a television scriptwriter and script editor who has worked on the television shows Top Billing, Generations, Rockville and Uzalo, and is currently the script editor at Muvhango. She has two children and one husband and lives in Johannesburg.

In this episode of Pagecast, critic and football fan Dave Gorin interviews co-authors of Red on Red, Phil McNulty and Jim White. The untold story of the most contested fixture in world football Liverpool and Manchester. Two gloriously independent-minded, eclectic, culturally vibrant places. Yet the inhabitants dislike each other with a passion that is visceral. It is a divide that spans generations across class, gender and ethnicity. And it has grown over the years, largely driven by one thing: football. The dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of Liverpool and Manchester United has seeped into every aspect of life in the two cities. Football is not a barometer of disdain, as it is in places like Glasgow or Istanbul or Moscow. In northwest England, it is the engine of animosity. How did it come to this? Why did things turn so nasty? And what does it say about the two cities in which the clubs are based? Written by a Scouser and a Manc in a rare collaboration, Red on Red addresses the divide by talking to those involved in ten seminal football matches. It speaks to the characters who patrolled and provoked the rivalry: Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville, among many others. Also questioned are the fans, the administrators, the referees, the police, and politicians. And through each legendary game, its authors tell the full story of the most extraordinary division not just in football, but in modern Britain. This is Red on Red, a rivalry like no other.

Thanks for clicking play on Pagecast, a book-centred podcast series brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, Highly qualified and experienced Information specialist and Historian Graham Dominy chats with respected historian and author John Laband regarding his latest book The Boer Invasion of the Zulu Kingdom. This invasion in 1837, of the Zulu kingdom by Boers migrating from the British Cape Colony, and the massacres, battles and civil war that ensued as the Zulu resisted the settlers was a critical moment in South African history. Changing perceptions in a post-colonial world requires the reassessment of wars of colonial aggression, but there is no book in English that engages with the war between the Boers and Zulu in its entire context or takes the Zulu evidence into proper account. This work attempts to do so. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, Pagecast co-producer Nicola Bruns interviews Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg! Isaac and the Egg, is "a story about love, friendship and baked beans", a parable about learning to live again. A story of a broken man's transformative journey into the woods. A young man walks into the woods on the worst morning of his life and finds something there that will change everything. It's a tale that might seem familiar. But how it speaks to you will depend on how you've lived until now. Sometimes, to get out of the woods, you have to go into them. Isaac and the Egg is one of the most hopeful, honest and wildly imaginative novels you will ever read. About Bobby Palmer Bobby is a freelance journalist who writes for publications including Time Out, GQ, Men's Health and Cosmopolitan. Isaac and the Egg is his debut novel.

Thanks for clicking play on Pagecast, a book-centred podcast series brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. In this episode, Avid runner, school teacher and MC Sean Robson chats with co-author and long-time running coach Eric Orton about Born to Run 2 - The Ultimate Training Guide. This book teaches every runner, new or experienced, how to master humankind's first true superpower and tap into hidden reserves of strength and stamina. With chapters dedicated to the Free Seven - Food, Fitness, Form, Focus, Footwear, Fun and Family - we learn exactly how to change our biomechanics, clean up our diets, heal our injuries, adapt to healthier footwear, and prepare for our dream challenge. Enjoy the episode!

CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson interviews Cariad Lloyd regarding her book 'You Are Not Alone'. Inspired by her award-winning podcast, Griefcast; You Are Not Alone is Cariad Lloyd's frank, funny and compassionate exploration of grief. When Cariad Lloyd lost her father at the age of fifteen, people didn't talk about death. Years later, when she created Griefcast, it started a conversation that people didn't realise they needed until it was there about one of the most significant events in a person's life: its end. In You Are Not Alone, Cariad shares all that she has learned from Griefcast. She reflects on her own grief, the grief of others, and the psychology and science behind how our society deals with death and loss. Funeral thoughts, therapy, coping with anniversaries, bad friends, good friends, birthdays, weddings, missing them, not missing them - this is grief in all its sad, surprising, awkward, tender and sometimes funny forms. You Are Not Alone is a road map for all of us: for anybody who has ever felt lost in grief, who would like to help someone they know through theirs, or who just wants to understand life a little better. About Pippa Hudson Pippa Hudson hosts the lunchtime show on radio station Cape Talk, which includes a mix of news and lifestyle content, from food, travel and parenting advice to health, legal, environmental and consumer content. As avid reader, Hudson loves inviting authors to join her in the daily feature profile slot ‘On the Couch’ and in her weekly Book Club segment. The show was a winner in 2019 of a Titanium Award for Best Health Media Coverage, and a Diageo Award. In 2020 Hudson was the recipient of the Petco media award for coverage of recycling, waste management and environmental issues. Her show has also been a finalist in the Best Daytime Show category at the annual Radio Awards, for the last 4 consecutive years (2018-2021 inclusive).

Co-producer of Pagecast, Nicola Bruns, chats with Dame Prue Leith regarding her latest cookbook, Bliss on Toast. About the book: What's more comforting and satisfying than toast? And if you top it with a few cleverly paired ingredients, it can be a full meal, not to mention pure bliss. These 75 recipes for things on toast will help you make quick, delicious and versatile meals year-round - for working-from-home lunches and cosy Sunday suppers, to light bites, indulgent treats or impressive canapes. Recipes include: Avocado, summer tomatoes & tapenade rocket on olive bread Bubble & squeak with hollandaise on fried bread Falafel, edamame & red pepper hummus on flatbread Grilled chicken tikka with yoghurt on naan Smoked salmon, wasabi & avocado on granary bread Bliss on Toast is as much a toolkit for quick fridge-raids as it is inspiration for seasonal delights. With 82 years' experience of good eating and 60 years of cooking, writing about and judging food, there is no-one who better knows what makes a meal bliss than Dame Prue Leith. About Prue: Prue’s varied career and achievements has seen her recently honoured with a Damehood. Known for revolutionising food and restaurants in London early in her career, she is now a judge on The Great British Bake Off, presented Prue’s Great Garden plot and co-hosted Clever Cook, Waste Less. She is a published author of eight novels. Her experience in directing companies, chairing the School Food Trust, and campaigning has equipped her with endless knowledge in so many areas from broadcasting, business and charity.

Welcome to the final day of Pagecast's Year in Review. It's Pagecast’s holiday season! This December, we’re looking back and reflecting on all the incredible books published in 2022. We’ve asked a few special guests to review their top pick of the year; and to give us a taste of what they’ll be reading this holiday and in the new year. In this episode, author and feminist researcher Joy Watson takes us on a ride of her year in books. She chats about the ones that she enjoyed reading most over the last year. Joy's standout books for 2022 are: -Eye of the Beholder by Margie Orford -Madwoman by Louisa Treger -I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Enjoy the episode!