About the Guild

We believe that podcasting can be a career for life

Our Mission

We believe that podcasting can be a career for life.

We're an organisation of over 400 (and growing) writers and makers, startup founders and CEOs, commentators and culture-shakers, question-askers and note takers, listeners first and talkers later. We're amateurs and pros, business-owners and hobbyists, in it for fun and in it to win it.

Our Vision

We envision a South Africa where podcasting is recognized as a vital part of the media landscape, where diverse voices are heard and celebrated, and where the podcasting industry contributes significantly to our cultural and economic development.

To put it another way, we want the SA podcasting industry to be internationally recognised as punching far above its weight, just like we do in every industry.

Our History

Foundation (2023)

The South African Podcasters Guild was founded on the 2nd of November, 2023 by a group of passionate podcasters who recognized the need for a unified voice in the rapidly growing South African podcasting landscape. What started as informal meetups between creators quickly evolved into a structured organization dedicated to supporting the community.

Growth and Impact (Nov 2023 - Nov 2024)

In our first year, we attracted 295 members, and built a strong WhatsApp community with 117 participating members.

We also produced the South African Podcast Awards, attracting 280 entries and awarding podcasts in 21 categories, created educational content for our members on the topics of recording gear, audience growth, monetisation, and video podcasting, to name a few topics. Finally we established the SA Podlist, the largest collection of South African podcasters there is.

Expansion (June 2025)

By mid-2025, the SAPG represented over 400 podcasters and had become the recognized voice of South African podcasting. We got some of our members' shows onto SAA planes, test-piloted paid media campaigns, and launched the SA Podcharts, a public-facing showcase of South African shows pulled from our Podlist database.

Current Era (2026)

Today, the SAPG represents over 759 members and has become the recognized voice of South African podcasting. Our focus is firmly on three fronts: education, industry growth, and accountability.

We are running our second South African Podcast Awards, building on the success of the inaugural event and raising the bar for recognising excellence across the industry. Alongside the awards, we have deepened our commitment to member education — delivering practical content and workshops on topics from monetisation and audience growth to production quality and video podcasting.

Critically, we are now actively interfacing with government, industry bodies, and the broader podcasting community to shape the conditions that allow the industry to grow responsibly and sustainably. We believe that South African podcasting has enormous potential, and that realising it requires thoughtful coordination between creators, platforms, advertisers, and policy makers.

The Most Important Thing

We're doing our best to help podcasters connect to each other, share their experiences, cross-promote, do promo swaps, collaborate, and teach each other. The future of South African podcasting will be built by our members, through the quality they produce.

SA Podcast Awards

Our annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in South African podcasting, featuring 21 categories and recognizing outstanding creators.

Community Events

Regular meetups and events where our members connect, collaborate, and build the future of South African podcasting together.

Celebrating Excellence

Recognizing outstanding achievements like Story Time with Thabo winning Podcast of the Year, showcasing the quality of South African content.

Live Recordings

Panel discussions and live recording sessions that bring the podcasting community together for collaborative content creation.

Industry Conferences

SAPG members participating in industry conferences, sharing knowledge and representing South African podcasting on national platforms.

Educational Workshops

Expert-led panel discussions covering topics from recording techniques to audience growth, helping members develop their skills and knowledge.

Jonathan Warncke

Managing Director

Jonathan Warncke is a freelance writer and creative director, owner of Ping, a branded-podcast production company, and doesn't want to boast, but makes a mean pizza.

Paulo Dias

Head of Industry Affairs

Paulo Dias is an award-winning South African podcast leader, writer, and media commentator. He pioneers podcast content, hosts workshops, and co-hosts two award-winning shows, advising top media agencies.

Diego Domingo

Head of Member Affairs

Diego is a workforce management analyst with a strong background in the internet industry. When he's not doing that for Luno, he's producing the WorkshipGear SA Podcast with his team.

Nicole Engelbrecht

Killer Audio Productions

Nicole Engelbrecht is a prominent South African true crime writer and host of True Crime South Africa, a leading podcast launched in 2019. She explores both famous and lesser-known cases, advocates for victims' stories, mentors emerging podcasters, and authored books including Samurai Sword Murder and Sizzlers.

Gavin Kennedy

Solid Gold Podcasts and Audiobooks

Gavin Kennedy, founder and CEO of Solid Gold Podcasts, brings extensive radio and television broadcasting experience since the 1990s. Dedicated to elevating podcast and audiobook production in South Africa, he helps clients share their stories and ensures their voices are clearly heard in today's digital landscape.

Mongezi Mtati

RogerWilco

Mongezi Mtati, founder of digital marketing agency WordStart, is renowned for his entrepreneurial mindset and innovative digital strategies since 2008. A sought-after keynote speaker, Mtati also hosts The Lead Creative podcast, sharing insights on trends in creativity, digital marketing, and brand-building strategies.

Brendan "Spike" Ballantine

DBO Media

Brendan "Spike" Ballantine, CEO of dbo Media, is a seasoned media expert with over two decades in radio and television audio production. Specialising in branded podcasts, he champions creative originality and technical excellence, and is speaking at Music Exchange #MEX24 on leveraging audio production for successful podcasting.

Jimmy Moyaha

Lebowa Capital

Jimmy Moyaha is a Johannesburg-based financial analyst, entrepreneur, and founder of Lotus Academy, an online financial trading education platform. With a Bachelor of Commerce from Wits and extensive financial market experience since 2016, he hosts SAfm Market Update, delivering expert insights into business and investment opportunities.

Diane Macpherson

Kagiso Media

Diane Macpherson is Head of On-Demand Content at Kagiso Media, bringing extensive expertise in digital content strategy, audio production, and broadcasting innovation. Passionate about developing compelling podcast experiences, Diane leverages her media industry knowledge to enhance Kagiso Media's offerings, driving audience growth and championing quality content in South African podcasting.

Ethan Baird

Baird Media

Ethan Baird is an award-winning radio and podcast producer, co-founder of Baird Media, and currently technical producer at Jacaranda FM's Breakfast with Martin Bester. Ethan specialises in audio and video production, podcast mentorship, and content strategy, empowering businesses through effective digital storytelling.

Lebang Kgosana

Podcast Producer, Momtreprenueur & Media Maven

Lebang is the Founder and Executive Producer of Life with Lebang, a heartfelt podcast and brand that champions personal growth, parenting, and conscious living. With years of experience across radio and television, she brings a deep understanding of storytelling and audience connection to the SAPG Advisory Board. In the sometimes-stuffy world of marketing and advertising, Lebang is a breath of fresh air! As the brains behind BBB Agency, a woman-owned and unapologetically African creative solutions boutique, Lebang and the agency bring flair to digital marketing, production, and events. Whether she's behind the mic or curating content strategies, Lebang's passion for impact-driven media and community upliftment shines through.