As 2024 rolls to a close, Gino takes a look back over the year at what we have achieved. 78 episodes down and we have grown considerably, establishing African Couch Potato as a podcast recognised on the global stage. Before we turn the lights out on the past year, we also take a look at some of the outstanding titles that came out in 2024 on our streaming services Spooksoeker Soft Life Wyfie Shaka iLembe The Fix The Station Strangler Brasse Vannie Kaap Die Bloedhonde with Tobie Cronje Beulah Adu...
Dec 30, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Hosting the Christmas Lunch This year Gino is bravely hosting his family for the first time, with all that that entails. The preparation, the food, the drink, the decorations, the music. All potential areas of disaster. In this episode Gino tells us how he navigates that difficult path. We take a break with a "what to watch" on Netflix and Showmax, before heading back to Gino's for lunch and his ultimate Christmas playlist. NetfliXmas Mary Biggest Heist Ever Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All Our L...
Dec 23, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 25
In today's episode Gino chats to Nthabiseng Mokoena via Zoom from her home after a long day on set. Her love for story telling has increased her ability to be able to interchange her role between director and producer. She is currently busy directing Soft Life on Showmax. Nthabiseng is a Wits University graduate with a BA in Drama and Film. She has huge experience in television - both as director and producer. And with her, there are no shortcuts. She started her career in television at the bott...
Dec 16, 2024•26 min•Season 2Ep. 24
From the Emmy-winning animation of the last episode, this time Gino ventures into the world of the supernatural as he catches up with multi award-winning actor Joshwin Dyson via a Zoom call to Cape Town (voices in the ether, anyone?). 22 year-old Joshwin has been cleaning up on the awards front: in 2019 he won the KyKnet National Acting Competition, in 2022, Most Promising Actor in the Zabalaze Theatre Festival, and last year he won Best Supporting Actor at Silwerskerm as Elvin in Old Righteous ...
Dec 09, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 23
For a second year in a row, South Africans took home the prize at the International Emmys held recently in New York. Cape Town based directors Jac Hamman and Sarah Scrimgeour won in the Kids:Animation category for their work on the BBC animated Christmas special, Tabby McTat . In 2023, the award was won by The Smeds and The Smoos , directed by Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler. In this episode Gino ventures into the world of animation with Jac via Zoom “Growing up you always dream of winning on...
Dec 02, 2024•20 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Nambitha Ben-Mazwi is the first South African to notch up 6 international Netflix credits; a testament to her star quality. Nambitha has been working as an actress and broadcaster since 2007. In this episode we get some insight into just what makes her such a successful performer as we join Lady Nam for her Showmax Masterclass. Nambitha’s acting career began with a notable role as Unathi Mweli in the Mzansi Magic mystery drama Doubt . This role set the stage for her future successes in the South...
Nov 25, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Many of you out there are under the not unreasonable impression that Gino does nothing but sit and watch TV all day. This is not true, he also does actually do some work and in fact has just got back from a production shoot at the coast for an upcoming reality show. From pitch to production, concept to completion, Gino takes you through the whirlwind that is marketing reality shows for a major broadcaster. So next time you pass a billboard advertising an exciting new show, you'll have some idea ...
Nov 11, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 20
We all know Gino's stand on Tyler Perry, so you're maybe asking yourself WTF is going on with Beauty in Black? In this episode Gino gets into just what is happening with his latest TV offering. Oh the allure of the strip club! Are awards worth it, what do they actually mean? And what about the award ceremonies? The local Promax Awards get's its own special review with a swipe at the SA Podcast Awards thrown in. Gino also discovers that old jailbird Martha Stewart. And some thoughts about scoring...
Nov 11, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 19
" Hi I'm Magpie, like the bird..." says a distorted voice through a small hole in a wall. A wall in Arkham, the Batman world's infamous mental hospital. Why do you care? Because this voice is not your average American actress but that of our very own Marié Botha. In a link up to New York, Gino gets to chat to Pretoria born actress Marié Botha who plays “Magpie” in The Penguin. A spin-off of The Batman franchise that focuses on ‘Oswald Cobb’ (The Penguin) and his rise as a villain, currently on S...
Nov 04, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Kelsey Egan is a multi-SAFTA nominated, American-South African writer, director and performer. She joins us all the way from London via Zoom and Gino got to talk about her latest work, the action sci-fi horror The Fix, which premieres on Showmax this Halloween. Kelsey grew up in Wisconsin, USA, where she learned to ride horses and value good weather. She graduated from college in 2005 with General Honours and BA degrees in Neuroscience & Behaviour and Drama. Her directing thesis received the...
Oct 28, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Social Media - for some a way of life, while for others, an uphill struggle to keep up with the constantly changing digital platforms. What to post, when to post it. What is SEO? Do I need it? How do I keep up? That's when you need a social media manager. This week finds Gino chatting to Tanya Maswaure, assistant lecturer at Gino's old alma mater, Rhodes University, about studying Multimedia, Social Media Management and all that that entails, as well as what has changed since he was there. Tanya...
Oct 21, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Finally, there is something to watch on the world’s biggest streamer! In this episode Gino tells it like it is about 5 surefire watch or don't watch titles on Netflix, plus a number of others that he has only started watching (so, a bit early to rate). The Menedez Brothers - In 1996, the Menendez brothers faced trial for killing their parents, a case that captivated America. Years later, they share their side through interviews with those involved, offering a fresh take on the events. Tim Dillon...
Oct 14, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Shakespeare wrote "All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players", and we were lucky enough to get one of them for this episode. Gino spends time with actor, musician and dancer Anelisa Phewa, talking Shakespeare, philosophy and of course the gripping legal drama Law, Love & Betrayal , now streaming on Showmax. In Law, Love & Betrayal, Anelisa, known for his performances in iThemba , Unmarried , and Soon Comes the Night, as well as Sifiso in 7de Laan , portrays the sh...
Oct 07, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In S2 Episode 7, we reviewed what was new on Africa’s biggest streamer, Showmax. In S2 Episode 11, we checked out what NOT to watch on the world’s biggest streamer, Netflix. And, in this episode, Gino gives you the lowdown on what's on the world’s most ignored streaming platform, Disney. Free Guy - When Guy, a bank teller, learns that he is a non-player character in a bloodthirsty, open-world video game, he goes on to become the hero of the story and takes the responsibility of saving the world....
Sep 30, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In this episode Gino (a past SAFTA Winner) takes a look at some of this year's nominees from the local film and television industry’s most prestigious event: the South African Film and Television Awards. Here are the categories covered, you have to listen to find out who the nominees are. 1. Best Achievement in Sound - Documentary Best Achievement in Editing - Documentary Best Achievement in Cinematography - Documentary Best Achievement in Directing - Documentary Best Documentary Short Best Made...
Sep 23, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Nothing on Netflix? - No, actually there's lots, but is it always worth it. In this episode Gino takes a trawl through what's good and what really isn't. Madame Web - Cassandra Webb is a New York metropolis paramedic who begins to demonstrate signs of clairvoyance. Wang In There, Baby! - Phil Wang riffs on reheated rice, octopus intelligence and the importance of fact-checking in this special filmed at Shakespeare's Globe in London. Deon Cole - Cole Hearted - Deon Cole explains the right time to...
Sep 16, 2024•19 min•Season 2Ep. 11
A new platform is in town and we want to know all about it. freevision provides an all-in-one streaming experience of current affairs, entertainment, sports, info-and-edutainment, live! and on demand. Keep up with your favourite tv channels and tune in to your loved radio stations from any internet enabled device at no subscription cost, no decoder and with no hassle. In this episode, Gino chats to Wanda Mkhize about freevision and freevision play. Wanda is a notable figure in the broadcasting a...
Sep 09, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Back on your screens in a big way is Vuyo Dabula, as Saul in The Butcher's Soul now on Showmax and Gino had the chance to catch up with the model-turned-actor. Vuyo had been off the scene for a while after being shot in 2022, but now he is back. He is most famous for his role of Kumkani Phakade in the SA soapie, Generations . Vuyo also appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and he played the lead in the 2017 film Five Fingers for Marseille . Vuyo starred as Shandu, a spy turned rebel as well...
Sep 02, 2024•37 min•Ep. 9
It being Women's month here in SA, Gino has been chatting to various ladies; this week it is the turn of Beáta Bena Green. Beáta is a South African actress, model, and entrepreneur. She was crowned Miss Teen South African 2013 but she is best known for playing Shady in the award winning South African Soapie, 7de Laan , Sienna in the international production, Deep State, and Kim Claasen in Kyknet & Kie's Telenovela Arendsvlei . She joins us online from Cape Town. Beáta began her career in the...
Aug 26, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this week's episode, Gino's bad knee forces him onto the couch where he gives you a run down of what shows and movies have just landed on Africa's biggest streamer. 016FM To save their community radio station from closing, two polar opposite DJs prepare to compete in a radical, live on-air program battle - unaware that a syndicate has infiltrated the station. The Butcher's Soul Mthunzi, a 36-year-old butcher, and his loving wife Lesedi have organised a birthday celebration for their daughter,...
Aug 19, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Staying with True Crime, this episode finds Gino chatting via Zoom to True Crime South Africa 's creator and host Nicole Engelbrecht. Nicole's podcast delves into South African true crime cases, both solved and unsolved. She meticulously researches each case using media coverage, trial footage, social media sources, and often interviews individuals involved. Her work aims to bring awareness to these cases and restore humanity to the victims of these crimes. True Crime South Africa consistently c...
Aug 12, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode Gino continues with our link to Showmax's Catch Me A Killer , as he chats to the hit show's Production Designer, Warren Gray. Born in Cape Town, Warren earned a bursary while studying industrial design and qualified in 2000 at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He has since won multiple awards and was accepted into the British Film Designers Guild in 2023. He has achieved international recognition through his work on Diamond Status (2023), Catch Me a Killer (2023), Pirates ...
Aug 05, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Many of us have heard of Art Therapy; using art to work through problems and issues, but how many of you know about Drama Therapy? In this episode Gino talks to Minenhle Msane who is busy studying for her Honours in Drama Therapy. The use of theatrical techniques to promote healing, foster change, and develop personal growth has been around since the 60s but has only recently been acknowledged. It is often incorrectly assumed to be limited to children or actors when in fact it can serve as a saf...
Jul 29, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Happy birthday to us, Happy birthday to us, Happy birthday African Couch Potato - the Mash-Up, Happy birthday to us. A year of lessons and laughing. A look back on the year that was and a look forward to the future. We also celebrate our very first nomination, and it's from across the continent. Our first nomination - we are finalists in the African Podcast and Voice Awards so please vote for us. It's really easy. Go to: https://awards.apva.africa/voting/ Choose the podcast category Find the Lif...
Jul 22, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This week's episode finds Gino sitting down with an actress who has gone through more roles than Connie Ferguson. Born of a Zulu mother and an Italian father in 1993, she was raised by her mother, who instilled in her a strong sense of self-worth and resilience. Angela Sithole has certainly made her mark on the South African film and TV landscape. She currently stars as Winnie Bhodoza in the Showmax Original Empini . Many of you may also recognise her as Thando in the Netflix African Original Sa...
Jul 15, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome to African Couch Potato season 2. In this episode Gino goes full fanboy as he gets the chance to chat to Dr Micki Pistorius, advisor for the TV adaptation of her autobiographical Catch Me a Killer . This hit true crime TV series is based on cases worked on by Micki in the 1990s in her role as forensic psychologist and South Africa's first police profiler. It stars British actress Charlotte Hope as Micki. As a child Micki always wanted to be a writer. She matriculated in Pretoria, with Af...
Jul 08, 2024•22 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In 2021 the MultiChoice Talent Factory South Africa Scriptwriting Incubator hosted 12 interns who would be mentored by Tshedza Pictures in association with the Wits University Film & Television Department and included practical workplace experience over the course of 12 months, with a mixture of virtual and physical sessions. One of those interns was Khanyani Luhlongwane, and this week Gino sits down with this talented writer to talk all things storylining and scriptwriting. Yes? No? Send us...
Jul 01, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this episode Gino takes on the role of job interviewer with AFDA graduate Ofentse Mojapelo in the hot seat. Ofentse studied Motion Picture Medium (Television Production) at AFDA from 2016, majoring in TV Directing, Writing & Producing, graduating in 2019. Taking a break from television production, she completed her Bachelor of Laws degree before taking up a position at Red Pepper as a technical director for Big Brother Mzansi Season 3. In 2022 she won a Netflix Scholarship. As well as her...
Jun 24, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Dave Levinsohn's on-the-spot skills often make it look like he’s making it up as he goes... that’s because he is! This week Gino has a front row seat with one of SA's top comedians. Find out how far Dave will go, why he likes it when people don't laugh and how not to introduce him at your braai. This popular and original comedian has been honing his skills as the host at the Coffee Lounge comedy club since 1997, and is a regular face at the Vodacom International festival and the Smirnoff comedy ...
Jun 17, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Award winning broadcaster and creative momtrepreneur Lebang Kgosana joins us this week for some insight into her 15 years of experience in the media and entertainment industries. With a degree in Marketing and Communications, followed by her training at the YFM Academy, Lebang’s expertise includes advertising, broadcasting, and events management. Lebang began her career at the Creative Counsel where she was an account manager, branched into broadcasting at YFM where she was a presenter and produ...
Jun 10, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 49
