Arts and Creative Industries / Creative Industries / Sound Waves Podcast Training Lab dives into the world of podcast storytelling

Sound Waves Podcast Training Lab dives into the world of podcast storytelling

Arts and Creative Industries
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12 July

From 7 to 11 July 2025, the Sound Waves Podcast Training Lab brought together 12 podcast creators from South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi for an intensive week of hands-on workshops, studio visits, live recordings, and collaborative sessions in Johannesburg.

The participants were:

  • Susan Comrie (South Africa)
  • Nantal Hopley (South Africa)
  • Dennis Imaan (Malawi)
  • Claude Marie Bernard Kayitare (South Africa)
  • Simon Manda (South Africa)
  • Lameck Masina (Malawi)
  • Palesa Matabane (South Africa)
  • Jane Claudia Messina (South Africa)
  • Nthabiseng Mohanela (Lesotho)
  • Motlalepula Mokoena (South Africa)
  • Tendayi Nyeke (South Africa)
  • Bongiwe Zihlangu (Lesotho)

Designed to equip them with both creative and technical skills, the training explored how podcasting can be used as a powerful medium for storytelling, advocacy, and community connection.

Over five days, the cohort engaged with leading local and international podcasting professionals, including Claire Richard (France), Philip Artelt and Dina Elsayed (Germany), Paulo Dias and experts from the South African Podcasting Guild (SAPG) (South Africa). Together, they unpacked every stage of podcast production—from scriptwriting and sound design to legal considerations and distribution strategies.

The week culminated in a public panel discussion on The Evolving Industry of Podcasting, which facilitated cross-continental dialogue on the podcasting landscapes in South Africa, France, and Germany. Panellists explored issues such as monetisation, regulation, free speech, and the emerging role of AI in shaping the future of audio content.

By connecting creators across three countries with industry leaders and peers, the programme laid the groundwork for new narratives, networks, and creative ventures in the growing podcasting space.

Sound Waves is an initiative of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, in partnership with the SAPG. It is supported by Institut français in Paris and the German Federal Foreign Office through the French-German Cultural Fund, a joint initiative of the French and German governments promoting cultural cooperation in third countries.

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