Spotify brings stories to life with first-ever Podcast Live Sessions

Spotify hosted its first Johannesburg Podcast Live Sessions at Workshop 17 in Rosebank, marking a major moment for the local creator community. The event, hosted by Bheki Ndamase, brought together guests and podcasters for a full day of authentic storytelling. The recordings from this event are available on the podcaster's Spotify platform, allowing a wider audience to experience the discussions and unique narratives that unfolded.

The day featured three standout live recordings from some of South Africa’s fastest-growing video podcasts: What in the 20s, Still Uncaptured, and Sibling Thrivalry. Each session showcased a different layer of South African experience, from navigating adulthood and identity to confronting political disillusionment and celebrating family ties.

“Podcasting is a growing medium for storytelling, and fans are coming to the platform to connect with the creators they love,” said Ncebakazi Manzi, Spotify’s Podcast Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Events like these give audiences a chance to deepen that connection, hearing, feeling, and engaging with the voices that move them.”

What in the 20s

What in the 20s opened the day with a candid discussion about friendship breakups and personal transformation in your twenties. Host Zama Mkhize spoke about what she refers to as the season of the “cocoon” - a period of isolation and self-rebuilding. She challenged the audience to consider what it means to maintain growth once you re-enter the world. Her insights into self-discipline, boundaries, and the “dopamine trap” of goal-setting resonated deeply with the audience.

Still Uncaptured

Then came Still Uncaptured, which engaged the attendees of the session in a raw and unfiltered conversation about political cynicism, corruption, and accountability. Hosts Kgomotso Matsunyane and Ndumiso Ngcobo unpacked South Africans’ complicated relationship with democracy and power, openly sharing their own experiences. Their honesty challenged listeners to engage with the political system from a place of self-awareness rather than idealism.

Sibling Thrivalry

Closing the event, Sibling Thivalry celebrated its 100th episode with a heartwarming and humorous Q&A between hosts Talitha and Zuko Ndima. The brother-sister duo reflected on childhood memories, the growth of their bond, and the lessons they learnt from growing up together. Their reflections on discipline, faith, and individuality highlighted the power of vulnerability in strengthening relationships.

Spotify’s first Podcast Live Sessions highlighted not only the platform’s commitment to amplifying diverse African voices but also the growing appetite for in-person engagement between creators and listeners. By combining digital storytelling with real-world experience, Spotify continues to build spaces where stories can breathe and audiences can belong.

ENDS

About Spotify

Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music and podcasts. Discover, manage, and share over 100 million tracks, including more than 6 million podcast titles, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features for music, including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free music listening experience. Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of 626 million users, including 246 million Spotify Premium subscribers, in over 180 markets.

Facebook: @SpotifyAfrica | Twitter: @SpotifyAfrica | Instagram: @spotifyafrica | WhatsApp Channel: Spotify Africa News #SpotifyAfrica

Download the Spotify app via the Android or iOS app store or by heading to www.spotify.com - to embed Spotify into a website - right click on any playlist, go to 'share' and copy embed code.

Spotify in numbers: 626 million monthly active users / 246 million subscription users / Over 100 million songs in the catalogue / 6 million podcasts titles/Over 4 billion playlists available / Available in over 180 markets.