The Thinking Behind It All (TTBIA)

Bonus Episode: The Genesis (Final Episode of 2025) The people’s podcast, The Thinking Behind It All, drops a special bonus episode, The Genesis, our final release of 2025.This deeply personal episode explores the foundations and philosophy of the podcast, introducing critical literacy theory and our commitment to socially driven critical media literacy.Host Melusi Ncala breaks down one of the year’s biggest stories: the narrative around USAID funding being pulled from South Africa following U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election.Ncala is joined by Dr. Ana Ferreira of the Wits School of Education’s Languages, Literatures, and Literacies division to critically analyse a Reuters news text by Jennifer Rigby, Nellie Peyton, and Emma Farge.The episode also features responses from students at City, St George’s, University of London, reflecting on the article. Along the way, Ncala shares insights into the origins of his podcasting and storytelling journey.Reflective, intimate and engaging … this is an episode to end the year with. 🎧 Featuring audio from BBC, ABC News, CBS News, SABC News, Sky News, and Newzroom Africa.

The people’s podcast returns with an introspective and highly thought-provoking second episode!Not to be missed, and certainly not for the faint-hearted, Running His Mouth unpacks the G20 media narrative, explores the diplomatic spat between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and U.S. President Donald Trump, and critically examines how global news outlets have reported on South Africa’s hosting of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.Ledstar, in the Stars segment, breaks down social media reactions to the summit, spotlighting commentary from Roland Schoeman, Karabo Mahapa, and social-justice organisations such as Women for Change.International relations expert and policy analyst Mzuvukele Ngese offers sober analysis on whether media coverage truly reflects realities on the ground and shares key insights into dominant global perspectives on G20 politics.JB, In the Archives, takes us down memory lane with a look at the origins of the G20 and how it compares to other global blocs. In our Beneath the Headlines segment, Lucy Antonatos and Melusi Ncala unpack a Financial Times article by Monica Mark and Rob Rose.While, our field reporter, Mathibedi Mosiroe, hits the streets to find out what everyday people understand about the G20, plus a surprise call you won’t want to miss.It’s a jam-packed episode, with Melusi Ncala pushing political boundaries and making all of us just a little uncomfortable in the best possible way.Featuring audio from: Eyewitness News, SABC, Associated Press, News24, Al Jazeera, TRT World, The Guardian, BBC, PBS, ABC, Newzroom Africa and Forbes.Additional reference sources: Financial Times, Politico, Reuters, People’s Daily Online, CBS, The Washington Post, Brown Political Review, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Policy Centre for the New South, Time Africa, Wikipedia and World Economic Forum.

It’s official, Season 3 of the people’s podcast is here!We kick things off with “MK Marks the Spot,” diving into the explosive story that’s shaken South Africa since July 2025, when General Lieutenant Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi blew the whistle on deep-rooted corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS).From leaked reports to media spin, there are narratives on narratives, and the TTBIA team is unpacking them all through sharp analysis, insights and fearless commentary.Did South Africa’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, really die by suicide or is there more to the story? We mull on this question.How are influencers and socialites shaping the national conversation around General Mkhwanazi? Ledstar unpacks this in The Stars segment.Policing expert Dr. Mpho Matlala from UNISA joins us to unpack what policing looks like and what the media is and isn’t telling us. In The Archives with JB, we go even deeper into the history that brought us here.Host Melusi Ncala is joined by Jackie Imas and Sboniso Nyide to critically dissect an article by News24’s Karyn Maughan and Bernadette Wicks, while field reporter Mathibedi Mosiroe hits the streets to capture South Africans’ reactions to the unfolding SAPS saga.It’s an episode packed with storytelling and bold critique, with Ncala drawing on critical media literacy theory and his anti-corruption activism to help make sense of the storm.🎙️ Featuring voice over by Julie Béguin and audio from SABC, eNCA, Daily Maverick, France 24 English, Newzroom Africa, South African Parliament Channel, Talk Radio 702 FM and Power987 FM.Referenced sources include Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Eyewitness News, News24, Name Explain, World History Encyclopedia, American Society of Overseas Research and SA History Online .

In the fifth edition, we discuss the media’s coverage of former apartheid president FW De Klerk’s death. This news item had tongues wagging and thumbs thumping. Thus, we are in conversation with an interesting character, Louie, who is a South African farmer. We hope that the final episode of the season is informative, entertaining and enjoyable.

In the fourth edition, we discuss the sixth South African local government elections. Joining us is a community member, McDonald Mahlobo, who is in conversation with ordinary persons living in and around Johannesburg. He is talking to them about their views on democracy and a great deal more. We have delivered an informative, entertaining and newsworthy show that you will hopefully love listening to.

In the 3rd edition, we discuss whistle-blowing following the tragic passing of South African government official Babita Deokaran. For this discussion, we are joined by anti-corruption and social justice activists –Kavisha Pillay and Mashudu Masutha. We hope that you find the conversation insightful and informative.

In the 2nd edition, we unpack the media coverage of Covid19, vaccines and related issues. We are also discussing current affairs with writer, poet and social commentator, Ntsiki Mazwai. It’s a spicy show with all your regulars. So, tighten your seatbelt and, hopefully, we can make this ride informative and entertaining.

In the 1st edition, we look at the civil unrest that ensued following the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma. We are joined by media personality, political commentator, author and journalist, Kim Heller, as we discuss and analyse various aspects relating to this extraordinary news event. To the fainthearted, this edition is intense and spicy. But, we hope that you all will find the episode informative and entertaining.

In the 32nd edition, we begin the show with the USP (Usual Suspects' Perspective) segment. We discuss the upheaval in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe left by the cyclone Idai. We conclude our show with a discussion about South Africa's power utility, Eskom, following a consecutive six days of rolling electricity blackouts.

In the 31st edition, we begin the show with a spicy USP (The Usual Suspects' Perspective) segment. We turn our attention to a bribery scandal that has rocked Universities in the United States of America. We conclude with a discussion of a high panel report which accuses the former South African president, Jacob Zuma, of abusing his powers in the administration of the State Security Agency.

 In the 30th edition, the show starts with an exciting USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment in which we welcome our guest listener. It was a very news intense year with many contentious, light-hearted and tragic moments –we look at some of these in terms of TTBIA and society at large.

In the 29th edition, we kick-off the show with the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. George W. H. Bush’s funeral was held in the United States of America and we look at the media coverage of the late President’s legacy. Last but not least, JR (not “my ni**a”, but Johan Rupert) was interviewed on Power987FM, a local South African talk radio station, and we dissect what the second richest man in South Africa had to say as the God of WMC (White Monopoly Capital).

In the 28th edition, we start-off with a USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment that touches on the Global Citizens concert and South African media violating ethics. We then revisit a story that was talked about in the USP segment where an off-duty police officer killed a black man in his apartment, in the US. We finish the show with a discussion on John Steenhuisen’s, South African official opposition member of parliament, lack of education and the protection granted to him by his white privilege status.

In the 27th edition, we kick-off the show with a very spicy USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. We follow up with a discussion on the E Koli breakout in the United States of America. Our final story is of a very tragic account of the killing of a 7-year-old boy by his older sister’s former lover.

In the 26th edition, we dedicate the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment to the call on media to boycott US President Trump’s press conferences. Sadly, we find ourselves having to discuss the coverage of yet another killing of a black person by police in the United States. Our final topic is about the coverage of corruption and state capture stories in South Africa.

In the 25th edition, we discuss pop culture in the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. Our focus then turns to controversial Malusi Gigaba’s (South African cabinet minister) media spotlight in which there are calls for him to resign following several damning scandals. We close-off the show with a discussion on the midterm elections in the United States of America.

We present to you Gentrified Blackies -- Appendix A of a series of episodes that The Thinking Behind It All publishes in which we discuss and elaborate on some of the concepts and ideas that come up during our usual podcast. To coon or to be a coconut is a judgment call that is often made by woke folk when they speak about black people who have assimilated or sold out into whiteness. We talk about what this means and debate some well-known personalities’ characters in line with this notion.

In the 24th edition, we open the show with a USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment that is about gunshots, supposed plots to oust leadership and protestation against a national anthem. Afterwards, we discuss at length Serena Williams’s fightback against an oppressive and discriminatory system within tennis.

In our 23rd edition, we start-off the show with a mixed bag of news stories in the USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. It was senator John McCain’s funeral in the United States of America and we dissect some of the politics arising from that event. We end the show with a discussion on how poorly media has been covering missing cases of black children.

In our 22nd edition, we start the show with a very lively USP (Usual Suspects’ Perspective) segment. We then focus on the state capture commission that has commenced in South Africa. The show concludes with a conversation of part 2 of artist, musician and twelebrity, Ntsiki Mazwai’s interview.