The Add IDEAS Podcast

“In order to help people, we need to understand them.”In this episode of The Add IDEAS Podcast, host Bandile Mndebele sits down with South African disability rights advocate Bongani Mapumulo to explore accessibility, identity, and lived experience.From navigating public spaces to conversations about masculinity, relationships, education, and innovation, this discussion brings lived experience to the forefront of how societies design systems—and who those systems include or exclude.Bongani shares both personal insights and professional work advancing assistive technology, inclusive design, and disability innovation in low- and middle-income contexts. The conversation highlights why understanding people and their lived realities is the first step toward meaningful inclusion.Whether you work in policy, education, design, technology, or simply want to better understand disability and inclusion, this episode challenges us to rethink how access, dignity, and opportunity shape everyday life.About the GuestBongani Mapumulo is a disability rights advocate and researcher focused on inclusive innovation and assistive technology in the Global South.With academic foundations in Political Science, Sociology, and Social Anthropology from Stellenbosch University, Bongani also holds advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication.He pursued a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, where his research explores how assistive technologies and inclusive design can improve opportunities for students living with disabilities in low-income communities.Referenced WorkThis conversation references the book Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021).Edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, and published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.Bongani’s contributions appear in:• Chapter 6 — Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion• Chapter 7 — Bongani’s StoryNotable Thanks• Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation• Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship• UCT Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching — One Button StudiosConnect with Bongani MapumuloLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bongani-mapumulo-828746206/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/bongani.mapumulo.1Work with Bandile MndebeleHost Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking engagements, collaborations, workshops, interviews, and partnerships.Contact:info@bandilem.com_____________________#Accessibility#DisabilityInclusion#InclusiveDesign#DisabilityAwareness#AddIdeasPodcast (00:00) - Why this conversation matters (00:21) - Background (01:57) - Moving the needle: Where to begin? (02:46) - Why are some spaces more accessible than others? (05:50) - Designing better access (07:17) - A day in the life (09:22) - The biggest challenges with access (09:51) - The importance of education (13:53) - A journey to reasonable accommodation (16:40) - Who should be leading the education? (20:43) - Globalising and normalising solutions (22:19) - In order to help people, we need to understand them (23:36) - Perspectives and lived experiences matter (25:34) - The intersections with masculinity and sexuality (30:14) - A dating life experience (32:56) - Frequent questions to be mindful of (34:42) - Being the only one (38:28) - Personal Story (45:33) - Broadening positive representation and normalising inclusion (48:31) - The importance of role models and mentors (51:24) - Most compelling message: the element of surprise (54:18) - Closing

"In order to help people, we need to understand them."Learn how Bongani Mapumulo is transforming accessibility and innovation for students living with disabilities in low-income communities in the Global South on this podcast conversation featuring disability rights, inclusive innovation, and assistive technology trends.🎙️ About This EpisodeIn this episode, we talk to Bongani Mapumulo, a leading disability rights advocate and champion of inclusive innovation in South Africa. Bongani shares a personal and professional journey shaped by systemic challenges, transformative learning, and a passion for social and redistributive justice.With a robust background in Political Science, Sociology, Social Anthropology, and advanced diplomas in Disability & Rehabilitation and Intercultural Communication from Stellenbosch University, Bongani is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation at the UCT Graduate School of Business. His pioneering research focuses on advancing assistive technologies and inclusive design within low- and middle-income contexts, promoting universal access as a foundation for equity and human dignity.👉 In this episode, we cover:(00:00) - Introduction (00:20) - Personal Story (01:47) - Challenges and Activism in Student Life (05:17) - Institutional Preparedness and Accessibility (07:06) - Assistive Technology and Support (12:25) - Reasonable Accommodation and Equity (22:36) - Intersectionality and Lived Experiences (27:48) - Personal Story and Impact (28:50) - Navigating Identity and Spaces (30:25) - Challenges and Opportunities in Education (38:54) - Representation and Inclusion (41:24) - Influence of Supportive Figures (42:33) - The Importance of Early Belief (43:49) - Grassroots Representation (44:00) - Unheard Voices and Broader Solutions (45:55) - Final Thoughts ▶️ Listen Now & SubscribeEnjoyed this? Hit follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on YouTube to never miss powerful stories. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to lead your life without emotionally buffering, you’re in good company here.Referenced worksThis episode mentions material from Physical Disability and Sexuality: Stories from South Africa (2021), edited by Xanthe Hunt, Stine Hellum Braathen, Mussa Chiwaula, Mark T. Carew, Poul Rohleder, and Leslie Swartz, published by Springer Nature under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Explore Bongani Mapumulo's contributions in Chapter 6 (Physical Disability and Masculinity: Hegemony and Exclusion) and Chapter 7 (Bongani’s Story), whose personal experiences and insights on disability and transformation feature in this discussion.Available: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-55567-2Notable Thanks - Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation- Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship- UCT's Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching One Button Studios  Connect with Bongani- LinkedIn- Facebook- Instagram📧 For Speaking & PartnershipsHost Bandile Mndebele is available for speaking, collaborations, features, workshops, and partnership opportunities. To connect, reach out on LinkedIn or via info@bandilem.com.Creators & Guests Bandile Mndebele - Host Bongani Mapumulo - Guest

It's just us today and what a season this was. Also, we got listed on The Top 100 Outstanding Role Model Lists supported by INvolve and YouTube.Join us for the season wrap-up and key calls to action.00:00 - To More Top Moments00:30 - 2024 Top Lessons02:28 - Showing up on people's issues05:20 - Psychological safety and values06:40 - BTS07:55 - What we can still do🔗 You can view the full lists here: https://bit.ly/3Anx93MIn case you missed it:Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas.You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones.Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.

My friend, what should be happening to resolve the problems South Africans face with spaza shops? Want to find the right niche?Today, we delve deep into the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship, exploring the challenges and opportunities that shape the landscape for modern business owners and reflecting on South Africa's potentially limiting identity crisis.Join us as we sit down with Avelile Nontanda, the founder and CEO of Mayhem Digital with more than 10 years of experience helping businesses and brands live their best digital lives from Google to social media and father. Avelile gets candid about shared realities such as dealing with Black Tax, not-so-friendly spaza shops and the importance of a self-reliant economy. We discuss the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs today, the importance of a strong brand identity, and the power of digital marketing. In this conversation, we'll cover:00:00 - Finding Your Niche: Being a Jack of All Trades, Master of Niche 06:25 - The Google Dilemma and Exploring Ownership15:51 - Dealing with “Pull Him/Her Down” Syndrome and The Discount Mentality21:29 - Finding a Balance After Groove and Equal Focus26:10 - First World and Third World Fallacies 29:15 - Black Tax is Good and Bad at the Same Time40:54 - Digital Nomads, Why start in Cape Town, and Can Looks Be Deceiving?Resources:Mayhem DigitalFollow Avelile Nontanda on LinkedInListen to the related episode 8 with Melilizwe GqoboGoogle's market dominance and antitrustMicrosoft and ChatGPT are not what Elon Musk intendedThe Evolution of Spaza shopsSpaza shop food health inflicting children and who to blameCall to Action:Share your thoughts on the topics discussed in this episode on social media using the hashtag #addideas.You can subscribe to or follow the podcast to stay updated on future episodes and milestones.Leave a review for the show on your favourite podcast platform.

Briefly 1 Newsletter: Beyond MilestonesWe are celebrating 1,000 downloads and community growth in our first audio newsletter.What is covered in this newsletter:Thank you!Beyond the first time, every timeBeyond safe spaces: building competent community'No DNA, Just RSA'Feeling left behind: "When is our turn?"Evolving allyship for a more inclusive future

Annemarie Shrouder (she/her), international speaker, consultant and author of Being Brown in a Black and White World, which shares the personal and organisational costs of polarisation, joined me today to talk about the essentials for community building and what we can borrow or learn from post-COVID-19 amid waning global commitments.On today’s episode:0:00 - Intro & welcome0:24 - Common frustrations shared since the start2:47 - Inclusion vs Belonging and other polarisations4:12 - “Healing requires that we all need to do our own work”5:52 - Learning from parenthood for the best workplace9:42 - The impact of COVID-19 on community and balance15:09 - The tools we can use today17:39 - The power of intersectionality on how we show up20:58 - Wellness and heart-based exercises as impact drivers24:20 - “Everyone is doing the best they can with the trauma they carry”26:15 - Looking ahead with 5% more courage30:53 - Wrap-upRESOURCESAnnemarie’s Book: https://annemarieshrouder.com/book/(Amazon) - https://www.amazon.com/Being-Brown-Black-White-World-ebook/dp/B09224CN47The HeartMath Institute: https://www.heartmath.org/More About Annemarie Shrouder:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieshrouder/Website: https://annemarieshrouder.com/Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

Today’s guest, Melilizwe Gqobo (he/him) - Founding Director of Hubspace (Khayelitsha) and Venture Scout, has successfully created space for founders and entrepreneurs to thrive by strengthening and reinforcing their capacity or ability to seek opportunities.With the hindsight of co-founding Hubspace, a pioneering startup ecosystem or incubator space to bring communal offices and resources to entrepreneurs and founders within the township economy, meaningfully contributing over 5% to South Africa’s GDP, Melilizwe shares key lessons and insights on what it takes to make a successful venture while highlighting examples from Bolt and Uber’s entry to the South African/African market.What's Covered On This Episode:0:00 - The Entrepreneurship and Founder Ecosystems1:23 - Founder Lessons and Challenges4:40 - Reasons why I became an Entrepreneur6:02 - The Opportunity Set – NGOs8:07 - Making a successful venture10:51 - Does First Mover Advantage Exist?12:50 - The Role of Enterprise Development14:51 - The Township Economy25:39 - The Importance of Patient Capital, Support, Routine and Mindset for Preservation32:57 - Allyship: Creating space and an intentional community38:29 - Innovation and AI46:17 - Wrap-up: Key TakeawaysRESOURCES:https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/04/04/397101933/far-from-silicon-valley-a-disruptive-startup-hubhttps://disruptafrica.com/2014/11/15/townships-offer-real-investment-opportunities-hubspace/https://www.news24.com/news24/partnercontent/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-township-economy-20230621https://www.parliament.gov.za/news/multifaceted-approach-needed-deal-protection-fee-and-business-extortion-syndicates-ncop-hearshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz5reve8476oFollow Melilizwe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melilizwe-gqobo-6229a729/Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E7: We delve into the concept of visibility vs freedom in the LGBTQ+ community with the multi-talented Creative, Writer, Performer, and Organiser, Udoka Maya Okonkwo (they/her).They begin with a personal "Visibility Journey" followed by a thought-provoking discussion on articulating the idea of freedom for LGBTQ+ individuals today.The conversation explores navigating different Pride experiences (Black, Trans and Commercial) by addressing community needs more while stressing the importance of finding the right community. Self-acceptance goes a long way in underscoring this as Udoka reminds us that: "there is no such thing as being Queer enough, or Trans enough, or Gay enough. You Are Just Enough."In our conversation, we shift focus to widening opportunities and access within the community, before tackling critical issues that necessitate collective action and intersectionality. Strategies for addressing injustices, continuing allyship, and organising are explored.RESOURCEShttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/big-brother-nadia-almada-empowering-exclusive-newsupdate/https://www.consortium.lgbt/member-directory/black-trans-foundation/https://www.instagram.com/londontranspride/https://www.ukblackpride.org.uk/https://www.instagram.com/miseryparty/?hl=enhttps://www.leonardcheshire.org/get-involved/campaign-us/cost-living?gad_source=1https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/04/un-body-calls-uk-end-detention-people-disabilitieshttps://www.bbc.com/news/health-68849843https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9602/CBP-9602.pdfhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/11/a-new-abyss-gaza-and-the-hundred-years-war-on-palestineCLUBShttps://dalstonsuperstore.com/https://www.instagram.com/heavenlgbtclub/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/tboys.club/?hl=enBOOKSAgainst Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion (Ryan Conrad)The Discworld Collector's Library (Terry Pratchett)Global Black Narratives for the Classroom (BLAM UK)Kindred (Octavia E. Butler)Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E6: We have now emerged from Covid-19 to a climate of war. We still have losses and are yet to see recovery. Will there also be a war on DEI in South Africa? Today, we spoke with diversity, equity and inclusion speaker and facilitator Roy Gluckman-John about what conversations we need to urgently have to bring much-needed change and build a community with a better sense of belonging.Reflecting on the past few years, we speak of a shared view that there is so much to be said about grief and loss. Not just a loss of community but also the grief of not being heard leaving many voiceless._____________________________________________________Follow Roy Gluckman-John:- 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-gluckman-a0101027/Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E5: “Hi, will you be my valentine?”😅It took you months to build up the courage to say at least “hi” to someone you like without feeling like a heart attack is imminent or you might spend a while in a critical unit with minimal recovery.In today's episode, we connected with the phenomenal communications expert, storyteller and trailblazing leader, Thabani Mtsi (he/him), and were deeply inspired by his humbling beginnings with public speaking and leading takes of how to speak with conviction, presence and power while pitching your ideas effectively._____________________________________________________Follow Thabani Mtsi:- 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thabani-mtsi/- 📸 @thabani_mtsi (Instagram)- 🤳 @thabani.mtsi (TikTok)Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E4: "Helping someone go to their next step...or career goals is more powerful."Is any dream too big?Leonore van Wyk, influential DEI and global corporate culture builder, details how impactful representation is, from broad media narratives to icons such as Rihanna. Relating to different levels of opportunity strengthens the possibility of what is possible and attainable.In her own phrasing: “You are more than capable.”_____________________________________________________Follow Loenore van Wyk:- 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonore-van-wyk-b6761094/Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E3: "Being the change that I can be, where I am, fills my cup... what fills my cup even more, is seeing other people doing the same." 🙌🏾ESG Enthusiast and Education Changemaker, Pumla Dlamini (she/her) describes how kind leadership should bring others up along the way and inspire change through better listening. She details the benefits and journey of mastering your voice and presence.More about Pumla Dlamini:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pumla-dlamini-11759594In today’s episode, Pumla shares how failing math in grade 4 became a defining moment to never hold back in life. Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E2: In today's episode, I unpack some insightful self-conversations and important considerations for a year of change. How should we think or talk to ourselves when managing change? What should kindness and success feel or look like?Thank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

E1: In today’s episode, I unlock the key steps to building good IDEAS: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sustainability by asking guiding questions and providing the approach on how to embed suggestions practically for everyday success that is both relatable and intentional.[Inclusion = “How do you feel in the space?’]1. Psychological safety2. Intersectionality3. Active Listening4. Authenticity5. Positive Representation6. Leadership7. Zero-tolerance[Diversity = “Who you are.”]1. Intersectionality2. Neurodiversity3. Support4. Thrive[Equity = “How do we finish together?”]1. Access2. Systems3. Fairness4. Opportunity Creation[Accessibility = “How do we target support to allow people to thrive?” ]1. Universal Design2. Neuroinclusion[Sustainability = “How do we build long-term success by considering ESG factors and impact where everyone feels empowered to contribute?”]1. Representation2. Economic3. How are resources allocated and are decisions intergenerational (impact beyond the present?)4. PartnershipsThank you for listening, following and sharing the podcast. Did you love this episode? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

Getting to know IDEAS: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Sustainability.Preview on some topics and guest highlights.