81. Mini Cho
Mini Cho is Mozambique's first pro surfer. A seed born of East and African tides where the winds of xenophobia pushed to the sun-kissed beaches of northern Mozambique. Surfing found him through wandering nomads, igniting a passion for activism and community. His sights may be set on the Olympics, but his definition of gold is to empower those around him. In the latest podcast episode, our guest delved into his deep relationship with the ocean, explored the vibrant concepts of Afro Surf Culture, shared practical tips on building skills to become a surfer, discussed the burgeoning surfing industry and its growth in Mozambique, and explained why Inhambane holds a special place in the hearts of surfers.
80. Isac Junior
Our guest is a visionary whose lens captures not just moments but entire worlds. Isac Junior's visionary approach to photography transcends mere snapshots, capturing entire worlds through his lens. With roots in humble beginnings and unwavering family support, Isac's journey embodies the essence of determination and resilience.
Isac shares more than just his love for the craft in this episode. From his earliest steps in photography to studying in Cape Town and Florence to refine his skills, Isac understands the importance of investing in oneself and nurturing a love for the art. He's a mentee and a mentor committed to uplifting others to empower the next generation of visual storytellers through community projects. By fostering a supportive environment and leveraging technology, he's paving the way for the new generation to make their mark in photography and beyond.
79. Nelson Nhachungue
Nelson Nhachungue is a remarkable individual who effortlessly wears two hats – a seasoned lawyer and a dynamic influencer making waves in the digital realm. A master of the delicate art of balancing one's private life with the demands of a public persona. He offers a unique perspective on the challenges that arise when your professional world collides with the ever-watchful eyes of social media.
In this candid conversation, our guest delves into the intricacies of handling negativity in the digital age, revealing his strategies to rise above the noise. He shares invaluable lessons on why it's crucial not to let the opinions of strangers dictate one's self-worth and how cultivating resilience has been a cornerstone in his journey. Moreover, he lifts the veil on the influencer industry, offering listeners a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes workings of a world that often seems glamorous but is underscored by dedication, strategy, and a nuanced understanding of the ever-evolving online landscape. So, whether you're a social media aficionado, a budding influencer, or just curious about the legal and personal facets of navigating the digital age, you will want to attend this enlightening conversation with our multi-talented guest.
78. Luhane Gagnaux
Luhane Gagnaux is a purebred entrepreneur whose remarkable journey from law to entrepreneurship has been inspiring. Fueled by an unwavering passion for unravelling everyday conundrums, Luhane ventured into the world of mobile app development, crafting a diverse portfolio of applications that tackled various challenges. Some of these ventures proved successful, while others posed valuable lessons in resilience and innovation. His tenacity and creativity shone through as he fearlessly navigated the ups and downs, demonstrating a deep commitment to finding solutions and empowering others.
Instead of merely basking in his successes, Luhane Gagnaux extended his reach beyond app development. He carved out a dynamic presence on social media platforms, leveraging his expertise to create online courses and accessible educational content. Through his mentorship initiatives, he passionately uplifted countless individuals, guiding them toward their aspirations in the ever-evolving digital landscape. His dedication to empowering others became a beacon of hope, illuminating paths to knowledge and growth.
In this episode, we are privileged to delve into Luhane's thrilling journey, uncovering the insights that encouraged his transformative shift from law to entrepreneurship. Join us as we explore his unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world and discover the invaluable blueprint to the success he has generously crafted for others to follow.
77. Ximena Calero
Ximena Calero is an unlikely activist. In this episode, we step into her mystical and thought-provoking world. As we sit down with our extraordinary guest who shares stories of witchcraft, weaving Mozambican culture into the very fabric of her home, she unravels the secrets of listening – not just hearing, but truly learning. At the same time, deep diving into the realms of beliefs versus science, where boundaries blur and minds expand. Ximena unveils the incredible journey of her activism, showing us how, in Mozambique, small steps lead to monumental impacts.
76. Lay Lizzy
Lay Lizzy is a creator mainly known for his music. He embodies steadfast and unwavering positive advocacy within the creative domain, crafting mesmerising art while championing emerging talents. He expertly narrates his journey in his presentation, showcasing his exceptional talent in managing his business ventures while producing captivating music and videos. He generously imparts valuable insights on establishing thriving enterprises and meticulously chart one’s course to triumph.
75. Matateu Ubisse
Matateu Ubisse is a brand strategist who has a unique approach to using the art of storytelling. He has set himself apart in an industry where the main currency is your attention. Describing how the odds didn't keep him from pursuing what he felt he was meant to do, in this conversation, we went down the rabbit hole of movies, Afrofuturism and how stories are the shortest distance between a human being and truth.
74. Elisandro Mendes
Elisandro Mendes is an entrepreneur who made Mozambique his home away from home. With an emotional intelligence above par, he brought his dream to fruition and created a community where gentlemen come together and build positive social networks. His childhood and teenage years start in Lisbon after leaving Guinea-Bissau at a very young age. His heart ultimately brought him to Mozambique, where a brief passage in the clothing and footwear trade gave him the confidence to take the leap that inevitably changed his life.
In this episode, he shared his values of camaraderie learned throughout his passage as a professional handball player and many other life-enriching experiences.
73. Francisco Vinho
Francisco Vinho is a skate activist whose love for skating, combined with a steady grind, drove him to break down barriers and defy the status quo. It takes a particular type of mindset and willingness to, against all odds, build a skate park in one's backyard and make it an extension of the conventional classroom for many girls and boys of the community. Still, it is precisely what Vinho did. Find out how it came to be and where this fantastic project is going directly from the horse's mouth.
72. Marcelo Dauane
Marcelo Dauane is a full-stack engineer. Using a personality that constantly demands innovation and thrives for growth, he taught his fingers how to speak the only truly universal language. In this chilled and sometimes geeky conversation about his life and more, he explains how someone can go from zero to coding within months in the various boot camps available, its importance, and how this superpower became the single most important skill he picked up in his life.
71. Djimetta
Djimetta is a hip hop artist. His introvert core and extrovert capabilities bridge the world of reality and imagination, giving birth to unique creativity. Ell Puto also graced us with his presence by being our first guest co-host, and side by side with Djimetta, they took this episode to a whole new level. A few coughs sprinkled on it from everything related to the music industry, work ethic, brand building process, and much more.
70. Marta Uetela
Marta Uetela is an industrial designer who is a very energetic and positive individual that from a selfless act, started an organisation that is changing the lives of many, one step at a time. She won the second-best green startup in Africa, the number one prize in the 6th edition of the competition SeedStars in Maputo, and the 193rd Commonwealth Point of Light, but those are not even her most significant achievements. Guiding us by connecting the dots, she explains how design, welding, being encouraged by her father and brothers at a young age to get involved in mechanics, and another myriad of unusual events got her in the position she is today.
69. Leia Liquidão
Leia Liquidão is a psychologist. Her caring and engaging personality impacts lives in more ways than just listening. Exuding empathy and genuine concern, she spoke to us about domestic violence, childhood trauma, men with breast cancer, how mental health is perceived in Mozambique, and much more. A tremendous serious conversation that felt super light-hearted.
68. Douglas Condzo
Douglas Condzo is a visual artist whose striking art provokes a visceral response in the eye of the beholder it also taps into the humble and quiet personality of this true aesthete. We got him speaking on the different roads and choices that took him from music to where he is now. He took a deep dive and described how the journey of his street photography led him to short film festivals, to art exhibitions in various galleries in Mozambique and abroad, and he also explained to us how he manages to keep growing and evolving as an artist.
67. Paulo Chibanga
Paulo Chibanga is an innovative entrepreneur who uses deep family values as the underlying foundation for all his work. He transcends the ordinal scale with his never-stop learning mentality. From 3 de Fevereiro school to Jo'burg and then the world, he told us about how his music journey started and how it morphed into what it is today. How 340ml came to be and how AzGo Festival first editions didn't break even. An episode full of exciting stories, lessons to live by, and much more.
66. Maxh
Maxh is a YouTuber with a unique sense of humour and uncomparable clout. His skits present a profoundly personal and comical perspective on a wide range of social phenomena. In a genuinely conversational way, he gave us an insight into how he lives off YouTube and explained how he withdraws the money sent from it—deconstructed the taboo of being a Mozambican YouTuber and how that affected his relationship with his father for a few years. We explored some of his side projects and what can we expect from him in the future.
65. Ricardo Pereira
Ricardo Pereira is an Environment and Renewable Energy Expert. With a community-based approach and innovative solutions, his work's mission shines a bright light of hope on improving the ecosystems and livelihood of many. Our conversation with Ricardo ranged from how he stumbled into his environmental degree, the wonders of Kenya, being held hostage in Bolivia by a group of kidnappers, and how Africa's solution is in our hands. We had loads of fun with this Mozambican pan-African.
64. Mafalda Vasconcelos
Mafalda is an artist who is on a journey of self-discovery. Her work is one of the mediums she uses to explore emotions concerning her identity. In a very poetic way, the unspoken bond with her ancestors depicted in her art leaves us in awe. From fashion to fine art prints, connecting the dots on her voyage to the down under, we spoke about her African heritage and how it influences her, how she got her work in London galleries, the unlikely collaboration with A$AP Mob and much more.
45. Ruy Santos
Ruy Santos is the founder of MAKOBO - Plataforma Solidária. More than a canary in a coal mine, he’s a driving force behind social change. Reflecting genuine altruism, and with a humble approach, his contagious sense of solidarity makes everyone believe that no act of kindness goes wasted. In this episode, we talk about malnutrition and illiteracy in Mozambique, Makobo genesis, feeding refugees, Projecto Black & White, Commonwealth Points of Light and much more.
43. Behind Your Vision
Behind Your Vision are the awe-inspiring crew behind some of the most artistic videos, photos and short movies that we have seen coming out of Mozambique. With visceral attunement and conceptual understanding, they left us with glimpses of their vision. In this episode, we touch on how they started, their transition from videos to short films, negotiating fees with clients, acquiring, renting gear and some of their aspirations for the future.