The Add IDEAS Podcast

"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 [email protected] & 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.