The Kate Turkington Show

In this episode of the Kate Turkington Show, Sarah Dusek shares her inspiring journey from an AIDS worker in Zimbabwe to a recognized leader in regenerative tourism. She discusses her transition from the non-profit sector to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs and the need for capital and mentorship. Sarah also highlights the distinction between sustainab...

Kate Turkington sits down with Mark Anderson, CEO of BirdLife South Africa, to explore why birds matter more than we realise. From getting unexpectedly stranded on St Helena and meeting the island’s rare wirebird, to a life-changing swim with whale sharks, Mark shares unforgettable stories from the wild. The conversation dives into bird conservation successes, the fight to save African penguins, a...

Kate Turkington sits down with legendary theatre-maker Professor Malcolm D Purkey for a powerful conversation spanning 50 years of South African theatre. From their early days staging Ubu Rex under apartheid to the rise of politically fearless theatre at Junction Avenue, the Market Theatre, and Wits University, Purkey reflects on art as resistance, teaching as legacy, and the evolution of storytel...

In a candid and personal chat, veteran leader Helen Zille reflects on her upbringing, political journey and the values of resilience and self-reliance that shaped her career. She shares stories of family, loss and grandparenthood, weighs in on democracy and media freedom, and explains why she believes progress comes from personal responsibility, not victimhood. It’s a warm, thought-provoking conve...

In this episode of Blind History, Gareth and Anthony dive into the extraordinary life of Charles XII of Sweden — a teenage warrior king who turned an entire empire into a battlefield. From hunting bears as a child to humiliating Peter the Great, sleeping on the ground with his soldiers, and leading charges into blizzards and cannon fire, Charles lived like a man possessed. Fearless, devout, stubbo...

In this special episode, Kate Turkington dives headfirst into a mountain of books — literally surrounded by piles of her favourite new reads. From gripping historical fiction and heart-pounding crime thrillers to sci-fi anthologies, family-friendly adventures, satirical South African classics, and must-have gift books for kids and teens, Kate curates a definitive guide to books for everyone on you...

South Africa has the largest prison population in Africa, but what’s really happening behind those walls? In this powerful episode of The Kate Turkington Show, Judge Edwin Cameron joins Kate to unpack his new book Behind Prison Walls. From the harsh reality of overcrowded cells to the flawed sentencing policies shaping our justice system, Cameron challenges everything we think we know about crime...

Kate Turkington sits down with award-winning French author Jean-Baptiste Andrea to unpack his international bestseller Watching Over Her. From fascism and art to love, passion, and the fight against tyranny, Andrea reveals the emotional depth behind his characters, the lyrical beauty of translation, and why he cried while writing it. A moving conversation about history, humanity, and the light we...

Kate Turkington opens with one of her classic storytelling moments — the tale of dashing Oxford student-turned-war hero Sandy Pringle — before pivoting to modern-day marvels in South Africa. She sits down with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Barrow to unpack the groundbreaking arrival of robot-assisted knee replacement surgery on the continent. From accuracy within half a millimeter to a personaliz...

In this episode, we dive deep with acclaimed crime writer John Connolly, creator of the unforgettable Charlie Parkerseries. From the haunted history of Roger Casement to the blurred lines between good and evil, Connolly unpacks how grief, faith, and the supernatural shape his stories. He opens up about the future of Parker, the possibility of a TV adaptation with Colin Farrell, and how place and h...

Kate Turkington kicks off with a witty travel story before chatting to the co-founder of the Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts (FEDA) — a three-week showcase of over 60 high school plays, most written by the students themselves. They unpack the bold themes young people are exploring on stage, from gender-based violence to mental health, and share behind-the-scenes moments that prove theatre...

This week on The Kate Turkington Show, Kate takes us on a wild, unforgettable journey through the Himalayas — from a hair-raising mountain drive to a spiritual Aarti ceremony on the Ganges. Along the way, she and her daughter unexpectedly meet Everest legend Junko Tabei. Then, Kate chats to Johannesburg GP Dr. Praveer Sooka about his wildest moments as a cruise ship doctor — from helicopter evacua...

Kate Turkington shares a wild student story about guiding tours inside a blue whale on the Thames—yes, really. Then oceanographer Dr. Katye Altieri joins to unpack how pollution in the air is quietly changing our oceans. From nitrogen’s hidden climate impact to research voyages on the SA Agulhas II, this episode dives into the strange and urgent links between us, the sea, and the skies.