disrupt. with Koa Browne

In this interview, I sit down with Jason Van Dyk, co-founder of Sociable, a community-focused events platform redefining how people connect. Jason shares his journey from being an introverted university student to teaching himself how to code, the early struggles of launching during Covid, and his vision for building authentic communities in an age dominated by AI and digital noise. This conversat...

In this raw and honest interview, Serisha Barrat shares her incredible journey from sleeping on blow-up mattresses and selling her car to building Lawyered Up, a legal tech platform democratizing access to legal services across Africa. She opens up about the brutal realities of female entrepreneurship, the loneliness of building a startup, surviving complete business failure, and how she's now rai...

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah, founder of Leonista, to unpack her journey in building one of South Africa's first 100% organic agave spirits. Sarah shares how Leonista began with curiosity and a deep love for tequila. She followed that passion all the way to Mexico, where she posed as a journalist to gain access to top distilleries and learn the craft firsthand. Back home, she started exp...

In this episode of disrupt. I sit down with Ryan Stramrood, an ultra-extreme open-water and ice swimmer, Guinness World Record holder, peak performance coach, and inspirational speaker. Ryan's story is nothing short of incredible. From being a regular guy with no formal sports background to breaking world records in some of the planet's most brutal waters, including swimming a mile in Antarctica a...

Sleep is something we all do, humans, animals, and even plants. But why do we sleep, and what actually happens in our brains while we're asleep? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Dale Rae, a leading sleep scientist, to explore the fascinating world of sleep, its critical role in memory, immune function, and mental well-being, and what happens when we don't get enough of it. We discuss: 🔹 Why s...

In this episode of disrupt. I sit down with Jasper Eales, designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Sealand, a globally recognized sustainable brand that's redefining how we think about materials, design, and conscious business. Jasper's journey is anything but ordinary. At just 23, he faced a life-threatening liver transplant, a moment that reshaped his perspective on life, creativity, and entrep...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Phumi Körber, the visionary founder behind WISI-Oi, South Africa's first video-based resell fashion app. Phumi shares her incredible journey from growing up in Soweto to launching a groundbreaking platform that's changing the way we think about fashion. We dive deep into her entrepreneurial story, exploring how she built a successful app with lim...

In this episode of disrupt.  I sit down with Peter Daniel, co-founder of Soaring Free Superfoods, to explore his remarkable journey from discovering the raw food movement to building a thriving superfood business with his wife Beryn. Peter shares how their journey began by educating people through nutrition workshops and selling healthy foods at festivals.  They faced early challenges like contami...

In this episode of disrupt. we learn about the inspiring story of Felix Norton, a true serial entrepreneur and co-founder of WOWW Digital. Discover how Felix transitioned from freelancing as a web designer to leading a successful million-dollar digital marketing agency with over 30 employees.  We begin by exploring Felix's upbringing and the influences that shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. He sh...

In this episode of disrupt.  I had the pleasure of chatting with Nick Coetzee, who transitioned from a biokineticist to a successful e-commerce entrepreneur. Nick shares how his desire to avoid trading hours for money and to financially free himself and his parents led him to start his own health-focused e-commerce brand. Nick takes us through his journey from bootstrapping with dropshipping to cr...

In this podcast, I sit down with Dean, the visionary co-founder of DUNK, a company that's transforming the way we experience cold therapy. Dean's entrepreneurial journey began with a simple idea that came to him while lying in bed. Together with his co-founder Roelof, they launched one of South Africa's first cold plunge companies. Dean shares the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, shedding light...