Kusa Cast

Recorded in March of 2025, on this episode of Kusa Cast host Graeme Watson sits down with Danny Waine, the founder of Travel Nomads and a seasoned leader in the travel industry. Danny shares his journey, reflecting on how his childhood passion for travel led him through a diverse career spanning commercial roles, tour operations, and sales both in the UK and internationally. He recounts the challe...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson welcomes Gabrielle Claiborne, founder and CEO of Transformation Journeys Worldwide, to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the global travel industry. Gabrielle shares her powerful personal journey of authenticity and how it inspired her mission to foster inclusive cultures across various sectors, including tourism. Throughout the conv...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson sits down with Steve Byrne, CEO of Travel Counsellors, to discuss the company's remarkable achievement of reaching £1 billion in revenue and their vision for the future. With over 20 years at the company, Steve shares the journey of how Travel Counsellors has grown into a community of 2,000+ travel entrepreneurs while maintaining its core values of...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson sits down with Kgomotso Ramothea, CEO of Memberships at ATTA (African Travel and Tourism Association). After an impressive tenure at South African Tourism where she served as Acting Head and Marketing Communications Manager for the UK and Ireland markets, Kgomotso brings fresh perspectives to her new role at ATTA. Kgomotso shares her vision for ATTA...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson sits down with Dan Pearce, CEO of TTG Media, for an insightful journey through the world of travel journalism and industry resilience. Dan shares his fascinating career path, from aspiring actor to English teacher in Italy, before finding his true calling in journalism. His story of acquiring TTG and steering it through the tumultuous waters of the...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson interviews Jillian Blackbeard, the CEO and founder of Africa's Eden. Jillian is based in Gaborone and has an extensive background in tourism, having worked for Peermont Hotels, Botswana Tourism, and as the Africa director for the World Travel and Tourism Council. She founded Africa's Eden with the vision of improving destination marketing by focusin...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson sits down with Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA). Tshifhiwa shares his extensive journey in the tourism industry, from his studies at the University of Johannesburg to his diverse roles in travel marketing and tourism management across the globe, including stints in Los Angeles and New York. The d...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, we have a conversation with Brad Glenn, Managing Director of The Inside Edge, a DMC specialising in incentives in South Africa. Hosted by Graeme Watson, the episode delves into the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) industry in Southern Africa. Brad shared his journey from working in the hotel industry, including stints at Sun International and South...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson interviews David Frost, the CEO of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA). The discussion revolves around the current state of tourism in South Africa, the challenges faced by the industry, and the efforts made to overcome these obstacles. About The Guest: David Frost is the Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Africa Tourism Se...

Holly Budge is an adventurer and the founder of How Many Elephants, a nonprofit organisation that raises awareness about the African elephant crisis. Through her travels and expeditions, Holly realised the power of adventure to raise funds and bring attention to environmental and social issues. She created How Many Elephants as a travelling exhibition that visualises the poaching data, showcasing...

Claire Minchin, co-founder of Vumbua Africa, joins Graeme Watson on Kusa Cast to discuss accessible travel in Africa. The podcast also feature input from Keith Johnston, co-founder of Vumbua Africa. Claire shares her personal experiences as a social worker and as a traveler with a daughter who required a wheelchair. She highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities or limited mo...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, host Graeme Watson had the privilege of interviewing Alexis Cronin, the co-founder of Dunia Designs. Dunia Designs is a remarkable company driven by a powerful mission inspired by the global plastic crisis. The company was born out of a shared concern between Alexis and Evanna Cronin, who were deeply troubled by the sight of their community's streets and rivers being...

Heather Markel, a full-time travel coach, joins the Kusa Cast to discuss her journey to becoming a digital nomad. She shares her experiences of leaving her corporate job and embracing a life of travel. Heather provides insights into the mindset, money, and mastery needed for a successful nomadic lifestyle. She also emphasizes the importance of community and finding support among fellow travellers....

Jordan Carlyle and Christen Puckett, travellers from the USA, share their journey of quitting their stable jobs and buying a one-way ticket to travel the world. They discuss how they started their trip by creating a shared Notes app to list the places they wanted to visit. They also talk about their unexpected success on TikTok, where they now have over 25,000 followers. The travellers emphasise t...

Mark Young, co-founder of the Perfections Group, discusses his journey in the travel industry, from backpacking to starting a representation company. He shares his experience of being made redundant before COVID and how he adapted by taking on different jobs. Mark also talks about the resilience and camaraderie in the tourism industry, the changing habits of UK travellers, and the future of the Pe...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, Graeme Watson interviews Priscilla Plummer, the founder of Global Sojourns, a responsible travel company that focuses on uplifting communities around wildlife areas. Priscilla shares her journey from working in small and startup businesses in the US to traveling to Africa to better understand the situation that girls and women face in the region. She talks about her p...

In the latest episode of Kusa Cast, Graeme Watson sits down with Melissa Foley, the passionate founder of All About Africa Consulting. Melissa's mission is to promote social and environmental sustainability in the tourism industry throughout Africa, with a particular focus on ethical climbing on Kilimanjaro. As a board member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), based in Moshi and...

In this episode of Kusa Cast, Graeme Watson interviews Robyn Whaley, the director of Off The Track Expeditions, a Zimbabwe-based tour operator specialising in tailor made and adventure travel to Zimbabwe. Robyn shares her experience and insights on how her business started and how it has grown over the years. Robyn begins by discussing her journey in the tourism industry, highlighting her previous...

In this podcast episode, Graeme Watson speaks with Stanley Edwards, director of Platypus Digital, about how virtual reality (VR) can be used as a marketing tool for tourism businesses. They stress the importance of focusing on content objectives when using VR, rather than just admiring the technology. They discuss the different ways VR can be used, such as 360 images and videos, virtual guided tou...

Today's guest on Kusa Cast is  Katy Lee , Senior Business Development at  Feefo , a consumer insight business, who through their ratings and reviews technology help businesses collect, verified customer reviews and insights, allowing you to improve your products and customer experiences. Katy discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry in the wake of the pandem...

The tourism industry in South Africa has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited help assistance to support struggling businesses. Despite the challenges, there is still a strong desire for travel to South Africa, particularly for wine tourism and safaris. In a recent episode of the Kusa Cast, "A Conversation with Cathy Entwistle and Nick Fox," the challenges facing the touri...

We hear from Grant Fowlds, a conservationist fighting to protect rhinos in Africa. He shares his experiences of both heart-wrenching losses and inspiring victories in the battle against poaching, and discusses the challenges faced by conservationists, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, Grant remains dedicated to preserving the ecosystem and saving endanger...

Zile de Kock, executive marketing manager of Marine Dynamics, shares insights on how the tourism industry can adapt and survive during the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on Marine Dynamics and how they have cut costs, expanded to Saudi Arabia, and offered specials for locals to sustain their business. Zile also emphasises the importance of conservation efforts, particu...

Ross Kennedy, CEO of Africa Albida Tourism, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Victoria Falls region's tourism industry. Kennedy shares the tough business decisions that were necessary for survival, but also highlights the community outreach programs and focus on sustainable and eco-friendly tourism practices that emerged during this difficult time. With a commitment to its long-...

We hear from Andre du Toit, a consultant to tourism players across Africa, about his two exciting projects that aim to provide peace of mind to travellers and minimise liability risk. He discusses the SECURA traveller app , which aggregates emergency response services for security or medical incidents and the inbound travel insurance that includes access to Africa's leading critical incident manag...