The Incredible Machines

Welcome to Episode 62 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Professor Linda Meyer, an experienced higher education leader and passionate advocate for lifelong learning, women in leadership and greater access to quality education across Africa.  Professor Meyer reflects on a career that has taken her from working as a fli...

Welcome to Episode 61 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Pierre du Plessis, a strategist, keynote speaker, coach (and co-consoirator), author and founder of Be Brave, a Cape Town based Strategy Design Lab.  Drawing on more than two decades of experience across strategy, design, human development and leadership, Pierre...

Welcome to Episode 60 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Helen Nicholson, the founder and CEO of The Networking Company, author, speaker and personal branding expert.  Helen reflects on her journey from studying accounting to building and selling her first business in Dubai before returning home to South Africa. She e...

Welcome to Episode 59 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Les Owen, a negotiation and persuasion specialist whose career has taken him from industrial relations and high-stakes trade union negotiations to advising some of the world’s largest companies.  Les reflects on working for PUTCO (the Public Utility Transport Co...

Welcome to Episode 58 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Ryan Butcher, a world champion paddleboard athlete, entrepreneur and co-founder of Hurricane Surf.  Ryan reflects on growing up in Johannesburg, developing a deep connection with the ocean and committing himself to competitive surfing and surf lifesaving. That d...

Welcome to Episode 57 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Graeme Stiles, the founder, CEO and Chief AI Officer of Algorithm, to unpack a journey that started with uncertainty and self-doubt and eventually led to building a global performance marketing agency.  The conversation explores what happens when a technical spe...

Welcome to Episode 56 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Kuki Shah, a Kenyan born entrepreneur, executive coach, facilitator and former family business leader who now helps entrepreneurs and leadership teams unlock clarity, accountability and long-term growth through Bloom Growth.  He is based in Dubai. After helping...

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Thando-Rose Dladla, a spiritual healer, transformational breathwork facilitator, entrepreneur, speaker and the woman behind The Funkie Healer.  Thando shares the experiences that led her from Johannesburg to KwaZulu Natal and ultimately towards answering her spi...

Welcome to Episode 54 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Shaadia Vawda, an award-winning marketing executive, leadership coach and former global executive who has built brands across South Africa, the United Kingdom and international markets.   Known for her passion for leadership development, innovation and helping o...

Welcome to Episode 53 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Clinton Shum, the founder of Xpect Performance, a golf fitness specialist, entrepreneur and host of his own podcast called, Xpect Performance.  Clinton shares how courage became his guiding word for the year and explains why intentional action matters more than...

Welcome to Episode 52 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Samantha Edwards, a marketing and advertising professional whose life and career have taken her from Port Elizabeth to London, back to South Africa and through two cancer diagnoses.  Samantha shares how her stable childhood, early working years, time in the UK,...

Welcome to Episode 51 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Pieter “PG” Geldenhuys, an author, business coach, leadership facilitator, storytelling expert, and the mind behind Boks to Business.   From growing up in Stellenbosch and Strand, to travelling through Austria, London, Israel, South America and beyond. He reflec...

Welcome to Episode 50 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Sbonelo Mbatha, an entrepreneur, author of The Petrol Attendant, founder of Petro Connect, and one of South Africa's most reputable voices in the fuel retail industry.  Born and raised in rural KwaZulu Natal, his journey is an incredible story of resilience, fai...

Welcome to Episode 49 of The Incredible Machines podcast! In this deeply moving and uplifting conversation, Jon Oliff sits down with Jessica Hare, founder of Ditch the Lump and co-founder of Smart Meeting Rooms South Africa.  Jessica shares the life experiences that shaped her faith, resilience and heart for people. She reflects on her early years as a teacher, her time in missions and community d...

Welcome to Episode 48 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Marc O.Stöckli , a Swiss entrepreneur, investor, board member, former Global Chairman of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, and author of Make Boards Work.  Marc shares a deeply practical and reflective account of how discipline, trust, humility and curiosity have sha...

Welcome to Episode 47 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Justin Apsey, the former Managing Director of Unilever South Africa. We discuss his remarkable journey from his early days in Cape Town to leading one of South Africa's most iconic companies for over 25 years.  He shares insights on finding your purpose, creatin...

Welcome to Episode 46 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Laura Jane Thomas, an award-winning CMO, brand strategist, and founder of The Aligned Woman Co. We discuss her incredible journey from her early days at Vega, to launching her agency Salt and Candy with Coca-Cola as her first client, to navigating burnout, loss,...

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Shaun Tomson, a legendary South African surfing world champion, entrepreneur, author, and leadership speaker. From his remarkable upbringing in Durban, shaped by two extraordinary parents who each survived the Second World War, to becoming one of the most celebr...

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Colleen Wilson, a Durban-based transformational consultant, coach, speaker, trainer and mentor whose work brings together the Enneagram, nervous system literacy, parenting support, personal development and team dynamics.   From growing up in Durban and reflectin...

Welcome to Episode 43 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Simon Nicolson, an Executive for Institutional Advancement at Emeris, and the driving force behind one of SA's most significant private higher education rebrands.   From his formative years growing up in Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg, to navigating the challenge...

Welcome to Episode 42 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Kevin Parry, a Durban-based creative director, designer, and endurance athlete. He shares his journey from discovering his creative passion at a young age, navigating the ups and downs of the local design industry, to ultimately leading award-winning campaigns. ...

Welcome to Episode 41 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Briony Bosse, a Durban-based brand consultant, lecturer, and mentor. She shares her journey from the call centre world to academia, reflecting on her passion for education, brand integrity, and helping others discover their authentic selves.  Briony delves into...

Welcome to Episode 38 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Raeesa Bayat, the director of Startup Grind Durban and a passionate advocate for female entrepreneurs. She speaks about her journey from a traditional Indian family, overcoming self-esteem challenges, to confidently commanding stages and building entrepreneurial...

Welcome to Episode 40 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Ronen Aires, founder of Student Village, youth specialist, author of "Breach," and passionate coach in breathwork and performance. Marc shares his personal journey from growing up in a small South African town and being groomed for the family business, to carvin...

Welcome to Episode 39 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with James Lees, an entrepreneur, educator, and co-founder of Advantage Learning Technology. He shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Johannesburg and Durban to building one of South Africa’s most innovative digital education businesses.  He speaks about...