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Radio Workshop delivers raw, documentary audio stories about young Africans from Freetown to Cape Town.
Episodes
Latest Episode
October 13, 2026 · 18m
In Johannesburg, two teenagers are going head-to-head for the title of Junior Mayor – all while navigating high school and trying to live a normal teenage life. To win votes, they organize food drives and neighborhood cleanups. But it all comes down to the big debate, which pushes them well beyond their comfort zones. Support the show We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at .
More Episodes
Sep 21, 2026 · 7m
You've got the tape — now what? Episode 5 dives into the writing and editing process behind a finished audio documentary: outlining with scenes and beats, pacing rules for keeping listeners engaged, and why every good story needs an editor. Naomi and Dhashen pull back the curtain on their scripting process for their Zambia copper mining documentary, Copper Town. Listen to Copper Town.Produced by Radio Workshop in partnership with DW Akademie.Hosted by Naomi Grewan and Dhashen Moodley.Filmed and edited by Makhulu Media.Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Sep 20, 2026 · 6m
This is the craft at the center of every great audio story: the interview. Naomi shares field-tested techniques for getting powerful, honest tape — from slating and room tone to the follow-up questions that unlock real emotion. This episode will help you learn how to listen, how to know when to sit in silence, and how to know when you've got what you need. Listen to Copper Town.Produced by Radio Workshop in partnership with DW Akademie.Hosted by Naomi Grewan and Dhashen Moodley.Filmed and edited by Makhulu Media.Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Sep 19, 2026 · 7m
From shoot schedules to spare batteries, this episode covers everything you need before you hit record in the field. Naomi walks you through the real planning documents used for Radio Workshop's Kitwe story, explains how to think in scenes (not just interviews), breaks down essential recording gear, and shares non-negotiable safety practices for reporting in unfamiliar locations. Practical, a little funny, and essential for anyone prepping their first audio documentary shoot. Listen to Copper Town.Produced by Radio Workshop in partnership with DW Akademie.Hosted by Naomi Grewan and Dhashen Moodley.Filmed and edited by Makhulu Media.Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Sep 18, 2026 · 6m
Great audio documentaries start with great research. In this episode, Naomi and the team show you exactly how they tracked sources, organized themes, and found "good talkers" during pre-production for their Zambia copper mining story. You'll learn the Focus Statement method — a simple formula that keeps your reporting on track when things get messy — plus real examples of how research shaped their audio story before a single interview was recorded. Listen to Copper Town.Produced by Radio Workshop in partnership with DW Akademie.Hosted by Naomi Grewan and Dhashen Moodley.Filmed and edited by Makhulu Media.Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Sep 17, 2026 · 6m
Want to make a narrative podcast? Start here! In Episode 1 of our six-part series, Radio Workshop producers Naomi Grewan and Dhashen Moodley break down the five essential ingredients of a great audio story — characters, tension, significance, change, and place using Copper Town, a documentary they made in Kitwe, Zambia, as an example. This episode is the foundation for aspiring audio documentarians, journalists, and storytellers across Africa wanting to tell compelling, impactful stories through sound. Listen to Copper Town.Produced by Radio Workshop in partnership with DW Akademie.Hosted by Naomi Grewan and Dhashen Moodley.Filmed and edited by Makhulu Media.Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Aug 25, 2026 · 40m
Zambia knows how a copper boom usually ends: rich countries get richer and little is left behind but environmental devastation. This time, a new generation wants to change the ending. In the copper town of Kitwe, Zambia has some of the richest copper deposits on earth, the metal the world needs to build renewable energy and AI data centres. The copper price is climbing, the mines are hiring, and young Zambians want in: a mining student betting her future on the industry, young men digging illegally in the waste dumps for whatever the mines left behind — all of them determined to come out of this boom with more than a hole in the ground. Want to learn how to make narrative podcasts like this one? Watch our tutorial series with DW Akademie on YouTube. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Jul 6, 2026 · 23m
22-year-old Zanele Molo is learning to ride a bicycle for the first time. But she hates being out of control. Over four days, the team at Khaltsha Cycles – a Khayelitsha-based bike shop and non-profit organisation that empowers women & girls through cycling – will help Zanele find her balance. As she musters the courage to master the bike, Zanele goes back into her past to figure out why letting go is so hard. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Jun 16, 2026 · 27m
At 23, trans woman Awo Dufie is outed, homeless, and facing a prophecy that says she will die at 30 — because she is queer. This threat is reinforced by Ghana's social climate and a looming anti-LGBT bill. Determined to break free from the prophecy, Awo embarks on a risky journey to find an 83-year-old queer elder who didn't just survive decades of hatred and colonial laws — she built a rich life. Can Awo too live long and live free? This is the first episode of a series on queer elders, produced by openDemocracy.Show Notes Sign up for Radio Workshop’s newsletter on Substack, and connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.Sources: Human Rights Watch - This Alien LegacyHuman Dignity Trust, GhanaModern Ghana - The Bawku Chieftaincy Conflict Needs To Be Resolved Within The Framework Of The 1992 ConstitutionAmnesty International - Ghana: Anti-LGBTI bill stirs up hatred, persecution and discriminationHuman Sexual Rights and Family Values Act 2024, GhanaPurdue University - Social Media and Human Rights Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Rights in GhanaAcknowledgements:Fondation CHANEL, Luminate, Ford Foundation, and Stephen Hendrickson. Special thanks to Rob Byers. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
May 26, 2026 · 21m
It’s early 2025, and the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is being taken over by a rebel group called the M23. In response to the chaos, Feza, one of the few trained psychologists in the city, opens a therapy practice in the back of a cinema to treat what she calls an epidemic of post-traumatic stress. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.