Welcome to Episode 27 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Allon Raiz, a pioneering entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of Raizcorp, Africa’s largest business incubator. From humble beginnings growing up in Durban to orchestrating business transformations across the continent, Allon shares the rollercoaster journey that shaped him into the powerhouse he is today.

Allon Raiz’s academic journey is a story of resilience and reinvention. After struggling through school and just managing to get into university, he completed a four-year BCom and went on to achieve top honours in his class, an impressive turnaround from his earlier academic performance. Motivated to keep studying, Allon even began working on his master's degree and spent some time overseas. Unbeknownst to him, he continued his studies partly to avoid compulsory military service, only to eventually discover that the army draft had ended. This unexpected revelation marked yet another turning point in his unconventional path, shaping the determined and resourceful individual he would become.

In a conversation brimming with candid stories and powerful insights, Allon unpacks the gritty realities of entrepreneurship, touching on everything from his early failures and mentor relationships to the emotional drivers behind ambition and the art of playing the “long game.” The episode dives deep into what makes an “incredible machine,” why true mentorship often comes with a dose of tough love, and the unexpected ways that small gestures can come full circle years later.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business enthusiast, or just curious about what drives remarkable people to keep building, this episode is packed with gems—about resilience, self-awareness, and the value of betting on yourself, even when the odds are against you. Get ready for an honest, inspiring, and at times hilarious exploration of what it takes to walk into a room and leave it truly changed. ⏱ Timestamped Overview

00:39 Introduction: Don King booking story and why Allon is here. 08:41 Growing up in a women-led family business shaping his worldview. 10:55 From failed shoe voucher promo to PR breakthrough and momentum. 19:40 Owning failure and the power of mentorship over people over money. 20:40 Compelling economic right to exist before chasing funding. 27:27 Including family in entrepreneurship dinner table learning. 33:21 Father issues as a driver and reframing imposter syndrome. 39:50 Choosing the right mentor and embracing brutal candor. 48:05 Say yes to scary things, invitations, and stretch moments. 50:32 Beware the sirens resisting tempting detours. 58:08 Reverse mentorship and learning from Gen Z at work. 01:00:55 Turning a failed interview into a learning session. 01:04:51 The hitchhiker story: serendipity returning years later. 01:11:05 Patience's subtle influence and the long game. 01:17:00 Incubating crises and becoming a prosperator. 01:23:31 Notebooks as an idea engine: think it, write it, make it real. 💬 Quote of the Episode

“If you think it, write it down and make it a reality.” – Allon Raiz 🧠 Related Campaign Example Allan Gray’s ad campaign — Allon selected this iconic advert about patience, potential, and long-term investing. The campaign highlights Allan Gray’s core message: that real returns come from discipline, foresight, and resisting short-term gratification. This perfectly mirrors Allon’s entrepreneurial philosophy of playing the long game, resisting “sirens” of distraction, and enduring the pain of early struggles to build lasting impact. The campaign is a reminder that in both investing and entrepreneurship, timing, patience, and belief in unseen potential are often the true differentiators of success.

Allan Gray’s ad campaign: https://youtu.be/37_hvW68vP8?si=5VS5hzf5AvYVSDkg

👣 Relevant Links LinkedIn: Allon Raiz - City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | Professional Profile | LinkedIn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AllonRaiz/ Facebook: Allon Raiz | Facebook Raizcorp Website: Raizcorp – Accelerate your success Raizcorp Instagram: Raizcorp (@raizcorp_) • Instagram photos and videos Raizcorp LinkedIn: Raizcorp | LinkedIn Raizcorp YouTube: Making strategy happen: an exclusive workshop with Allon Raiz 🌐 Connect with Tim Africa

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Welcome to Episode 25 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Dr. Angel Madlala, a pioneering female radiologist from rural KwaZulu-Natal. From humble beginnings to founding multiple radiology practices, Dr. Angel’s story is one of vision, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit. She shares how she overcame personal and financial challenges, her motivation to serve underserved communities, and her unique approach to medicine as both a healer and a business leader. Dr. Angel Madlala reflects on the power of mentorship, authenticity, and continuous learning, emphasizing the importance of empowering others and breaking barriers for women in medicine. This inspiring episode highlights her unwavering commitment to making healthcare accessible, the value of dreaming big, and the courage it takes to turn those dreams into reality. ⏱ Timestamped Overview 00:50 – Dr. Angel reflecting on her teenage aspirations 02:23 – Upbringing in KwaZulu-Natal, family dynamics, and the importance of education 04:55 – Transition to university, father’s passing and financial challenges 07:40 – Moving away from home, making friends, and building a support system 10:19 – Her love for study groups, collaboration, and teaching others 12:00 – Outlines her medical school, internship, community service, and interest in pediatrics 13:47 – Personal challenges with her daughter's birthday and when her career pivotted 15:08 – Her choice to pick radiology and the timeline of her specialization 17: 19 – Returning back to KwaZulu-Natal and her early practice on medical disciplines 18: 40 – Passion for rural healthcare and her entrepreneurial drive 19:55 – Starting her own practice and the importance of making radiology accessible 27:36 – Mentorship and her goal to own a hospital-based radiology department 30:00 – Four practices, her vision, and the services offered 36: 23– Challenges of rural healthcare entrepreneurship 40:22  – Being a female founder in medicine and the lessons learnt 44:39 – Inspiration from Nike’s “Dream Crazier” campaign 54:46 – Celebrate the successes, the importance of pausing, and feedback from her therapist. 💬 Quote of the Episode “I always say my life purpose is to help people; I’m just a natural helper.” – Dr. Angel Madlala 🧠 Related Campaign Example Nike “Dream Crazier” campaign — Dr. Angel Madlala resonated with her personal and professional journey, encouraging her to dream crazier. She recalled seeing the “Dream Crazier” commercial, which featured powerful visuals of women breaking barriers in sports and life, narrated by Serena Williams. The ad’s message was encouraging women to push boundaries, defy stereotypes, and pursue dreams that others might call impossible. She spoke about how the campaign’s bold call to “dream crazier” became a personal mantra, especially during times of self-doubt or when facing societal expectations about what women, particularly women of color in medicine, could achieve. Nike “Dream Crazier” campaign: https://youtu.be/zWfX5jeF6k4?si=h5OUaIBBRLzZonSo 👣 Relevant Links & Mentions LinkedIn: N.B. Angel Madlala - Head of Clinical Unit @Harry Gwala Regional Hospital . Diagnostic and Breast Radiologist. Managing Director and Teleradiologist @MD Teleradiology Solutions ( Private Practice) | LinkedIn Instagram: Dr. Angel mamMthalane Madlala (@dr_angie_m) • Instagram photos and videos MD Teleradiology Website: Radiology Services/Clinic in Rural and Semi-Urban Areas 🌐 Connect with Tim Africa 🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.africa 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timdotafrica 🎧 Podcast Page: https://www.pod.tim.africa

Welcome to Episode 25 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Burgette Yarlett, a speaker, mindset coach, and NLP practitioner, whose story is one of resilience, inner transformation, and unapologetic authenticity.

From beauty pageants to a near-fatal car crash, from self-doubt to self-mastery, Burgette shares the moments that broke her, healed her, and ultimately revealed her mission: to help others live in their truth.

A certified NLP trainer and the creator of the upcoming digital program “LIT: Live In Truth,” Burgette has transformed trauma into testimony and now equips others with the mindset tools to do the same. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unworthy, or uncertain, this episode will show you what’s possible when you decide to participate in your own rescue.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in healing, transformation, and unleashing personal greatness. ⏱ Timestamped Overview

00:33 – If you could go back to 16: “Your mindset is your superpower.” 01:10 – The power of thoughts, language, and co-creating your reality 03:32 – Childhood, moving between 8 schools, shaping identity 06:38 – The masks we wear and the people-pleasing trap 09:19 – Discovering NLP and how emotions get stored in the body 14:52 – Pageantry, early confidence, and accidental entry into Miss Umhlanga 17:00 – Winning titles, modelling photos, and the tragic accident 18:05 – Near-death trauma: surviving a devastating car crash 23:00 – Reconstructive surgery and waking up on life support 30:57 – Anchoring with NLP, self-image and owning her scars 32:00 – Thoughts create chemistry: the mind-body connection 39:00 – Journaling, questions, and narrowing the emotional gap 39:50 – Conscious vs unconscious programming and personal transformation 44:32 – Inner beauty and post-accident growth 45:36 – Miss SA semi-final breakdown: self-doubt and freezing on stage 48:50 – Youth empowerment and rewiring limiting beliefs early 54:04 – Self-sabotage, rock bottom, and discovering neuroplasticity 56:48 – NLP training and launching her coaching career 59:28 – Therapy vs transformation: what finally worked 01:04:47 – Campaign of the Episode: Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” 01:11:00 – Creating her product “LIT – Live in Truth” 01:17:54 – The 11:11 anchor, Dr Joe Dispenza, and energy 01:19:15 – Who are her Incredible Machines? 💬 Quote of the Episode “There are no unresourceful people. Only unresourceful states of mind, and that can be changed.” – Burgette Yarlett

🧠 Related Campaign Example: Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” campaign — This campaign redefined greatness by showing everyday people achieving extraordinary things. It aligns perfectly with Burgette’s belief that we all have the power to create a new reality from within.

Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” campaigns: https://youtu.be/WYP9AGtLvRg?si=qOd0L35UtcoJtM0a

👣 Relevant Links LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/burgette-yarlett-29380958 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burgette.yarlett/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burgette.yarlett.mindset.mastery/ Beyond Visible Belief LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/company/beyond-visible-belief Beyond Visible Belief Website: https://www.beyondvisiblebelief.com/ Beyond Visible Belief YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjsh0RDac58KynVD0qfd01Q 🌐 Connect with Tim Africa

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.africa 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timdotafrica 🎧 Podcast Page: https://www.pod.tim.africa

Welcome to Episode 24 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Mpume Zwane Langa, a transformation champion, former Unilever finance executive, TEDx speaker, and resilient entrepreneur who’s lived many lives in one. Mpume shares her story of growing up in Umlazi, raised by a strong single mother, selling sweets and homemade ice lollies by age five to pay for her bus coupon. Her journey spans banking, beauty pageants, modeling, motherhood, boardrooms, and homeschooling. She speaks candidly about resisting labels, finding her freedom, raising kids as mirrors, and designing life on her own terms. If you’ve ever questioned the systems around you or the roles you’ve inherited, this episode will inspire you to unlearn, reimagine, and start again. Mpume reminds us: we don’t live our own lives, we live the lives of those before us until we choose differently. ⏱ Timestamped Overview 00:52 – Introduction and what Mpume would tell her 16-year-old self during apartheid 01:22 – Growing up in KwaMashu and lessons from her powerful single mother. 04:24 – Getting her first job with one of SA’s first black IT entrepreneur 06:52 – Unexpected entry into a beauty pageant: modelling as a mindset shift 08:15 – Why Mpume refused to be a bank teller and negotiated her path 11:36 – Discovering her leadership style and values in corporate 13:07 – Selling sweets and inventing her own creamy ice lollies at age 6 17:28 – Lessons in early marketing: branding, innovation, and packaging 20:00 – Gender, labels, and choosing to live many lives 21:37 – Dealing with toxic management, racism, and rising through private banking 26:06 – Power of personal branding: how a car and suit built trust 28:16 – Authenticity, leaving corporate, and defining success 34:55 – Building workplace environments that support women 38:33 – The sacred mirror of parenting and what kids teach us 44:58 – Transition to entrepreneurship: from Unilever financial director to her own boss 49:41 – Homeschooling and redefining education on her terms 53:27 – Learning through travel: why she fell in love with Asia 56:44 – Childhood inspiration: Peter Stuyvesant ads and the power of escapism 01:01:30 – Curiosity, innovation, and evolving past failure 01:05:43 – Mpume’s personal mantra and love for life 01:09:38 – Who are Mpume’s Incredible Machines? Quote of the Episode “Life is beautiful. Reach deeper into it and remain curious.” – Mpume Zwane Langa Related Campaign Example Peter Stuyvesant’s Travel-Driven Cigarette Campaigns — Though controversial now, Mpume credits these radio spots for sparking her desire to explore the world and broaden her reality. The ad created a sense of limitless possibility and remains a nostalgic case study in storytelling and escapism. Peter Stuyvesant’s Travel-Driven Cigarette Campaigns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIp1FE41tpE 👣 Relevant Links LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/mpume-zwane-langa-798a2535 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpumezl/ 🌐 Connect with Tim Africa. 🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.africa 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timdotafrica 🎧 Podcast Page: https://www.pod.tim.africa

Introduction

Welcome to Episode 23 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this powerful conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Travis Gale, a South African endurance athlete, speaker, and author of The Middle: How to Navigate the Space Between Your Start and Your Finish. Travis shares raw, insightful stories from the road; physical breakdowns, spiritual breakthroughs, and the ongoing dance between failure and fortitude. At 18, he cycled around the world to raise R1.7 million for children affected by HIV/AIDS. Now, Travis leads a purpose-driven business and works with leaders and teams to embrace resilience and reconnect with their "why."

Drawing from his book, The Middle, he introduces the idea that real transformation happens not at the start or finish, but in the messy middle. This is a conversation about endurance, purpose, and finding meaning in hard things.

⏱ Timestamped Overview

00:45 – Reflections on starting young, embracing the unknown, and the purpose behind the journey. 03:40 – Travis’s origin story: From church youth groups to riding around the world. 06:10  – How Travis got the opportunity to cycle around the world. 10:18 – Early struggles and preparation with his first cycle from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. 11:43 – Struggle with public speaking and the negative criticism from people. 16:00 – Choosing between internal and external voices, a big lesson learned from Trevor. 22:30 – Travis explains the emotional weight of “Day Five” and how he overcame it. 25:35 – Reconnecting with purpose at Kassi’s Stop and bouncing back on Day Six. 29:15 – Crossing Australia: flies, heat, straight roads, and milestone strategies. 37:47 – Travis explains how he travels and his belief that “you don’t need much.” 41:18 – Generosity of strangers in America, lessons in storytelling and resilience. 49:14 – Europe & the halfway point: language barriers, personal reflection, and finding flow. 55:53 – Connecting with Travis in his personal life and how he met his wife. 59:57 – Kilimanjaro failure and the beauty of learning the hard way. 01:03:53 – The end of the trip and his learnings after the finish line. 01:06:10 – Case study of Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival. 01:12:08 – Travis highlights his favorite quote and his perspective on it.

💬 Quote of the Episode

“It’s not about getting to the finish. It’s about who you become on the way there.” – Travis Gale 🧠 Related Campaign Example Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival: Travis references the Shackleton expedition as a powerful metaphor for endurance, leadership, and navigating the "middle" of any journey. The documentary re-creates explorer Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition, showcasing not only the physical extremes of survival but also the mental and emotional resilience needed to lead through chaos. Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxX6kBD8lU

👣 Relevant Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisgale/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travgale/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travis.gale.50 The Middle Website: https://themiddle.co.za/ The Middle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themiddlejourney/ The Middle Book: https://www.amazon.com/Middle-keep-going-pursuit-goals-ebook/dp/B08C4YWFK8?ref_=ast_author_mpb

🌐 Connect with Tim Africa

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🎙️ The Incredible Machines Podcast – Episode 22: Thobani Ndlovu Leading Through Curiosity

Welcome to Episode 22 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Thobani Ndlovu, an architect, author, and TEDx Durban curator, for a deep conversation on creativity, personal growth, and building platforms for transformation. Thobani shares his unconventional journey into architecture, how feeding the homeless led to a discovery of his voice, and the behind-the-scenes reality of bringing TEDx to Durban.

Through themes of curiosity, community, and the courage to challenge personal limits, Thobani offers listeners a refreshing reminder: you don’t have to fit in a box; you can build your own.

Thobani Ndlovu is a South African architect, TEDx Durban curator, entrepreneur, and author of Leading Through the Mirror. A passionate advocate for personal leadership, he has built platforms that empower voices, inspire change, and encourage introspection. Thobani is also the co-founder of the nonprofit Legacy Creators and a speaker devoted to conversations that matter.

Through themes of curiosity, community, and the courage to challenge personal limits. ⏱ Timestamped Overview

00:00- Introduction 01:00 – The power of curiosity & starting TEDx Durban 03:00 – Growing up between Greytown and Pietermaritzburg 06:00 – Struggles fitting in at school and varsity 10:00 – Discovering architecture by accident 13:00 – The creative vs. practical tension in architectural work 18:00 – Sports, failure, and resilience as life lessons 21:00 – Close-knit family and growing up with a single mother 26:00 – Volunteering, feeding the homeless & discovering his voice 30:00 – Writing ‘Leading Through the Mirror’ and founding TEDx Durban 36:00 – Building TEDx Durban: challenges, breakthroughs, and purpose 41:00 – The behind-the-scenes work no one sees 44:00 – Trip to TEDx London & international inspiration 58:00 – Learning from failure & embracing public platforms 01:03:00 – Why curiosity matters more than comfort 💬 Quote of the Episode

"We suffer more in imagination than in reality." - Seneca 🧠 Related Campaign Example

Thobani admires how this cinematic campaign used cultural symbolism and national pride to unite South Africans around a shared identity. It sparked his early understanding of representation, legacy, and the power of sport as a narrative tool. Sasol Spingboks Ad: https://youtu.be/G_kThmkABac

👣 Relevant Links TEDx Durban Website: https://tedxdurban.org/ TEDx Durban Profile: https://www.ted.com/profiles/11198205 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thobanindlovu_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThobaniNdlovuPage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thobani-ndlovu-4a5563190/ Book: Leading Through the Mirror by Thobani Ndlovu 🌐 Connect with Tim Africa

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Welcome to Episode 20 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Muhammad Seedat, an entrepreneur, media executive, and community leader. From selling chips in school to chairing the board of Hilaal TV, Muhammad’s story is one of hustle, resilience, and hard-earned wisdom. Being a Durban-born entrepreneur with a career spanning accounting, consulting, media, and sports administration. He opens up about building businesses, navigating cultural and personal challenges, and the importance of slowing down to think.

He is the co-founder and board chair of Hilaal TV, former CEO of the Dolphins cricket franchise, and a seasoned leader in the professional services sector. Known for his strategic thinking, integrity, and ability to drive change, Muhammad’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by both high-impact wins and deeply reflective moments.

This episode is a must-listen for an insight into entrepreneurship, leadership, and anyone in pursuit of a meaningful life. ⏱ Timestamped Overview

00:00- Introduction

01:00 – What Muhammad would tell his younger self 05:00 – Community, identity, and choosing to stay in Durban 10:00 – Selling sweets & tickets at school: early entrepreneurship 13:00 – Parental influence & entrepreneurial independence 16:00 – Sourcing stock and learning simple business logic 22:00 – Getting married at 19 and juggling work, study & business 30:00 – Moving to the UK: working as a financial analyst 35:00 – Living through the 2008 UK financial crash 58:00 – Secret second marriage: navigating the emotional toll 01:02:00 – Trauma, criticism, and finding inner strength 01:10:00 – Building Hilaal TV: how it started in crisis 01:32:00 – EO Learning Chair: planning, energy & diverse offerings

💬 Quote of the Episode

“Doing nothing is underrated. It gives you the space to think, and that’s when breakthroughs happen.” – Muhammad Seedat 🧠 Related Campaign Example Nando’s provocative billboard campaigns — Muhammad loves their use of cultural relevance and “brand bravery.” Nando's TV Commercials: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg-UXGhfC4Wk6PRAsZsqbp4Jis4xaJlhR&si=H-nHkqRU-O3FJ5l- 👣 Relevant Links Hilaal TV: https://hilaal.tv/ Entrepreneur’s Organization: https://eonetwork.org/ 🌐 Connect with Tim Africa

🔗 Website: https://www.tim.africa 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim.africa 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timdotafrica 🎧 Podcast Page: https://www.pod.tim.africa

Welcome to Episode 20 of The Incredible Machines Podcast! In this thought-provoking conversation, Jon Oliff and Luke Holden sit down with Trevor Steyn, the founder of Esse Skincare, a pioneer of probiotic science in personal care and a vocal advocate for ethical, purpose-led business. Trevor’s story is one of curiosity, conviction, and courage. With a background in chemistry and a passion for nature, Trevor shares how his scientific mindset collided with corporate disillusionment—and sparked the beginnings of a brand that would reshape the skincare industry. From refusing to “build to sell” to pushing back against extractive capitalism, Trevor unpacks his long-term vision for a regenerative economy. He challenges mainstream definitions of success, urges entrepreneurs to stop designing for exit, and shares the power of slowing down, thinking differently, and building from a place of intention. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in ethical entrepreneurship, sustainability, and what it means to build a business that matters—for the long haul. 💬 Quote of the Episode: “If you design a business to sell it, it’s going to be extractive.” – Trevor Steyn 🧠 Related Campaign Example “Be a Force for Nature” – Patagonia (ad linking environmental action with product): https://youtu.be/UAZ8Ts9CC6I?si=ii4sIELUig0mThOs 👣 Relevant Links 🔗 Trevor Steyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-steyn-04646126/ 🌱 Esse Skincare: https://www.esseskincare.com 🧪 Esse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esseskincare_/

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