Our Team

Who is behind the Radio Workshop podcast?

This podcast is the work of the Radio Workshop, a non-profit organization that trains youth across Africa as radio reporters, giving them the tools and skills to make their voices heard. Over the years, we have heard powerful stories emerge from our youth reporters’ communities, and podcasting is the perfect medium for us to share these stories with you.

Our non-profit is founded upon training and mentoring. We produce our podcast with these same values in mind. We believe that with the tools and skills they need to produce podcasts, journalists can extend the reach and deepen the impact of their reporting, grow loyal and engaged audiences, and spark home-grown businesses. As the number of talented podcasters on the continent increases, so will the quality, creativity, and popularity of available content – furthering the expansion of the podcast movement across Africa.

Working with a team of global experts, we host a range of specialized podcast training workshops and develop and distribute DIY training manuals and toolkits.

Lesedi Mogoatlhe

Host and Editorial Director

Lesedi most recently worked with LGBTI organizations across southern Africa to develop their own podcasts. She has a background in documentary filmmaking, having worked in the South African TV and Film industry for almost 20 years. She holds an MA in Documentary Filmmaking from Sussex University.
Mike Rahfaldt

Mike Rahfaldt

Director

Based in Cape Town, Mike is the Executive Director of the Radio Workshop. He taught anthropology and media studies at the University of Cape Town and has a PhD from the University of Michigan.

Martha O’Donovan

Managing Director

Martha has worked for the Radio Workshop as a program manager, innovations associate, and development consultant for over 5 years. She previously was a satirical video producer at Magamba Network (Zimbabwe) and received a MTV-U Fulbright Scholarship (Zambia). Martha holds a BA from New York University.

Rob Rosenthal

Story Editor

Rob is a story editor, podcast and radio producer, and a long-time documentary audio teacher working at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and the Transom Story Workshop. Please let him know about music he should be listening to.

Dhashen Moodley

Producer

Dhashen has over 12 years experience working in newsrooms across multiple roles including prime-time host, editor, senior producer and specialist reporter. He’s produced stories for 99% invisible, Unicef, Voice of America, Foreign Policy, The City Show, Mail & Guardian, SABC and eNCA. He’s won fellowships from the United Nations, Bloomberg, Radio Netherlands, US State Department, and several universities.

Jo Jackson

Managing Producer

Jo started as the Communications Manager of the Radio Workshop in 2018. She’s now a full-time member of the podcasting team. She holds an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths University of London and was shortlisted for the Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2018. She is also a graphic designer and illustrator.

Naomi Grewan

Associate Producer

Naomi is a recent graduate from Rhodes University where she completed her Bachelor of Journalism degree. In her four years at Rhodes she specialised in Audio, Communications and Political Studies. Prior to studying, Naomi worked in educational theatre in Argentina which confirmed her interests in media and social justice. Now at Radio Workshop, she continues to explore this intersection through podcasting and youth radio.

Clémence Petit-Perrot

Associate Producer

Clémence has worked with the Radio Workshop for the past 10 years as an innovation, impact and strategy Director. She has a background in radio journalism and worked as a foreign correspondent for Radio France Internationale and other French media. Clémence holds a postgraduate journalism degree from IJBA in France and a MPhil in Inclusive Innovation from the University of Cape Town.

Mary-Ann Nobele

Reporter

Mary-Ann has worked in the radio space for six years at Alex Fm, and as voice over artist for community radio stations and the City of Johannesburg for three years. She cares deeply for young people who come from marginalized communities and has worked as a community leader with Gun Free South Africa and the Radio Workshop for five years. Mary-Ann enjoys being in front of the camera as a presenter and model, and behind it as a photographer. She dreams of traveling the world and wants to play an active role in helping young people from townships find value in themselves.

Bob Yala

Host and Reporter

Bob made his entrance into the world of radio in 2001, when he joined the team at Réveil FM in Kinshasa, and went on to work as a reporter for local TV channel RTGA. Bob worked for seven years in Mbandaka as the manager of a local radio station set up by the International Organisation of the Francophonie. In 2010, he moved back to Kinshasa and was immediately recruited as Project Manager by RFI Planète Radio, where he worked until 2014. Bob is currently the Manager of Secteur Média and the Country Manager of the DRC for the Radio Workshop.