Radio Workshop

To wrap up our December re-releases, here’s the third and final episode of our award-winning series. Mary-Ann explores the contradictions of life in Alexandra. There are no easy answers, and not everyone will make it out of Alex—but there’s something infectious about the energy and persistence of young Alexandrians, a spirit Mary-Ann embodies and hopes will take her out of Alex. Some day...Three years later, Mary-Ann is still living in Alex. She says she doesn’t want to be there, but her family needs her. So for now, she’ll stay. She says, “Leaving won’t be impossible, I just need to be patient. I still refuse to grow old here, and that's never gonna change.” Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

In episode two of our three-part series re-release, Mary-Ann steps out of her comfort zone to explore parts of Alex she's been warned about her whole life. Her search for answers leads her to places where past and present overlap. How will she find her way out of Alex when the legacy of apartheid lingers, practically in the air she breathes? Meanwhile, things in Mary-Ann’s personal life take a turn for the worse. Since we published this episode, Mary-Ann says her personal life has been calm. But Alex remains the same. “Nobody’s coming to save you. It’s every man for himself.” She says she has to fight to have hope when nothing seems to be getting better. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

Continuing with our December re-releases, today we’re sharing the first episode of the series that earned us our first Ambies nomination and first One World Media award. This story starts with a number: 70%. That's how many young people in South Africa are unemployed. Youth hustle and hope to find success, but how do you make it in a place like Alexandra township in Johannesburg? And how do you get out? In this three-part series, 23-year-old Mary-Ann Nobele brings listeners into her life in Alex and says she has made this promise to herself: "I will not grow old here."Mary-Ann is 25 now. Back then, she was working five jobs to make ends meet. Although she has one full-time job now, she says, “One income is too close to no income. And the thing is, I’m still in Alex.” So she still has a way to go before she reaches the success she dreams of. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

To continue our month of episodes from the Radio Workshop archives, we're revisiting a story from last year.Oliver grew up in Kabwe, Zambia. Nearly a century of lead mining has poisoned Kabwe's land, air, and water, making it one of the world's most toxic towns. Now Oliver is watching a new mining boom sweep across his country, this time for minerals that power clean energy. He faces an impossible choice: fight the industry, or join it to change it from within?Now 19 and a student at Copperbelt University, Oliver is determined to change the industry from the inside out. As Zambia rapidly expands copper exports, he says: "Mining is so important for our country, but we need good policies and practices for it to benefit us and not harm the environment." Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.

As we head into the holiday season, we’re re-releasing some of our favorite episodes you might have missed—this one is from 2023.The story takes us to Lagos, where we meet audio producer Mo Isu. Mo suffers from severe anxiety—so severe that he knows it's time to get professional help. But will his stern, old-school father approve? Mo decides to face his fears and have a tough conversation. Since this episode was released, Mo has received an official diagnosis for generalised anxiety disorder. He says the episode became a point of connection, bringing his dad into his life in a new way. And when Mo shared his diagnosis, his dad had a surprising response: it all sounded relatable. Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.