The Real Good Podcast

Hosted by The Real Good Podcast by Neighbourgood

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Latest episode

Dec 2025

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EN-ZA

About the show

The Real Good Podcast by Neighbourgood - This time, we’re widening the lens. Murray Clark, CEO & Co-founder of Neighbourgood, will be speaking with founders behind some of South Africa’s most exciting non-tech startups and businesses — brands that are shaping culture, creating jobs, and showing what it means to build with heart. These aren’t polished stories. They’re honest ones, about scrapping, building, failing, and trying again.

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26 recent

December 3, 2025Episode 1046 min

Bootstrapping a Wellness Empire: How The Movement Lab Scaled Without Investors

In this week's episode of The Real Good Podcast, we're sitting down with Jessica Mandel, co-founder of the premier wellness brand, The Movement Lab! 🧘‍♀️This business was founded by a powerful mother-daughter success story. Jessica brings the financial laser-focus and detail, while her mom, Lisa Palmer brings the "hustler" grit and 20 years of technical expertise.Starting from a single studio with zero budget, they’ve built a wellness empire in Cape Town with thriving studios in Sea Point and Claremont, plus a global on-demand app. They are redefining fitness by moving away from linear workouts to 3D functional movement designed for longevity. Jessica opens up about: ✨ The art of being "scrappy" and bootstrapping without funding. ✨ Why perfectionism kills progress (her "three plane parachutes" rule). ✨ How they built a world-class brand on their own terms.Listen to this inspiring story of resilience and female entrepreneurship! 🎧

November 26, 2025Episode 941 min

Sibu Mabena: Dancing through the Hustle & Manifesting a Media Empire

In this week's episode of The Real Good Podcast, we're sitting down with Sibu Mabena, the media queen, social media superstar, and visionary founder of Duma Collective! 👑Sibu’s story is the definition of turning hustle into an empire. From teaching dance and doing voiceovers as a teenager to carrying "a million rand in a taxi" for a client project because she couldn't afford a car, Sibu has always used what she has to get what she needs.She’s not just running an agency; she’s building an oasis for African creativity to flourish. She gets real about the transition from being a confident solo freelancer to a CEO managing a massive team, admitting that hiring the right people - like her game-changing GM and finance manager was the key to scaling.Listen to her incredible journey of growth – from working on her dad's couch in Sunninghill to owning two office buildings in Randburg and servicing some of the biggest brands in the world.Sibu shares why she changed her company name from "Sibu and her Team" to Duma Collective (it means "famous" or "loud"), the power of "family vs. sports team" leadership, and why she believes we are all just "people's perfect bricks building a perfect wall."Listen to the full episode and get inspired by this fixer, storyteller, and undeniable force of nature! 🎧

November 19, 2025Episode 839 min

The 10-Failure Blueprint to a 100-Store Brand: The Plato Coffee Story

In this week's episode of The Real Good Podcast, we're sitting down with Stephan Bredell, the visionary co-founder behind the unstoppable South African brand, Platō Coffee! ☕️This brand was built by two brothers: Stephan is the brand, vision, and scaling powerhouse, while his brother Petrus brings the meticulous coffee and roasting genius. It’s truly a "perfect-match" partnership!They're not just selling coffee; they're filling a massive gap in the market for community-first, "anti-snob" coffee. It's a premium experience without the pretentiousness, and they built their franchise empire by focusing on small towns, not just the big cities.Listen to their story of explosive growth – from one humble container in Pretoria to a 100-store (and growing!) national brand.Stephan shares the "10 failures" he had before Plato, how a "spaza shop loophole" literally saved them during COVID, and the secret to building a loyal community: the 300-Regular Rule.Listen to the full episode and get inspired by this authentic, bootstrapped, and unapologetically strong South African success story! 🎧#SouthAfricanBusiness #Entrepreneurship #PlatoCoffee #StefanBredell #RealGoodStories #BuildingBrands #TheRealGoodPodcast #Community #CoffeeCulture #Neighbourgood"

November 12, 2025Episode 739 min

Born on the dunes of the Namibian - how Oryx Desert Salt got to your table

From a tiny wendy house in Cape Town to the shelves of Whole Foods, Samantha Skyring turned a bold idea into Oryx Desert Salt, a natural, whole-food brand loved across South Africa! 🧂A five-month journey through Namibia changed everything. Face-to-face with two oryx in the desert, Samantha found the spark for a brand as pure and grounded as the land it comes from.Starting small while raising her son, she built Oryx Desert Salt into a thriving business - now stocked in major retailers and even Whole Foods.In this episode, Samantha shares her lessons on valuing yourself, building a business the right way, and finding calm through meditation, prayer, and breathwork.Listen to her story of courage, creativity, and growth - and see how Oryx Desert Salt is becoming a household name, one grain at a time. 🎧

November 5, 2025Episode 634 min

The Family Business: Designer Betina and Buyer Kelly's Retail Revolution

In this week's episode of The Real Good Podcast, we're sitting down with Betina and Kelly, the mother-daughter powerhouse duo behind the incredible local fashion brand Me&B! 👯‍♀️This mother-daughter duo is a perfect match: Betina is the design and manufacturing genius, while Kelly brings the sharp business and marketing skills from her corporate buying background. It’s truly a "marriage made in heaven"! They're not just creating clothes; they're filling a gap in the market for fashion that's fun, colorful, expressive, and size-inclusive. Listen to their story of huge growth - from selling 12 items on Facebook to running ten stores. They share how they keep their team passionate and the secret to maintaining their strong culture even through rapid expansion.Listen to the full episode and get inspired by this unapologetically strong South African mother-daughter legacy! 🎧

October 30, 2025Episode 535 min

Giving young women the gift of coding is Baratang Miya's mission

"South Africa's Melinda Gates." This is how Murray introduces our next guest. But who is the real Baratang Miya? A true visionary who found a way to bridge social challenges and technological power.In this episode of The Real Good Podcast, Baratang shares the origins of GirlHype, her work in building up young women in tech, and the values of resilience and strength passed down from her grandmother. She details the pivotal moment she realised coding was something "anybody can do" and that this was what she needed to teach.Listen to the full episode as Baratang dives deep into the future: why the tech culture is changing, but the societal culture has not. She explains how to effect real, systemic change, and why massive cultural shifts - like the kind brought by COVID-19 - are needed to make a lasting difference for women in the workplace.

October 22, 2025Episode 439 min

How the Hospitality Hustle Shaped a Coffee Entrepreneur ☕️✨

Who is Dylan Da Silva? A family man, an entrepreneur, a game-changer, and one of the kindest, most authentic human beings you'll ever meet! In this episode of The Real Good Podcast, Dylan opens up about his journey - from the idols who inspired him and the strong family values that shaped him, to embracing fatherhood as the most meaningful role in his life. He shares his ongoing pursuit of purpose (and that elusive perfect cup of coffee ☕), reminding us that even after a decade in business, the learning never stops.Listen to the full episode as Dylan discusses the wild ride of his career and how he's still figuring out who he is, all while driving purpose and building legendary coffee brands. 🎧

October 15, 2025Episode 334 min

Behind the Buzz: Cape Town’s Matcha Craze

Murray is joined by Andrew Forsyth-Thompson, the founder who built one of Cape Town's most talked-about brands, Nice to Matcha, on a foundation of authenticity and community.Andrew's story is anything but conventional. It didn't start with a love for tea - it started in the world of corporate finance. A chance encounter with a bustling matcha bar while on a work trip in Germany sparked an idea that would completely change his path. He launched a brand with a simple purpose: to focus on an exceptional product and create authentic, human connections that make people feel seen and loved.He dives deep into his unconventional journey, from starting the business with just R20,000 to transforming a former fried chicken shop into a viral sensation without spending a single cent on social media. Andrew gets real about balancing the grind of a side hustle with his consulting work , the power of faith in his decision-making , and the incredible growth that led to selling 80,000 matchas in just ten months.

October 8, 2025Episode 231 min

From Dishwasher to Wine Exporter: The Story of Khayelitsha’s Finest

In this episode Murray sits down with a true South African entrepreneur: Lindile Ndzaba, the visionary behind Khayelitsha's Finest Wines.Lindile's story is the definition of hustle. It didn't start in the vineyards—it started in a restaurant kitchen as a dishwasher. That exposure, though, lit a fire. Frustrated by the lack of quality wine available in his community, he started a brand with a purpose: to showcase quality, excellence, and creativity from Khayelitsha, proving everyone deserves a good glass of wine.He dives deep into his unconventional path, from not finishing school to learning the business. Lindile gets real about bootstrapping a luxury brand, the challenges of working a full-time job while launching a side hustle with three kids at home, and the incredible challenge of scaling to the point where 80% of his volume is now exported internationally!Tune in for invaluable wisdom and authentic stories from a founder who is changing the global narrative, one bottle at a time. This is essential listening for any entrepreneur driven by passion!

October 1, 2025Episode 156 min

Why the Future of Education Doesn’t Come With a Certificate

Murray sits down with entrepreneurial powerhouse Mark Sham to discuss the journey that led to the founding of his mission-driven enterprise, Suits & Sneakers. 🎓Suits & Sneakers is a leading social enterprise dedicated to revolutionising informal education and creating a community of lifelong learners in South Africa. Mark speaks candidly about his unconventional path to success (including being expelled from school at 17!), the entrepreneurial challenges he has faced, and the pivotal moments that confirmed his vision. He gives his honest take on the hustle required and why finding balance is often unrealistic during the early, foundational days.Listen to the full episode and soak up the invaluable wisdom he has learned throughout his career as a founder, speaker, and advocate for continuous learning. 🎧