Ep 8. | Who Controls the Mic #businessofinfluence

In this episode of Business of Influence, host Leroy Marc sits down with producer of SMWX, Oratile Kekana, to unpack the rise of podcasting in South Africa, the growing tension between new media and legacy media, and the debate surrounding the regulation of the creator economy.From the evolution of podcasting into a thriving storytelling medium to the power of personality-driven content, this conversation explores why podcasts have become one of the most influential spaces for cultural dialogue, analysis and audience engagement.The episode also interrogates the growing calls for government regulation, unpacking concerns around censorship, accountability and whether existing legal frameworks are already sufficient to address issues such as misinformation and defamation.Beyond regulation, the conversation dives into the role of independent podcasts as a modern “fourth estate”, providing authentic commentary and creating space for voices often excluded from traditional media systems.At its core, this is a conversation about media power, creative independence and the future of digital storytelling in South Africa.If you are interested in podcasting, media innovation, creator economy trends or the evolving relationship between influence and accountability, this is a conversation worth your time.Business of Influence is brought to you by Style ID Africa.—Enjoyed the podcast? Join the conversation by using the #BusinessOfInfluenceListen & Follow UsApple: https://tr.ee/7S9Qw2RYaBSpotify: https://tr.ee/8yFVYiInstagram: https://tr.ee/9MFBqITikTok: https://tr.ee/F5wHS1LinkedIn: https://tr.ee/72U7z0Follow Our Host & GuestLeroy: https://www.instagram.com/leroymarc/Oratile: https://www.instagram.com/oratilelk/ Email: [email protected] Produced by Emcee: https://www.instagram.com/emceeiii/ #Podcasting #CreatorEconomy #MediaInnovation #SouthAfricanPodcasts