Rephonic
Artwork for The So What?
South Africa
Load Shedding
China
ANC
Politics
Corruption
Economic Growth
Coalition Government
African National Congress
Water Crisis
Democratic Alliance
Government Of National Unity
Um Konto We Sizwe Party
United States
Non-Revenue Water
Water Quality
Budget
NHI
Arcelormittal South Africa
Electric Vehicles

In this series, we have conversations that South Africans need to hear. Veteran journalist and media personality Ruda Landman has in-depth conversations with Political & Trend Analyst J P Landman, who uses data and facts to cut through the hearsay, conspiracies and misinformation to get to the heart of issues affecting every citizen. Whether it's load shedding, corruption, politics, economics, for... more

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes31Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The So What?

Latest Episodes

In this episode we look at the big picture, especially the shifting trade relations between SA, China and the US.

For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

In this episode we tell the story of a young entrepreneur from Pretoria, whose award-winning innovation can change the delivery of medicine all over Africa.

For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

After the Department of Health’s presentation to parliament three weeks ago and the medium-term budget statement last week, NHI is back in the headlines. Let’s see if we can come to grips with where we’re at. It’s a complex topic, so we’re spending a... more

In this episode, JP makes a case for his belief that South Africa has over the last five years shifted from being – or trying to be – a developmental state, to being a partnership state, where government and the private sector work together to build ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

SMWX
SMWXSizwe Mpofu-Walsh
True Crime South Africa
True Crime South AfricaKiller Audio Creations
The Gareth Cliff Show
The Gareth Cliff ShowThe Real Network

Recent Guests

JP Landman
Political & trend analyst
JP Landman (personal brand)
Episode: US, China, South Africa: Quo Vadis?
Adrian Kruger
Co-founder of NovoTech (NovoTech Foundation/ Sygenic)
NovoTech
Episode: A Story of African Innovation

Host

Ruda Landman
Host of The So What? podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Need More Posts!

    JP’s analysis is so logical, fair, and informative but most of all it’s hopeful! I really enjoy these insights and wish you would post more often.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rcprince
    United Statesa year ago
  • Insightful and informative

    Insightful and informative

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VK2023#1
    Canada2 years ago
  • Rewarding Listening

    JP and Ruda offer to the ground knowledge of politics and economics which make for a must listen to all South Africans. It is clear content with structured thought process and every episode is rewarding

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LibbyHowse
    South Africa2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and hosts offer practical, real-world insights into South Africa's policy landscape, making current affairs accessible and engaging.
The discussions are described as grounded and rewarding, with clear, structured thought.
Listeners appreciate the logical, fair, and informative analysis that helps make sense of complex issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

US, China, South Africa: Quo Vadis?
Q: What's happening with the US-SA trade talks and the five US preconditions?
There are five non-trade preconditions—expropriation, farmers, BEE, 'kill the Boer chant', and geopolitical alignment—that the US ambassador has indicated must be met, but they are politically incompatible with South Africa's sovereignty, making a comprehensive trade agreement unlikely for now.
US, China, South Africa: Quo Vadis?
Q: What about AGOA?
AGOA has effectively expired and was renewed only until the end of 2026; it is no longer a reliable mechanism for ongoing preferential access, especially given ongoing US tariffs that override AGOA.
A Story of African Innovation
Q: What is the goal of the NovoTech Foundation and how is it funded?
The NovoTech Foundation aims to digitize regulatory processes across Africa and is funded by international philanthropy groups such as the Gates Foundation and EDCTP, paying NovoTech to conduct research and develop programs.
A Story of African Innovation
Q: What is NovoTech's core value proposition and how does it work?
NovoTech digitizes the clinical trial processes end-to-end, including data capture, validation, audit trails, compliance, and analytics, to meet regulatory standards and enable faster, more reliable trials.
A Story of African Innovation
Q: How many entries were there and how did Adriaan Kriar perform in the competition?
There were 32,000 entries from across Africa in the seventh edition of the African Business Heroes competition, and Adriaan (Adrian) Kruger won the third prize of $150,000.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The So What?

What is The So What? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series focuses on deep, data-driven conversations about South Africa's current affairs, spanning politics, economics, health policy, infrastructure, and governance. Episodes highlight systemic challenges, potential reforms, and real-world implications for citizens, often balancing fiscal realities with policy ambitions. A notable strength is pairing veteran journalism with analytical rigor to cut through rhetoric and present grounded perspectives on issues like health systems, budgeting, water management, and informal economy dynamics, making complex topics accessible for informed decision-making. The format tends to feature guests who bring technical or policy expertise, enriching the discussion with actionable insights and local conte... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The So What??

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The So What?. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The So What? and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The So What? get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The So What?, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The So What??

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The So What?, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The So What? have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The So What? has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The So What??

These podcasts share a similar audience with The So What?:

1. BizNews Radio
2. SMWX
3. True Crime South Africa
4. The Money Show
5. The Gareth Cliff Show

How many episodes of The So What? are there?

The So What? launched 2 years ago and published 31 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The So What??

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The So What??

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The So What? from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The So What??

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The So What?. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The So What??

Recent guests on The So What? include:

1. JP Landman
2. Adrian Kruger

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days