MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho says when he launched the first episode of Podcast and Chill five years ago, he never imagined he would reach a significant milestone. But after more than 400 uploads on his YouTube channel, he made history as the first South African and African to achieve 1-million podcast subscribers.
“We received the news from our production team by way of a video that was shared in the WhatsApp group when it moved from 999,999 to 1-million. Everyone was excited at this achievement,” Mac G says.
He'll now get to fulfil his promise to subscribers — dubbed 'Chillers' — to finally bring his mother on the show.
“The few chillers that we had at the time kept me going! They saw the magic of what we were doing and that kept me and everyone else going. I’ve also stuck through it because the podcast never feels like work, and I genuinely have fun when the mic is on and I have my crew and hosts with me.”
He's been promoting the Road to 1 Million Celebration event set to take place at SunBet Arena, Time Square, on July 30, where for the first time the Sun International property will host a live podcast.
Some of South Africa's top entertainers are also set to grace the stage, including Kabza De Small, Makhadzi, Robot Boii, Musa Keysand many more.
In all honesty ... I never considered the timeline to a million until we reached the 700k mark.
— MacG
“Each show within the network, including Popcorn and Cheese, Podcast and Ride, On the Table and many others have contributed to this goal. We haven't quite yet had the opportunity to truly celebrate as a team because our SunBet arena event is edging closer. So it's been all hands on deck.
“In all honesty ... I never considered the timeline to a million until we reached the 700k mark.”
He equates the success of his channel to how different, authentic and honest they have been on the Podcast and Chill Network.
“We don’t put up a façade when the cameras come on to portray ourselves in a different light. The Mac you see on your screen is the same Mac who hangs out with his friends and closest family members.”
The podcast is hosted by MacG, Sol Phenduka and Ghost Lady, but fans have witnessed many changes with staff members and lost sponsorships along the way with some viewers calling for the show's cancellation.
We don’t put up a façade when the cameras come on to portray ourselves in a different light. The Mac you see on your screen is the same Mac who hangs out with his friends and closest family members
— MacG
“The reality is, with growth comes growing pains, and in some instances, the people we started with did not grow with us or chose a different path. However, it is important to acknowledge that every crew member, both old and new, has made a substantial contribution to our current position. Their collective efforts have played a vital role in shaping our journey thus far.
“Regarding the naysayers, we understand and respect the fact that our content may not be for everyone, but the show must go on regardless.”
They've had many highlights as a podcast. MacG recalls the Black Coffee interview in particular which saw theatres sold out countrywide for an exclusive screening despite the option to watch it for free just six days later.
“It was a truly remarkable and memorable experience.”
“Seeing the remarkable growth of our show, and the enthusiasm from South Africa's biggest brands, and most renowned talents wanting to join our network has been truly incredible. We’re privileged to have individuals like Mpho Popps, Robot Boii, Tsitsi, TT Mbah, Dineo Ranaka and a couple of new faces that will be joining soon.”
While MacG may have made history as the first South African podcaster to get a million subscribers, his journey has not been without its fair share of controversy.
In 2021 the controversial podcast was cancelled on the socials and dropped by three major sponsors after the host's harmful remarks about the LGBTQI+ community. It managed to bounce back, however, that wasn't the end of the backlash it would face from its audience.
Utterances by guests such as Jub Jub, about Amanda du Pont and Kelly Khumalo, saw both MacG and Jub Jub become resident features on the Twitter trends list with legal action looming from all sides.
Many a guest have found themselves sitting in the soup, due to running their mouths off about the podcast.
Natasha Thahane, for example, caused a social media uproar when she revealed she received R1m in funds from the government for her studies at the New York Film Academy after reaching out to politician Baleka Mbete.
“I asked Mam’ Baleka (Mbete) and was like, ‘Mama, I need to go back to school. I’ve been accepted ... I don’t know what I’m going to do, can I have funds? Please arrange something for me.’ She managed to speak to the department of arts & culture and they were able to help me,” she said on the podcast.
Natasha then had to release an official statement on her social platforms to clear the air, saying she did not receive funds from the former deputy president.
In recent times, the podcast also left viewers hot and bothered when they asked their podcast guest, well-known South African adult content creator Wandi Ndlovu, to perform oral sex on someone in the studio. While they didn't show her face during the act, they put a microphone on her, allowing viewers to listen to the risqué act.
While the road to a million has certainly been a bumpy ride, it seems MacG and squad's authenticity has carried them through moments that “should” have broken them and the podcaster has promised that being real is an element of the podcast that will never change, even as they expand their network.
“I and our CEO have been actively pursuing the vision of expanding our network. Currently, we are focused on executing our content refresh strategy, introducing new shows and testing them with our audience. We have several exciting new shows planned to launch by the end of the winter season. Ultimately, we recognise the demand for our content and understand the importance of offering diversity on our platform.”
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