Rian van Heerden

Izimvo has the great pleasure of introducing columnist, stand-up comedian and host of Kyknet’s Rian and OFM’s afternoon drive show: Rian van Heerden.

Rian, wanting to be a lawyer and start his own political party, replied to an ad looking for campus radio DJs while studying law at Tuks. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, Rian is the host of OFM’s afternoon drive show and Kyknet’s talk show, Rian. He also writes lyrics for a sitcom, performs Afrikaans stand-up and is studying towards an honours degree in Psychology.

Website: http://www.rianvanheerden.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rian.vanheerden
Blog: http://www.ofm.co.za/djblog.asp?pid=35
Location: Pretoria

Rian was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?

A: As Rian van Heerden, talk show host, DJ and satirist.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I suffer from a fair amount of OCD!

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Walking on an isolated beach.

Q: How would you describe your dream holiday home and where in South African would you want it to be?

A: As close to the ocean as possible, a large stoep and a fireplace inside. Somewhere in the Western Cape, most likely West Coast with a lively bar within walking distance.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property - Looking to open your own guest house on the West Coast? How about this R10m, 7 bedroom boutique guest house situated on the beach in Paternoster.

South African Talk Shows

Q: Your are the host of the popular Rian, your self-entitled talk show on KykNet. How did the show first come about and how would you describe the show to someone who has not seen it?

A: Well, my producer Ronnie Watt and I used to work on a show called Voorblad that focused on the stranger individuals of our society. Voorblad came to a logical end and we thought it would be a good idea to spend an entire show with only one guest…a South African icon. We realized that viewers wanted to know more about their hero’s and so the show was born.

Q: How much preparation goes into each episode and how do you go about selecting your guests?

A: A lot of preparation goes into each episode. I try to go back at least 15 years in the life of my guest when I prepare for an interview. We have a list of guests we would like to talk to and depending on availability we work our way down the list. We try to speak to icons from all walks of life i.e. actors, musicians, politicians, comedians, sport stars etc.

Q: Selecting the perfect question is a science. Where do you draw inspiration for your questions from and is there anything you will not ask in an interview?

A: I try to highlight the moments in the guests life that represents either a turning point or a moment of realization. Listening to the guest is extremely important. I will ask any question unless it will humiliate my guest…you do not want that. An uncomfortable guest is one thing but I still need to respect his/her privacy.

Q: Which other South African interviewers have inspired you the most?

A: No South Africans.

Q: Can you give us a little insight into the making of the show? When do you tape, how many crew members work on the show and how is the success of the show measured?

A: We record three shows every 3/4 weeks. This usually happens on a Sunday morning! Ouch! Our crew is the normal size of a television show of our nature and success is as usually measured by the fact that your contract gets renewed!

Life in South Africa

Q: What do you enjoy most about living in South Africa?

A: The fact that this country is completely unpredictable!

Q: If you were to interview Julius Malema, what would your last question to him be?

A: What is 13 x 7?

Q: Which South African personality would you most like to interview and why?

A: I would love to speak to Winnie Mandela. She is very reluctant when it comes to interviews and seems to still carry a lot of anger. I would like to know what she regrets and what she really thinks about reconciliation.

Q: With less than 60 days to the first African Soccer World Cup, what advice would you offer to first-time visitors looking for the ultimate South African experience?

A: Eat lunch in a township, then Sandton City. And make sure you take a drive up Chapman’s Peak.

General

Q: If you could invite any three South Africans to an intimate dinner party, who would you invite and what would you serve?

A: Jacob Zuma,  Marc Lottering and Lizz Meiring. I would ask my mother to cater! A traditional Afrikaans meal including the bobotie and the broodpoeding!

Q: If you were to start your own radio station, which South African radio personalities would you hire to do the morning and afternoon drive shows and why?

A: I would keep Gareth Cliff in the morning (but force him to create more parodies with the huge array of voices he can do!) Afternoon drive probably David Kau…damn we need to laugh more!

Q: What are your predictions for the future of South African radio?

A: I think personality radio will finally return to our airwaves. Enough with all the repetitive boring so-called hits! More freedom for presenters to speak their minds hopefully.

Q: If you could give the eighteen-year-old-you a single piece of advice, what would it be?

A: Go and study psychology instead of law!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you like to ask them?

A: David Kramer. Always a legend. I would love to know how we can create more of the stuff he used to create. How do we keep a local flavor in our music especially in Afrikaans?

We’d like to thank Rian for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the future. Be sure to watch Rian on Kyknet every Sunday at 6pm or listen to his afternoon drive show on OFM every weekday starting at 3pm.

Have Rian help you with your directions on a daily basis. Garmin are offering Rian’s voice for only R129.95. Direct link

Reminder to follow @izimvo on twitter for regular updates and our Facebook page to submit question and interviewee suggestions. You can also follow all our previous interviewees on Twitter at http//twitter.com/izimvo/interviewees

Albert Bredenhann

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our next Izimvo interviewee, Albert Bredenhann.

Having recently left a very successful career in IT to follow his passion, Albert, at the age of 35, is now the proud co-owner of Pixel Pro Photography in Pretoria.

I’ve known Albert for a number of years and was very fortunate to really get to know him during his visit to Australia in 2008. I’ve yet to meet anyone with the same burning passion for the Internet and I’ll always be thankful for the time he spent with my family and I. I may be the only person alive who can claim that they got Albert Bredenhann to mow their lawn.

Website: http://www.pixelpro.co.za
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/albert.bredenhann
Summit TV Interivew: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22ydZYsEQaY
Location: Pretoria

Albert was kind enough to answer the following questions for us:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Interesting question, but I guess I would be announced as Albert, co-owner of Pixel Pro Photography and someone with too much passion for life.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: Well, I am scared of heights but when I did skydiving I felt as free as a bird. My favorite movie is “Life is Beautiful”. Modern Talking is still the best band ever. (should I have said this out loud?)

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Dancing. Being on a dance floor with loud music puts me in another world all together. But then again, a classy restaurant with good wine, good food and my wife, that will make me get away from it all.

Business in South Africa

Q: As a South African entrepreneur, what advice you would offer would-be entrepreneurs wanting to start their own company?

A: Dream big and the most important one of them all … JUST DO IT !

Q: You’ve recently left a long and successful career in IT to pursue your passion for photography. Would you still recommend a similar move to other IT professionals having now been with Pixel Pro for over a year?

A: I think it is important that you find what you love to do and to do exactly that. We only live once and therefore you need to do what you are passionate about. You only get one chance !

Q: Which skills earned from your years in IT have been of most benefit to you in running Pixel Pro Photography?

A: Definitely my Internet skills. A knowledge of Google and SEO together with the Internet marketing principles that can be adapted to an offline business. No company can survive without the Internet.

Q: How has Pixel Pro made use of social media and have you seen a tangible benefit from its use?

A: Facebook was probably the best invention when it comes to Social Media, and to be in photography, the ripple effect of tagging someone in a photo is just priceless. We try and use almost every avenue such as Flickr, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Google, Blogging etc. I feel that every aspect of social media should be explored and used to its full potential. The Internet rocks!

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Not really, I think if you are negative, negative things will come your way, so I am positive … and I can see the positive things happening around me.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: I lived in New Zealand for two years, and as recent as 2008 I thought about emigrating. I went as far as visiting Australia for a month to see if the grass is greener … but I have to admit, the quality of life that we have in South Africa cannot be beaten. The grass is definitely greener on that side, but there you have to cut it yourself.

Q: If you were South African president for just one day, what would you change?

A: Eish … I think there are a few things I would do. One of them would be implementing an anti-crime tax as a percentage of corporate turnover. Imagine using a percentage of turnover from the likes of Vodacom and Telkom for policing. I would also double the education and health budgets.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Table Mountain, the Kruger Park and Soweto.

Life in Pretoria

Q: What is the best nightspot in Pretoria?

A: This is not allowed to be repeated (or copied), but it is Presleys. They are the only place still playing Modern Talking.

Q: As father, which restaurants in Pretoria do you consider being the most kid friendly?

A: It has the be Spur in Moreletta, Dros in Silverlakes and Plantland in Faerie Glen.

General

Q: Favorite South African sporting moment of the last 10 years?

A: I guess the answer would be one of the Rugby World Cup Finals. I am not such a sport fanatic so I guess it is a very cliche answer.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: The Road less travelled by Dr. M Scott Peck.

Q: Favorite South African band? Have you seen them live and do you own at least one of their albums?

A: Hmmm … I think there is still only one band .. Modern Talking … (smile)

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Gian from Afrihost.com

Albert mowing the lawn in Sydney.

Thank you to Albert for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish him and those at Pixel Pro all the best for the future and look forward to seeing their impressive portfolio grow from strength to strength.