Reuben Goldberg and Son Daniel

Today’s familiar voice belongs to well known radio personality: Reuben Goldberg.

Reuben’s weekly show, “The Internet Economy” uncovers and explores the economic opportunities of the Internet and provides insights and analysis on how the internet is changing the world. The show focuses on the companies and individuals who are doing amazing things in the online space.

Be sure to catch The Internet Economy on Classic FM every Friday at 7pm or subscribe to the show’s podcast feed.

Website: http://www.classicfm.co.za/talk/the-internet-economy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rubygold
Location: Johannesburg

Reuben was kind enough to answer the following questions:

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: Hell this would just never happen, I don’t do social, and I don’t have a friend to introduce me, but my friends know me as rubygold that’ mofo on twitter who don’t got no respect for anyone or anything.

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

A: I like to grow chilies and wish I could all my own vegetables but I don’t get enough sun into the garden.

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

A: The African Bush.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: It would be in the bush next to a river. It would fit in with the bush. And it must have an Internet connection.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

Radio in South Africa

Q: How did you first get into radio and is it something you always wanted to do?

A: I started at Voice of Wits while I was studying law, hated law, got into Journalism at Rhodes continued on Rhodes Music Radio and scored a holiday job with Capital Radio.

Q: What about being on the radio do you enjoy the most?

A: The immediacy and the ability to do amazing stuff with a small crew.

Q: How do you go about selecting guests for your show, the Internet Economy, and which of you guests have you most enjoyed interviewing?

A: I see stories on the net and chase them up. Tech PR in South Africa is good they send me a lot of leads. I’ve also sourced many great interviews from Twitter. I have many favourites.

Q: You show at Classic FM, The Internet Economy, is published as a podcast. What are your thoughts on the medium and can you give us an indication how many people are downloading Classic FM’s podcasts?

A: Not enough people download or listen to the podcasts. The show is aimed at a niche and within those small numbers there are a disappointingly low number of people who download the podcasts. I think South Africa needs to be embarrassed that we only have around 10 % about 5 million people with regular Internet access. I think the time of digital media consumption is still to come. The Internet Economy is also a radio show which is podcast and I think when content producers make podcasts and video aimed at the net audience the numbers will grow.

Q: What are some of your fondest memories from your time working with Mark Gillman at 5 FM?

A: We did some great stuff on The Mark Gillman Show. I miss the big adventures most like when Mark went to Antarctica, the Garden Route bus tour with listeners and the Vinyal Frontier parties. I’d love to work with a team again.

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

A: I think all mass media consumption will be via the net eventually.

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: I love South Africa. I had a gun put to my head in the central Johannesburg post office and was robbed by four young guys. I still love South Africa. As a liberation movement the ANC was victorious but at the moment when it comes to government it really is the African National Circus. I think education and health care are amongst the critical issues. It seems to me the government is currently fucking them up.

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

A: No.

Q: How would you rate the current government’s performance since the last general election and what would you most want them to improve upon?

A: Corruption in government is a given almost everywhere and it’ll surprise you sometimes how it works but the current levels in South Africa disappoint me almost more than anything.

Q: South Africa’s greatest export is?

A: Gold.

Life in Johannesburg

Q: What do you most enjoy about living in Johannesburg?

A: The summer thunder storms and the trees.

Q: Favorite restaurant for dinner with a group of friends?

A: At the moment I’m loving Turn ‘n Tender Parktown Quarter Centre, Cnr 3rd & 7th Avenue, Parktown North.

Q: What are the must-see destinations in or around Johannesburg for visitors to the Soccer World Cup?

A: I hope they’re informed about the trees. The trees in Jozi WOW.

Q: If you were tasked with commissioning a postal stamp to celebrate Johannesburg and it’s people, which image would you select?

A: The mines and the miners.

General

Q: You are well known for being a prolific twitter user. How has the service changed your life and what are your predictions for how technology will change over the coming years?

A: I love the people on twitter most for helping me pass time in a queues. In the past there would be times where if there was a queue at any store I’d leave. Now I can stand in queue’s like normal people. I think we have little idea about the tech that’ll be around just 20 years from now. I think in the near future a lot more tech will become hidden it’ll just do what it’s designed to do and we won’t think about it much. This started a good while back.

Q: If you could interview any world leader, who would it be and what would your last question be?

A: I don’t think world leaders have the answers at the end of the day. They are politicians and no politician is to be trusted.

Q: If you were to start your own radio station. Which two DJs would you approach for the morning and afternoon drive slots?

A: I’d look for new talent, I think we need a revolution in SA entertainment, there’s a lot of kak out there. I think Gareth Cliff and Fresh on 5fm are great and Darren Scott is fabulous. It’s a great shame not more people recognise the shit they’re watching and listening to.

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

A: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

Q: Favorite South African brand?

A: Brands are bullshit so I don’t really have one. I change my toothpaste every time I buy.

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

A: David Newton and I’d ask him if he was a virgin.

We’d like to thank Reuben for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the future.

Reminder that you can now listen our interviews at http://izimvo.com/listen or subscribe to our Podcast feed http://bit.ly/bgC35E