Colombians headed to the polls on June 21 in a pivotal presidential runoff election that has pitted
two candidates with sharply contrasting visions for the country's future. The outcome could have far-reaching
implications for Colombia's economic policy, trade relations, drug enforcement strategy, and its relationship
with the United States. Beyond the traditional political issues, the election is also being closely watched by
the digital finance sector, with Colombia having processed an estimated $6.7 billion in cryptocurrency
transactions in 2024. To unpack what is at stake and what the results could mean for Colombia and the
broader region, Kefentse Mkhari is in conversation with Luis Carlos Reyes, economist and former Minister
of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia.

Colombians headed to the polls on June 21 in a pivotal presidential runoff election that has pitted two candidates with sharply contrasting visions for the country's future. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for Colombia's economic policy, trade relations, drug enforcement strategy, and its relationship with the United States. Beyond the traditional political issues, the election is also being closely watched by the digital finance sector, with Colombia having processed an estimated $6.7 billion in cryptocurrency transactions in 2024. To unpack what is at stake and what the results could mean for Colombia and the broader region, Kefentse Mkhari is in conversation with Luis Carlos Reyes, economist and former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia.

At POWER 98.7 we invite you to join the conversation on every platform. Browse this selection of podcasts. Now we're talking.

At POWER 98.7 we invite you to join the conversation on every platform. Browse this selection of podcasts. Now we're talking.

The best of POWER Zone

After the day’s heavy conversations, POWER Zone tapers down the momentum with long format, reflective and insightful conversations. The show allows for those retiring for the day to take time to reflect on the day’s experiences. Those whose day begins at this time will enjoy the calm pace and amazing insights from the POWER listeners. The discussions, curated by guest hosts, are nuanced and explore a myriad of matters affecting the country, continent and the diaspora with customised themes on Africa, the youth, societal issues and the arts.

After the day&rsquo;s heavy conversations, POWER Zone tapers down the momentum with long format, reflective and insightful conversations. The show allows for those retiring for the day to take time to reflect on the day&rsquo;s experiences. Those whose day begins at this time will enjoy the calm pace and amazing insights from the POWER listeners. The discussions, curated by guest hosts, are nuanced and explore a myriad of matters affecting the country, continent and the diaspora with customised themes on Africa, the youth, societal issues and the arts.

POWER Zone

Colombia votes in polarized presidential runoff with crypto policy, US relations, and drug war at stake

What happens when the things that hurt us in childhood follow us into adulthood? For many South
Africans, childhood was never simply a time of innocence. It was a time of abandonment, violence,
instability, addiction and learning how to survive before we ever learned how to heal. And sometimes, the wounds we carry don't announce themselves. They show up in the relationships we struggle to leave, the love we believe we have to earn, the chaos we mistake for chemistry, the way we constantly over-perform at work, or the way we accept less than we deserve because somewhere along the way, we stopped believing we were worth choosing. Today, we are having a difficult but necessary conversation about those wounds through the eyes of author Praise Nkuna and her memoir, The Unchosen Child. This is a conversation about abandonment, domestic violence, addiction, workplace bullying and the painful journey of finding your way back to yourself.

What happens when the things that hurt us in childhood follow us into adulthood? For many South Africans, childhood was never simply a time of innocence. It was a time of abandonment, violence, instability, addiction and learning how to survive before we ever learned how to heal. And sometimes, the&nbsp;wounds we carry don't announce themselves. They show up in the relationships we struggle to leave, the love&nbsp;we believe we have to earn, the chaos we mistake for chemistry, the way we constantly over-perform at&nbsp;work, or the way we accept less than we deserve because somewhere along the way, we stopped believing we&nbsp;were worth choosing. Today, we are having a difficult but necessary conversation about those wounds through the eyes of author Praise Nkuna and her memoir, The Unchosen Child. This is a conversation about&nbsp;abandonment, domestic violence, addiction, workplace bullying and the painful journey of finding your way&nbsp;back to yourself.

THE UNCHOSEN CHILD – BOOK  REVIEW

There was a time when television didn’t just entertain us, it confronted us. It showed us the parts of
South African society that many people would rather not talk about , violence, gangsterism, drugs, teenage pregnancy, abuse, broken families and the realities facing young people. And few shows sparked that conversation quite like Yizo Yizo. But here’s the uncomfortable question did Yizo Yizo simply hold up a mirror to society, or did it help normalise and glamorise some of the very behaviours it was trying to expose? Because today, we are surrounded by content that turns our social problems into entertainment. Cheating, humiliation, family conflict, debt, violence and dysfunctional relationships are packaged, broadcast and consumed for our entertainment. So where is the line between telling difficult stories and exploiting them? Are we using television to challenge society, educate audiences and provoke meaningful conversations or are we slowly becoming desensitised to our own problems because everything has become content. And perhaps the bigger question is, what responsibility do producers, writers and broadcasters have when the stories they tell can influence how an entire generation understands what is normal. This morning we are asking whether South African television is holding up a mirror to society or whether, sometimes, the mirror is shaping what we see. Clementine Mabena is in conversation with social commentator Thlogi Mosuwe and actress Moliehi Makobane to unpack the influence of television, the legacy of Yizo Yizo, the rise of so-called “trash TV”,
and the responsibility that comes with telling stories about a society still trying to heal.

There was a time when television didn&rsquo;t just entertain us, it confronted us. It showed us the parts of South African society that many people would rather not talk about , violence, gangsterism, drugs, teenage&nbsp;pregnancy, abuse, broken families and the realities facing young people. And few shows sparked that&nbsp;conversation quite like Yizo Yizo. But here&rsquo;s the uncomfortable question did Yizo Yizo simply hold up a&nbsp;mirror to society, or did it help normalise and glamorise some of the very behaviours it was trying to expose?&nbsp;Because today, we are surrounded by content that turns our social problems into entertainment. Cheating,&nbsp;humiliation, family conflict, debt, violence and dysfunctional relationships are packaged, broadcast and&nbsp;consumed for our entertainment. So where is the line between telling difficult stories and exploiting them?&nbsp;Are we using television to challenge society, educate audiences and provoke meaningful conversations or are&nbsp;we slowly becoming desensitised to our own problems because everything has become content. And perhaps&nbsp;the bigger question is, what responsibility do producers, writers and broadcasters have when the stories they&nbsp;tell can influence how an entire generation understands what is normal. This morning we are asking whether&nbsp;South African television is holding up a mirror to society or whether, sometimes, the mirror is shaping what&nbsp;we see. Clementine Mabena is in conversation with social commentator Thlogi Mosuwe and actress Moliehi&nbsp;Makobane to unpack the influence of television, the legacy of Yizo Yizo, the rise of so-called &ldquo;trash TV&rdquo;, and the responsibility that comes with telling stories about a society still trying to heal.

FROM YIZO YIZO TO “TRASH TV”: ARE WE EXPOSING SOUTH AFRICA’S SOCIAL ILLS OR NORMALISING THEM?

Some of our deepest childhood wounds come from the people we were told to be grateful for.
Sometimes, it wasn't the parent who left who hurt us the most. It was the parent who stayed the parent who was physically present but emotionally unavailable, carrying their own unresolved trauma and unknowingly passing it on to us. And that's a complicated pain to confront. How do you say “you hurt me” to the person who raised you? How do you acknowledge your trauma when you’ve been taught to focus on everything they sacrificed? So we minimise it. We bury it. We tell ourselves, “They did their best.” But understanding a parents trauma doesn't mean we have to ignore our own. You can love your parents, appreciate their sacrifices, and still hold them accountable for the wounds they left behind. This morning, we are asking: What happens when the parent who stayed is also the parent you needed healing from?

Some of our deepest childhood wounds come from the people we were told to be grateful for. Sometimes, it wasn't the parent who left who hurt us the most. It was the parent who stayed the parent who&nbsp;was physically present but emotionally unavailable, carrying their own unresolved trauma and unknowingly&nbsp;passing it on to us. And that's a complicated pain to confront. How do you say &ldquo;you hurt me&rdquo; to the person&nbsp;who raised you? How do you acknowledge your trauma when you&rsquo;ve been taught to focus on everything they&nbsp;sacrificed? So we minimise it. We bury it. We tell ourselves, &ldquo;They did their best.&rdquo; But understanding a&nbsp;parents trauma doesn't mean we have to ignore our own. You can love your parents, appreciate their&nbsp;sacrifices, and still hold them accountable for the wounds they left behind. This morning, we are asking: What&nbsp;happens when the parent who stayed is also the parent you needed healing from?

Colombia votes in polarized presidential runoff with crypto policy, US relations, and drug war at stake

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