David Mashabela brings 'King David' podcast to SABC2: revolutionising TV storytelling

David Mashabela is expanding the life of the “King David Studio” podcast beyond the internet, with the interview series set to air on SABC2.

According to the channel, the move comes as SABC2 enters a new phase, one centred on grounding the channel in familiar South African stories, culture and everyday experiences. 

The shift places the podcast in a familiar but still important space, following a growing trend of digital platforms finding a home on national TV.

For the seasoned broadcaster, the decision was driven by accessibility rather than personal milestones. Speaking to “Sunday World”, he pointed out that while platforms like YouTube continue to grow, they still don’t reach everyone.

“YouTube reaches about four million people in South Africa, while the SABC reaches over 20 million,” he explained.

“This move allows stories that were previously limited to people with internet access to reach everyone, including ordinary mamas and papas.”

Since launching, the “King David Studio” podcast has become known for letting guests speak freely about their lives, without the pressure of clickbait soundbites or trending topics. 

Mashabela says that the approach is intentional and rooted in a larger concern about how South Africans document their own history.

“We don’t have a proper library of South African stories,” he told "Sunday World", explaining that many personal journeys are lost once media cycles move on.

That concern deepened during a previous project involving a government archive, where he noticed that records stopped in the mid-1990s. The gap, he said, highlighted how easily stories disappear when they are not deliberately preserved.

Unlike many podcasts shaped by headlines or controversy, Mashabela’s interviews are guided by the guest’s lived experience.

“I don’t plan conversations around masculinity, identity or trauma. Those topics come up naturally because people talk honestly about their lives,” he said.

While on the topic of chasing trending topics, MacG’s and Sol Phenduka were also podcasters who previously crossed over from YouTube to the small screen when they landed a television deal with MultiChoice, taking their once-online conversations to a broader audience. 

This, however, was short-lived after the podcast was dropped after just a month on the channel, following MacG’s controversial comments about media personality Minnie Dlamini. 

The “King David Studio” podcast will make its television debut on SABC2 on Monday, February 9, at 9.30pm. The show will air from Monday to Thursday.