We hosted five webinars in June, all of which can be found on our dedicated webinar platform or YouTube channel.
Here’s a round-up our latest live journalism webinars, the topics covered and key takeaways, just for you.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/smallBusinessBigProblems_Name_WHO-scaled-1.jpg "From left: Neesa Moodley, Joshua Kadish and Dr Shahiem Patel. (Photos: Supplied)")
Small business, big problems: What the government could be doing
June started with a webinar for the small business owners in the Daily Maverick community and the systemic challenges throttling South Africa’s small business sector. Neesa Moodley, editor of Business Maverick, was joined by Joshua Kadish, co-founder and CEO of Sourcefin, and Dr Shaheim Patel, academic dean at Regent Business School. Together, they examined hurdles to success such as access to finance, red-tape, digital infrastructure and more.
An audience member said the session was “brilliant” and that “[we] need more conversations like this”.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Antarcticas-Precipice_AntarcticasPrecipice-1.jpg "Fom left: Professor Klaus Dodds, Professor Alan Hemmings and Tiara Walters. (Photos: Supplied)")
Antarctica’s Precipice: Reimagining the South Pole Without US Commitment
As winter took full effect in South Africa, the cold Antarctic took the agenda. As global tensions rise, the once-stable Antarctic Treaty is under strain. Antarctic investigative journalist Tiara Walters was joined by polar geopolitical experts, professors Klaus Dodds (Royal Holloway, University of London) and Alan Hemmings (Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury). The conversation included the growing likelihood of shifting power dynamics and nationalist agendas jeopardising the treaty’s future ahead of negotiations in Milan.
One attendee said it was “great to see these growing issues being highlighted”. Another said they felt inspired ahead of their master’s dissertation.
style="font-weight: 400;">Watch the full recording here.
One Small Step: How parkrun Built a Global Community
In a more lighthearted webinar, Mark Heywood, a social activist and avid parkrunner, was joined by Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE, founder of the global parkrun and author of One Small Step, as well as South African running legend and parkrun SA CEO Bruce Fordyce. They reflected on how a small Saturday-morning run in London sparked a global movement that now spans five continents and 10 million participants. What made this webinar special was the personal stories of parkrunners in South Africa whose lives were changed after joining their local parkrun.
“Incredible incredible incredible… thank you so, so much for this discussion,” said one attendee. Another was grateful to the panel for “gifting this lovely event to the world”.
style="font-weight: 400;">Watch the full recording here.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3000x1300-Design-wegz10x-062025.jpg "From left: Tamsin Metelerkamp, Miranda Jordan-Friedmann and Sinah Moruane. (Photos: Supplied)")
Children in Crisis: Exploring ways to better protect SA’s most vulnerable
The sad nature of this webinar was offset by its solutions-focused panel. Maverick Citizen journalist Tamsin Meterlerkamp was joined by Sinah Moruane from Unicef SA and Miranda Jordan-Friedman, founding director of Women and Men Against Child Abuse. After giving appropriate attention and context to the brutal realities facing South Africa’s children, the session was a call to action for anyone committed to a safer, more just future for the country’s youngest citizens.
One attendee said: “Wow. Thank you for this. We need to have more of these and get more of the people who make major decisions nationally on these platforms to hear this information and be part of the solution.”
style="font-weight: 400;">Watch the full recording here.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2400x1200-just-Energy.jpg "From left: Ethan van Diemen, Professor Mark Swilling, Makoma Lekalakala and Emmanuel Montwedi. (Photos: Supplied)")
Just Energy Transition: Debating the role of nuclear in South Africa’s energy mix
Our Burning Planet’s Ethan van Diemen hosted this timely webinar examining nuclear energy’s place in the Just Energy Transition. With Professor Mark Swilling (Stellenbosch University), Emmanuel Montwedi (SAYNPS chair and nuclear engineer) and activist Makoma Lekalakala (Earthlife Africa), the panel unpacked the heated debate: is nuclear essential for stable, zero-emission power, or a risky, costly distraction? The debate was hot, respectful, full of insight and worth your while to understand the Just Energy Transition.
One viewer said it was “great to hear both sides of the story”.