South African GG Alcock has made it his life's mission to help people understand how informal economies work and to relieve you of the prejudices and stereotypes you may harbour about this sector.As somebody who has a foot each in the informal and the formal economy, and because of his unique upbringing and 'first-person' understanding of Zulu culture in South Africa, he is in a unique position to be a messenger on both, to both sides.The conversation covers a wide range of topics, and includes his thoughts on the misunderstood stigma of South Africa being the most unequal country in the world, what the biggest import - hair extensions! - tells us about the SA economy, why families from other countries seem to dominate the spaza (small grocery store) sector, and how rich township business owners would rather go cashless and pay tax, than bear the risk of storing and carrying millions of rands, in cash.He focuses on why South Africans have reason to be optimistic about their country, how the many economic activities in the townships should be celebrated rather than misrepresented, and why he thinks the formal sector needs to watch out for the 'revolution that is being unleashed' by their informal counterparts.He ultimately invites you to remove the prejudices and stereotypes that keep being perpetuated about these informal spaces, to see a space that has the potential and power to liberate the South African economy as a whole - and across the continent, where similar informal spaces hold the same key.In his second book, Kasinomics (township slang for township economics), he writes that: 'There is no glamour in poverty and the drive to escape the poverty I grew up in was a powerful incentive.' It is also a powerful incentive for GG to see this informal sector thrive.Vist africanoptimist.co.za/guests/gg-alcock for bio, show notes, transcripts and more on GG Alcock or africanoptimist.co.za to sign up for the AO newsletter.

South African Sipamandla Manqele is a food alchemist, transforming wholesome African ingredients into delicious, nutritious - and convenient - products. She is the co-founder of localvillageafrica, whose mission it is to secure a seat for African food at the global banquet table.For more information on Sipamandla Manqele, visit her AfricanOptimist guest page. Never want to miss an episode? Visit our website and subscribe to the AfricanOptimist newsletter.

Former South African engineer turned Social Entrepreneur Jesse Naidoo shares his journey to a master of recycling textile waste, explaining the opportunities that exist for a single item of clothes in a circular economy. He talks to the AfricanOptimist about the exciting new developments in waste recycling and about creating shared value among communities, not shareholder value. For more information on Jesse Naidoo and Clothes to Good, visit his AfricanOptimist guest page. Never want to miss an episode? Visit our website and subscribe to the AfricanOptimist newsletter.

Nigerian Efosa Ojomo, co-author of 'Prosperity Paradox', sits down with the AfricanOptimist to share insights into the power of market-creating innovations across Africa and the potential they have to lift African countries out of poverty at scale.For more information on Efosa Ojomo and his book, visit his AfricanOptimist guest page. Never want to miss an episode? Visit our website and subscribe to the AfricanOptimist newsletter.