Stories worth hearing, worth reading.
Portalizx is a small studio in South Africa producing honest interviews, essays and audio stories about the craft of making things worth paying attention to.
Got questions? We're here to help.
How do I listen to your podcast episodes?
Every episode is described in full on our Blog, alongside the stories and interviews behind it. We keep episode notes and transcripts there rather than hosting audio players directly on the site.
Can I contribute a guest post or appear as a guest?
Yes. Visit our Podcast Submission Guidelines page for details on pitching a written piece or joining us for a recorded conversation.
Is there a charge to read the blog or access the archive?
No. Portalizx is a free, non-commercial studio. There is no subscription, paywall or fee to read our stories or browse past coverage.
How can I get in touch with the studio?
Use the form on our Contacts page, or the email and phone details listed there. We read every message personally.
Still have questions? Contact us
Meet the voices behind Portalizx
Thandiwe Nkosi
Host & Editor
Cape Town, South Africa
Sipho Mahlangu
Podcast Producer
Johannesburg, South Africa
Anika Naidoo
Staff Writer
Durban, South Africa
David Botha
Audio Engineer
Pretoria, South Africa
Making stories accessible for everyone.
We believe good storytelling should not sit behind a paywall. Portalizx publishes every article and episode note in full, for free, so anyone can follow along.
- Independent, ad-free storytelling
- Free access to every article and episode note
- Guest voices from across South Africa
Our latest story
Why Every Blogger Needs a Podcast
Explore the key reasons bloggers should add podcasting to their content strategy for greater reach and engagement.
By Emma Thompson
Read the story
The care that goes into every piece
From the first outline to the final edit, everything we publish passes through the same small, careful process.
Craft-first writing
Long-form essays on the discipline of writing, from first drafts to final edits.
Careful audio production
Every episode is mixed and edited by hand, in a small studio, at a human pace.
Real conversations
Interviews with independent writers, presenters and producers from across South Africa.
180+
Episodes produced
90+
Guest voices featured
30
Listener countries
6
Years on air
How an episode comes together
Research & outline
Every story or episode starts with real research and a conversation about what matters in it.
Record & write
We record conversations in our studio, or write the first draft of an essay, without rushing.
Edit & publish
A careful edit pass, a final listen or read-through, and then it goes live on the blog.
Listeners and readers, in their own words
I put on an episode of Portalizx on my drive through Johannesburg every week — it feels like sitting in on a conversation between old friends who happen to know a lot about storytelling.
Naledi M.
Long-time listener, Johannesburg
The blog posts on writing craft changed how I approach my own drafts. Thoughtful, generous, and never preachy about it.
Kabelo T.
Reader, Durban