Radio chose Lerato Mashile, and she answered, big time. From listening to Highveld Stereo’s Grant and Anele show as a teen to hosting Everyday People on Bush Radio, Lerato has made it her mission to bring real stories to real people, while keeping the laughs, the music, and the conversation flowing. A UWC graduate in English Literature and Linguistics, she has built a career on curiosity, connection and pure heart.
We sat down with the talented broadcaster to hear how it all began, what goes into her show and what keeps her passion alive.
Glamour: What inspired you to pursue a career in broadcasting, and how did you get started?
Lerato Mashile: I’ve always loved media, growing up listening to Highveld Stereo’s Grant and Anele, Jacaranda FM, and 5FM with Zuraida Jardine and Nicole Fox. While radio was a passion, I thought it would come later, as I was always drawn to reading and writing. After watching The Devil Wears Prada, I dreamed of writing for Cosmopolitan or Teen Zone. My mom, who managed a CNA, kept me stocked with magazines, and I eventually moved to Destiny Magazine in university.
I studied English Literature and Linguistics at UWC, but after graduating, I returned to Rustenburg and pitched an internship at Mafisa FM, a community radio station near my old high school. I began producing content for their breakfast show, and that’s when I realised radio had chosen me. Despite planning to come to it later, I answered the call, and I’ve been running with it ever since.
Glamour: Can you share a defining moment in your journey that solidified your passion for radio?
Lerato Mashile: A defining moment during my time at Mafisa FM came while covering the SAFTAs, where I interviewed incredible talents like Masechaba Ndlovu, Thando Thabethe, Kat Sinivasan, and Thuso Mbedu. One interview that stands out was with Nasty C, alongside my cohost. I had admired his journey for years, and seeing his global impact made the conversation even more special.
Thanks to careful research, the interview felt like a heartfelt conversation with laughter and genuine moments. That experience opened doors to speaking with international artists like TI’s son Domani, as well as Scoop Makhathini and Dineo Ranaka, who have all shaped my broadcasting career. These moments continue to fuel my passion for storytelling and reaffirm that I belong in spaces where I can celebrate the journeys of people I admire.
Glamour: Who shaped your style as mentors or role models in the industry?
Lerato Mashile: First and foremost has to be Anele Mdoda. Having listened to her during the Grant and Anele show on Highveld Stereo (947) and then when they moved to 5FM, I used to listen to her so much that my grandmother would call me the younger version of Anele ("Lil Anele") whenever she'd see her on Strictly Come Dancing. Later, going on to Real Talk with Anele, I got to sit and actually study interview structures, as well as how to conduct interviews that felt more personal and conversational, while also leaving the audience having learned something about the guest as well as about myself.
Another person has to be Scoop Makhathini, who is not only very knowledgeable but also well-rounded. Be it on radio, where he used to do SiznScoop on YFM, or in front of the camera on Vuzu, he would always push the envelope in both research and execution, which was always fascinating to watch and learn from.
Glamour: Everyday People has a unique name—what’s the story behind the concept of the show?
Lerato Mashile: In all honesty, as long as I've been at Bush Radio, the drive time show has been called Everyday People. Over the years, it has taken different shapes and forms with the various presenters who have come and gone. What I love about the show is how we continue to share Everyday People stories. By that, we mean giving the community a platform to tell their own stories in their own voice, something we rarely see in mainstream media. We shine a spotlight on unorthodox artists striving to break through and the NGOs quietly doing the work on the ground, standing in the gap for those who need them most. We value conversations where people feel seen, heard, and understood, where they realise that their voice matters. That has always been the heart of Everyday People: to educate, inspire, and impact the community through conversations that feel like home and family.
Glamour: What sets your drive-time show apart from others on the airwaves?
Lerato Mashile: The drive-time show is all about educating, entertaining, and informing in a way that makes you feel part of the conversation rather than being talked at. Radio is intimate, and when you choose Everyday People on Bush Radio 89.5FM, I get the privilege to keep you company, lift your mood, or be your safe space from 4PM to 7PM.
We want you to enjoy the best in local and sometimes international music while feeling part of conversations that often feel like friends catching up. Connecting with guests who share their stories or listeners who leave feeling lighter makes me feel like I’ve done my part. I want to be part of the good, the bad, and the in-between moments in your day, from the first link to when I close the show with, "From me to you, it’s all love and light."
Glamour: How do you handle moments of live interaction that go unexpectedly?
Lerato Mashile: Live radio is a rollercoaster; you never really know which way it’s going to go. There’s no formula, especially when every day is different. I learned from one of my colleagues who used to mentor us that you shouldn’t dwell on what happens immediately. Instead, let the moment be the moment and keep moving.
So when a guest drops out at the last minute or a technical issue hits in the middle of a show, you just have to keep rolling. It can feel awkward in the moment because, well, we’re human and mistakes happen. But with experience and a few mishaps here and there, Mitchum, my colleague, has the recordings to prove it, you learn to roll with the punches. You do your best link while secretly panicking on the inside.
Glamour: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a producer and broadcaster?
Lerato Mashile: The biggest challenge for me has to be not letting my job consume me. From the moment you wake up to the time you go to sleep, you are surrounded by media, and it’s easy to get swallowed by it. I’m learning to be more present in the moments I spend with family and friends. Since I live far from my family, it’s easy to get so engulfed in work that you forget you are human first, before all the roles you play. Even though I don’t always get it right, I really want to nurture my relationships with family and friends as much as I nurture my work.
I think this also ties into being vulnerable. Being a broadcaster comes with the responsibility of always being bubbly and cheerful, which is great when you want to lift people up. But I’ve found that people often value vulnerability, especially in a safe space where the listener and I can hold space for each other. It’s okay to say, “Today I’m not okay,” and that honesty creates connection. In that way, vulnerability becomes a strength. I’m not sad the whole show, but I’ve allowed listeners to see me as human and to be present in my feelings.
Glamour: How has radio broadcasting evolved since you started, and how do you adapt to these changes?
Lerato Mashile: As a lover of radio before becoming a broadcaster, I’ve seen it transform in so many ways. Thanks to streaming, just because I’m in Cape Town doesn’t mean I can’t tune into 947 or YFM in JHB, or Bush Radio when I’m home. Podcasts give me the flexibility to listen whenever I want, while social media lets clips reach listeners in places radio alone wouldn’t, like someone in the US catching an IG snippet.
Wearing many hats on the show, this flexibility has allowed me to adapt while exploring new platforms. Sharing the behind-the-scenes from concept to scripting to going live lets us show the “method to the madness.” It also puts a face to the voice, so I can connect with listeners on and off air, striking a balance between sharing parts of myself and keeping other parts private.
Glamour: If you could interview any guest—past or present—who would it be and why?
Lerato Mashile: I recently had the honour of interviewing my mentor, Sive Nkukwana, which was honestly such a full-circle moment. She took me under her wing and taught me so much about content producing, so celebrating her was absolutely amazing. Without a shadow of a doubt, when the stars align, I will interview Anele Mdoda. She is not only the blueprint of broadcasting for me, but watching her trajectory from Radio Tuks to Highveld Stereo and still consistently excelling in radio after so many years inspires me. I want to learn from her and fulfil my grandmother's dream of seeing little Anele and Anele speaking about their love for radio.
Glamour: How do you unwind after a high-energy show to prepare for the next?
Lerato Mashile: I wish I had a perfect answer for that, because honestly, it can take me hours, especially with the adrenaline of a live show. But I’ve found a balance: working out after the show, a warm shower, then catching up with family over dinner, prayer time with them (non-negotiable), and finally getting lost in a book before bed. It doesn’t always go like that, especially when I have events to attend, but it gives me a bit of a routine to help regulate my nervous system. And when that routine doesn’t happen, I shut out the world over the weekend and pour back into my cup softly and with intention.
