Profmed: ‘We are South African’ storytelling series

Stories connect us. They are universal. They bridge generations, cultures, and societies. When Profmed launched its first podcast series during the lockdown in 2020, it attracted more than 26 000 listeners and became a virtual support system for professionals hustling to keep their heads above water during the lockdown months. Profmed was simply sharing the stories of South African professionals, but it was clear that the power of human connections was a driving force behind the series’ popularity. 

Now in its fourth season, Profmed is returning to the roots of telling the stories of ordinary people with extraordinary stories – the Profmed members – who all have one thing in common: We Are South African.

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We’ve spent three years building on the narrative that professionals are the cornerstone of society. They are the thinkers, shapers, innovators and doers who make our society possible. We’ve shared their personal journeys, spoken to gamechangers in their field, and last year, the Mind & Field docuseries that also aired on SuperSport was a testament to the mental aspects of success and that anything great is achieved through team-work, collaboration and the transfer of skills and knowledge. We focused on the professionals behind the professionals.

says Craig Comrie, Profmed Principal Officer and Chief Executive

We watched some truly remarkable stories, but what shone through, and what has really influenced what we are doing this year, is that each of these incredible athletes who had overcome so much were just ordinary South Africans. What other stories could we find and share? That was the question.

says Craig Comrie, Profmed Principal Officer and Chief Executive

The story behind ‘We Are South African’

The Profmed team started calling on Profmed members to share their proudly South African stories. Three individuals were selected, and Profmed partnered with The Good Things Guy himself, Brent Lindeque, to help tell their story.

“There is a narrative construct called the Hero’s Journey,” says Comrie. “It is typically structured in three main phases: the Departure, where the hero leaves their familiar world after receiving a call to adventure; the Initiation, where they face trials and tribulations, often gaining allies and encountering enemies; and the Return, in which the hero comes back to their ordinary world, fundamentally changed by their experiences.”

At the heart of the We Are South African series is the idea that we are all heroes. We are surrounded by heroes. Sharing insights from some of the most inspiring innovators, idea shapers, professionals and athletes that South Africa has to offer has been a remarkable journey. But South Africa isn’t built and moved forward by the few. 

Every single day, South Africans from all walks of life are striving to make South Africa a better place. 

Their story is our story. It is the story of South Africa, and more importantly, South Africans. It is also the story of Profmed and everything we do to support our members, who in turn support their fellow South Africans.

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