The Podcast
The Talking Bus
Conversations on economics, culture, and Africa's future
Named after Zambia's iconic minibus taxis where strangers become debaters and ideas flow freely — The Talking Bus brings that same energy to the microphone. Each episode is a deep conversation with economists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, and thinkers who are shaping Africa's trajectory.
Hosted by
Kampamba Shula
Frequency
Bi-weekly
Episode Length
45–75 min
Since
2023
Listen On
24
Episodes Released
18
Expert Guests
15K+
Monthly Listeners
12
Countries Reached
Press
"One of Zambia's most intellectually ambitious podcasts"
— The Daily Nation
"Required listening for anyone serious about African economics"
— Hot FM
"Deep conversations that respect the audience's intelligence"
— CGTN Africa
Latest Episode
Just Dropped
The Economist as Storyteller: Why Numbers Need Narratives
with Dr. Chanda MwaleEconomic Historian, University of Zambia
A conversation about why economic data only becomes meaningful when wrapped in story — and how African economists can reclaim narrative authority over their own data.
Archive
All Episodes
Informal Economy, Formal Future: Rethinking Labour Markets
with Sarah Banda
Most Africans work informally. Is that a problem to fix, or an asset to leverage? Sarah Banda makes the case for asset-based thinking.
AI Governance Without Silicon Valley: Africa's Policy Choices
with Dr. Tendai Moyo
Why African AI regulation can't just copy Europe or the US. Tendai breaks down what a homegrown framework would actually look like.
Trade, Copper, and Power: Zambia's Economic Identity Crisis
with Joseph Mwape
What happens to a country when one commodity defines its economy for 50 years? Joe and I unpack Zambia's struggle to diversify beyond copper.
Debt, Development, and Dignity: Rethinking African Financing
with Dr. Mutale Nkonde
Debt isn't inherently bad. The question is: who controls the terms? Mutale challenges the orthodoxy around African borrowing and proposes alternatives.
The Writer-Economist: When Research Meets Storytelling
with Solo Episode
A rare solo episode where I reflect on writing fiction while working as an economist — and why the two aren't as separate as they seem.
Topics Explored
What We Talk About
Every conversation orbits around a few core themes — economics, policy, technology, and culture. Here's the breakdown.
What Guests Say
The Guest Experience
"Kampamba doesn't just interview — he converses. He came prepared with smart questions but was willing to follow the thread wherever it led. That's rare. The episode aired and three universities reached out asking me to speak."
Dr. Chanda Mwale
Ep. 24 Guest
"I've done dozens of podcast interviews and most feel transactional. This felt like a real exchange of ideas. Kampamba challenged my thinking in ways that made the conversation sharper. I left with new questions."
Sarah Banda
Ep. 23 Guest
"What impressed me was the homework. Kampamba had read my papers, understood the nuances, and framed questions that assumed intelligence from the audience. No dumbing down. That's respect for both guest and listener."
Dr. Tendai Moyo
Ep. 22 Guest
Join the Conversation
Be a guest on the show
Working on something interesting at the intersection of economics, policy, technology, or culture? Let's talk. The best episodes happen when guests bring ideas worth wrestling with.
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New episodes drop every two weeks. Subscribe on your preferred platform to get notified when conversations go live — or join the newsletter for episode notes and behind-the-scenes context.