Wide Awake Podcast
Hosted by Wide Awake
A documentary filmmaker explores the underbelly and forgotten stories of South Africa, from missing persons to extremist groups.
This is a video-first documentary series, primarily exploring the complex social, criminal, and political fringes of modern South Africa. Host Joshua Rubin acts as a guide and active participant, embedding himself in situations ranging from the search for a missing person to confronting extremist movements. While most episodes are on-the-ground investigations, the channel also features long-form studio interviews with high-profile figures and occasional social-experiment formats.
“Unlike studio-based podcasts, Wide Awake's defining feature is its host's direct, personal immersion into dangerous and emotionally charged environments, often blurring the line between journalist and participant.”
Who hosts this show
Joshua Rubin is a documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa, who hosts the Wide Awake Podcast. He focuses on telling stories about people and places that are often overlooked, aiming to spark conversation and reveal the humanity behind controversial subjects. Rubin is open about his past struggles with drug addiction, which he credits as a motivation for his work and for connecting with his subjects.
Credentials & credits
- Documentary filmmaker
- Documentary photographer
- Videographer
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01I Found the Missing Person AgainJun 16, 2026 · 14 min
- 02I Accidentally Found a Missing PersonApr 14, 2026 · 26 min
- 03Inside South Africa’s Hijacked BuildingsMar 26, 2026 · 21 min
- 04Inside South Africa's Most Extreme MovementFeb 24, 2026 · 36 min
- 05I Tried to Get Robbed in South Africa (Cape Town)Dec 29, 2025 · 18 min
- 06Hunter Biden Gets Brutally Honest About Candace Owens, Trump & the ConspiraciesNov 6, 2025 · 3h 12m
- 07Rob Hersov Gets Heated: Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk, Mkhwanazi & South Africa’s CollapseOct 13, 2025 · 1h 18m
- 086 Tall People vs 1 Secret Short Person | South Africa EditionAug 21, 2025 · 29 min
Notable episodes
- 01I Accidentally Found a Missing Person
This episode defines the host's immersive style, as a chance encounter in a previous video leads to a real-life search for a missing woman with her family.
- 02Inside South Africa’s Hijacked Buildings
A signature documentary from the channel, this episode explores the dangerous, crime-ridden buildings of Hillbrow, Johannesburg, guided by a long-time resident.
- 03Hunter Biden Gets Brutally Honest About Candace Owens, Trump & the Conspiracies
Showcases the podcast's ability to attract major international figures for long-form, unfiltered interviews, covering highly publicized controversies.
- 04Inside South Africa's Most Extreme Movement
Demonstrates the host's willingness to engage with and investigate controversial and feared political groups like the AWB, even when faced with hostility.
What you'll be asked on this show
Rubin employs an empathetic and direct questioning style, often participating in the story himself rather than acting as a detached observer. He opens by establishing a guest's personal context, asking about their life or role before diving into more difficult topics. He frequently probes for the emotional impact of events with questions like "How does it make you feel?" or "What has this process been like for you?" In his investigative work, he uses practical, on-the-ground questions to drive the narrative forward. His approach is recognizable for its blend of journalistic inquiry and personal vulnerability, often sharing his own past struggles to build rapport.
The show's style varies from verite-style documentary filmmaking with personal narration to traditional long-form seated interviews. Rubin is the central character in his investigative pieces, combining 'man-on-the-street' interviews with planned encounters. The tone is often empathetic and raw, driven by the host's direct engagement with his subjects in their own environments.
Questions Wide Awake keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Wide Awake reaches for it.
personal
3- Q.01
“What has this process/experience been like for you?”
A go-to question to tap into the emotional core of a guest's journey or traumatic situation.
- Q.02
“What is life like for you here?”
An opening question for residents to ground the story in their everyday reality before exploring larger issues.
- Q.03
“How does it make you feel to see the area become what it has?”
A pointed emotional probe, often asked of long-time residents, to capture their sense of loss or perspective on change.
origin
2- Q.01
“What was this place like back in the day?”
Used to establish a historical baseline for a location, which he then contrasts with the present decay or change.
- Q.02
“What is your role within this organization?”
Asked early in an interview to establish a guest's position, authority, and perspective.
future
3- Q.01
“What is [this group or movement] today?”
A direct, definitional question to understand the current purpose and identity of an organization.
- Q.02
“How do you feel about the journey ahead?”
A forward-looking question asked at a turning point to gauge a subject's mindset about their future.
- Q.03
“Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?”
Asked to understand a person's long-term aspirations, often posed to subjects who are overcoming a crisis.
controversy
1- Q.01
“Do you think that [your group/ideology] is under attack?”
A challenging question used to explore the core worldview or grievance of a controversial guest.
process
2- Q.01
“Can you tell me about the building we're going to see?”
A process-oriented question asked to guides or experts to get context before entering a new environment.
- Q.02
“Have you seen this person / Do you know where this is?”
The host's signature practical question when actively investigating on the street, showing his hands-on method.
backstory
1- Q.01
“Can you give me information on why you ran away?”
Probes the specific motivation behind a key, life-altering decision in a guest's personal story.
Signature segments
- · On-the-ground investigations
- · Finding missing persons
- · Exploring dangerous or notorious locations
- · Interviews with controversial figures
- · Personal narrative voiceover
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests range from vulnerable individuals found on the street and long-time residents of infamous neighborhoods to leaders of extremist groups, wealthy business figures, and international celebrities like Hunter Biden. The common thread is a direct, personal story connected to a complex or controversial topic.
- Laurenon I Found the Missing Person Again
- Jenniferon Inside South Africa’s Hijacked Buildings
- Steyn van Rongeon Inside South Africa's Most Extreme Movement
- Hunter Bidenon Hunter Biden Gets Brutally Honest About Candace Owens, Trump & the Conspiracies
- Rob Hersovon Rob Hersov Gets Heated: Charlie Kirk, Elon Musk, Mkhwanazi & South Africa’s Collapse
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is sponsored by companies like Odoo and the therapy service BetterHelp, suggesting a listener base interested in business tools and mental wellness.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Wide Awake
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People also ask
- What is the host's real name?
- The host's name is Joshua Rubin.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's primarily a video documentary series where the host investigates social issues in South Africa. It also features long-form studio interviews and occasional social experiment videos.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, based on the recent episode dates from 2026, the podcast is still actively producing content.
- Where can I watch the Wide Awake Podcast?
- The primary platform is YouTube, with audio versions available on podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts.
- How does the host find his stories?
- Many stories are found through direct, on-the-ground exploration and conversation, while others stem from viewer tips or by securing interviews with public figures.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Wide Awake Podcast - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [02]Joshua Rubin - Bio, Family | Famous Birthdaysfamousbirthdays.com
- [03]Wide Awake Podcast - Official Websitewideawakepodcast.com
- [04]No filter: Meet the photographer showcasing raw stories from the streets | Beautiful Newsbeautifulnews.com
- [05]Josh Rubin - eLimmud South Africaelimmdsa2020.sched.com
- [06]DOPE CONVERSATIONS: Joshua Rubin: Cape Town's Top Podcasteryoutube.com
- [07]Wide Awake Podcast on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
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