During lockdown in South Africa, the role of alcohol in violence towards women became starkly clear, as an alcohol ban led to a sharp reduction in violent crimes. For Bernini, a Natural Sparkling Grape Frizzante that stands for female empowerment and “women helping women”, there was an opportunity to take the high ground and give a voice to women in the national conversation. Over a series of podcasts, launched on Women’s Day and hosted by YFM’s Khutso Theledi, we brought an important conversation out into the open, with 6 hours of powerful testimony from some of South Africa’s biggest influencers. The Squadcast was SA’s first brand-owned podcast made exclusively for Spotify and was the #2 top trend on Twitter on Women’s Day, sparking conversations online and offline. The series continues in 2021 …