The Smoke Trail S1 E18: Waking up in South Africa w Rob Hersov - Love Conquers All

The Smoke Trail

The Smoke Trail: Season 1, Episode 18 – Waking Up in South Africa with Rob Hersov: Love Conquers All

Guest Bio:

Robert Hersov, 64, is a South African/UK entrepreneur and private investor based in Cape Town, with a career spanning over 30 years in the US, Europe, and the UK. Grandson of AngloVaal founder Bob Hersov and son of its former leader Basil Hersov, Rob worked at Goldman Sachs, served as Rupert Murdoch’s chief of staff at News Corp, sat on Richemont’s main board, and was CEO of Telepiu in Milan. He founded Marquis Jet Europe, sold to Berkshire Hathaway, and co-founded ventures like RSA.aero, Norrsken22, LYRA, BitMach, Africa Padel, and Pacific Padel New Zealand. A graduate of the University of Cape Town (B.Bus.Sci.) and Harvard Business School (MBA ’89), Rob served as an infantry officer in the SADF. Known for his bold stance against corruption, he speaks out against South Africa’s ANC government, earning a large following for his statement “Voetsek ANC.” Married to Dr. Kate Hersov, a gifted healer, he has four children and champions truth and love as transformative forces.

Setting:

Recorded across continents, with Smoke in Sedona’s red rock embrace and Rob in Cape Town’s magical glow, this episode bridges Arizona’s spiritual vortex with South Africa’s vibrant pulse. The virtual connection hums with warmth, as old friends reconnect to explore consciousness amidst the world’s complexities, set against a backdrop of mountains and oceans.

Summary:

Smoke Wallin welcomes Rob Hersov, a longtime friend and South African entrepreneur, to reflect on their parallel journeys from the dot-com era’s highs and lows to awakening consciousness. Recalling their collaboration during the 2000s tech boom—Rob raising $100M for Sportal, Smoke $60M for eSkye—they share lessons of humility from the crash, finding resilience in Rudyard Kipling’s If. Rob, now a vocal advocate against South Africa’s ANC government, discusses his viral 2020 speech exposing corruption, facing death threats yet gaining support from everyday citizens, inspired by his father’s pride and the poem The Man in the Glass. He credits his wife Kate’s intuitive healing—diagnosing ailments remotely, as in Episode 15’s synchronicities—for guiding him, like her advice to avoid a Piers Morgan panel. Smoke and Rob explore Stoicism, with Marcus Aurelius as a beacon of disciplined love, and Christian Science’s tenet that “God is love,” aligning with Meister Eckhart’s view of divinity within. Rob’s minimalism, sparked by Kate’s wisdom, frees him from possessions, echoing Episode 16’s clarity through journaling. Their dialogue culminates in a vision for South Africa’s healing through love, a logarithmic force that conquers fear, as Smoke affirms in Episode 17’s collective healing. This episode, vibrant with transcontinental energy, inspires leaders to lead with heart and truth.

Learnings:

• Resilience Through Humility: The dot-com crash taught Rob and Smoke to dust off and rise, as in Episode 16’s calm leadership.
• Vulnerability as Calling: Rob’s truth-speaking, despite threats, reflects authenticity, like Episode 17’s vulnerability.
• Intuition Guides Decisions: Kate’s intuitive wisdom, like avoiding Piers Morgan, mirrors Episode 15’s divine timing.
• Minimalism Frees: Letting go of possessions, as Rob did, clarifies purpose, akin to Episode 16’s journaling perspective.
• Love Conquers All: Higher consciousness, rooted in love, transforms societal challenges, echoing Episode 13’s love over evil.

Universal Truths:

• God is Love: Divinity within, as Christian Science and Eckhart affirm, unites all, per Episode 17’s healing.
• Consciousness is Power: Higher vibrations, like Rob’s advocacy, outweigh fear, as in Episode 16’s Hawkins’ Map.
• Presence is Strength: A pause, like Smoke’s three breaths, centers us, echoing Episode 17’s stress response.
• Truth Resonates: Authentic actions, as in The Man in the Glass, align with Episode 15’s intentionality.
• We Are One: Love transcends division, healing societies, as in Episode 12’s collective upliftment.

Examples:

• Dot-Com Resilience: Rob’s recovery post-Sportal crash, like Smoke’s eSkye pivot, reflects Episode 3’s triumph over adversity.
• Viral Speech: Rob’s 2020 speech, going viral despite threats, mirrors Episode 6’s vulnerability, earning public support.
• Kate’s Intuition: Her remote diagnosis of swine flu, guiding Rob’s partner to hospital, aligns with Episode 15’s guru synchronicity.
• Minimalist Shift: Rob’s shedding of books and watches, inspired by Kate, echoes Episode 16’s journaling clarity.
• South Africa’s Hope: Rob’s advocacy, rooted in love, aims to heal, like Episode 17’s retreat healing.

Smoke Trail Threads:

• Consciousness (Episodes 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17): Rob’s awakening ties to Smoke’s journey, Steve Hershberger’s map, Ivan Rados’ health, Chris Clements’ action, Rob Follows’ intentionality, and Q&As in 16-17.
• Vulnerability (Episodes 6, 13, 17): Rob’s truth-speaking aligns with Justin Breen’s openness, Chris Clements’ love, and Episode 17’s sharing.
• Presence (Episodes 2, 3, 8, 15, 16, 17): Smoke’s breathing pause echoes Sarah Fruehling’s breathwork, Jack Maxwell’s living now, Liv Fisch’s holding space, Rob Follows’ meditation, and Episodes 16-17’s calm.
• Leadership (Episodes 4, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17): Rob’s advocacy connects to Michael Brabant’s safe workplaces, Justin Breen’s vulnerability, Elizabeth Funk’s empowerment, Rob Follows’ significance, and Episodes 16-17’s conscious leadership.
• Love (Episodes 8, 12, 13, 17): Rob’s vision of love conquering all links to Liv Fisch’s human medicine, Elizabeth Funk’s upliftment, Chris Clements’ love over evil, and Episode 17’s healing.