The Empathy Podcast

In this episode of The Empathy Project, I sit down with Linda for a conversation that turned out to be less about life in Taiwan and more about who she became while she was there. Linda opens up about her faith journey- how two years abroad drew her closer to God rather than further from Him, and how prayer, scripture, and leaning on the Holy Spirit shaped her character and gave her access to comm...

In this episode of The Empathy Project, I sit down with Wezizwe O’Driscoll — a young woman navigating life, identity, and self-discovery in Taiwan. We talk about the growing pains of building a life abroad, navigating grief and loss away from home, and the quiet weight of shame so many young women carry without naming it. From culture shock to celebration, Wez takes us through the messy, honest mi...

We are living in the age of the soft life. But our softness does not necessarily replace our strength, it was meant to sit beside it. South African women fought too hard, for too long, for us to mistake rest for forgetting. In celebration of Women’s month,we can pour our wine, choose peace, and still remember that we come from women who were, and HAD to be, imbokodo. But perhaps the goal was never...

It’s been ONE year since I packed up my life and moved BACK to Taiwan. My decision to move to Asia left many wondering, and in this episode I finally open up about it all. The why, the journey, the hardships, the culture shock (again) and joys. With the help of my good friend, Wandisa Nkosi, I get to share candidly on what this new chapter has looked like. This episode is an honest reflection of a...

Friendship breakups can be just as painful as romantic ones—maybe even more. After 8 years of silence, distance, and growth, Amanda and I finally sat down for an honest, vulnerable, and (surprisingly) funny conversation about our friendship fallout and recent reconciliation. In this episode, we unpack: *Our friendship history—what brought us together and what tore us apart *The defining moment of...


TK takes us on a journey through his experience of *growing up Black* in rural KwaZulu-Natal, where life was shaped by the absence of water, electricity, and modern conveniences. From these humble beginnings to navigating a world dominated by whiteness, TK shares the reality of being the "missing middle" in South Africa. We dive into the complexities of code-switching as a survival mech...

On today's episode we are joined by Ugandan-born, South African-raised Attorney, Allan Basajjasubi. Alan takes us on his journey of realising, processing, accepting and owning his identity of foreigner in a newly democratic South Africa as an adolescent. He gives us a peak into some of the challenges he faced having to persistently legitimize his presence and belonging! Follow us on Instagram...

As we gear up to celebrate Freedom Day in our country's 30th year of Democracy, our 'Growing up Black' series will be revealing how we've individually defined ourselves in the face of adversity. Because truly, we are who we are, because of what we've endured. I'll be kicking off the series with a retrospective look at how I navigated the opposing realities of my Black &...

Women in their 30-somethings tend to hear a lot about WHY & HOW they are "alone", I thought it was only fair to wrap up the month of LOVE by sharing what we have to say for ourselves! My guest this episode is model, voice-actor & corporate baddie, Amanda Kaburise to chat singleness and contentment as a technically old person. Follow us on Instagram here Amanda: https://www.instag...

Happy Valentines Day, friends!!!! Love is supposedly in the air, but not necessarily for everyone... so, we thought we'd spread some good, sweetheart vibes! I'm joined by super sports fan, Norika Naidoo, exchanging views & experiences on love and situationships! In today's chat, we're focusing on the experiences of single women in their 30s, and the pursuit for meaningful conne...

Many people in Corporate South Africa, particularly Black employees, have stories of how proximity to Whiteness has positively influenced their career progression. But how many of us have taken the time to truly consider how embracing our individuality can enhance not only our personal work journeys, but also contribute to the collective empowerment of Black employees in the workplace. Amy Chiwaye...

The prevailing discourse preaches; NOW is the time for Black employees in South Africa to thrive! However, some crucial questions remain; do Black people truly experience a sense of empowerment in their professional environments? While we may actively participate in these spaces, how much do we genuinely occupy and influence them? What impact have Diversity & Inclusion initiatives had on the d...

Do you love yourself? What does that self-love look like? Is it the act of taking care of yourself and the general condition of your life? or Is it simply accepting yourself flaws and all? Is it holding a mirror up to yourself, taking a very hard look at who you are and having to call yourself higher? I sat down with my favourite wanderer, Lindi R, to discuss the intricacies of self-care vs self-l...

Imagine starting a podcast and not introducing it!!! Well... that's exactly what I did and I've finally sat down with myself, Whitney Cele, to record a very late and overdue podcast on all things Empathy Project. Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for questions, I hope I've answered them well and given you a clearer picture of what this whole thing is about. Follow the p...

In this episode, we unpack the art of becoming the women we truly want to be. Join us as Sibusi Zwane, photographer & musician, shares her experiences of womanhood and self-discovery. Sibusi very honestly talks us through the reasons behind her (former) tough exterior and her journey of embracing a path of less resistance. Expect laughter, be prepared to do some introspection, but most importa...

Being a woman today looks different to what we may have imagined it to be for ourselves. In some ways we have defied gravity, and in other ways there are still so many barriers to break through. I sat down with the gorgeous Noluthando Mauze to unpack womanhood, what it means to us and the ways in which we have chosen to step into it. It's giving Barbie World! Follow Noluthando on IG: @noluthan...

It takes two to tango... Are you showing up for your friends in the ways they might need? But more interestingly, are you allowing your friends to show up for you? There is so much value in Adult Friendship and I hope this little clip reminds you of it. For more on this you can check out our newsletter via the link!! Let us know your thoughts https://open.substack.com/pub/theempathyproject/p/frien...

At The Empathy Project, we believe in the transformative power of open dialogue and exchange. Our platform serves as a space for collective interrogation of topics that often breed contention and misunderstanding. We are dedicated to fostering empathy and building a sense of community by bringing together curious and concerned individuals who are eager to grow and connect. For our first episode, w...