Coffee Charged Conversations

From the outside it looked like she had everything. Inside, she was falling apart. In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, Mike sits down with Nompumelelo Maduna to talk about burnout, people-pleasing, leaving corporate, and what happens when you finally stop chasing the life you thought you were supposed to want. Nompumelelo did everything right. The achievements, the dream roles, saying...

What happens when a gambling addiction takes everything from you? In this episode, Jacques Wijtman opens up about the years he spent trapped in gambling addiction, the lies, the fraud, the people he hurt, and the five days in jail that ultimately saved his life. He shares how gambling became his “career”, how rock bottom changed him, and why recovery is about more than just stopping the behaviour....

Why do some people become people pleasers? Why do we struggle to set boundaries, silence our own needs, attract the same types of people, or repeat the same painful patterns in relationships, friendships, family, and even the workplace? In this powerful episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, Mike sits down with Dr Onke Mazibuko, psychologist, therapist, author, and deep thinker, to unpack the co...

Is kindness a superpower? In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, I sit down with South Africa’s Good Things Guy, Brent Lindeque. A decade ago, one small act of kindness changed Brent’s life forever. What started as one small act of kindness went viral around the world and changed the course of his life. That moment eventually led to the creation of Good Things Guy, one of South Africa’s...

What happens when the chapter that shaped so much of your life comes to an end? In this episode, former professional goalkeeper Sean Roberts reflects on life after playing for clubs like Ajax Cape Town, Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday. After retiring from professional football at 32, he had to reinvent himself, rebuild his identity around purpose rather than performance, and turn everyth...

Superstars don’t guarantee success. In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, I sit down with Anthony Shelton, Head Coach of South Africa’s National Flag Football Team and a basketball coach, to unpack what really makes a great leader, a great team, and a winning mindset. We explore leadership, team culture, coaching, and success including why talented teams often fall short, why underdogs...

He intentionally gained 25kg in 120 days, then gave himself 120 days to lose it all again. In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, online weight loss coach Kopano Mokhele shares the story behind the Sdudla Sgora Challenge, one of the boldest weight loss transformation journeys you’ll hear about. He deliberately built unhealthy habits to gain the weight, then set out to lose it again witho...

Our health is everything, but most people are getting this wrong. In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, I sit down with dietician Aziwe Booi from Health with Azi to unpack some of the biggest nutrition myths around weight loss, healthy eating and what actually works. We talk about gut health, sugar intake, ultra-processed foods and intermittent fasting, plus how what you eat affects you...

Nick Scher is the founder of 1701, a luxury nougat brand that started from a homemade recipe and grew into something far bigger. At 24, Nick walked away from his dream of becoming a professional golfer to build a business of his own. In this episode, he opens up about what that journey has really looked like over the past 10 years. We speak about sacrifice, self-doubt, the lonely side of entrepren...

SA Open Champion Dylan Naidoo returns ahead of the 115th Investec SA Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club and opens up about what it really takes to win. In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, Dylan breaks down the mindset behind winning the Investec SA Open, standing over the final putt, qualifying for The Open Championship, and handling pressure on the biggest stages in golf. If you want to...

As a child growing up in Ka-Majosi, a small village in Limpopo, Vongani Maimele dreamed of writing a book and traveling the world. To many around him, those dreams sounded impossible. Life was tough. He often felt neglected, sometimes went without food, and spent long periods away from his parents. Art became his escape, from colouring books to drawing Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z characters. His jou...

In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, former UFC fighter and two-time EFC middleweight champion Garreth McLellan opens up about how his relationship with fear has shaped his mindset, his discipline, and the way he handles pressure. He reflects on the moments that tested him most, the lessons fighting taught him, and how those experiences continue to influence his life today. We also spe...

For the first time, I’m a guest on my own podcast. I speak about a time in my life when I felt lost, and how starting this podcast helped me find my voice and discover my purpose. We also talk about the impact running marathons has had on my life, and why I continue to push myself to be better.

South Africa reached their third consecutive Cricket World Cup final, and Bongani Ndaba, fielding coach for the South Africa Women’s Cricket team, joins me to share what really happened behind the scenes. We speak about the mindset going into the World Cup final, how the team handled the pressure, and why South Africans thrive as the underdog on the world stage. Bongani reflects on Laura Wolvaardt...

Why does personal growth feel so slow? And why do we always think we should be further in life than we are? In this episode, I sit down with my first ever podcast guest, Guy Salver, for a reflective conversation on growth, mindset and the lessons we have learned over the last two years. We speak about what the 75 Hard challenge taught him, how self talk shapes your identity, the role of empathy, a...

What happens when you decide to build something that doesn’t exist yet? In this episode, Tyler Cawood shares how he’s introducing American football to South Africa, a country where rugby dominates the culture. From playing for Australia’s national team to tearing his ACL and rebuilding his purpose, Tyler’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and belief. We speak about how he started South Afri...

Why do so many relationships fall apart, and what can we actually do to change that? In this episode, dating coach and trauma facilitator Milé van Vuren joins me to unpack why most relationships fail and the simple shifts that can make them last. From communication and conflict to love languages and emotional triggers, we explore what it really takes to build a healthy connection that stands the t...

She started baking cookies in her garage and turned it into a full-time cookie business, Baked by Bree. But behind the success came 20-hour workdays, burnout, perfectionism, and doubt. In this episode, Sabrina Bibby opens up about: -Why she reinvests every cent she makes into her business and doesn’t take a paycheck -The extreme effects that stress and long hours took on her health -How perfection...

In this episode, Caitlin Gevers opens up about a life-shifting year: the tragedy that struck her family, her own paralysing injury, and the decade-long path to a correct diagnosis. We talk trauma, grief, independence, addiction, and how she found renewed purpose in a goal like the 94.7 cycle race. Her story is proof that even in the darkest chapters, it’s possible to rise again.

In this episode, I sit down with Themba Hadebe, co-host of The Posties Podcast, entrepreneur, events manager, and poet. We spoke about the lessons podcasting has taught us, why consistency is so hard yet so valuable, and the role networking plays in creating opportunities both in business and in life. Themba opens up about what it means to show up even when you don’t feel ready, how confidence is...

What does it really mean to understand money? In this episode, I sit down with Dillon Bassani, CEO of Bassani’s Auction House – once the smallest in South Africa, now the largest numismatics house in Africa. Dillon shares the dramatic story of his father being shot and declared dead in a helicopter, a moment that shaped his outlook on life. Alongside that, we dive into coins, investing, and why we...

At 25 years old, Guy Imbert’s life changed forever after a motorbike accident led to years of pain and, eventually, the decision to amputate his left leg. This is his story of life after amputation, overcoming trauma, and finding purpose through cycling. Far from slowing him down, the amputation gave Guy a renewed sense of purpose. Today, he’s training for The Munga, one of the longest and toughes...

At one point, Christopher de Klerk was homeless, jobless, and deep in addiction. Today, he’s a successful entrepreneur running multiple businesses — proof that even the darkest chapters can lead to powerful comebacks. In this raw and inspiring episode, Christopher shares his journey of losing everything and finding the strength to rebuild. From living out of his car to facing his demons head-on, h...

From casino tables to company boardrooms – Rob Green’s journey is proof that mindset can change everything. In this episode of Coffee Charged Conversations, I sit down with Rob Green – CEO of Real Promotions – who shares how he went from being a shy, introverted kid to working as a blackjack dealer in casinos for nearly 10 years, and eventually building a national sales company with over 300 peopl...

After 10 years of life in the sky, Daniella Milani made the bold decision to trade in her flight attendant uniform for the uncertainty of running her own business — and she’s never looked back. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck in their comfort zone and needs that final push to take a leap. Whether it’s moving overseas, starting something new, or simply doing things on your own — Daniella...