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Kendra du Toit – Choosing Sport with a Purpose

Three international tours in under a year. Three captain’s armbands., and a season that almost didn’t happen. For South African lifesaving champion Kendra du Toit, 2025 was supposed to be the year she defended her Commonwealth title in her signature event — the 100m weighted manikin haul. But a fractured spine changed everything. Suddenly, the athlete known for racing against waves and time found herself battling pain, doubt, and the quiet stillness of recovery.

In this episode, Kendra opens up about the long road back, from the heartbreak of watching races go on without her, to rediscovering her purpose beyond the podium. We explore the heart of rescue sport, a discipline born from real-world rescues where every race represents saving a life. Kendra opens up about the mental toll of recovery — the quiet struggle of watching her Commonwealth dreams hang in the balance and rediscovering who she was beyond the competition lane. As captain, she reflects on what truly unfolded at the Commonwealth Games this year, the cheers form the vibe South Africans in the crowd, the splashes, and the stillness that followed when she didn’t make the final. Though her contribution looked different this time, her pride ran deep. In that difference, she found a new kind of strength and a renewed sense of purpose, a way to lead and a pride that is deep.

When the moment finally came, it was electric. Kendra stood shoulder to shoulder with her teammates as the South African women stormed to gold in the rescue relay and silver in the 4x25m manikin carry, breaking a national record and igniting pride that rippled far beyond the pool.

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Nosipho Vezi Motherhood and Momentum as W.P Chase the Double

With the domestic cricket season in full swing and the Hollywoodbets Pro Series lighting up pitches across the country, we catch up with Western Province star bowler Nosipho Vezi, a player whose consistency and quiet fire have made her one of the team’s most reliable forces. Nosipho won the WSB WP Women’s 1 day cup player of the year, as well as the WP women’s player of the year in the 2023/2024 season and has been a crucial part of the starting eleven.

In this conversation, she opens up about a pre-season shaped by Cape Town’s stubborn weather, adapting her training to the indoors, and the mindset it takes to stay ready when conditions say otherwise. The electric energy of the Newlands faithful support enjoyed by the women’s team and the plan in place for this weekend’s kick off game against the Garden Route Badgers.  We talk technique, game plans, and team spirit, as Western Province sets its sights on another Pro Series title run, this time the elusive double. Our excitement is real as we talk about the team, and how ready they are to take on the games, I also ask Nosipho about the influence of someone like Dané van Niekerk with her experience in cricket, and the value she has added to the team.

But beyond the wickets and warm-ups, Nosipho Vezi also shares a deeply personal side, the balance of motherhood, ambition, and providing for your family. A conversation of heart, hunger, and hard work, this is one for every cricket lover who believes in chasing greatness, one delivery at a time.

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Nadine Roos – Solitude, Sisterhood and the Soul of Rugby

The Rugby World Cup may have wrapped up, but its stories are still unfolding, stories of pride, growth, purpose, hope and the quiet moments that follow the roar of the crowd. Among the shining lights of South Africa’s campaign is Nadine Roos, a player whose versatility knows no bounds, she’s our wing, fullback, fly-half, (basically anything in the back line!) as well as our sevens star. So I am grateful to be welcoming Nadine on to the podcast today to go behind and beyond the World Cup.

In this episode, she takes us beyond the try line and into the spaces that few see, the stillness after the stadium lights dim, the rhythm of returning home, and the complex dance between a more relaxed schedule and the busyness of the past few weeks. As a natural loner, she reflects on what it means to spend months side by side with her teammates, to share space, spirit, and silence and how interesting the connection and togetherness of a team truly is.

We also explore her connection to culture and meaning, what it felt like to stand opposite the Black Ferns, her deep respect for the Haka, and the lessons she learnt from her New Zealand teammates when playing in Japan. Playing against the Black Ferns is a benchmark moment for her, as playing against the top teams in the world is where you want to be. As Nadine Roos reflects; “these are players to measure yourself against.” It would be remiss not to ask her about starting a maul from a scrum, and her opportunity to embrace that moment and to be the best she could be, with a lot of preparation and conversation with the forwards. 

Over the rugby world cup, many were drawn to Nadine’s story and the hard realities she encountered through her life, a reality she contributes to the success she has experienced. She had a dream without resources, and limited opportunity to make that a reality, yet she tenaciously pursued the dream in her heart. She hopes her life story will impact others, and that she can live a life in line with her values, to light someone elses candle. I ask Nadine about her overall purpose, the “why” of life, and her insight into what it means to truly be living.

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Giovanna Barbosa – More Than a Game

Giovanna Barbosa has built a global creative career, challenging the waves of beauty and femininity but it all started at a shoot for her football club Coventry City. From playing at U.J to an international scholarship to play for a division 1 college in America to becoming a professional footballer for Coventry City, and winning a championship, Giovanna shines as a light of determination and power.

In this episode, she shares how a full-ride Division 1 scholarship to Texas A&M, along with Nike sponsored goods, set her on a path few South Africans have walked—studying neuroscience while playing elite college football in the U.S. Before that, she had just chased the ball. From kicking it around with the boys at Rovers, to making every team she could in South Africa, determination, hard work and grit opened incredible doors and we go in to the depth of her journey and her story from U.J to Texas and then to the U.K. A few paths diverged and converged and a contract with Aston Villa, Birmingham City, as well as Coventry City landed on the table, how did she choose and what did this mean for her journey in football? Giovanna discusses the change in the women’s sport industry from when she started until today, and she digs into her experiences and what she is witnessing within the game. We go into this and truth bomb about the DNA of the women’s game, the heartbeat of engagement, and what she witnessed when they brought the kids on to the field when playing for Coventry. Harder work, missing socks, no shirts, and the new kit next week, it’s all for the fans!

But this story takes a turn. A photo shoot at Coventry City FC shifted her entire trajectory. From the pitch to global campaigns. From shin guards to stilettos

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Miane Smit – Capped and Ready for the Cricket World Cup

With the Women’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner, today’s guest is someone whose story is still being written but already making an impact. Miane Smit is just 20 years old, but in the last year, she’s earned her international debut, been part of a World Cup squad as a reserve, and shared the field with the very players she refers to as her heroes. When Sune Luus presented Miane with her first T20 international cap for the Proteas earlier this year, it was a moment of joy and humour. If you asked all – rounder Miane Smit if she saw herself in this position just two years ago, she would not have believed you. However, the talented batter and off spinner has played in two ODI’s and three T20I’s for the Proteas, was the travelling reserve for the T20 world cup and for this year’s 50 over Cricket World Cup.

In our conversation, we talk about what it really feels like to step into the green and gold, the pressure and pride of wearing the Proteas badge, and what she’s hoping to bring to South Africa’s campaign in the subcontinent. Miane talks about the standard the players set and how they continue to motivate her, challenge her in the best way possible, and the advice some of the players have given her for navigating cricket on and off the field.

We also get into Miane’s ambitions, including a dream century for her country and the power of being surrounded by a team that pushes you to be better, every single day. We talk spin attack and its role in the World Cup, as well as the team that poses the most threat in the group stages. What’s it like to go from watching your heroes on TV… to sharing a locker room with them? It’s all in this episode.

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Noa Jansen Rides to Wholeness – Life after the Struggle

Professional cyclist Noa Jansen has always held a passion to cycle at the highest level, but that love was clouded by an eating disorder that slowly stole her joy, her strength, and her sense of self. What began as rules in her head, “rewards” with food, and the praise of being thinner as an athlete, soon spiraled into a reality where she was unrecognisable to those who knew her best. Eventually, her body gave out, leaving her unable to race, and forcing her to face a truth which led to her hospitalisation and her first steps to recovery.

On this episode, Noa speaks with raw honesty about what it meant to lose not just her physical health, but the dream she had built her life around, and the courage it took to fight her way back. Her recovery was not only about eating again, but confronting the mental battles behind her disorder, surrendering to the painful process of healing, and slowly rediscovering the joy she once felt as a young girl on her bike. Along the way, she was supported by incredible mentors like Natascha Knaven founder of NXTG and Leontien van Moorsel, who helped create a safe space for her to rebuild herself and her dreams.

Today, Noa Jansen rides fiercely for the Liv Alula Jayco women’s team, carrying with her the scars of struggle and the strength of survival. In our conversation, we also speak about the ongoing pressure from the media around professional cyclists and the constant commentary on weight, something we saw at the Tour de France Femmes this year. How does Noa feel about stepping on the scale now? And what are her goals as she rides for the Liv Alula Jayco team? Noa is so incredibly open and brave about her story and her voice needs to be heard. This is a story of vulnerability, courage, and the relentless pursuit of a dream that refused to die.

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Libbie JVR – Life from the Women’s Rugby World Cup

An exciting, fun She Speaks Sport exclusive straight from the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England! Joining me is our number 10, Libbie Janse van Rensburg who scored two sensational tries in the dominant match last Sunday against Brazil in Northampton.

On the podcast, we chat about the Brazil women’s team who made history in becoming the first rugby team to represent their nation in a rugby World Cup. Although the match belonged to the Springboks with a resounding 66 – 6 defeat against the South Americans, there is much respect for Brazil and for their place in this tournament. We chat about the feeling in the camp, the unity, energy and passion and of course, the impact of this Rugby World Cup and how the fans are supporting the Women Boks in a manner that is moving and monumental. The player – fan connection and interaction is at the heart of women’s sport and Libbie talks about the emotional connection female athletes have with those who support the games.

I also ask her about that now iconic “tiger” celebration after her second try, and she shares the heartfelt meaning behind this celebration. Spoiler alert – Zambezi fest, Tayla and a promise to young fans. How does she feel about the upcoming Italy game, where the Springbok women have faced close losses to the fired up, hungry to get their first win, Italian side? And a few more insights and takeaways from our conversation on the sidelines at the women’s rugby World Cup. This is just for you! Tune in, host some watch parties and keep supporting the team.

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“Why Rowing Isn’t Just for the Posh” — Chloe Cresswell

The 2025 U23 world rowing championships just wrapped up in Poland. The top young talent in the world of rowing showed up with thrilling races and surprising finishes, with the South African rowers leaving their mark on the world champs. Chloe Cresswell led the charge in the lightweight women’s single sculls, and her technical precision and fight, meant she walked away with a silver medal.

We celebrate the win together on the podcast, as Chloe joins me to talk about the race, the German fighting in the last row and the fire she needed to carry to get across the line. Exhausted, she didn’t know she had won the silver until she looked up at the board. Reflecting on her journey into rowing, she shares with us her objectives at the world champs and how winning wasn’t the key goal. As rowing continues to grow in popularity with the public, we share about the incredible community spirit in the sport, and the public interest that is growing prolifically.

I also quiz Chloe on the most googled questions around the sport of rowing, including the inquisitive question of why is rowing so posh? Her knowledge of the sport and its history is impressive as she answers the worlds questions about the sport. What is in store for Chloe Cresswell and her future in the sport? How does she feel after her silver medal win? Join us for this celebratory conversation.

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Simone Sharpe – Survivor, Athlete, and Unstoppable Force

**Podcast Description:**

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Simone Sharpe — a survivor in every sense of the word. Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 15 and later facing the most severe case of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in South Africa at 18, Simone’s life has been shaped by pain, perseverance, and an unbreakable spirit. From countless rounds of chemo and radiation to a titanium shoulder replacement after developing Avascular Necrosis, her body has endured the unimaginable.

Yet Simone has never stopped pushing limits. Now a mountain biker, triathlete, and member of the fearless Absa #SheUntamed team, she recently completed her first Cape Epic — one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world. Simone shares the raw, emotional highs and lows of the race: the physical collapse, the threat of hospitalisation, the heartbreak of missing a cut-off, and the resilience that brought her back to the finish line.

But this conversation goes beyond sport. We explore body positivity, the danger of tying self-worth to achievement, and Simone’s courageous journey through sobriety. Her honesty, humour, and self-awareness light up this episode as she reflects on the deep ‘why’ behind her pursuit of extreme challenges — and the shift she feels coming in her life.

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