Archives: Episode

Leap of Faith -The Danielle Nolte Story

In this deeply moving and spirit-filled episode, I sit down with Danielle Nolte, fresh from her gold medal victory at the ASA Senior Track and Field Nationals and now a five-time national champion. But this conversation reaches far beyond medals and milestones. It’s an honest, powerful glimpse into a life anchored in faith, shaped by adversity, and guided by profound purpose.

Danielle takes us inside the emotions and mindset of competing at nationals through the fierce Cape weather, as well as leaning not only on physical preparation, but on a deep, unwavering spiritual foundation. What emerges is a story not just of performance, but of surrender. Of feeling only joy and peace on the runway. One of the most special moments was the presence of her family and of her grandmother who was watching Danielle compete for the first time in five years. It becomes a full-circle moment of love, growth, and legacy, a reminder that behind every athlete is a story of people, connection, and unseen support.

We look at the upcoming season, the Commonwealth Games, African Champs and a lot more action that will precede that. We talk about her training in Italy, the environment that is created by her coach there, a coaching style rooted in mindfulness and less is more. We talk about her goal of making the Commonwealth Games after competing at the world championships. A month before the Worlds, Danielle struggled with a terrible injury. But it was a spiritual shift and a clear direction for her calling and purpose. 

At the very core of her conviction, Danielle Nolte always uses her platform to be an ambassador for God. This is the first time she has got to share her faith story in an interview and to be in this space alongside her, is such a privilege.

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Yonela Ngxingolo – Play like it’s Your Last Game

Yonela Ngxingolo is a highly skilled and versatile prop who is a key figure in South African women’s rugby. Playing for the Isuzu Bulls Daisies, as well as the Springbok women, she continues to showcase her skill, consistency and athleticism in the game and it is a joy to have her join me on the podcast this week.

In this powerful episode, Yonela takes us deep inside the final through the eyes of a forward. She unpacks the moment of Sizophila’s collision, revealing how it disrupted the rhythm of the game and forced the team to mentally recalibrate in real time. What followed was a masterclass in resilience, as the Isuzu Bulls Daisies adapted with precision, reading their opponents weaknesses, and ultimately fighting their way to victory.

We honour the incredible impact of Lusanda Dumke, whose presence loomed large over the final. Yonela reflects on how her influence was felt not just on the field, but in the hearts and minds of the players. In a deeply moving moment, she speaks about the unexpected Player of the Match performance, a display fuelled by the awareness that every game could be your last, so play it like it is. With Lusanda watching, the message became clear, be present, embrace the moment, and play with everything you have. We also talk about where it all began, her debut in 2018 against Wales. She shares the tears, the quiet prayer for a moment of magic.

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Ultra Sport Women Uncovered: Stories, Struggles & Strength

It’s all things ultra sport women on the podcast with Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson, co – authors of the book “Ultra Women: the Trailblazers defying Sexism in Sport.” Outside of writing, Emma is an award-winning journalist specialising in medicine, science and health. While Lily is an England athletics coach, as well as a running, fitness and adventure travel writer. 

We dive into the “why” behind their William Hill Sports Book Award–shortlisted title, uncovering the untold stories of women who didn’t just participate but challenged the rules, redefined limits, and changed sport forever. Every chapter of their book begins with a remarkable female achievement, paired with the resistance these women faced… and overcame. We get into the realities women are still navigating in the world of ultra sport in 2026. The confidence gap, the guilt of prioritising training, and the simple lack of time in already full lives. We unpack how some sports are evolving to welcome women, while others still have a long way to go (tune in to hear which ones!). From ill-fitting kit and male-centric training plans to the deeply personal conversation around menstruation in sport, nothing is off the table.

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Ramsey Tomokino – Inside the Heart of Samoa Women’s Rugby

This week, I sit down with Mataafa Ramsey Tomokino, a high-performance rugby administrator and former coach for Samoa, currently serving as the General Manager of High Performance for Lakapi Samoa. He is well-known for his coaching success with the Samoan women’s 15-a-side team, Manusina, and the men’s 7s team. Tomokino previously led Manusina to qualification for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and has since stepped into his current high-performance role with the national rugby union. Many will remember the viral press conference at the Rugby World Cup where Ramsey became visibly emotional, overwhelmed by what his players had poured into their campaign. In this episode, we go far beyond that moment.Coach Ramsey reflects on hanging up the whistle and stepping into a new role after leading the women’s team for two decades. Samoa now leads the world in female representation across rugby management, with former players stepping into key leadership roles, something that should be a focus and a celebration in the women’s game. In his time as coach, Ramsey Tomokino always saw himself as a caretaker, laying foundations for a professional future where Samoan women can one day be paid to play the game they love.

We speak about the player pathway from club rugby to the World Cup, the challenge of Samoan players leaving to play for other countries, and the parallels between Manusina and the Springbok women, two teams built on resilience rather than entitlement. “Expect nothing and anything more is a bonus,” are candid words that have carried the team. We also talk about faith and spirituality which is the DNA of what it means to be Samoan.

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Nicole Burger – Headfirst Into History

As the Winter Olympics kick off in Italy on February 6th, South Africa is entering a brand new chapter. For the first time ever, a South African woman will compete in the skeleton, one of the fastest, most brutal sports on ice. Born in Cape Town and now based in the UK, Nicole Burger has hurtled headfirst not only into Olympic history but also in to medalling history. Already a trailblazer, she’s claimed South Africa’s first international sliding medals (gold, silver and bronze), alongside multiple top-six finishes across the North American Cup and Europe Cup circuits during the 2025/2026 season.

In this episode, Nicole takes us deep into her extraordinary journey. From her competitive edge in rugby, athletics and horse riding to her transition to elite sliding. She also takes us into the sport of skeleton, (and why it’s called that!), the experience of it, the 135km twists and turn with your face an inch from the ice. We talk about shares the Royal Air Force and why she joined, how it led her to skeleton, the surreal reality of becoming an Olympian after just three years in the sport, and the almost crazy reactions she gets as a South African competing in a winter sporting discipline.

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Beyond the Turf – Tegan Fourie is Writing her Own History

This week on She Speaks Sport, South African hockey powerhouse Tegan Fourie joins me for a conversation that goes far deeper than stats, trophies, or the number of caps on her name. Yes, she’s an African Games champion, a national indoor (81 Caps) and outdoor star (28 Caps), and a record-setting goalscorer who was named the SA indoor player of the year in 2024.. But behind the titles is a journey shaped by being part of a team and a love for hockey that found her long before she ever imagined becoming one of South Africa’s standout players.

Tegan takes us inside the story she shares with her sister Cerian — a five-year age gap erased by a shared dream of astroturf. From living together at university to stepping onto the turf as teammates, the Fourie sisters have built something rare: a bond that sharpens their game, fuels their competitiveness, and makes history every time they step onto the field together.She reflects on the national team’s recent African Cup of Nations victory! Beating Ghana in the final, was a phenomenal feat after narrowly beating them in the group stages. This is the 8th African crown the women’s team have won, and their ultimate goal was realised when they secured the qualification for the FIH hockey world cup. Tegan unpacks the shifts, the play, the mindset, and the goal of qualifying for the world cup. November is world diabetes awareness month and at the heart of this episode lies in how Tegan plays the sport she loves while managing Type 1 diabetes, a condition she has lived with for 21 years.

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KFC Mini-Cricket, Big Impact, Big Change

n this powerful episode, we shine a spotlight on the heart of South African cricket — the grassroots heroes who are changing lives with nothing more than passion, persistence, and a love for the game. On the podcast I am joined by KFC mini – cricket coach Rozanne Steenkamp, a dedicated educator from Vredenburg and this year’s Cricket South Africa Pathway Awards finalist. As a Grade 6 and 7 maths and life orientation teacher at Graafwater Primary, Rozanne has become a driving force behind the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, bringing the joy of cricket to children who had never even seen the game before.

With no equipment and little exposure to the game in Graafwater, Rozanne refused to let that stop her. Armed with cellotape, scraps of wood, and unstoppable determination, she taught her students to play — proving that the spirit of cricket doesn’t begin with fancy gear, but with heart. From local dusty fields to watching cricket live at Boland stadium, her learners’ journey has been nothing short of transformative.

Rozanne opens up about her motivation, the challenges of introducing cricket in under-resourced communities, and her dream of empowering young girls to find their place in the sport. Once called a “tomboy” for loving cricket, she now stands as a proud ambassador for girls in sport, watching the tides turn for women’s cricket both in South Africa and across the world. Rozanne believes that through the KFC mini-cricket program, players are not just being developed, but futures are being formed as well.

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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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