Episodes

Sean shares his personal journey through a lifequake, detailing the challenges and transformations that come with raising a child with profound disabilities. He reflects on a critical incident involving his daughter Zoe, the emotional turmoil of hospital visits, and the lessons learned about resilience, empathy, and the importance of community support. The conversation emphasizes the profound shifts in perspective that can arise from unexpected life events and the ongoing journey of personal gro...

Join me for the new season of Something Shifted, the podcast that asks some of South Africa’s most interesting people to share how significant life shifts, perceived as devastating, can lead to profound personal transformation and empowerment. Something Shifted with Sean Loots leans into the joy and discomfort of unexpected change, and tries to answer the question of what it takes to bounce back. Something changes your life today. How will it shift your life tomorrow? What does it take to conq...

Zola Nene shares her journey of leaving law to pursue a career in the culinary arts, overcoming imposter syndrome, and finding joy in her work. She discusses the impact of her parents on her mindset and the inspirations that shaped her. Zola also reflects on her experiences with Gordon Ramsay and the significance of her cookbooks. Tune in for a heartfelt reflection on the significance of personal satisfaction and evolution in one's life path. Quotes from Zola: "I've taken opportunities and made...

Do you think your co-workers have high or low emotional intelligence? What can we learn about EQ from someone that grew up in a communal home? Theran Knighton-Fitt grew up in a home filled with love, support and more people than the average preschool class. Theran's formative years clearly impacted how he leads his life and the work he does at Mygrow, an online employee wellness platform that drives personal growth. In this episode of Something Shifted, Theran explains that emotional intelligen...

Bonus Episode: In this episode of "Something Shifted," Sean talks with Noa Belling, a psychotherapist and author of "Stress Less: Managing Anxiety in a Modern World." Noa shares her expertise on stress management, particularly the benefits of writing as a tool to alleviate stress. She explains how jotting down thoughts and to-do lists can help clear the mind and address underlying emotions. The episode serves as a practical guide for listeners to manage stress and improve mental clarity, with a...

Bonus Episode: In this episode of "Something Shifted," Sean welcomes Noa Belling, a psychotherapist and author of "Stress Less: Managing Anxiety in a Modern World." Noa discusses the brain's negativity bias and offers strategies to counteract it, such as focusing on positive aspects of our lives and engaging in acts of kindness. She suggests practical exercises like soaking up positive experiences and placing hands on the chest to foster positivity. The episode aims to provide listeners with to...

Bonus Episode: Listen to Noa Belling, a psychotherapist and author of "Stress Less: Managing Anxiety in a Modern World" take you from anxious to calm. Noa shares a quick stress relief exercise focusing on present-moment awareness by engaging the senses and adjusting posture. She explains how this practice can enhance mental clarity and resourcefulness by tapping into the brain's prefrontal cortex. Find Noa Belling's book Stress Less online and in all good bookstores now.

Bonus Episode: Noa Belling, a psychotherapist and corporate consultant, discusses the link between posture and mental state, offering a tool from her book Stress Less that uses posture change to alleviate stress and anxiety. She suggests that adjusting one's posture can improve emotional well-being and clarity of thought, even if it doesn't eliminate the stressor. The episode serves as a resource for practical stress management techniques. Noa Belling's book Stress Less is available online and ...

Are you aware of how stress physically shapes your life? Sean Loots sits down with award-winning, bestselling author, psychotherapist and corporate consultant, Noa Belling to discuss her latest book, Stress Less: Managing anxiety in a modern world. In this episode, Noa shares the physiological impacts of stress and the transformative power of body awareness. For example, have you ever caught yourself holding your breath while checking emails? Noa Belling talks us through "email apnea," a stre...

Are you ready to discover how challenges can fuel personal growth? In this inspiring episode of "Something Shifted," Sean dives into a heartfelt conversation with Erin Drayton, a mother of two with a story that will move you. Together, they delve into Erin's academic pursuits, the nuances of raising a child with Down syndrome, and the transformative power of therapy. Listen as Erin shares her family's influence, her battle with anxiety, and the resilience she's built along the way. Don't miss...

Ever wondered how folding paper could change your life? In this episode of "Something Shifted," Sean Loots sits down with Ross Symons, who swapped web development for the ancient art of origami and the captivating world of stop motion animation. Discover how a simple 365-day origami challenge catapulted Ross into the spotlight, earning him projects with high-end brands like Christian Dior and Disney. Ross opens up about overcoming skepticism, the power of self-motivation, and the significance ...

In this episode, South African-born, champion dancer and Strictly Come Dancing professional, Johannes Radebe, opens up about the adversities he has faced throughout his life. From growing up in Zamdela, a township in South Africa, to becoming the first male dancer to perform in heels on Strictly Come Dancing in UK history! Jojo's incredible rise to stardom has afforded him experiences he never thought possible, and he is sharing his story of setbacks (and comebacks) with the world. Johannes R...

This is an excerpt of a previously published full-length episode. I have lucked out on my fair share of sleep in my lifetime. I've also had my sleep cycles interrupted far too many times. Having a young child with epilepsy means I never really switch off, simply because a seizure can happen without warning. Dr. Els van der Helm is a sleep neuroscientist and joins me on this episode from her home office in Switzerland. Els is focused on helping us improve our day-to-day performance by enhancin...

In this episode, Sean Loots is in conversation with Nikki Kemp, an adaptive athlete, teacher, and motivator. They cover various topics related to disability awareness, overcoming challenges, embracing personal growth, and setting goals. Nikki's experiences with cerebral palsy, her journey into adaptive athletics, and her insights into handling disappointments and judgments provide valuable lessons for all of us. The discussion emphasizes empathy, understanding, and the importance of personal r...

This is an excerpt of a previously published episode. The full episode is titled "Working on my nerves with Shaun Brooking." _____________________________________ Website: https://shaunbrookingcoaching.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaun_brooking/ If, like me, you have aches and pains that come and go, you may have tried a few different methods of alleviating your ailments. I’ve tried physiotherapy, chiropractors, body stress release, TRE and even Rolfing. Rolfing is when a p...

If you’re anything like me - and I think you are - you may have healthy debates with friends about how the schooling system has developed our way of thinking. Programed us to believe that a holiday is when you slow down. Groomed us even, into believing that we don’t deserve a physical or mental break unless our calendar is clear, our email inbox is empty and our to-do list is all wrapped up. These debates often arrive at the conclusion that while elements of this may be true, ultimately we have...

Sean Loots speaks with author and relationship coach, Shelley Lewin. Shelley is a certified SACAP counselor, international coach federation member, and accredited professional certified coach. She found her career after her fiancé left her. When Shelley realized that almost all of her relationships were unfulfilling, she came to conclusion that she was the common denominator. Today Shelly councils couples and colleagues to healthy, rewarding relationships through "art, science and practice." ...

While training for a gymnastics competition, 16-year-old Brandon Beack had a life-changing accident. A poorly timed dismount saw him miss the safety mat and land on the only square metre of uncovered concrete. Brandon broke his neck and was instantly paralysed from his shoulders down. Through sheer determination and hard work, he has regained far more mobility than many thought possible. Today, Brandon heads up the Walking With Brandon Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers outpati...

Ayanda Dlamini is a fellow parent, a dear friend and a former radio colleague. With a devoted husband and 3 children in tow wherever she goes, there is a level of measured of chaos that Aya is accustomed to. The thing that has always struck me about Ayanda is something scientific literature refers to as hedonia. This terms refers to the "presence of positive emotions and the absence of negative emotions." I cannot recall ever seeing or hearing Ayanda express negative emotions. So I asked her ...

In this episode, Sean speaks with Terence Mentor, who shares his personal journey and experiences with ADHD. Terence opens up about the challenges he faced before understanding his condition and how speaking openly about it has helped him feel less alone. They discuss the internal chaos and struggles of living with ADHD, as well as the moments of hyper-focus and clarity that bring excitement and fulfillment. Terence also shares his process of getting diagnosed and the relief that came with under...

Some Assembly Required is about matters of the heart and the head, and this episode is extra special for me. One, because Danny Painter has agreed to share openly about her journey to therapy and I think her story may just help break some stigmas. And two because I get to express my gratitude to Danny for helping me get out of my own way. If it weren’t for that chance conversion at an event in 2022, this podcast might not exist. Danny has been through many colourful, life altering experiences....

New format. Same great storytelling. Early in our marriage we spoke about having more than one child. And from time to time we revisit that conversation - each time with a refreshed perspective. I've never asked Ruenda what it is like being a mom or if she has always wanted to mother a child. So that is what I did in this episode. Long time listeners of this podcast know that our daughter has a complicated medical history. Expect raw responses to questions like "How do you prefer to tell stran...

Rachel Goh is a clinical psychologist and former Australian swimmer. In this episode, we look back at Rachel's dream to swim at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and the effort it would take to make the Australian National team. Rachel talks us through how it felt to not achieve her childhood dream and the difficulty of accepting that something you have aspired to is not achievable. But this is not the only disappointment of 2012. In fact, things get much worse when Rachel sustains a conc...

Jonno Proudfoot openly shares his difficult childhood, marked by his parents' divorce and a lack of support. He coped by turning to alcohol and drugs, starting at a very young age, but eventually found his drive to succeed through the need to feel significant. As the co-author of the book Real Meal Revolution, Jonno experienced both incredible success and a downward spiral. Through it all, he learned that failure is just another word for learning, and that resilience is the key to bouncing bac...