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 journey took him from selling hand-drawn portraits for R50 to working on cruise ships with Park West Gallery, one of the largest art dealers in the world.

In just 9 months, Vongani has traveled to 34 countries and published his own book.

This conversation explores belief, patience, and how a dream can slowly take shape, even when you don’t know where to start.

If this story resonates with you, share it with someone who needs it.

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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 speak about Dricus du Plessis, the power of self-belief, and believing in yourself long before anyone else does.

Garreth also shares why learning to deal with your emotions early, before they turn into bigger problems, has been a crucial part of his growth.

This conversation goes beyond sport. It’s about resilience, self-belief, and the quiet commitment to getting 1% better each day.

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’s leadership, the key performances that stood out, and the rapid rise of women’s cricket in South Africa.

He takes us through his journey from being a baggage master in 2010 to coaching in a World Cup final, and we close with the impact of the Betway SA20, the growth of the SA20 League, and what it’s like working with the Pretoria Capitals.

If you love sport, mindset, and South African cricket, this episode is for you.

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, and why letting go is sometimes the only way to move forward. We also explore delayed gratification, the pressure to always be improving, and what personal growth actually looks like when nobody is watching.

If you have ever felt behind in life or frustrated with your progress, this episode will give you perspective, clarity and motivation.

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 African American Football League (SAAFL) from scratch, with just three people at the first training session, and how that moment grew into a movement that’s now sending players to international tournaments and working toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Tyler also opens up about his demanding career in the medical field, being on call 24/7, and how the pressure of saving lives has shaped his mindset both on and off the field.

This episode is about passion, community, and what happens when you step outside your comfort zone to chase something bigger than yourself.

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 test of time.

You’ll learn how to:

• Communicate more effectively with your partner

• Stop trying to “fix” or change the person you love

• Recognize red flags like love bombing and gaslighting

• Understand attachment styles and why opposites attract

• Handle arguments without breaking the bond

Whether you’re single, healing from a past relationship, or wanting to strengthen the one you’re in, this conversation will give you powerful tools to understand yourself and your partner on a deeper level.

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 perfectionism and self-criticism held her back

-Dealing with negative comments and being a first-time boss

-Why you can’t scale a business alone

-The sacrifices and lessons that come with chasing a dream If you’re building your own business, side hustle, or just curious about what it really takes,

this raw conversation will give you a true look at the grit necessary to succeed.