Entertainment, Profile

Tropika Island of Treasure Season Ten Big Reveal

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The tenth season of Tropika Island of Treasure has been full of twists and turns for this coveted All-Star season and Tropika has just announced their smooothest twist yet!

Beloved television presenter and singer Katlego Maboe will be coming back for some more island fever as he is set to host the second leg of the competition at the Seychelles. This will be Maboe’s third run at hosting the show following his gig as the presenter of Tropika Island of Treasure season eight and nine.

The award-winning TV presenter made an emotional return as the host of Expresso in August of this year and viewers have been thrilled to have him back on their screens. Katlego’s reveal as the island host of Tropika Island of Treasure Season 10 All-Stars totally speaks to the theme of this season, which boasts a variety of exciting and unexpected twists and turns that are sure to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

This season, the contestant duos had to earn their flavours in St Lucia, KZN, before heading out to compete for their share of the grand prize on the shores of the Seychelles. With seven teams moving ahead to the Seychelles representing the seven smoooth flavours of Tropika; Cool Red, Piña Colada, Peach, Mango and Peach, Pineapple, Tropical, and Orange, the stakes are getting higher, and the excitement is brewing to see who will come out on top. With Katlego’s return as the host for the island period, this is just the kind of unexpected curve viewers would never see coming. So, keep your TV sets on SABC 3 this Saturday the 15th of October at 18h30 for the big reveal because there’s nothing smooother!

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Lifestyle, Profile

A Retreat State of Mind with Sibylle Sharon

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Hello May 2022, how quick you have arrived along with autumn and the changing colours of the leaves on the trees. While nature is taking a bit of a break, we continue to push and live our lives to the fullest. A few of the public holidays have now passed and we are heading to the middle of the year, and just the thought of that makes me slightly anxious. Some people have taken a much-needed holiday getaway and others have rested at home, but have you ever been on a retreat? I’m thinking of being around in nature, with my phone off, meeting new people and just embracing life. I recently chatted to Sibylle Sharon about her upcoming retreat and how we can develop a retreat state of mind.

Sibylle is a Consciousness Coach™️ and Trainer, Time to Think™️ Facilitator and Coach, Enneagram Practitioner and Yin Yoga teacher. She grew up in Germany and moved to South Africa in 1989. Today she is married with four young adult children, one of them still in High School. 

In 2012, after recovering from burnout, Sibylle remembers watching her family and friends walking the road called life and feeling that she was leaving herself behind. “I had lost my zest for life and lacked a sense of purpose.” 

She made the choice to make a change and was blessed with the loving support of family and friends to help her to get back on her feet. Traditional western medicine, body talk, therapy – she did whatever she could to create shift within. 

Sibylle became interested in life coaching and two friends pointed her in the same direction and the rest is history. She started her journey of Consciousness Coaching™️ in 2015 and was 100% committed to her life and family. Consciously realigning to her essence and purpose led her to create a new reality for her life. Without changing anything on the surface, Sibylle reinvented herself at almost 50 and started a new career as a Consciousness Coach™️.  “I became a 50Plus Start-up.” Today, she supports her clients to “rewire instead of retire” to life and to start again if necessary. “I help people to become very deliberate in creating opportunities for themselves and with that a life they love to live.”

What is a Consciousness Coach™️ and why is it beneficial to have a coach?
“As a Consciousness Coach™️ I engage my clients to move forward because they say so.  Not necessarily because they think or feel they can do it. Commitment and integrity are key in my coaching methodology. As are the conscious use of language and changing the narrative or interpretation of “what is.” I teach my clients various tools of Consciousness Coaching™️ so that they can create a life they can’t wait to get up for in the morning. 

My clients take responsibility for their lives and with that they learn to take their power back. I mirror back to my clients when they are in so called “reactive” or unconscious living. This usually shows up when they are complaining, expecting, blaming, or giving up. I then show them how to choose their behaviour more consciously and how to shift into “creative” living. With my Time to Think™️ background, I am trained to help my clients identify untrue assumptions that inform their behaviour. We unpack these assumptions in a coaching session and replace them with truer and liberating ones. Assumptions inform our behaviour, according to Nancy Kline, founder of Time to Think™️ and more often than not these assumptions are not true. This work is based on the observation that the quality of just about everything we do, depends on the quality of the thinking we do about it first. I help my clients to access conscious thinking versus limited and ego cluttered thinking.

I also use the Enneagram to shine a light on the unconscious motivation of behaviour in my clients.  Again, becoming more aware of automated responses and ego patters helps my clients to step out of autopiloted living into conscious and creative living.  They become very deliberate in creating opportunities for themselves.”

What do you love about retreats?
Being in nature and off the grid with no interruptions and social media.
Nurturing and nourishing my physical and mental body. 
Active resting. I love there to be silence, enlightenment, reflection, and plenty of meditation. Walking, swimming, yoga, movement.
Spending time with like-minded, conscious people who love self-development and transformation. I (re)treat with intention seeking inner peace and calm. 
Having conscious fun and conversations. 

Between 25-28 August 2022, Sibylle and Private Chef, Award Winning Cookbook Author and Consciousness Coach™ Practitioner Alix Verrips will be hosting their Conscious Retreat in majestical Knysna, South Africa.

What can you look forward to?
• Time to Think™ and conscious conversations
• Daily Yin Yoga and meditation practice
• Additional restorative therapy sessions
• Guided hike across the reserve
• Free time for relaxation, contemplation, beach walks and much more!

Bookings are limited, so why not treat yourself to a well deserved and much needed retreat. Click here for more information and to book or send an email to hello@consciousretreats.co.za.

August may be a while away, but you can still Retreat Intentionally in your home. Retreating may also look like a 10-minute meditation, a walk in your neighbourhood, a yoga or gym session.

I don’t know about you, but I am certainly feeling inspired to do some meditation and to go for a jog as part of my intentional retreat this weekend. For more inspiring posts, you can follow and connect with Sibylle on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Images courtesy of Sibylle Sharon.

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Inspirational Piece, Interview, Profile

Getting to Know Mo Malele

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Mo Malele is a doer of many things, a wearer of many hats and a lover of people! As a poet, recording artist, award winning entrepreneur, wordsmith extraordinaire and content producer she has no shortage of creativity and determination. I recently interviewed Mo and have been left inspired…

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
With a finance and accounting background, I often describe myself as a creative at heart but with a business brain. I am a poet, recording artist, award winning entrepreneur, wordsmith extraordinaire and content producer. My dynamic personality has led me to build a career in a wide array of industries as I pursue all things that inspire, grow, and challenge me, as well as contribute positively to my community. My poetry style can be described as conscious, self-aware, self-reflective, critical, and extremely honest as I tackle various social issues like love, loss, mental health, hope, politics, economics, inequality and much more through my poetry and challenge my listeners to live life to their fullest potential as the best versions of themselves. 

Please tell us about your events company.
NK Innovations is a creative, dynamic and innovative marketing and events agency that delivers problem solving solutions and always exceeds expectation. We are a young but experienced team of highly ambitious marketing professionals. As a marketing agency we offer a wide array of ATL and BTL services, including event and project management. We have a unique ability to reach and engage with diverse consumer groups across South Africa, with relevant and receptive brand messaging that delivers ROI accretive campaigns for our clients.

What is Shopapolitan?
The expanded unemployment rate in SA sits at 42.6%, meaning almost half our workforce is economically inactive, majority of which are in townships and rural communities. We know that we need to stimulate the economy in order to create jobs and the only way to do that is through the creation of profitable, sustainable, tech-enabled businesses. Many of these entrepreneurs lack the infrastructure, resources, knowledge, and funding required to implement tech in their businesses. This is where we come in – our vision is to build economically self-sustainable communities by making innovative tech affordable and accessible to township and rural based businesses and in doing so help them to techify and digify their business. How do we do this? In a word Shopapolitan. Shopapolitan is an end-to-end e-commerce marketplace that gives township and rural based businesses everything they need to operate a profitable e-commerce business. We offer:

  1. a safe, secure, and compliant platform and payment gateway.
  2. Data analytics & Digital marketing services.
  3. Distribution and Logistics management.

What are some of the biggest challenges that you face with Shopapolitan?
The challenges we face are the very same challenges that inspired the Shopapolitan business concept which continues to drive us despite the roadblocks; lack of access to market opportunities, lack of funding and necessary infrastructure to take advantage of available opportunities. Many of these we have overcome to some extent in order to get to where we are today, however our biggest challenge is still funding to launch the platform on a wider scale so we can reach more communities, merchants and customers.  

What or who inspired the Shopapolitan concept?
Entrepreneurs and small business owners like us, who have great ideas, ambition and hard work ethic to match those great ideas, but have little to no access to markets, opportunities, resources, infrastructure, knowledge, networks and funding required to bring those ideas to life. Ironically enough, we draw inspiration and motivation from our challenges and pain points as well as those of our fellow hustlers, dreamers, entrepreneurs and small business owners.

What or who has kept you going during the pandemic?
Honestly speaking, a brutal understanding that I am back against the wall, stuck between a rock and a hard place, shipwrecked or plane-wrecked in the middle of nowhere and no-one is coming for me…no-one is coming to save me. If I am to survive, I will have to save myself, and the only way to do that is to hustle hard, hustle smart, hustle relentlessly, hustle humbly but hustle like my life depended on it because it did! And I always say the hustle never stops, it just changes form! So, keep hustling!

You are a poet, recording artist and content producer, what inspires your creativity?
Everything and everyone I get to experience! I believe that as a creative, inspiration is everywhere, provided you are listening and tuned in…provided you are conscious and aware of the life you are living. If you live on autopilot, you will miss the creative inspiration that lives hidden in the seemingly mundane moments of life. I am also inspired by how as ordinary people we all have a little bit of extraordinariness in us and if we just gave into that the world would be filled with ordinary people living their truth and creating extraordinary things, we can all experience and benefit from. The idea of living in a world where we are all consciously and constantly striving to live life as our truest and best selves both excites and inspires me because therein lies the magic!

You have a new album in the works, please could you tell us a bit about it and how it differs from your last album ‘My Country Needs Me.’
For starters ‘My Country Needs Me’ was my first album and producing that project independently taught me a lot about the business of music and what it takes to release a proper project you can be proud of, so you can definitely expect to see those “business of music” lessons learnt coming through in this album. This new album will be different in a couple of ways; 1) I am producing all the beats on it. 2) This is most likely going to have more visuals attached to it and if all goes well it will also be a visual album. 3) It is going to be shorter than the previous one and a lot more personal for all of us, not just me! 4) A lot of the pieces were written during Covid so it will be very Covid relevant.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs who are starting out?

  • Fail forward, fail fast and implement the lessons prospectively…don’t torture yourself over the past.
  • When they say no, you say next and don’t be afraid to punch above your weight!
  • It’s ok if you don’t hit gold the first time you start digging. It doesn’t mean there isn’t gold, just that you must dig deeper, longer and differently.
  • BELIEVE! Believe in yourself, your team, your idea, your project, your market etc, whatever it is, BELIEVE IN IT! And when you don’t believe, put your head down and WORK AT IT, until you believe in it again!
  • Be conscious and aware of the life you are living and the business you are building. This will help you identify the pivots and see the gaps earlier.
  • If you are getting paid in exposure or experience, find ways to monetize/commercialise that exposure/experience…remember the bank doesn’t take exposure cheques.
  • Your network is your net worth! Find a tribe of like-minded, like-hearted people and build your social capital because they will help you build your financial capital.
  • The best way to create value is to first give away value! So don’t think of what you are losing when you are giving, focus on what you are gaining by giving and that will help you create incremental value.
  • HAVE FUN! Live and work your passion! Work is an integral part of life and life is an integral part of work. Find ways, projects, people, activities to bring the 2 into harmony where your passion is at the centre of both, and they will become 1! Which in my philosophical opinion is the only way life should be lived and businesses should be built. Life and work should be in harmony with each other.

Here are the ways that you can get in contact with Mo:
Shopapolitan: info@shopapolitan.com
NK Innovations: momalele@nkinnovations.co.za

Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and visit her website.

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Community, Education, Inspirational Piece, Interview, Profile

My Year of Becoming

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My Year of Becoming

Moneeloa Chaane is a 36-year-old mother of 3 and is married to Thabiso Chaane. She is a Self-leadership Coach with a specific love for family development. She teaches effective communication skills for relationship building in the home, between the parent and child as well as between couples. She shares the journey with the parents/couples who are on a coaching journey, where through the process she shares consciousness and self-leadership tools that further empower their self-character. When Moneeloa is not doing what she loves as a coach, she is sharing her journey as a Mrs South Africa semi-finalist. I had the privilege of interviewing this phenomenal woman and now I get to share her story.

  • My Year of Becoming
  • My Year of Becoming

Please could you tell us more about Self-leadership.

Self-Leadership is built on the principle that success starts with knowing oneself, being able to generate clarity on what resonates and does not, the vision, mission, values and principles one stands for, mastering being in alignment, being able to effectively communicate these to others and being able to meet your most important needs. At the centre of it, building a healthy relationship with yourself and with others, being aware and mindful of your impact on others. My mission is to bring self-leadership to families. For couples and parents to be intentional about knowing themselves as a family, their family vision, value, principles, and their relationship. To respect and support meeting each other’s most important needs. I wish for family structures to experience less disconnect, less anxiety and resentment amongst each other and most of all more fulfilment in marriage and parent-child relationships. I wish to teach this to our youth as a key foundation to creating their own lives.

What inspired me to go into coaching was finally deciding to respond to my heart’s prompting that I have lived with for years, that I am meant to be in the humanities field of work, teaching and empowering people. It was really about taking that step out and the rest in terms of how I am meant to serve in this field is unfolding as my journey unfolds.

What inspired you to enter the Mrs South Africa 2021 pageant?

After some time of feeling discontentment, doubt in myself and really feeling insecure about my vision, fear and drown in the pressures and pains of life, I decided on this year to be the year of getting up, pulling myself together and doing it. My year of becoming, both in myself and in my business. I then decided to enter the Mrs South Africa pageant as I really wanted to step out and step out big. I wanted my business to be known and I wanted my vision and my mission to be known.

My Year of Becoming

Have you always wanted to enter the Mrs South Africa pageant, or have you entered previous pageants? How far did you go in the pageant?

The only pageant I have ever done was back in high school, winning Miss Millennium College. I had a wish to enter Miss Jam Alley back in the days and have always held a wish in me, even today to walk a Mercedes Benz fashion show. Entering Mrs SA was me saying you know what, I’ve always wished to be on a stage and this it, I am going for it.

What are your goals and aspirations that you would like to achieve in the Mrs South Africa 2021 pageant?

By being in this journey I wish to inspire:

  1. The youth to know that life starts with a desire, a dream and that is what will keep them awake to who they are and are going to be. It will keep them awake to being intentional creators of their own lives. I wish to inspire them to Dream, to SEE themselves, connect with the rhythm of their souls and dare to Be it. To go for it.
  2. To raise the volume on the message that we are developers and shapers of society, and we do so in how we parent and do family. I wish to drive my vision to help families shift how they experience each other by shifting how they communicate.
  3. I wish to be known for the vision I stand for.

What are you passionate about in life?

I am passionate about my growth, to actualise and experience the highest, truest version of myself and to always be true to my soul.

Do you have a role model or who is your greatest motivator in life to achieve your goals?

I don’t have one role model that I can say I intentionally follow, that’s my greatest motivator to achieve my dreams. Dare I say my desire to succeed and realise the powerhouse inside me is my greatest motivator.

There are people that have touched and inspired me and who I have looked up to in my journey such as Lisa Nichols, Valorie Button, Khanyi Dlomo and one that I would like to intentionally choose model after is Zamakhize Mkhize.

What/who keeps you going through challenging times?

  1. Keeping the principle “All things work out for my good” alive in me.
  2. Prayer, meditation, and coaching (talk it all out).
  3. Hiking and dance sessions with my kids.
  4. Mirror work – spend time with me.
My Year of Becoming

Do you have a self-care routine/what do you do to keep your cup full or to keep you grounded?

Oh, I have quite a number of things I love for my self-care:

  1. I love Time to Think with Sibylle Sharon – I never miss her monthly Thinking Time for Women sessions; it always leaves me feeling light in my head and renewed in my motivation.
  2. I discovered that I looove facials thanks to Netsense Beauty Spa, they have introduced me to doing facials and I absolutely love it.
  3. Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) with Jade Coaching.
  4. Mirror work
  5. Engaging with like-minded people (monthly Creative Consciousness trainings- absolutely fill me up).

Do you have any advice to those who would like to enter a pageant like Mrs South Africa?

Your why will be your best asset throughout the journey. Be asserted in your why and carve out your own experience.

Do you have any hobbies? I love Hiking

Where can we vote for you to get you to the next round?

To vote you can sms “Moneeloa Chaane” to 35959
10x smses per person make a huge difference.

Do you have any charities that you support? If yes, please name them and why you support them?

I am a monthly donor to Unicef because of its alignment to passion for driving positive child development through educating and supporting parents and family development. Through this journey I have registered a foundation that will be focused on youth self-leadership development.

Thank you to Moneeloa Chaane for sharing her inspiring story. Please follow her on Facebook and Instagram, as well as connect with her on Foundations and Bonds Coaching and Skills Development Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Education, Inspirational Piece, Lifestyle, Personal Piece, Profile

Journey with The Noble Pursuit

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Peace and contentment.
Two words that most of us strive to achieve, but we simply cannot get it right. Life is busy. Busy with work, home-schooling, extra activities and taking care of our families. Where do we find the time for peace and contentment?

Over the last few months, I have mentioned in a few social media posts that I was on a journey of self-care and self-discovery. 2020 was a year where I grew from a place where I carried a lot of pain, self-doubt, criticism and honestly, a place where I never felt good enough about myself or anything that I ever did (a blog post for another day). I have come a long way since then and I am grateful for my support system. I am at a point now where I want peace and contentment in my life, but I questioned how I would go about achieving this. Not to long thereafter I attended a workshop by Linda Van Der Westhuizen about self- mastery. Linda took us through a process and showed us how we could step into our power and build a life of peace and contentment. The stars were aligned, and I had found my answer…The Noble Pursuit

I recently interviewed Linda to find out more about The Noble Pursuit:

What is transformational coaching?
Transformational coaching is aimed at permanent and profound change. It’s that simple. Change that is long lasting and aimed at peace and contentment.

Why did you start this journey? How has it changed your life?
I only teach what I have directly experienced. My journey into my “self” has been life long, but it was intensified during the healing process after my divorce. Through my process over the last few years, I have come to such a wonderful place of peace and contentment and I have witnessed how this state has changed my reality dramatically.

Let’s put it to you this way, four years ago I dreaded the start of each day. I was overweight, unhappy and smoking. I felt unsatisfied with my life and depressed. My finances and relationships were a mess. I had no direction and basically did what was necessary to make it through the day. The sad part was that I had done this for so long that it had become normal and even comfortable for me.

Today my life is very different.

I live in paradise and get to do what I love every single day of my life. I scuba dive every weekend and visit the ocean at least twice a week. I travel and meet new people and have new experiences regularly. I have people in my life who care for me and I am financially dependent on no one! I wake up every day grateful for the life I lead and how free I am to live! To thrive!

Who can benefit from this journey?
It’s easy to say everybody could, right? Because we all could do with some peace and contentment, but most people are comfortable to stay right where they are, just like I was. Therefore, I only work with women who are ready and willing to change:

This woman may be going through a life transition and needs support.
She may feel so dissatisfied with her life that the thought of remaining unchanged fills her with more terror than the idea of the “unknown” of change.
She may be struggling to level up in her life or business and needs someone to guide her as she rises up.

These women I call my soul mate clients, the criteria is simple. A woman who is ready and willing to change.

Where do our challenges come from?
Once upon a time we made a decision about how things work. That decision became a rule that informs how we move around in the world and interact in it and that rule is a belief that we hold. Our beliefs are complex, impacting what we think and feel about money, relationships, ourselves, the world, how the world works, the list goes on. In most cases the challenge is as a result of a belief.

“Chose a new belief and the challenge is overcome. That is my method!”

Well, I am willing and ready to change! I have started a 6-week journey with The Noble Pursuit, and I look forward to sharing my progress with you. Please keep an eye on my social media pages to follow my progress.

You can find The Noble Pursuit on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_noble_pursuit

To find out about the next workshop or how Linda can assist you on your journey to peace and contentment, you can contact her on:

Email: linda@scivs.co.za
Mobile: 0716367692

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Entertainment, Interview, Lifestyle, Profile, Review

Globes Countdown Live

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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and dick clark productions (dcp) has announced their partnership with Twitter for “HFPA Presents: Globes Countdown Live,” the official pre-show for the “78th Annual Golden Globe Awards®.”

Actress and recording artist Sofia Carson and NBC Access Hollywood entertainment reporter Zuri Hall will host the 90-minute countdown live from The Beverly Hilton.

The pre-show will stream live from the official Golden Globes Twitter account https://twitter.com/goldenglobes and https://www.goldenglobes.com/ at 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM PST/6:30 PM – 8 PM EST in the United States and 3:00am in South Africa.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will host the bicoastal “78th Annual Golden Globe Awards®” airing live on NBC coast-to-coast on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST on NBC and will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.

Viewers can engage with the pre-show directly by participating in the ongoing polls from https://twitter.com/goldenglobes, the results of which will be revealed by the panel, as well as Tweet their questions for a chance to have them asked during the interviews.

Twitter Fleets will also be updated with live content from the pre-show and ceremony. Frontline workers will be included throughout the show during vignettes in which they share their favourite nominated films and television shows that have helped get them through the pandemic.

“This year more than ever, fans have been at home consuming the best in film and television and coming to Twitter to talk about it,” said Sarah Rosen, Head of US Entertainment Partnerships, Twitter. “Partnering with the Golden Globes to bring the official pre-show to Twitter will give fans the opportunity to celebrate the best of entertainment, live and in real time, where the conversation happens.”

About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was founded in 1943 – then known as the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association – by a group of entertainment journalists based in Los Angeles. During World War II, the non-profit organization established a cultural bridge between Tinseltown and millions of cinema fans around the world who demanded drama and inspiration through entertainment. The HFPA continues to do so today with a membership representing more than 55 countries. Since 1944, the group has hosted the annual Golden Globe® Awards – the premier ceremony which honors achievements in both television and film. The licensing fees from the Golden Globe® Awards has enabled the organization to donate more than $44.5 million to more than 70 entertainment-related charities, film restoration, scholarship programs and humanitarian efforts over the last 25 years. For more information, please visit the Golden Globes website and follow them on Twitter (@GoldenGlobes), Instagram (https://instagram.com/goldenglobes), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GoldenGlobes).

About Zuri Hall:
Zuri Hall (born June 2, 1988) is an American entertainment reporter, television personality, actress and producer. Hall serves as a correspondent for Access Hollywood on NBC. She is also the side-line reporter for NBC’s primetime summer competition show American Ninja Warrior. Zuri is currently the host of the ‘Hot Happy Mess’ — a new podcast, in partnership with iHeartRadio’s Black Effect Podcast Network. HHM is your new go-to podcast for mindfully ambitious Millennial women; committed to sharing diverse stories and point of views.

Information and Image Courtesy of Jarred Doyle Consulting.

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Inspirational Piece, Profile

2 Glasses of Strawberry Milkshake Please

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The 25th of September 2016 was a beautiful spring day. We sat in the restaurant looking out on the beautiful sunny day at the block of flats across the road, while enjoying our favourite strawberry flavoured milkshake. Once we placed our orders, we calmly sat and discussed all the exciting things we had planned for the coming year. Just to name a few, here is our bucket list on what we had planned to do together:

  • Take the Citysightseeing Bus in Johannesburg and Soweto
  • Take the Gautrain
  • Visit Magaliesburg

He looked so calm, happy and at peace. These moments that I had with him I would not change for anything. That was the last father and daughter outing I ever had with my father and that is why 25 September is a memory I hold true and dear. If you are reading my blog for the first time, please click on the following link to read the blog post about how remarkable my late father was and about his passing on 6 November 2016: https://tarynvictor.com/nothing-prepared-day/

As the year’s passed by, I found it a bit easier to manage the pain that came with the loss, although not one day went by that I did not miss him or think of him. I found myself dealing with something that was much heavier that I could not let go…I was dealing with guilt and unforgiveness. The heaviness that I carried in my heart was that I was struggling to forgive myself for the past and this was weighing heavily on me.  I blamed myself for not telling him I loved him more, for not doing more for him, for the arguments and disagreements we had from time to time and the things we may have said to each other during those moments that we did not mean. We always resolved the disagreements and forgave each other quickly, but I simply could not forgive myself. Why should I be forgiven? I had the best father in the world and I simply didn’t do enough for him. I failed as his daughter. For over three and a half years this weighed heavily on me. I didn’t know how to break free and forgive myself. I felt that I deserved this punishment.

Last year I reached out to Consciousness Coaches Jade Fedder and Sibylle Sharon who told me about the Forgiveness Masterclass. When I attended the online class, I felt welcomed and it was a safe space where I was not judged. We learned that it all came down to a decision to forgive yourself or to forgive another. After learning about the tools we could use in the journey of forgiveness, brave participants came forward and took the step to forgive. It was such a beautiful thing to see how someone had finally freed themselves from whatever was needed to be forgiven. My turn came and I was asked if I was ready to make the decision. Do you forgive yourself? After remaining silent for some time, I finally answered Sibylle…Yes, I do forgive myself. The tears ran down my cheek like a river flowing down stream. This weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, after three and a half years I was finally free of my unforgiveness. I would like to say a special thank you to Coaches Jade and Sibylle for helping me and others to deal with unforgiveness and to let it go.

Forgiveness sets you free and opens up the door to new opportunities and possibilities. If you would like to attend a Forgiveness Masterclass, please send an email to hello@sibylle.co.za. Visit their websites: www.jadecoaching.co.za and www.sibylle.co.za.


You deserve to set yourself free.

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Entertainment, Music, Profile

We’re Not Done with Music Sensation Marianthe!

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Not even a global pandemic can slow the vivacious MARIANTHE down! After the resounding success of her catchy single Over You earlier in the year and her debut single Me & Myself last July, the vivacious 19-year-old has released her latest single Télos (Done With You):

Marianthe brought her dynamic song-writing team of industry greats Tjaart van der Walt and Matthew Marinus, together again to pen this fun pop, dance-party style track, written in both English and Greek.

She gives more insight into the track; “Télos (Done with You) is about having the power to leave behind someone who is messing you around and treating you like a game. I wanted to write about this type of situation, but for it not to be in a “sappy and heart-breaking” manner. I wanted the song to be fun and have a dance-party vibe to it because moving on from this situation should make you feel in control and powerful.”

She continues; “This song is written in Greek and English and that is so special to me because it is showcasing my heritage which I am so proud of.  I wanted this to be different to my previous songs, ‘Me & Myself’ and ‘Over You’, by infusing my heritage in a way that makes it possible for everyone to enjoy.”

Essentially, the Greek lyrics in the song perfectly capture the “no-care” attitude of leaving this person who’s messed you around behind with the translation being, “I’ll show you what I got. I will forget you. My life is one big party without you in it. I’m done with you and I’m not sorry. Who do you think you are.”

It was important to Marianthe to add in the special feature of the Bouzouki – which is a famous traditional Greek 8-stringed guitar that has been part of Greek cultural music for decades. She was thrilled to be able to have Savvas Hajiphilippou (a grade 11 from Saheti School) join her in studio and record this instrument, adding a unique element to the track.

She wanted to capture the pop culture of English music as well as influence her Greek roots in the lyrics and instrumentation.

Co-producer and co-songwriter Tjaart van der Walt adds: “Working with Marianthe is an absolute honor and privilege. It’s a breeze making music with her. Her vocal range and capabilities are next level. She picks up on melodies and harmonies so quickly that it’s frightening. Very musical. She always arrives at the studio with lots of jokes and smiles, making the songwriting and production process a lot of fun. She makes my job very easy. I am very excited to see where her career is going and I am very fortunate to have been able to see how she grew over the years. She is a force to be reckoned with.” 

The timing of the single release was also important to her because it also serves as a kind of ‘farewell’ tribute to South Africa and a ‘thank you’ for all who have supported her thus far on her incredible journey.

Marianthe re-located to London in August 2020 to start an exciting new chapter in her career.

In September, she began her studies at the prestigious Arts Educational Schools (known as ArtsEd) in London as part of a 3-year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Course. ArtsEd is ranked the top Musical Theatre College in London and is funded by Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

2020 has been a bumper year for Marianthe. Not only two single releases, (with Télos (Done With You) being entirely recorded and released during lockdown), but also finishing her 101 Full Time Industry Course and her ATCL Musical Theatre Exam for Trinity College at Stageworx Performing Arts School.

She also entered the West End Star, Jodie Steele’s Musical Theatre Star Search Competition facilitated by Jodie Steele Associates and with the involvement of The Theatre Café in London, and reached the Top 6 of over 500 submissions.

The world is certainly Marianthe’s oyster as she begins her exciting next chapter in London, while still staying connected to her home of South Africa through her music.

She concludes; “I’m so excited for everyone to listen to Télos (Done With You) and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Here’s to staying in touch across the airwaves!”

‘Télos (Done With You)’ is available now across all major digital platforms: https://smarturl.it/webhcq

Connect with Marianthe on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marianthepanas/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/marianthe_panas
YouTube: Marianthe

Information courtesy of Collett Dawson from The CoLab Network.

Photo credits : Justine Mac Photography

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Entertainment, Profile

Mo Magic Live!

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Having captivated audiences on television and stages internationally, Mo Magic will leave you spellbound by his combination of world class magic, mystifying mentalism and family friendly comedy.

This interactive season at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square in Sandton, running from 27 – 31 August 2019 for five shows only, is one of a kind experience that you can share with the whole family.

Mo Magic, affable and charming, will keep you entertained as he takes you on a journey of joy and delight. The show combines a number of illusions and routines from Mo’s various theatre productions along with a few new surprises so don’t miss this short season in Johannesburg.

Mo Magic has been astounding audiences on a full time basis since 2010. He discovered his passion for the art of magic whilst studying for his engineering degree.

In the 9 years that followed, Mo Magic has achieved so much.  His TV series on SABC3 was the second most watched South African series on SABC3!  Mo Magic’s contribution to the art of magic has been recognised in the international magic community as he is the first and only South African magician to be featured on the cover of the world’s largest magazine.

Mo believes that the art of magic is a beautiful metaphor for living the impossible and his uplifting performance contains a positive message of believing in your dreams, experiencing joy and whether you are a fan of magic, the arts or want to escape the day to day routine, this show is perfect for you, family, friends and colleagues.

Show Dates: Tuesday 27th -Saturday 31 August 2019 (5 shows only)

Time: 8:15pm

Duration: 90 minutes

Ticket Price : R165

Book at  Computicket

Watch the Mo Magic Video Showreel on Youtube:

http://bit.ly/2pTupnL

Information courtesy of  Debra Batzofin and the Colab Network.

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Entertainment, Music, Profile, Theatre

Joseph Clark and The Johannesburg Big Band

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Join Joseph Clark & The Johannesburg Big Band for one show only at Sun Arena, Time Square, Pretoria on Sunday 23rd September 2018.

Enjoy an afternoon of classic big band tradition with famous songs of the greatest jazz and swing songs, interspersed with contemporary numbers made popular by the stars who performed and composed them, as performed by the crème de la crème of South African artists.

The show will highlight the inimitable flair of Joseph Clark who performed The Music Of Queen last month at the Sun Arena to a great audience response.

Joseph Clark and The Johannesburg Big Band

Joseph Clark is one of South Africa’s leading performers with over 40 years of experience as a professional singer/actor/ballet dancer, winning numerous awards for all 3 genres. He has appeared as a lead soloist with all the Symphony Orchestras in South Africa as well as with orchestras in Europe and the USA. He has been the soloist for North Netherland Orchestra (NNO) since 2009. Highlights include the honour to sing for former President Nelson Mandela’s 85th Birthday Celebration and singing in a packed Gelredome stadium in The Netherlands to an audience of over 30,000 people. Currently, Joseph is touring South Africa and Europe with his internationally acclaimed production of Joseph Clark – The Music Of QUEEN.

He is known as a guest artist on Noot vir Noot, Classics is Groot and Strictly Come Dancing and has featured in numerous television and cinema commercials in South Africa, the USA, Israel and China. When not touring he is in high demand as a corporate entertainer and as a voice-artist, talking and singing, for radio & television.

Adam Howard

Adam Howard was born and educated in the UK. He boasts a music degree (BMus GSMD LGSM) from the world famous Guildhall School Of Music and Drama in London, and originally came to South Africa to take up the position of principal trumpet of the New Arts Philharmonic Orchestra Of Pretoria (based at the State Theatre) in 1997. He was also principal trumpet player for the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Howard owns and runs the award-winning 3-studio facility ‘Howard Audio’ – based at Ministry Of Illusion, Bryanston, JHB. There, Howard Audio’s services include – music composition, album production, arrangements, audio final mix, sound design and musical direction for corporate events. He has musical directed, composed, arranged, produced and performed music for many of South Africa’s top artists, among them – Hugh Masekela, Freshly Ground, Loyiso, Mbongeni Ngema, Brenda Fassie, Thandiswa Mazwai, Danny K, Kabelo, Mafikozolo, The Parlotones and many more. His clients have included VW, Toyota, Discovery, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

He formed the Johannesburg Big Band in 2011, and the band features some of the best jazz and session musicians in South Africa.

Adam has won several awards for music in advertising, including a Gold Cannes Lion, Gold Loeries and SAMRO Wawela awards. Clients such as TBWA, FCB, Y&R, Ogilvy, Ireland-Davenport, & MetropolitanRepublic, continue to use his musical services.

He performed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup “kick-off” concert, performing with the likes of Alicia Keys, John Legend, Hugh Masekela and Angelique Kidjo.

For a few years now, Adam has been the Musical Director for William Kentridge’s “Refuse The Hour” – an “Avant-Guard Chamber Opera” that is currently touring the world.

Joseph Clark and The Johannesburg Big Band

Together with this world-class-17-piece big band, directed by Adam Howard, the audience will have an unforgettable afternoon as they are taken on an ultimate musical journey of instantly recognizable hits including something for everyone.

The scintillating celebration will include hits like; New York-New York, I’ve got you under my skin, Quando Quando Quando, The way you look tonight, Don’t Rain On My Parade, Feeling Good, Heartache Tonight, For Once In My Life, (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, I’m A Believer, Fever, Girl from Ipanema, Mr Bojangles, Mack The Knife and many more.

Joseph Clark and The Johannesburg Big Band

The Johannesburg Big Band is a collection of the finest jazz and session musicians in South Africa. Formed in 2011 and run by its Musical Director, Adam Howard through his company Howard Audio, they have performed at many functions, including sold-out performances for the 702 “Easter Celebration” at Nelson Mandela Square, hosted a number of public performances at the Lyric Theatre and have performed with the likes of Timothy Moloi, Chiano Sky, Swing City, The Soweto Gospel Choir, The Parlotones and many more.

They are also active on the event scene – having played at many corporate events with clients such as Audi and FNB. In 2016 – the Johannesburg Big Band hosted a live Christmas Day TV show for Mnet and performed with Swing City, Heinz Winkler and the Shoowop Shop.

The 17-member troupe has a repertoire of over 3000 of the most celebrated big band songs.

Joseph Clark and the Johannesburg Big Band performs for one show only on Sunday 23rd September at 15h00 at Sun Arena, Time Square in Pretoria. Tickets are just R200 and can be booked through Computicket.

Discounts for groups of 10 or more, senior citizens, scholars and students apply.

Sun Arena boasts an array of restaurants that gives you the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a delicious Sunday lunch before the show, or Sundowners after the show!

Information and Pictures Courtesy of The Colab Network.

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