The Relocated South African

• Finding Our Future Children' s Home in the Isle of Man with Alicia and Silvano Pizzocaro - E16

  Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to uproot your whole life and move your family to a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea? Or what would make someone leave the warmth and familiarity of South Africa for a place where summer might only last a few days?In this episode, I chat with Alicia and Silvano Pizzocaro, a South African couple who decided to search for a safer environment and better future for their children, and chose the Isle of Man as their new home. We talk about everything from the notorious weather and the world-famous TT motorbike race, to what it really means to feel settled and build a new sense of community far from home.I truly enjoyed hearing Alicia and Silvano’s story. Their honesty about the ups and downs of life abroad, as well as the humour in their day-to-day experiences – like walking home at 2am with a pizza in hand, something they’d never do in South Africa – was inspiring and relatable. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed our conversation.“There is a better life out there than what South Africa has to offer.” - Alica Pizzocaro00:00 Introduction02:15 Experiencing the annual TT races05:38 When and why they left SA07:22 Lockdown on the Isle of Man11:21 Their daughter was an alien14:05 Visiting SA16:31 Finding friends and community abroad20:49 Feeling isolated22:27 Sharing funny stories 24:02 Considering safety and loadshedding26:01 Settling into their new life27:41 Advice for anyone emigratingThis podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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• Relocating To the UK As An Older Parent with Martin Labuschagne - E15

  What drives someone to leave behind the only home they've ever known? Is it crime, corruption, or simply searching for a better future for your child? Perhaps it’s all of these. In this episode, I interview Martin Labuschagne, who made the big move from Pretoria, South Africa, to the UK with his wife and young son in 2019. Martin’s story stood out to me because, like myself, he made the decision to emigrate later in life, at the age of 48. We talk about what it's like to start over at an older age, the challenges of red tape, and the emotional toll of leaving family and friends behind.Speaking to Martin was a real eye-opener. I felt a genuine connection with his story, especially his honesty about the difficulties, sacrifices, and the strong sense of responsibility he feels as a parent. His insights about integrating with a new community, dealing with practical hurdles, and the emotional side of moving abroad really resonated with me.If you’re considering relocating or are interested in how others navigate this journey, I’m sure you’ll find Martin’s story as compelling and relatable as I did.“If you can go, go in your 20s or in your 30s, go as soon as you can so you can start making a life there earlier.” - Martin Labuschagne00:00 Introduction03:32 Rushing to relocate pre-Brexit05:50 Proving their relationship was real10:25 Immigrate early15:52 Moving to the UK is expensive 18:58 Would they ever go back?22:40 Giving away his beloved books25:06 Writing from the heart27:16 Feeling numb when they left SA29:45 Advice for anyone thinking of leavingResourcesRead Martin’s original article about emigrating from South Africa, published by Netwerk24: https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/stemme/menings/martin-labuschagne-teenoor-britse-jeugdiges-is-kinders-in-sa-nogal-soet-20250618 This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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• Perceptions And Misconceptions Of Leaving South Africa with Khaya Dlanga - E14

  Have you ever wondered what it really feels like to leave South Africa behind, or why some people choose to seek opportunities elsewhere? Is it about following your ambitions, looking for safety, or simply searching for a different way of life?In this episode, I’m joined by Khaya Dlanga - a South African author, marketing executive, and media personality who has achieved so much both at home and abroad. Khaya might be best known for his storytelling and books, but today we dive deep into the emotional side of what it means to leave South Africa: what it means to miss your family, how to cope with grief when you’re far from loved ones, and why building community is so important wherever you find yourself in the world.Having read Khaya’s latest book, 'Life Is Like That Sometimes', I felt a real connection to his stories about family, loss, and finding belonging. It was both moving and uplifting to talk honestly about the sacrifices, hopes, and challenges that come with relocating, and why, even in the darkest of times, we can still “glow in the dark”.So if you’re thinking of moving abroad, or you’re already living far from home and missing those everyday South African moments, I hope you’ll find this episode both comforting and inspiring.“Depending on what drove you overseas, your attitude will be different depending on whether there's a pull factor or a push factor.” - Khaya Dlanga00:00 Introduction05:15 YouTube, a happy accident07:05 Trevor Noah is a global citizen13:35 Pull vs push factor 15:12 Unemployment in South Africa21:40 Writing got Khaya through grief30:21 Building your community34:45 Advice for staying in South Africa39:30 “Even in my darkest hour, I glow in the dark”ResourcesConnect with Khaya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khayadlangaFollow Khaya on X (Twitter): https://x.com/khayadlanga This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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• From Barcelona to Cape Cod with Dian and Margaux de Wet - E13

  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pack up your life in South Africa and move somewhere completely different, all for the sake of a better future for your children? Or what goes through your mind when you look at your home country and start thinking about life twenty years from now?In this episode, I spoke with Margaux and Dian de Wet, a couple originally from Johannesburg who took the big leap to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. Their story takes us all the way from Joburg to Barcelona, where Dian studied for his MBA, before finally arriving in America, where they've built a new life for themselves and their twins.I really enjoyed talking with Margaux and Dian. My conversation with the de Wets was refreshing, and they were open about the tough decisions, sacrifices, and adjustments they had to make - the biggest one was leaving family behind, but there was also getting used to new cultures, and tackling the realities of visas and finding community in a foreign place. Their reflections on knowing your "why" and sticking together as a couple really hit home for me, and I think their perspective will resonate with anyone considering a similar change.“I didn't want to go and be poor in another country. That was a big thing for me.” - Dian de Wet00:00 Introduction04:09 Doing his MBA abroad 08:03 Creating a new future for their family15:24 Getting used to the cold17:53 Finding South African community in Cape Cod23:26 US Visa challenges30:22 Safety abroad vs South Africa32:47 Domestic help is expensive abroad 35:34 Advice for emigrantsResourcesJoin the South African Women in The USA & Canada Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1957344347867518/ This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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• Staying Positive About South Africa with Paul Harris - E12

  You’ve probably seen South Africa in the news a lot lately - and not a lot of it is good news! How does the news impact the decision to leave, stay, or even return? And what is it that keeps people positive about South Africa, despite all the challenges that make headlines?In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Paul Harris, a well-known South African entrepreneur, businessman, and one of the founders of Rand Merchant Bank - and my former boss, I might add! With so much negativity and noise in the media about South Africa, often from those who have left, I wanted to get Paul’s perspective on why he still feels so strongly about the country, and why it's important to report good news too.Chatting with Paul was a refreshing experience, mainly because of his ongoing optimism about South Africa, even when times are tough. Our conversation helped me reflect on my own journey and the reasons behind deciding to move abroad. It also reminded me why, despite having left, I’ll always love my country! Hopefully, our discussion can help others think more deeply about what it really means to stay or leave, and how much our attitude and actions can impact our future - no matter where we are in the world.“I'm a proper South African and more South African than any Australian is Australian and any American is an American.” - Paul Harris00:00 Introduction05:33 South Africa's resilience over the years06:35 Being positive about South Africa11:12 “Would you live in the wilderness or would you live in a zoo?”16:09 South Africans are resourceful and aspirational21:56 Adapting to a new culture abroad27:38 Improving South Africa-US relations32:14 Navigating opinions on social mediaResourcesRead Paul’s original ‘message to a friend overseas’ on Biznewshere: https://www.biznews.com/sarenewal/2025/01/14/paul-harris-no-need-to-stress-about-sa This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:https://www.zapods.com

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