Digital Story Teller

28/07/2023

South African Lynda Smith, a thought leader about the longevity revolution and the stages of aging as a modern elder, is a recipient of a prestigious bursary supported by UK CommonAge Research and Innovation.

We are proud to have worked with Lynda Smith's company Refirement Network, producing a podcast to educate people about living longer and with purpose.

No one deserves this more than Lynda who has been at the forefront of education about the impact of longevity in South Africa long before others recognized its importance on the future of society.

She will be attending a conference in Glascow, with other experts in September this year.
Congratulations Lynda!
Fifty Plus-Skills Refirement Network

Seven leaders from developing Commonwealth countries to attend the Global Ageing Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 6-8 September 2023

14/12/2022

Jim Leatt is a man of considerable intellect and standing in the academic community. At 83 years of age, he is still finding purpose in seeking answers. He is the epitome of someone who embraces life long learning. Humble and wise, he is a man worth listening to by every one seeking direction in life.
His interview is one of the episodes from the podcast "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" which can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Audible or anywhere you find your podcasts.

18/11/2022

Do you know that Spotify not only has music but thousands of podcasts? You can find almost any topic that interests you.
You can listen when you are connected to Wi-Fi or download episodes to your phone so you can listen when you don't have connectivity.

Podcasts are the new talk radio except you can listen to what you want, when you want. I listen to podcasts about books, history, science, movies, politics, a wide range of guests and even completely wacky comedic content.

Podcasts give you access to a whole new world of ideas. Best of all is to plug your earphones in or connect to a Bluetooth device while you are doing chores, cooking, mowing the lawn or driving.

I have produced two podcasts, Red Wine & Blue Jeans, which is aimed at people who are over fifty and trying to decide how to live the next 50 years of life. The longevity revolution is bringing a whole new set of challenges!

My second one is Fireside Chats, where I talk to ordinary South Africans with interesting stories.
Podcasts are available every where (most often free). There are Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or Audible and many more platforms.
Go exploring. You may become hooked like me. 😊

13/11/2022

If you are marketing anything, this is a helpful tip about how to engage and attract your potential market.

Story telling is universal and an ancient custom that began when our first ancestors learned to communicate sitting around a fire. O...

13/10/2022

Simone Le Hane has a history of achievement, yet in her 60s she is reinventing her life with the view to living the next 30 years in the best way possible. Listen to the podcast "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible or anywhere you find your podcasts.

08/10/2022

Dr Jim Leatt has a prestigious career in the world of academia and an impressive track record at the forefront of change in three major university institutions. At the age of 83 he is not interested in resting on his laurels but continues to ask questions about the meaning of life. His humble and humorous approach to living the second half of life is a delightful listening experience. The podcast "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible or anywhere you find your podcasts.

06/10/2022

This is an amazing story with a witty, intelligent woman, who despite adversity is reinventing herself during the second half of of life. We guarantee you will enjoy this conversation! Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Audible.

21/09/2022

Another great listen with a former CEO in the retirement industry about his personal views and insights on living the second half of life. Tune into our podcast "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Audible. Or click on the link below.

Click over here👉🏽 http://ow.ly/6iAx50KHEbC to listen to the conversation with Arthur Case. Our series of podcasts explores how to live the second half of life in the best way possible.

19/09/2022

If you are 50 plus or have parents who are living their second half of life, this podcast is for you. Digital Story Teller is proud to be associated with the "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" podcast which can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Audible. Or click on the link below.

A short conversation with the sponsors on why we decided to do this series.

09/09/2022

Iff you are heading into the second half of your life and need some encouragement, this is the podcast for you. "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" is about having conversatios with people wko just like red wine and blue jeans, get better as they age.

A 6-part series of podcasts not to be missed! Red Wine & Blue Jeans is a podcast that explores how to live the second half of life in the best way possible.
Click on this link👉🏽 http://ow.ly/6fuO50KFigZ to listen to part 1 where the founders & sponsors of this series - Rob Jones from Shire Retirement Properties and Lynda Smith from Refirement Network, are in conversation about the series.

09/09/2022

Digital Story Teller is proud to be associated with the production of a new podcast series "Red Wine & Blue Jeans" in partnership with Lynda Smith of Refirement Network and Rob Jones of Shire Consulting. Everyone is living longer than before and these conversations about how to best live the second half of life are inspiring. Listen to the stories of people who, like red wine and blue jeans, just get better as they age.
Follow on Spotify, Amazon Music or click on the link below.

Join us as we engage in conversation with individuals around the second half of life.Be inspiresBe encouraged

30/09/2021

Rayne Stroebel is passionate about changing perceptions about the elderly. His compassion shines through as he talks about de-instutionalising the lives of older people and creating a life worth living whether it be in a care home or retirement village.

He is not afraid to challenge the system and debunk thinking around being old. In the end we all grow older. He activism is for a better future for all of us when we become elderly.

Listen to his interview on the podcast "The Story Teller" available on Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts or go to our website https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com/

29/09/2021

Rayne Stroebel is an activist for the elderly. In this episode of the podcast "The Story Teller" he talks about the problem of institutionalizing the aged in care homes and retirement villages, our perceptions of what it means to be elderly in an ageist society, understanding dementia and the need to create a life worth living for those in long term care.
This episode will be published on Thursday 30th September.
"The Story Teller" is available on Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts or go directly to our website https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com/

28/09/2021

We all know someone older than us. We forget that we are all getting older and that some of us may end up in a care home or retirement village. In our interview with Rayne Stroebel, he challenges the system of institutionalising the elderly, ageism and shares his research into dementia.
He is passionate about this issue and what he has to say is a wake up call for all of us.
Listen to our podcast "The Story Teller" on Thursday 30th. It can be found on Spotify, Audible, Google Podcast or go directly to our website https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com/
Below is a short preview of his interview.

03/07/2021

Nomvula Buthelezi is a dynamic, passionate woman whose empathy for people is rooted in her own personal journey.

In our podcast, Nomvula is incredibly open, authentic and not afraid to share her vulnerabilities. We discuss religion, identity, culture, coping with depression, authenticity, community pressure and motherhood in our new episode "We are all just human."

Follow "The Story Teller" on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or go directly to our platform https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com

She describes herself as a People Advocate, Independent HR Practitioner, Social Impact Revolutionary, Mentor, Coach, Board Member and Mother.

She recently left a career of fifteen years in the corporate world, to set up her own HR company ZamaShenge Consulting.

She also contributes to several NPOs such as Skateistan, DueDash and SHARPDigi amongst many.

01/07/2021

Nomvula Buthelezi has a very impressive LinkedIn profile.
She describes herself as a People Advocate, Independent HR Practitioner, Social Impact Revolutionary, Mentor, Coach, Board Member and Mother.

She recently left a career of fifteen years in the corporate world, to set up her own HR company ZamaShenge Consulting.
She also contributes to several NPOs such as Skateistan, DueDash, SHARPDigi amongst many.

She is a dynamic, passionate and charismatic woman who says "My focus is on the advancement of people, I believe that creativity is endless when people have access to resources, support and the environment enables them to thrive."

Her empathy for people is rooted in her own personal journey. In our interview with Nomvula she is incredibly open, authentic and not afraid to share her vulnerabilities. It is one of the most honest interviews you will hear.

Our podcast will be published on Saturday 3rd July at 9am. Follow "The Story Teller" on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or go directly to our platform at https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com/

06/06/2021

Catherine Croxton is a woman with a passion. In our podcast she shares her insights about a modern form of poverty "digital illiteracy" and her own personal journey to find solutions.
Listen to "The Story Teller" podcast hosted by Michele Alexander on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music or go directly to our platform https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com

Catherine talks about the establishment of SHARP Digital, a non-profit organisation providing starter digital literacy skills to 1st generation and 1st-time users of the Internet and digital technology.
"We are a young non-profit organisation with a passion for ‘turning the tide on the digital divide’.

Our mission is to give teenagers and adults with no or limited experience of the Internet or digital technology the actionable digital skills they need to begin using the tools they already have at their fingertips."

SHARP Digital Catherine Croxton https://www.sharpdigital.co.za/

05/06/2021

Listen to our podcast with Catherine Croxton on Sunday 6th June. She confronts us with some frightening facts about our collective digital blind spot.
Listen to "The Story Teller" hosted by Michele Alexander on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible or Amazon Music or go directly to our platform https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com

The challenge that Catherine has to face daily is "What's the use of the Internet if you don't know how to use it?"
That's the problem faced by the majority of South Africans.

27 million South Africans are NOT connected to the Internet.
31 million do not have an email address.
A majority of those who do have an email address do not know how to use it.
Only 1 in 10 households have a computer.
More than 50% of South Africans do have a smartphone - but many of them use them for just WhatsApp and Facebook.
​37% of South Africans do not believe the Internet is useful for them.

In our podcast Catherine talks about her unusual journey to get to where she is today running the NPO SHARP Digital which attempts to help people out of the scourge of modern digital poverty.
https://www.sharpdigital.co.za/
SHARP Digital

23/05/2021

Life on the Fire Line

In South Africa, as in so many other countries, wild fires can be devastating. Patrick Ryan was on the scene of the fire on Table Mountain ...

19/05/2021

In South Africa, as in so many other countries, wild fires can be devastating.
Patrick Ryan was on the scene of the fire in Table Mountain Nature Reserve which destroyed parts of the University of Cape Town (UCT), causing the evacuation of thousands of students in April.

His passion for photographing wild fires and his work as a volunteer fire fighter has culminated in a mission to improve how we manage wild fires in this country.

Listen to his insightful interview on our podcast "The Story Teller" found on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music or Audible. Or you can go directly to our platform by clicking here.
https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com/

Contact Ryan here: http://vulcanwildfire.co.za/
Vulcan Wildfire Management

18/05/2021

The fire on the 18th April that caused so much damage to UCT and the evacuation of thousands of students has brought wild fires to the center of attention again.

Listen to our interview with wildfire management expert
Patrick Ryan who was on the ground.

It will be available on our podcast "The Story Teller" on Wednesday from 9am on Spotify, Google Podcasts or Amazon Music. Or click here to go directly to our platform: https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com

All photos courtesy Patrick Ryan. http://vulcanwildfire.co.za/about/

17/05/2021

This photographic album by Patrick Ryan documents the spread of the fire that made world headlines because of the destruction of parts of the University of Cape Town and the evacuation of thousands of students.

Stay tuned for our interview with Patrick Ryan on our podcast "The Story Teller" on Wednesday in which he shares his thoughts on the state of wild fire management in South Africa today.

06/05/2021

All our podcasts with amazing South Africans who have an interesting story to tell, can be found on Spotify. Have a listen and let us know what you think 😊

Listen to The Story Teller on Spotify. We talk to people in South Africa who have special stories to tell. These personal stories create a greater understanding and empathy about the lives of people who live at the southern tip of Africa.

23/04/2021

Why good, authentic story telling matters if you want people to remember you or your business...

16/04/2021

In this short video, Deshun Deysel talks about growing up in the apartheid era, wanting to become a mountaineer, what she felt about carrying the mantle of first black woman on the slopes of Everest and life as a businesswoman, wife and mother. Her answers may surprise you! Let us know what you think? Feel free to share this story.

For the full version of her interview, listen to our podcast at https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com/

08/04/2021

Read more about Deshun Deysel who made history in 1996 as a member of the first official South African expedition to Mount Everest. Listen to the podcast (see link in story) in which she talks candidly about her youth during apartheid, what it felt like to be labelled "the first black" person on the mountain slopes and what path her life has taken since those days.

Deshun Deysel Mountaineering was a childhood dream for Deshun Deysel which she achieved in 1996. She was a member of the first team of ...

31/03/2021

Deshun Deysel made history when she was selected to be a member of the first official South African expedition to climb Everest in 1996.
Almost twenty five years later Deshun is still challenging herself as a mountaineer, business woman, wife and mother.

Her philosophy is that everything begins on the slopes of the mountain and it is a hard climb to the summit of success. Listen to her candid story here: https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com

She shares this philosophy as a coach, consultant and motivational speaker. Find out more about what she does at www.gopeak.biz.

30/03/2021

Deshun Deysel came to prominence when she was selected to be a member of the first official South African expedition to Everest in 1996. Since then she has climbed many mountains both literally and figuratively.

The wealth of wisdom she has gained, is channeled through her businesses DeshunSpeaking and GoPeak International. She gives motivational talks, consults to and coaches SME's who are climbing their own metaphorical mountains in search of success.

Listen here https://digitalstoryteller.buzzsprout.com on Wednesday 31st March when we publish our podcast episode in which she talks candidly about her own journey.