Danny Painter

Sarah Robyn Farrell is many things – a musician, an eco-communicator, a writer, and an activist. Her debut single, ‘Love in our Hearts’, certainly aims to heal the world from its many issues in the most simple and honest way. Armed with a ukulele and a strong will to use her voice for good, Sarah explains the motivation behind this, her first single: "Love in our hearts’ is about recognising our shared humanity in a time of increasing social tension and ecological decay,” says Sarah. “It speaks to the fact that most people have a lot to unlearn, while still having the ability to love, and to change. It also speaks to the fact that ‘love’ as we currently understand it, may need to be redefined to include aspects and ideas that can lead to real positive change. This kind of revolutionary love could help us save ourselves and restore our home planet.”

The hall is decorated with bright streamers. Pop music fills the room, beckoning people to dance. Young students adorned in custom-made gowns take the hand of their well-dressed dates. In South Africa, a matric dance is the first time many pupils are made to feel special. But not all can afford the occasion. This was apparent to design duo Fagin Hardine and Adri Andrews of Paarl. Wanting to provide for the youth of their community, they decided to honour the final-year students in style. Hardine and Andrews founded their clothing brand, Ke’lab, in 2017. After noticing a number of matriculants were unable to purchase their own outfits, the small business joined forces with The Giving Hand to establish The Matric Drive. “By designing for these students, we’re able to create beautiful and long-lasting memories,” Hardine says. Sketching, stitching, and hemming away, the team gifted garments to hard-working matriculants. “It’s more than just a gown,” Andrews says. “It’s a celebration of academic achievement.”

His latest single with Craig Lucas is all about embracing your 'Wierdo', being okay with not fitting in and just being 100% you!

Saskia Tihana is the Founder and Creative Director of The Boldest, a creative agency based in Los Angeles that is focused on equipping future focused leaders. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 and has spent the last six years building her brand in the USA. She is an entrepreneur, humanitarian, producer and a quadruple threat (musician, actress, dancer and writer), and was awarded a scholarship to study film in the US, before focusing on her business and music careers. The Boldest owns, manages and markets multiple brands all focused on helping people become their best selves. These brands include business focused on the sale of physical products and services, as well as personal brands such as artists and athletes.

This week on our 'Mindful Living' segment - Danny and Izelle chat about sleep, and how you need to be getting enough of it!

Ayushi was born in India but spent her childhood in Nigeria and moved to South Africa with her family at the age of 13. After growing up near the East Rand of Johannesburg, she moved to LA, and the rest, is history! The year 2020 saw Ayushi making her American television debut, as the alien character “PEL” on CBS’s TV series – ‘STAR TREK : PICARD’, alongside Sir Patrick Stewart and Allison Pill. Chhabra's role in the first season of the show was a major departure from previous work and required her to go through hours of intense hair and make-up to transform her into the character of a pregnant Romulan (alien).

Every Monday - Danny and Brent Lindeque get together to share some of the best stories from his "Good Things Guy'! This week, you will smile! Listen here:

Due to an overwhelming response, Converse has doubled their pledge from R1-million and declared a R2-million pledge to the #KickTheDebt campaign. The focus of the #KickTheDebt campaign is to try and alleviate even a small portion of the result of generational economic depression. Converse recognises and understands the need to back the South African youth and the campaign aims to make a difference as education is prohibitively expensive, and as a result, student debt is incredibly high. The issue of student debt is a prominent issue South African youths face, with an increasing need for the issue to be erased. I got to speak to Bradley Knowles, Group Marketing Manager at Converse all about the campaign! Listen here:

Due to an overwhelming response, Converse has doubled their pledge from R1-million and declared a R2-million pledge to the #KickTheDebt campaign. Converse acknowledges the need for assistance for students across South Africa and has decided to extend and increase the campaign and its pledge to give more students a chance to kick their debt. The campaign has been extended for another two weeks and will end on the 14th March 2021. I got to speak to Fix Moeti, Converse brand ambassador, all about the campaign! Listen here:

With research showing there is a definitive mind/gut connection, it's time to take your mental and physical heath into your own hands! The saying, 'You are what you eat', has never rang more true, and this week Izelle Hoffman joins Danny Painter to chat about the mind-gut connection as Danny starts a wellness journey to help her anxiety! With movement, meditation, and mindful eating, Danny aims to become a better and healthier - both mentally and physically, human! And, if you know Izelle Hoffman, you know she is right by her side every step of the way! From moving our bodies to what we put into them, Izelle has something for everyone!

Brent Lindeque is the Good Things Guy and every week he shares some Good Things with Danny Painter as well as on his incredible podcast and news site! He's expanded his Good Things portfolio by starting a 'Wake Up South Africa' Clubhouse! Every morning, we wake up with positivity and love and a sense of community! Brent also publishes great, feel good articles! This week - we chat about these great stories!

This week on 'Jaca Love Songs', we are learning to grow something that will cleanse our bodies and calm our minds! Each Tuesday, Izelle Hoffman joins Danny on her show to chat about Mindful Cooking, Mindful Eating, and Mindful Living! This week we are getting into the garden! Parsley is one of the easiest herbs to grow, it's jam packed with goodness and helps cleanse your blood! Danny's Nan always had at least ten plants growing in her garden and this week, Izelle is talking about the goodness within!

Brittany Bull’s squad may look like any other high-school girl gang, but they’re so much more than that. The teenagers are part of the team behind the launch of South Africa’s first privately-owned satellite to make it into space.

This week on the mindful living segment, Danny and Izelle talk seriously about heart health and how we can eat to look after our hearts! Izelle Hoffman is a lifestyle chef, cookbook author, and mindful eating champion, she joins Danny on a podcast this week to chat about heart health and a flapjack recipe that will fit into your mindful eating journey!

Terence Mentor has a confession. He used to be jealous of the bond that his two-year-old shared with his wife. When Mentor made the admission on social media, his fears resonated with other parents.“People are full of advice for first-time moms,” he says. “But there’s little out there on how to be a good dad.” Mentor decided to create an honest handbook for fathers like him. The result is AfroDaddy, his online meeting place to share the challenges and triumphs of fatherhood. Mentor draws from his experience of fostering 14 children with his wife, Julie. In the past four years, they opened their home and hearts to give children from welfare agencies the care they deserve. Mentor is now a full-time dad to Liam and Eli.

It's almost Valentine's day, in a pandemic! What could we possibly to do make the day special for ourselves and out loved one? Izelle has you covered!

Is there anything Bala Gangiah can’t do? At 57 years old, he’s opened his own restaurant, run more than 20 marathons and published three books. But when doctors discovered a cancerous cyst on his kidney, the diagnosis threw Gangiah off course. Within a month, he was forced to have the organ removed. When the shock subsided, Gangiah’s tenacity kicked into overdrive. “Your mind can only be focused on one thing at a time,” he says. So Gangiah embarked on a spectacular challenge to redirect his attention. Having already climbed to Everest base camp, Kilimanjaro was next on his list. Neither doctors nor his family approved of his ambitions. But Gangiah had made up his mind. Immediately after surgery, he walked up and down the hospital corridors to start training. “My body may have been weak but my mind was a thousand times stronger,” Gangiah says. Exercise, yoga, and a healthy diet boosted his recovery. On 17 December 2018, Gangiah took his first steps up the perilous trail of Africa’s highest mountain.

Singer and songwriter Marichelle joins Danny to chat about her latest single - You and Me! She also chats about writing and recording and working with Jazzy D!

We've all heard the saying, 'it takes 21 days to create a new habit or break an old one', right? Well, it may be wrong! It may take far longer than just 21 days and require a little more work on your part, but the result will be worth it! Jason Bernic is a certified life and business coach, with a successful coaching practice in Johannesburg, he also joins us occasionally to share some of his wisdom to help us be better humans, and this week is no different!

Nasrene is a local singer songwriter who's exploded onto the local scene mid lockdown, reminding us all that 'the bad times don't last'Her single, 'Parties in the Park', is a message to all of us having a hard time in various stages of lockdown, reminding us that we will one day have parties in the park and that all is not as dark and gloomy as it may seem! Nasrene teamed up with Dutch songwriter and producer David Westmeijer to write “this 'summer song', which caught the attention of BMG Rights Management (Benelux) BV, who signed the track for distribution and marketing in conjunction with David Gresham Records. “Parties in the Park” is a feel-good song that makes you want to dance and sing along. “It's about making the best out of a tough situation. Life changed for everyone so suddenly and we wanted to create something that would make us feel happy and hopeful again”, says Nasrene.

Katlie Mokhoabane had no escape. Growing up in an impoverished and abusive household, there was nowhere for him to run when the violence erupted.But the one thing he did have was a ballpoint pen. Drawing strength from the arbitrary item, Mokhoabane is transforming his past traumas into powerful works of art. After losing his mother at the age of six, Mokhoabane’s life was thrown into disarray. Once cheerful childhood memories became stained by abuse from his new step mother. Turning to his creativity in times of great hardship, he started teaching himself how to draw. “I would wake up and say, ‘I hate the situation I am in, but stand up and go get your pen’,” Mokhoabane says. Without the funds to afford professional training after high school, he was rejected from art galleries and struggled to establish himself in the industry. Yet he remained resolute. Honing his skills in his free time and sharing his work on social media, Mokhoabane’s work soon began to receive the recognition it deserved.

Every Tuesday on 'Love Songs with Danny Painter', lifestyle chef and cookbook author Izelle Hoffman joins Danny for a segment on 'mindful living'.They talk food, TV, body, mind, and more food! Each week, Izelle brings a recipe from her 'Mindful Eating' cookbook, which she shares with us, explaining why the ingredients in her recipe can help us heal and get super healthy, no matter what our starting point! With Izelle Hoffman, you can have your cake and it, mindfully!

Joshua Rubin is no idle spectator. He’s a documentary photographer and videographer who immerses himself in the details of other people’s lives.Compelled by the stories that each of us carry and the desire to amplify them, Rubin spends hours driving around Cape Town searching for willing conversationalists. Focusing on marginalised communities, he peels back layers of stigma to reveal the truth. “My obligation as a photographer is to take a story that hasn’t been heard and bring it into the public,” Rubin says. His revealing work zooms in on disadvantaged neighbourhoods, like those of the Cape Flats. These suburbs are stigmatised as violent and gang-ridden. Rubin’s subjects receive nothing but averted eyes from most, but he is determined to rouse his audience into recognising their humanity and dignity. He’s made personal connections with gang leaders and those who live on the streets – and it’s not just because he’s curious. The filmmaker has real struggles in common with rejected members of society. “I’ve had very big drug problems in my past and I didn’t finish school,” Rubin says.He builds relationships with anyone who’ll speak to him, and is granted a rare gift because of it: trust. Through empathetic and compassionate conversation, the 24-year-old is invited into a world that few see. “I believe that it is my job to create positive change,” Rubin says. His short films have showcased a self-taught builder who transformed his shack into a palatial home, driving lessons with his housekeeper, and the unnervingly empty streets of Cape Town in the first few weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown. Rubin uplifts his subjects as well as his viewers through his films. Shining a light on those around him, he shifts perspectives. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, you can help us spread information and hope. Share your positive stories by clicking here and we’ll be in contact.

With January winding down, some of that motivation we had at the beginning of the year may be winding down along with it!Cue Izelle Hoffman! Our Mindfulness Maven! Our Lifestyle Chef! Our Mind, body, and spirit coach! She is back and she is going to help us all live more mindfully in 2021! Starting with our health! She joined me on a Zoom to talk about the one thing you can do in the first few weeks of 2021 to ensure you hit the goals you have set for yourself! And, if you haven't set any goals, this podcast will inspire to you start!

Based in the UK by way of Durban, Julia Church grew up enamoured by the sounds of trailblazers Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and Nora Jones.Based in the UK by way of Durban, Julia Church grew up enamoured by the sounds of trailblazers Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and Nora Jones. Thanks to several features on dance tracks amassing over 50 million streams; most notably Tez Cadey’s “Walls” and Mozambo & Basic Tape’s “Bright Side”, Church began to garner recognition early on, before heading to university. At eighteen Julia decided to further herself artistically, moving to the UK to study music production at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) learning the creative skills that have led to her unmistakable sound, one that draws ties to her childhood idols. Producing and writing all of her own music, is a key part of her sound that’s won her fans across the globe, yet she finds herself having to make the distinction that she IS her own producer, a question rarely thrown at male artists. “Maybe it's just a reflection on me and my past experiences in male-dominant sessions but I feel like I am more reserved when I write with a group of guys as if my ideas aren’t as worthy and I’m just there to sing, even though writing is where my love really lies.”, says Julia, ‘’Writing is the ultimate form of catharsis for me.”

Brent Lindeque and Danny spent all of last year sharing only the 'goodest' news stories from our beautiful country! This year, it gets bigger, better, and 'gooder'! And this year is kicking off, officially, this week with Brent and Danny jumping onto a Zoom to reunite and highlight all the best news stores so far in 2021!

L.U.C.C.A. recognises that each child is an individual. They aim to create a safe, caring and respectful multicultural environment for all their learners with challenges. Their objective is to foster a desire to learn, to boost self-confidence and to nurture the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of each child that can best develop the skills and character necessary, to enhance themselves and their communities, achieving success for the future. Founded by a mother of a special needs child, L.U.C.C.A. Support & Care Centre opened its doors in May 2014. The exposure to numerous centres and facilities over the years, trying to find the “right” place for her son, Lucca, has been challenging. They have encountered so many wonderful people over this time, who have had a huge impact on Lucca’s progress but as his mother, she felt that there was always that “something” missing. Alison spent many years doing research on various approaches, learning methods, therapy interventions and communication methods available for special needs children.

This week our life and business coach Jason Bernic has brought a fellow coach, Beth Schneiter, to help us, specifically to fix burnout! Beth Schneiter, owner of Wildflower Transformation Coaching, specialises in working with women who are at risk of stress and burnout by focusing on limiting beliefs and emotions. She is a transformational coach and speaker with a history of working in banking and finance at one of the largest global trading companies. She is also mom to her daughter Chloe, so you could say she knows a thing or two about stress and burnout. It is Beth's mission to help women let go of who they think they should be, reconnect with themselves, and transform burnout.

She is young, she is driven, she is a powerhouse of talent, grit, and love, and she is changing the world, one day at a time! Born in Johannesburg and based in L.A, this young woman is making waves in the international acting scene, in projects like 'Death Race - Inferno' and the BBC comedy, 'Beaver Falls'. But, that is the least cool thing about her, and admittedly that's pretty cool. Roxane is an accomplished actress, yes, and with some great projects lined up for 2021, she is bound to become a household name. I, however, wanted chat to her about the other things she's busy with that are set to impact the world!

It's the most wonderful time of the year... even in lockdown! And this week Izelle Hoffman is helping us get ready for our Christmas feasts - Mindfully! Her love language is food, she cooks and shares and loves a big, busy, loud table of kids and grown ups and crackers! If that sounds like your dream Christmas lunch or dinner, then this show-stopping recipe is for you!

Imagine having an app that was a one-stop shop for you and your dog or cat? From staying on top of their vaccinations and having their medical history on hand to keeping abreast of food and health trends, being able to shop online and have a video consultation with a vet, we know you want to manage your furry family’s well-being as well as you manage your human family. Well, thanks to two South African entrepreneurs, Kyne Lupini and Shannon Sweetman, we have one! TAME is a revolutionary pet management system, easily accessed via a lifestyle-focused app.

This year has been tough on all of us, but for some of our furry friends its been the best year ever, having mom and dad home more often and spending more time with them! But, with December holidays around the corner, that all may change! Dr Marika Wium of St. Francis Animal hospital in Brakpan, joined me on a Zoom to help us all be better pet parents this December! Whether we are apart, travelling together or staying home, there are some great tips and tricks, as well as some very big warnings straight from our vet herself!

I got to speak to one half of this dynamic duo abut the past, the future, and the music! This Kimberly-based Afrikaans duo of Thys Beukes and Eugene Prinsloo need no introduction, they have already cemented themselves on the local music scene with 'Jy's Beautiful' and 'Dis n Manneding'. But, they're back with new singles, new adventures, and a whole new outlook on the industry!

It's our second last week together for 2020 and this week Izelle Hoffman is getting us ready for the Christmas holidays! This week we are making her award-winning festive biscuits! But, we are also moving our bodies this week to lift our spirits!

He's a 'JacPodder', a writer, the actual 'Good Things Guy' and our very good friend! Brent Lindeque joins us every week to share some of the best stories from his 'Good Things Guy' website, humans being lekker, his take on the COVID-19 narrative, and the best animal stories you all find on the internet! This week we go from super spreader events to David Beckham in one good-things-filled podcast! But, Brent is also asking us to do some Good this December with his kindness advent calendar!

“People don’t realise that being able to do everyday things is a privilege,” Portia Mavhungu says. While the loss of her mobility was only temporary, her mental health took a turn for the worst. Mavhungu understood that many endure this struggle for a lifetime. So she decided to redesign the wheelchair. During her recovery, Mavhungu started to think up ways to make the bathroom more accessible for people with disabilities. “Toilets are a part of our everyday lives and everyone should be safe, comfortable and happy using one,” she says. Her ideas soon materialised into the Para-Tube, a retrofitted wheelchair seat with an adjustable opening and built-in biodegradable bags that functions as a toilet.

December holidays are known as 'the silly season' in animal welfare. It's a time where we go away, drink a little too much and maybe forget about our furkids. Which means its the busiest time of the year for organisations like Border Collie Rescue. In a year like the one we've just had, with lockdowns and economic struggles, this Christmas we really need to do whatever we can to help our favourite animal shelters. Whether that is volunteering your time or doing a quick EFT, animal welfares, shelters and foster homes alike will be grateful for any and all the help they can get!

While the rest of us were baking banana bread and avoiding pants, Talia Smith was nominated for no less than 10 awards! From the Student Academy Awards to the Baftas and everything else in between, Smith's film 'Umama' has taken 2020 by storm, even in a global pandemic, telling a story that most of us are all too familiar with. Growing up in South Africa, Smith speaks fondly of her second mom - Susan - and the sacrifices she made to help the Smith family. A story we are all part of. Smith had Susan, I had Fina. A powerhouse who was a very big part of making me the woman I am today!

With the recent lockdown period and months of 'man-alone' struggle in his home studio, the Cape rock talent, Jack Stone, returns to his legacy with his first Afrikaans EP Refleksie! "After all, Afrikaans is my mother tongue, and I recently formed a new connection with it, one that I am now proud of. I feel the time is now ripe for soulful Afrikaans music and that I am now ready to truly share myself with my listeners ”, says Jack. Jack has made his mark in the local music industry over the past 14 years with his fresh sound, unique voice and energetic style. Following his full-length English-language album Walk On in 2012, numerous English solo tracks such as Blood Sweat & Years and Common Rejection (2014), The Rapture (2015), and Summer Love (2018) have emerged from his creativity. Jack prefers that his music not be put in a box. "Who knows, maybe ;Refleksie' will create a brand new vibe", he says. He does have an innate passion for various genres and finds his inspiration time and time again through a wide sound. On his own soil, artists such as Francois van Coke, Ard Matthews and Arno Carstens (with whom he has performed in the past) inspire him, but his unique style remains unmistakable.

Every week Izelle Hoffman joins us to speak about mindfulness, living well and eating even better! This week Izelle is helping us use our last 4 weeks to become the best version of ourselves! It's December 1st, in the most difficult year we've had, and that means a few weeks left to set ourselves up for 2021. We could also use the next few weeks to make 2020 the year we hoped this one would be! To get us in the December spirit, Izelle is sharing one of her favourite recipes with us - a salted caramel date and pecan pie!

Beautiful News is a global news platform that publishes one positive short film every day of the year. They are dedicated to unearthing inspiring, uplifting, and authentic voices that reflect the good in humanity, as well as the beauty of global destinations and our natural world. Beautiful News launched in South Africa on 1 November 2016. Since inception, they've shared positive micro-documentary content at 4:14pm daily, in recognition of the moment that Nelson Mandela was released from prison. In honour of his legacy, they are reframing our world for the betterment of nature and humankind. They gather stories by keeping a pulse on individuals and organisations that are making a positive impact through their ideas, actions, initiatives and contributions. This diverse set of inspirational narratives collectively showcases humanity’s inherent goodness. Beautiful News offers a platform to amplify their message because they believe that together, we are stronger. It’s these stories that will unite us as we create a global community committed to positive action and change.

She's young, she's talented, and she's driven to succeed, all the things that make a long and successful career in the music industry an attainable goal. With her first few releases in English making waves, Bianca has decided to shift direction and write and record in her home language - Afrikaans! I caught up with this incredible writer and recording artist over a Zoom to chat about how 2020 has been for her, her first Afrikaans album, and where to from here!

This year has been a difficult year for everyone. Around the world various levels of lockdown have pulled families apart, ended careers, and stopped everyone in their tracks! Our South African artists have been no different! With the industry shutting down for what feels like years, very few artists have had the ability to create or earn an income. I spoke to Tamara Dey, one of South Africa's most prolific artists and an icon in her own right, about lockdown, momming in lockdown, and recording and releasing her first completely independent single!

Well, according to our life, business and executive coach, Jason Bernic, we all have one, but its not what you think! In our podcasts, we've covered a range of topics, from business to love and kids and everything in between, this week Jason Bernic is reminding us that 'with great power, comes great responsibility'. If you're lost, don't worry, I was too! But give this a listen and you'll know what your super power is soon enough!

Each week our mindfulness lifestyle chef, Izelle Hoffman, shares a recipe from her book, some mindful living tips, and just some love and encouragement to be the best YOU, you can be! This week is no exception! Izelle is back and sharing a summery recipe, some great lifestyle advice, and how to remain, renew or find that last 2020 spurt of motivation! This week we are talking Chia seeds! These magical little seeds are packed full of goodness and life, but, don't take my word for it, Izelle will explain:

Brent Lindeque is our resident 'Good Things Guy' and he always bring us the most heartwarming news from across the country! This week, he and I take a break from playing with our new toys (that we pre-ordered and paid for) to bring you some of the best news from around the country! From a local cinema group rewriting the rules to Netflix celebrating mothers, Brent Lindeque has it all! Listen here:

Celine Bocks is not a hairstylist, but a healer. For decades of South Africa’s history, natural hair was stigmatised and treated as inferior. People of colour are still impacted by this today. “Growing up with kinky hair was a difficult journey because people are just looking down at you,” Bocks says. Now, she’s fighting back with the most powerful weapon – love. Bocks started the Citrusdal Natural Hair Beauties group with her sister to instil dignity and worth in her community. Through this initiative, Bocks offers workshops where girls are taught how to nurture their hair. “The best hair is healthy hair,” she says. Untangling harmful perceptions, Bocks is sending lies about cultural identity down the drain and helping youth embrace themselves.

He's one of the most well known and loved voices in the music world, having spent over 20 years on stages and in studios gifting us with music! And this year, the journey continues! Albert Frost is still here and still working on music for you and I in 2021! Having spent lockdown like the rest of us - he is ready to get back onto stages and into studios to get us all up and jamming again! I spoke to him via Zoom to chat about his new single, 'I'm Still Here', and to finally get an answer to a question I have been searching for - for 35 years! Does he answer it? Find out here:

Our award winning lifestyle chef - Izelle Hoffman, is giving us all the permission we need to love ourselves, our bodies, and celebrate the December holidays with cake for breakfast! Carrot Cake, that is! Well, not in the general sense! Izelle is sharing her Mindful Eating Carrot Cake Breakfast Biscuit recipe with us! And this one is sure to be a hit! In this week's recipe, you can have your cake and eat it - any time of day!

After spending the last 12-ish months re-evaluating and resetting, Deon Dee is back and stronger than ever! Ready to tackle what life has to throw at him and launching a new single - I caught up with the musician and producer over a Zoom where he got very candid about his life and his struggles with mental illness, saying that at one point he almost stopped playing music altogether! Thankfully, for us, after a break and speaking to a therapist, Deon decided it was time to come back, on his own terms, and spoke to me about the music, the process, and his hair! Listen here: