Sean Loots Something Shifted with Sean Loots

Something Shifted with Sean Loots

Something changes your life today. How does it shift your life tomorrow? Is resilience part of the human experience or are some people better equipped to deal with adversity?

For host Sean Loots, that “something” was becoming a parent to a child with special needs.

Something Shifted is a South African documentary-style podcast that uncovers life’s pivotal moments, the turning points, challenges, and “lifequakes” that redefine resilience.

Each episode blends intimate interviews with reflective narration to reveal the courage, insight, and humanity behind real-life transformations.

Through stories at the intersection of joy and discomfort, Something Shifted helps listeners navigate personal growth, life transitions, parenting challenges, career pivots, and unexpected events.

These authentic stories are designed to inspire, connect, and remind you that you’re not alone.

Featuring cinematic storytelling, thoughtful reflection, and practical insights, Something Shifted is perfect for listeners interested in personal development, resilience, self-discovery, and human connection.

Follow the award-winning South African podcast to explore transformative stories, embrace life’s shifts, and be part of a community that brings human connection back into every story.
Monthly English South Africa Self-Improvement · Personal Journals
42 Episodes
1 – 20

"Peel the f*cking onion."

Healing is like peeling an onion. The final episode of this season is a story about love, although it's not a traditional love story. It's about love addiction, the fear of not being loved and the kind of love that can keep you alive. It's about a mother's love, facing…
31 Mar 30 min
 bonus  

I phoned The Chaeli Campaign for Podcasthon 2025

My plan was to visit The Chaeli Campaign HQ. But life happened. So instead, I picked up the phone and spoke to the CEO, Zelda Mycroft. Zelda shares The Chaeli Campaign's mission to drive social justice and inclusion for people with disabilities. Highlighting the crucial role of advocacy in changing…
24 Mar 26 min

"Pick up your pen and write a different story."

There's a saying that you regret more the things you didn't do than the things you actually did. Verity's dad was 48 when she was born. He passed away suddenly when she was 24. When she was in her teens and didn't want to listen to his advice, he took…
10 Mar 29 min

"Half my face had collapsed."

If you've been listening to something shifted for a while, you've probably wondered about your own life quake. For Lesego, there are two distinct moments when the ground beneath his feet gave way. When he was fifteen, his dad passed away. And again when he was 32, when he thought…
24 Feb 26 min

"Whose afraid of little old me?"

Today’s story is a little different to some of our previous episodes. We generally meet guests post-life quake, who have the benefit of hindsight, and we learn how "That Big Thing" has changed the direction of their life - but we meet them on stable ground. Not everyone is on…
10 Feb 28 min

"I became a living upcycled human."

What would it take for you to see life differently? To see value where others don't? Would an organ transplant help you to see things differently? Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis is a rare chronic liver disease that can lead to liver damage. And since you can’t live without a liver, a…
27 Jan 25 min

"You don't say no to that."

In the adventures we seek out for ourselves, or the chances that we say yes to, deep down we know that things will change. But we can never fully grasp how much they will change. An enthusiastic yes today will obviously start a domino effect, but where will the yes…
13 Jan 27 min

Motherhood fuelled her Olympic Dream.

For most, becoming a parent is a seismic shift, a lifequake that transforms everything we thought we knew about ourselves. It's a journey that challenges us to re-evaluate our priorities and make some tough decisions. Like how to balance our own dreams with the responsibilities of raising our children? In…
31 Dec 2024 27 min

12 Tremors Before Christmas

Year-end brings with it feelings of nostalgia and reflection. And while lifequakes are big events that permanently alter the course of a life, we want to recognise the smaller shifts and shakes - tremors, if you will, that sent us on a detour. This episode is a compilation of 12…
16 Dec 2024 36 min

Waiting To Exhale.

Tanya has struggled to breathe since the day she was born. From viral infections to lung disease, Tanya was diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans. The narrowing of Tanya's airways could not be reversed by medication. Considering the diagnosis and years of health challenges, she got on with living her life. By…
2 Dec 2024 23 min

"I was alone with him when he died."

Zuraida was the last person to see her dad alive. The last person to speak to him. She was also the last person to comfort him. She was 13 years old. This traumatic event affected her deeply, leading to feelings of abandonment and a tendency towards hyper-independence. Zuraida discusses how…
18 Nov 2024 25 min

One Rescue Breath Changed Three Lives

Sean shares his personal journey through a lifequake, detailing the challenges and transformations that come with raising a child with profound disabilities. He reflects on a critical incident involving his daughter Zoe, the emotional turmoil of hospital visits, and the lessons learned about resilience, empathy, and the importance of community…
4 Nov 2024 16 min

Get Ready For All Of The Feels

Join me for the new season of Something Shifted, the podcast that asks some of South Africa’s most interesting people to share how significant life shifts, perceived as devastating, can lead to profound personal transformation and empowerment. Something Shifted with Sean Loots leans into the joy and discomfort of unexpected…
22 Oct 2024 1 min

What is emotional intelligence and why does it matter?

Do you think your co-workers have high or low emotional intelligence? What can we learn about EQ from someone that grew up in a communal home? Theran Knighton-Fitt grew up in a home filled with love, support and more people than the average preschool class. Theran's formative years clearly impacted…
20 May 2024 30 min

The Most Effective Tools for Managing Stress and Anxiety with Noa Belling

Are you aware of how stress physically shapes your life? Sean Loots sits down with award-winning, bestselling author, psychotherapist and corporate consultant, Noa Belling to discuss her latest book, Stress Less: Managing anxiety in a modern world. In this episode, Noa shares the physiological impacts of stress and the transformative…
1 Apr 2024 39 min
1 – 20