What does it really take to become a Springbok?

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel, I sit down with Hollywoodbets Sharks and Springbok loose forward Vincent Tshituka for one of his most open conversations yet.

Vincent reflects on the journey to wearing the green and gold, what it's really like inside the Springbok environment, and the lessons he's learned from leaders like Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi.

Beyond rugby, we dive into the realities of money in professional sport, sponsorships, preparing for life after rugby, navigating friendships, family, leadership and building a legacy that extends far beyond the game.

Whether you're a rugby fan, athlete, entrepreneur or someone chasing excellence, this conversation offers valuable lessons on discipline, purpose and long-term thinking.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who would enjoy the conversation.

#VincentTshituka #Springboks #SharksRugby #SouthAfricanRugby #Rugby #Leadership #LifeAfterRugby #SportsPodcast #InConversationWithRudySamuel #ICWRS

00:00 Intro

03:30 Vincent Tshituka's Life Update

04:33 Staying Humble Despite Success

06:24 The Influence of Northcliff High School

08:00 When the Springbok Dream Became Real

12:26 Vincent's First Springbok Call-Up

15:17 Inside the Springbok Camp

16:40 Captaining the Springbok A Team

19:07 Rassie Erasmus & Siya Kolisi Behind the Scenes

24:00 Family, Sacrifice & Staying Grounded

27:40 Sharing the Journey with Emmanuel Tshituka

30:00 Money & Life After Rugby

32:30 Vincent's First Professional Paycheck

34:00 Sponsorships & Building a Personal Brand

36:20 Financial Advice for Young Rugby Players

38:16 Real Friends vs Transactional Relationships

40:40 The Toughest Period of Vincent's Career

43:20 Balancing Rugby & Family Life

44:45 Planning for Your Family's Future

47:22 Leadership, Responsibility & Growth

49:37 Vincent's Vision for Life After Rugby

51:21 Did Rugby Give More Than It Took?

53:24 The Biggest Lesson from Vincent's Journey

54:48 The Legacy Vincent Wants to Leave Behind

55:43 Outro

Ash & Migs, the husband and wife duo behind The Manchester Derby, join Rudy Samuel for an honest conversation about football, marriage, content creation and building one of South Africa's most recognised football brands.

From starting a football page in Johannesburg to working with SuperSport, collaborating with global football brands and creating content around the world's biggest clubs, they share the journey behind the cameras and the lessons they've learned along the way.

In this episode we discuss:

• How The Manchester Derby was born

• Building a football brand from South Africa

• Working with international companies

• The opportunity to work with @supersport

• Losing their account and bouncing back

• Collaborating with @mancity

• Watching Manchester City vs @realmadrid

• Meeting #BernardoSilva and #RubenAmorim

• Experiencing Manchester City vs @manutd

• Navigating criticism and social media pressure

• Balancing marriage with content creation

• Planning viral football content

• Advice for aspiring content creators

• What's next for Ash & Migs

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

03:07 - Quickfire Football Questions

06:45 - How Ash & Migs Started The Manchester Derby

13:20 - Building a Football Brand & Working With International Companies

17:54 - Working With @supersport & Meeting Football's Biggest Names

31:40 - Losing Their Account, Working With @mancity, Watching Manchester City vs @realmadrid, Meeting #BernardoSilva & #RubenAmorim, and Experiencing @manutd vs Manchester City

37:00 - Dealing With Criticism, Pressure & Social Media Judgment

42:05 - Balancing Marriage, Content Creation & Business

49:34 - How Ash & Migs Plan Viral Football Content

53:54 - Advice for Content Creators & Football Creators

57:50 - What's Next for Ash & Migs?

59:24 - One Word That Describes Ash & Migs

1:01:13 - Outro

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a rating and share it with someone who loves football, content creation or inspiring African stories.

New conversations every second Tuesday.

Hosted by Rudy Samuel.

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel, I sit down with Caiah M for a deep and honest conversation around identity, social media, colourism, faith and modern culture.

We unpack whether people truly know who they are outside of social media, how the internet has shaped human behaviour, the pressure of being perceived online, the realities of colourism, and how validation has become a currency in today’s world.

Caiah also opens up about her spiritual journey, growing up Christian, converting to Islam, her family’s reaction and where she currently stands with faith.

This is a conversation about identity, pressure, belief and what it means to navigate life in a world that constantly demands performance.

#ICWRS #TheFutureIsAfrican

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
03:00 Life update: growth, change and navigating adulthood
06:50 Social media, identity and why our generation performs life
13:35 When Caiah realized social media affects people psychologically
20:45 Colourism, beauty standards and can we ever overcome it?
25:00 Attention vs validation, brand deals and the pressure of being a creator
39:15 From Christianity to Islam: Caiah’s faith journey, family reaction and identity
58:25 Quick fire questions
1:02:50 Outro

For the first time, I sit down alone and speak honestly about what the last 3 months of fatherhood have truly been like.

In this episode, I open up about becoming a first time father, the financial realities of having a child, giving birth in private healthcare without medical aid, entrepreneurship, sleepless nights, and learning how to become a present dad while navigating marriage, business and responsibility.

I also speak about the emotional pressure society places on couples to have children and how watching people around me struggle with infertility made me quietly build emotional walls around fatherhood and having children.

We also discuss:
• African pressure around having kids after marriage
• Pregnancy anxiety and stress
• C section vs natural birth conversations
• The financial cost of giving birth
• Parenting advice from different generations
• Entrepreneurship and fatherhood
• Why support systems matter
• The importance of saving before having children

This is one of the most vulnerable and honest conversations I’ve had publicly.

Welcome to In Conversation With Rudy Samuel #ICWRS

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro

01:50 - Growing Up In A Big Family

02:20 - Fear Of Having Kids & Becoming A Father

05:05 - African Pressure Around Having Children After Marriage

07:20 - Pregnancy Stress, Anxiety & C Section vs Natural Birth

10:55 - The Day My Son Was Born & My Honest Thoughts On Fatherhood

16:00 - The Financial Reality Of Giving Birth & Raising A Newborn

19:07 - Dealing With Opinions From Family, Friends & Social Media

20:23 - New School Mothers vs Old School Mothers

21:30 - It Truly Takes A Village To Raise A Child

22:53 - Stressing About Baby Milestones

25:28 - Sleepless Nights, Entrepreneurship & Fatherhood

26:14 - The Most Rewarding Parts Of Being A Dad

27:57 - Saving Money & Preparing Financially For Fatherhood

34:53 - Why You Need To Save Before Having Children

38:17 - Outro

#ICWRS #Fatherhood #Parenting #TheFutureIsAfrican

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel (#ICWRS), Rudy sits down with Certified Financial Planner Mona Manzambi for an important conversation around money, financial literacy, investing, debt and long term wealth building for young Africans.

This episode unpacks:
• The difference between financial literacy, financial wellbeing, financial education and financial planning
• The importance of budgeting and saving early
• Black tax and financial pressure on young professionals
• Property vs stock market investing
• Retirement annuities and wealth creation
• The real cost of debt
• Common financial mistakes young professionals make
• The difference between a financial planner and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

This conversation is designed to help young professionals think differently about money, wealth and financial freedom in today’s world.

#ICWRS#MonaManzambi #FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinance #MoneyManagement #Investing #WealthBuilding #DebtManagement #FinancialFreedom #YoungProfessionals #AfricanPodcast #BusinessPodcast #SouthAfrica #TheFutureIsAfrican

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
03:20 - Financial wellbeing, financial planning, financial literacy & financial education explained
06:00 - The importance of budgeting
08:40 - Understanding black tax as a young professional
12:05 - How to start saving effectively
17:10 - Retirement annuities and why they matter
18:32 - Practical ways to save and invest
30:35 - Can property help build long term wealth?
33:03 - Financial mistakes young professionals are making today
36:15- Good debt vs bad debt
43:55 - Financial planner vs Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
46:55 - The first 3 steps to take control of your finances
49:54 - What every young African should do financially for their future
51:22 - What financial freedom means to Mona Manzambi
55:03 Outro

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel, we sit down with Tricia Mpisi actress presenter, content creator, and now author.From building an audience through digital storytelling to stepping into the world of Netflix, Tricia’s journey reflects what it means to be a modern African creative navigating multiple industries at once.We unpack her transition from content creation into acting and getting her first role on a  Netflix  series #SoccerSeason as well as her experience working on screen, and what it takes to show up confidently in public platforms as a presenter.At the heart of this conversation is her debut novel Matric Dance ,a story rooted in identity, friendship, love, and self-discovery. Tricia shares the deeper meaning behind the book, the writing process, and what she hopes young African readers take away from it.This is a conversation about storytelling, culture, growth, and building a career with intention.If you’re a creative, entrepreneur, or someone trying to find your voice, this episode is for you.🎙️ In Conversation With Rudy Samuel (#ICWRS) is a platform dedicated to telling powerful African stories that educate, inspire, and motivate.📌 Connect with Tricia Mpisi:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tricia_mpisi/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@triciampisi📌 Follow Rudy Samuel:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rudysamuel_/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therudysamuel_Chapters:00:00 - Intro02:33 - Tricia Mpisi’s first podcast interview ever and its with Rudy Samuel03:50 - Who is Tricia Mpisi before the success and recognition?04:38 - Being multi cultural and what it means to be African today06:19 - Is Tricia Mpisi living her dream right now?07:20 - How the internet helped Tricia Mpisi grow creatively08:26 - Did Tricia Mpisi start for passion or popularity?09:10 - How social media helped her transition into mainstream media?11:17 - Advice for content creators trying to grow online13:57 - How Tricia Mpisi got into acting and working with Netflix?18:17 - Dealing with imposter syndrome as a creative20:20 - What Netflix teaches actors that people don’t see?20:55 - The story behind Matric Dance and taking 10 years to write it24:42 - What Tricia wants young African girls to feel reading her book?25:33 - Identity and self worth themes in Matric Dance26:03 - Why culture was important in writing Matric Dance?28:31 - The process of writing and publishing a book31:18 - What young African girls don’t see enough in books and movies?32:32 - How Tricia Mpisi got into presenting and hosting?36:27 - What makes someone powerful on camera?37:20 - The difference between confidence and preparation38:19 - What Tricia Mpisi is building in her life and career?40:44 - What Tricia wants her voice to represent?41:10 - What she wants people to feel from her work?41:58 - How Tricia Mpisi deals with tough times?42:49 - Talking about grief and personal loss45:15 - Outro#ICWRS #TriciaMpisi #AfricanStories #AfricanCreators #Storytelling #AfricanPodcast #ContentCreator #NetflixAfrica #Netflix #YoungAfrican #Entrepreneurship #AfricanExcellence #TheFutureIsAfrican #BTS #btsarmy #btsarmyforever

Welcome to another episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel.In this episode, we sit down with Nahum Bangura, a 30 year old entrepreneur, South African born and raised, who made the bold decision to move to Sierra Leone and build a business from the ground up.

In just 9 months of operating, Nahum generated over R3 million in sales through his food brand, Namza Smash Burgers and Wings, and is now expanding to a second store.In this conversation, we unpack:• Why he chose Sierra Leone as a business destination• How he built a food business from scratch• The reality of operating in a new market• The challenges behind the growth• What it takes to scale from one store to two• The lessons every entrepreneur can learnThis is a powerful conversation for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, African markets, and building real businesses that generate results.If you enjoy conversations that educate, inspire and challenge your thinking, make sure to subscribe and join the journey

.Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

02:21 - Why He Chose Sierra Leone and the Early Struggles of Starting From Scratch

05:55 - Why Saving Money is Critical When Starting a Business

07:16 - Leaving the Comfort of Johannesburg to Build in Sierra Leone

09:49 - Why He Chose Wings and Smash Burgers as a Business Model

16:00 - Inside the Operations How He Trains Staff and Maintains Standards

19:20 - The Reality of Running a Food Business Stress Pressure and Challenges

24:25 - From One Store to Two Making Over R3 Million in 9 Months

29:30 - Growing Up Around Excellence and How It Shaped His Mindset

33:34 - Failure Family and the Beliefs That Keep Him Going

35:40 - Advice for Doing Business in Africa

38:42 - When Starting a Business What Matters More Than Money

40:25 - Outro#ICWRS #TheFutureIsAfrican #SierraLeone #Africa #ICWRS #AfricanEntrepreneur #BusinessInAfrica #Entrepreneurship #StartUpAfrica #YoungEntrepreneur #FoodBusiness #SuccessStories #AfricanBusiness

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel, I sit down with Jesse Pretorius, the founder of Jesster Studios, a high-performance individual who has built his life around discipline, fitness, and business.From competing in Hyrox and marathons to building a podcast studio and creating content, Jesse breaks down what it really takes to operate at a high level in today’s world.This is not just a conversation. This is a playbook masterclass.We dive into:• The difference between discipline and motivation• How fitness translates into business success• Building consistency when you don’t feel like showing up• The mindset behind high performers• Starting and running a podcast studio• Rebuilding your life from zeroIf you are serious about growth, performance, and becoming the best version of yourself, this episode is for you.Follow Jesse:YouTube: https://youtube.com/@the_middle_way_podcast?si=uLsJfDkfMir1zchmInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse_sebFollow me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudysamuel_TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rudysamuel_Chapters00:00 - Intro

01:43 - Discipline vs Motivation | Quick Fire Questions

02:47 - Who Was Jesse Before Discipline Changed His Life?03:44 - What Shaped Jesse’s High-Performance Mindset?04:57 - How Fitness Built the Man Jesse Is Today

06:44 - When Did Jesse Become an Entrepreneur?

07:33 - Why He Started a Podcast Studio (Jesster Studios)

10:33 - The Moment Everything Clicked for Jesse

13:10 - The Hardest Phase in His 20s (And How He Overcame It)

15:27 - The Biggest Misconception About His Lifestyle

16:48 - Jesse’s Playbook: Building a High-Performance Life

24:15 - How Fitness Improves Business Performance

25:23 - Does Discipline Lead to Financial Success?

27:22 - Content Creation Mistakes Beginners Must Avoid

33:12 - Cost of Starting a Podcast Studio + How He Gets Clients

40:21 - ICWRS Pressure Test: Real Life Scenarios

48:50 - Would His 20-Year-Old Self Be Proud?

50:06 - Outro

#ICWRS #TheFutureIsAfrican #Discipline #Entrepreneurship #SelfDiscipline #Mindset#FitnessMotivation #BusinessMindset #PodcastSouthAfrica #ContentCreator #HighPerformance #MensGrowth

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel, I sit down with Shama Veyi, also known as Chama is Shama, a successful club promoter, entrepreneur, and father, to unpack his journey of building a life on his own terms.From entering the nightlife industry to becoming a young father, Shama shares what it really takes to succeed in an unconventional space while navigating responsibility, growth, and identity. We also explore his views on education, relationships, and how his perspective on life has evolved over time.This is a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, fatherhood, personal growth, and choosing your own path even when it goes against expectations.If you are trying to find your own lane, build something meaningful, or understand the realities of nightlife and influence, this episode is for you.Check out this episode’s sponsor:Click the link https://www.intercare.co.za/facilities/intercare-northriding?service=dental then click on dental - Dr Nahomie Mukendi#ICWRS#ShamaVeyi#Entrepreneurship#AfricanStories#NightlifeBusiness#Fatherhood#SelfMade#PodcastSA#TheFutureIsAfrican#SuccessStories

In this episode of In Conversation With Rudy Samuel, we sit down with Bongz Khumalo, a young South African farmer and founder of Nkabohle Poultry Farm in Pretoria West.Bongz began dreaming about farming at just 15 years old. Today, in his early 30’s, he is building a poultry farming operation that produces thousands of broiler chickens while balancing a full time job.This conversation explores the business of poultry farming in South Africa and what it really takes to succeed in agriculture today.We discuss the financial realities of starting a poultry farm, the equipment and infrastructure required, how farmers generate income, and the challenges facing the industry including crime, funding and access to land.Bongz also shares how his farm contributes to developing the next generation of farmers by hosting Tshwane University of Technology agriculture students, giving them hands on experience and providing them with a stipend while they learn the practical side of farming.This episode is about more than farming. It is about entrepreneurship, ownership, food security and the opportunities agriculture presents for young Africans.Topics covered in this episode• The business of poultry farming in South Africa• How much it costs to start a poultry farm• Equipment needed for poultry farming• Challenges farmers face in South Africa• Farming while working a 9 to 5• Employment opportunities in agriculture• The role of the South African Poultry Association• Training agriculture students through practical experienceFollow Bongz KhumaloTwitter: @BongzThaMr_KWebsite: www.nkabohle.co.zaSubscribe for more conversations with African entrepreneurs, builders and change makers.#ICWRS #TheFutureIsAfrican #PoultryFarming #FarmingInSouthAfrica #AfricanEntrepreneurs #Agriculture #YoungFarmers