In this episode of The Leo Hobson Podcast, I sit down with Shiloh Maposa —a UCT Economics Honours student, former Varsity Cup rugby player, content creator, and Hyrox athlete.

We dive into what it really takes to balance academics, sport, faith, and personal growth. Shiloh shares his journey into content creation, building meaningful relationships, overcoming self-doubt, dealing with the loss of his father, and how his faith has shaped the person he is today.

This is a conversation about discipline, purpose, resilience, and becoming the best version of yourself.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit from the conversation.

Dean van Wyk is one of South Africa's most exciting undefeated MMA prospects and the reigning BMC Featherweight Champion—but this conversation goes far beyond fighting.

In this episode of The Leo Hobson Podcast, Dean shares the mindset that has kept him undefeated, why he believes skill will always outlast talent, and how humility has become one of his greatest strengths.

From his journey through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts to defending his championship, Dean opens up about the sacrifices required to compete at the highest level, the reality of fight camps, managing fear, handling pressure, and why true confidence comes from preparation—not ego.

We also explore the mental side of competition, why chasing recognition can hold you back, the importance of focusing on small daily improvements, and how these lessons apply far beyond the cage—in business, relationships, and everyday life.

Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or simply someone striving to become better, this episode is packed with practical insights on discipline, resilience, and long-term growth.

In this episode, we discuss the mindset behind staying undefeated and what it takes to win and defend the BMC Featherweight Championship. Dean explains why skill acquisition matters more than recognition and dives into the psychology of stepping into the cage. He shares insights into fight camps, nutrition, weight cuts, and conditioning, as well as his journey through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and overcoming ego. The conversation also explores building confidence through preparation, why comparison steals progress, the future of South African MMA, and how to balance ambition with humility.

If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who would benefit from hearing Dean's story.

🎙️ The Leo Hobson Podcast — Real people. Real conversations. Real lessons.

In Episode 004 of The Leo Hobson Podcast, I sit down with South African MMA athlete, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor, and coach Devon Sokkas for an honest conversation about what it really takes to become exceptional. From competing at the highest levels of amateur MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to preparing for his professional career, Devon shares the lessons that combat sports have taught him about discipline, resilience, consistency, and purpose.

We dive into why most people quit before reaching their potential, how confidence is built through preparation, and why showing up on the days you don’t feel like it is what separates good from great. Devon also opens up about the realities of competing in MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the importance of building discipline instead of relying on motivation, and why consistency will always beat talent in the long run.

Throughout the conversation, we explore how to handle pressure, failure, and success, as well as the mindset required to become a champion. Devon shares insights from coaching the next generation of athletes and explains how martial arts can transform confidence and character. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, student, or simply someone looking to improve yourself, this episode offers practical insights into building a stronger mindset and pursuing long-term success.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing it with someone who might benefit from the conversation. Your support helps grow the podcast and allows us to continue bringing you meaningful conversations every week.

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If you're interested in psychology, philosophy, martial arts, creativity or simply understanding the world we're living in, this episode is for you.In this episode, I sit down with writer, filmmaker, poet and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor Santhea Sinivasan.What begins as a discussion about martial arts quickly evolves into a conversation about creativity, identity, film making, social media, loneliness, AI, modern dating and why genuine human connection feels harder than ever.Santhea shares her experiences competing internationally in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, working on Netflix's Blood & Water, directing documentaries, writing poetry, and using storytelling to challenge difficult conversations.Together we explore why discomfort is essential for growth, why creativity requires living life—not simply observing it—and how technology may be changing what it means to be human.If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider subscribing. It costs nothing, but it helps the channel grow and allows me to continue having conversations like these.Subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary people.Follow the podcast:Instagram: theleohobsonpodcastTikTok: theleohopsonpodcastYouTube: theleohopsonpodcastApple Podcasts: theleohopsonpodcast#podcast #bjj #brazilianjiujitsu #loneliness #ai #psychology #filmmaking #creativity #southafrica #netflix #storytelling #mentalhealth #philosophy

In this episode, I sit down with Zama Mtshali for a deep conversation about spirituality, consciousness, religion, purpose, and the state of modern society.

We discuss the differences between rural and urban life, why so many people feel disconnected today, the idea of life as a school for the soul, and how modern humanity may have lost touch with deeper spiritual truths.

Whether you agree with these ideas or not, this conversation offers a unique perspective that challenges conventional thinking and encourages reflection.

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In the very first episode of The Leo Hobson Podcast, I sit down with one of my oldest friends, Khaya, for a conversation that’s been 15 years in the making. Having known each other since childhood, we reflect on our experiences growing up, boarding school, university life, basketball, rugby, coaching, and the challenges of finding your place in the world. We talk about the lessons we've learned through adversity, how sport has shaped our mindset, the importance of confidence and communication, and what it takes to build meaningful relationships and keep moving forward when life doesn’t go according to plan.

We also dive into some of the challenges facing young people today, including social media, technology, shrinking attention spans, parenting, and the importance of genuine human connection in an increasingly digital world. More than anything, this episode is about resilience, personal growth, and the idea that success isn’t determined by where you start, but by how you respond to challenges, the people you surround yourself with, and your willingness to keep showing up when things get tough. If you enjoy the conversation, be sure to follow and subscribe for future episodes as we continue exploring the stories, lessons, and perspectives that shape who we are.