The Shady South Africans Network

The Villain You Needed Me to Be | It's Personal | Ep. 3

We all love to imagine ourselves as the hero. But let’s be honest, at some point, we’ve all played the villain. In this episode of It’s Personal, Ruben breaks down the messy, hilarious, deeply human reality of becoming the “bad guy” in someone else’s narrative. Whether you set a boundary, told the truth, chose yourself, walked away, or simply stopped tolerating nonsense — someone, somewhere, is convinced you ruined their character arc. This episode dives into: * Why people cast you as their villain * How growth makes others uncomfortable * The difference between intent and impact * The ego bruise of real accountability * Why being disliked is sometimes necessary * And how embracing your “villain moments” can actually make you a better, more honest human Reflective. Brutal. Darkly funny. This one will hit you in all the places you pretend you don’t feel.

Losing Religion. Finding Faith. | It's Personal | Ep. 2

In this deeply personal episode, I unpack my complicated journey with religion, from growing up in strict Christian spaces, to hiding who I was, to walking away from church completely. Years later, at one of the darkest points in my life, I prayed again… and everything shifted. This episode isn’t about doctrine or debate. It’s about masks, fear, identity, and the quiet moment where faith found me again. If you’ve ever questioned your place in your religion or wondered how to rebuild a relationship with God on your own terms, this one is for you.

Beyond the Purple Profile Picture | It's Personal | Ep. 1

South Africa turned its profile pictures purple, marched in the streets, and forced the government to declare GBV a national disaster. But what happens after the hashtags fade? In our first episode, I unpack the power and limits of digital activism, the emotional weight of witnessing a country in crisis, and why accountability starts where public pressure ends.

It's Personal Trailer

Welcome to It’s Personal. If you’ve ever had that one friend who sends you voice notes the length of a full podcast episode, half confession, half chaos, fully human, then you already know the vibe here. This is the show that drops into your day the same way those unexpected voice notes do: a little unfiltered, a little reflective, and always wandering through the mysteries of life, love, politics, and whatever else hits at 2am. It’s not polished. It’s personal. And if you’re here, you’re part of the conversation now.