Hosted by René van Niekerk, this podcast is about the stories of South African people that often go unheard. Grab a cuppa, sit down and let's chat!
storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
René sits down with her former colleague O’dine, an Afrikaans teacher who has taught at both co-ed and single-sex schools, to reflect on how the classroom has evolved. From the days before smartphones to the hyper-digital learners of today, they unpack how education—and educators—have had to adapt.
✨ We’re also preparing our final episode for the season, and we want to hear from you:
* How has being a listener or viewer of Stories Between Sips impacted you?
* What would you like to see in our next season?
Send us your response via voice note, short video clip, or written message!📩 Contact: Instagram @storiesbetweensipspodcast | TikTok @storiesbetweensipspod
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
23 Jul 2025
Episode 5, Part 1: Teaching Then vs Now
René shares her journey across three countries—South Africa, South Korea, and Qatar—to reflect on how teaching has changed over the past decade. From chalkboards to TikTok, what does it mean to teach the digital generation? Grab your cup and settle in.
🎧 Follow @storiesbetweensipspodcast on Instagram and @storiesbetweensipspod on TikTok.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
27 Jun 2025
Episode 4, Part 2: Friendship
Host René interviews Milla about building and maintaining adult friendships, exploring sisterhood, and understanding how close connections shape individuals later in life, highlighting the beauty of supportive relationships.
23 Jun 2025
Episode 4, Part 1: Friendships
Host René explores the complexities of adult friendships, reflecting on sisterhood, connections with men, and the impact of loss on relationships.
22 Jun 2025
Coming up next on Stories Between Sips
Host René explores the complexities of adult friendships, discussing emotional education, connection, distance, and grief in a solo episode, then interviews Milla, Ilze's best friend, about sisterhood and lasting bonds.
14 Jun 2025
Episode 3, Part 2: Grieving Far From Home
Renate Mayer shares her experience of grieving the loss of a parent while living abroad and how it led her to become a death doula in an interview with the host.
9 Jun 2025
Episode 3, Part 1: How Grief Changes Everything
The host shares a personal narrative about the profound impact of grief following the loss of her parents, exploring themes of guilt, familial relationships, and finding a path forward.
7 Jun 2025
🖤 NEXT WEEK ON STORIES BETWEEN SIPS 🖤
Host shares her personal story of losing both parents and how that grief shaped her, then interviews Renate Mayer about grieving across oceans and family dynamics.
30 May 2025
Episode 2, Part 2: Living with Bipolar: A Conversation with Ilze Gopal
Ilze Gopal discusses her personal experiences living with bipolar disorder, including diagnosis challenges, emotional experiences, and the roles of faith, family, therapy, and medication, in this interview with René.
26 May 2025
Episode 2, Part 1: Mental Health as a Coloured Person in South Africa
The host shares personal experiences navigating mental health as a Coloured person in South Africa, addressing cultural stigma, accessing support, and exploring healing.
16 May 2025
Episode 1, Part 2: Finding Home in the In-Between (with LaToya Gabriel)
In this episode of Stories Between Sips, I sit down with LaToya Gabriel, a teacher, traveler, and expat who has lived and worked in China, Qatar, and beyond. We discuss the challenges of building a life away from home, navigating racism, and the constant search for belonging. LaToya shares her journey of teaching abroad, the complexities of adapting to different cultures, and how she has grown in the process. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not fully from anywhere, this conversation will speak to you.
Follow LaToya and her journey on social media:Instagram: Latoyagabriel_
TikTok: latoya_gabriel
Don’t forget to follow Stories Between Sips for more reflections and upcoming guest episodes:Instagram: @StoriesBetweenSip (https://www.instagram.com/StoriesBetweenSips)sPodcast
TikTok: @storiesbetweensipspod
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
12 May 2025
Episode 1, Part 1: Living and Working Abroad
Leaving your home country sounds like a dream—new opportunities, a better lifestyle, growth. But what about the moments no one talks about? The loneliness. The milestones you miss. The quiet grief of being far away from everything and everyone that once defined “home.”
In this solo episode of Stories Between Sips, your host, René van Niekerk, opens up about the emotional cost of living and working abroad. From strained friendships to culture shock, from the guilt of privilege to the sting of racism and othering—she shares what it really feels like to exist in the in-between.
If you've ever lived abroad, thought about it, or loved someone who has—this episode is for you.
🎧 Topics Covered:
* Being far from friends and family
* Missing life’s important milestones
* Evolving friendships across distance
* Culture shock moving from a third world to a first world country
* Navigating racism, othering, and identity shifts
* What it means to grow through dislocation
💬 Let me know if something in this episode resonated with you in the comments or DMs.
📲 Follow for more:Instagram: @StoriesBetweenSips (https://www.instagram.com/storiesbetweensips)Podcast
TikTok: @Storiesbetweensipspod
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
9 May 2025
Pilot episode
In this pilot episode of Stories between Sips, I share who I am, why I started this podcast, and what you can expect from this space.
Born and raised in Cape Town, I’m a teacher, poet, and storyteller who’s taught in South Africa, South Korea, and now Qatar. After losing both of my parents in recent years, I created this platform to reflect, heal, and connect—because I believe our stories matter.
Expect honest, thoughtful, and sometimes funny conversations over tea, every second Monday (solo episode) and Friday (guest episode).
Follow and sip with me.Instagram: @storiesbetweensipspodcastTikTok: @storiesbetweensipspod
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 May 2025
Coming this Friday!
I'm launching my podcast this week. Please tune in!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storiesbetweensips.substack.com (https://storiesbetweensips.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Who has been a guest on Stories Between Sips
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Milla
Renate Mayer
Ilze Gopal
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
710
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
10
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
0
Host of Stories Between Sips?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
