In this episode of The Empathy Project, I sit down with Wezizwe O’Driscoll — a young woman navigating life, identity, and self-discovery in Taiwan. We talk about the growing pains of building a life abroad, navigating grief and loss away from home, and the quiet weight of shame so many young women carry without naming it.From culture shock to celebration, Wez takes us through the messy, honest middle of her journey — and where she’s landed: grounded, graceful, and at peace with who she’s becoming.Note: this episode has a few audio imperfections due to technical issues during recording — but the conversation itself is one every young woman should hear.Follow us on;@the.empathyprojectza@wezizwe__@whit_celeDon’t forget to drop your thoughts in the comments

We are living in the age of the soft life. But our softness does not necessarily replace our strength, it was meant to sit beside it. South African women fought too hard, for too long, for us to mistake rest for forgetting. In celebration of Women’s month,we can pour our wine, choose peace, and still remember that we come from women who were, and HAD to be, imbokodo. But perhaps the goal was never to trade in their softness for strength, but to remind the nation that we hold both.So as we build gentler lives for ourselves, there are still things we can't look away from, how femininity gets weaponized against us, the ways we're taught strength has to cost us our tenderness, and exploitation of our beauty and charisma.This episode, I sat down with Ronelle, we spoke about what it means to move to Taiwan and have to redefine Black womanhood entirely outside of a South African context. Building a new life abroad from scratch! Forming community, making friendships from scratch, and the many lessons that come with becoming.If you’re living abroad, this one’s for you! It’s beautiful, it’s layered, and it’s honest. I'm so excited to share it with you today.Follow us on IG:@the.empathyprojectza@whit_cele@ronellekekana

It’s been ONE year since I packed up my life and moved BACK to Taiwan. My decision to move to Asia left many wondering, and in this episode I finally open up about it all. The why, the journey, the hardships, the culture shock (again) and joys. With the help of my good friend, Wandisa Nkosi, I get to share candidly on what this new chapter has looked like. This episode is an honest reflection of a 30-something black girl still figuring it out, unashamedly! Whether you’re considering relocating, already living abroad, or just want to hear a true story about resetting- this one’s for you. Leave us questions in the comments, follow us on Instagram and on Spotify @[email protected]@whit_cele

Friendship breakups can be just as painful as romantic ones—maybe even more. After 8 years of silence, distance, and growth, Amanda and I finally sat down for an honest, vulnerable, and (surprisingly) funny conversation about our friendship fallout and recent reconciliation.In this episode, we unpack:*Our friendship history—what brought us together and what tore us apart*The defining moment of rupture and what followed*Grieving the loss vs. accepting the end*Reconnection—how we found our way back to each other*The process of rebuilding trust and redefining our friendship*What friendship means to us now and how we nurture itIf you’ve ever lost a friend, struggled with reconciliation, or wondered if some relationships are worth saving, this one’s for you.Follow The Empathy Project on Instagram: @the.empathyprojectzaWhitney on Instagram & TikTok: @whit_celeAmanda on Instagram: @ms_ay_kay


TK takes us on a journey through his experience of *growing up Black* in rural KwaZulu-Natal, where life was shaped by the absence of water, electricity, and modern conveniences. From these humble beginnings to navigating a world dominated by whiteness, TK shares the reality of being the "missing middle" in South Africa. We dive into the complexities of code-switching as a survival mechanism, the challenges of identity, and the profound importance of family and community. TK speaks to how embracing and practicing his heritage has become a critical part of his journey toward belonging—for himself and the people he cares about most. This episode is an exploration of Blackness, survival, and the beauty of staying rooted in who you are. 
 Please let share you thoughts with us in the comments and follow on IG; The Empathy Project - https://www.instagram.com/the.empathyprojectza/ 
Thank you for listening!

On today's episode we are joined by Ugandan-born, South African-raised Attorney, Allan Basajjasubi. Alan takes us on his journey of realising, processing, accepting and owning his identity of foreigner in a newly democratic South Africa as an adolescent. He gives us a peak into some of the challenges he faced having to persistently legitimize his presence and belonging! Follow us on Instagram here; Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/whit_cele/ Allan: https://www.instagram.com/mr_basajj/ The Empathy Project: https://www.instagram.com/the.empathyprojectza/ and drop us a message or leave a comment if you'd like to share YOUR story too!

As we gear up to celebrate Freedom Day in our country's 30th year of Democracy, our 'Growing up Black' series will be revealing how we've individually defined ourselves in the face of adversity. Because truly, we are who we are, because of what we've endured. I'll be kicking off the series with a retrospective look at how I navigated the opposing realities of my Black & White worlds as a child in the 90's and early 2000's. As well as celebrating all the people and moments who helped me find pride in my Blackness & culture. Follow us on Instagram here; Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/whit_cele/ The Empathy Project: https://www.instagram.com/the.empathyprojectza/ and drop us a message or leave a comment if you'd like to share YOUR story too!

Women in their 30-somethings tend to hear a lot about WHY & HOW they are "alone", I thought it was only fair to wrap up the month of LOVE by sharing what we have to say for ourselves! My guest this episode is model, voice-actor & corporate baddie, Amanda Kaburise to chat singleness and contentment as a technically old person. Follow us on Instagram here Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/ms_ay_kay/ Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/whit_cele/ The Empathy Project: https://www.instagram.com/the.empathyprojectza/

Happy Valentines Day, friends!!!! Love is supposedly in the air, but not necessarily for everyone... so, we thought we'd spread some good, sweetheart vibes! I'm joined by super sports fan, Norika Naidoo, exchanging views & experiences on love and situationships! In today's chat, we're focusing on the experiences of single women in their 30s, and the pursuit for meaningful connections. Get ready for the most authentic, fun and heartfelt conversation. Follow us on IG: Norika: https://www.instagram.com/just_norika/ Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/whit_cele/ The Empathy Project: https://www.instagram.com/the.empathyprojectza/

Many people in Corporate South Africa, particularly Black employees, have stories of how proximity to Whiteness has positively influenced their career progression. But how many of us have taken the time to truly consider how embracing our individuality can enhance not only our personal work journeys, but also contribute to the collective empowerment of Black employees in the workplace. Amy Chiwaye shares on her struggles navigating the work place as a Black Woman, and the lessons she's drawn from those experiences. Follow us on IG: Amy 'Chi-Chi': https://www.instagram.com/ladychi05/ Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/whit_cele/ The Empathy Project: https://www.instagram.com/the.empathyprojectza/