Sean Loots | Starting Over and Life Changes Something Shifted | Stories of Identity, Loss and Life Transitions

Something Shifted | Stories of Identity, Loss and Life Transitions

There's a moment where your life splits in two.

Before the diagnosis. Before the loss. Before the divorce, the burnout, the caregiving role, or the sudden change you never saw coming.
And then after.

Most conversations about grief, trauma, and resilience focus on how to move forward. But the deeper question so many people quietly live with after a lifequake: Who am I now?

Something Shifted is a documentary-style podcast about identity after interruption. The psychological and emotional reconstruction that happens after major life changes reshape the person you thought you were. Each episode tells a deeply human story of someone navigating grief and healing, rebuilding identity after loss, recovering from trauma, finding purpose after hardship, or learning how to start over in life they never expected to be living.

Because sometimes the hardest part of a sudden life change isn't the event itself. It's becoming someone new afterward.

Hosted by South African broadcaster Sean Loots, Something Shifted blends immersive storytelling with reflective narration to explore what happens when identity changes through crisis, caregiving, diagnosis, parenting, survival, and loss. At the center of the show is the idea of the Lifequake: the moments that interrupt the expected path of a life and force a person into identity transformation.

These are stories about emotional resilience, meaning after hardship, and finding yourself again after everything changed.

If you're navigating life transitions, coping with loss, or trying to understand who you became after a major life change — this show is for you.

Episode Topics Include: Identity Reconstruction, Trauma Recovery, Life Transitions, Starting Over In Life, Grief And Healing, Meaning After Loss, Losing a Dream, Emotional Resilience, Caregiving Burnout, Special Needs Parenting, Finding Yourself Again, Life After Diagnosis, Creative Burnout
Monthly English South Africa Personal Journals · Documentary
53 Episodes
20 – 40

"I was alone with him when he died."

Zuraida was the last person to see her dad alive. The last person to speak to him. She was also the last person to comfort him. She was 13 years old. This traumatic event affected her deeply, leading to feelings of abandonment and a tendency towards hyper-independence. Zuraida discusses how…
18 Nov 2024 25 min

One Rescue Breath Changed Three Lives

Sean shares his personal journey through a lifequake, detailing the challenges and transformations that come with raising a child with profound disabilities. He reflects on a critical incident involving his daughter Zoe, the emotional turmoil of hospital visits, and the lessons learned about resilience, empathy, and the importance of community…
4 Nov 2024 16 min

Get Ready For All Of The Feels

Join me for the new season of Something Shifted, the podcast that asks some of South Africa’s most interesting people to share how significant life shifts, perceived as devastating, can lead to profound personal transformation and empowerment. Something Shifted with Sean Loots leans into the joy and discomfort of unexpected…
22 Oct 2024 1 min

"Stress Less" | Anxiety, stress management and emotional resilience tools

Are you aware of how stress physically shapes your life? Sean Loots sits down with award-winning, bestselling author, psychotherapist and corporate consultant, Noa Belling to discuss her latest book, Stress Less: Managing anxiety in a modern world. In this episode, Noa shares the physiological impacts of stress and the transformative…
1 Apr 2024 39 min

"Finally Home." Johannes Radebe on identity, belonging and life transitions

In this episode, South African born, champion dancer and Strictly Come Dancing professional, Johannes Radebe opens up about the adversity's he has faced throughout his life. From growing up in Zamdela, a township in South Africa to becoming the first male dancer to perform in heels in UK Strictly Come…
5 Oct 2023 38 min

"Sleep on it." Dr Els Van Der Helm

This is an excerpt of a previously published full length episode. I have lucked out on my fair share of sleep in my lifetime. I've also had my sleep cycles interrupted far too many times. Having a young child with epilepsy means I never really switch off, simply because a…
13 Sep 2023 7 min

Unbelievable! How One Woman's Resilience Turned Struggles into Triumphs

In this episode, Sean Loots is in conversation with Nikki Kemp, an adaptive athlete, teacher, and motivator. They cover various topics related to disability awareness, overcoming challenges, embracing personal growth, and setting goals. Nikki's experiences with cerebral palsy, her journey into adaptive athletics, and her insights into handling disappointments and…
30 Aug 2023 30 min

"Your nervous system operates at lightning speed." Shaun Brooking

This is an excerpt of a previously published episode. The full episode is titled "Working on my nerves with Shaun Brooking." _____________________________________ Website: https://shaunbrookingcoaching.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaun_brooking/ If, like me, you have aches and pains that come and go, you may have tried a few different methods of alleviating your ailments…
15 Aug 2023 13 min

"Give yourself permission to do things that bring you joy." Ronen Aires

If you’re anything like me - and I think you are - you may have healthy debates with friends about how the schooling system has developed our way of thinking. Programed us to believe that a holiday is when you slow down. Groomed us even, into believing that we don’t…
31 Jul 2023 34 min

"Relationships are an art, a science and a practice." Shelley Lewin

Sean Loots speaks with author and relationship coach, Shelley Lewin. Shelley is a certified SACAP counselor, international coach federation member, and accredited professional certified coach. She found her career after her fiancé left her. When Shelley realized that almost all of her relationships were unfulfilling, she came to conclusion that…
19 Jul 2023 38 min

Brandon Beack Broke His Neck, But Not His Spirit.

While training for a gymnastics competition, 16-year-old Brandon Beack had a life-changing accident. A poorly timed dismount saw him miss the safety mat and land on the only square metre of uncovered concrete. Brandon broke his neck and was instantly paralysed from his shoulders down. Through sheer determination and hard…
5 Jul 2023 30 min
20 – 40