The Happiness Agenda With Uveka Rangappa

It's Africa Week and also our Season Finale so this week's episode is about the intrepid African spirit. After teaming up with famed adventurer Riaan Manser, Fana crossed the Atlantic Ocean, in a row boat in just 45 days.

When he's not battling oceans, Fana is the leader of the Mind Refinery Seminar which is aimed at helping people overcome negative mindsets and allow them to focus on achieving prosperity.

The Happiness Agenda will be on a production break for a while. but don't worry we'll be back on the 18th of June, just in time to celebrate the youth and their contribution to our country and continent.

"If music be the food of love, play on." William Shakespear said this but its sentiment is echoed in the work of songstress Hayley Christian. She's spent her career working with various charities, using her voice to spread love and joy. 

As we honour our moms this weekend, one young man tells Uveka how his journey to success would never have happened had it not been for his mother Christine’s strength, courage and determination raising four boys on her own. 

During the worldwide pandemic, Zayne got to thinking about the longevity of his career within the IT industry with the world becoming completely digitalized. This spurred him on to develop an App that would secure his future and to create a global footprint. Inspired by the movie, The Social Network and Marc Zuckerburg, Zayne wanted to replicate simplicity within the streaming space. This led to hours of planning, investigation, streaming, and problem shooting to develop a unique and economically viable streaming service. 

This was the birth of SODA POP! Soda Pop, much like other popular streaming services, is completely online. After investigating popular competitors, Zayne designed a service that circumvented the flaws of these companies.

Soda Pop boasts many features and advantages that other services lack. What sets Soda Pop a part is the fact that you can now stream movies, series and for the first time in South Africa, Live TV Channels and sport!

It's been a year of trials and tribulations. 2020 revealed how fragile life can be. But it also showed us a new side to ourselves, one of kindness and compassion. As 2020 draws to a close we would like to thank all of our listeners and guests who helps us spread a little bit of happiness. 

From The Happiness Agenda Team,We wish you a wonderful holiday season! Stay healthy and happy. 

Tracey-Ann Melville has been counselling persons affected by traumatic events since 2012, either as a counsellor or full-time with reputable EMS services. She is passionate about people, providing a hand to guide them through the most difficult times in their lives, and making their situations a little less traumatic with knowledge of what to do after the fact.

This experience has ultimately brought Trauma Assist to life.

TRAUMA ASSIST provides a safe space where the client will be empowered to freely express and work through the trauma experienced, finding new coping mechanisms and to find their new normal after a traumatic event. Counselling can be done at the client’s residence, place of work, or The beautiful NAMASKAR Wellness Vub in Lonehill.

The hub is a sanctuary with rolling lawns under a canopy of trees, encompassing holistic health & wellness, offering a range of alternative orthopaedic and therapeutic disciplines.

After Being inspired by her autistic son, Jill began her career as a passionate advocate for autism awareness. She also works with the Shalom Respite centre where she spends her time enhancing the quality of life and services for the patients. 

The Shalom Centre's work is often hampered by lack of resources. If you'd like to help, head over to https://shalom-respitecarecentre.co.za/2020-wish-list/ and do your bit 

Mark is an entrepreneur, writer and speaker. He is the founder and CEO of Suits & Sneakers and also founder of the Impello incubation hub. He loves to travel the world and is hell bent on disrupting education for people of all ages. On today's episode, he Tells Uveka about how the Suits and Sneakers initiative is spreading smiles from across Mzansi! 

Mbuso Mbulelo Bam, 21 is an Interaction Design (UI/UX) student at Inscape from Pretoria.He started Bam Innovations and is the founder of an online magazine Creative Nation which aims to educate the youth on the creativity process.

He wanted to create a platform for local creatives to exhibit their work and have it appreciated. After spending time studying software engineering, he decided to switch majors and that is where he fell in love with design and could build up his skills and techniques to excel in the industry.

"if music be the food of love, Play on" Father, daughter duo Adrian and Emma-Jean Galliard spend their time spreading happiness through music. 

Adrian is a classically trained singer & songwriter, who, after graduating with a drama degree from The University of The Witwatersrand, appeared in a number of professional musicals, including Annie, Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat and A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum.   Adrian currently runs a wellness business in partnership with his brother, teaches singing while pursuing his own musical career. 

11 year-old Emma-Jean, is a talented singer, ballerina & actress.   Emma-Jean participated in the prestigious Val Whyte Gala Ballet in 2019 and appeared in a number of TV commercials on top of her singing achievements. 

For many young South Africans, the reality of a fatherless existence is a very real one.  In his book, "Growing Up Without a Father", Pieterson asks whether we have become a fatherless country. His work in communities across The Free state have earned him an Honorary Doctorate from  The Global International Alliance.

Cape Town Native Yolanda Mayikeso may be young, but the Ancient Spirit of Africa moves within her. She chats to Uveka about Using her gift for dance to protect societies most vulnerable. 

At just 28 Jo-Ann Pohl received news that would affect her entire future. She had breast cancer.  2 adoptions and 2 miracle babies later, Joe tells Uveka about how she used laughter as a tool for survival in the face of a challenge that would have otherwise gotten on top of her. #TheHappinessAgenda

Sharon Gordon, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Writer, Human Rights Activist, Wisdom Seeker & Fearless Teller of Necessary Truths. As the creator of the Dignity in Dreams  Initiative, she has given scores of girls the opportunity to live freer lives with reusable pads.  

 Lara ThomsonI is an artist, mother and wife.  She runs a small business teaching rock art  and Plies her trade painting art on rocks. She strives to bring joy and kindness to the hearts of everyone who sees her Rocks. 

In honour of Heritage Day yesterday, there could be only one person to feature in this week's edition of the Happiness Agenda ... the dynamic, the inimitable, the glorious and fabulous Jessica Mbangeni. She joins Uveka to talk about how she spreads happiness by being authentically African. 

Renowned South African Chef Coo Pillay talks to us about spreading happiness by feeding the Mind Body and Soul

Giftware designer Andy Cartwright joins Uveka to talk about The simple gift of Happiness

This week on the Happiness Agenda Uveka speaks to the comedian that united South Africans with the sometimes controversial, always entertaining Coconut Kelz

TV writer and comedian Gilli Apter speaks to Uveka about finding joy in strife and making a living spreading smiles.  

Feeding people is an act of spreading happiness. Today Uveka speaks to The Lazy Makoti about how she turned simple home cooking into a brand that's known country wide.