WATCH: Boksburg podcaster shares her inspiring journey, dream projects and more

Rea Seabela (38), who was born in Vosloorus and now lives in Mapleton, added podcasting to her CV when she launched her platform called WOCE Rea Sea Podcast in 2022.
However, her career in art goes back much further than that.

Seabela’s acting career began as a part-time performing arts student at the Market Theatre. Her talent didn’t go unnoticed, and she soon landed feature roles on several TV series and adverts, including the TV series uBettina Wethu season three, the TV drama telenovela series Legacy and the comedy series How to Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower on Netflix.

She was recently among the dozens of creatives who secured spots to learn and showcase their work at the inaugural SA Podcast and Music Festival recently held in the Red Roman Shed at Emperors Palace.
The event, featuring talks by veteran radio and podcast hosts, was an opportunity for budding musicians, podcasters and emerging creative entrepreneurs to gain wisdom from the seasoned creatives, network, collaborate, increase leads, build their brands and be educated and inspired.

The Boksburg Advertiser caught up with the actor-cum-podcaster to learn about her interesting career path, from her risky route of giving up her full-time job in the corporate world to pursue art as a full-time job, what’s in the pipeline and how she, as the married mother of three, gets it all done.

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Here is our interview:

What did participating in the SA Podcast and Music Festival mean to you?
As someone in the art and podcasting sectors, I am always open to learning new skills from my industry colleagues. So, I grabbed the opportunity to exhibit my creation, network and attend the masterclasses with both hands. Among other things, I learnt how to monetise our podcasts, grow them and make them a profitable business. I also gained a greater understanding of what podcasting is all about. It was mind-blowing, and it sharpened my skills.
What inspired you to start a podcast?
Mostly, I wanted to have a voice and help the people around me to also have a voice because we have so many issues in our communities. If you look at social media, everything is all fluffy and beautiful because everybody wants to speak positively about their lives. Nobody is talking, however, about the nitty-gritty of our daily challenges in family structures.
What topics do your podcasts cover?
My podcast is about family-oriented subjects that affect our lives within families, communities, businesses and the outside world. We talk about issues affecting men, women and the youth. One topic I’ve covered is entitled I’m an Outcast, a conversation about the struggle men using their mother’s surname have when they want to get married. It is not as simple as going to home affairs to change your surname. It is difficult for most black people whose families subscribe to cultural norms and believe that certain demands be met before a surname change can get the families’ blessings.
We have also had conversations about women in the corporate world and the good, bad and ugly they encounter here, as well as talking about raising children in out-of-the-norm family structures, where you find you have two fathers, two mothers or are living with your grandmother or only one parent.
How do you balance work and family?
By God’s grace, in all honesty. My husband and children are supportive and patient. Also, I work on a very tight schedule, ensure we discuss what needs doing and when and try to execute it efficiently. Most importantly, I ensure I spend time with my children and husband.
What helped you sharpen your skills for podcasting?
Apart from acting courses, my background working in the corporate world really shaped how I do many things. I used to work at a multi-million rand business, where I had to look after its profitability and had vast exposure to training. I was a general manager at one point and an operations manager with junior staff to coach, train and develop.
You faced challenges pursuing a career in the arts, particularly when you left your full-time job. What was this transition like?
As a married woman with three children, it was not an easy decision. I had many benefits to lose, which included a car. There were several times I reconsidered going back to my full-time job. However, I had a strong belief that art was a calling within me, and I had to jump in and invest myself in it. I always wanted to do art, but because of my background, I never had the luxury of exploring this as a young girl. I decided to do something else and went to university to study sports management, but I told myself I’d return to the arts. To keep the lights on, even when studying and working, I’d continue with the little things I could do. For example, some of the organisations I worked for would ask me to jump in if they needed an interview or voice-over. This helped me realise I needed to try again.
When did you go back to performing arts full-time?
My first try was in 2016, the same year I secured my first gig in a commercial. That, on its own, encouraged me to continue. I subsequently landed my first lead role in an advert and was happy to see it was actually working out for me.
What has been the biggest highlight of your acting career?
My time as a student at the Market Theatre. That helped me develop and understand my craft to match what the market wants. I did my first theatrical work with them as a student there. That helped me get more exposure to the relevant organisations.
What have been the low points?
Funding. Everything I’m doing, including production, has mainly been funded from my pocket. It has been tough to get sponsorship. You knock on doors and send out letters, but in SA, people don’t yet understand podcasting, so I said the festival helped us because I saw we were being acknowledged. It has been a bit challenging for my podcast to thrive. With acting, you have to go through many auditions to maximise your chances, and I know that sometimes, some productions tend to keep things within their circle. However, I feel I will break through in the industry one day, one way or the other.
What advice would you give to someone intending to leave their job to pursue a career in performing arts or podcasting?
Plan well before diving in. Give yourself enough time to understand the disadvantages more than the advantages. Also, bear in mind that when you leave your job because you want to pursue your art, you will not get a salary, so you need to save and see that you have a support base. Understand the sacrifices and phases you must go through before making money, like the learning phase, networking and building. I always say money will come so long as you do what you love and do it right.
What’s in the pipeline in your career?
I work with an organisation that is arranging a festival called Women of Soul, which will take place on July 17 at the Rietvlei Zoo Farm. I will interview their guests, including female artists like Buhlebendalo Mda and Zoe Modiga. I’m also working on the second series of my seminar called Dressed In Confidence. We did the first one in December, and in this second series, we put 50 women who have experienced GBV in one room. And, obviously, recording for my podcast monthly.
What are your long-term goals?
To host my own talk show, like Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and Oprah Winfrey.
Connect with Seabela
You can follow Seabela on all social media platforms.

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