When one door closes, another opportunity presents itself for seasoned radio host and television presenter Dineo Ranaka.
The former Kaya FM breakfast show host has always been about giving Mzansi unique insight into topics from relationships to sex and everything in between.
The 39-year-old media maven and reality TV star’s latest prospect comes as the host of Mzansi Magic’s newest talk show Sip & Talk set to premiere on Sunday, 26 November 2023, at 21:00.
The show promises intimate and genuine conversations with some of the country’s most recognisable personalities as they share their stories of public trials and tribulations from heartbreak to recovery.
Some of the esteemed guests set to share their stories in Dineo’s condo include comedian Celeste Ntuli, actress Khabonina Qubeka, former Real Housewives of Durban star Ayanda Ncwane and more.
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Sharing with TRUELOVE what she’s most looking forward to people getting from the programme, Dineo says, “I’m most excited for viewers to get to experience their favourite personalities in a different light, in a way that Dineo can bring to the table.
“We had such unique – I mean common conversations but the energy and how they were and how they were carried out was just so beautiful man. It was really just so beautiful.”
Having been approached by the producers of Sip & Talk to take on the hosting duties, the talk show looks to provide an in-depth exploration into issues like public grief, mental health, marriage endings and addiction recovery.
Dineo is not known to shy away from being open and honest about different aspects of her life and wellbeing.
In July 2023, she shared on her Instagram page that she lives with temporal lobe epilepsy and severe chronic depression, seeing her having to make her mental health a priority and step away from Kaya FM and her ultimate dismissal from the station.
This clearly didn’t stop her seeing as her YouTube podcast series Dineo on Sex n’ Stuff has now found a new home on BET and she has been entrusted with diving deep into the lives and lessons learnt of her industry peers on Sip & Talk.
While she keeps her methods of staying grounded close to her chest, Dineo reveals, “I’m a spiritual person so my spirituality grounds me. My spiritual practices are very sacred to me and of late I really don’t like to disclose them. But my spirituality grounds me a lot.”
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Dineo is quite the seasoned media personality who can effortlessly sway between the demands of radio and the hustle and bustle of TV presenting. She isn’t afraid to take in whatever constructive criticism comes her way.
“Well, the best way to handle criticism is to accept it and keep it moving, isn’t it?” she tells us. “Apply it if it’s necessary, if it’s criticism that is constructive and it is building you then absolutely, you apply it, keep it moving. Generally, any criticism, even criticism that doesn’t build you. You just accept that that’s the person’s opinion of your work and you keep it moving.
“And the main challenges between TV hosting and radio presenting, I don’t find with of them challenging, I would be lying if I said I did. I don’t, they’re quite unique in their own respects but none of them are challenging for me.”
Before the debut of Sip & Talk, the country can look forward to Dineo’s MCing skills will take centre stage at TRUELOVE’s All A Woman Needs festival taking place on Saturday, 11 November 2023 at the Mall of Africa in Midrand.
With stellar performances from the likes of Mafikizolo and DJ Hazel along with captivating activations, Dineo can’t wait to revel in the wholesome and exciting energy the festival brings.
“Oh my gosh, I haven’t been on the decks in a while because, spiritually, I just have not had the capacity to be on the decks and be gigging and so forth and so forth. But I’m looking forward to this one because number one, it’s a daytime thing and my soul is thirsty for a good daytime event right now.
“And I’m looking forward to the conversations, dialogue, leaving with the sense of feeling changed by something someone said. You know, learning from other people’s experiences and different viewpoints in life and I’m looking forward to engaging with the ladies.”
The business of media isn’t the only avenue Dineo has sunk her teeth into. She explains how she is hoping to expand her clothing range ANXY.
“Turning my ANXY fashion business into a multi-million fashion retail business. Ya, and I think I’ll do it. I believe I’ll do it. The manner in which I’m approaching business now and structuring teams now is absolutely phenomenal. It’s so spiritual, it’s insane. So I’ll believe I’ll do it, ya.”
