The first Black South African cyclist to compete in the Tour de France. An Olympian. A national champion. A rider who has raced against the very best in the world.

But this is not a story about cycling. It's a story about curiosity.

In this episode, Nicholas Dlamini reflects on growing up in Capricorn Township, where leaving the neighbourhood was a rare occasion and the world felt much smaller than it really was. Cycling wasn't about chasing medals or building a career, it was simply a way to see what lay beyond the boundaries of his community. A bicycle became his passport to places he had only heard about, and curiosity became the force that changed his life.

Richard and Nicholas explore how curiosity shaped every stage of his journey. From discovering Cape Town on a bicycle to competing in the Tour de France, Nicholas shares how embracing the unknown opened doors he never imagined possible.

The conversation also explores the moments that tested him most. Nicholas reflects on the devastating crash that left doctors considering amputating his arm, and the unwavering belief that carried him through one of the darkest periods of his career. He speaks candidly about becoming a father, how it changed the risks he was willing to take, and why perspective becomes more valuable than victory as life evolves.

More than anything, Nicholas reminds us that growth begins the moment we're willing to explore beyond what we know. Whether it's a new road, a new challenge or a new version of ourselves, curiosity is often where transformation begins.

 

The first Black South African cyclist to compete in the Tour de France. An Olympian. A national champion. A rider who has raced against the very best in the world.
But this is not a story about cycling. It's a story about curiosity.
In this episode, Nicholas Dlamini reflects on growing up in Capricorn Township, where leaving the neighbourhood was a rare occasion and the world felt much smaller than it really was. Cycling wasn't about chasing medals or building a career, it was simply a way to see what lay beyond the boundaries of his community. A bicycle became his passport to places he had only heard about, and curiosity became the force that changed his life.
Richard and Nicholas explore how curiosity shaped every stage of his journey. From discovering Cape Town on a bicycle to competing in the Tour de France, Nicholas shares how embracing the unknown opened doors he never imagined possible.
The conversation also explores the moments that tested him most. Nicholas reflects on the devastating crash that left doctors considering amputating his arm, and the unwavering belief that carried him through one of the darkest periods of his career. He speaks candidly about becoming a father, how it changed the risks he was willing to take, and why perspective becomes more valuable than victory as life evolves.
More than anything, Nicholas reminds us that growth begins the moment we're willing to explore beyond what we know. Whether it's a new road, a new challenge or a new version of ourselves, curiosity is often where transformation begins.
&nbsp;

Life doesn’t always give you a warning before everything changes.

A job. A relationship. A dream. Even the person you thought you were.

One moment, everything feels familiar. The next, you’re figuring out what comes after.

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton returns for Season 2 with more honest conversations about change, uncertainty, starting over and finding your way forward.

No perfect answers. No pretending. Just real people, real stories and the reminder that whatever shift you’re going through you’re not alone.

Season 2 is here.

Watch & listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Life doesn&rsquo;t always give you a warning before everything changes.
A job. A relationship. A dream. Even the person you thought you were.
One moment, everything feels familiar. The next, you&rsquo;re figuring out what comes after.
Shift Happens with Richard Sutton returns for Season 2 with more honest conversations about change, uncertainty, starting over and finding your way forward.
No perfect answers. No pretending. Just real people, real stories and the reminder that whatever shift you&rsquo;re going through you&rsquo;re not alone.
Season 2 is here.
Watch &amp; listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton 

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton is a podcast about transformation, elevation, and becoming the best version of yourself.

Through people’s stories, we explore what happens when life applies pressure, when things change, and when doubt or failure forces a shift. These are honest conversations about the moments that shape us, and what we can learn from them.

This is not about perfect stories. It’s about real ones, and the small, often unseen shifts that change everything. This podcast is a tool to help you learn through the experiences of others, and navigate your own.

Richard Sutton is the founder and CEO of SuttonHealth and The Performance Code, and a global expert in stress management, resilience, and human performance. He is the author of The Stress Code, Stressproof – The Game Plan, and Shift Happens, which distils 25 years of science and lived experience into practical ways to work with stress, burnout, and self-doubt.

Watch/Listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton is a podcast about transformation, elevation, and becoming the best version of yourself.
Through people&rsquo;s stories, we explore what happens when life applies pressure, when things change, and when doubt or failure forces a shift. These are honest conversations about the moments that shape us, and what we can learn from them.
This is not about perfect stories. It&rsquo;s about real ones, and the small, often unseen shifts that change everything. This podcast is a tool to help you learn through the experiences of others, and navigate your own.
Richard Sutton is the founder and CEO of SuttonHealth and The Performance Code, and a global expert in stress management, resilience, and human performance. He is the author of The Stress Code, Stressproof &ndash; The Game Plan, and Shift Happens, which distils 25 years of science and lived experience into practical ways to work with stress, burnout, and self-doubt.
Watch/Listen on primediaplus.com, the Primedia+ app, Spotify &amp; Apple Podcasts.

Shift Happens 

Shift Happens with Richard Sutton | Nicholas Dlamini on Curiosity, Exploration and Discovery

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5dcefa8e-00a9-4595-8ce1-a4ab0080f142/clips/f9721ef1-9448-4632-b348-b47e014ba7e0/transcript