The Connections Keep Brewing

There was a bit of a drought in blog writing — and for good reason. Between 2017 and 2024, Bianca’s life became a whirlwind of incredible experiences. She married the love of her life and travelled the world with the Springbok Women in the midst of the Covid19 pandemic.

But then something wild happened. What started as words on a page grew wings, grabbed a microphone, and said, “Let’s go bigger!- Welcome to our YouTube channel”. And so, the Coffee with Bee YouTube podcast was launched on 19 July 2024.  We started our first series with an Olympics special. South African Olympians and Paralympians Caitlin Rooskrantz, Simone Kruger, and Libbie Janse van Rensburg sat with us over coffee and spilled their stories: the victories, the challenges, and the goosebump moments. You can catch their stories on the Coffee with Bee YouTube channel.

Now, don’t be fooled—this journey wasn’t all smooth sailing and perfectly lit camera angles. Moving from blogging to YouTube was like switching from a comfy bicycle to a Formula 1 car overnight. We had to learn how to plan recording sessions, prep for interviews, and operate cameras without accidentally recording someone’s elbow.

But here’s the thing: the hiccups didn’t stop us. Coffee with Bee has never been about perfection—it’s always been about people. So we found other ways to connect. We showed up, shared stories, celebrated wins, and held space for the lows.

In January 2025, we celebrated Paralympian Simone Kruger’s birthday while enjoying a game of SA20 cricket at SuperSport Park. Simone—record-breaker, discus-thrower extraordinaire, and forever part of the CWB family—was heading to Stellenbosch to chase bigger dreams, and we wanted to send her off with love, laughter, and a buzz of honey-sweet treats.

While 2025 hasn’t been heavy on recordings, it’s been rich with supporting our guests and now Coffee with Bee family members. We cheered for Libbie Janse van Rensburg, our very first CWB guest, as she dominated the field for the Bulls Daisies, the Springbok Women, and even earned MVP nods. Watching her and the Springbok Women make the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinals was electric.

We also soaked up unforgettable moments at the Taste of SuperSport Park event. Making memories with rugby commentator Layla Arrison, Lions captain Rumandi Potgieter, F1 fan channel founder Lufefe Mayekiso, and a whole crew of amazing humans laughing, bonding, and trading stories. Connections were made, relationships were built, and yes—mini vlogs were filmed.

And though “no recording was done for this year” (okay, one recording was done, but shhh—it’s top-secret), we’re cooking up something special. Here's a glimpse of our special recording. We refuse to release anything half-baked—so when it’s ready, you’ll feel the love and effort we’ve poured into it.

Through all of this, we realised something important: even when the cameras are off, the connections keep brewing. This year, we’ve laughed together, celebrated victories, and quietly held space for one another’s challenges. That’s what Coffee with Bee is about.

Coffee with Bee exists for one reason: to celebrate you. Your triumphs. Your struggles. Your dreams. Because here’s the truth: you deserve to be seen, celebrated, and cheered on.