On Season 2 - Episode 7 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I spend time with the brillant Mical Ndelela - Miss DRC-Congo World Universal 2025–2026, Girls Girl Award Winner, recent Honours Bachelor of Commerce graduate, and purpose-driven advocate - for a deeply moving conversation about resilience, representation, and bold dreaming.

Mical’s story is one of faith, strength, and rebuilding across borders. After experiencing xenophobia in South Africa, losing her mother in 2019, and stepping into the role of raising her younger brother at just 19 years old, Mical has turned unimaginable hardship into fuel for impact. Her journey has shaped her into a leader committed to being the woman she once needed in her own life

In this heartfelt episode, Mical spills the tea on:

• How resilience, faith, and purpose became her foundation
• Discovering her voice through pageantry and realizing she could use it for change
• Why modern pageantry is no longer about beauty alone, but about leadership, advocacy, and community
• What being a true “girl’s girl” means - and why women supporting women is revolutionary
• The power of representation and why young girls must see themselves in leadership
• Navigating job searching as an international graduate while holding onto big dreams
• Her long-term vision of becoming a diplomat and launching a foundation to support orphans in Congo and South Africa

Mical reminds us that leadership is not about titles - it’s about impact. When asked what she wants people to feel after crossing paths with her, she answered simply: kindness, wisdom, and unforgettable presence.

This episode is an invitation to rebuild, to rise, and to believe that young women have the power to shape their futures - even when the odds might say otherwise.

🎙 Episode 7 - Crowned With Purpose: Mical Ndelela on Resilience, Representation, and Raising the Next Generation is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

Connect with Mical Ndelela on Instagram @luxemiah on LinkedIn: Mical Wa Mbaya Ndelela and follow her pageant journey as she represents DRC-Congo internationally in Kenya.

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 2 · Episode 6 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Michael Valchuk - entrepreneur, master carpenter, co-owner of Building Dreams Contracting, and a man who leads with equal parts discipline and heart.

Mike has owned nine businesses over 16 years, but success - as he defines it now - isn’t about titles or numbers. It’s about how you live, how you love, and how you show up for the people around you. At his core, Mike is a father, a son, a builder, and someone deeply committed to leading with love.

In this deeply honest episode, Mike spills the tea on:

• How learning carpentry from his father at 8 years old shaped his discipline, pride, and attention to detail
• Losing his uncle as a teenager - and how physical training became his anchor and emotional reset
• Why 5AM workouts and physical discipline create mental clarity and leadership resilience
• Competing in HYROX Toronto, and learning to rewire his mindset from “I hate this” to “I love this”
• The danger of over-consuming information and why knowledge without action is powerless
• Being his own harshest critic - and learning the necessity of silence, solitude, and journaling
• Why joy and play aren’t luxuries, but essential ingredients for long-term success (stay silly, people!)

Mike also shares powerful reflections on community service and giving back, including building homes for the working poor in Mexico, participating in toy drives, hygiene product collections, and spending time with children in orphanages - moments that reshaped his understanding of gratitude, perspective, and what really matters.

At the heart of this episode is a simple but profound belief:

This episode is for anyone who’s built success but is craving alignment, presence, and a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.

🎙 Episode 6 - Leading With Love: Michael Valchuk on Discipline, Fatherhood, and Building a Life That Feels Good is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

👉 Connect with Michael Valchuk

• 🏗️ Learn more about Building Dreams Contracting Inc. and Mike’s work at buildingdreamsinc.ca
• 📲 Follow Mike on Instagram: @mvalchuk

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 2 · Episode 5 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Katherine “Kat” Dobson - media executive, relationship-builder, advocate, and mother - for a candid, no-filter conversation about longevity, integrity, and what it really takes to survive (and thrive) as a woman in media.

Kat’s journey began at just 16 years old, when she auditioned for (and won) a high school anchor role that launched a 22-year career in broadcasting, journalism, and media sales. From on-camera work to becoming a powerhouse Account Executive at CHCH / Channel Zero, Kat has seen the industry from every angle and has never lost her voice in the process.

In this deeply honest episode, Kat spills the tea on:

• Why fear has always been a signal to lean in, not back
• Navigating a male-dominated industry and protecting herself, her integrity, and her boundaries
• Why authenticity (not tactics) is the real secret sauce in media sales
• The evolution of media and why TV isn’t dead, but trust is fragile
• What’s broken in modern journalism and the cost of bias, fear-based reporting, and sensationalism
• Her transition from a difficult relationship to manifesting healthy love and finding her fiancé

Kat also answers one of the most emotional Stir The Pot questions of the season - reflecting on faith, injustice, and her heartbreak over the historic and ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples.

This episode is for anyone who has ever had to choose between fitting in and standing firm - and chose truth instead.🎙 Episode 5 - Using Your Voice Without Losing Yourself: Kat Dobson on Media, Motherhood, and Integrity is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

Follow Kat on Instagram or learn more about her work at CHCH TV.

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.