My love for stories began in my childhood, growing up with my cousins in the quiet, remote village of Kat-Kop near Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. We spent our evenings listening to my gogo’s stories of heroes, life lessons, and her own adventures, often filled with wonder and creativity. Her stories were always entertaining and full of drama, but they also carried lessons that influenced our view of life. For us, her grandchildren, those moments brought us together and created memories that we still cherish today. Through her words, we learnt about life, and in the process, we learnt how to tell our own stories.

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I remember the way she would change the pitch of her resonant voice to mimic each character. She had a way of captivating us, speaking to our emotions. Those moments planted a seed in me, though I didn’t realise then how much that seed would grow.

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As years went by, I found myself sharing stories about ocean wonders at an aquarium in Durban – the charismatic dolphins, the graceful turtles, sleek sharks and many other mysteries of the deep. The aquarium became my stage, its creatures, the characters, and the stories were mine to tell. It was a place where I could bring people closer to nature and its beauty.

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Eventually, I chose to study Communication Science and later pursued an Honours in the same field. Over the years, as I worked across research, environmental, and social impact organisations, I realised how much I enjoy communicating research, sharing the stories of the people behind it, and highlighting the impact of their work. I am fascinated by science, technology, and innovation – reading about them, learning about them, and sharing about them.

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My Master’s degree in Science and Technology Studies, specialising in science and public engagement, deepened my understanding of these areas and further fuelled my passion. Through my work and academic journey, I’ve learnt that stories have the power to simplify complex information, inspire, connect, and drive meaningful change. It was this lesson that sparked the idea of starting a science storytelling platform, where I can explore and share the stories behind science and technology and the people who make it happen.

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This belief continues to guide my journey, as I tell stories, explore and share how storytelling can shape our world. And that’s the story I’m still writing...

My name is Dimpho Lephaila, ... join me! Let’s explore, learn, inspire, connect, and make a meaningful change, one story at a time.