Liezl Thom on journalistic objectivity, joining the Army, and NLP on steroids
Master Transformation coach Liezl Thom talks about two decades in broadcasting and news, seeing a child’s soul, Kofi Annan, Martha Beck - and gadgets.
Martha Beck and Liezl Thom
1 What motivated you to study Political Science at university?
Like many young people, I didn’t have a clear idea what I wanted to do with my life. My stepmother suggested journalism and it deeply resonated with me. She was a lecturer at the University of Pretoria, which meant I could study for free at TUKS. At the time, the university did not offer journalism, so I chose politics as I’ve always been interested in how we as humans organize ourselves and our societies. I did a post graduate certificate in journalism offered by UP’s Afrikaans Department and learnt a few basics - but I learnt far more in my first week in a newsroom!
2 You’ve been in the army twice; do fill us in on this.
The first time was straight after matric. At the time, white males were still conscripted to do National Service - something I found extremely unfair for a number of reasons, one being that they lost a year of their lives to something they had no say over. There was nothing I, as an individual, could do about the system, so as the saying goes:”If you can’t beat them, join them.” I joined the SADF as a service volunteer and did basic training and JL’s at the Signal Core in Wonderboom. After the my year’s service, I went to varsity and then, when I graduated - like many first time job seekers - I struggled to get a job. I knew someone in the Military Health Service, who told me about a post in the communications department, applied and was appointed as a lieutenant. During this period, the Non-Aligned Movement Summit took place in Durban and we as communication officers were tasked with being liaison officers to the different delegations. My fellow lieutenants were assigned to smaller countries, such as Togo and Tobago, but I went to the Colonel in charge of the Military Liaison Officers and told him that as a political studies graduate, I would like to be assigned to the United Nations. Much to some of the seniors’ chagrin, he agreed and I got to spend the Summit serving the late, great UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Liezl and UN Secretary General Kofi Anan
3 More than two decades in broadcasting and news must equal a lifetime of experiences. Can you identify two of the most powerful stories you have covered?
During the 2008 wave of xenophobic violence, I met a family from the DRC who fled for their lives from their home country, thinking they would be safe in South Africa. The first time our paths crossed was outside the UNHCR building where they were camping on the pavement after fleeing from their South African neighbours. The Lotcha family had four or five children, but the one that made the biggest impression - and impact - on me was eleven year old Jolie. As I was talking to the people outside the UNHCR building, I looked down into Jolie’s eyes and it felt as if I could see her soul. That child had more presence at her young age than most people I’ve ever met before or since. It wasn’t something I could really describe - but I certainly felt it. After the City of Tshwane moved the foreign nationals to Klerksoord - where they stayed for months - I had several more interactions with the Lotcha family. They eventually applied for asylum in the US and I received a few messages from them in the years after but we’ve since completely lost contact. I often wonder about what happened to Jolie and if she still has that palpable presence - and what doors it has opened for her. There are literally thousands of stories like this, of ordinary people who never make the front pages, yet quietly go about the business of being themselves and I have had the privilege to bear witness to their beingness. I believe every one of us has a story to tell, lessons to learn and then teach to others to make their journey easier.
The second story that touched me - and in some way changed me - is one that certainly made headlines. Four teenage boys accused of assaulting and killing a vagrant for no other reason than his race. That was the narrative of the Waterkloof 4. Christoff Becker, Frikkie du Preez, Gert van Schalkwyk and Reinach Tiedt were from well-to-do homes. At the time of the assault, the first three were 16 and Tiedt was 15. That trial was one of the reasons I studied to become a Life Coach. I felt that as much as their parents did the best they could, they would have benefited from an outsider’s perspective - a compassionate outsider with a different outlook. Thinking back, the Waterkloof 4 was an integral part of my own growth as a coach. When I started out, I focussed on coaching teenagers, but as I grew - in age and hopefully in wisdom - I moved my focus to include a wider range of clients.
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4 What are the most important characteristics an investigative journalist needs?
Good contacts, a good “nose" for a story and a fully functioning BS detector! It goes without saying that a healthy dose of skepticism, bravery and good old-fashioned curiosity are also vital ingredients to an investigative journalist - but more than all of this, integrity and credibility. What sets a great investigative reporter apart from his or her peers is the fact that they regard the truth as sacrosanct and because of that, people believe them. If a journalist does not have credibility, he or she should rather become a fiction writer. We as journalists write the first draft of history and while it might be that history is written by the victors, the facts should be recorded with as little of the scribe’s personal interpretation as possible. Having said that, I do think that journalistic objectivity is an ideal rather than an actuality. We as humans cannot get away from our lived experience and the filters that create, so as much as any journalist strives - and should strive - for objectivity, it remains an ideal.
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5 Why were you drawn to becoming a master transformation coach?
I qualified as a Martha Beck Life Coach in 2009 and have been using her techniques and methods with great success since then. In 2018 I was one of two coaches on a reality TV show and I became curious about other coaching modalities. At the time I was doing a podcast with different Life Coaches, and within the space of one week, I met two wonderful coaches who both studied Transformation Coaching with Burk Esterhuyse. Even though the term "Transformation Coaching” is randomly used by thousands of coaches around the world, Burk’s way of coaching is unique in the world. In fact, the International Coaches Register created a separate category called “Transformation Coaching” and the Transformation Coaching Academy is the only training provider in this modality. I always say Transformation Coaching is NLP on steroids. So after interviewing the two Transformation coaches, I decided to approach Burk for an interview and he agreed. After our conversation I knew I was going to study Transformation Coaching - and I have been studying under and learning from Burk since then, first becoming a Transformation Coach, then a master coach and then doing an advanced masters workshop three years in a row!
Liezl with Martha Beck and Benita Levin
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6 How did you experience studying with renowned author and life coach Martha Beck?
I studied Martha’s way of coaching under the wonderful trainer and Martha Beck Master Coach, Judy Klipin. I’ve read all Martha’s books and saw her speak at events in Pretoria and Johannesburg before I met her, so when she came to South Africa to see her new coaches, it felt as if I had known her for years. She’s wonderfully insightful and funny and I am so tremendously grateful for her role in my own journey. The first time we met, she gave me a signed copy of her “Steering by Starlight” book in which she wrote a message that deeply moved me. She saw something within me that I was yet to discover about myself and by sharing that with me, she set me on a course of finding my own inner superhero. I’m forever grateful to her, and to Burk and to all the teachers I’ve ever had - most of whom I’ve never met in person. We live in the most wonderful time where people like Martha, Dr Joe Dispenza, Greg Braden, Ekhard Tolle, Brené Brown and scores of other teachers can share their wisdom with us without the boundaries of time and space.
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7 What are your favourites ways of recharging your batteries?
I believe in micro charging my batteries every single day and a non-negotiable part of my routine is my daily meditation and exercise. I am a technophile and my friends know that I adore gadgets that make life more interesting. One of my favourite gadgets is called Muse. It’s a headband that reads your brainwaves, giving you audio feedback during meditation - helping you become aware when your mind drifts. While I do not use my Muse every day (I like to think I can meditate the old-fashioned way without any aid), it does add some excitement to my daily meditation. Yes, meditation can be exciting. I think of my daily 15 minutes on my chair as my charging pod - getting me ready for whatever the day brings. I love listening to music - and singing along. Research has found that the vibration of our own voice is beneficial to our bodies, so I like to think I’m doing myself a favour by singing along (although I’m not so sure my husband would agree! 😜😂)
I love travelling - whether in real life or through reading. When we go on our yearly December holiday I like to do as little as possible - often not setting foot outside the house for days on end - getting lost in a good novel. I don’t get enough time to read those during the year as there are just too many non-fiction books to read! My husband and I recently discovered camping. I know part of the allure is all the gadgets and cool gear that come with camping (did I mention I like gadgets?). I also like discovering more about myself, God and the nature of things and I journal and blog - things that bring me immense joy.
Winner of the Woman of Stature Foundation Woman in Media 2022 award.
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8 What has being a mom taught you?
That our parents did the best they could. Even if they messed up on an epic scale (or if we think they did - the effect is the same). I believe all parents hurt their children in some way or another. Not intentionally, but because we don't know any better. These childhood wounds are the places we can use for growth - if we so choose. I often tell my boys that we as parents make things up as we go along - but they have to know that we always have their best interests at heart. I learnt that I had absolutely no idea what love was before I had them! That indescribable, overwhelming emotion our children evoke in us, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Our children are mirrors to us - more than anyone else in our lives - and they will show up the areas in ourselves that we sometimes cannot bear to face. That’s why they sometimes frustrate and annoy us so much 😂. My children were a massive part of my own healing and I am so immensely grateful for the people they are. I not only love them I truly, madly, deeply like them!
About Liezl
Liezl Thom is a broadcasting journalist, media training consultant, motivational speaker and author from Centurion. She is also a qualified master transformation coach, life coach, Neurolinguistics practitioner and Inner Conflict Therapy practitioner. Over the past decade, she has been guiding her clients on their journeys to self-discovery and awakening. Liezl helps people re-evaluate and change the stories they tell themselves about themselves, which liberates them from their fears and limiting beliefs and helps them harness the power of change.
Accolades Liezl has won include Winner of the Woman of Stature Foundation Woman in Media 2022, Global Awards 2021/2022 Winner: Health Coach of the Year, and Mea Markets 2021 African Excellence Awards: Best Life & Transformational Coach.
Website: www.liezlthom.com
Email address: info@liezlthom.com
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