BIO
I’m a humourist motivational speaker and company culture architect who, through my real world lived experience as a gay South African, Greek man faced prejudice in many forms. I help companies have the courageous conversations about the world of gender, diversity, equity and inclusivity.
My signature keynote, I Am Costa, is packed with humour, sensitivity and deep insights into how companies can use kindness and tolerance as a substrate upon which they can grow their greatness, creativity, productivity and profitability.
It touches on my journey where from a young age I learned to hide who I really was. Denying and failing to accept myself and my unique place in society nearly killed me. I developed coping mechanisms that included substance abuse. I wrote about this in my critically acclaimed book, I Am Costa: From Meth To Marathons.
When I am not speaking you’ll find me flipping burgers at either of my two RocoMamas franchises, or consulting on marketing strategy for my boutique list of clients. You may also come across my acting skills on Legacy or The River where my telenovela star is being polished. I’m often seen denying my dad bod in the mirror at gym, or socialising over a jar of Nutella – determined to start training for my 4th full Ironman triathlon race.
An incredible story and a true testament to the strength we have. Congratulations on taking back control of your body and mind.’
– Roland Schoeman. Olympic Swimmer
‘Sex, drugs and souvlaki – the full catastrophe! A witty, life-affirming tale of one man’s marathon road to redemption.’
– Gus Silber. Author and Journalist
‘Having lived as a “Greek boy” myself, I know the struggles of othering, stinky food and addiction. This is a story of hope and triumph. And lunacy….. because marathons. I savoured every page.’
– Pabi Moloi. Radio and TV Host
Published by Bookstorm Publisher
Corporate Talks
I help companies navigate the newly charted world of gender mainstreaming, diversity, equity, inclusion, and their shared authentic humanity so that they can build companies where people, flourish and want to work.
My talk educates in an engaging and entertaining way many diversity concepts that are normally difficult to navigate for companies
- I challenge thinking around diversity and inclusivity and invite everyone to be open to new ways to engage with each other
- I make people feel comfortable to express their authenticity in the workplace
- My humour and unique story creates a memorable moment for the collective audience. A moment that triggers new thinking and behaviour towards one another – to look for the humanity in each other
- I help companies create a culture where everyone feels they belong
- I help companies and employees be more tolerant and inclusive of all
- I assist companies and employees clear blocks in their restrictive thinking around diversity to foster better relations, communication, safety for all and increased creativity and productivity
What some people have said about me
- “Brutally honest and courageous.” – Renos Spanoudes, award winning theatre practitioner
- “I laughed, I cried.” – Kuli Roberts, TV Host and Producer
- “Honest, bright, crystal clear and boundless energy” – Budd Margolis, Quidich Innovation Labs
- “Costa is a true inspiration.” Kate Roberts, SA Double Olympic Triathlete
School Talk
Olympic Hero or Drug Hero? What will you choose?
Due to the more mature subject matter, this talk is suggested for Grade 10,11 and 12 only.
It opens with Costa positioning himself as a super fit and accomplished athlete who competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Triathlon for South Africa. With most of the audience not being born at the time, he paints for them a picture of glory and huge success in his life as a result thereof.
Costa then reveal that while he had such aspirations as a young child, he chose a negative and destructive road of smoking and alcohol instead. He briefly discusses being bullied at school and trying to conform as a sexually confused boy in at school. He highlights the role such intolerance and shaming played in the progression of his emotional trouble and further addiction to drugs later in life and eventually a crystal meth addiction.
He educates on how addiction often comes from ignoring emotions that need to be felt and dealt with. He then takes the audience on his journey of recovery and shows how he applied it with tenacity and how that led to discovering running and fitness.
Through his quirky and sometimes funny stories they see how at 40 he started achieving many things that no one would have thought possible including successfully completing multiple Ironman races and the like. He talks about how he revealed himself to be a true athlete; one who has the right mental capacity and a genetic predisposition for endurance multisport. Many coaches have mentioned to him that with such a dramatic rise to fitness, so late in life, that he clearly would have had incredible potential as a youth; perhaps even a shot at the Olympics!
In a dramatic moment, Costa pauses to show the audience the level of remorse he has for throwing away such dreams and potential. This talk uses the power of this story to motivate and inspire youth to make healthy decisions not only relating to drugs but to all lifestyle choices, from food, to social media, gaming and other past time choices.
It is also a talk to reach out to those who feel they need support due to emotional trouble they may be encountering, or drug and any addiction issues they are facing.
Prior to the talk there will need to be a consultation with the school to discuss what policies and procedures they have in place regarding bullying, counselling options, drug and alcohol intervention and policies around cellphones, social media and other technology use at the school. Costa will then weave any approved options into the end of his talk in an accessible way for action to be taken, should someone feel the need to.
Mail & Guardian Article
Men's Health Article
Runners World Article
Acting & Presenting
DStv Legacy Season 1, Episodes: 1, 21, 48, and 141.
Cameo appearance as Mr Anderson Episode 50
Principal presenter on TV Mall DStv 173 (2017 – 2019).
Blog
I’m such a queen! That’s what I heard many times growing up. A jibe my bullies would throw at me referring to my gay qualities. Other words were thrown as well, from faggot to poof; all aimed at minimizing my masculinity and me as a person. The world in the 80s, 90s and even early […]
Ah not again! I’m the last one picked for a primary school soccer team. That is always how it went! See, I was the super skinny, not at all sporty, feminine boy who couldn’t kick a ball straight, and the team I joined always treated me like I was of no use to them […]
“Nice shoes. Wanna go to bed with me?” I overheard a sexy tanned Colombian guy in his early 20’ssay to a muscle daddy he had just approached. I was on Ocean Drive, South Beach in Miami Florida,at the local gay watering hole on an April Sunday afternoon in 1995. I had just turned 25 anddecided […]
Poetry
In November 2017 Costa released his first short book of poetry entitled “18”.
This self published collection of 18 love poems are available upon request.
Social Media