Content creator and podcaster Lesè Naquueda Dayel, popularly known as Naquueda, has stepped into the latest chapter of Podcast and Chill Network’s Spreading Humours, following a year of changes around the show’s hosting line-up.
Naquueda’s arrival comes after the departure of Seemah Mangolwane and the later exit of Khanyisile “Khanyi Mars” Masimola, with the network trying several personalities in different hosting configurations before settling on its latest line-up.
Podcast and Chill’s own social media promotion for the latest episode teased Naquueda’s arrival, saying she was “becoming a part of Not Sorry podcast” and that there was plenty to discuss around Rei Nkuna’s departure from that podcast. The network also promoted Naquueda’s disclosure that another podcast had approached her with an offer of R10 000.
The spelling worth noting is Naquueda, although some publications and social-media references have also rendered her name as Naqueeda. Her full name is Lesè Naquueda Dayel.
From TikTok personality to podcast regular
Naquueda is already a familiar face in South Africa’s digital entertainment space.
She built her profile through comedy, beauty, hair and lifestyle content and has developed a substantial following across TikTok and Instagram. Her online presence has increasingly moved beyond short-form content into podcasting and entertainment commentary.
She is also no stranger to controversy.
Earlier this year, Naquueda became the subject of a legal dispute involving L-Tido and other podcasters. Daily Sun reported that she instituted a R1 million defamation claim over comments made about her during an episode of the L-Tido Podcast/New Gen Podcast. The allegations are matters before the courts and should not be treated as established facts.
Her public profile has also included discussions around relationships, money, beauty, social media culture and the sometimes messy world of South African podcasting.
That combination makes her a natural fit for a show built around unfiltered conversations and internet culture.
The Spreading Humours revolving door
Spreading Humours was originally built around Seemah as its central host, with Yanda Woods and Zillewizzy among the co-hosts.
Seemah’s departure was confirmed in March 2026. At the time, reporting indicated that the network was looking for a new co-host ahead of the show’s next phase.
Seemah subsequently joined Glitch Africa Studios’ female-led podcast Not Sorry alongside Munaka Muthambi, Nomthandazo Nkosi and Rei Nkuna.
Khanyi Mars later became associated with the Podcast and Chill Network, but her time within the network also came to an end. Khanyi and Munaka have since moved into television, joining SABC1’s HotSpot Seli alongside rapper Roiii. The new season is scheduled to premiere on 1 October 2026.
The changes have left Spreading Humours with a noticeably different identity from the show that viewers first became accustomed to.
The Podcast and Chill Network continues to list Spreading Humours among its weekly shows, with new episodes scheduled for Sundays.
The R10 000 podcast offer
One of the more talked-about revelations surrounding Naquueda’s latest appearance was her account of being approached by another podcast with a R10 000 offer.
Podcast and Chill Network specifically teased the revelation ahead of the episode, saying: “Naqueeda discloses that she was approached by a podcast that offered her 10k.”
The episode listing subsequently identified the subject as the “SorryNotSorry 10k offer”, making it clear that the discussion centred on Naquueda’s account of an approach from that podcast.
The development is particularly interesting because Naquueda has now been linked directly to the same podcasting circle that has been reshuffling following Seemah’s departure.
Not Sorry was announced in May with Seemah, Munaka, Nomthandazo and Rei as its hosts.
A familiar face in an unfamiliar chair
Naquueda’s move comes at an interesting time for Podcast and Chill.
The network began in Johannesburg in 2018 with Podcast and Chill with MacG before expanding into a broader collection of shows. According to the network, it now has more than 10 podcasts, more than 1,000 episodes, over one million subscribers and more than 200 million views.
Spreading Humours has been one of the network’s vehicles for conversations around dating, relationships, celebrity culture, social-media drama and the issues dominating online conversations.
Naquueda has already appeared on the wider Podcast and Chill ecosystem several times this year. She featured prominently in Spreading Humours episodes, including episodes dealing with her public controversies, relationships and her experiences in the podcasting world.
She also appeared on an August episode of Podcast and Chill with MacG alongside MacG, where the conversation included dating, fame, podcasting and her experiences in the entertainment industry.
Beauty, confidence and controversy
Naquueda brings something different to the Spreading Humours chair.
She is known for her polished appearance and beauty-focused content, but her appeal has also been driven by her willingness to discuss controversial subjects and put herself at the centre of difficult conversations.
That has occasionally placed her on the receiving end of public criticism, while simultaneously keeping her name in the conversation.
Her growing presence in podcasting suggests a deliberate move from being discussed by podcasts to becoming one of the people driving those conversations.
For Spreading Humours, that means the audience is getting a host who already understands the attention economy from the inside.
And, judging by the subjects teased for the latest episodes, Naquueda does not appear to be walking into the role quietly.
From guest to host
The latest development effectively closes one chapter of experimentation for Spreading Humours while opening another.
Seemah’s exit, Khanyi’s departure and the use of different hosts have left the show in a period of transition. Naquueda’s arrival now gives the programme another personality with an established digital following and a history of being part of the very conversations the show thrives on.
