Online Reporter
Award-winning TV and radio presenter Anele Mgudlwa née Mdoda is stepping into the world of podcasting with the launch of a new podcast inspired by First for Women.
“The Anele Podcast — Her and Now” will have eight episodes featuring phenomenal women across the country, having conversations unpacking the findings of First for Women’s inaugural Her and Now: Insights into the Women of South Africa 2025 report.
In the Her and Now report, over 4000 women across South Africa revealed that women today are simultaneously more empowered and more exhausted than ever before. The podcast breathes life into these in-depth research findings, translating data and insights into real, raw, human conversations that women across the country can relate to.
“This research needs to be heard in nuggets by women every single day. There’s a quiet revolution happening, and softness is the behaviour leading it,” explained Mgudlwa.
“One quote that stands out for me is: ‘You have to schedule the good times, because the bad times don’t make an appointment.’ Joy, no matter how small, is an act of power. You’ve got the power to make sure that you’re having a good time.
“I am really excited about this podcast because I have been waiting to have these impactful and important conversations about women. It’s about time. These conversations need to happen.”
The series kicks off on May 7 with Episode One: The Power Paradox, featuring Lynn Forbes(known and loved as Glammy), a deeply personal exploration of vulnerability, grief, and what it means to be seen.
Also coming up in the series, Mgudlwa asks the question that cuts close to home: can women truly afford joy, financially and emotionally?
Other guests include comedian and author Tumi Morake, Sinenjabulo Zungu, entrepreneur and CEO of AmaZulu Football Club, and Nozipho Tshabalala, global conversation strategist and moderator.
“Anele is the perfect voice for this journey,” said Jill Mulligan of 1st for Women. “She is relatable and deeply connected to the lived experiences of South African women. When she read the Her and Now report, she didn’t just engage with it; she felt it.
“Her credibility is exactly what these conversations need to resonate, and we know that in her hands, this podcast will move people. We are proud to partner with her to take these important findings beyond the page and into the hearts of women everywhere.”
The Anele Podcast – Her & Now, hosted by Anele Mgudlwa, is available on digital platforms. — IOL
Mathew Masinge