Often the hardest part of the job isn’t the work itself, but acting like you’re fine while you’re not staying upbeat, polite, and “professional” even when you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed. This emotional masking, where what you show doesn’t match what you feel, can be draining and is linked to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. After hours of holding it together, that pressure often spills into how you unwind and relate to others. How much of your real emotion should you be allowed to show at work?

Today on Culture Shift, we’re looking at how friendship is becoming just as important as romantic relationships in many people’s lives. While romance was once seen as the main foundation for adulthood, more young people are now investing deeply in friendships and chosen communities as key sources of support, identity, and stability. Research shows that many people rate close friendships as more important to a fulfilling life than marriage, especially among younger generations. This shift raises a bigger question: should a romantic partner always come first, or can friends have an equal—or even greater impact on our lives?

It's Youth Month and as we honor the strength and legacy of the youth of '76; in this golden jubilee, we look at the generational strides made by the youth of today. Yonaka goes on campuses and asks students about what they believe makes their generation unique.

It's Youth Day and an organisation making a difference for matric students is Save the Dance. We are joined by Founder, Troy Molaiwa, for a conversation about some of the challenges faced by the organisation, but more importantly, the efforts from the organisation to mentor and support students beyond their Matric Dance.