Adulting Without A Manual

Adulting Without A Manual

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Adulting Without A Manual episodes

  • You Don't Miss Your Ex — You Miss Who You Were With Them | AWAM Podcast
    What if you don't actually miss your ex? What if you miss the person you were when you were with them?💔 Sometimes we're not holding on to love. We're holding on to memories, routines, comfort, and a version of ourselves that no longer exists. In Episode 21 of Adulting Without A Manual (AWAM), we're having an uncomfortable conversation about love, heartbreak, emotional attachment, friendships, grief, and the real reasons we struggle to move on. One of our presenters even admits that his laptop password is STILL his ex's birthday! 😭 But beyond the jokes, we ask some serious questions. Are you missing someone who has already changed? Are you staying in a relationship because you love the person, or because you're comfortable with the life you've built together? And are you unknowingly expecting your new partner to replace your ex? We also explore friendships that fade as we grow older, the pain of losing loved ones, and how certain people bring out versions of ourselves that we struggle to rediscover when they're gone. This episode is for anyone who's ever struggled to let go, questioned whether they truly moved on, or missed someone they know they shouldn't go back to. Adulting Without A Manual is a South African podcast exploring relationships, personal growth, mental health, friendships and the complicated realities of growing up. 🎙️ NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: Do you miss the person, the routine, or who you were when you were with them? 👇 Drop your answer in the comments. We want to hear your story! 👍 LIKE if this conversation resonated with you. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more honest conversations about navigating adulthood without a manual. 📲 SHARE this episode with someone who needs to hear it. #AdultingWithoutAManual #SouthAfricanPodcast #RelationshipTalk #MovingOn #Heartbreak

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  • We're All Part of South Africa's Crime Problem — And Nobody Wants to Admit It
    South Africa has normalised crime. But when did being a criminal become a hustle? From scammers and corrupt officials to fake friends and everyday dishonesty, have we become so comfortable with crime that we don't even recognise it anymore? In Episode 20 of Adulting Without A Manual, we're confronting one of South Africa's most uncomfortable realities: how crime has become part of everyday life. We talk about the small things we ignored growing up, friends who scam their own people, bribery, corruption, counterfeit goods, phone theft, mob justice and the growing fear of speaking out. But the biggest question is this: If someone is committing crime to feed their family, does desperation justify what they're doing? And if your friend is making money illegally, but you're benefiting from their lifestyle, are you really innocent? This conversation goes beyond South African crime statistics. We're questioning our morals, our choices, our communities and the culture of celebrating money without asking where it comes from. From the streets of Mzansi to the people in positions of power, we're asking how we got here — and whether we can change. 🎙️ Adulting Without A Manual — Teaching While We Learn. Nobody gave us the handbook, so we're figuring it out together. 👇 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Would you report your friend if you knew they were scamming people? Or would loyalty come first? Drop your answer in the comments. We want to hear what South Africans really think. 👍 LIKE if this conversation needs to be heard. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more real conversations about South African society, relationships, money, careers and adulting. 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @adulting.wam #AdultingWithoutAManual #southafrica #CrimeInSouthAfrica #southafricanpodcasts #mzansi

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min
  • South African Youth Have Lost Hope in Politics — We Asked Them Why
    outh Africa's youth are losing faith in politics. But is it because young people don't care about voting — or because the government has given them nothing to believe in? We took **Adulting Without A Manual** to the streets to hear what South Africans REALLY think about elections, political leadership and the future of our country. From young people who believe their votes can change South Africa to those who have completely lost hope, these conversations reveal a country divided between frustration and optimism. In this episode, we explore: - Why young South Africans are losing confidence in political leadership. - Whether voting can actually bring change. - Youth unemployment, corruption and government accountability. - Why some young people aren't registering to vote. - Whether South Africa needs a new generation of political leaders. - What ordinary South Africans want to see change after the elections. One person was asked what they hoped would change after the elections. Their answer? "Nothing." Is that the voice of a generation that has given up, or a warning that our leaders need to hear? This isn't about telling you which political party to support. It's about understanding the future of South African democracy through the voices of ordinary people. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Do you believe your vote can still change South Africa, or have politicians lost your trust? Tell us in the comments. We want to hear your opinion. LIKE if these conversations matter. SUBSCRIBE to Adulting Without A Manual for real conversations about life, society, relationships, money and the challenges facing young South Africans. Instagram: @adulting.wam YouTube: @AdultingWAM Nobody gave us the handbook. We're figuring it out together. #SouthAfricanPolitics #YouthVote #SouthAfrica #ElectionsSA #AdultingWithoutAManual

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min
  • You Weren’t Just Their Sibling — You Helped Raise Them | Deputy Parenting
    Were you their older sibling… or did you quietly become their SECOND PARENT? Nobody officially gives you the job. One day you're just the older sibling — the next you're doing school runs, giving advice, contributing money, disciplining them and carrying the pressure of being “the example.” In this episode of Adulting Without A Manual, we unpack **deputy parenting**: the hidden responsibility many older siblings take on inside South African families. We get into the pressure of being expected to lead while you're still figuring out your own life, protecting younger siblings from mistakes you made, the difference between how firstborns and younger siblings are raised, discipline, relationships, black tax, masculinity, emotional expression and the generational habits we unknowingly inherit from our parents. And then the conversation gets uncomfortable: Are we actually helping our younger siblings — or are we slowly becoming another parent they can't talk to? What happens when your parents start asking YOU how to discipline their child? Should black tax end with our generation? And how do we break emotional cycles when some of us still struggle to tell our own brothers, sisters or fathers, “I love you”? This isn't just an episode for firstborns. It's for anyone who has ever realised that somewhere along the way, being somebody's sibling became a responsibility you never formally signed up for. 👇🏾 QUESTION OF THE DAY What's ONE thing from the way you were raised that you want to pass to the next generation — and ONE thing that ends with you? Subscribe to Adulting Without A Manual and join the conversation. Teaching while we learn.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  • The Truth About Fame, Money & Surviving South Africa’s Entertainment Industry
    You finally get the Netflix role. People recognise you. The money comes in. And then somebody asks: “What’s next?” In this episode of Adulting Without A Manual, actor, musician, producer and creative Tyson opens up about what life actually looks like behind the spotlight — from chasing acting opportunities and dealing with rejection to money, relevance, multiple income streams and the pressure to keep succeeding after you've already achieved something people dream about. We unpack why appearing successful doesn't necessarily mean being financially secure, why today's entertainment industry can forget you incredibly quickly, why creatives can't always depend on one income stream, and what happens mentally when the goalposts of success never stop moving. Tyson also speaks about losing the sporting future he once imagined, pivoting into entertainment, reaching Netflix, dealing with auditions and rejection, staying grounded through long-term friendships, taking financial risks and continuing to build even when success isn't linear. If you're an actor, musician, DJ, creator, entrepreneur — or simply someone chasing a life that still feels far away — this conversation is for you. Nobody gave us the handbook. We're figuring it out together. Subscribe to **Adulting Without A Manual**, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments, and send this episode to someone who's still chasing their breakthrough. #AdultingWithoutAManual #SouthAfricanPodcast #TysonNgubeni #SouthAfricanActors #CreativeIndustry

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
  • Should Your Partner Know Your Body Count? This Debate Got HEATED

    Should your partner know your body count — or are some questions better left unanswered?


    Because once you hear the number, you can't unhear it.


    In this episode of **Adulting Without A Manual**, we get brutally honest about one of the most uncomfortable conversations in modern dating: **sexual history, body count, insecurity, trust and the double standards between men and women.**


    Why do we even ask someone's body count? Does a high number actually tell you anything about who someone is today? Should your past affect your current relationship? And why can the exact same number be judged completely differently depending on whether you're a man or woman?


    Then things get even crazier:


    **What actually COUNTS as a body?**


    From past partners and relationship insecurity to sexual compatibility, jealousy and the conversations couples are scared to have, this episode goes exactly where most people don't want to go.


    And here's the uncomfortable question:


    **If you aren't prepared to accept the answer… should you be asking the question at all?**


    👇 **COMMENT BELOW:**

    Does body count matter to you — YES or NO? And if it does… **how many is too many?**


    Subscribe to **Adulting Without A Manual** for honest conversations about relationships, adulthood, money, careers and the things nobody gave us a handbook for.


    **Teaching while we learn.**


    #AdultingWithoutAManual #SouthAfricanPodcast #BodyCount #DatingInSouthAfrica #RelationshipTalk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  • We Want Love… So Why Do We Keep Choosing Toxic People?

    What if the person you desperately want is actually the person you need to walk away from?


    We say we want healthy relationships—but we keep chasing chemistry, red flags, toxic attachment, money, status and people who may not even be good for us. So when does a WANT become something we convince ourselves we NEED?


    In this episode of Adulting Without A Manual, we get into one of the messiest realities of modern dating: choosing between attraction and compatibility, chemistry and stability, desire and growth.


    We unpack why people return to toxic relationships, whether we've turned every human flaw into a “red flag,” why dating has become increasingly transactional, the influence of social media on relationship standards, money and lifestyle expectations, love languages, self-worth and why genuine connection can now be so difficult to trust.


    We also ask:


    Are people actually investing in relationships—or just investing in the lifestyle that comes with them?


    Can you love someone who doesn't love you properly?


    Is instant chemistry actually important?


    Are our relationship standards healthy—or have we become impossible to please?


    And most importantly: are you becoming the kind of person that the person you need would actually need too?


    This conversation gets uncomfortable because almost everybody will recognise themselves somewhere in it.


    Watch until the rapid-fire ending—and tell us in the comments:


    Would you choose the person you WANT or the person you NEED?


    Subscribe to Adulting Without A Manual for more honest conversations about relationships, money, careers and figuring out adulthood in South Africa.


    #AdultingWithoutAManual #SouthAfricanPodcast #ModernDating #Relationships #DatingInSouthAfrica


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  • Talent Isn't Enough Anymore: The Brutal Reality of SA's Entertainment Industry

    South Africa celebrates its DJs, actors, influencers and creatives — but what happens behind the scenes when the cameras switch off?


    **Late payments. No royalties. Chasing money. Exposure instead of payment. Followers beating talent. And an industry where one veteran's advice to newcomers is brutally simple: “Expect exploitation.”**


    In this episode of Adulting Without A Manual, we sit down with veteran DJ Q1 for an unfiltered conversation about the reality of South Africa's entertainment and creative industries.


    We unpack why talented DJs struggle to get booked while creators with bigger social numbers get opportunities, why artists need to understand contracts and business, the fight around actor royalties, the problem of creatives chasing payments, financial literacy, unions, government support, and why talent alone is no longer enough.


    DJ Q1 also opens up about making roughly R160,000 during one festive period — only for the money to disappear before COVID hit — and why unstable creative income can create dangerous financial habits.


    This isn't only a conversation for DJs.


    It's for actors, musicians, photographers, influencers, filmmakers, promoters, content creators — and anyone trying to turn creativity into a sustainable career in South Africa.


    If you're trying to break into the entertainment industry, watch this BEFORE you depend on it for your livelihood.


    **Subscribe to Adulting Without A Manual, share this episode with a South African creative, and tell us in the comments: Is the creative industry exploiting artists — or are artists entering the business unprepared?**


    #SouthAfricanCreatives #EntertainmentIndustry #DJLife #SouthAfricanActors #AdultingWithoutAManual

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  • Why Saying No Makes People Turn Against You | Family, Money & Boundaries

    They loved your kindness—but what happens when you finally say no?

    This episode confronts the uncomfortable truth about family expectations, black tax, people-pleasing, workplace pressure and relationships that only survive while you remain useful.

    In Episode 10 of Adulting Without A Manual, we unpack why saying no creates so much guilt, especially when the request comes from family, friends, partners or people with power over us.

    Does raising a child mean parents are entitled to that child’s future salary? Is refusing family obligations disrespectful—or necessary? Should “no” be a complete sentence in a relationship, or does your partner deserve an explanation? And what happens when setting boundaries at work threatens your reputation or career?

    We also explore how constantly saying yes can teach people to exploit you, why generosity becomes resentment when it is expected, and why the first boundary often exposes the true foundation of a relationship.

    This is an honest South African conversation about black tax, adulthood, emotional guilt, toxic expectations, self-respect and learning to protect your peace without abandoning the people you love.

    Watch until the end and ask yourself honestly:

    Do people love you—or do they love your availability?

    Subscribe to Adulting Without A Manual, share this episode with someone who struggles to say no, and tell us in the comments: Does your family have a right to your income?

    #AdultingWithoutAManual #BlackTax #HealthyBoundaries #PeoplePleasing #southafricanpodcasts

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 2 min
  • South Africa's Political System Is Broken — And Young People Are Losing Faith

    You can say “I don't do politics”… but can you escape what politics does to you?

    Jobs. Salaries. Rent. Corruption. Immigration. Elections. Opportunity. Even leaving South Africa. This conversation gets uncomfortable very quickly.

    In this episode of Adulting Without A Manual, we unpack why so many young South Africans feel disconnected from politics — and whether the problem is voter apathy, political parties, corruption, money, representation or a system people increasingly feel doesn't work for them.

    We debate political campaign funding, youth participation, unemployment, inflation, immigration and xenophobia, Cape Town's housing pressures, corruption, political power, South Africa's brain drain and the growing feeling that many young people simply don't see the results of participating.

    But there is another side to the conversation.

    Despite everything, the episode ends with a question that matters even more:

    What still gives us hope about South Africa?

    From young innovators building technology to ordinary South Africans creating opportunities when traditional systems fail them, the answer may ultimately lie with the generation that feels most frustrated right now. The speakers specifically point to young South African innovators and resilience as reasons for hope.

    This isn't about telling you who to vote for.

    It's about asking a harder question:

    What happens to a country when its young people stop believing their participation matters?

    Watch until the end and join the conversation.

    Do you still believe South Africa's political system can change — or does the entire system need rebuilding?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 1 min

About Adulting Without A Manual

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Nobody gave us the handbook for adulthood, so we're figuring it out together—one conversation at a time."


This channel is where real conversations meet real life. From navigating…