As the calendar turns, many of us feel the pressure to reinvent ourselves — but what if getting “unstuck” isn’t about becoming someone new, and instead about finally choosing yourself?

In this deeply reflective and motivating episode of Dear Mom, Dear Daughter, Athi and Mtha explore what it truly means to move forward in life, set meaningful goals, and intentionally design the future you want. From a mother in her 40s redefining purpose, to a daughter in her 20s learning that waiting for the “right time” often keeps us stuck — this conversation bridges generations with honesty, warmth, and practical wisdom.

We unpack why New Year’s resolutions so often fail, the psychology behind goal-setting, and how manifestation actually works when paired with action and structure. Drawing on research, lived experience, and cultural insight, this episode offers tools to help you stop procrastinating, silence self-doubt, and align your dreams with real plans.

You’ll hear about:

• Why most people abandon their goals — and how to avoid it

• How mindset, fear, and comparison keep us stuck

• Practical frameworks for setting goals that actually work

• The difference between wishing, manifesting, and executing

• How women in different life seasons can redefine success

• A powerful listener activity to help you step into your future self

Whether you’re a mother navigating change, a daughter figuring out your next move, or someone simply craving clarity and momentum, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and start again — with intention.

✨ This is not about perfection. It’s about progress.

Listen now on Spotify and YouTube, and start building the life you keep dreaming about.

The Price of Success — Let’s Talk About Black Tax | A Mother–Daughter ConversationWhat does it really cost to be the one who “made it”?In this deeply honest episode of Dear Mom, Dear Daughter, Athi and Mtha unpack Black Tax — the emotional, financial, and psychological responsibility many Black women and daughters carry once they reach stability or success.From the roots of Black Tax in apartheid, systemic inequality, and Ubuntu, to the modern-day pressure faced by young Black professionals at home and abroad, this conversation explores how helping family can slowly turn into obligation, guilt, resentment, and burnout.We talk about:Why Black Tax isn’t just about money — but identity, love, and survivalThe emotional toll of being the “family investment,” especially for eldest daughtersThe reality that many Black professionals give up to 50% of their income to family supportHow Black Tax affects social mobility, savings, and long-term freedomHealthier, more sustainable ways to give back without carrying the entire burdenHow mothers can protect their daughters from inheriting the same financial pressureThis episode also addresses how to set healthy boundaries, reframe generosity, and shift from short-term survival to long-term legacy — without turning your back on your family.Whether you’re navigating Black Tax in South Africa, the UK, the US, or anywhere in the diaspora, this episode offers language, clarity, and compassion for a conversation so many families are quietly struggling with.This is not about choosing yourself instead of your family — it’s about choosing sustainability for everyone.

In this episode of Dear Mom, Dear Daughter, Athi and Mtha unpack what career really means across two generations of Black South African women. For moms, work was survival, stability, and the thrill of stepping into professional spaces previously closed off. For daughters, work is about passion, purpose, identity — and often overwhelming pressure.

Together, they explore the emotional, psychological, and cultural layers of choosing a career, changing direction, hustling to stay afloat, and redefining success on your own terms.

This episode also dives into:

How different generations think about purpose, success and identity

The tension between survival jobs and passion careers

Why young women feel pressured to “have it all figured out”

The reality of burnout, uncertainty, and endless reinvention

Black women navigating corporate South Africa

Motherhood, ambition, and rewriting traditional gender expectations

A listener dilemma about a daughter constantly changing career paths

If you’ve ever questioned your purpose, felt stuck in your career, or struggled to balance passion with practicality, this conversation is for you.

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Money isn’t just about rands and cents — it’s about what it represents in our lives: freedom, happiness, survival, control, or even shame. In this episode of Dear Mom, Dear Daughter, Athi and Mtha unpack the psychology of money, the emotional toll of debt, and how cultural and generational factors shape the way South African women think about finances.

From the thrill of “buying power” in Athi’s generation to navigating credit, soft life culture, and financial pressure today, this honest conversation explores the lessons we’ve learnt — and the ones we’re still learning. We talk about scarcity vs abundance mindsets, the impact of debt on self-esteem, and how mothers and daughters can break cycles of financial struggle by having open, honest conversations.

Whether you’re navigating black tax, trying to save, or just reflecting on your relationship with money, this episode will help you rethink what money really means in your life.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and all podcast platforms.

South Africa is rich in heritage, yet more and more young Black South Africans are growing up speaking less and less of their mother tongues. What does this mean for our cultural identity, our traditions, and the future of who we are?

In this episode, Athi (a mom and psychologist) and Mtha (her daughter and broadcaster) share their personal reflections on growing up in a multicultural household (Nigerian & Xhosa), the decline of indigenous languages, and the tension between assimilation and preservation.

We explore:

• Why African languages are fading in urban South Africa

• The paradox of freedom in a democratic SA but dominance of English

• The stigma and mystique around African traditions and spirituality

• How to balance modern life with preserving culture and heritage

• Practical ways to reconnect with language, identity, and practices

This is a heartfelt, reflective conversation on identity, heritage, and what it means to be African today — and tomorrow.

#CulturalIdentity #AfricanLanguages #DearMomDearDaughter #SouthAfricanPodcast #HeritageDay #MotherDaughterPodcast

For generations, many Black moms avoided “the talk” with their daughters — choosing silence, shame, or fear instead. In this raw and honest episode, Athi (a mom and psychologist) and Mtha (her daughter and broadcaster) unpack why conversations about boys, love, and sex are so difficult, and how we can start having them differently.

We share our own experiences of how “the talk” (or lack of it) shaped us, and explore:

• Why sex is still taboo in many households

• The double standards between girls and boys

• How silence breeds shame and guilt in daughters

• When and how to have age-appropriate, respectful conversations about relationships

• How to normalise consent, safety, and even pleasure without fear

Plus, we play a light-hearted Truth or Myth game, busting some of the most controversial sex myths parents and daughters still believe.

This is not a lecture — it’s an invitation to open the door to awkward but essential conversations that could change the way families talk about love, sex, and relationships forever.

#SexEducation #ParentingPodcast #DearMomDearDaughter #MotherDaughterPodcast #AfricanParenting

Friendship breakups can hurt even more than romantic ones. In this episode, we unpack why losing a best friend can shake your identity, how to know when it’s time to let go, and how to heal without guilt.

We explore:

• Why friendship breakups are so painful and often overlooked

• Red flags to watch for in friendships — jealousy, competition, misalignment

• When to walk away and when to fight for the friendship

• How to protect your peace while still honouring the love that was there

• Personal stories of friendship breakups that changed our lives

We also tackle listener dilemmas on drifting friendships and letting go of toxic friends.

This is a heartfelt conversation for anyone navigating the grief, growth, and healing that comes with friendship breakups.

Listen to Dear Mom, Dear Daughter for raw, intimate conversations between a mother (psychologist) and daughter (broadcaster) about life, love, and everything in between.

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This week, we’re keeping it real. From growing up watching our mothers wrestle with body image to facing our own struggles with weight, skin tone, hair politics and the pursuit of “perfection,” we share our personal stories of living under society’s beauty standards.

We talk about the honesty (and sometimes bluntness) in our culture around bodies, the impact of colourism as Black women, and how trends like fillers, BBLs, and filters shape the way we see ourselves.

No scripts, no preaching — just two generations sharing raw, unfiltered experiences about beauty, self-worth, and learning to love what we see in the mirror.

#BeautyStandards #BodyImage #Colourism #SelfLove #DearMomDearDaughter

Mental health isn’t a trend — but on social media, it’s starting to feel like one. In this episode of Dear Mom, Dear Daughter, we explore how online platforms like TikTok and Instagram have popularised psychological terms like “narcissist,” “gaslighting,” “toxic,” and “trauma” — but with little understanding of what they actually mean.

Is your ex really a narcissist? Or were you just hurt?
Is your anxiety clinical — or the completely valid stress of being human in a difficult world?

We break down the most overused mental health buzzwords with insight from a real psychologist (hi, Mom!) and unpack how self-diagnosis, “psych talk,” and mental health language have exploded in pop culture — often without the depth, care, or nuance that real healing requires.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between pop culture psychology and actual clinical disorders

• How to support loved ones with real mental health conditions

• The importance of empathy and education, not just labels

• Why real self-care is more than skincare and soft lighting

• How to start looking inward, not just outward

Whether you're a daughter trying to understand your emotions or a mother learning to support your teen through theirs, this is an episode about mental health, emotional growth, and the language of healing — without the filters.

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

#DearMomDearDaughter #MentalHealthPodcast #SouthAfricanPodcast #BlackMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #PsychologyExplained #MotherDaughterHealing

What did discipline teach you growing up — and is that still the lesson you carry today?

In this deeply reflective episode of Dear Mom, Dear Daughter, we unpack the difference between discipline and punishment, and explore how many South African homes confused fear for respect. We open up about our own childhood experiences with discipline, how it shaped us, and how we’re reimagining parenting and boundaries in today’s world.

From the “go fetch the belt” culture to the quiet harm of emotional shutdowns, we ask:
How can parents lead with firmness and love?
How do you discipline without breaking connection?

This episode is for every parent, daughter, and cycle-breaker trying to figure out a better way. One where children feel safe, respected, and still guided.

Stream the full conversation now on YouTube and all podcast platforms.

#DearMomDearDaughter #DisciplinePodcast #ParentingPodcast #SouthAfricanPodcast #BlackMothers #ConsciousParenting #MotherDaughterHealing #BoundariesNotFear #ModernParenting