We keep asking people to break their silence. Have we made it safe enough for them to speak?

At the heart of this episode is a difficult proposition: silence is not always a failure to recognise suffering. It can be a response to what people know may happen when they disclose. Survivors may face disbelief, shame, family pressure, reputational damage, workplace consequences, or renewed trauma. The episode therefore moves beyond simply asking people to speak up and asks what families, workplaces, communities, and institutions must change so that speaking becomes safer.

Guests

1. Kyle Linton — Executive Director, Our Wave

2. Dr Njabulo Banda — Deputy Dean, Research at the Independent Institute of Education (IIE)

3. Mari Lee — Development Communications Specialist and Registered Counsellor

4. Tracey Lee Kotzen — Host

Executive Producer: Hazel Namponya

Assistant Producer: Tawanda Musakwa Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

Apartheid and colonial systems didn't just take land, labour, and bodies, they trained the mind to accept humiliation, silence, and lowered expectations as normal. That inherited wound still lives in our families, our schools, our workplaces, our public services.

In this episode, Tracey-Lee Kotzen sits down with counselling psychologist Jenna Bayer and self-leadership coach Ndumi Hadebe to ask: what does it actually take to restore dignity, to ourselves and to each other?

From the psychology of apartheid-era testing to why vulnerability is a luxury not everyone gets to afford, this is a conversation about what healing really requires.

Executive Producer: Hazel Namponya

Assistant Producer: Tawanda Musakwa Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

In this episode, we explore how stigma, misunderstanding, and limited awareness shape the everyday experiences of neurodivergent people. We aim to centre neurodivergent voices by sharing their stories, insights, challenges, and perspectives. This episode seeks to humanise neurodivergence, highlight the impact of social and structural barriers, and deepen public understanding of the unique strengths and needs of neurodivergent individuals. Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

This episode of Heal Your Mind with Tracey Lee Kotzen is to raise awareness about the connection between trauma and physical health, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of how the body processes and stores trauma. By facilitating a trauma informed discussion with mental health and medical professionals, the episode aims to empower listeners to recognise the physical signs of trauma and explore holistic approaches to healing.

Guests: Dr Svetoslav Bulatov (MD | Homeopath), Jenna Bayer (Counselling Psychologist), Akosua Dardaine Edwards (Founder | NiNa Young Women’s Leadership Programme), Verona Rochat Smith (TRE Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, Wellness Trainer). Write Words Create website · Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

This episode of Heal Your Mind with Tracey Lee Kotzen explores the concept of historical trauma and its lasting impact on South African society. We deepen our understanding of how colonialism and apartheid have shaped the nation’s collective psyche, contributing to intergenerational trauma and ongoing social and psychological challenges. Through expert insights and personal testimonies, the episode aims to bring better understanding of our collective trauma, promote healing and encourage open dialogue on the path toward national reconciliation and mental wellness.

Guests: Hazel Friedman (Investigative Journalist), Dr Shaheda Omar (Director | Teddy Bear Foundation), Dr Onyi Nwaneri (Managing Director | Sesame Workshop South Africa), Grant Stewart, M.Ed. (Educational Support), Martin Pelders (CEO | MatrixMen), Pitso Mereko (Provincial Chairperson | Safer South Africa) Write Words Create website · Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

In this episode, we reflect on my time at the SVRI Forum 2024, where we had the distinct privilege of collaborating with Tarana Burke, the visionary founder of the #MeToo movement, and connecting with Shesheena A. Bray, Director of Programmes and Partnerships, who led wellness initiatives at the event.

In our conversation, we tour the foundation of the #MeToo Movement and it’s unique perspectives on healing and wellness as essential pillars, not only for the team but also for every survivor. Shesheena recounts the early mission of the #MeToo movement, launched in 2006 to empower and support Black women and girls who are survivors of sexual violence. She highlights the movement’s ongoing commitment to resourcing survivor healing and wellbeing through tools like the Survivors Sanctuary online platform. Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

In this episode, we dive into the intricate intersection of grief and culture, unravelling the profound impact it has on mental health.

Grief in a universal experience, yet the way it manifests and is processed varies across cultures, shaping individual and collective responses.

Host Tracey Lee Kotzen is joined by Welile Maleka and Hazel Namponya. Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

In this episode, dive into the South African National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2023 – 2030. Our discussion aims to unravel the intricacies of the framework policy, offering listeners an understanding of its contents and implications.

Host Tracey Lee Kotzen is joined by guest Dr Njabulo Mbanda. Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

In this episode, we discuss how sexual violence trauma affects intimate partner relationships. Our guest shares their personal stories marked by unresolved trauma, scars, and pain. They recognise how this unhealed trauma impacted their intimate relationships and through their healing journey, give hope to those walking the same path.

Join Tracey as she speaks with guests Martin Pelder, Zoe Pali, Kavya Swaminathan, and Etienne Louw. Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website

INDODA is a podcast for men to have candid conversations about their mental health challenges from a trauma-informed perspective. The topics of the show are informed and deliberately selected, so as to bring awareness of the systemic contributions towards the mental health crisis.

For so long, we have been fire-fighting symptomatic problems that stem from deeply entrenched and deliberately cultivated socially engineered problems, which predate our time. These have evolved and infiltrated into the lowest levels of our societies.

In this episode, we unpack the stigma of male gender-based violence and address the impact on their mental health.

It is crucial to emphasise that addressing the impact of GBV on men's mental health does not diminish the importance of addressing the systemic violence and discrimination that women and marginalised gender identities face. We approach GBV and mental health issues from an intersectional and inclusive perspective, recognising that everyone can be affected differently and may require tailored support.

Promoting gender equality, challenging harmful gender norms, and ensuring accessible mental health services for all survivors are important steps to ensure a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone impacted by GBV.

#Healyourmind #INDODA #mentalhealthandwellness #mwi #endthestigmaSA Connect with MWI on LinkedIn · Find MWI on Instagram · Follow MWI on Twitter · Connect with MWI on Facebook · Visit the MWI website