Clinical Psychologist and Healer Anele Siswana joins me in this episode to explore what it means to heal through both Western psychology and African spirituality — and why those two worlds often fail to meet.

Together, we unpack how colonisation redefined what “clean” and “valid” healing looks like, and what it takes to decolonise the ways in which we understand mental health.

Key themes:

Reclaiming African spiritual and psychological traditions

The ongoing impact of colonisation on African identity and practice

The need for African psychology to respond to African problems

The courage to show up as healer and psychologist.

Books referenced: “Only Love is Real” and “Many Lives, Many Masters” by Dr Brian Weiss"

Note: At one point in the episode, Shudu mistakenly says “transgression therapy” — she actually meant “regression therapy,” a technique popularized by Dr. Brian Weiss.

There are seasons when stillness feels like surrender — like standing still when everything around you demands movement. But lately, I’ve realised that being still is not the same as giving up. It’s remembering — remembering that the evidence of my life shows, without fail, that I am blessed. That things have always found a way to work out for my good.

In this week’s reflection, I sit with what it means to trust that evidence. To stop striving and start listening. To breathe, to surrender, and to honour the quiet ways my life keeps reminding me that I am exactly where I need to be.

Boundaries shape every part of our lives, from how we relate to our families and partners, to how we. navigate the workplace.

In this episode, I speak to Dr Anusha Lachman, Head of the Clinical Unit of Child Psychiatry at Tygerberg Hospital, about how our earliest attachments influence our ability to set boundaries later in life.

We discuss why context matters — from race and gender to South Africa’s history of trauma — and why boundaries aren’t one-size-fits-all.

This is the second part of our three-part series on boundaries.

Why do we struggle so much with boundaries? Why does saying “no” feel selfish — even when it’s exactly what we need?

In part 1 of this 3-part series, I share my personal journey of unlearning poor boundaries, and discovering that they aren’t selfish, but actually acts of love.

From cultural and family expectations to the fear of rejection, we’ll unpack the myths around boundaries and why they’re essential to mental fitness.

Listen now to explore:

– Why boundaries feel so uncomfortable

– 5 signs you may need stronger boundaries

– Myths about boundaries we need to unlearn

– How saying “no” is an act of self-care and clarity.

In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Professor Goodman Sibeko, a Professor of Psychiatry, academic leader, and thought partner in global mental health, joins us for a robust conversation about the often-overlooked ways addiction manifests in our lives. Anchoring the conversation in alcohol, we explore how the most socially accepted drug in our society quietly rewires the brain’s reward and stress systems long before we ever call it a problem. From the illusion of moderation to the culturally embedded, social normalisation of drinking, we unpack what really happens in the brain when habit becomes dependency. We also explore how compulsive behaviours are manifesting in our relationships with technology and social media, and what it means to reclaim agency in a world designed to keep us hooked. This episode is a mirror for anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol, and a reminder that recovery is not reserved for rock bottom — it begins with awareness.

What if impostor syndrome isn't a diagnosis, but a distraction?

In this episode, global conversation strategist Nozipho Tshabalala challenges how we frame self-doubt, especially for women and youth.

We unpack the origins of "impostor syndrome," its gendered baggage, and why strategic dialogue can be a powerful tool for confidence and clarity.

This one's for anyone who's ever felt unworthy in a room they fought to be in.

What happens when a media trailblazer trades the spotlight for silence?

In this powerful episode, Zuraida Jardine shares her journey from TV and radio fame to becoming an integrative, wellbeing strategist and mental performance coach.

We explore how stillness, science, and breathwork helped her reinvent herself, and why mental fitness is the new frontier of wellness.

This is a conversation about healing systems, not symptoms, and training your mind like you train your body.

I’m living the dream I prayed for. But it’s harder than I thought. In this episode, I reflect on what it feels like to be inside your answered prayers, and why we have to make space for discomfort even when we’re technically “winning.” Sometimes, the dream asks that you shed parts of yourself that feel familiar and stretch into someone new.

This solo episode is about redefining success, feeling your feelings fully, and learning that gratitude, faith, anxiety and grief co-exist in the pursuit of freedom and purpose.

Book Recommendations:

• The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Dr Gabor Maté

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Sometimes the opportunity doesn’t come until you ask for it. In this unfiltered conversation with my friend, Daniel, we dive into the courage it takes to speak up, especially when you’ve been taught to stay silent. We explore how cultural silence shows up in adulthood, and why putting your hand up —whether in a classroom, a boardroom, or a relationship — might be the very thing that changes your life.

In this episode with Shekhinah, we talk about navigating a life that constantly demands more of you, even when your instinct is to stay in. From overcoming self-doubt to setting boundaries in public and private life, Shekhinah shares what it’s like to live in the tension between passion and personal peace.

Book Recommendations:

• What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce D. Perry

• Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

• Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend