In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol investigates a drug, initially developed to manage type 2 diabetes, but now also gaining global popularity as a weight loss solution.

There’s a new weight loss craze that’s taking the world by storm, with many people reporting great success.

It is a medication used to treat patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but is now also being used for weight loss, with many doctors prescribing it “off label” for this purpose.

As a result of its indiscriminate and ‘off-label’ use, we are not allowed to use the name of the drug, but can tell you it is a semaglutide, and is from a class of medicines called GLP-1s.

It is usually administered as a daily or weekly injection.

Well-known international celebs such as Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne, Elon Musk and Khloe Kardashian have all been linked to this drug, and as a result, arguably contributing towards its popularity.

So, Carol decided to go on a fact finding mission on The Carol Ofori Podcast.

In the first part of this episode, Carol speaks to two people who have direct experience with using this drug for weight loss, 48-year-old Robynne Fitzpatrick and her son, 19-year-old Michael. Michael’s father, Chris Fitzpatrick, who is a sports nutritionist and former body builder, also joins the conversation.

To provide a balanced perspective, Carol then seeks the professional opinion of Dr. Sundeep Ruder, an endocrinologist with an extensive background in the field.

Dr. Ruder delves into the science behind GLP-1s, their role in weight management, and the ethical considerations surrounding their off-label application for weight loss.

Dr Ruder also emphasises the importance of looking beyond medication to address the root causes of obesity, advocating for a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Disclaimer: The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol investigates the pros and cons of leaving South Africa in search of ‘greener pastures’.

The podcast features insights from Mark Sham, a well-travelled entrepreneur, as well as observations from two other South Africans – one who emigrated two years ago and another who left the country and returned eight years later.

In the first part of the podcast, Mark discusses the idea that moving away from South Africa involves trade-offs rather than outright solutions.

Mark emphasises the importance of understanding and weighing both the benefits and drawbacks of living in another country.

The second part of the podcast includes conversations with Zane Derbyshire, who relocated to the USA, and Tyron Hansen, who moved to Canada and later returned to South Africa.

Zane and Tyron both share their personal experiences, the challenges, and the joys of living abroad, with an emphasis on what they miss about South Africa and the reasons behind their decisions to move and, in Tyron's case, to return.

The episode also highlights the various reasons South Africans choose to relocate, the reality of adjusting to new cultures and environments, and the deep ties that many still feel towards their home country.

This is an important podcast for any South African who has ever thought of leaving the country in search of a ‘better life’ elsewhere. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol speaks to the Founder of Legends Barber, Sheldon Tatchell, about his journey from a pair of clippers on a stoep to Africa’s number one-rated barber shop.

This episode is for every single person who has a passion and a dream of turning that passion into something incredible.

Sheldon shares his inspiring journey from starting as a barber on his cousin's stoep in Eldorado Park in Soweto to becoming the owner of Legends Barber, Africa's number one rated barbershop with 70 salons and over 600 employees across the continent.

Sheldon discusses his early passion for hairstyling, the challenges and setbacks he faced, including a partnership that almost ended his ambitions, and how perseverance and a unique approach to customer service propelled him to success.

He also talks about the importance of treating people with kindness, his innovative ideas like the mobile barber bus, and the impact of Legends Barber on communities, including offering free training for aspiring barbers.

Sheldon reflects on personal losses, including the death of friends and celebrities like Riky Rick and AKA, emphasizing the profound influence they had on his life and business.

This episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast is the perfect example of what every single South African can achieve if we have a dream and enough passion and drive to go along with it, even if all you have is a pair of clippers and someone else’s stoep. Nothing is impossible. Podcast page on ECR's website

Top South African comedian Tol A$$ Mo and his wife Mome hold nothing back in this brave and unreserved conversation on The Carol Ofori Podcast.

Tol A$$ Mo was accused of rape by model Lerato Moloi in 2020 and then cleared of all charges in August 2022.

“I was not even just acquitted. I was vindicated. I was proven completely innocent in the court of law. And it was found that [Lerato] lied about the entire incident,” Tol A$$ Mo explains.

Speaking to Carol Ofori, the couple openly discusses Tol A$$ Mo's tumultuous journey through the false rape accusation and his subsequent mental health struggles, as well as the impact on his career and personal life.

The couple also shares personal insights into their experiences during the trial, the challenges to their marriage, and Tol Ass Mo's controversial statements.

Tol A$$ Mo also acknowledges and apologises for the damage he potentially did to some of the relationships with close friends and colleagues in the industry.

00:00 Opening Up: The Impact of false accusations

00:13 The Carol Ofori Podcast: A Deep Dive with Tol A$$ Mo and Mome

00:19 The Dark Days: Losing Everything to a false accusation

01:27 Rebuilding and Healing: The Journey of Tol A$$ Mo and Mome

01:58 Facing the Accusation: A Personal account from Tol A$$ Mo

08:54 The Power of Support: Mome's Role Through the ordeal

15:06 Legal Battles and Public Scrutiny: Navigating the aftermath

20:56 Reflections and Apologies: Tol A$$ Mo's path to healing

25:45 Mending Relationships and moving forward

27:04 Apologies and Reflections: A Journey of reconciliation

27:46 Comedy Brotherhood and personal growth

29:37 Facing the Music: The Impact of public perception

30:51 Family Dynamics and healing together

34:58 Professional Comeback: Embracing the Stage once more

38:52 The Power of Love and support in overcoming challenges

41:52 Forgiveness and Moving Forward: A new chapter

47:41 Conclusion: Gratitude and hope for the future Podcast page on ECR's website

In the latest episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has an important conversation with ‘Servings of Self-Mastery’ author Dr Alistair Mokoena.

Dr Mokoena explains the importance of celebrating every success along the way, instead of waiting for the ‘big victories’ as we need the small wins to keep us motivated.

Dr Mokoena also gives us the tools we need to reframe negative thoughts into positive energy that we can use as fuel to catapult us forward and keep us going.

It’s an important conversation for every single person who has ever experienced anxiety, loss, self-doubt, confusion, procrastination, lack of self-control and even impatience. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, the first for Season three, Carol speaks with Dan Southwood-Wells, one of the founders of the wildly popular EskomSePush app. They discuss its origins, and how financially lucrative it has been for them, plus share their plans and predictions for the country regarding loadshedding.

Southwood-Wells explains why and how the idea for the EskomSePush app originated and reveals how the name was chosen – and no, it’s not what you think!

When asked about their efficiency in updating the app following Eskom's announcements, Southwood-Wells clarifies they don’t have a personal relationship with the power utility or any municipalities.

"We operate 100 percent in the public and have no formal relationship or secret handshakes with any municipality or Eskom," he tells Carol.

Southwood-Wells notes that the EskomSePush ‘team’ consists of just three people.

So, how lucrative has the app been, and what impact do they feel?

Find out by listening to the full conversation. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has an honest, frank, and sometimes hilarious conversation with South African two-time Olympic gold medallist, Caster Semenya.

Semenya recently published her book titled ‘The Race to be Myself’, in which she takes us on a journey through her younger years in rural Limpopo, to her glory on international athletics tracks, and now to her ongoing fight for what it means to be a woman in sport.

In a candid conversation with Carol, Semenya opens up about why this ongoing battle is so important, not only for herself, but for every single person who feels their human rights have been violated somehow.

Semenya says, “It’s just a reminder to each and every one to say ‘Hey you must know your rights, you must know who you are and you must own your identity.'”

In her book, Semenya speaks a lot about turning her criticism into fuel and she explains to Carol how she does this and how we can all learn to do the same.

“For me, I love everything about my body, I love my voice, I love how I walk, I love how I dress, so if anyone comes with their perception, it has nothing to do with me. What’s important is that you love what you see in the mirror.”

Regarding her naturally high testosterone levels, Semenya says every champion in any field whatsoever was born with a genetic advantage, and this is what enables them to be the champion.

“Every individual is born with a variation in the body, they are born with differences, but you have to understand that to be a champion you must be that special one and you can’t fight that, we’re not God and we can’t control nature,” she tells Carol. Podcast page on ECR's website

What can we expect come the 2024 South African General Elections? To help answer this question, Carol talks to seasoned political analyst, Dr Ongama Mtimka.

Dr Mtimka - a senior researcher, political analyst, lecturer and non-profit organisation executive, based at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha - predicts that for the first time at national level, we'll see a coalition. He believes the driver for the fall of the ANC below 50% of the vote, would likely be the major metropolitan municipalities.

Dr Mtimka says, “It will mean that for the first time the transformation of the dominant party system, which we have observed since 2009, would have culminated in a multi-party democracy.”

In terms of a more granular look at the results and how the different parties will feel, Dr Mtimka predicts the ANC will not be very satisfied after the 2024 elections, but feels parties like the Freedom Front and the Economic Freedom Fighters will be somewhat happy with the results.

As far as the Democratic Alliance is concerned, Dr Mtimka predicts they’ll be relieved to have not bled any further.

Dr Mtimka also reiterated the importance of every single South African who is eligible to vote, registering and actually doing so in 2024. “You may be voting for continuity or you may be voting for change, but our democracy needs it.” Podcast page on ECR's website

How much does the average car guard earn in South Africa? How much do they pay to be allowed to stand there? Which cars do the most generous or the stingiest tippers generally drive? All the details are in the latest episode of The Carol Podcast.

If you’re a South African motorist, you probably encounter car guards numerous times every single day. They’ll often direct you to an open parking spot and then promise to watch your car while you’re doing your shopping, or at the beach, watching sport at a stadium, or anywhere you’d leave your vehicle in a public place.

The unspoken rule is that when you return, you tip the car guard for keeping your vehicle safe.

Car guarding has been around in South Africa since the early 1990s, but what do we actually know about car guards in South Africa?

How much does the average car guard earn?

How much do they pay to be allowed to stand there?

Which cars generally tip more and which ones tip less?

What do car guards really expect of us when we park our vehicles in their allotted area?

And, what happens when something actually happens to your vehicle while being watched by a car guard?

To answer these questions, and a whole lot more, Carol Ofori sat down with two car guards, Steve Muabilu and Philip Retief - who operate in the Durban area. Both men were candid and honest about what it’s like to be a car guard in South Africa. Podcast page on ECR's website

Has South Africa become a gun-wielding society, and if so, how do we fix it?

68 people are murdered every day in South Africa with firearms being the most frequently used weapon. Is the problem that we have too many guns in society or is it something far deeper than that? Carol Ofori tries to get some answers

She hosts a debate around gun violence in South Africa and asks the question, ‘Has South Africa become a gun-wielding society, and if so, how do we fix it?’

Carol’s guests are three seasoned role players in the firearm space in South Africa: Claire Taylor, Gideon Joubert, and Dr. Sibusiso Ntsele.

Taylor is a researcher at Gun Free SA, focusing on gun violence prevention. She’s worked as a researcher and communicator on a range of social justice issues, particularly violence and injury prevention and climate protection, for over 20 years.

Joubert is the owner and editor of ‘Paratus’ - an online firearm ownership resource - as well as an independent security consultant and a registered Category 4 (Advanced) firearm instructor.

Ntsele is a specialist forensic pathologist with eThekwini Forensic Pathology Services, KZN Department of Health. He has vast experience in firearm-related injuries and fatalities and is the Acting: Head Clinical Unit responsible for clinical matters in all KZN medico-legal mortuaries.

While all three, for the most part, agree that South Africa is a gun-violent society, there was strong disagreement about the reasons for these problems as well as the potential solutions. It's a lively debate.

Episode Credits: News clips courtesy of eNCA, ECR Newswatch and Africa News. Podcast page on ECR's website