A quiet revolution is unfolding among South African women, one rooted not in loud declarations, but in honesty, healing, softness, and survival. Now, that movement is finding its voice through a new podcast series hosted by one of the country’s most authentic and beloved media personalities, Anele Mgudlwa.

First for Women and Anele Mgudlwa have officially launched The Anele Podcast – Her & Now, an eight-part podcast series inspired by the groundbreaking findings of the Her & Now: Insights into the Women of South Africa 2025 report. Premiering on 7 May 2026, the series aims to spark the kinds of conversations South African women have long needed, and deserved.

Built around extensive research conducted with more than 4,000 women across the country, the Her & Now report paints a layered portrait of womanhood in 2025. The findings reveal women who are more empowered than ever before, yet simultaneously emotionally drained and overwhelmed by the realities of modern life. From financial anxiety and safety concerns to the pressure of constantly being “strong,” the report uncovers the emotional truths many women quietly carry every day.

The podcast transforms those statistics into deeply personal and relatable conversations, giving voice to the lived experiences behind the data.

“Anele is the perfect voice for this journey,” says Jill Mulligan of First for Women. “She is relatable and deeply connected to the lived experiences of South African women. When she read the Her & Now report, she didn’t just engage with it, she felt it. Her credibility is exactly what these conversations need to resonate, and we know that in her hands, this podcast will move people.”

For Anele, the project is deeply personal and long overdue.

“This research needs to be heard in nuggets by women every single day,” she says. “There’s a quiet revolution happening, and softness is the behaviour leading it. One quote that stands out for me is: ‘You have to schedule the good times, because the bad times don’t make an appointment.’ Joy, no matter how small, is an act of power, you’ve got the power to make sure that you’re having a good time.”

She adds: “I am really excited about this podcast because I have been waiting to have these impactful and important conversations about women. It’s about time. These conversations need to happen.”

The series opens with Episode 1: The Power Paradox, featuring Lynn Forbes, affectionately known as Glammy. The episode explores vulnerability, grief, identity, and what it truly means to be seen.

Future episodes promise equally compelling conversations. Tumi Morake joins Anele for a candid discussion on whether women can truly afford joy – both financially and emotionally, blending humour with unfiltered honesty. Entrepreneur and AmaZulu Football Club CEO Sinenjabulo Zungu reflects on how women are quietly redefining power and success on their own terms, while global moderator and strategist Nozipho Tshabalala examines the hidden emotional cost of constantly embodying the “strong woman” archetype.

More than just a podcast, The Anele Podcast – Her & Now is an extension of First for Women’s long-standing commitment to supporting South African women. Since its launch in 2004, the brand has championed women’s safety, financial security and wellbeing. Through the First for Women Foundation, customers have helped raise more than R110 million in the fight against gender-based violence.

The podcast continues that mission by creating a space where women feel heard, reflected, and understood, echoing one of the report’s most powerful findings: that 97% of women continue to show up for one another, even during their own hardest moments.

The Anele Podcast – Her & Now is available on major streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with full video episodes also available on the First for Women YouTube channel.

New episodes drop every Thursday from 7 May until the end of June 2026.