The Burden of Strength: How Control Drains Your Soul

If you’ve watched The Polygamist, you’ll know how “just one episode” can turn into hours of hitting “next episode”. That’s the power of a story that refuses to let you go, and the woman behind it. In this episode, we host Sue Nyathi: novelist, screenwriter, investment analyst and single mother. Born and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Sue moved to Johannesburg amid an economic meltdown, while writing The Polygamist. The city swallowed her up, but she refused to give up. By day, she was an investment banker. By night, an aspiring author. While the city slept, Sue wrote. Then she knocked on publishers’ doors. When those doors stayed shut, she self-published, self-funded her dream and kept going. After 20 years in finance, she had a story to tell and no intention of letting rejection have the final word. It’s a journey that speaks to a bigger challenge facing South African women. According to Her & Now 2026/27, 46% of women with irregular incomes say banks don’t accommodate them. For Sue, finding a creative way forward became part of the story. And what a story it turned out to be. The Polygamist burst out of its book covers and onto Netflix, becoming one of the platform’s biggest South African hits. It debuted at number two on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for Non-English Shows, captivating audiences far beyond our borders. Internationally acclaimed media personality and show host Anele, alongside award-winning broadcaster Cindy Poluta, sits down with Sue to uncover the story behind her success and the woman who refused to take no for an answer. Powered by First for Women: Car, home, business and pet insurance designed for women. The Short-Term Insurer of the Decade, based on the Ask Africa Orange Index Short-Term Insurance category rankings from 2017 to 2027. 1st for Women is a licensed non-life insurer and FSP. T’s and C’s online. 📲 Follow the conversation First for Women Facebook: @1stforWomenSA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stforwomensa X: https://x.com/1stforWomen

There are few people who can so elegantly balance success and humility, access and restraint, familiarity and boundaries. Fewer still can distil brilliant ideas into practical execution with such finesse. Sibu Mabena is one of them. At just 34, Sibu is the founder and chief creative officer of award-winning creative communications agency Duma Collective, as well as the founder of Golden Thread African Agency, which manages some of the continent’s most bankable talent. She also sits on the boards of the Effie Awards and the Creative Circle, and has been named to the Cannes Lions shortlisting jury and the Recording Academy Class of 2026. But perhaps the most remarkable thing about Sibu’s success is her determination to bring other women up with her. She started her business without capital, a payslip or assets, and quickly encountered the brick wall of traditional banking, where informal or fluctuating income can make access to finance difficult. According to Her & Now 2026/27, it’s a battle many women face, with close to 60% feeling overlooked or dismissed by financial institutions. Through Golden Thread, Sibu is creating the kind of infrastructure that other women can build on. In today’s episode, she joins internationally awarded show host Anele and brilliant broadcaster Mantsoe on a journey into her past, exploring where her remarkable ability to balance ambition, creativity and restraint comes from. Her dad was the dreamer; her mom, the practical one. From both, she learnt lessons that continue to shape her. She comes from a big, blended family, held together by love, a foundation that has served her well as she continues to navigate the present and trailblaze into the future. For Sibu, success isn’t simply about how far you can go. It’s about who you bring with you, what you build along the way, and knowing when to dream big, and when to stay grounded.

Fresh out of Limpopo, Rami Chuene experienced an act of kindness that kick-started her career over 25 years ago. It came in the form of velvet shoes and a delightful little dress. A winning combination for a woman on her way to becoming one of the most-loved entertainers in South Africa. Since then, kindness has truly become her currency, but it hasn’t come without a price. Rami is known for calling out injustice in the entertainment industry, paving the way for a fairer future for the next generation of actors. Although her ‘outspokenness’ cost her dearly, she has no regrets. Paying it forward is worth every cent lost and every moment of joy gained. In this no-holds-barred episode, Rami shares the moments that have shaped her life, from the most gruelling to the most glorious. She started out on shows including Muvhango, Scandal! and Backstage before becoming Gracious "TGom" Mabuza on The Queen. TGom was killed off, and were it not for her sheer resilience, her career would have been too. Despite the hurdles Rami has faced, she remains absolutely unapologetic and is brimming with wisdom, which she generously shares with critically acclaimed show host Anele and fellow media personality Mantsoe. Anele describes Rami as the ultimate girls’ girl, who puts the sass in sassy and shows kindness with a good sprinkling of spice. Rami Chuene’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, kindness and knowing when to speak up. Press play for the stories, the sass and the lessons from a woman who refuses to let anyone dim her light.

Breathe in. And out. Hold the exhale a little longer. A single intentional breath is the starting point for the practical yet powerful BRAVE framework. Its creator, Zuraida Jardine, went from making history as the first woman to host a daytime slot on 5FM to making her mark in mental fitness. After fronting the second season of Big Brother and winning the inaugural season of Strictly Come Dancing, the then 40-year-old Zuraida left the high-flying life behind and landed firmly on the ground. She traded stilettos for sneakers and headed to university. A decade later, the girl with grit who once scraped through school now holds four degrees and is pursuing a PhD. Her research explores the impact of mindfulness on human behaviour. For Zuraida, being present isn’t a woo-woo abstraction. It’s a signal to your nervous system that you’re safe. According to the First for Women Her & Now 2026/27 Report, safety remains a critical concern for South African women. Zuraida’s research explores what sustained vigilance does to a nervous system that never gets to downregulate. Together with multi-award-winning show host Anele and critically acclaimed co-host Cindy Poluta, Zuraida describes her mid-life awakening, from witty anecdotes to profound, life-changing moments. So go ahead. Take a breath. Then watch. You may never think about bravery, or your nervous system, the same way again. Powered by First for Women: car, home, business, and pet insurance designed for women. The short-term Insurer of the Decade based on the Ask Africa Orange Index Short-Term Insurance category rankings from 2017 to 2027. 1st for Women is a licensed non-life insurer and FSP. T&Cs online. Follow the conversation First for Women Facebook: @1stforWomenSA Instagram: @1stforwomensa X: @1stforWomen Anele Mdoda Instagram: @zintathu X: @Anele Cindy Poluta Instagram: @cindy_poluta Zuraida Jardine Instagram: @zuraidajardine Facebook: Zuraida Jardine X: @ZuraidaJardine TikTok: @zuraidajardine

Can you pinpoint a moment in childhood that shaped your inner voice? A moment in which you decided your worth in the world? For Bontle Moloi that moment happened at 6 years old. In today’s episode this award-winning multi-disciplinary artist, choreographer and dance educator, shares how she is challenging her inner voice, to honour the woman she’s become. Together with internationally-acclaimed show host, Anele, and leading sports presenter and fellow media personality, Cindy Poluta, Bontle comfortably opens up about her life’s journey. From the strength of her marriage and the critical role of dance, to the healing power of her children and the power of vulnerability. The conversation naturally flows to the lived experience of all South African women – how are they feeling and why? In the second edition of the First for Women Her & Now Report, over 6 500 women easily answered the ‘how’ part of the question but the ‘why’ was much harder. Anele, Cindy and Bontle explore why this is, offering their own profound insights. If your inner voice needs fine-tuning or a full overhaul, and you’re keen to spend an hour with three inspiring and entertaining women, this episode does not disappoint. Powered by First for Women: car, home, business, and pet insurance designed for women The Short-term Insurer of the decade based on the Ask Africa Orange Index Short-Term Insurance category rankings from 2017 to 2027. 1st for Women is a licensed non-life insurer and FSP. T's and C's online. 📲 Follow the conversation: First for Women Facebook: @1stforWomenSA Instagram: @1stforwomensa X: @1stforWomen Anele Mgudlwa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zintathu X: https://x.com/Anele Cindy Poluta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindy_poluta/ Bontle Moloi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bontle.modi... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bontle_ba_afrika X: https://x.com/BontleModiselle YouTube: ‪@bontlemodisellemoloi‬