Cape Town – Broadcaster Anele Mgudlwa is set to return for a second season of The Anele Podcast: Her & Now in September, following the success of the first season’s candid conversations about the experiences of South African women.
The podcast, produced in partnership with First for Women, was created to unpack findings from the insurer’s Her & Now research by giving women a platform to share their personal experiences.
Mgudlwa initially had reservations about entering the podcasting space, believing the market was already saturated. However, she said the first season helped her discover what she wanted the podcast to be.
“I think the reason I’d avoided doing a podcast so much is because I hadn’t quite figured out what Anele podcast is going to be, and I figured it out inside of doing the podcast,” she said according to IOL.
She agreed to take part because of her belief in the research behind the project.
The first Her & Now report asked South African women a simple question: how are you feeling? The findings highlighted the pressures many women carry, while the podcast allowed those experiences to be explored through personal conversations.
The Citizen previously reported that the podcast premiered in May 2026 and featured eight episodes focused on issues including financial pressure, safety and emotional exhaustion among South African women.
@1stforwomeninsurance True power in leadership isn’t about guarding the gate; it’s about opening it wide enough for other women to walk through. Watch Part 1 of the Season Finale of The Anele Podcast: Her & Now as we break down the reality of shared success, at the link in bio. #HerFirst #TheAnelePodcastHerAndNow ♬ original sound – 1st for Women Insurance
For Mgudlwa, the conversations also became an opportunity for personal reflection.
Despite being regarded as a successful broadcaster, she said the podcast forced her to confront questions she had previously avoided.
“I said yes, because at face value, I am a successful woman, like everyone was like, ‘Oh, Anele successful,’ but the podcast allowed me to ask myself a lot of questions that I brush off, because I’m successful,” she said.
“Ultimately, success is not what rocks you to bed at night, and you sleep properly, and I was asking myself the difficult questions that allowed me to open up as well.”
One of the most personal moments came when Mgudlwa spoke about the death of her mother and how her role within her family affected the way she processed her grief.
She said she had often been the person who brought humour into difficult situations and helped keep her family together.
“Feeling like the family, my family didn’t allow me to grieve my mom cause I was the one with the solutions in our family from when we were kids,” she said.
Mgudlwa said the first season taught her to become a better listener.
Season two of The Anele Podcast: Her & Now is scheduled to launch in September.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
