5 Mid Mornings

You Matter Foundation AfricaAs the academic year begins, many young South Africans are without school supplies and You Matter Foundation Africa's Founder and Executive Director, Mpuseng Mosupye joins us for a conversation about the School Supply Drive. We also learn about the resources it takes for the organisation to help those in need.

A group of popular local restaurants has officially banned tipping. Instead, they’ve raised their prices by 20% and pay their staff a much higher flat "living wage." The owners say it removes the "awkwardness" at the end of a meal, but some regular customers are complaining because they feel they've lost the power to "reward good service" or "punish bad service." Would you rather pay a highe...

A massive movement took off in late 2025 where entire neighborhoods of parents signed a "Community Pact" to not give their children smartphones until they turn 16. It wasn't just a solo parenting choice; they did it as a group so that no single kid felt like the "odd one out." It has sparked a massive debate between parents who think it’s a beautiful way to save childhood and those who think...

A woman recently went viral for dumping her "perfect" partner for a bizarre reason: he was too nice. She realized that because he never disagreed with her or challenged her, she had lost all respect for his opinion. She called him a "human mirror"—he just reflected whatever she wanted, which eventually drove her crazy because she felt like she was dating herself. Is there actually such a thi...

Natalie Abrahams, Founder and director at I Matter NPO speaks to us about what survivors of GBV can expect when they reach out to the organisation for psychosocial support. Natalie also shares what it takes to raise GBV awareness in communities and what young people need in the fight against GBV.

You don't owe a long-term friend a "breakup talk" or an explanation if you want to end the friendship. If the relationship has become draining or you’ve just grown apart, "ghosting" or slowly fading out is perfectly acceptable. You don't need to give an "exit interview" for a friendship that has naturally expired.

A world-renowned Michelin-star chef admitted in a recent interview that after cooking gourmet truffles and wagyu beef all day, his favorite dinner is actually crushed-up crackers in a bowl of cold milk. This has sparked a global "Confess Your Meal" trend where people are admitting to the low-effort, slightly "shameful" food combinations they eat when they are alone and tired. What is the "lazy" or...

A high-end restaurant group in New York and London has officially started a "Phone-Lock" policy. When you arrive, your phone is placed in a small timed safe at the center of the table. If you want to unlock it before the bill is paid, you have to pay a "distraction surcharge" of 15% on top of your meal. The owners say it’s the only way to get people to actually talk to each other again. If y...

A 2026 dating report has highlighted a trend called "Love-Loreing." Instead of looking for "The One," a huge number of people are going on dates purely "for the plot." They admit that even when they know a date is going to be a disaster, they stay until the end just so they have a funny or ridiculous story to tell their friends in the group chat the next morning. Would you ever stay in a weird or...

Khulisa Social SolutionsSpeaking to the Founder & Managing Director of Khulisa, Lesley Ann van Selm, we find out more about the organisation's programmes, Rock 'n Rhyme as well as the People Puppet Programme for ECDs. Storytelling and Dialogues are also highlighted as a valuable tool for social change.

Inheritance should not be split equally between siblings. If one child stayed behind to care for the parents in their old age while the others moved away and only visited on holidays, the "caregiver" child should get everything. Blood shouldn't guarantee you a payday if you weren't there for the work.

A man in the UK recently went viral after his coworkers realized he has eaten the exact same thing for lunch, a plain ham sandwich, an apple, and a small bag of chips... every single work day for 30 years. When asked why, he simply said, "It’s one less decision I have to make." While some called it a "superpower" for saving time and money, others found it absolutely "criminal" to live a life...

Splitting the bill evenly when one person had three cocktails and a steak, and the other had water and a side salad, is a form of "social robbery." The phrase "let's just split it" is almost always used by the person who spent the most money to avoid paying their fair share. Is it about the "vibe" and the friendship, or is it about basic fairness and not being taken for a ride?

A social psychology study released this month identified a new phenomenon called "Friendship Debt." It’s the paralyzing guilt we feel when we haven't replied to a friend's message for so long that it feels "too late" to reply now. The study found the average person has at least three "dead" conversations on WhatsApp with people they actually like, but are too embarrassed to restart. Who is t...

Speaking to the Founder of Epic Foundation, Alta McMaster is a survivor herself, and she brings us into the world of the organisation. We learn about the Comfort Care Project and how it brings dignity to survivors. Alta also shares information about how people can become volunteers at Epic Foundation.

A new global study on the "Cost of Friendship" found that in 2026, the average person now spends roughly 20% of their monthly salary just to attend a single wedding. Between the "perfect" outfit for the photos, the gift, and the travel, being a bridesmaid or groomsman has become a "financial hurdle." The study found that 1 in 4 people have actually turned down an invitation to a close friend's wed...

Ordering something boring at a nice restaurant is an absolute waste of a menu. If you’re going to pay restaurant prices, ordering the one thing you can make at home, or is super basic, is actually a "crime." Is it a reliable "safe bet," or is it an indicator of being a boring person?

A 2026 survey on "Domestic Competency" found that over 60% of adults over the age of 30 still don't know how to perform "basic" life tasks without Googling them every single time. The top culprits? Knowing how to properly fold a fitted sheet, how to check the oil in a car, or how long to boil a "medium" egg. It turns out, most of us are just pretending to be adults and hoping nobody notices. What...

If you are over the age of 25, the concept of a "Birthday Month" (or even a "Birthday Week") needs to end. You get one day, one dinner or one party, and that’s it. Adults who expect people to clear their calendars for multiple "birthday-themed" events across a month are being immature.

In this episode, CANSA Marketing and Social Media Coordinator, Melissa Zaayman explains how the average South African can access CANSA's screening services, available countrywide. We also get a glimpse of the difference between CANSA Care Homes and CANSA TLC Accommodations.

A 2026 report on global streaming habits found that despite thousands of new shows being released last year, the average person spent one-third of their viewing time rewatching shows they have already seen (think Friends, The Office, or Grey's Anatomy). Psychologists say we aren't being "lazy"... we're "self-soothing." In an unpredictable world, our brains crave a story where we already know the e...

Sending a voice note that is longer than 60 seconds is fundamentally selfish. You are essentially giving your friend "homework"—forcing them to stop what they are doing and listen to you talk for three minutes when you could have just typed a three-sentence summary. Is it a more personal way to connect, or is it just lazy communication that disrespects your time?

What is the one small daily habit or "treat" you refuse to give up, no matter how expensive it might get? (Is it the morning coffee, the specific brand of bread, or that Friday afternoon chocolate?)

What did you do when you were bored as a kid? What did you do to keep yourself entertained as a kid?

Each member of the 5 Mid morning team says a statement at the beginning of the feature. One of the three statements read is either true or a “bluff”. The listener then is tasked with identifying who is telling the truth and who is bluffing. This is done through the 5FM whatsapp line.