Leigh-Anne Williams

Topic: The ''Empathy Tax'' – The Hidden Financial Cost of Caring As South Africa's population ages, more adults, especially women are finding themselves caring for aging parents while also managing careers, raising children, and running households. This often comes at a hidden personal cost known as the "Empathy Tax'' It refers to the emotional, financial, and career sacrifices people make w...

Talking Points: Invisible Disability A topic that affects millions of people but is often overlooked because these conditions aren't immediately apparent. When many people hear the word disability, they tend to think of a visible physical disability, such as someone using a wheelchair, a walking aid or a white cane. However, not all disabilities can be seen. Many people live with condition...

Mandy Smerdon is the Director of Forklift Handling, a proudly South African material handling business that has earned recognition as one of the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2026. With an extensive background in business development and sales, Mandy has built her career on creating meaningful customer relationships, delivering practical solutions and leading with integr...

As organisations rush to adopt artificial intelligence, much of the conversation has focused on productivity, efficiency and  competitive advantage. Far less attention has been paid to what happens to people’s mental health when work becomes faster, more monitored, more uncertain and potentially never-ending. Prof Renata Schoeman, Head of Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Busin...

Nombasa Bungane is an award-winning agricultural entrepreneur, social innovator, and the Founder and Managing Director of NBC Agriprocessors Pty Ltd, the company behind  Nutritana . Originally from Khayelitsha in Cape Town, she holds a Diploma in Agricultural Sciences from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute and is a registered Candidate Natural Scientist. She chats to Leigh-Anne Willia...

There is a reason why they say traveling with small kids is like looking after your children… just in a different location. Parents of young children often get nervous about traveling with their little ones. Whether it’s just for a night or two, or with one, two, or even more kids, the worry is not unfounded. Looking after our children can be challenging even at home. Once y...

More than 700 volunteers came together at GrandWest Casino on 7 July to pack an incredible 129,600 nutritious meals in support of Rise Against Hunger Africa's annual Mandela Month campaign, demonstrating the remarkable impact that can be achieved when communities unite behind a common purpose. Dayne Myles, Head of Programmes at Rise Against Hunger, chats to Leigh-Anne...

In this inspiring and informative episode, Leigh-Anne Williams sits down with renowned orthopaedic limb reconstruction specialist Dr. Franz Birkholtz to explore the life-changing world of osseointegration – an innovative procedure that’s giving amputees a new lease on life. Dr. Birkholtz explains how this groundbreaking surgery differs from traditional prosthetics,...

Estherline Meyer is the founder of Leap of Faith Elderly Day Care, a unique community-based daycare centre for senior citizens in Grassy Park, Cape Town. A devoted wife, mother, sister and friend, Estherline spent 12 years working as an administrative assistant at the Department of Health before making the life-changing decision to leave her career in 2024 and pursue...

South African employees are feeling the strain of rising living costs, financial uncertainty and increasing workplace demands, making burnout one of the defining workplace challenges of 2026 With higher transport costs, rising food prices and ongoing economic pressure, many employees are carrying significant stress long before they arrive at work.   According to the South African Depress...

Iris House provides free community-based respite care in 62 communities throughout the Western Cape. Their fully trained carers are dispatched to your home to care for your special need child for up to six hours, allowing our parents time to relax, shop, and enjoy some much-needed downtime. Sue van der Linde, Founder & Chairman of Iris House Children’s Hospice, chats to Leigh-Anne Willia...

Benita Ardenbaum is a top divorce and family lawyer in South Africa with over 30 years of experience in Family Law, Divorce Law, and personal law. Admitted to appear in the High Court of South Africa, she began her legal career as a prosecutor, honing her strategic litigation skills. She is widely recognised for her expertise in high-conflict and high net worth divorces, both domestic and internat...

Pregnancy might just be the single most intricate, miraculous and often demanding task the female body can perform. If you really think about it, your body has been preparing for this task since you were a teenager going through puberty. Nutrition is important in all stages of life, from infancy to seniority, but especially during pregnancy. Your diet will not only affect your own body, but that o...

Atlantis School of Skills is a school for Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) school situated in Atlantis, which caters for learners who have experienced barriers to learning in mainstream schools. Zhanley Sauls, Athletics Coordinator at the Atlantis School of Skills, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about how many of their learners struggled to cope with the pace and demands...

The City’s unique Protect Your Power campaign focuses on a shared ownership of electrical equipment and infrastructure in our communities. The streetlights, mini substations, cables are the quiet neighbours – they are part of the neighbourhood and if we look after them, they will look after us. Alderman Xanthea Limberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, chats to Leigh...

Professor Liesl Zuhlke, a paediatric cardiologist and Vice President of the South African Medical Research Council, who received the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award 2026, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about her incredible career and being awarded for improving care for children with heart conditions, particularly rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is a neglected...

When it comes to healthcare, avoidance is rarely discussed, but it is far more common than many realise. Across South Africa, young people are delaying or avoiding clinic visits, particularly when it comes to sensitive health concerns. Whether it is sexual health, reproductive care, or early symptoms of a potential condition, the decision to “wait it out” is often influenced by more th...

Shannon Benting has been named Miss Supranational South Africa 2026. She will represent South Africa at the Miss Supranational 2026 pageant, which will be held on 31 July in Nowy Sącz, Poland. She sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams about being  a content creator and the founder of Beauty in Action, an initiative that focuses on mentorship, skills development and community outreach for underse...

In a world flooded with information, it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. When it comes to skincare, there is plenty of misinformation doing the rounds. From viral TikTok beauty advice to celebrity claims and misleading marketing, the media and social media are filled with advice you shouldn’t be taking. And then there are the trends. It only takes a few hours for...

While women are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, psychiatrists warn that men are far less likely to seek help, often delaying support until symptoms have already escalated into crisis. On average, one in eight men will have depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. Dr Zama Dlamini, Member of th...

According to a local study, nearly one third (30.2%) of South Africans struggle with nocturnal sleep problems, with far-reaching implications for mood, concentration, productivity and long-term cardiovascular health. While many people dismiss poor sleep as a normal part of modern life, Dr Sarel Theron, Neurologist from Mediclinic Durbanville, cautions that chronic sleep di...

Arlene Steyl, Co-founder of WeThinkCode, and Founder Managing Director of DireWolf, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about how her organisation, which has helped nearly 1,000 people find jobs in the last decade without charging them a cent. She shares more about her incredible story and advice for young women hoping to make a difference in their lives.

Taryn Hunter Sharman is South Africa’s new Entrepreneur of the Year. She is the co-founder of advertising and communications agency Faith & Fear, as well as The Brave Collective, an inclusive women’s empowerment community. She chats to Irma G about her incredible journey. 

As International Skin Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on prevention and early detection, the conversation around skincare shifts from aesthetics to something far more vital: protection, education, and long-term health. Skin cancer remains one of the most common and preventable forms of cancer worldwide, yet awareness gaps still exist, especially when it comes to early detection and child...

Huis Andries Olivier is a residential care facility in Durbanville dedicated to supporting adults living with quadriplegia and paraplegia. Andrew Grobler, from the organisation, chats to Irma G about what they do and how people can assist them through volunteer work or donations.