Sisterhood of the Travelling Mgowo

Heritage Day had us thinking. When did it become Braai Day?  Somewhere between the specials, campaigns and Heritage Day content, it feels like we’ve lost a bit of what the day is actually meant to represent. So we got into our own cultures and what they mean to us personally. Sinesipho speaks about being Xhosa, Mixo about growing up Tsonga, and somehow we end up everywhere from language and family...

Trigger warning: This episode discusses gender-based violence, murder, abuse and the deaths of women. Please take care while listening. To everyone listening, We had this conversation because of what has been happening in South Africa. At some point, we have to ask ourselves what we’re doing with all of this. GBV can’t only be a conversation for when another woman is killed. It has to be something...

There’s a lot to unpack this week. From South African music and the importance of creating spaces to really engage with local artists, to parenting, online misogyny and the way we’re raising the next generation. We chat about Mamakashaka and Friends’ “Track by Track” initiative, what gentle parenting actually looks like beyond the internet discourse, and why we need to be careful about how quickly...

Let’s talk about what happens on South African social media when women announce pregnancies and the moral judgements they’re subject to when they do. We consider and challenge perceived societal expectations, conditioning and patriarchal biological timelines. In this episode, we dive deep into the recent online uproar sparked by two popular influencers announcing their pregnancies in their 30s. Ex...

In this week’s episode, we’re getting honest about what it actually looks like to do the work on yourself. With one of the hosts approaching 32, the conversation gets into therapy, emotional regulation, ADHD, loneliness and the uncomfortable process of learning how to actually sit with your feelings instead of running from them or trying to analyse everything to death. They talk about what changed...

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about overextending ourselves and why so many of us have become the people who will just “handle it,” no matter how tired we are. This week, we’re joined by a friend of the pod, Kabelo Mabaso, for a conversation about where this habit comes from, how it shows up in our relationships and work, and what happens when constantly being the one who comes through sta...

In this week's episode, we’re talking about money, friendship, and the awkward reality of trying to have a social life when everything is getting more expensive. The cost of living is making a lot of things feel out of reach, and we get into why there shouldn’t be any shame in saying, “I actually can’t afford that.” Socialising and community are important, so how do we make space for each othe...

We had a lot to get off our chests this episode. From the emotional toll of the recession and the guilt that comes with spending money, to friendships that feel one-sided and people who want to know everything about your life while telling you nothing about theirs. We also get into deadbeat parents, accountability, confrontation, forgiveness and why keeping the peace isn't always worth it. Som...

There are some conversations that come around every Women's Month, and then there are the ones we don't spend enough time sitting with. In this episode, we unpack what it means to be a woman in South Africa today, from the everyday weight of navigating patriarchy to the frustration of watching the same cycles of abuse, silence, and performative accountability play out time and time again....

Every August, we're reminded to celebrate women. But somewhere along the way, it's easy for the real meaning of Women's Month to get lost behind campaigns, discounts, and social media posts. In this episode, we're asking what Women's Month should actually look like in South Africa today. We reflect on the legacy of the 1956 Women's March, unpack the issues that continue to...

Have you ever felt like you really knew someone from the internet? This week, we're joined by Yolanda and Yaya as we unpack parasocial relationships and what it's like to have thousands of people feel connected to you after watching your life unfold on national television. From their time on Big Brother to navigating life as public figures, we talk about fan culture, setting boundaries onl...

Birthdays have a way of making you take stock. One minute you're making birthday wish lists, and the next you're wondering if you're where you thought you'd be by now. In this episode, we talk about everything birthdays bring up - from the pressure to celebrate, social media expectations, and the cost of getting everyone together, to the excitement of getting older and becoming more comfortable in...

Death is never an easy topic to talk about, but it's one of the most important conversations we can have. In this episode, we unpack the emotional and financial realities of funerals in South Africa, the burden that often falls on families when there isn't a plan in place, and why having honest conversations about death can be one of the greatest acts of care for the people we leave behind. We als...

In this episode, we unpack the realities of navigating a career pivot and the impact it can have on your mental health. From the uncertainty of starting over to the financial pressures that often come with choosing a different path, we explore what it means to prioritise yourself while managing the practical realities of adulthood. We also discuss the challenges of freelancing, dealing with debt a...

In this episode, we dive into some of the difficult conversations happening in South Africa right now - from xenophobia and Afrophobia to identity, belonging, and the realities many young people are facing. We reflect on the pressure of navigating adulthood, the importance of giving ourselves grace, and what it means to take care of ourselves while trying to survive in a challenging environment. W...

In this episode, we're joined by Sinesipho's younger sister Nicky for a conversation about what sisterhood has looked like throughout the different stages of our lives. We chat about the realities of being the oldest versus the youngest sibling, how birth order can shape the roles we take on in our families, and the ways those roles have influenced who we are today. From childhood misunderstanding...

In this mid-year check-in, we’re getting honest about what it feels like to be in the "thick of failure". From navigating the weight of an ADHD diagnosis to rejecting the pressure of burnout culture, we discuss what happens when high agency meets low motivation. Whether you're "busy resting" or struggling to model agency when you’ve lost interest, this episode is a reminder...

In this episode, skincare influencer and Nelo Skin founder Luna Nqiwa joins the show to demystify adult acne and foundational skincare. Breaking down the common triggers (from hormones and hygiene to diet and environmental pollution) the discussion reframes acne as a chronic condition to be managed rather than a war to be won. Luna provides an essential roadmap for building an effective routine, e...

In this episode of we are joined by our guest, Mbuso, for a candid conversation about navigating the "streets" of Johannesburg during the winter. The discussion moves from reflections on city identity and the creative scene to a deep dive into modern dating dynamics and emotional survival.

As the weather shifts and the days get shorter, many of us start to feel a familiar heaviness. In this episode, we’re having a real conversation about navigating "the funk", from identifying the early warning signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) to managing the overwhelming weight of overstimulation.

In this week’s episode, we revisit a conversation we had seven years ago and reflect on just how much life has changed since then. From our mid-twenties to our early thirties, we talk about the personal and professional shifts that shaped us — motherhood, navigating deep loss, and learning to move away from loud, half-formed opinions toward a life that feels more grounded, intentional, and private...

In this episode of  Sisterhood of the Traveling Mgowo , we delve into the concept of the "passive woman" and the impact of passivity on personal development and community. We explore how societal structures, specifically patriarchal conditioning, often encourage women to remain passive to be considered "good" or desirable

This week, we expand on the idea of community and how we show up in the spaces that hold us. If the price of community is inconvenience, how much are we paying before we ask our community to pay it forward? Listen and join the conversation in the comments below. Follow for more @smgowo on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Navigating adulthood means outgrowing things, people and spaces that no longer fit who we are becoming. This conversation delves into the responsibility we all individually have to cultivate our own sense of belonging as adults - it is up to us to find the spaces where we feel most like ourselves. Follow us @smgowo on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

What happens when our social media feeds make us more jealous instead of more inspired? In a digital world geared to show us constant imagery about the how the other side lives, it is difficult not to get consumed by feelings of lack and inadequacy - the gateway to envy. This week, we discuss and maybe even intellectualise emotion to get more comfortable with it in an effort to recognise it and mo...