Best TGE Media Podcasts (2025)

1
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (Dream Harbour Series) with author Laurie Gilmore 47:20

22d ago47:20

47:20

Christmas in South Africa will never be snowy and white, but if your preferred genre is a cosy romance, this is the time to get stuck into some seasonal spice. And, if numbers are anything to go by, this year’s TikTok Shop Book of the Year is bound to scratch the itch for romance fans. Join The Great Equalizer's Sam Herbst as she chats with author …

1
Episode 102: TRADWIVES! and professional girlfriends (the #nojudgies deep dive) 1:15:47

1M ago1:15:47

1:15:47

From Nara Smith to Ballerina Farm, social media goers worldwide have been captivated by #TradWives. This is a growing trend of women choosing homemaking and traditional gender roles rather than having a career or earning an income independent of their partners. But what does that economic dependence on men cost women? On this episode of The Great E…

1
We Were Perfect Parents Until We Had Children by Vanessa Raphaely & Karin Schimke 1:11:32

3M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

On this episode of TGE’s Current Read (and a special bonus episode of The Great Equalizer), two of the fiercest women in the publishing and parenting space – Vanessa Raphaely and Karin Schimke – join your hosts, Sam and Charlene, to talk about their book: We Were Perfect Parents Until We Had Children. Through combined effort, Vanessa and Karin gath…

1
BONUS | WE WERE PERFECT PARENTS! Until We Had Children with Vanessa Raphaely & Karin Schimke 1:11:32

3M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

On this episode of TGE’s Current Read (and a special bonus episode of The Great Equalizer), two of the fiercest women in the publishing and parenting space – Vanessa Raphaely and Karin Schimke – join your hosts, Sam and Charlene, to talk about their book: We Were Perfect Parents Until We Had Children. Through combined effort, Vanessa and Karin gath…

1
Episode 101: HIV AWARENESS with author and philanthropist Nozibele Mayaba 1:13:20

5M ago1:13:20

1:13:20

On this episode of The Great Equalizer: Sam has merit, Charlene’s perpetually hormonal, and we chat to author, content creator and philanthropist Nozibele Mayaba. Nozibele Mayaba has a long list of accolades: HIV activist, internationally recognised podcaster and TV host. She's partnered with Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio to launch a youth podc…

1
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain 1:12:07

7M ago1:12:07

1:12:07

On this episode of TGE's Current Read, Sam chats to New York Times bestselling author Ashley Audrain, whose #1 bestselling debut, The Push, has not only been translated into a whopping 38 languages since its release, it's also broken countless barriers for millions of mothers across the world. While we’ve been patiently waiting for the limited tele…

1
Episode 100: M O T H E R H O O D! The least/most important job in the world 2:04:31

7M ago2:04:31

2:04:31

It's a significant milestone for The Great Equalizer team, as we proudly hit 100 episodes. That's more than 100 hours of talking about the wild ride that is parenting in the 2020s. Sam and Charlene reminisce about where the show started and how it's grown over the years. We also chat about the new levels we've unlocked in motherhood, and how our vi…

1
in a thousand different ways by Cecelia Ahern 50:02

9M ago50:02

50:02

In this episode of TGE’s Current Read*, journalist Sam Herbst welcomes Cecelia Ahern bestselling novelist known for romance sensations like PS I Love You and Where Rainbows End (AKA Love, Rosie). Cecelia is arguably one of the most prolific writers of our time, having written a book a year since publishing her debut novel (PS, I Love You) at just 2…

1
Love & Fury by Margie Orford 1:11:34

9M ago1:11:34

1:11:34

Feminist, activist, crime author, novelist and Mother – Margie Orford wears many hats and joins Sam Herbst in studio to chat about her memoir, Love & Fury. This is a book that will cut close to the bone for women everywhere. It's at once a tribute to South Africa's incredible history, the invisible work and labour of mothers, and feminists fighting…

1
THE LAUREN DICKASON TRAGEDY and IVF care, with Raylene de Villiers (PART II) 1:12:55

9M ago1:12:55

1:12:55

On this episode of The Great Equalizer, we continue to unpack maternal mental health in South Africa, against the backdrop of the trial and sentencing of Lauren Dickason and, more specifically, the IVF journey. Lauren Dickason is a mom of three and fellow South African who was convicted in the New Zealand courts for the murder of her three daughter…

1
Episode 98: THE LAUREN DICKASON TRAGEDY and maternal mental health, with Raylene de Villiers (PART I) 49:12

11M ago49:12

49:12

In this episode of The Great Equalizer, we focus on maternal mental health in the context of the Dickason tragedy. Lauren Dickason has been in the news for the last two or so years, but more so in recent months when the mom of three and fellow South African was convicted in the New Zealand courts for the murder of her three daughters, Liane (6) and…

1
Mom Rage and the Everyday Crisis of Motherhood by Minna Rubin 1:04:43

1y ago1:04:43

1:04:43

We have another all-new BONUS episode out today featuring the phenomenal Minna Dubin. Minna is a US-based journalist and author whose essays and articles on motherhood and identity have been featured across all the best known outlets, including the New York Times, The Times, The Philadelphia Enquirer, LitHub, and so much more. Minna is a leading fe…

1
BONUS | MOM RAGE! with author Minna Dubin 1:04:43

1y ago1:04:43

1:04:43

We have another all-new BONUS episode out today featuring the phenomenal Minna Dubin. Minna is a US-based journalist and author whose essays and articles on motherhood and identity have been featured across all the best known outlets, including the New York Times, The Times, The Philadelphia Enquirer, LitHub, and so much more. Minna is a leading fe…

1
KIDS' PICKS! TGE interviews award-winning director of The Smeds & the Smoos, Daniel Snaddon 54:05

1y ago54:05

54:05

In this BONUS episode of The Great Equalizer / TGE's Current Read, your host Samantha Herbst sits down with award-winning animator Daniel Snaddon. Daniel has worked on several highly acclaimed (and well loved) animations, including Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, and a host of animations based on the beloved books of children's book author Julia Don…

1
KIDS' PICKS! TGE interviews award-winning director of The Smeds & the Smoos, Daniel Snaddon 54:05

1y ago54:05

54:05

In this BONUS episode of The Great Equalizer / TGE's Current Read, your host Samantha Herbst sits down with award-winning animator Daniel Snaddon. Daniel has worked on several highly acclaimed (and well loved) animations, including Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, and a host of animations based on the beloved books of children's book author Julia Don…

1
Episode 97: BARBIE! And the 'messy contradictions of motherhood' 1:29:28

1+ y ago1:29:28

1:29:28

It’s been a hot damn minute, guys and dolls! And not because we’ve been beaching. Nope, our fate has us suffering cold showers, walking in flats, considering the inescapable fate of death, drowning in a few existential crises, and pondering the fact that the patriarchy isn’t actually about horses. In this episode of The Great Equalizer, we’re final…

1
Eve: The Disobedient Future of Birth by Claire Horn 51:42

1+ y ago51:42

51:42

"We are closer than ever to the first pregnancy outside of the human body... but are we ready for the radical future of birth?" Host of TGE's Current Read Sam Herbst chats with author and feminist academic Claire Horn about her book, Eve: The Disobedient Future of Birth. Eve is a radical interrogation of the ethics and future of birth, detailing th…

1
Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin 38:12

1+ y ago38:12

38:12

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, Cecile Pin's debut novel Wandering Souls (4th Estate) has clearly made its mark on the southeast Asian diaspora, with glowing author endorsements from the likes of Ocean Vuong (On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous), RF Kuang (Yellowface) and Helena Lee (East Side Voices), among many others. Inspired by …

1
Episode 96: BEING SOBER CURIOUS! with author Pamela Power 1:16:08

1+ y ago1:16:08

1:16:08

On this episode of The Great Equalizer, Sam’s lost faith in humanity, Charlene’s gone VIRAL (for all the wrong reasons) and we chat with author Pamela Power about being sober curious and the memoir she wrote about her year of not getting sh*tfaced (aptly titled My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced). For Pamela, Mother’s Day 2021 was one for the books (…

1
Episode 95: WHAT'S YOUR BINGE, BEBE? Here's what Team TGE is currently streaming 1:26:07

1+ y ago1:26:07

1:26:07

The Great Equalizer is back with another What’s Your Binge? episode, mostly because we wish to give our most tender brains a break from the world’s ugly chaos. You in? Let’s go. Folks, we are GATVOL (tot HIERso) of all the things that have made parenting particularly brutal over the last few months. Things that, btw, have had nothing to do with our…

1
EPISODE 94: KINDNESS! and redefining the 'Good Girl' archetype with founder of Consciously Connected, Clare Emms 1:25:17

2y ago1:25:17

1:25:17

In this final instalment of our three-part Friends series (sponsored by LEGO South Africa), we chat about being good :) kind :) sweet :) pleasant :) amicable :) good natured :) a pleasure to work with :) and everything else that underscores the damaging ‘Good Girl’ archetype that’s been bored into the minds of millennial moms everywhere. At the hea…

1
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey 31:41

2y ago31:41

31:41

On this episode of TGE’s Current Read, Sam touches base with comedy writer Monica Heisey, author of one of Elle Magazine’s most anticipated reads of 2023, Really Good, Actually. This fresh take on break-up comedy fiction chronicles a year in the life of 28-year-old Maggie as she separates from her husband after only 608 days of marriage. Heisey is …

1
Episode 93: HOW TO TACKLE BULLYING! with educational psychologist Naledi Mokoena 1:16:12

2y ago1:16:12

1:16:12

Our three-part series on friendship with LEGO South Africa continues as we tackle BULLYING! and SELF-ESTEEM! with Sandton-based educational psychologist Naledi Mokoena. In this episode we focus on bullies and victims, and we talk about the different nuances that bullying can take on, from the more overt, obvious abuse to subtle, insidious forms of …

1
The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw 40:47

2y ago40:47

40:47

The Invincible Miss Cust details how English Aristocrat Aleen Cust overcame a myriad of obstacles in the late 1800s and early 1900s to become Britain and Ireland's first woman veterinary surgeon, paving the way for aspiring female vets who have sought to follow in her footsteps. As a lover of animals and the outdoors who grew up on a dairy farm, au…

1
Episode 92: BUILDING MULTICULTURAL FRIENDSHIPS! with social worker Joey Dlamini 1:22:13

2y ago1:22:13

1:22:13

BUILDING MULTICULTURAL FRIENDSHIPS IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY On this episode of The Great Equalizer we’re celebrating F R I E N D S H I P, with a focus on helping our children navigate new connections from foundation phase to the teenage years. Joining us in studio is parent, author and social worker Joey Dlamini, a self-proclaimed “imperfect pare…

1
Episode 91: BACK TO SCHOOL! BACK TO ANXIETY! with psychologist Dr Jenny Rose 1:09:30

2y ago1:09:30

1:09:30

It’s a brand new year, folks! Replete with brand new anxieties (along with all the old ones) 😃👍🏼 First off the block is back-to-school anxiety, which we’ll be tackling on all fronts with the help of the loveliest parent-child expert around, the incredibly smart and sweet powerhouse, @drjennyrose. Jenny is a clinical psychologist and a mom of three …

1
[BONUS] A CULTURED CHRISTMAS! Books to buy and things to do in December 2022 26:28

2y ago26:28

26:28

Make no mistake, folks. The amount of device time our kids are going to have this festive season is bordering on criminal. But everyone knows we at TGE love ourselves some good picture books, so we thought we'd share a bit more about the books we’ve been enjoying in our home lately. TGE's got you covered, with a range of books now available such as…

1
Episode 90: DIVISION OF LABOUR! But make it festive! With dadfluencer Afrodaddy 1:30:24

2y ago1:30:24

1:30:24

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all mothers fair and foul, swore and sobbed and threatened to throw in the towel. (Stay tuned till January to see if we survived this ‘Dezemba’ show down) Folks, the division of labour issue is no more obvious than at Christmas time, when all of us work our tails off to make that festive season magic. And so, o…

1
Episode 89: MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS! with actor, life coach and dad Sven Ruygrok 1:58:05

2y ago1:58:05

1:58:05

On this episode of The Great Equalizer, Sam is jonesing for a demotion (and a breakdown on the side), Charlene is larger than life (and in a really great space), and we chat about how our children’s mental health is on the knife-edge at the moment. There’s been a marked increase in teen suicides and, worryingly, children as young as 8, 9 and 10 are…

1
Charlene: In Search of a Princess by Arlene Prinsloo 45:36

2+ y ago45:36

45:36

In this episode of TGE’s Current Read, Sam sits down with veteran lifestyle journalist Arlene Prinsloo to chat about her new book, Charlene: In Search of a Princess. This unauthorised biography chronicles the life, to date, of Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco. Prinsloo unpacks the home-grown princess’s early childhood in the suburbs …

1
Episode 88: OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS... BLEGH! We battle a case of the #hardjudgies 1:09:20

2+ y ago1:09:20

1:09:20

The gals from The Great Equalizer are BACK and finally together IN PERSON in our newly minted studio (whoop whoop). On this episode, Sam and Charlene acknowledge how hard it’s been to stick to our #nojudgies policy, especially when it comes to Other People’s Kids (blegh). Why does no-one tell you about this shit!? Parenting does NOT get easier (for…

1
Children of Sugarcane by Joanne Joseph 43:00

2+ y ago43:00

43:00

In this episode of TGE’s Current Read, veteran broadcaster and bestselling author Joanne Joseph joins Samanatha Herbst (co-host and founder of parenting podcast The Great Equalizer) to chat about her debut novel, Children of Sugarcane. Set against the backdrop of 19th Century India and the British-owned sugarcane plantations of Natal, Children of S…

1
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse 31:57

2+ y ago31:57

31:57

Bestselling thriller author Sarah Pearse hit it out of the park with the wildfire success of her first novel, The Sanitorium. The debut landed on several bestseller lists, including the New York Times, and was selected as a Reese’s Book Club pick. In this episode of Current Read, Sarah joins Sam Herbst to chat about getting a call from Reese Wither…

1
Mad Bad Love by Sara-Jayne Makwala King 49:15

2+ y ago49:15

49:15

Sara-Jayne Makwala King knew that she had a second book in her, but she did not expect the follow up to her memoir, Killing Karoline, to be about loving someone in active addiction. The Cape Talk presenter chats to Samantha Herbst about her second memoir, Mad Bad Love, and how a book initially meant to be about mental health morphed into so much mo…

1
The Price of Mercy by Sean Davison 31:40

2+ y ago31:40

31:40

On this episode of Current Read, Sam Herbst interviews Prof. Sean Davison, one of the more controversial characters she's ever sat opposite. By South African law, Sean is a convicted murderer three times over but – many would argue – a murderer unworthy of the title, especially when considering motivation and intent. As of June 2022, Davison comple…

1
Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman 33:32

2+ y ago33:32

33:32

In this episode of Current Read, TGE hosts Sam Herbst and Charlene Armstrong chat to US-based family and marriage therapist Whitney Goodman. Whitney is the mastermind behind hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, as well as a columnist for Psychology Today. She’s been featured on and in dozens of big name stations and publications including…

1
The Shining Girls with Lauren Beukes 30:40

2+ y ago30:40

30:40

In this episode of TGE's Current Reads, Sam Herbst is joined by award-winning and internationally best-selling author Lauren Beukes. Most of us would know her for her novels – Moxyland, Zoo City, The Shining Girls, Broken Monsters and, most recently, Afterland, though Lauren also keeps herself busy as a comics writer, a screenwriter, a journalist a…

1
TGE KIDS' PICKS! It's Up to Us by Christopher Lloyd 40:42

2+ y ago40:42

40:42

‘Children have a unique curiosity for Nature and for this amazing planet we call home.” – HRH The Prince of Wales On this episode of TGE’s Current Read we chat to UK-based author, lecturer, non-fiction storyteller and father of two Christopher Lloyd about his latest children’s book, It’s Up to Us. It's Up to Us forms part of The Prince of Wales’ Te…

1
EPISODE 5: Live-In Nannies (Part Two) 37:42

3y ago37:42

37:42

With few legal parameters regarding live-in nannies in South Africa, there is little to no guidance for parents and nannies on what the boundaries and regulations are (especially considering this working dynamic started during Apartheid). The Group Areas Act of 1950 essentially created a migrant labour force in South Africa, where urban labourers l…

1
EPISODE 4: Live-in Nannies (Part One) 52:07

3y ago52:07

52:07

Can you imagine living with your boss? This is the reality for many live-in nannies in South Africa and, unfortunately, it comes with a dark origin story, which we unpack in this episode of The Nanny Diaries. We also unpack how this unique working relationship (which is particular to South Africa) has many advantages for both parents and nannies, l…

1
EPISODE 6: A child's attachment to their nanny 50:37

3y ago50:37

50:37

On the sixth and final episode of The Nanny Diaries limited series, we’re chatting about a healthy attachment between your child and their nanny. For many children, particularly those with working, divorced, bereaved, or even mentally ill parents, their nanny is constantly, consistently there – feeding, dressing and most importantly, comforting the…

1
EPISODE 3: The Ins and Outs of UIF (Part Two) 28:54

3y ago28:54

28:54

In this episode of The Nanny Diaries we continue in our quest to wrap our heads around the Unemployment Insurance Fund. So, now that we know that registering for UIF is important and *why* it's so important, we start unpacking exactly *how* you go about it. Sam Steele speaks to UIF consultant Estelle Carstens and takes us through registering your n…

1
EPISODE 2: The Ins and Outs of UIF (Part One) 32:57

3y ago32:57

32:57

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is a system that's been put in place by the South African government to protect people from unemployment, or times without pay (like maternity leave). Sounds positive right? Should be smooth sailing, hey? How lucky are we!? Heh. We can hear you sighing, friends. And the eyerolls are palpable. But we're here to …

1
Episode 87: FIT LIVING, FAT PHOBIA AND FEARLESS FAMILY FEEDING with award-winning food blogger Donna Crous 1:29:36

3y ago1:29:36

1:29:36

This ain’t your everyday ‘self-care’ podcast episode. Nope. On this episode of The Great Equalizer, we’re deep diving into the realities of Fit Living, Fat Phobia and Fearless Family Feeding. As always, your hosts, Sam Herbst and Charlene Armstrong are by no means experts on the topic, which is why we always like to bring in the big guns. Meanwhile…

1
EPISODE 1: Hiring & Being Hired as a Nanny 58:07

3y ago58:07

58:07

Hiring a nanny (and being hired as a nanny) can be very daunting. On this first episode of The Nanny Diaries so we’ll be exploring what employers and nannies should know about the hiring process, including finding a right fit, setting up a contract and hiring with your head or your heart. Special contributor Samantha Steele gets some expert insight…

1
TGE BOOK CLUB! Call Me Mummy by Tina Baker 1:04:09

3y ago1:04:09

1:04:09

This was a double whammy of firsts for TGE's Current Read. Our first unofficially-official online book club discussing Tina Baker's dark psychological thriller Call Me Mummy featuring none other than the author herself! Join Sam from The Great Equalizer podcast and a few friends that read along as part of a #buddyread for this title. We delve deep …

1
Episode 86: MOMS MAKE THE MAGIC! Santa, Elf on the Shelf and setting a family Christmas precedent 1:17:46

3y ago1:17:46

1:17:46

Our 2021 Christmas episode is OUT and this year we are honouring the magic that moms bring to the festive season. It's a pretty nuanced discussion as we wonder if The Patriarchy (aargh) has lumped us with the job of Mother Christmas, or if we've taken on that load ourselves. What do you think? We also chat about Santa logistics, Elf on the Shelf an…

1
EPISODE 85: THINGS PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO HEAR! with Ougat author Shana Fife 1:37:02

3y ago1:37:02

1:37:02

We catch up after a long hiatus (and a tough year, if we're honest). Amid Covid, money troubles, postpartum depression and losing ourselves in the shitshow that is 2021, Team TGE makes our way back to the microphone. We've decided that it's better to talk about the shit – the poo that no-one likes to talk about but everyone can relate to. It's not …

1
Torchbearers by Wendy Maartens 28:17

3+ y ago28:17

28:17

It's Women's Month and no better time to celebrate inspirational women who have formed the backbone of the new South Africa. In this episode of TGE's Current Read, Sam chats to local children's book author Wendy Maartens about her latest project, Torchbearers. This series of books, aimed at preteens from 11 and up, features the stories of 12 heroic…

1
THE DARK SIDE OF MOTHERHOOD: Generational Trauma and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety 47:56

3+ y ago47:56

47:56

In this bonus episode Sam talks to clinical psychologist Slindile Mbatha about Intergenerational Trauma and how it intersects with motherhood. Mbatha explains what generational trauma is, how it can be recognised and how we break the cycle of trauma. The pair also deep-dive into postpartum depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Mbatha outlines…

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