Building a Life on Your Own Terms with Ntando Zikalala

This week on Wisdom & Wellness, Mpoomy sits down with powerhouse talent manager and entrepreneur Ntando Zikalala for a deeply honest and layered conversation about identity, motherhood, and what it really takes to build a life you’re proud of.From growing up in the shadow of a well-known mother, to navigating insecurity, becoming a teenage mom, and building a career from the ground up—Ntando shares her journey with vulnerability, humor, and truth.This episode unpacks the tension between ambition and motherhood, the weight of expectations, and the ongoing work of becoming a present parent without losing yourself in the process.If you’ve ever questioned your path, your pace, or your purpose—this conversation will meet you right where you are.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – 01:08Pop culture roots, early influences & defining success01:08 – 02:21Motherhood fears: disciplining children without losing them02:24 – 03:38Wisdom & Wellness membership invitation03:38 – 04:45Introduction to Ntando Zikalala & setting the tone04:45 – 07:04Vulnerability, safe spaces & protecting people’s stories07:17 – 09:30Icebreakers: daily rituals, personality & lifestyle10:32 – 11:04Perception vs reality: the truth behind the “put together” woman11:04 – 12:24Childhood, being a teacher’s pet & early personality traits12:25 – 13:56Growing up with a famous mother & identity struggles14:29 – 16:12Children, social media & parenting in the public eye16:58 – 18:20Teenage years, insecurity & early work in entertainment18:20 – 21:00First exposure to the industry & discovering purpose21:49 – 23:11Motherhood: raising teenage daughters as a single mom23:11 – 24:25Emotional growth & learning to feel instead of survive24:30 – 25:47Teenage pregnancy: shock, trauma & family dynamics25:47 – 27:27Navigating pregnancy, support from her grandmother28:21 – 31:10Rebuilding life after becoming a young mom31:10 – 32:08Identity, limitations & redefining “being okay”32:09 – 36:07Entering the workforce & building from opportunity36:07 – 47:00+Career growth, entrepreneurship & building “To The Max”

Learning to wait gracefully How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉: https://a.co/d/08QQzYtqSign up for the Wisdom & Wellness Private Membership: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/signupUnlimited WalkFest Durban is on the way! Join us on 2nd May at Durban’s Ocean’s Mall, grab your ticket here: https://www.howler.co.za/unlimitedwalkfest2026…This week, Mpoomy Ledwaba sits down with Talama Matsepe for a deeply reflective and heartfelt conversation about the true meaning of presence, what it looks like, why it matters, and how it shapes the way we live, love, and lead.In a world that constantly pulls us into distraction, performance, and survival mode, Talama shares her perspective as a therapist, wife, and mother on the power of slowing down and becoming fully present. Together, they explore how presence goes beyond physical proximity, inviting emotional availability, intentional living, and conscious connection in every season of life.Through personal stories, honest reflections, and moments of vulnerability, this conversation gently challenges us to examine where we may be absent in our own lives, and how choosing presence can restore connection, purpose, and peace.This episode is an invitation to return to yourself, to your relationships, and to the life unfolding right in front of you. If you’ve been feeling stretched, disconnected, or overwhelmed, this conversation will remind you of the power of being fully here..Timestamps00:02:10 - Opening Reflections on Presence 00:06:45 - The Cost of Distraction 00:11:20 - Learning to Slow Down 00:16:05 - Emotional Availability vs Physical Presence 00:21:30 - Navigating Busyness and Identity 00:27:15 - Being Present in Relationships 00:33:40 - Internal Awareness and Self-Reflection 00:39:55 - The Impact of Presence on Purpose 00:45:10 - Choosing Stillness in a Noisy World 00:51:25 - Practical Ways to Cultivate Presence 00:57:00 - Final Thoughts and ReflectionsFollow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba?lang=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba?lang=enFollow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomwellness_/Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!SpotifyApple PodcastsLike, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation. 

How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉: https://a.co/d/08QQzYtqSign up for the Wisdom & Wellness Private Membership: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/signupUnlimited WalkFest Durban is on the way! Join us on 2nd May at Durban’s Ocean’s Mall, grab your ticket here: https://www.howler.co.za/unlimitedwalkfest2026…This week, Mpoomy sits down with Themba Tom Ntuli for a heartfelt conversation about raising emotionally healthy boys, showing up fully in marriage, and building a legacy of love and intentional leadership.From growing up in challenging circumstances, to discovering faith and purpose, to navigating fatherhood and marriage with honesty and courage, Themba shares how vulnerability, mentorship, and intentionality have shaped his journey.This episode is an invitation to reflect on how we raise the next generation of men, show up as fathers and husbands, and live lives that are rooted in love, faith, and emotional wellness. If you’ve ever wondered how to nurture boys into kind, accountable men, or how to strengthen your marriage while growing personally, this conversation is for you.Timestamps3:30 - Ice Breakers8:30 - Childhood and Early Lessons: How early experiences shaped his understanding of love and fatherhood.12:50 - Growing Up in a Shack: Lessons from hardship and how it shapes the man he is today.15:20 - Encounter with Christ: How faith reshaped his vision and future.17:35 - The Power of Proximity: Why who you surround yourself with matters.18:05 - Parental Influence: The role of his parents and the transformation through faith.27:30 - Navigating Absence: Reflecting on not growing up with both parents and overcoming abandonment feelings.29:40 - Destiny Helpers and University Journey: The support that guided him to varsity.34:44 - Raising the Boy Child: Intentional parenting and guidance for the next generation.39:08 - Affirming Emotions: Why boy children need to feel safe and validated.41:30 - Biggest Challenge for Boys: The key obstacles young men face today.42:19 - Creating Space: Allowing boys to explore identity and purpose.47:07 - Jericho Walls Analogy: How past hurt can block growth and openness.49:10 - Boys in the Digital Era: Concerns about screen time vs. outdoor play.52:10 - A Moment of Softness: Learning tenderness through raising a girl child.53:47 - Mentorship Matters: The critical role men play in guiding boys.57:45 - Marriage and “The Trying Husband”: The story behind the name and lessons in partnership.1:01:00 - 3 P’s of a Trying Husband: Provide, Protect, Performance.1:02:29 - Performance and Masculinity.1:08:00 - Reflection from Mpoomy’s Book.1:10:18 - Greatest Lesson from Marriage: What his wife and partnership have taught him.Follow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba?lang=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba?lang=enFollow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomwellness_/Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!SpotifyApple PodcastsLike, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.   

How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉: https://a.co/d/08QQzYtqUnlimited WalkFest Durban is on the way! Join us on 2nd May at Durban’s Ocean’s Mall, grab your ticket here: https://www.howler.co.za/unlimitedwalkfest2026…This week, Mpoomy sits down with Tinyiko Mokale for a heartfelt conversation about aligning career, life, and personal values for sustainable success.From navigating grief after losing her mother, to building a meaningful career in communications, to showing up fully as a wife, mom, leader, and woman of faith, Tinyiko shares how openness and self-worth have shaped her journey.This episode is an invitation to design a life that reflects who you truly are, without sacrificing wellness, joy, or faith. If you’ve ever felt lost in your career, stretched across too many roles, or unsure how to pursue ambition without burnout, this conversation is for you.Timestamps5:02 - Ice Breakers7:30 - Losing Her MomTinyiko opens up about grief, loss, and how that season changed her perspective on life and faith.10:35 - Childhood and Family RootsA look into Tinyiko’s upbringing and the foundation that shaped her identity.13:07 - Family Dynamics and ValuesHow she was raised, the dynamics at home, and the values that still anchor her today.15:00 - When Grief Draws You Closer to GodGrief can distance many from faith, for Tinyiko, it deepened her relationship with God.16:26 - How the Family Grieved Differently19:02 - Middle Child ChroniclesThe unseen middle child experience, feeling overlooked, learning independence, and finding your voice.22:11 - Choosing Communications in a Family of Technical MindsWhile siblings pursued medicine and numbers-driven careers, Tinyiko followed storytelling.25:52 - Securing an Internship Before GraduationThe power of initiative. She didn’t wait, she pursued opportunity.27:00 - Losing the Internship and Returning HomeA humbling season. What going back home taught her about identity and resilience.29:13 - Meeting Her Husband36:45 - Dating for 3 Years Before MarriageIntentional courtship and building a solid foundation.39:40 - The Birth of Working Women WednesdayWhy she created a platform for career reflections and encouragement.44:56 - Balancing Corporate Growth and Social Media PresenceNavigating vulnerability at work while growing online.47:55 - Purpose and CareerIs your job your purpose? A powerful distinction.54:12 - What Is Purpose, Really?54:50 - Showing Up in Multiple RolesMom. Wife. Leader. Sister. Friend. 59:37 - Identity Is Her Greatest WeaponKnowing who you are changes how you move.1:01:40 - Identity Cannot Be Found Outside God1:02:05 - For Women Feeling Lost in Their CareersOne practical step you can take today to realign your work with your values.1:04:10 - Ambition, Rest and Fun Can CoexistHow to pursue excellence without neglecting joy and wellness.1:06:50 - Habits That Built Clarity and Confidence1:09:06 - Habits of Growth1:10:45 - Reflection on Year of YesLessons from Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes and how bold decisions reshape identity.1:16:17 - Reflection from Mpoomy’s Book1:17:59 - Honouring Her Mother’s LegacyHow Tinyiko keeps her mom’s memory alive within her family and daily life.Follow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba?lang=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba?lang=enFollow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomwellness_/Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!SpotifyApple PodcastsLike, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.

How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉:https://www.amazon.co.za/How-Did-We-G...Sign up for the Wisdom & Wellness Private Membership: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/si…Unlimited WalkFest Durban is on the way! Join us on 2nd May at Durban’s Ocean’s Mall, grab your ticket here: https://www.howler.co.za/events/unlimited-walkfest-durban-e2c4…This week on the podcast, Mpoomy is joined by Buli Makhubo, Architectural Technologist, Digital Creator, and host of the Refine podcast. Together, they dive into the honest, unspoken conversations women often avoid, from friendships and life seasons to personal growth and self-reflection.Buli brings her signature blend of intention, versatility, and faith, sharing real-life lessons that are aspirational yet relatable. They explore what it really means to show up for friends, navigate societal pressures, maintain authenticity, and honor the sacredness of female bonds.This episode is for women at any life stage, whether you’re nurturing friendships, navigating transitions, seeking personal growth, or simply craving deeper understanding and honest conversations. It creates space for reflection, clarity, and inspiration, because the conversations we don’t have can shape the relationships we treasure most.Timestamps5:00 - Ice BreakersGetting to know Buli, The Woman. The Muse. The Voice.9:28 - Friendships in the Social Media EraWhy meaningful relationships matter more than likes, follows, and online façades.12:01 - Who Is Buli, Really?Foundations, values, and how she shows up for people.18:28 - Honesty as a Core ValueWhy truth is essential in friendships.23:11 - There Is No Pride in Friendship27:25 - The 7 Year Ich (Marriage)Lessons from love, growth, and seasons.29:01 - The Covenant of FriendshipExploring the special promises we make to those closest to us.35:50 - Lessons from Jesus’ Disciples and 40 days FastingRelationships, access, and trust.39:57 - Being a Woman TodayReflections on feminism, faith, and the modern female experience.42:49 - Women in GodModeling godly womanhood in everyday life.46:34 - Single and ThrivingMaintaining femininity and purpose when society says “be content.”52:20 - Milestones in FriendshipHandling envy, comparison, and growth when friends seem ahead in life.58:42 - Early 20s Friendship LessonsBuli and Mpoomy reflect on formative friendship years and key takeaways.1:02:25 - Comparing Lives and PacesThe dangers of measuring your journey against others.1:04:44 - Influence and Societal PressureNavigating expectations, judgment, and norms as a creator.1:08:12 - Boundaries vs Stewardship1:18:00 - Reflections from Mpoomy’s Book1:19:58 - Wall of WisdomFollow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpoomy_ledw...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba...Follow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: / wisdomwellness_  Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!SpotifyApple PodcastsLike, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.

How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉:https://www.amazon.co.za/How-Did-We-G...Sign up for the Wisdom & Wellness Private Membership: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/si……In this episode, Mpoomy sits down with Blaque Nubon,husband, father, and host of That Husband Podcast, to unpack fatherhood, forgiveness, faith, and what it means for men to truly lead with self-sacrificial love.Together, they explore how we can raise healthier boys, love men more intentionally, and break generational cycles that have left so many men emotionally unsupported.This episode is for everyone, whether you’re raising a child, loving a partner, healing from family wounds, mentoring young people, or simply seeking deeper understanding, this conversation creates space for reflection, growth, and healing.Because healthier men don’t just change homes, they change communities.Timestamps4:08 - Opening:The meaning behind the name Blaque Nubon.4:26 - Ice Breakers:Getting to know Blaque.9:26 - Who Was Mlungisi?His upbringing before the platform and the purpose.11:44 - Born to Teen Parents:How it shaped his early understanding of love and responsibility.14:55 - A Present Father:What home felt like and the powerful role his dad played.19:20 - When Dad Disappeared:His father’s absence in his late teens, and the emotional shift that followed.22:09 - “Our Dreams Broke Up Our Family.”When ambition disrupts stability.24:57 - Trust & The Father Wound:Did a broken earthly relationship affect his view of God?28:18 - Early Resistance to Christianity:The negative beliefs he once carried.30:08 - His “Plan” to Get to Heaven:Performance vs relationship.31:54 - Mpoomy’s Early Faith Foundations:Her reflections as a young Christian.32:40 - Saved vs Spirit-Filled:Why being Spirit-filled changes everything.37:30 - What Obedience Preserved:What Mpoomy believes she would’ve missed without the Holy Spirit.39:10 - Blaque Reflects:His own surrendered moments.40:15 - “Lord, If It’s Not From You…”Mpoomy’s prayer about not sustaining what God didn’t give.41:10 - The Nightclub Encounter:The moment Blaque light switched on, outside a nightclub.47:55 - Loving a Father Who Left:How forgiveness and honour coexist.50:26 - The Power of Names:How identity can shape destiny.53:15 - “South Africa Needs Present Fathers.”Where his conviction about fatherhood comes from.54:07 - Is Fatherhood the Healing?How absent fathers impact society.54:50 - Men’s Mental Health:The statistics and why engaged fathers matter.58:08 - The Pressure of Masculinity: “Builders. Leaders. Providers.”What happens when reality doesn’t match expectations?1:00:43 - Men Crave Security Too.1:02:22 - The Enemy Targets Men:From Moses to Jesus, and how it shows up today.1:04:15 - Fathers Matter Campaign:The “Dad Couch” initiative and why fathers leave.1:06:56 - The Church Gender Gap:Why more women than men fill church seats.1:09:47 - Take a Boy Child to Work:Are we mentoring sons intentionally?1:10:48 - Redefining Male Presence:What “showing up” really means.1:11:20 - The Heart Behind That Husband Podcast:Teaching men how to become good husbands.1:16:35 - What Makes a Good Husband?Blaque’s definition for women listening.1:19:59 - Honest Reflection:Three areas Blaque admits he’s still growing in.Follow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpoomy_ledw...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba...Follow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: / wisdomwellness_  Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!Spotify:Apple Podcasts:Like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation. 

How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉:https://www.amazon.co.za/How-Did-We-G...Sign up for the Wisdom & Wellness Private Membership: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/si……At the beginning of the year, Mpoomy shared a screenshot from her Notes App on instagram, which was  a reflection written during the holidays, answering a question many of us get asked: “What would you say to your younger self?”This solo episode is a gentle, wisdom-filled reflection on those notes, an invitation to slow down, live intentionally, deepen faith, and recognise the harvest already present in our lives.This conversation reminds us that abundance isn’t found in doing more, it’s found in presence, consistency, discernment, faith, and joy.Timestamps1:30 - Notes App ReflectionsMpoomy reflects on a message she once wrote to her younger self, and why wisdom often only makes sense in hindsight.5:50 - Life Is Better SharedLove everybody. Help as many people as you can. The beauty and responsibility of living with an open heart.10:00 - Not Everyone Gets AccessWhy your most sacred spaces should only be shared with a select few.11:37 - Simon Peter (Luke 5)Mpoomy unpacks the story of Simon Peter and how obedience, relationships, and loving people well are deeply connected.17:58 - Slow Living Is SpecialPut your phone down. Read a book. Walk barefoot. Take naps. Drink good coffee. How slowing down helps us notice our harvest instead of rushing past it.20:20 - Fewer Goals, Deeper RootsWhy halving your goals may be the most productive thing you do.23:43 - Plug Into CommunityGo to church. Serve. Belong. Why faith and community were never meant to be lived in isolation.25:54 - Enjoy Being a WomanMpoomy reflects on womanhood, softness, strength, leadership, creativity, joy, and what it truly means to live fully.27:54 - Deborah: Courage and LeadershipThe story of Deborah, a woman who led boldly while embracing her God-given authority.30:05 - Hannah: Faith and SurrenderA reflection on Hannah’s prayer life, persistence, and trust in God’s timing.31:27 - Esther: Purpose and PositioningEsther’s story as a reminder that alignment and obedience often precede influence.33:04 - Eve the InfluencerA powerful reframing of Eve as an influencer.33:35 - Proverbs 31 ReimaginedWhy Proverbs 31 is not a checklist for wives, but a picture of wholeness, wisdom, and womanhood.Follow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpoomy_ledw...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba...Follow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: / wisdomwellness_  Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!Spotify:Apple Podcasts:Like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.

How Did We Get Here? is Mpoomy Ledwaba's best-selling coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Mpoomy takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Order your copy here👉:https://www.amazon.co.za/How-Did-We-G...Sign up for the Wisdom & Wellness Private Membership: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/si……In today’s episode, you’re going to hear a deeply honest and refreshing conversation about calling, timing, family, purity, purpose, and what it really looks like to walk with God over the long haul.Joining Mpoomy is Pastor Martin, founder of Eternal Glory Church, a pastor, husband, and father whose journey reminds us that success doesn’t have to be fast to be faithful.Timestamps05:25 Meet Pastor Martin: Nervous, faithful, and walking into a dream06:50 Mpoomy’s childhood moment that shaped her love for preaching07:32 Icebreaker: Childhood dreams and getting to know Pastor Martin10:25 First jobs, early responsibility, and learning to work young11:40 Being intentionally planted early in life and faith12:15 Did he ever imagine another career? (Including dreams of singing)14:00 Bonding over a shared love for R&B music15:00 Family, siblings, accents, and growing up together17:40 Navigating church, culture, and belonging18:35 Building a church that bridges township faith and urban spaces20:34 Growing up with daily prayer, Bible study, and present parents23:10 Nature vs nurture: Shaping a child’s path with intention23:22 Speaking God’s truth over your children24:50 “Let them be” vs being intentional as a parent25:17 How seeing parents pray together shaped leadership and life30:20 When and where Pastor Martin got saved31:14 What made him want to become a preacher34:00 Love story: Meeting his wife and knowing she was “the one”43:05 An honest reflection about purity, struggle, and growth45:00 Why a guarded life comes from presence, not strictness46:56 Standing boldly for truth, even when it makes you an outcast50:20 Being a late bloomer: First car at 32 and trusting the process51:20 Watching peers climb while choosing a different path51:50 You don’t need the whole plan, just the first step59:22 When someone believes in you before it makes sense (David & Adullam)1:04:38 Why pastoral success didn’t happen immediately1:06:00 How to hear God when you don’t recognize His voice1:08:53 Lessons from friendship, marriage, and fatherhoodFollow Mpoomy:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpoomy_ledw...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mpoomyledwaba...Follow Wisdom & Wellness:Instagram: / wisdomwellness_  Facebook: Wisdom & WellnessWebsite: www.wisdomwellness.co.zaSign up for Mpoomy’s newsletter: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/sunday-nuggets-opt-in Listen to Wisdom & Wellness Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop Tuesday!Spotify:Apple Podcasts:Like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.

Welcome to Season 8 of the Wisdom & Wellness Podcast We’re opening the year with a powerful, honest conversation about abundance, responsibility, rest, and becoming the person who can carry what they’re praying for.In this episode, Mpoomy and Brenden unpack God’s timing versus personal delay, the difference between kindness and niceness, why root work matters more than visible success, and how character, not personality, determines longevity.This conversation is the foundation for the start of the year, one that invites you to slow down, go deeper, and build well.Join the Wisdom & Wellness Membership, a monthly community for women seeking belonging, accountability, and spiritual growth.Sign up here: https://sales.wisdomwellness.co.za/signupGet Mpoomy’s BookContinue the journey beyond the episode with Mpoomy’s book, a practical and faith-rooted guide to intentional living and wellness.Purchase the book here: https://www.takealot.com/how-did-we-get-here/PLID95906815?srsltid=AfmBOoqgMCf1IPhgxjSZShPxPy6M8o-07Usw8NTVe70c65YiiFgfiD7LLike, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.

What happens when three women from three different worlds sit down to redefine beauty on their own terms? A conversation that is raw, honest, and powerful enough to shift how we see ourselves.In this special Dove Live podcast segment at Unlimited WalkFest 2025, Mpoomy Ledwaba is joined by three phenomenal women who each carry their own beauty story, and aren’t afraid to tell it:Anele Nzimande -Maphanga, representing Dove, a brand that has championed Real Beauty for two decades.Amahle-Imvelo “Jaxx” Jaxa, influencer, truth-teller, and a young woman navigating beauty, eczema, psoriasis, and the pressure to always “look perfect.”Lerai “Rai” Rakoditsoe, Gen Z powerhouse and changemaker inspiring young people to break free from clone culture.Together, they dive deep into beauty autonomy, reclaiming our right to define beauty for ourselves… and no longer for the world. From filters, digital distortion, and global beauty standards, to hair loss, insecurity, healing, generational clashes, and what beauty truly means, this is a conversation every woman needs to hear.Timestamp Guide3:00 - When insecurity meets courage. A heartfelt moment as the ladies open up about times they felt insecure but still chose to show up.3:05 - Anele on her biggest beauty insecurity. A vulnerable and refreshing look at the woman behind the work at Dove.4:46 - Lerai’s raw honesty. She shares the insecurities she hides behind the camera and the ones she’s still healing.5:40 - Jaxx’s journey with psoriasis and hair loss. A moving reflection on losing patches of her hair, navigating the condition publicly, and choosing to show up anyway.7:52 - What does “Real Beauty” actually mean? Each woman gives her definition, touching, personal, and paradigm-shifting.13:50 - Digital distortion and how Dove is fighting back. Anele unpacks the realities of edited beauty, how it affects everyday women, and what Dove is doing to protect the next generation.16:33 - Lerai on Gen Z and beauty pressure. She breaks down what young people are experiencing and how filtered perfection is shaping identity.20:27 - Jaxx’s transition into bald beauty. Her daily emotional journey of accepting a version of herself she never imagined, and how she’s slowly embracing it.22:23 - Audience moment. Women in the crowd share what beauty means to them.23:00 - Can generations come together to redefine beauty? The panel unpacks whether we’re truly divided, or simply misunderstood.24:37 - Lerai on bridging generational gaps. 27:12 - Anele on losing her mom and how it shaped her view of beauty. A deeply emotional reflection on grief, growing up too fast, and learning that beauty is less about appearance and more about identity.