Leigh-Anne Williams

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 what she believed was God’s calling for her life. She chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about her amazing organisation and how people can get involved. 

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 Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), nearly one in three South Africans will experience a mental health challenge during their lifetime, yet many never seek professional help. Damian McHugh, Chief Marketing Officer at Momentum Health, about the biggest factors driving burnout in the workplace right now and shares some practical steps can they take to protect their mental wellbeing.

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 Williams about her incredible organisation and how people can get involved. 

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 international, as well as international family law, cross-border child relocation and abduction, and the enforcement of maintenance orders. She chats to Noni Radebe (who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams) about her incredible career and shares some advice to young women about building confidence and a successful career in the 21st century. 

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 of your baby.Caréne Joubert, Founder of Bump to babe and spokesperson for BabyWombWorld, chats to Noni Radebe (who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams) about the biggest myths we hear about pregnant women, which is “eating for two”: is it true? 

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 of traditional mainstream classrooms, particularly in the areas of literacy, numeracy, communication, and life skills. However, their aim is to equip learners with the skills, confidence, and independence needed to become productive members of society.

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-Anne Williams about the Protect Your Power campaign. 

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 illness with one of the highest cardiovascular mortality rates among children worldwide. Her research has made pioneering contributions to preventing and treating childhood-onset cardiac disease, while improving the detection, management and long-term treatment of cardiovascular disease in women. 

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 than just cost or convenience. It is about comfort. And more importantly, privacy. Luvuyo Maloka from Unu Health chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about why so many young South Africans are avoiding clinics and healthcare facilities, even when they know something might be wrong. 

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 underserved youth. She shares more about how she is honoured to represent South Africa on the international stage, and her hopes on inspiring the next generation of women to be their most authentic self. 

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 a beauty trend to go viral on social media, but if the information isn’t coming from a qualified expert, how can you be sure that it’s safe? Biomedical scientist and founder of Biomedical Emporium Skincare, Dr Judey Pretorius, gives us her professional opinion on some of the biggest beauty trends doing the round.

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 the South African Society of Psychiatrists, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about Men’s Mental Health Month, and why is seeking help a sign of strength rather than weakness. 

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 disruption can be more serious than it appears. 

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 childhood sun protection.

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.

Talitha Oosthuizen, 1st Princess Mrs South Africa, is doing a host of humanitarian and wildlife conservation work that includes working with children’s homes, fighting human trafficking and rhino poaching. She is on a mission with an initiative to make Matric Ball dreams come true for 1,000 girls in SA, and chats to Irma about how people can donate to the cause and help those in need on their special day. 

We all know how it feels to wake up with your heart pounding and your mind grappling to determine what is real and what was just part of whichever horrible scenario it managed to dream up – was it just a nightmare or was it night terrors? Jolandi Becker, Managing Director at Good Night & Spokesperson for BabyWombWorld, chats to Irma about what a parent should do in the moment, and what should they avoid doing.

During the past 21 years the 1000 Women Trust and Good Hope FM collaborate on the 1000 Women 1 Voice event at the CTICC. Tina Thiart, Co-Founder of 1000 Women Trust, sits down with Irma to share more about the organisation and how people can get tickets for the event in December. 

Reach For A Dream’s cosiest annual fundraiser, Slipper Day, is back on 29 May 2026. Since 2011, Slipper Day has united the nation in support of children facing serious or life-threatening diseases. At the heart of this year’s Slipper Day are Fuzzy Facts, playful, believable claims about slippers that are difficult to prove but offer entertainment while sparking curiosity about the foundation.Julia Sotirianakos, Reach For A Dream CEO, chats to Irma G about how people can get involved. 

Global trailblazer and Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi is one of South Africa’s most celebrated exports. Widely respected for her powerful advocacy on gender-based violence, education, and women’s empowerment, Zozi brings intelligence, authenticity and international prestige to Top Billing, offering a fresh lens on modern success and storytelling. She chats to Irma G about her new TV adventure, married life and what to expect from the future. 

The kids have finally flown the nest, and you have all the time in the world to do whatever you please, but instead find yourself tearful and sad, struggling with a loss of meaning or an overwhelming sense of worry about your child’s wellbeing. The good news is that what you’re experiencing has a name – empty nest syndrome (ENS) – and it’s a common response for parents when their children leave home. But how do you know if it’s simply ENS, or something more serious? Dr. Michele Rogers, Consultant Psychiatrist at Mediclinic Constantiaberg, chats to Irma G about the syndrome, the warning signs it may be more serious and offers practical advice on how to rebuild a sense of purpose and identity after the children leave home.  

It’s no secret that tweens and teens are taking the beauty world by storm. Social media is filled with thousands of videos of children as young as ten rushing into beauty stores to buy the latest skincare launches, then showing off their “haul” for the camera. Dr Judey Pretorius, Founder and Managing Director of BioMedical Emporium, chats to Irma G about the safest, simplest routine you recommend for tweens and teens, and what ingredients should they absolutely avoid.

TIME has named Sabrina Walter, founder of Women For Change, to the 2026 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She sits down with Irma G (who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams) about her incredible organisation, which mobilised the Purple Movement, generating more than 2 billion impressions in 2025. Together, they brought over 1.1 million people behind a national petition, all of which contributed to the classification of gender-based violence and femicide as a National Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 20 November 2025.

Janet Pillai is a businesswoman, Certified Director (CD(SA))®, board member, and Chief Operating Officer at Inuversal Group, where she oversees the organisation’s operational strategy, performance, governance frameworks, and execution across business units. In this role, she ensures efficiency, scalability, and sustainable growth: offering rare insight into how high-performing organisations operate behind the scenes. She chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about her extraordinary career and what is in store for her in the future.   

For over three decades, Karen Visagie, PR and On-Air Promotions Coordinator at GHFM, has been a mother figure for all of the staff at the station. She is officially hanging up her headphones and heading into retirement, but before that, Leigh-Anne Williams sits down with her to find out more about her incredible career and what life looks like for her in the future. 

Parkinson’s ZA, a national patient advocacy organisation dedicated to raising awareness, providing support and advocating for improved care for people living with Parkinson's disease.Trevor Lobel, a Person with Parkinson’s Disease and a member of Parkinson’s South Africa group in Kenilworth, Cape Town, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams, about what the very first signs that something wasn’t right, the emotional impact of living with something that people can’t always see or understand and how people can get help. 

The Carel du Toit Centre is based at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, and focuses on early intervention for deaf and hearing-impaired children. Louise Eksteen, CDT Trust Director, and Sarah Lange, Head of Audiology at Carel du Toit Centre, chat to Irma G (who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams) about the unveiling of CHAT and funding needs of the Centre as well as early intervention and the deaf/hearing impaired.

Lynita Crofford is a seasoned performer with a degree in Drama and over 35 years of experience across theatre, film, radio and television. In 2020, she received a Naledi Theatre Award for her portrayal of Alice B. Toklas in Gertrude Stein and a Companion, a role that also earned her the Best Actress Award at the 2019 International Dublin Theatre Festival. She sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams, who she mentored when she started in the industry, to share more about her incredible journey and what she has to store for the future. 

Conversations around eye health are being shaped by both modern pressures and rapid innovation. Among these advancements, procedures such as permanent eye-colour change are beginning to emerge - made possible by advances in surgical precision and reinforced by long-term clinical outcomes. Dr Rob Daniel, an ophthalmologist and refractive surgeon with over two decades of experience, is the first surgeon in South Africa to receive specialised international training in FLAAK (Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Annular Keratopigmentation). He chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about what this operation entails, debunks some of the myths and fears around permanent eye-colour change, and explains how people can protect their eyes in general. 

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the incredible work of the Cape Town Society for the Blind (CTSB), which is an organisation that has been empowering blind and visually impaired individuals since 1929. Sergil January, the Awareness Officer at the organisation, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about the vital role CTSB plays in the community, from providing training and education programmes to offering assistive resources that help individuals build independence and confidence. We also unpack how the organisation supports people who lose their sight later in life, helping them adapt to a new reality with dignity and hope.

They look like cannonballs with handles, and the exercises people do look very different from any other weight training. These unique characteristics are the reason more South Africans are wondering whether kettle bells should form part of their fitness journey. Cam Hilder, Sculpt Kettle Bell instructor at OneFlow Yoga and Wellness Social Club, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about what makes kettle bells so unique and shares three beginner-friendly exercises to get you started on your journey.

Dr Hilla is a qualified medical doctor (MBBCh, Stellenbosch University) with advanced postgraduate training in Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing Medicine, both locally and internationally. With over a decade of specialised experience, she is widely respected for her ethical, safety-led approach to facial aesthetics, advocating for natural, harmonious outcomes that preserve individuality and ethnicity rather than altering identity. She sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams to chat about her extraordinary career and how her aim "is not to change your face, but to take care of the longevity of your unique individual beauty.”

World Health Day has opened up the conversation to talk about how women’s health is shifting from "pushing through" to biological alignment. Dr Louise du Plessis, a leading expert in functional medicine and hormonal health, sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams to share more about complex medical concepts and provides relatable advice for women navigating high-pressure environments that often leads to burnout and hormonal disruption.

Bradshaw LeRoux is a leading organisation dedicated to advancing disability confidence as a driver of economic growth and innovation. Kaz Chetty, Learning & Development Manager at Bradshaw LeRoux Disability Inclusion Specialists, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about how the organisation enables accelerated change within people, organisations and socio-economic structures, with the hope of building towards a disability-confident and inclusive society.  

In celebration of their Easter Eggstravaganza of Eggsploration at Iziko Museums, Melody Kleinsmith, Communications & Marketing Manager at Iziko South African Museum, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about all how parents and caregivers are increasingly seeking valuable experiences for their kids that stimulates curiosity and supports social interaction. The Iziko Museums are able to provide a sense of purpose, especially during the school holidays. 

Janitress Cleaning Programme launches the restore dignity and hygiene in South African Schools. They have teamed up with toilet tissue brand, Baby Soft, and SOS non-profit organisation, to implement a powerful new initiative, dedicated to restoring dignity, improving hygiene and sustaining safe sanitation in schools across the country.Shelley Humphreys, CEO of SOS NPO, chats to Michaela Muller, about the initiative and how people can get involved.

Leigh-Ann Geydien is the founder of Fertility Solutions South Africa. Her journey began through her own struggle with infertility, multiple miscarriages, and the heartache of not having answers. She sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams to share more about how she turned that experience into purpose by creating a platform that connects women to the right fertility professionals, share trusted information, and offer hope through their events, support groups and live talks with fertility specialists and other industry partners.   

One in five South African children and teenagers suffers from a mental health condition. Still, only 10% of them can access the care they need – a growing crisis that is not only a failure of the healthcare system, but a violation of their human rights. Dr Merryn Young, Member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about how chronic neglect of mental healthcare for South African children is a human rights crisis.  

On the 21st of March, we mark Human Rights Day, a time to reflect on the sacrifices made for freedom and dignity. It’s more than just a public holiday; it’s a reminder of the rights we enjoy today and the responsibility we share to protect them. Tammy Carter, Advocacy & Research Officer for the South African Human Rights Commission's Western Cape Provincial Office, chats to Michaela Muller (who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams) about how Human Rights Day honours the past, shaping a fairer future.

Professor Kareemah Najaar is the Acting-Head of the Wellness Sciences department, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).She is very proud to lead a STEM-driven community project (since 2018) that supports Life Science Matrics from disadvantaged backgrounds in preparation for their final exams, to attain the requirements to qualify for science programmes. Irma G, who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams, chats to Kareemah about her incredible career and shares some words of encouragement to young women who would like to follow in her footsteps.

The beauty world was buzzing last week after News24 broke a story about a young woman who was left with terribly botched and injured lips after getting lip filler. The news outlet reports that the injector who performed the treatment is a local influencer and self-proclaimed “doctor” who allegedly ordered the lip filler from Temu at a very low price. The patient knew that something was wrong post- treatment when her lips started bruising and swelling badly, progressively getting worse as the day went on. She visited a doctor, only to learn that the blood flow to her lips was completely cut off, and her case was treated as a medical emergency at a local hospital. Dr Judey Pretorius, Founder and Managing Director of Biomedical Emporium, chats to Irma G (who stands in for Leigh-Anne Williams) about the dangers of fake or black market injectables and how to avoid them. 

In this inspiring episode, we speak to Nicky Abdinor about her incredible journey of independence. Born with phocomelia, Nicky shares how she overcame challenges to pursue her studies at Stellenbosch University and achieve her dream of driving an adapted car. We also discuss her organisation, Nicky’s Drive, and how it’s helping people with disabilities gain greater mobility and independence.   

Sometimes people don’t need to tell you their age; their habits do it for them. From calling instead of texting to forwarding motivational WhatsApp messages, we all have little things that instantly reveal what generation we’re from. The team and listeners share some of things they do that immediately gives away their age.

Kristina Miller is a social impact leader and sustainability strategist passionate about advancing education, equity, and youth empowerment in South Africa. By founding Great Girls, she has guided hundreds of young women toward meaningful careers and personal growth whilst building powerful female mentor networks. She sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams to chat about her incredible career and shares why it is essential to equip young women with tools like interview preparation, budgeting, and confidence-building.

The South African Employers for Disability (SAE4D is an organisation committed to working with South Africa’s employers and leaders to empower persons with disabilities to be equal members of society and, in particular, equal contributors in the workplace. Leigh-Anne Williams chats to Tracy Dennis about the work they do at the organisation and how people can get involved.

Nuraan Osman, the COO of IHATA Care Group and Winner of the Social Impact Award at the 2025 Warrior Woman Awards, sits down with Leigh-Anne Williams to chat about her incredible career from teaching in poorer communities of the Western Cape, delivering HIV-education programmes and working with incarcerated women and youth capacitating for reintegration post release to becoming the COO IHATA Care Group, which runs 3 elder-care facilities and a shelter for abused women and children. She shares words of encouragement to young people who feel called to serve but are unsure where to begin. 

The conversation is moving beyond the “miracle” of weight‑loss drugs (OZEMPIC, MOUNJARO). A major new BMJ meta‑analysis (West et al., 2026) shows that when people stop GLP‑1 medications, weight – and cardiometabolic risk – comes back quickly, sometimes within a year. Dr Mosima Mabunda, Chief Clinical Officer at Vitality, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about how obesity treatment isn’t just an injection – it’s a programme grounded in behavioural science, clinical support, and long-term health.

In an era defined by constant connectivity and digital immersion, South Africans can no longer afford to treat auditory wellness as an afterthought. As the globe marks World Hearing Day on March 3, new data indicates that auditory health is a "life-course" journey, and understanding your hearing status is as essential for a university student as it is for a retiree. Olivia Blackbeard, Head of Audiology at Spec-Savers SA, chats to Leigh-Anne Williams about the importance of knowing your hearing status.