5MM NEW MUSIC FRIDAY INTERVIEW - ROWLENE ON HER NEW ALBUM

5MM INTERVIEW - MBALENHLE MKHATSHWA (FOUNDER OF MBALLET)

Mbalenhle Mkhatshwa, affectionately known as Mbali, is the founder of Mballet, a dance academy rooted in Tembisa that uses ballet as a tool for much more than performance. Mbali first fell in love with ballet at just six years old, introduced to the art by her mother, who saw dance as a way to give her discipline, confidence and a sense of possibility. Today, she is passing that gift on to a new generation of children, particularly young girls from under-resourced backgrounds. Through Mballet, Mbali creates a space where children can feel seen, build self-worth, develop discipline and imagine futures beyond the circumstances they were born into.

5MM CULTURE SHIFT - HAVE POLITICIANS BECOME TOO PERSONAL OR IS IT A GOOD THING_

It’s voting season, and as I’m going through manifestos and educating myself on who’s saying what, I started thinking… politicians really aren’t politicians the way they used to be. Back then, you saw them on the news, in Parliament, at political rallies or giving formal speeches. Now, politicians have Instagram, TikTok and X accounts where we see their families, their homes, their outfits, their holidays, their personalities and sometimes even the most ordinary parts of their everyday lives. Social media has made politicians more accessible than ever — but has it also blurred the line between the person and the public official? Maybe seeing more of their lives helps us understand who we’re voting for. Or maybe it makes politics too personal, where popularity and personality can become just as important as policies and performance.

5MM REAL TALK, NO FILTER - SELF-CARE (20 AUG 26)

5MM OLD WIVES TALES (20 AUG 26)

5MM CULTURE SHIFT - CONVENIENCES

Has Modern Convenience Made Us Less Resilient? Food arrives in minutes. Groceries come to our door. Dating happens with a swipe, and AI can plan our holidays, write our emails and answer almost anything. Life has never been more convenient. But are we becoming less patient and less resilient because of it? Think about it: When was the last time you memorised a phone number, waited a week for a package, sat through boredom without your phone, or struggled with a problem before Googling the answer? Even waiting a few seconds for a video to buffer can test our patience. But maybe convenience isn't making us weaker. Maybe it's simply freeing us from boring tasks so we can spend our time on what matters.

5MM WELLNESS WEDNESDAY - ARE ENERGY DRINKS AS BAD AS PEOPLE SAY? 19 AUG 26

Are Energy Drinks Really As Bad As People Say? If you've ever pulled an all-nighter for exams, had an early morning shift, or needed a boost before gym, chances are you've reached for an energy drink. I ask this because if I’m being very honest with you… I have atleast one energy drink a day. I know I know its bad and my pharmacist told me this the other day but I think I actually need to understand what the real risk is here and how it all affects my body. We've all heard stories about heart palpitations, sleepless nights, anxiety and even people ending up in hospital after drinking too many. The science suggests the answer isn't as simple as "good' or "bad" Energy drinks can temporarily increase alertness and concentration, but they often contain high levels of caffeine, sugar and other stimulants. So for todays wellness wednesday we’ll be talking to Second year medical intern, Dr Sthe Sthusi to hopefully get me to stop drinking 2 cans a day.

5MM REAL TALK NO FILTER - DID MATHS LIT LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS? (19 AUG 26)

If you took Maths Lit instead of Pure Maths, did it limit your options, or did it work out just fine?

5MM CULTURE SHIFT - ONE THING FROM THE PAST YOU WOULD BRING BACK

Are we becoming obsessed with nostalgia because the past was actually better? Because the present feels overwhelming? Or because some things are simply timeless? And what’s one thing from the past you’d bring back immediately if you could?

5MM YOUNG BLOOD FIVE - INTERNET SOCIETY (18 AUGUST 26)

5MM REAL TALK, NO FILTER - DOES NETWORKING AND SHOOTING YOUR SHOT ACTUALLY WORK

5MM CULTURE SHIFT - HAVE MEN ALWAYS LOVED THESE SONGS AND ARE ONLY NOW ADMITTING IT, OR ARE THEY JUST STARTING TO OPEN UP TO THEM

5MM A SIMPLE MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND TURNED INTO A MOMENT THAT TOUCHED US ALL

5MM REAL TALK, NO FILTER - DO YOU WORK THIS HARD BECAUSE YOU’RE AMBITIOUS, OR BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO CHOICE

5B THE COUNTRIES WHERE MARRYING YOUR COUSIN IS COMPLETELY NORMAL

5MM SAMA RECAP - OUR VERY OWN 5 DRIVE HOST, ZANELE POTELWA, HOSTED THE SAMA'S AND SHE GAVE US A RECAP OF THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE

Fresh off hosting one of the biggest events of the weekend, Zaneta Potelwa joined us to unpack her Summer experience, from the highs of being on stage to the journey that got her there. She shared how taking a chance on herself, putting herself out there, and shooting her shot opened doors she never imagined.  A conversation filled with lessons, inspiration, and a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one bold move.

5MM CULTURE SHIFT - ARE WE SETTING HEALTHIER BOUNDARIES, OR JUST AVOIDING UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS

A few years ago, phrases like "protect your peace," "set boundaries," "prioritise your mental health," and "that's toxic" became part of our everyday vocabulary. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Therapy language has helped many of us recognise unhealthy relationships, communicate our needs better, and take our mental health more seriously. Words like boundaries, gaslighting, triggers and self-care have gone from therapy rooms to TikTok, group chats and everyday conversations. But have we swung too far in the other direction? Psychologists have started talking about the rise of "therapy speak" — the use of psychological terms in everyday life. While greater awareness of mental health is a positive thing, some experts warn that terms like gaslighting, narcissist, toxic and even boundaries are sometimes being overused or misused We've all heard it: "I'm protecting my peace." "That's a boundary." "That relationship was toxic." Do you think therapy language has helped us understand ourselves better, or are we analysing every interaction a little too much?   

5MM INTERVIEW - NOKWANDA KHUMALO & NOMKHOSI HOUGHTON (14 AUG 26)

Nokwanda Khumalo is a corporate executive, entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Soul Speaks, as well as the author and curator of Leading with Grace: A Soul Speaks Anthology, which brings together the stories of 32 remarkable South African women and explores leadership, resilience, purpose and courage.  Joining her today is Nomkhosi, one of the women featured in the anthology. Nomkhosi is a young leader and Programs Manager at Business and Arts South Africa, where she works at the intersection of arts and business, helping creatives commercialise their work and developing programmes that support the creative sector.

5MM CULTURE SHIFT - MAMODIBE RAMODIBE ON THE MORALLY COMPLEX BLACK WOMEN ON SCREEN

Actress Mamodibe Ramodibe joins 5 Mid Mornings for a quick chat on a masters paper she wrote on morally complex black women on screen.

5MM CULTURE SHIFT PART 01 - THE MORALLY COMPLICATED WOMAN

Who’s that female TV character you absolutely love to hate? The complicated, messy, morally questionable one you just can’t stop watching? There’s been a shift in the way women are portrayed on our screens. We’re moving away from female characters who are simply good or bad. We’re seeing women who are ambitious, messy, powerful, flawed, complicated sometimes completely unhinged and somehow, we still find ourselves rooting for them. Think Cookie Lyon, Olivia Pope, Annalise Keating, Villanelle, Cersei Lannister, Blair Waldorf — women who make questionable choices, cross lines and get things wrong, but are so layered that we understand them… and sometimes even defend them. I love that the entertainmet industry is showing us how diverse women are in real life and are shifting from just giving us the sweetheart or extreme villian.