Don't Hold Back: say it loud!

nstagram shows us flowers, holidays, and perfect couple selfies. But what’s really happening behind those posts?

In this season finale of Don’t Hold Back, Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba sits down with her husband, Skhu Mayaba, for a real, funny, and honest conversation about what love looks like when no one’s watching.

They unpack the truth behind curated couple content and explore how real relationships require growth, patience, and quiet acts of love. If you’ve ever wondered whether your relationship measures up, this one is for you.

Production credits:

A DW Africa vodcast created in collaboration with Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio.

Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba – Host

Wanjiku Mwaura – Lead Producer (DW)

Silja Fröhlich – Lead Producer (DW)

Asumpta Lattus – Executive Producer (DW)

Diane Macpherson – Executive Producer (Kagiso Media Radio)

Ntsikelelo Khanyile – Production Assistant (Kagiso Media Radio)

Wandile Langeni – Production Assistant (Kagiso Media Radio)

Thandiwe Nkoana – Lead Videographer and Editor

Ronnie Nkoana – Assistant Videographer

#DontHoldBackPodcast | #LoveUnfiltered | #MarriageInRealLife | #CoupleConversations | #NoFilterRelationships | #SkhuAndNozi | #SayItLoud Catch up with our host Nozibele · More information about this podcast · The 77 Percent (DW Africa)

What happens when your first heartbreak is your mother?

In this deeply personal episode, author and coach Moshitadi Lehlomela joins Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba to talk about the quiet pain many people carry --the mother wound.

Moshitadi shares how she first recognised her own wound at university, when anxiety and depression began to surface.

“I realised that I had a mother wound in varsity,” she says. “I felt alone. I felt defective.”

Nozi opens up with empathy and honesty, creating a safe space for a conversation about pain, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Together, they unpack how childhood wounds resurface in adulthood, how to unlearn toxic patterns, and what it means to mother yourself with compassion.

“You’ve already done great work so far,” Moshitadi reminds listeners. “Maybe the coping mechanisms you developed are not healthy, but you’ve been doing your best trying to protect yourself.”

This conversation is about healing, identity, and finding peace -- even when the love that shaped you also left a scar.

More about Moshitadi Lehlomela

Moshitadi Lehlomela is a writer, coach, and entrepreneur who helps people heal from the mother wound — the deep emotional scars left by maternal pain. She’s the author of The Girl Who Survived Her Mother and Healing the Mother Wound, and through her work she guides others toward self-love, emotional freedom, and breaking generational patterns.

Core production team:

Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba – Host

Wanjiku Mwaura – Lead Producer (DW)

Silja Fröhlich – Lead Producer (DW)

Asumpta Lattus – Executive Producer (DW)

Diane Macpherson – Executive Producer (Kagiso Media Radio)

Ntsikelelo Khanyile – Production Assistant (Kagiso Media Radio)

Wandile Langeni – Production Assistant (Kagiso Media Radio)

Thandiwe Nkoana – Lead Videographer & Editor

Ronnie Nkoana – Assistant Videographer

#DontHoldBack #HealingTheMotherWound #MoshitadiLehlomela #SelfLoveJourney #NozibeleQamnganaMayaba Catch up with our host Nozibele · More information about this podcast · The 77 Percent (DW Africa)

* Content warning: This episode contains adult themes and is intended for listeners aged 18 and older.*

You wanted more candid conversations about sex, so here it is: Nozibele reconnects with gynaecologist and sexologist Dr Nompumelelo "Mpume" Zenda, aka Dr Gynae, for an open, no-holds-barred talk on everything from libido and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to first-time sex experiences. They debunk myths, explore female pleasure, and discuss why honest conversations around sexuality are essential to health and happiness.

This episode explores topics many shy away from: celebrating body confidence, understanding hormonal health challenges like PCOS, and affirming that your sexual journey is valid at every stage of life. Whether you're curious, confused, or ready to break free from silence, this episode offers insight, support, and truth without judgment or taboo.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:14 Guest Introduction and Popular Demand

01:00 Diving into Sex and Sexuality

02:46 First Time Sex: Expectations vs. Reality

06:10 Understanding Vaginal Tightness

08:44 Self-Pleasure and Masturbation

15:30 Contraceptives and Libido

17:22 The Importance of Lube

18:17 Postpartum Sex Drive

19:45 Intimacy and Communication

20:08 Debunking Myths About Women's Sex Drive

21:32 The Role of Romance

22:08 Initiating Intimacy

26:15 Maintaining Sexual Chemistry

30:39 Stimulating the Senses

32:55 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

About Dr Nompumelelo Zenda

Dr Nompumelelo Zenda is a Johannesburg-based OB-Gynae and medical sexologist, renowned for advancing sexual and reproductive health in South Africa. Founder of the innovative wellness consultancy We See You, and a Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine, Dr Zenda blends medical expertise with cultural awareness. Through her media work, advocacy, and teaching, she empowers young South Africans to take confident control over their bodies, health, and relationships.

Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to keep breaking the silence.

This show is a collaboration between DW and leading South African radio stations, Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio. Catch up with our host Nozibele · More information about this podcast · The 77 Percent (DW Africa)

In the latest episode, legendary storyteller, poet and author Dr. Gcina Mhlophe reflects on what it means to preserve culture in a fast-changing world.

Dr. Mhlophe shares her journey from a childhood “house of song and prayer” to becoming one of South Africa’s most respected custodians of heritage. She explains why storytelling remains the heartbeat of cultural identity - and why younger generations must learn to balance tradition with modern life.

“Culture starts within,” she says. “It’s about having a sense of belonging, of respect, and of knowing who you are, even as the world changes.”

The episode explores practical ways families can pass on rituals, the importance of African languages, and the risks of letting global influences dilute local traditions. Catch up with our host Nozibele · More information about this podcast · The 77 Percent (DW Africa)

What does “healthy” really mean? In this episode of Don’t Hold Back, Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba talks to fitness coach Kopano Mokhele, who deliberately gained 25 kilos — and is now losing it again — to better understand what his clients face.

Kopano shares honest lessons about food cravings, mental health, and why BMI doesn’t always apply to African body types. He also reveals five simple steps anyone can take to start a healthier lifestyle - from moving in ways you enjoy, to making one food change, to tracking progress and staying motivated.

Authentic, funny, and packed with practical advice, this is your reminder that health is a journey, not a deadline. Catch up with our host Nozibele · More information about this podcast · The 77 Percent (DW Africa)