In the first episode of 2026, Maureen and Mashudu open with a simple idea: there’s fun to be had, even after a year that tested everyone. They reflect on good people, bad people, and the quiet work of getting ahead of the year instead of letting it happen to you. The conversation moves into friendships and relationships, using pop culture moments as a mirror to explore how growth naturally shifts who stays and who falls away. They unpack the different ways men and women cut people off, when it becomes necessary, and when it goes too far. At the centre of it all is the reminder that while partnerships matter, friendships and the individual still need care. They reflect on where fun really lives, whether it’s in glamorous destinations or simple moments with people who know you. Context matters, season matters, and so does intention. Looking back, 2025 gave hands. The surgery without anaesthesia was real. But the tone moving into 2026 is clear and hopeful. The hard portals opened for a reason, and it feels like a year to tap in, plan properly, and move with purpose rather than expectation. The conversation then shifts to money and power. They revisit the rand, the dollar, and what a fair value of money actually looks like, drawing from earlier discussions on purchasing power. Is the rand strong or is the global system just wobbling? What does this mean for locals, digital nomads, and everyday cost of living, especially in cities like Cape Town. They close with reflections on activism in Africa today. What it looks like for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, how digital natives mobilise differently, and what can be learned from earlier movements like Fees Must Fall. It’s a grounded conversation about action, pressure, and the evolving language of resistance. This episode sets the tone for the year ahead. Honest, reflective, and optimistic. There is work to be done, but there is also fun to be had.
