Madame Speaker Says

Magogodi
  • 4.8 (4)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Madame Speaker Says is the podcast for women of colour ready to own the mic, drop that book and get paid like a legend. Join Magogodi oaMphela Makhene - author, speaker and coach - for real talk, shortcuts and receipts to help you lead with confidence — on stage, on the page and way beyond the 9–5. No caucacity, no crusty old school leadership.  Edges snatched. Script flipped. No apologies. Fresh episodes drop weekly.Pull up. 

  1. Fame, Shame & The Freak Show Part II: Lebo Mashile on Turning Pain Into Power

    6D AGO

    Fame, Shame & The Freak Show Part II: Lebo Mashile on Turning Pain Into Power

    From Body Shaming to Reclaiming Her Voice (Part 2): Lebo Mashile on Turning Pain Into Power In Part 2 of this raw and unfiltered conversation, Lebo moves beyond the origin story and into something even more powerful: what it actually takes to trust your voice, follow your calling, and bring a bold vision to life. Because the truth is, having the idea is one thing.  Having the courage to act on it? That’s something else entirely. Lebo breaks down:  Why Black women’s bodies are still treated as public property and how to reclaim yours  How Saartjie Baartman’s story still shapes the way Black women are seen, judged, and controlled today  Why your body is still a battleground and what it takes to defend your boundaries  What happens when you stop asking for a seat at the table and start becoming the whole house  How to know when a risky creative vision is yours to pursue even when you don’t feel ready  Why the ideas that won’t leave you alone are usually the ones you’re meant to follow Plus: Lebo shares the internal test she uses to separate fleeting ideas from true callings and why taking the first step matters more than having the full plan. TIMESTAMPS:  05:00 — Is this vision really yours to pursue?  06:00 — The True Love Magazine cover that sparked a national controversy  12:00 — Everything is data — and why Pamela Vete changed everything  15:00 — How Lebo went from poet to playwright overnight  17:00 — Saartjie Baartman and the hypervisibility of Black women  22:00 — Why you have permission to make the work that scares you  29:00 — Why a poet is telling you to make AI your research assistant  35:00 — Do you have the nervous system that fame requires?  43:00 — Stop plotting the steps — take the first one  47:00 — Your future self wants to know they can trust you now CONNECT WITH LEBO:  Website: lebomashile.com Instagram: @lebomashile  Twitter: @lebomashile MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  🎭 Lebo's play Saartjie vs Venus at the Market Theatre: markettheatre.co.za/shows/watch/saartjie-vs-venus Other theatrical works mentioned in her journey include: “Roses and Angels” — the production where Lebo first stepped into acting and writing for theatre, under the influence of Pamela Nomvete“I Am Dancing” (stage adaptation) — based on Pamela Nomvete’s autobiography, where Lebo performed and collaborated creative📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    1h 12m
  2. Lebo Mashile: Reclaiming Your Body and Power in a World That Wants to Silence You

    APR 12

    Lebo Mashile: Reclaiming Your Body and Power in a World That Wants to Silence You

    From Body Shaming to Reclaiming Her Voice: Lebo Mashile on Turning Pain Into Power Lebo Mashile was publicly shamed for her pregnant body. Instead of shrinking, she turned her fury into a groundbreaking play about Saartjie Baartman — and a five-year excavation of how the exploitation of Black women's bodies shapes our world today. In this raw, two-part conversation, the iconic South African poet and playwright breaks down: Why Black women's bodies are still treated as public property — and how to reclaim yoursHow Saartjie Baartman's story is a portal to understanding the dehumanization of Black womenWhy your body is still a battleground — and how to defend your boundaries in a world that wants to bulldoze themWhat happens when you stop asking for a seat at the table and start becoming the whole houseHow to know when a risky creative vision is yours to pursue — even when the world says you're not readyPlus: Why politeness is poison when someone disrespects your body, your dreams, or your destiny. TIMESTAMPS:  00:00 — Why Lebo sat down to interview herself this season  04:56 — How a gossip column about her pregnant belly became a groundbreaking play  12:11 — Saartjie Baartman: the woman whose body was exploited in a freak show for centuries  18:02 — Why the public still feels entitled to Black women's bodies today  23:26 — The internal test that tells you when a creative risk is yours to take  32:29 — Why body shaming is never about your body — and how to stop backing down CONNECT WITH LEBO:  Website: lebomashile.com Instagram: @lebomashile  Twitter: @lebomashile MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  🎭 Lebo's play Saartjie vs Venus at the Market Theatre: markettheatre.co.za/shows/watch/saartjie-vs-venus 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    1 hr

  3. APR 5

    The Woman You're Becoming Is Waiting

    Becoming the Authority: The Moment You Stop Waiting and Start Claiming It You don’t become powerful the moment everything is perfect.  You become powerful the moment you decide you’re enough as you are. In this raw and deeply personal episode of Madame Speaker Says, Magogodi steps out from behind the mic and into the hot seat stripping away the “expert” layer to reveal what it really looks like to build authority in real time. This is not a polished highlight reel. This is the becoming. From navigating vulnerability and perfectionism to confronting fear, visibility, and self-doubt, this episode unpacks the internal shifts that shape true leadership and presence. Because stepping into authority isn’t about having it all figured out.  It’s about choosing yourself before you feel ready. So here’s the real question: Are you waiting to feel qualified… or are you ready to claim your voice now? Short answer: authority is not something you earn later. It’s something you decide to embody today. This episode is for women who know they are meant for more, more visibility, more impact, more truth but feel the tension between who they are now and who they’re becoming. In this episode of Madame Speaker Says, you’ll explore: Why vulnerability not perfection is the real gateway to authorityThe hidden ways perfectionism keeps you stuck and playing smallWhat it actually costs to step into your voice and be seenWhy waiting for the “right time” is the biggest illusionHow to move from proving yourself to owning your powerThe difference between performing expertise and living your truthWhat courage looks like in real, messy, everyday momentsChapters  0:00 — Why This Episode Is Different  2:00 — Breaking the Expert Illusion  5:00 — The Fear of Being Seen in Real Time  8:00 — Vulnerability vs Authority  11:00 — Letting Go of Perfectionism  14:00 — The Real Cost of Growth  18:00 — Claiming Your Voice Without Permission  22:00 — Why You Don’t Need a Team to Start  26:00 — Visibility, Fear, and Judgment  32:00 — Becoming Her in Real Time  36:00 — You Are Already Enough  43:00 — What Season Three Is Really About  50:00 — From Listener to Leader 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    1h 6m

  4. MAR 29 ·  BONUS

    Rescue Mode Is Destroying Your Authority

    The Worker Bee Trap Women Leaders Fall Into Being the hardest worker in the room does not make you the leader. Vision does. In this powerful mini episode of Madame Speaker Says, host Magogodi breaks down a transition many brilliant women leaders struggle to make: The shift from worker bee energy to queen bee leadership. For years, your success may have come from proving yourself through execution being the one who fixes problems, rescues teams, and makes sure everything gets done. But the very skills that helped you rise can quietly trap you in the wrong role. Because the next level of leadership requires something different. It requires vision, imagination, and the courage to stop proving your value through labor. So here’s the real question: Are you leading the work or are you still proving that you can do the work? Short answer: being the hardest worker is not the same as being the visionary. And no, that doesn’t mean your work ethic isn’t powerful. It means your leadership is ready for its next evolution. This conversation is for founders, executives, creators, and impact leaders who know they are capable of more influence  but feel stuck constantly executing instead of steering the vision. In this episode of Madame Speaker Says, get clear on: Why many leaders stay stuck in worker bee energyThe hidden cost of constantly rescuing teams and fixing problemsWhy visionary leaders stop proving their value through laborHow rescuing people can actually limit your leadership impactWhy stepping into queen bee leadership unlocks the next level of influenceChapters 0:00 — Worker Bee vs Queen Bee Leadership 2:00 — Why Many Leaders Stay Stuck in Execution 4:00 — The Visionary Shift Leaders Must Make 6:00 — Why Being the Hardest Worker Is a Trap 8:00 — Identify the Decisions Only You Can Make 10:00 — Stop Proving You Can Do the Work 12:00 — Stop Rescuing People 13:30 — Fire Yourself From Execution 15:00 — Why Visionary Leadership Matters 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    19 min

  5. MAR 22 ·  BONUS

    Your Work Has Outgrown Your Brand: How to Reintroduce Yourself

    Reintroducing Your Next Level Self: When Your Work Outgrows How You’re Seen Your work hasn’t outgrown your ambition. It has outgrown how you are seen. In this powerful mini episode of Madame Speaker Says, host Magogodi breaks down why so many brilliant women  founders, executives, and industry leaders  feel like they’ve outgrown the rooms they’re in, yet people still introduce them as an older version of themselves. You’ve evolved. Your thinking has sharpened. Your work has expanded. But your bio, your website, and your public messaging might still be promoting the version of you from two years ago. And when your growth happens privately without being articulated publicly, people keep responding to the old narrative. So here’s the real question: Has your work evolved but the way you present yourself stayed the same? Short answer: growth without repositioning creates frustration.  And no, that doesn’t mean people are intentionally underestimating you. It often means you haven’t reintroduced the world to who you’ve become. This conversation is for founders, executives, creators, and cultural leaders whose work has expanded faster than their public positioning — and who are ready to step fully into the next version of themselves. In this episode of Madame Speaker Says, get clear on: Why your work can outgrow how you are publicly perceived The hidden cost of growth without repositioning How outdated bios and messaging keep you playing small The gap between what you believe privately and what you say publiclyWhy reintroducing yourself is essential to claiming your next levelChapters 0:00 — When Your Work Outgrows How You’re Seen 2:00 — Why People Still See the Old Version of You 4:00 — The Symptoms of Outgrowing Your Platform 7:00 — Private Growth vs Public Perception 9:00 — Growth Without Repositioning Creates Frustration 13:00 — The Fossil Test: Is Your Bio Outdated? 17:00 — Do You Have the Right Room Key? 22:00 — Does Your Voice Hold Weight? 24:00 — The Gap Between Private Belief and Public Messaging Connect with Madame Speaker Says 📲 Instagram: @madamespeakersays 🎙 Subscribe: Madame Speaker Says Podcast Connect with Magogodi 📲IG: @magogodimakhene 👩🏽‍💻Website: https://www.magogodi.com 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    35 min

  6. MAR 15 ·  BONUS

    If You’re Good at Everything, You’ll Be Known for Nothing: Multi-Talented vs Multi-Scattered

    Multi-Talented vs Multi-Scattered: Why Focus Builds Real Authority Range is powerful but focus is what builds authority. In this powerful mini episode of Madame Speaker Says, host Magogodi breaks down why so many brilliant women founders, executives, creatives, and industry leaders struggle with one quiet but costly problem: Trying to do too many things at once. When you’re multi-talented, you can speak, write, teach, convene, strategize, host, and lead. Your range is impressive. But authority doesn’t come from range. It comes from depth, consistency, and building heat in one lane long enough for people to recognize you as the obvious choice. Because when you keep switching lanes, something important never has time to happen. Momentum. So here’s the real question: Are you truly multi-talented or are you unintentionally becoming multi-scattered? Short answer: talent without focus becomes noise.  And no, that doesn’t mean you aren’t capable. This conversation is for founders, executives, creators, and multi-hyphenate leaders who know they have powerful gifts but feel pulled in too many directions to build the authority they deserve. In this episode of Madame Speaker Says, get clear on: The difference between being multi-talented and multi-scattered Why switching lanes prevents you from building real authorityHow depth transforms you from impressive to the obvious choiceWhy every thought leader needs a “main weapon” for their expertiseHow cutting distractions strengthens your authority and influenceChapters 0:00 — Multi-Talented vs Multi-Scattered 2:00 — Why Range Without Focus Creates Noise 4:00 — The Exhaustion of Being Everything in Every Room 5:30 — Identify Your Most Potent Weapon 7:00 — Why Depth Builds Authority 8:30 — Where You’re Performing Instead of Building 9:30 — The Six-Month Cut: Starving Distractions 10:30 — Focus Is How Authority Is Built Connect with Madame Speaker Says 📲 Instagram: @madamespeakersays 🎙 Subscribe: Madame Speaker Says Podcast Connect with Magogodi 📲IG: @magogodimakhene 👩🏽‍💻Website: https://www.magogodi.com 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    12 min

  7. MAR 8 ·  BONUS

    Stop Being Inclusive: The Messaging Mistake Killing Your Authority

    Narrow Your Message to Build Authority: Why Broad Messaging Is Costing You Influence Broad messaging feels safe but safety is not what builds authority. In this powerful mini episode of Madame Speaker Says, host Magogodi breaks down why so many brilliant leaders, founders, and impact-driven experts dilute their authority by trying to speak to everyone. When your work is broad enough to include everyone, it often becomes powerful for no one. And that comes with a cost. Many leaders soften their messaging because they want to avoid friction. They want their work to feel inclusive, approachable, and welcoming. But real authority doesn’t come from making everyone comfortable. It comes from clarity and specificity. And it often comes from challenging the very systems your work is meant to disrupt. So here’s the real question: Are you keeping your message broad to stay safe or because you’re afraid of what clarity might disrupt? Short answer: broad messaging protects comfort, not authority. This conversation is for leaders, founders, creators, and thought leaders who know their work is meant to create real impact   and who are ready to stop hiding behind vague language. In this episode of Madame Speaker Says, get clear on: Why broad messaging quietly destroys authorityThe hidden cost of trying to make everyone comfortable How specificity creates thought leadership and visibility Why powerful work always challenges a system or narrativeHow narrowing your message can unlock influence, media attention, and opportunityChapters 0:00 — Every Serious Body of Work Disrupts Something 2:00 — Why Leaders Soften Their Messaging 4:00 — The Danger of Broad Language 7:00 — Authority Lives at the Edge 10:00 — Cultural Disruption and Narrative Power 14:00 — Tool #1: The Opposition Test 19:30 — Tool #2: The 8-Word Thesis Challenge 26:00 — Tool #3: The Authority Cost Calculation 31:00 — You Cannot Change What You Won’t Name Connect with Madame Speaker Says 📲 Instagram: @madamespeakersays 🎙 Subscribe: Madame Speaker Says Podcast Connect with Magogodi 📲IG: @magogodimakhene 👩🏽‍💻Website: https://www.magogodi.com 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    36 min

  8. MAR 1 ·  BONUS

    Confidence Is Not Authority: Why Structure Builds Real Leadership

    Build Authority Without Waiting for Confidence: Structure Over Self-Doubt Confidence is not what builds authority. Structure does. In this powerful mini episode of Madame Speaker Says, host Magogodi breaks down why so many brilliant women  even high-achieving executives, founders, and industry leaders still wrestle with the question: “Who do I think I am?” From Michelle Obama to Serena Williams to Viola Davis, self-doubt does not discriminate. But authority isn’t built by waiting for confidence to arrive. It’s built through structure, clarity, and accountability. So here’s the real question: Is confidence actually the thing you’re waiting for  or is it structure you’ve been avoiding? Short answer: confidence is overrated.  And no, that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. This conversation is for experts, founders, creatives, and cultural leaders who feel the tension between expertise and authority, and who know the world and their industries are shifting. In this episode of Madame Speaker Says, get clear on: Why confidence is overrated in leadership The real reason you’re not stepping fully into your authority How structure eliminates “Who do I think I am?” energy The difference between having ideas and building influenceWhy every thought leader needs a witness and accountabilityChapters 0:00 — Authority Does Not Come From Confidence 4:00 — Why Brilliant Women Still Doubt Themselves 8:00 — The “Who Do I Think I Am?” Trap 11:00 — Why Structure = Confidence 15:00 — Identify Your Core Idea 16:30 — Choose Your Container 17:30 — Metrics That Matter 18:30 — If You Had Structure, What Would You Claim? Connect with Madame Speaker Says 📲 Instagram: @madamespeakersays 🎙 Subscribe: Madame Speaker Says Podcast Connect with Magogodi 📲IG: @magogodimakhene 👩🏽‍💻Website: https://www.magogodi.com 📧 JOIN -  Expect fresh newsletters every week or so, where I share bare truths, storytelling tips and plenty of F-bombs. Ready to turn your ideas into influence?  APPLY for 1:1 coaching to transform your voice into your greatest asset.

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Madame Speaker Says is the podcast for women of colour ready to own the mic, drop that book and get paid like a legend. Join Magogodi oaMphela Makhene - author, speaker and coach - for real talk, shortcuts and receipts to help you lead with confidence — on stage, on the page and way beyond the 9–5. No caucacity, no crusty old school leadership.  Edges snatched. Script flipped. No apologies. Fresh episodes drop weekly.Pull up. 

Information

  • Creator
    Magogodi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Madame Speaker Says
  • Show Website
    Madame Speaker Says