The Great Equalizer

TGE Media

An honest, unfiltered, unapologetic and (at times) irreverent parenting and lifestyle podcast about the realities of being a mom (or dad!) in the 2020s. Launched in 2018 by journalist Sam Herbst and marketing maven Charlene Armstrong, this podcast aims to debunk the myth of “perfect parenting” through personal (and balanced) accounts of our mothering highs and lows all while tackling a host of relatable lifestyle topics. And – because we can hardly pretend to have our own sh*t together – our episodes often include interviews with experts who do. Our mission? A representative and inclusive parenting and lifestyle platform that strikes a realistic balance between celebration, commiseration and education, because motherhood and parenting is a complex beast and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. #nojudgies

  1. Menopause & Sex: Why your libido changes (and what you can do about it) with Dr Heather Blaylock

    5 days ago

    Menopause & Sex: Why your libido changes (and what you can do about it) with Dr Heather Blaylock

    Menopause DOES NOT mean the end of your sex life!In Episode 3 of TGE Talks Season 1, we tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of menopause: sex, intimacy, libido, desire and sexual wellbeing after 40.Too many women live with the misconception that menopause means you're "dried up," undesirable or no longer interested in sex. But the reality is far more nuanced. Desire can change during midlife, but it doesn't disappear. Understanding those changes can help you reconnect with your body and rediscover pleasure, confidence, and unexplored intimacy.South African medical doctor and sexual health specialist Dr Heather Blaylock joins us to discuss sexual medicine, menopause care, hormonal health, pain management and regenerative wellness.In this episode, we cover:✔️ What a healthy libido can look like after 40.✔️ The difference between libido and desire.✔️ Dryness and atrophy: what is happening to our vaginas!?✔️ The physical, emotional and psychological factors that affect sexual wellbeing✔️ Common and treatable causes of low libido during perimenopause and menopause✔️ Pain during sex, including chronic pain and its impact on intimacy✔️ PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy and other non-surgical treatment options for vaginal rejuvenation✔️ Practical first steps for women who feel disconnected from their sexualityWhether you're navigating perimenopause, menopause, hormonal changes, low libido, painful sex, relationship challenges, or simply wondering what's normal in midlife, this conversation offers evidence-based information, practical tools and the reassurance that you're not alone in the chaos.Brought to you by The Great Equalizer, TGE Talks: Menopause is a six-part podcast series that explores every aspect of menopause with insight from leading medical experts, specialists and sexual health advocates.🎧 Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 💬 We'd love to hear from you. Do you have a question, story or experience to share? Email us at info@thegreatequalizer.co.za or drop us a voice note on Instagram. 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.#Menopause #Perimenopause #SexAfter40 #LowLibido #WomensHealth #MidlifeWomen #MenopauseSupport #SexualHealth #VaginalDryness #MenopausePodcast #Libido #Intimacy #Hormones #HealthyAging #thegreatequalizer

    1hr 5min
  2. Perimenopause Symptoms by Age: What's Normal? | TGE Talks: Menopause with Dr Louisa Alberty

    14 Jun

    Perimenopause Symptoms by Age: What's Normal? | TGE Talks: Menopause with Dr Louisa Alberty

    When your hormones feel out of wack and weird symptoms start impacting your sexual health (and general wellbeing), what counts as “normal”?In Episode 2 of TGE Talks: Menopause, hosts Sam and Charlene quiz GP and sexual health specialist Dr Louisa Albertyn about the often-confusing world of postpartum, perimenopause and menopause symptoms.This episode unpacks what women can expect as our hormones begin to shift. We chat about the early signs of perimenopause, and how symptoms can present differently in your late 30s, 40s, and 50s.The conversation also examines how perimenopause symptoms can overlap with other common women's health conditions, including PMS, PMDD, ovarian cysts, PCOS, and endometriosis. We set out to help listeners understand when symptoms may be part of a normal hormonal transition, and when they deserve further medical investigation.If you're wondering whether perimenopause is knocking on your door, or you’re supporting a partner through menopause, or you’re simply trying to understand your changing body, this episode offers practical, evidence-based guidance for navigating midlife with confidence.In this episode we chat about: Our personal sexual health journeys and unwelcome hormonal shiftsWhat defines perimenopause and menopauseEarly signs and symptoms to look out forMenopause symptoms by ageWhen to seek medical adviceWhy more women are finally talking about menopauseAnd so much more...🎙️ Subscribe to TGE Talks: Menopause for honest conversations, expert insights, and real stories about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, sexual health, and women's wellbeing.🩺 For more from Dr Louisa Albertyn, follow her on Instagram: @drlouisa_albertyn or book an online or in-person consultation: https://mysexualhealth.co.za/dr-louisa-albertyn?srsltid=AfmBOorRQu8ZGfVYhC37xmVi-FjsJ_5vCgRJ1K3u1meqZNMRVy__coLX__🖤 LISTEN 💛 LIKE 🖤 SHARE 💛 ☑️ SUBSCRIBE 🗣️ JOIN THE CONVERSATION: info@thegreatequalizer.co.za | www.thegreatequalizer.co.za — #Menopause #Perimenopause #MenopauseSymptoms #PerimenopauseSymptoms #Hormones #WomensHealth #MidlifeWomen #MenopauseAwareness #HormonalHealth #BrainFog #HotFlushes #NightSweats #SexualHealth #PCOS #Endometriosis #PMDD #Fibroids #TGETalksMenopause

    55 min
  3. TGE TALKS: Menopause | Episode 1 | Medical menopause & the culture shift with Aisha O'Reilly

    14 Jun

    TGE TALKS: Menopause | Episode 1 | Medical menopause & the culture shift with Aisha O'Reilly

    On this episode of The Great Equalizer, we’re kicking off a special series of episodes that take a deep dive into your sexual health beyond the baby years. A key resource for women approaching midlife and beyond, TGE Talks Menopause is looking to empower women with up-to-date and credible knowledge about their bodies, destigmatising false beliefs and debunking sex and menopause myths. On this inaugural episode of the series, we welcome back to studio the incomparable Aisha O’Reilly – influencer, podcaster and award-winning digital content creator – for a frank conversation about her menopause journey. While navigating complex PTSD after the birth of her third child, Aisha also had to figure out the impact of medically induced menopause and what that meant for the future of her sexual health.The Whole Mama Show host shares generously about the traumatic birth of her daughter and how her near-death experience shifted the way she’s looked at her children, her relationship with her husband, and her life. Like us, Aisha wants to help women who, like her, have been on the hunt for reliable information about menopause, seeking workable solutions to problems we no longer need to normalise.Against the backdrop of Aisha's story, Episode 1 of TGE Talks: Menopause unpacks the current narrative around midlife and the perception of women and women’s health beyond childbearing age. 🎙️ TGE Talks: Menopause is finally LIVE. And we're asking the questions nobody else is asking.If you have anything you'd like to say, or want to ask our upcoming expert guests a question about menopause or the perimenopause experience, please don't hesitate to contact The Great Equalizer: info@thegreatequalizer.co.za / www.thegreatequalizer.co.za.Over the next six weeks we're about to blow this conversation UP.Please also give Aisha O'Reilly and The Whole Mama Show a follow. A brand new season of this motherhood podcast is out and, as usual, Aisha is giving women a platform to be real about their motherhood experience.FOLLOW:  @AishaandLife  and  @thewholemamaza  . Find Aisha on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook: @aishaandlife and @thewholemamaza.__🖤 LISTEN 💛 LIKE 🖤 SHARE 💛 ☑️ SUBSCRIBE 🗣️ JOIN THE CONVERSATION:info@thegreatequalizer.co.za | www.thegreatequalizer.co.za—#menopausepodcast #inducedmenopause #medicalmenopause #perimenopause #menopauseawareness #perimenopauseawareness #womenshealth #hormonehealth #sexualhealth #midlifewomen #menopausesupport #womenshealthcare #femalehealthcare #thegreatequalizer #TGETalksMenopause #southafricanpodcast #podcastlife #parentingpodcast #motherhood #motherhoodunfiltered

    1hr 17min
  4. COMING SOON! TGE Talks Menopause | A Six-Part Series

    10 Jun

    COMING SOON! TGE Talks Menopause | A Six-Part Series

    Sooooo, we’ve been quietly working behind the scenes on something new… Especially for YOU 🫵🏼 A limited podcast series dedicated to the perimenopause experience. The symptoms, the science, the myths, the contradictions, and the solutions.  We’re taking a closer look at how everyday life beyond the baby years is slowly starting to shift for women in their late 30s and 40s.  Sex. Relationships.  Sleep. Generalised discomfort.  Irritability.  Brain fog. The mental load. Maternal rage.  Pre-menstrual anxiety, and Depression. Perimenopause is about so much more than hormones and hot flushes. And, honestly? Women deserve better conversations about their bodies. Nobody really prepares you for the rollercoaster of midlife. Or for perimenopause. Or for menopause fullstop. And nobody asks the endless questions that come with it. So we decided to do it. 🎙️ TGE Talks: Menopause. 🎧 Launching 15 June 2026.  🐦 For early access, subscribe now to The Great Equalizer on your favourite podcast platform. __ 🖤 LISTEN 💛 LIKE 🖤 SHARE 💛 SUBSCRIBE🖤 JOIN THE CONVERSATION 💛 info@thegreatequalizer.co.za | www.thegreatequalizer.co.za __ #perimenopausesupport #menopausesupport  #sexualhealthawareness #sexualhealthmatters #sexualwellness  #TGETalksMenopause #MenopausePodcast #Perimenopause #MenopauseAwareness #WomensHealth #MidlifeWomen #MenopauseSupport #PerimenopauseSupport #TheGreatEqualizer #MidlifeMatters

    1 min
  5. Episode 109 | TRAUMA FAWN! The other F-word with Dr Ingrid Clayton

    10 Mar

    Episode 109 | TRAUMA FAWN! The other F-word with Dr Ingrid Clayton

    Ever felt like: You disappear in relationships?You can’t say no?You manage everyone else’s emotions?You’re “too nice” at your own expense? Beyond just “being nice”, good old people pleasing can make you susceptible to being abused or taken advantage of. But did you ever think about it as another trauma response? In this powerful episode of The Great Equalizer, hosts Sam and Charlene sit down with internationally renowned clinical psychologist and trauma therapist Dr Ingrid Clayton to unpack fawning — the lesser-known trauma response that joins fight, flight and freeze. Dr Clayton, author of Believing Me and Fawning, has spoken on and been referenced on some major podcasting platforms including The Dr Phil Podcast and The Mel Robbins Podcast — and now she’s bringing the conversation to TGE. For parents in the 2020s — especially millennial moms navigating boundaries, burnout, and identity — this episode is essential listening. Here’s some of what we cover: 🙇🏼‍♀️ What fawning actually is 🙇🏻‍♀️ The “Good Girl Complex” 🙇🏼‍♀️ Financial fawning, sexual fawning & fawning as social currency 🙇🏻‍♀️ Trauma bonding, narcissistic dynamics & The Drama Triangle 🙇🏼‍♀️ Worthiness wounds and shrinking yourself to survive 🙇🏻‍♀️ Parenting triggers and breaking generational cycles 🙇🏼‍♀️ Somatic healing, EMDR & body-based trauma recovery 🙇🏻‍♀️ What “unfawning” really looks like 🙇🏼‍♀️ One practical step you can take to begin the healing process. 🎧 Tune in now and don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe. And please leave us a loving comment or review! Every episode that gets out has the capacity to bring one mom closer to sanity. We believe it! __ #TheGreatEqualizer #Fawning #TraumaResponse #PeoplePleasing #GoodGirlComplex #ParentingPodcast #MillennialMoms #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #EMDR #SomaticHealing #Boundaries #WomenWellness #Unfawning #DrIngridClayton

    1hr 8min
  6. Episode 108 | Refiloe Moahloli on inner-child healing and South African stories that matter

    5 Jan

    Episode 108 | Refiloe Moahloli on inner-child healing and South African stories that matter

    Being around award-winning author Refiloe Moahloli is an immersive experience — one rooted in curiosity, childlike wonder, and deep respect for young people as whole and autonomous humans. In this episode of The Great Equalizer, we welcome back one of South Africa’s most beloved children’s book authors to chat about what it means to write from the inside out. Refiloe reflects on a transformative season of personal healing, creative renewal and gratitude. This is the season that shaped her latest book, How Many Ways Can You Say Thank You?, which is the third instalment in her celebrated trilogy (including How Many Ways Can You Say Hello? and How Many Ways Can You Say Goodbye?) which explores language, culture, connection and ubuntu.  Refiloe chats with Sam and Charlene about:  🖤 Honouring the inner child, 💛 Storytelling rooted in lived experience, 🖤 Raising grateful kids in an increasingly noisy world, 💛 Knowing yourself as the most radical form of validation. We also get some insight into some other books that Refiloe's been working on, like Dance to Your Own Beat and All That I Am (a collection of South African poems and nursery rhymes). She also chats about her upcoming early readers and gives us a sneak peek into the South African YA romance she's working on. 🎧 Whether you’re a parent, writer, educator, or simply someone navigating their own healing journey, this episode will inspire you in all the ways that only Refiloe Moahloli can. To this special guest: Thank you, dankie, ngiyabonga — and welcome back, you little firecracker 🧨 🎙️ Subscribe to TGE’s Current Read for more conversations with today’s most exciting authors: https://youtu.be/_X4-Lm7qGKg?si=9lQ5Y_YqbQWPlgox __ 🖤 LISTEN 💛 LIKE 🖤 SHARE 💛 (and let us know what you think of the episode!) #TheGreatEqualizer #RefiloeMoahloli #SouthAfricanAuthors #ChildrensLiterature #InnerChildHealing #GratitudePractice #Ubuntu #LocalStories #ParentingWithPurpose #WritingLife #AfricanStorytelling #KidsBooks #YAfiction #CreativeHealing #WomenInLiterature #SouthAfricanPodcasts

    1hr 17min
  7. Episode 107 | MOTHERHOOD & MURDER PLOTS! Author Katherine Faulkner on writing and raising kids

    25/11/2025

    Episode 107 | MOTHERHOOD & MURDER PLOTS! Author Katherine Faulkner on writing and raising kids

    On this episode of The Great Equalizer, hosts Sam and Charlene sit down with bestselling author Katherine Faulkner: journalist-turned-novelist and the mind behind Greenwich Park, The Other Mothers, and her latest psychological thriller, The Break In. After a decade as an investigative journalist and editor, Katherine has become one of the sharpest voices in modern domestic suspense – a master at throwing “ordinary women into extraordinary, what-would-you-do situations” (as deftly put by author Abigail Dean). In this episode, we chat about: 🖤 Katherine’s transition from newsroom to novelist life 🤍 The short story inspiration behind The Break In   🖤 The intersection of motherhood, domesticity and danger evident in Katherine’s work 🤍 The psychology of safety, secrecy and suspense within the home 🖤 How Katherine manages to write while raising two kids (spoiler alert: with difficulty!) About the book: The Break In follows a London mother who kills an intruder in self-defence, only to find that nothing about the man, or her own life, is as it seems. A chilling, twist-filled exploration of guilt, privilege, and how well we really know the people closest to us. 🎙️ Subscribe to TGE’s Current Read for more conversations with today’s most exciting authors: https://open.spotify.com/show/0t7nFSaRvJlpot09GwQtkd?si=8b5298e3c474465c __ 🖤 LISTEN 💛 LIKE 🖤 SHARE 💛 (and let us know what you think of the episode!) __ #KatherineFaulkner #TheBreakIn #DomesticThriller #PsychologicalThriller #MumNoir #BookPodcast #CrimeFiction #CurrentRead #TGERadio #BookLovers #AuthorInterview #WomenWriters #BookTube #ReadingCommunity #SuspenseFiction #TheOtherMothers #GreenwichPark

    1hr 3min
  8. Episode 106 | GOOD ENOUGH MOTHERING with psychoanalyst Andy Cohen

    22/08/2025

    Episode 106 | GOOD ENOUGH MOTHERING with psychoanalyst Andy Cohen

    In a world with heightened expectations on parents to perform, is “good enough” mothering really a good thing?    On this episode of The Great Equalizer, we welcome Joburg-based psychoanalyst and mom of two Andy Cohen.   Andy talks us through parenting in the world’s current pressure cooker, giving us some insight into why people are suddenly so psychologically triggered when they become parents.   We chat about Andy’s new book, Parenting Psychoanalysed: Letters to a Parent, which includes letters from 39 analysts across the world, as well as a letter from Andy herself.   Leaning into the intersectionality of parenting and psychology, Andy tells us why she thinks parents were the world’s first psychoanalysts, also expanding on renowned paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott’s theory of “good enough mothering”.   Watered down over the years through the filters of social media, this is a concept that seems to have been misconstrued. Winnicott’s theory, however, is a golden thread that weaves its way throughout Andy’s book.   And so, in this insightful episode of The Great Equalizer, we unpack why it’s so crucial for mothers and fathers not to strive for perfection in parenting.   Join the conversation and, as always, please let us know what you think of the episode 🫶🏼   🖤 LISTEN 💛 LIKE 🖤 SHARE 💛 SUBSCRIBE  __ #ParentingPodcast #Psychoanalysis #ConsciousParenting #ParentingJourney #MentalHealthAndParenting#ParentingSupport #FamilyWellbeing #ParentingInsights __ Did you enjoy this episode? Then don’t miss a previous TGE interview with marriage and family therapist Bryana Kappadakunnel, founder of the Conscious Mommy community and author of Parent Yourself First (a book about raising confident, compassionate kids by becoming the parent you wish you’d had): https://youtu.be/0d176c86HSc?si=wYDVffQWiTuCppbQ

    1hr 13min
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4.7
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

An honest, unfiltered, unapologetic and (at times) irreverent parenting and lifestyle podcast about the realities of being a mom (or dad!) in the 2020s. Launched in 2018 by journalist Sam Herbst and marketing maven Charlene Armstrong, this podcast aims to debunk the myth of “perfect parenting” through personal (and balanced) accounts of our mothering highs and lows all while tackling a host of relatable lifestyle topics. And – because we can hardly pretend to have our own sh*t together – our episodes often include interviews with experts who do. Our mission? A representative and inclusive parenting and lifestyle platform that strikes a realistic balance between celebration, commiseration and education, because motherhood and parenting is a complex beast and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. #nojudgies

Information

  • Creator
    TGE Media
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    133
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © TGE Media
  • Show Website
    The Great Equalizer