Manned Up Conversations

Send us a textIn episode 48, we explore a life of imperfection with Mrs South Africa 2023 finalist, Nekisha Lupke.Nekisha takes us through her childhood in Durban where she witnessed violence, abuse in different forms and how this experience impacted her mental health.  We talk about pretty privilege and being bullied in school because of the dark colour in comparison to the children in her neighbourhood.  Then we move on to discuss her relationship with her father and how his passing led to her sister dying by suicide, her own suicide ideation and overdosing on the feel good pills. We close off by discussing how motherhood and marriage impacted her views on provision and working together as a couple to raise a respectful and loving family.Nekisha Lupke is a Mrs South Africa 2023 finalist, she's an Educator, online ESL specialist coach and Entrepreneur. In my spare time, I enjoy creating inspirational YouTube videos, hosting woman empowerment events, spending time with my family and reading. I am #EveryWoman because I have imperfections that I have chose to accept and grow through.Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Thank you for your support.Connect with Nekisha Lupke:YouTube:  @nekishalupke4808  TikTok: @nekishalupkeInstagram: @iamnekishalupkeSupport the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn episode 47  we touch base and connect with author of Monring Thoughts By Zibuse Kunene. Zibuse describes how sharing empowering words on WhatsApp and social media grew into a huge community of people who looked forward to starting their day.  We talk about the value of having a morning ritual and setting your intention for the day before you get to your daily have-to's.   Given his work's impact on people, we talk about how having a presence or following may affect the ego and the need to keep it in check and accountable. He also discusses the importance of having an ally, whom he refers to as a "running mate," to support and challenge us to be our best.Zibuse wears many hats when he's not writing or performing corporate work. He's a brother, uncle, author, mentor, and coach, as well as the chairman of Dads in The Picture, an organization of like-minded fathers who identified a need for fathers to play an active role in the lives of children.Buy Zibuse's latest work ebook on Amazon: Morning Thoughts by Zibuse L KunenePlease don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Thank you for your support.Zibuse Kunene also appears on: Dads in The Picture on Cliff CentralMorning Thoughts on PowerFMConnect with Zibuse L. Kunene:Twitter: @ZibuseInstagram: @ZibuseKFacebook: Morning Thoughts by Zibuse L. KuneneHope you are enjoying the conversation so far. Remember to take note of things that stand out to you while listening and take a moment to reflect in your own time or discuss this with some friends over some drinks, a meal or relaxing activity of your choice. Thank you for tuning into Manned Up Conversations. Please subscribe to help grow the platform, you can also find us on YouTube if you prefer video and don't forget to share your comments, insights or questions.Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn episode 46 of Manned Up Conversations we broaddcast from Atteridgeville, Pretoria to Harlem, New York with co-author and editor of Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls: Black Men Speak About Mental Health, Mark Tuggle.We explore various topics in this conversation including the importance of black men developing a language around how they feel, the culture of silence and state of mental health in black communities. We also highlight the cost of speaking the truth and the courage it takes to be vulnerable. Then we unpack the reasons for lack of trust among men and close off by discussing the benefit of leaning into your intuition and learning to trust ourselves as a black men.  Mark Tuggle is a contemporary descendant of enslaved Africans in America. He is a same-gender-loving spiritual being with a strong sense of justice. He also is an activist, brother, educator, friend, humanitarian, mentor, son and writer. Buy Mark Tuggle's latest work on Amazon: Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls: Black Men Speak About Mental HealthPlease don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Thank you for your support.Connect with Mark Tuggle:Website: Cultural Silence Wounded SoulsLinkedIn: Mark TuggleTwitter: @MarkTuggle4Instagram: @MarkTuggleHope you are enjoying the conversation so far. Remember to take note of things that stand out to you while listening and take a moment to reflect in your own time or discuss this with some friends over some drinks, a meal or relaxing activity of your choice. Thank you for tuning into Manned Up Conversations. Please subscribe to help grow the platform, you can also find us on YouTube if you prefer video and don't forget to share your comments, insights or questions.Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn this episode I connect with music psychotherapist Nsamu Moonga to explore how we can use artistic expression to create a society we know in our heart is possible.  We discuss how moving from person centered to monetary centered economies have affected our understanding of hospitality and our ability connect with others. We then highlight why it is difficult to have healthy conversations about men in the current name and shame approach that makes men feel defensive about their actions and hide their true opinions. Nsamu also challenges the limiting nature  of the cognitive approach to men's interventions and suggests that we tap into African practices that we can draw upon such as gathering, storytelling, dancing in circles. Making a connection to older cultures and practices, we talk about how moving from an introspective and self conscious idea of who I am  to a more creative, expressive and participatory nature of who we are, moves us from the idea of a separate self into a shared identity.Nsamu Moonga,  is a music psychotherapist, who uses music to access, work through, and resolve therapeutic issues by creating or listening to music with verbal discourse to guide, interpret, or enhance the music experience and its relevance to the client and therapeutic process. The therapeutic issue is accessed, worked through, and resolved through both musical and verbal experiences, occurring alternately or simultaneously. Music is used for its specific and unique qualities and is germane to the therapeutic issue and its treatment; words are used to identify and consolidate insights gained during the process.Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Thank you for your support.Connect with Nsamu Moonga:LinedIn: Nsamu MoongaTwitter: @NsamuMoongaInstagram: @NsamuMoongaHope you are enjoying the conversation so far. Remember to take note of things that stand out to you while listening and take a moment to reflect in your own time or discuss this with some friends over some drinks, a meal or relaxing activity of your choice. Thank you for tuning into Manned Up Conversations. Please subscribe to help grow the platform, you can also find us on YouTube if you prefer video and don't forget to share your comments, insights or questions.Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textThis is a bonus episode where I share how the journey of Manned Up Conversations has helped me over the past 2 years since 9 July 2021. Lots of lessons learned, people lost but most importantly has helped me find my voice and express myself without that negative self talk holding me back from sharing my story. More of these to come but I just want to thank you for all your support, encouragement and comments since I embarked on the journey of following my bliss.I hope these episodes are adding to your conversations, your self reflection and your own journey into manhood. Stay true and do you.Peace & Love family. Connect with me on social media:Kgaugelo Habyane Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn this episode we take a holistic approach to mental wellbeing  by discussing the developments made in understanding how mental health affects us emotionally, behaviourally, cognitively including the important but often overlooked spiritual or belief system particularly in African cultures. We explore how black psychologists are becoming more aware of the different African cultural aspects that impact mental health. We also talk about the need to educate each other to build a language around  mental wellbeing and some of the social ills caused by untreated traumas in communities and families around South Africa.Oscar Motswage is a registered and licensed Clinical Psychologist with HPCSA and BHF. He's also an associate member of the South African Clinical Neuropsychological Association (SACNA).He's currently a PhD Candidate in Psychology at University of South Africa. Obtained Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Clinical Psychology from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), Bachelor of Science (BSc. Honours) degree in Psychology (cum laude) and Bachelor of Science (BSc.Molecular Sciences) degree from UL(MEDUNSA campus).Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Clinical Psychological Services:Nkamogeleng Wellness Inc.Connect with Oscar Motswage:Facebook: Oscar MotswageInstagram: @nkamogeleng_motswageSupport the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn this episode we discuss being baptized and reborn into a faith-based life,  we unpack transitioning from working in corporate to the NGO space. My guests also shares how his view on marriage and raising his sons after a living a life caught up "in-the-world" before being saved. We also explore discipleship and mentoring young men and close off with the importance of fitness, exercise and connecting with natureand creating men’s communities within or outside of the church.Redmond Louw is from Johannesburg South. In 2015, he was baptized and reborn, and hasn't looked back on his previous life since. He is deeply committed to God and to serving others. He worked in the telecommunications (ICT) industry for over ten years. He, recently left the corporate world to take a full-time position with the Character Company as a business development consultant. He also runs a men's fellowship group where he connects with men to help them find their place in Christ.Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Long Term Mentoring with The Character Company :The Character CompanyDonate to The Character CompanyConnect with Redmond Louw:Twitter: @RedmondLouwSupport the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn this episode we get to grips with men's psychology by highlighting  how men respond to scarcity and lack of opportunities in an unbalanced society like South Africa. We discuss how the female dominated counselling and therapy industry has somehow overlooked and misunderstood the male lived experience and how we can create space for men to connect with each other, Angelo shares an interesting idea on what leads men to go rogue and choose to isolate themselves because of the backlash and negative language associated with male behaviour.  We close off by unpacking the perceived  gender gap between teenage boys and girls in South Africa.    Vincent is a South African independent registered professional counselor with HPCSA and now based in Sweden. He is a passionate creative, who has chosen psychology to find expression for his view of the post-Aparthied South Africa and the problems faced by men in a post-conflict era. For three decades he has reflected his ideas through his art and is now finding a voice through the useful constructs of modern psychology. Vincent is married with no children by choice but is conscientious of the world that adolescents are seeing. You can engage with Vincent on twitter.Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Read Angelo's Articles:Will Men Survive the new South Africa?The Rogue Male DefaultSouth Africa is a CRT StateConnect with Angelo Vincenzo De Boni:Twitter: @VincentPsychSAHope you are enjoying the conversation so far. Remember to take note of things that stand out to you while listening and take a moment to reflect in your own time or discuss this with some friends over some drinks, a meal or relaxing activity of your choice. Thank you for tuning into Manned Up Conversations. Please subscribe to help grow the platform, you can also find us on YouTube if you prefer video and don't forget to share your comments, insights or questions.Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn this deeply moving and insightful episode of Manned Up Conversations, Kgaugelo Habyane sits down with his close friend Tichaona Chitsinde for a powerful discussion on coping with profound grief and loss. Tichaona bravely shares his personal journey after becoming a widower, offering raw honesty and valuable lessons on navigating life after immense loss. This isn't just a story of sorrow, but a testament to resilience, the importance of community support and the ongoing process of healing. Tichaona reflects on the initial shock, the necessity of extending grace to oneself, and how his faith has provided a foundation. The conversation delves into the complexities of men and emotions, challenging societal expectations and exploring how men truly process their feelings. We discuss the vital role of friendship and the different ways support can manifest, as well as the challenges of navigating relationships during difficult times. Tichaona shares his perspective on focusing on "what next" rather than "why" and the significance of finding joy in small things. He offers poignant advice for those currently experiencing loss and touches upon the difficulties men face in asking for and accepting help. Ultimately, this episode is a call for men to create safe spaces for genuine connection and honest vulnerability. Key takeaways from this episode include: Honest reflections on navigating the intense pain of loss The critical role of community, therapy, and professional support in coping Challenging traditional views on men and emotional processing The power of self-compassion and extending grace during difficult times Practical insights on how to be a supportive friend and how to ask for help Finding strength and hope through faith and a focus on the present moment Join us for this powerful and moving conversation that offers valuable insights for anyone who has experienced loss or wants to better understand and support the men in their lives. Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Other Interviews: Networking and Rebelling with Tichaona ChitsindeConnect with Tichaona Chitsinde:Twitter: @TiChitsindeHope you are enjoying the conversation so far. Remember to take note of things that stand out to you while listening and take a moment to reflect in your own time or discuss this with some friends over some drinks, a meal or relaxing activity of your choice. Thank you for tuning into Manned Up Conversations. Please subscribe to help grow the platform, you can also find us on YouTube if you prefer video and don't forget to share your comments, insights or questions.Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com

Send us a textIn this episode we explore the lived experience of Ntimbwe Mpamba who's survived multiple medical procedures and still lives with HIV for 40 years. He shares the story of how a family secret about a condition that could've possibly ruined his life ended up saving him.Please don't forget to subscribe to gain access to all our podcasts and follow us on social media to share your comments on our work.If you enjoy the show please share it with friends and family.Thank you for your support.News Stories:Article - The longest surviving person with HIV in Africa: Defying the odds and fighting the stigmaeNCA Feature - The man who dared to liveConnect with Ntimbe Mpamba:LinkedIn: Ntimbe Mpambaemail: ntimbem@gmail.comHope you are enjoying the conversation so far. Remember to take note of things that stand out to you while listening and take a moment to reflect in your own time or discuss this with some friends over some drinks, a meal or relaxing activity of your choice. Thank you for tuning into Manned Up Conversations. Please subscribe to help grow the platform, you can also find us on YouTube if you prefer video and don't forget to share your comments, insights or questions.Support the showSign up for Ain't Heavy, My Brother - A Workshop in Support of Grieving Men on rituals4men@gmail.com.Donate To Our Campaign with Love Your Nuts Foundation To Raise Testicular Cancer AwarenessVisit our site to explore our work:website: www.mannedupconvos.com