In celebration of Mother’s Day, media personality Nandi Madida has launched a new podcast: The Motherhood Network.
It is an empowering platform dedicated to exploring the complexities and joys of motherhood, with a focus on supporting and uplifting mothers by focusing on such subjects as handling finances, dealing with loss, becoming a new mother, navigating motherhood as a single woman, co-parenting and many others.
“It’s a much-needed platform. This podcast is really about serving people, serving mothers more specifically. I feel so humbled to be able to kind of build a village, and that’s why we call it a network of mothers, to exchange what they know,” she told the Sunday Times.
The podcast launches today and guests include former Miss South Africa and business icon Basetsana Kumalo, Wits University chancellor and author Judy Dlamini, and leading paediatrician Nellie Balfour, who unpack some of these difficult subjects.
Madida has two neurodivergent children, Shaka, 8, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Nefertiti, 6, who is on the autism spectrum.
“I come from a neurodivergent family,” she said.
“It’s genetic, so I’m a proud neurodivergent mother and I share what that looks like. They have these special skills and that’s incredible, but of course with those skills and talents come the challenges as well; whether it’s sensory issues or whatever the case may be.”
With both children, Madida avoided bringing in outside help for the the first three months so she could devote herself to bonding with them.
“I took it full on. I was very fortunate and it’s a funny thing about your kids when you hold them.
“You can feel it. Who they are, their personalities from day one. I think that’s why I was even able to pick up that my daughter is on the autism spectrum. It was so important for me to learn the child and not have that interrupted in any way,” Madida said.
"[Nefertiti] was able to understand [things] like animals at around nine months and it was crazy. Even with my son, having that visual memory and being able to copy all kinds of pictures. So, it’s a special way of thinking, and we just did the research.”
When Madida was in grade 11, she wrote that she would one day have a son named Shaka who would be strong and confident.
Can you imagine doing this life thing where your nervous system is constantly on edge? And that’s where the meltdowns may come. You’re hearing loud sounds, for example at the airport, or it’s the bright lights and cars, or the kids making noise, and you’re finding it hard to regulate yourself from a sensory perspective
— Nandi Madida
“I was ready for motherhood, that’s the one thing that I always wanted, along with a great career. For someone who’s so career-driven, motherhood has been my biggest calling.
“Raising my children has been two very contrasting experiences because it’s two different kids. My son is a very independent soul, a very strong child, confident.
“My daughter was a completely different experience, she really needed us. She’s very attached to mom, very dainty, very delicate. Quiet, intelligent.”
Madida says it has not been all smooth sailing.
“Having to understand my kids and their way of thinking, that was something that I had to put a lot of work into. That involves a lot of different therapies, psychologists, understanding, and the way your child thinks.”
Apart from raising her children, Madida also had to deal with a potentially dangerous medical condition.
“I had a hernia after having my children. Having to go through that as well, where your body is completely damaged, it can be quite life threatening if you don’t sort that out.”
Madida said her journey with motherhood has inspired her to start an initiative to educate people about neurodivergency.
“Can you imagine doing this life thing where your nervous system is constantly on edge? And that’s where the meltdowns may come. You’re hearing loud sounds, for example at the airport, or it’s the bright lights and cars, or the kids making noise, and you’re finding it hard to regulate yourself from a sensory perspective.
“But the challenges come with gifts too. Being able to immerse yourself, to create music a lot deeper because you feel a lot more. That’s kind of the experience I’ve had as a mother.”
She also has her hands full as the host of Apple Music radio and as a singer. She plans to release music with her husband, DJ and producer Zakes Bantwini, later this year.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.