Push and Pull: Welcome to the Power Paradox

Confidently posing for Insta but then quietly collapsing in the car? Nailing the interview but then panicking you’ll fail dismally at the job? That’s the strange inner conflict that South African women contend with, every day. On the outside, many of us feel more powerful, visible, and confident. But on the inside, the pressure is ever mounting – the expectation that we need to be strong, all the time. That feeling of being constantly watched or judged. Some of us, like today’s guest, actually are. And the audience have no mercy. Lynn Forbes is many things. Lovingly known as “AKA’s Mom”, Glammy, Advocate & Ferocious survivor. But most importantly, she is a woman who put her self-preservation first. Lynn candidly shares her experience with show host and Anele’s close friend, Pilani Bubu, the SAMA award-winning musician, TV presenter and entrepreneur is no stranger to public scrutiny. Together, this tremendous trio unpack the Power Paradox, one of the key insights revealed by the First for Women Her & Now Report. They view the Paradox from their perspective but one that most woman can relate to: the loud public noise that’s compounded by the brutal inner voice, often the harshest critic. In fact, according to the Report, 68% of women say they judge themselves more than anyone else judges them and 90% say people assume they can handle everything just because they seem resilient. This ‘seeming’ is pivotal to the paradox – the way we seem vs. how we actually feel. Stay tuned for what promises to be the first of many insightful and inspiring episodes in this unmissable podcast series. Read the full First for Women Her & Now Report 2025 here: https://www.firstforwomen.co.za/?utm_... Powered by 1st for Women Insurance Learn more about car insurance made for women: https://www.firstforwomen.co.za/car-i... Home insurance made for women: https://www.firstforwomen.co.za/produ... Business insurance made for women: https://www.firstforwomen.co.za/busin... Pet insurance made for women: https://www.firstforwomen.co.za/pet-i... The First for women Foundation: https://www.firstforwomen.co.za/found... ________________________________________ 📲 Follow the conversation: 1st for Women Facebook: Facebook: 1stforWomen Instagram: Instagram: 1stforwomen X: https://x.com/firstforwomen Anele Mgudlwa Instagram: Instagram: zintathu X: https://x.com/anele Lynn Forbes Instagram: Instagram: lynnforbesza Facebook: Facebook: lynnforbesza X: https://x.com/lynnforbesza Pilane Bubu Instagram: Instagram: pilanibubu Facebook: Facebook: PilaniBubu ________________________________________ 0:00 – Introduction to Push and Pull. 0:52 – The complexity of personal bios and self-presentation. 8:04 – Past experiences and family backgrounds. 11:18 – Personal reflections on loss, grief, and parental death. 18:25 – Intentional connection with aging parents. 20:00 – Dating dynamics across generations. 23:40 – Redefining grief. 27:12 – Resentment born from being the "strong one." 28:51 – Exploring the balance between community/care culture and individual self-preservation. 32:45 – Personal accountability and moving away from self-abandonment.