A rural village, a small radio, and a grandmother determined to raise global citizens. That's where Emeritus Professor Gubela Badhakazi Mji's story begins - and where her lifelong commitment to dignity, inclusion and Indigenous knowledge first takes root.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we explore the enduring impact of colonisation on identity and knowledge, the relationship between Indigenous and biomedical worldviews, and how language, culture and belonging shape our understanding of health and one another.

Along the way, Prof. Mji reflects on the experiences that shaped her - from growing up under apartheid and finding her voice in academia to becoming one of South Africa's leading scholars in disability, rehabilitation and Indigenous knowledge systems. She shares the Indigenous concept of umoya, reflects on health as a matter of relationships, and offers profound insights into leadership, mentorship and the practice of "erring on the side of love" when life feels uncertain.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about reclaiming forgotten wisdom, questioning inherited assumptions, and imagining a more humane future for healthcare.

Image credit: Damien Schumann.

Listen to Prof. Mji's TEDx Talk, “How can we make disability research accessible in Africa?" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZVsFmpMW6w

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Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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What does it take to move beyond inherited roles and identities and become more fully ourselves?

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, host Maria Christodoulou speaks with Dr Albert Viljoen, a medical doctor turned leadership coach and facilitator, about courage, identity, belonging, and the ongoing journey of becoming fully human.

Albert shares his personal story of growing up with a doctor father, going to medical school, and stepping into the intensity and emotional demands of clinical practice in South Africa. He reflects on the burnout that forced him to confront his limits, the realisation that the life he had planned was not the life he wanted, and the courage it took to listen inwardly and begin choosing a life that felt true.

From clinical medicine to leadership coaching, and from South Africa to the UK, Albert’s journey is one of moving beyond inherited expectations. He speaks openly about growing up in a traditional Afrikaans Christian family, coming out as gay, navigating questions of culture, sexuality, and privilege, and learning to embrace the parts of himself he once felt he had to hide.

Together, Maria and Albert explore the many “boxes” we inherit and inhabit: the professional expectations, family stories, cultural identity, and beliefs about health, gender, race, success, and responsibility that shape who we are supposed to be.

This is a conversation about the difference between being polished and being present; between appearing capable and allowing ourselves to be fully human. It explores why saying “I don’t know,” setting boundaries, asking for support, and making space for creativity can be acts of courage rather than signs of inadequacy.

A thoughtful and intimate exploration for anyone standing at a threshold, questioning old definitions of success, or longing to live and lead with greater honesty, visibility, and presence.

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If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small, and your support means the world to us. Thank you for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Dr Anne Biccard has spent nearly three decades working on the frontlines of South Africa’s healthcare system, much of that time in the intensity and unpredictability of the emergency department. In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Anne speaks candidly about the stubborn determination that carried her through medical school, the realities of life in the ED, and the emotional cost of always having to “be the adult in the room.”

With characteristic humour, insight, and vulnerability, she shares stories of difficult resuscitations, surviving trauma, burnout, and even a bullet to the chest, and the important role that writing, music, rescue animals, and life on a farm play in helping her maintain perspective.

We reflect on the culture of medicine in South Africa, the persona doctors construct in order to cope, and the delicate balance between detachment and empathy that emergency medicine requires.

Wise, wry, and deeply thoughtful, Anne's story offers a rare glimpse into both the visible and invisible life of an emergency room doctor. Join us for a moving exploration of what it means to care for others while striving not to lose sight of oneself.

Dr Anne Biccard is the author of three medical memoirs: Holding My Breath, Saving a Stranger’s Life, and One Call Away.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small, and your support means the world to us. Thank you for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast