TGE Media The Great Equalizer

The Great Equalizer

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
Monthly English Explicit South Africa Kids & Family · Relationships Narrated by Production: Autumn Aperture ARGH! Studios Editor: Ray Herbst Sound Stephen Kriel
119 Episodes
60 – 80

Episode 54 – FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS! because we're celebrating Galentine's Day

LADIES CELEBRATING LADIES! This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam has a date with destiny, Charlene’s deep in the forest, and we chat about female friendships (in the month of LUUUURVE) because this week it's GALENTINE'S DAY. What's Galentine's Day, you ask? It's only the best day of the year!…
9 Feb 2020 49 min

Episode 52: HINDSIGHT! Is 2020

HINDSIGHT IS… 2020 This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam has a birthday (whoop whoop), Charlene has a handle on things (for now) and we discuss whether hindsight can really bring you insight when it comes to being a mom. The best thing about parenting is that you eventually become…
26 Jan 2020 57 min

Episode 51: WATER SAFETY! With Olympic Swimming Legend Ryk Neethling

This week on The Great Equalizer… Sam needs some alone time, Charlene is tired of being bullied, and we talk WATER SAFETY with Olympic swimming legend and CEO of The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Ryk Neethling. This episode is TGE’s last hurrah for 2019… And it’s a biggie. As…
18 Dec 2019 41 min

Episode 50: FESTIVE BURNOUT! Why we love to hate the end of the year

This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam scares the bejesus out of her child (again), Charlene is done with birthday parties and we call a spade a spade. That's right, folks. We've had enough of December and we're calling BS on the festive season. Can we all just admit that…
13 Dec 2019 1 hr 03 min

Episode 49 : THE FOURTH TRIMESTER! with NurtureOne co-founder Jenny Spiro

This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam reaches the point of no return, Charlene feels like a new mom, and we head on back to the most upside-down of the upside-downs… The Fourth Trimester (dum-dum-duuuuuuuuuuuuum). Guys, your TGE hosts (Sam and Charlene) have been putting off this topic for a…
29 Nov 2019 1 hr 02 min

Episode 48 – CHRISTMAS! With Honest Toys' Rosa Krauss

FEAR NOT, FOLKS! This Christmas, TGE’s got your back. If (like us) you’re pulling a lastminute.com on Christmas 2019, you’re gonna wanna listen to this week’s episode. Stay chill, calm your farm and pour yourself a gluhwein, guys, because we are NOT losing sleep over gifts this year. In this…
22 Nov 2019 48 min

Episode 47: SOLO PARENTING! Featuring Sam's estranged husband Ray

This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam's potty mouth bites her in the ass, MAYDAY MAYDAY we're losing Charlene and... We chat SOLO PARENTING, putting Sam’s estranged husband @ray.herbst in the hotseat. Because we’re a podcast that a) doesn’t man bash and b) hates to exclude anyone of any race,…
15 Nov 2019 48 min

Episode 46: HEY! RU OK!? with a story from a mom who's not okay

This week on The Great Equalizer, we ask… HEY? RU OK!? It’s been several weeks since THAT video of Meghan Markle (AKA, the Duchess of Sussex) went viral. If you’re one of the few who haven’t watched it – and you must – it’s honest-to-goodness the very reason we started The…
8 Nov 2019 35 min

Episode 45: KIDLIT 2.0! Showcasing our fave local finds for 2019

This week on The Great Equalizer... Sam goes to the principal's office, Charlene is the picture of patience and WORD NERDS UNITE AGAIN! This year marked the 20th anniversary of Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo – one of the most iconic books of our generation and the start of several more…
2 Nov 2019 1 hr 06 min

Episode 40: SPANKING! with a splash of mom shame

This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam could do with a bigger pillow (to scream into), Charlene is going to jail and we talk SPANKING (with a splash of mom shame). The recent Constitutional Court ruling that outlaws the “reasonable and moderate chastisement of children” has us feeling all the…
28 Sep 2019 58 min

Episode 39 – LET'S ALL LEARN FROM LUKE with Jess Roberts

This week on The Great Equalizer, it’s downhill to year-end and Sam is HERE for it. Charlene, on the other hand, is getting too much sleep (HUH!?). We also chat about about the TGE ethos (leading up to our first birthday) PLUS, most importantly, Sam talks to Learning from Luke's…
20 Sep 2019 1 hr 09 min

Ep 38: Future - Proof Your Child With Nikki Bush

This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam relays her journey to being crowned Mom of the Year, Charlene survived the wedding (in case you were wondering) and we talk future-proofing your child with human potential and parenting expert Nikki Bush. Every child will ask their parent what they think they…
14 Sep 2019 1 hour

Bonus Episode 5: #ENOUGH with Genevieve Putter Of The New Normal

This week on the Great Equalizer, Sam flies solo at the end of #hellweek in South Africa. Luckily, post-partum doula and founder of The New Normal Genevieve Putter swoops in to relieve Sam from 60 minutes of monologuing. It truly has been a week from hell. For those of you…
6 Sep 2019 1 hr 07 min

Ep 37: Cloth Nappies – What Do You Do With All That Poo?

This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam is chilled like a lemon, Charlene is ready for some nuptials and the duo pull their heads out of the sand and talk Modern Cloth Nappies with South African Cloth Nappy Users founder Catherine Dowie. Guys, the intention is NOT to make anyone…
17 Aug 2019 1 hr 17 min

Ep. 36: WOMEN'S DAY 2019 – You strike a woman, you strike a rock

'WATHINT' ABAFAZI, WATHINT' IMBOKODO' This week on The Great Equalizer, Sam's faith in humanity is restored, Charlene takes her weekends back, and Sam argues with Charlene about why Women's Day in South Africa is a crock of public holiday, cutesy hallmark card bullshit. Hands up now, who agrees?
8 Aug 2019 1 hr 02 min
60 – 80