Episodes 36
Avg. Duration 1h 24m
Activity Highly Active
Since May 2023
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
90%
Hosting
rss.buzzsprout.com

About This Podcast

The Awakening Doctor podcast explores the personal stories of those who work in the medical and health professions. Each episode aims to highlight the humanity of an individual doctor or healer, and thereby challenge and transform social perceptions of the profession and the individuals who practice it. Join Dr. Maria Christodoulou as she meets with colleagues, leaders, and educators in healthcare to reveal the human side of being a medical professional.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

chapters funding person transcript

Social Media

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Recent Episodes

Dr Anne Biccard, Grand Old Lady of the ED

Jun 03, 2026 1h 28m Transcript

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…

Dr Wonderful Thabiso Khumalo, A Young Man from Katlehong

May 06, 2026 1h 36m Transcript

What are the odds that a young man from Sluma View, Katlehong, will find himself at Oxford University?Whatever they are, Dr Wonderful Thabiso Khumalo, medical doctor, Rhodes scholar, award-winning…

Chloe Hope, The End-of-Life Doula

Apr 01, 2026 1h 24m Transcript

What might change if we allowed ourselves to really be with death? If we turned towards our mortality, rather than away from it?In this episode of Awakening Doctor, host Maria Christodoulou speaks…

Sarah Stein, Being a Good Human

Mar 04, 2026 1h 16m Transcript

Before she even graduates as a doctor, final-year medical student Sarah Stein is already asking questions many doctors avoid.Her widely published article, What They Don’t Teach in Medical School, in…

Dr Lethukwenama Letsoalo, A Girl from Bergville

Feb 04, 2026 1h 10m Transcript

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we meet Dr Lethukwenama Letsoalo, a medical doctor from Bergville in rural KwaZulu-Natal, whose personal journey into medicine and public health is deeply shaped…

Dr Bianca Leigh Edwards, The Children's GP

Jan 07, 2026 1h 28m Transcript

What do you do when the plan you’re committed to doesn’t work out the way you’d hoped, but your sense of purpose stays the same? Dr Bianca Leigh Edwards - or Dr B, as she’s affectionately known by…

Prof Lydia Cairncross, Reclaiming the Feminine

Dec 03, 2025 1h 23m Transcript

From growing up among political exiles to advocating for the right to health and shaping national policy, Professor Lydia Cairncross's career traces the edges of the operating table and the front…

Prof Tasleem Ras, Leading with Community at Heart

Nov 05, 2025 1h 26m Transcript

What would the world be like if we understood that each time a patient shares their story, they are inviting us into the sacred ground of their life? What wisdom might we gain from truly listening to…

Dr Yumna Moosa, Truth-Teller

Oct 01, 2025 1h 13m Transcript

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we meet Dr Yumna Moosa, clinician-scientist, mathematician, mother, activist, and truth-teller.Fresh from her PhD graduation, Yumna speaks with striking honesty…

Dr Angela de Sá, Reclaiming the Humanity in Healthcare

Sep 03, 2025 1h 31m Transcript

What are the deeper reasons that draw us into the healing professions, and how do they shape the way we practice medicine?In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Dr Angela de Sá – family physician,…

Prof Hennie Botha, Leading with Humility

Aug 06, 2025 1h 20m Transcript

Professor Hennie Botha is a renowned gynaecological oncologist and the Executive Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Stellenbosch University. A leading clinician, teacher, mentor and researcher,…

Prof Beth Engelbrecht, Leading with Grace

Jul 02, 2025 1h 24m Transcript

Servant leadership is not a job description; it’s a way of being. One that Professor Beth Engelbrecht has embodied with rare clarity and quiet conviction across more than three decades of public…

Dr Anita Parbhoo, Leading with Heart

Jun 04, 2025 1h 25m Transcript

As a child, Dr. Anita Parbhoo waited in the car outside Cape Town’s world-renowned Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital while her father did pre-med ward rounds. Today, she leads that very same…

Dr Aisha Moolla, Doing Hard Things

May 07, 2025 1h 20m Transcript

What happens when you walk away from the life everyone expects you to live? In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Dr. Aisha Moolla shares her personal story of walking away from a career in clinical…

Dr Hloni Bookholane, Breaking Up With Medicine

Apr 02, 2025 1h 37m Transcript

Is it okay for a doctor to decide that medicine is not the nucleus of their life?In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we sit down with Dr. Hloni Bookholane, author of Becoming a Doctor: Learnings and…

Dr Rosemary Pitsi, A Heart for People

Mar 05, 2025 1h 19m Transcript

Dr. Rosemary Pitsi is a dedicated young doctor currently working at a tertiary hospital in South Africa's North West province. She is also the founder of Book Buddies, a literacy initiative for…

Prof Nomafrench Mbombo, A Bloody Difficult Woman

Feb 05, 2025 1h 44m Transcript

Prof. Nomafrench Mbombo is a distinguished leader with over three decades of experience spanning healthcare, academia, politics, and public service; a woman with an unwavering commitment to social…

Dr Moratwe Masima, A Driven Dreamer

Jan 08, 2025 1h 21m Transcript

From her achievement as the Miss South Africa runner-up in 2021 to her impactful roles as medical doctor, health advocate and social media influencer, Dr Moratwe Masima is determined to redefine what…

Prof Elma de Vries, Doing What Her Hands Find To Do

Dec 04, 2024 1h 45m Transcript

In this inspiring episode of Awakening Doctor, senior family physician and MBChB Programme Coordinator at Nelson Mandela University, Professor Elma de Vries, reflects on her journey of growing up in…

Dr Danielle Botma, A Junior Doctor

Nov 06, 2024 1h 17m Transcript

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to endure the sleepless nights and emotional highs and lows of being a doctor? In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Dr. Danielle Botma offers an intimate glimpse…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Awakening Doctor have?

Awakening Doctor has published 36 episodes since May 2023, covering topics in Education, Health & Fitness.

Is Awakening Doctor still active?

Awakening Doctor is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 1h 24m.

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