The interplay between Wnt/β-catenin signalling and WT1 dictates podocyte health and disease. Wnt/β-catenin and WT1, acting in a Yin–Yang relationship, antagonize each other. These master regulators have opposing roles in podocyte biology; their ratio dictates the state of podocyte health (differentiation) and disease (dysfunction) in vivo. Abbreviations: Fsp-1, fibroblast-specific protein 1; MMP-7, matrix metalloproteinase 7; RAS, renin–angiotensin system; TRPC6, transient receptor potential channel 6; WT1, Wilms tumour protein.