Brown Don't Frown Podcast

Brown Don't Frown is back! Season 5 drops September 2022! Make sure you hit the subscribe button and you will be notified as soon as a new episode goes live.  Inspired by my own personal journey with pregnancy and motherhood, this will be a special series covering the joys and challenges of motherhood and maternity, empowering change in childcare, mental health and the workforce. Sign up to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/186e92c0ae06/browndontfrownpodcastnewsletter.  If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please consider supporting it - all for as little as the price of a coffee! You can donate here: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod. You can find us on: Twitter - @BDFPodcast  Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast  Facebook - @browndontfrownpodcast  LinkedIn - @browndontfrownpodcast

The final episode of season 4 is here and joining us is Dina Begum, a British-Bangladeshi cook and writer who is passionate about highlighting the underrepresented recipes and authentic food traditions of Bangladesh. For Bengalis and Bangladeshis, and across much of the South Asian continent, food is inseparable from humanity, community, purpose and love. I ask Dina why food is so important to her and whether she always saw herself as a cook. Food is a very visceral experience. Flavours, spices or certain dishes can be nostalgic if we associate them with a particular memory or event. Food can symbolise traditions, rekindle a sense of identity and bring people together; that's why Bengali hospitality is second to none. We look at why food is so critical to familial spaces and what it symbolises for us. In the UK, most of what we class as “Indian food”, is curated by Bangladeshi restaurant owners and chefs. The recognition and appreciation for homemade-style food and the desire to seek out unique flavours is a more recent phenomenon which has empowered the Bangladeshi diaspora to spotlight their cuisine, rather than grouping it under “Indian” or “curry”.  Dina has written about how recipes are passed down from one generation to the next, usually not by writing them down, but by demonstrating. We consider the contrast between the observation/estimation styles of Bangladeshi cooking versus the meticulous measurements in English recipes.  Finally, we talk about our favourite Bangladeshi dishes and our three staple spices for the kitchen. You can follow Dina on Twitter: @dinasfoodstory.

Deborah Broomfield is a doctoral candidate in Women and Planning. Her research focuses on spatial inequalities, urban planning and their intersection with deprivation, race and class. Urban planning overlaps with both politics and technical knowledge because of its focus on land use and the built environment, encompassing infrastructure, water, the air we breathe, transportation, networks, and communications. Deborah talks about her career journey and how she got into urban planning later in life. I ask Deborah how she thinks urban planning will respond to the challenges we have seen during the pandemic, such as limited mobility and increased home-working and how we might respond to future environmental threats. The role of safety for women and girls in public spaces has been rising up on the public agenda, particularly since the Sarah Everard case. How do we plan more effectively with women in mind to improve our towns and cities without encroaching unreasonably on our privacy? Redesigning a city with a feminist philosophy is one where all sexes can be treated equally; it's ultimately about security and services, and being mindful of how men and women use space differently. We look at some examples of safer cities for women and how they make a difference.  We also reflect on the intersection of race and space and how the impacts of climate change affect the vulnerable and poor the hardest.  Follow Deborah on Twitter: @DebsBroomfield If you enjoy listening to this podcast, please consider supporting it so it can continue to provide you with engaging, meaningful content. You can donate via Patreon: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod.

Today's guest is Dr Lisa Mckenzie, Assistant Professor, Ethnographer and Sociologist, currently based at Durham University who has written and spoken extensively about classism, social inequality and leftist politics. We begin the conversation talking about her roots coming from a mining town in Nottingham and the pride of her working class identity growing up, defined by values of community, family, and hard work.  We speak about our unhealthy obsession with class hierarchies in the UK, and the inherent prejudice against the working class. The recent Sewell Report, albeit heavily criticised, identified the defining roles that class and geographical inequalities play in people's life chances and we talk about the intersection of class, race, ethnicity, gender and location when it comes to discrimination and inequality in the UK. Lisa speaks about her latest kickstarter project, “Lockdown Diaries of the Working Class” which comprises a collection of diary entries from 38 working class people in the first month of lockdown. She tells us about her motivations behind spotlighting the illustrations and stories of the working class. Lisa is a vocal opponent of social mobility. I ask her why she thinks it is ineffective and whether aspiration can ever be a bad thing. Cultural Capital now forms part of Ofsted's teaching framework and requires education providers to give learners “the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life”. Given its historical association with who you know, not what you know, and having the right networks, we talk about how, in some ways, it might polarise the middle and working classes by equating self-worth with an idealised way of life. Follow Lisa on Twitter: @redrumlisa. If you enjoy listening to this podcast, please consider supporting it so it can continue to provide you with engaging, meaningful content. You can donate via Patreon: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod.

Today, I am joined by Dr Fatima Rajina and Hajera Begum of Nijjor Manush, an independent campaign group which empowers and educates Bengalis and Bangladeshis in the UK.     Brick Lane's legacy is synonymous with Bangladeshi cuisine, culture and history. It is both a symbol of struggle and success for Bangladeshis, from Altab Ali to infamous curry houses and everything in-between. It's somewhere I frequented during my childhood as a Tower Hamlets resident, and now as an adult. I saw it through the lens of unadulterated fascination as a child, and now through the reality of gentrification. The Old Truman Brewery plans to build a five storey shopping complex in the middle of it. We discuss whether this gentrification of Banglatown is an inevitable response to changing consumer demand and economic growth, while also questioning the broader, underhanded motivations at play. We also talk about the potential impact of gentrification on first and second generation Bangladeshi women in East London.   We consider whether there is a sense of solidarity in the UK between different South Asian ethnic groups and also within the Bangladeshi diaspora itself. We each talk about our experiences as British Bangladeshis growing up in the UK, as well as the experiences of our families.   The portrayal of Bangladeshi, and particularly Muslim, Hijabi women in the media can be incendiary and damaging. The current mainstream feminist narrative simultaneously portrays Muslim women as threatening and oppressed, invalidating their agency and undermining their integrity. We share our perspectives on this narrative and whether we think it will ever evolve.  Follow Nijjor Manush on Twitter: @nijjormanush and Instagram: @nijjormanush.   If you enjoy listening to this podcast, please consider supporting it so it can continue to provide you with engaging, meaningful content. You can donate via Patreon: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod. 

What are the challenges of dating, particularly in pandemic times? Has the pandemic accelerated innovations to dating apps for a more realistic dating experience? Has dating culture commodified romance and set unrealistic expectations for relationships? Today, I’m joined by Nichi Hodgson, a journalist, dating expert and author of ‘The Curious History of Dating’ who answers these questions, and more.    We also talk about our long-term relationships with our respective partners and what they have meant to us during the pandemic, as well as experiences of interracial dating and sexual fluidity. We reflect on how the growing acceptance of sexual fluidity and interracial relationships has had a positive impact on tackling prejudice, discrimination, and 'otherness'.   Finally, we discuss the importance of normalising rest and relaxation and slowing down. The first lockdown compelled many of us to take a step back from our fast-paced lives and leave FOMO behind. We consider whether our collective experience as a society during this pandemic has destigmatised opening up about our mental health and how we can ensure that the government prioritises it going forward. Some of us are looking ahead to our lives post-pandemic, though equally, some of us remain anxious about the future and the risks of the virus. We share our conflicting sentiments towards socialising and what ‘going back to normal’ might mean for us.    If you enjoy listening to this podcast, please consider supporting it so it can continue to provide you with engaging, meaningful content. You can donate via Patreon: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod. To stay updated on the latest news, sign up to the BDF newsletter here.

Season 4 kicks off with Shalina Patel, an award-winning history teacher and co-founder of The History Corridor on Instagram. Shalina tells us about her career journey and what motivated her to become a history teacher. We talk about the tendency to be tokenistic when it comes to teaching diverse history, for example a gloss over the Windrush Generation or the glorification of the British Empire, without much reflection of the consequences of exploitation and racism. The relevance of these isolated stories is then buried within the broader curriculum. So I ask, how do we create spaces for important stories to be told, and, is the current teaching curriculum compatible with diverse storytelling?  Shalina shares some advice on how teachers can embed intersectionality into their teaching curriculums and widen their pupils’ perspectives. Social media is saturated with facts, opinions, controversies and conspiracies, which can confound the truth. It might mean that children and young people are misguided about what they read and understand, which can be particularly dangerous because they lack the foresight and intuition that comes with age and experience when distinguishing fact from fiction. Within that context, we discuss how teachers can uphold integrity and objectivity when it comes to teaching history. I also ask Shalina what discovery of the past has surprised her the most, what it means to her to be a feminist, and what particular intersectional, feminist piece of history inspires her.   You can follow the History Corridor on Instagram: @thehistorycorridor and you can find out more about Shalina here. To stay updated on the latest news, podcast episodes and exclusives, you can sign up to the BDF newsletter here.

Brown Don’t Frown is back! Season 4 drops on Monday 3 May! Make sure you hit the subscribe button and you will be notified as soon as a new episode goes live.  We will be bringing you six episodes and hosting some wonderful guests talking about a range of topics, including an award-winning history teacher who shares how to build a diverse and fairer teaching curriculum, a grassroots-led movement which educates Bengalis in the UK, celebrates the histories of the diaspora and challenges the issues facing women, as well as a dating expert and journalist who talks about modern dating and the benefits of a slower-paced life post-pandemic. We’ll also be featuring an Urban Planner who speaks about building feminist cities, a working class academic who argues against social mobility, and an award-winning Bangladeshi chef and writer.  Sign up to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/186e92c0ae06/browndontfrownpodcastnewsletter  If you enjoy listening to the podcast and have benefitted from it, please consider supporting it - for as little as the price of a coffee! You can donate here: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod. Follow us on: Twitter - @BDFPodcast  Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast  Facebook - @browndontfrownpodcast  LinkedIn - @browndontfrownpodcast

“Disabled people are infantilised, sensationalised or they’re just not believed.”   We end Season 3 on a thought-provoking note and I’m pleased to welcome Lucy Stafford to the show. Lucy is the Director of Patient Led Engagement for Access (PLEA), a non-profit which advocates for access to medical cannabis through mainstream healthcare. She speaks about her experience as a long-term patient of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare, life-long genetic disorder which can cause debilitating effects. Drawing from her own experiences, she explains how we can facilitate greater accessibility for those with disabilities. As an able-bodied person, the discussion makes me confront some of my own ignorances about disability.   To cope with her long-term pain and the effects of surgery, Lucy was prescribed strong opioids for a long time, until she came across medical cannabis. She tells us about her journey with pain management and how her experience with medical cannabis has differed from taking traditional prescribed pain medication. She has become an advocate for decriminalising medical cannabis for those with serious medical conditions. She talks about her work with PLEA and a new initiative called ‘Project 21.’ As someone whose life has changed for the better from medicating with Cannabis, I ask her what she would say to someone in a similar position to herself, who might be experiencing serious pain and is looking for alternatives to opioids or surgery, but is worried about the stigma attached to cannabis.     The pandemic has accelerated remote engagement, whether working, studying or socialising, and makes participation much more accessible. We think about what that might be like post-pandemic. We end with Lucy talking about the most empowering aspects of her advocacy work so far and what she has learned from it.     You can find out more about Lucy and PLEA at:  https://www.pleacommunity.org.uk/executivecommittee/lucy   You can also reach her on Instagram: @lucystaffie  and Twitter: @lucystaffie.

Today we’re joined by Adiba Jaigirdar, author of Young Adult fiction books The Henna Wars, and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating. She shares with us her journey from Bangladesh, to Saudi Arabia to Ireland, her sense of identity and belonging, and her motivations for writing.    As a Queer Brown author, whose books are about Queer Brown girls, I ask whether she had any challenges with finding an agent who she could trust to represent her and her written work. Adiba talks about personal influences and experiences which inspired the main characters in her books and what she learned about herself when bringing her characters to life. The main character, Nishat in Henna Wars, stays true to herself in the face of resentment from her family after she comes out as a Lesbian and Adiba explains what she hopes Queer teens and young Women of Colour will take away from such themes in the book.   Adiba also tells us a bit about her second novel, Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating, which comes out this summer. As a newly published author, Adiba shares some advice for aspiring Queer novelists from the South Asian, and particularly Bangladeshi, diasporas. Finally, we leave you with our gripes about mainstream feminism and thoughts on reclaiming and reframing its narrative to be inclusive of Muslim women, the Queer space, and especially Queer Women of Colour.  You can follow Adiba on Twitter @adiba_j  and Instagram @dibs_j.

Our first guest of 2021 is Sangeeta Pillai. She is the founder of Masala Podcast and Soul Sutras, a feminist platform tackling taboos in South Asian culture. South Asia is made up of diverse countries, ethnicities, cultures, faiths, and traditions. One thing that we share universally across the continent and beyond, is patriarchy. It forms a part and parcel of our social fabric. As a Keralan born Indian having spent a large part of her life in India, and now in the UK, Sangeeta talks about what intersectionality means to her and the patriarchal values which hold all women back universally.   Sangeeta has spoken openly about sexual empowerment, and while in Britain and in much of the West, sexual confidence has been reclaimed by women, the trajectory is not quite the same in South Asian countries. There is a correlation between inequality and lack of access to sexual and reproductive health facilities, which is often a barrier to sexual empowerment. By contrast, the conservative arm of feminism, both Western and Eastern, might argue the other way, and interpret sexual freedom as promiscuity and we reflect on these contrasting attitudes.   Globally, South Asian women have made significant inroads in industries including tech, medicine, scientific research and film-making. While that’s progress, we’ve also seen the personification of Indian “aunties” in mainstream television, with shows like Indian Matchmaker and Never Have I Ever, which highlight examples of internalised patriarchy. Societal structures shape our way of thinking. South Asian cultures centre around multi-generational extended families and strong communities, while in the West, the focus is on individualism and self-sufficiency. These structures still dominate women’s positioning, especially because women were designated home-makers up until relatively recently. We reflect on the impact of these structures on women and how they have evolved over time.

2020 has shown us that a world of remote working is entirely possible. But can mentorships, networking and representation be as effective over a screen?   We're excited to have Indy Sira, founder of Voices of Colour, a community action and leadership development programme for South Asian girls aged 15 to 18. The programme seeks to empower young girls by equipping them with the tools to create meaningful change within their communities and providing them with female role models through mentorships.    As someone who works at the forefront of securing mentorships for young girls, I ask Indy about her observations in terms of what they are looking for in a mentor, and whether there are particular areas which the traditional education system, parents or friends cannot provide.  If there is one piece of career advice we could give to our younger selves, it might be to network more, but how accessible is it?     Representation has changed rapidly in recent years, but growing up, I remember people from mainstream television, and certain professions like politicians, lawyers, teachers, doctors didn’t always speak, act or look like me. 36 of the 1000 most powerful people in Britain are from ethnic minorities and just 0.7% of them are BAME women and this lack of representation can have an impact on aspirations. When we see people in high places who don’t resemble us, it’s hard to feel like we belong, let alone feel good enough to pursue a career in these areas. We also discuss the role of schools, local councils and youth programmes in widening access to opportunities.   You can find Voices of Colour and Indy on Twitter @VoicesofColour1, @IndySira1. 

*Apologies in advance for the slightly off sound quality; we hope you still find the content meaningful.* What is Artificial Intelligence? What role can it play in ensuring information is factually correct (especially during a pandemic) and that data is gender disaggregated? Today I’m joined by our first honorary male guest, Freddie Kalaitzis, Senior Research Fellow in Machine Learning at the University of Oxford. We know that AI is modelled on human behaviour, and given that humans are innately biased, can we trust AI to be unbiased and neutral?  Freddie also talks about his work with Amnesty International on ‘Troll Patrol', which investigated the extent of abuse against women online.  One statistic which stood out was that Women of Colour were 34% more likely to be mentioned in abusive tweets than White women and that Black women were particularly affected, being 84% more likely than white women to be mentioned in abusive tweets.  Globally, Public Health policies have not addressed the gendered impacts of pandemics. Campaigners have argued that this research gap is caused by a lack of gender disaggregated data. Emerging evidence suggests that more men are dying, potentially due to gendered immunological or environmental differences, such as exposure to pollutants from working outside or smoking. 89% of nurses in the UK are women, emphasising the gendered nature of the healthcare workforce and the risks that women face. I ask Freddie if AI can drive information gathering techniques which simplify and enable sex disaggregated data to be collected and what solutions AI might provide in response to COVID-19.  At a time when we are saturated with news and information at our fingertips, AI could play a crucial role in preventing misinformation. Finally, Freddie reminds us why we should be mindful that correlation doesn’t always mean causation. 

In this candid episode, I am joined by Madhu Kapoor and Shenaly Amin from Mental Wealth, a Mental Health peer support group for South Asians aged 30+, and Sonam Patel of its sister organisation, Reroute, for younger South Asians. We explore Mental Health through the themes of migration, awareness and accessibility, cultural stigma and familial expectations.     South Asian communities are more likely to experience poverty, have fewer educational and work opportunities, and experience language and other communication barriers by virtue of integrational struggles. These social, economic, and cultural struggles can heighten mental health risks. Improving uptake of mental health services by ethnic minorities is a longstanding challenge for public health providers and we look at how health and social policies should factor these variables into their objectives. Reflecting on our personal mental health experiences, we recognise the importance of raising awareness and making mental health services more accessible for our communities.     Depression and mental illness are rarely spoken about in South Asian communities, and those who do speak about them can feel worn down by the judgment of others. Nonetheless, the younger generation have made significant inroads to help us collectively ‘unlearn’ these traditions and outlooks and Mental Wealth has revealed that attitudes among older generations are actually shifting. Particularly, with women, there’s a strong link between mental health and hormonal changes. For example, the menopause can have a series of mental impacts, such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and emotional distress, alongside the physical effects. Speaking from her own experience, Madhu explains why we need to show more compassion and openness towards it. We also consider the impact of intergenerational families on women’s wellbeing and the negative mental health consequences of idolising the “self-sacrificial” woman.

In this raw, frank, and necessary episode, writer Angie Crystal talks about the incoming societal change driven by the resurgence of Black Lives Matter. Five months on from the killing of George Floyd, we discuss the symbolism of BLM as a movement. We talk about intersectional story-telling, and I ask Angie Crystal whether, as a Black British woman, she feels any dissonance between #BlackLivesMatter and mainstream Feminism. She feels that there is a lack of intersectionality, because colour is removed from the narrative, which disproportionately affects Black women due to the compounding of gender, race, colourism and history. For example, the Gender Pay Gap has been widely publicised, but the Ethnicity Pay Gap, between White men and Black women hasn’t received the same traction. We look at the shortcomings of the #MeToo movement, the distinction between performative allyship and true allyship, and the importance of acknowledging (and reckoning with) one’s own privilege. We ask: will the UK ever get behind its colonial past? Angie Crystal explains why there needs to be an open and honest conversation around our roots of wealth. Slave-owner compensation is archived in British history. In the same vein, are reparations justifiable, or would they undermine the empowerment and agency of Black people and indict them into a dark past? We discuss how decolonising the curriculum in schools is fundamental to curbing denialism and consider how it can be embedded at an institutional level.  We explore the correlation between economic inequality and systemic racism, both in the UK and the US. With this example, we question whether challenging racism exclusively through the lens of ideology or identity politics, rather than through systemic change can be counterproductive. We end on a deeply sombre yet poignantly brave note, as Angie Crystal recounts her father being killed while living and working in the US while she, with her mother and sister, were in the UK. She reflects on the ghost of things unsaid and her sense of displacement at the unsolved mystery, and still no closure. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing, we must unlearn the desensitisation of trauma and instant gratification we've been taught by social media, and learn to live with greater purpose.

The Women’s Environmental Network seeks to enable equality through the intersection of gender and the environment. In conversation with Natasha Piette-Basheer and Shaheda Aziz, I ask: firstly, how do we achieve environmental justice? And secondly, how do we make it intersectional? Natasha tells me how WEN amplifies the conversation around reusables and plastic free period products. Their “Environmenstrual Week” campaign runs from 19 - 25 October. “It’s about making people feel empowered to make informed choices about menstruation products” she says. Large companies currently dominate the market share in period products. During my recent trip to the supermarket, the sanitary products aisle was dominated by popular brand names, whereas I don’t think I even spotted reusables, for example, moon cups, unless I looked at the bottom. I ask if there are any cross-organisational initiatives that WEN partners with to raise the visibility of toxicity-free reusables. In response, WEN is lobbying big manufacturers to include reusables in their business model and has developed a helpful toolkit and template letter for consumers to ask for greater transparency from retailers and manufacturers.  Shaheda speaks passionately about the ‘Soil Sisters’ project, which brings together domestic violence sufferers across women’s refuges in East London through weekly therapeutic gardening sessions. She visits their homes and facilitates sessions comprising horticulture, as well as cooking, arts and crafts. A wholesome example of ecofeminism in action, Shaheda explains how she entered this space with the utmost respect for these women, offering healing through garden therapy, but with realistic expectations from the outset. In doing so, she was able to form organic friendships with the women, which reinforced a sense of collectivism and sisterhood, and created an environment where women could be happy just being themselves.

When you think of bereavement, what three words spring to your mind? I’m joined by Callsuma Ali, host of Bereavement Room podcast. We look at the positives and negatives of how bereavement is addressed within the South Asian, and particularly British Bangladeshi community. Drawing from our own bereavement experiences, we both share our positive sentiments of the sense of togetherness and its symbolism through food. By contrast, we recognise the double standards which often prevent women from attending funerals, coloured by the stereotype that they grieve too hysterically. We examine its historical basis, both from a cultural and religious perspective. Counselling and psychotherapy are rarely spoken about among ethnic minorities due to the stigma of publicising vulnerability. Given her background in counselling and bereavement support, I ask Callsuma about whether attitudes to needing ‘help’ are shifting.   There are assumptions around South Asian family dynamics, including  intergenerational living, with younger family members helping their elderly parents. This can be a barrier to accessing external help, for example a visiting nurse, home care assistance or hospice care. We look at how to make our voices heard so that such misconceptions no longer continue.

We begin Season 3 with Climate Change Activist and Co-Executive Director of Green New Deal UK, Fatima-Zahra Ibrahim. No previous war or recession has resulted in such a rapid decline in emissions as we’ve seen during COVID-19. We therefore ask: is it a real catalyst for addressing climate change?    We explore Bangladesh as a case study for environmental migration, namely how Mongla, a port town on its south coast is an attractive alternative to an overcrowded and environmentally endangered Dhaka.   We talk about optics, the polarised public perception of Extinction Rebellion, and how impactful activist campaigns are in engendering real change. We also consider how we can address the lack of representation and diversity in climate change activism. I invite Fatima to talk more about Green New Deal UK, and whether a Green New Deal is indeed compatible with the dominant political and economic system of our time: Capitalism. We discuss how environmental policies can be embedded within strategies to address the pandemic-induced economic crisis and wider inequality.    Finally, we look at the steps we can take, on an individual scale, to be more climate conscious.

This was a live podcast originally broadcast on 13 August 2020 in collaboration with #SouthAsianHeritageMonth.  From Gujuratis in Harrow and Wembley, Punjabis in Southall and Handsworth, Bangladeshis in Tower Hamlets and Pakistanis in Bradford and Sparkhill, South Asians form the fabric of British society, influencing the development of communities, infrastructure and services. In this special episode, Brown Don't Frown and BAME in Property share your housing stories. We unpack the experiences of social housing, community cohesion, financial decision-making, cultural and social mobility, sexism and inter-generational living as told through your voices. Following our discussion, we open up the floor to our audience, where we answer questions and facilitate an interactive discussion.  Continue the conversation by using the hashtags #OurStoriesMatter and #SAHM and tag us on Twitter: @BDFpodcast, @BAMEinProp, Instagram: @browndontfrownpodcast, @bameinproperty and LinkedIn: Brown Don’t Frown podcast, BAME in Property. 

In the final episode of season 2, I sit down with Artostry, a spoken-word poet and artist. We examine the implication of necessity rather than pleasure during sex education at school, and how as young girls and women we experienced stigma around openly discussing the female anatomy. The language we use reinforces gender stereotypes around sex which is why embedding neutrality in our communication is integral to sex positivity for women.    Secondly, we discuss pleasure. Why is female masturbation still the most stigmatised aspect of modern sexuality?  Why are women still subject to a double standard with casual sex? How do we reclaim our agency when it comes to pleasure?  Thirdly, we consider power. Are men more sexually empowered than women? Do gender norms, such as the notion that men are aggressive and women are submissive, create an uneven power play in sexual relations between men and women? We leave you with some of our thoughts on consent and its definitional challenges.

Shirin Shah and Sheetal Mistry of South Asian Sisters Speak join me to review Netflix’s ‘Never Have I ever’. What initially emerges as trivial teenage satire quickly becomes a bastion of embracing imperfection.   We talk about the raw portrayal of miscommunication, resentment and high expectations which so often define South Asian mother-daughter relationships. We explore the struggle between tradition, familial expectations and individuality through Kamala’s decision to choose an arranged marriage over her boyfriend. We also discuss the South Asian diaspora’s interrelationship with its various cultures and faiths, and consider the example of the divorcee who was shunned for marrying a Muslim. We discuss whether this type of “infighting” accurately represents the relationship between Hindus and Muslims today.    While representation is about personal experience, we felt there were several missed opportunities which could have challenged these anti-Muslim and arranged marriage stereotypes instead of vindicating them.   Finally, we talk about the side-effects of grief: anger and trauma. Through these themes,  ‘Never Have I Ever’ shows us that protagonists can be flawed. They are human, after all. 

Today, Busayo Twins and I discuss white denialism, colourism and the desensitisation of black trauma. Though minorities are grouped under ‘BAME’ for our ‘otherness’, it does not account for cultural, ethnic, religious and racial diversity. Does ‘BAME’ mask our lack of progression against anti-blackness? Busayo also explains why seeing Diversity & Inclusion policies as an ‘add on’ will not enable transformative change.    Black Lives Matter has empowered South Asian communities to challenge the stigma of dark skin. I ask Busayo whether she thinks it will also challenge the colourism faced within black communities and perceptions around skin-tone hierarchy for good.  There is a sense of numbness and desensitisation around black trauma. How can we collectively work together to change that?  Does the narrative that only white people have the power to change things legitimise white superiority?  Does it take away black people’s agency and undermine black excellence? We conclude that this way of thinking deflects from structural racism. While black people have leverage over their oppression with the power to change some things, black excellence and black struggle are not mutually exclusive. The change must be institutional.

In part II, Saint Santana, Abi and I pose various questions. How can we educate ourselves to be more tolerant, inclusive and respectful towards transgender and non-binary people? Are gender neutral toilets a distraction? Is the grouping of ‘‘LGBTQ” otherising? Can trans-exclusionary radical feminists be feminists? Are JK Rowling’s tweets transphobic? Should we normalise gender neutral pronouns?  We talk about the delicate balance between mindset, experience and, ultimately, human decency. Even though we might not always understand difference, we can certainly learn to respect it.

In this two part mini-series, I sit down with Saint Santana, who identifies as a trans man, and Abi, who identifies as a bisexual woman.  I wanted to facilitate an open discussion around gender, sex, sexuality, and womanhood, firstly, to challenge our ingrained heteronormative societal constructs; and, secondly, because I wanted to address some of my own ignorances.  In part I, we explore the links between gender, sex and sexuality. We discuss self-expression, equity vs equality, double standards, gender norms, sexual freedom, transgender experiences, and bisexuality. Saint sets the scene with his very philosophical take: gender occurs in the brain, sex occurs in the genitals and orientation occurs in the heart...

Is discussing football at work sexist? Should wolf-whistling be illegal?   On today’s episode Lawyer Ellie and I explore ‘Political Correctness' and its interrelationship with Feminism. We posit Feminism as a means of exercising free choice, having opportunity, and - respecting others - a core tenet of political correctness. We talk about the historical significance of political correctness, how it shapes discourse today and whether the current interpretation of it is sustainable in the long-term.    We share our own experiences to help illustrate how at one end, political correctness can be used to manipulate conversation, exacerbate hypersensitivities and polarise views, while at the other end, it can help to build tolerance and inclusivity. Ultimately, we realise that it is about compromise, decency and common sense.  

Journalist and former Brexit Party parliamentary candidate Inaya Folarin Iman and I sit down over Zoom and ponder over the UK’s current political climate and public accountability during COVID-19. We start off discussing our fixation with identity politics and how to overcome it. I also ask Inaya why she believes in Brexit and whether her experience with the Brexit Party felt any different as a woman of colour.  We reflect on Conservatism and Feminism and ask whether they are mutually exclusive. We talk through the objectives of Intersectional Feminism and examine the tacit hierarchies of morality and ‘victimhood’. We then look at the significance of freedom of speech and its compatibility with truth and lasting peace. In doing so, we recognise that as individuals, we only hold part of the truth and that exchanging contrasting views enables original thinking beyond the political binaries of good vs evil, conservatives vs socialists or oppressor vs oppressed. In the midst of this pandemic, we see how dissent, scrutiny and even partisanship help us to hold our leaders accountable.

What is Foreign Policy? How can it be Feminist? Does it only work for one sex or can it work for everybody? How do the states and institutions which claim to be the proponents of feminist foreign policy ensure it is ethical and inclusive? Climate Change Journalist Sharlene Gandhi and I examine how feminist foreign policy can be a tool to reshape our conventional thinking: from balancing production and climate change, to the delicacy of trade relations, to the significance of women’s participation in global peace talks, and everything in between. Using Canada and Sweden as examples, we look at the positives and negatives of feminist foreign policies. We also critique how capitalistic ideals have pushed for women’s economic independence without their participation or feedback, or regard for their cultural livelihoods, health and safety, or their children’s well-being. We advocate an intersectional approach to foreign policy which has regard to the historical structural power relations as well as gender inequality, and one that continually adapts the narrative in line with the world’s rapidly-changing priorities.

Kicking off the new season, Ilaria Minucci and I explore what feminism might look like for the next generation. We begin by looking at how information has been consumed differently by Gen Z and Millenials and how this could impact their views of the world. We acknowledge the inherently circumstantial nature of women’s issues and examine why mainstream feminism is no longer seen as a monolith to which we should all conform. We also pose existential questions about the future compatibility of capitalism and feminism, i.e. fast fashion and cheap labour, sexism in the private and public spheres, and ultimately, the role of intersectionality in the future of feminism. 

The disruption caused by Coronavirus only signals what’s yet to come. In the hopes of reassuring you that you are not alone in the challenges you face, in this special episode, my friends and family from different backgrounds and countries share their Whatsapp voice notes. They talk about how they have been impacted and provide tips on staying sane, managing mental and physical health, looking out for others and maintaining productivity during self-isolation. Hopefully, the COVID-19 pandemic will enable us to reflect and practise greater gratitude for our access to home comforts, food and technology. And who knows, perhaps it will be a catalyst for resetting the world as we know it altogether...

In the final episode of Season 1, I’m joined by Katie Taylor, Junior Editor of a publishing house focussing on books about mental health and well-being. Although the publishing industry is largely dominated by women, we look at how their prevalence dissipates at the senior and executive levels. We question tick-box BAME representation in publishing, rattle the cage on toxic masculinity, and explore writing as a safe space. I also grill Katie on the criteria for getting a book published. 

We want to live life with purpose and good intentions, but social media, uncapped advertising and capitalism have left many of us feeling vulnerable when it comes to our self-acceptance, as we find ourselves on the hamster wheel of external approval to validate our own existence. Join myself and Hanita, as we explore our jouneys through self-reflection, from being young teenage rebels to feeling comfortable in our own skin today.

Join me with my friend and former colleague, Immigration Barrister Zoe Bantleman as we discuss the UK Immigration System's impact on women. We start off with domestic violence and asylum and end with the challenges faced by both migrant women in work and British women with migrant partners, such as the gender pay gap, migrant worker salary requirements, maternity leave, the EU Settlement Scheme and of course, life post-Brexit. 

Recent ONS figures reveal that the number of women not having children has nearly doubled within a generation. Bianca Mihaes and I unpack societal norms and take a detour from the well-trodden path of marriage, children and the traditional family unit. As the definition of family widens through cohabitation, adoption, late parenthood, same-sex marriage and single-parenting, we also discuss our own interpretations of family and its cultural significance as Bengali and Romanian women.

I talk with Alisha Fisher, co-founder of Black Females in Architecture and www.migrantsbureau.com, and Lynne Egwuekwe, Actor, Digital Marketer and founder of Black Girls’ Sewing Circle about the representation of WOC in the creative industries. We unearth some scary statistics, debunk common myths and question the future of the creative space.

In this episode, I'm joined once again by Zed and Ali of www.canttouchmycrown.com.  We talk about that ever-pressing question we get asked. Join us as we explain where we're "really" from.  Disclaimer: In case it wasn't clear enough in the podcast, Zed and I don't side with Nigerians or Ghanaians when it comes to Jollof rice. We like both. 

Having both lost a parent, Heather Waterfield and I talk about the impact of losing my mother as a child and Heather tells me about the anxiety and sadness she experienced when her father was mentally unwell. We dissect the gender stereotyping projected on society which clouds the ability to grieve on our own terms. We also explore the sentiments behind "moving on" and "getting over it" and consider whether the 'stiff upper lip' mentality enables toxic masculinity and male suicide. 

Jamaican Muslim Adelah Bilal and I discuss Adelah's motivation for wearing the hijab, how it can be a barrier between herself and non-Muslim women, and defining 'liberation'. We talk about the importance of not only interrogating ourselves when it comes to our own beliefs, but challenging others to challenge their own preconceptions about the hijab, such as its association with oppression and patriarchy. We also chat about my day wearing a hijab and Adelah's mission to make Yoga accessible.

Today I'm joined by Riannah Gayle. As believers of meritocracy and diversity and as WOC, we deserve our achievements because we've earned them, in spite of our gender/race. Yet when we are tokenised, it undermines our intelligence. Having both worked in the legal/financial sectors, which have historically been catered towards middle class, white men, join us as we discuss our experiences in the workplace and how Riannah confronts the uncomfortable 'angry black woman' stereotype.

In the first episode of Brown Don’t Frown, I’m joined by Z and Ali of www.canttouchmycrown.com. Join us as we talk and laugh about growing up as Asian and Black British women in the UK.