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Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics
In this episode of Mid Atlantic, host Roifield Brown sits down with Sangeeta Pillai, feminist changemaker and host of Masala Podcast, to tackle a troubling facet of artificial intelligence: its impact on body image. The conversation centers around AI-generated beauty standards and their capacity to amplify already damaging ideals perpetuated by social media and advertising.Sangeeta's recent article sparked the discussion, highlighting how AI beauty pageants reflect narrow, harmful notions of beauty—thin, white, and hypersexualized. They examine the role of AI in reinforcing societal biases, particularly its lack of diversity and the troubling implications for young people growing up surrounded by such unrealistic portrayals. With studies showing that children as young as six worry about their weight, the conversation paints a stark picture of the psychological toll these developments could take. They also delve into AI's role in dating, the commercialisation of "perfect" bodies, and the urgent need for regulation in a fast-moving, ethically murky space.Roifield and Sangeeta leave listeners pondering whether humanity can reclaim authenticity in an era increasingly defined by artificial perfection. While the conversation highlights the downsides, it also underscores the importance of sparking debate now—before AI's effects on self-image spiral out of control.Notable Quotes:"Imagine if you take the worst ideas of beauty and let AI amplify them—that's where we're heading." – Sangeeta Pillai"A six-year-old child looking in the mirror thinking, 'I need to be thinner'? That's insane." – Sangeeta Pillai"What AI does is strip out what makes us human: our imperfections, the very things that make us beautiful." – Sangeeta Pillai"When we don't ask ethical questions about AI now, it's like letting the train leave the station—soon, it'll be too late." – Roifield Brown"We're not just addicted to technology; we're replacing human connection with it—and it's making us lonelier than ever." – Sangeeta PillaiFurther Reading:Sangeeta Pillai's article on AI beauty pageants and body image issues: Soul SutrasStudies on AI and body image: The Bulimia ProjectEU's AI Act and its approach to regulating emerging technologies: European Commission AI ActFor a deep dive into these issues and more, subscribe to Masala Podcast or follow Sangeeta Pillai on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Helloooo, and welcome to Season 8 of Mads World! You're about to listen to Soul Sutras: South Asian Sisterhood & Tackling Taboo with Sangeeta Pillai! This week I am joined by podcaster, activist, writer and speaker, Sangeeta Pillai. Sangeeta is the founder of the South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras, which is all about tackling taboos within the culture. She's the creator of Masala Podcast, seen as one of the top feminist podcasts in the UK, featuring truly diverse experiences and voices. Sangeeta is a 5 times winner at the British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022, as well as winner at the Audio Production Awards 2022.She is a winner at Spotify SoundUp 2018 and was also nominated “change-maker” at the Visionary Awards 2022. Masala Podcast & Sangeeta have been featured on BBC Radio, The Guardian, The Observer, Evening Standard, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, Eastern Eye, Huffington Post, BBC Sounds, Brown Girl Magazine, Women's Health Austria, Deccan Herald India & more. Sangeeta is also the creator of the Masala Monologues series of writing workshops and theatre shows in the UK & the US.In this episode, we chat about Sangeeta's funniest date story, her influences as a feminist, how she finds the strength to view taboo subjects in a critical way, where the stigma and shame might stem from in South Asian communities, the importance of creating safe spaces and much more. Click here to find Mads World social media, submit questions to the website, or buy me a coffee.Cover Art: VeredienMusic: The.Jones.Project_93 Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/mads-world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart is talking with Sangeeta Pillai from the award-winning Masala Podcast about what it is like to create a podcast that talks about taboo content. Sangeeta has important messages to share about diversity, feminism, and inclusion. She shares those messages today, as well as her experience winning multiple British Podcast Awards. Sangeeta talks about her journey into podcasting, what it is like to be backed by Spotify, and how podcasting should change. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What is the Masala Podcast and who is Sangeeta Pillai? Creating a podcast to inspire change Exploring a taboo subject in a constructive, positive way Bringing women of color into feminist conversations The organic evolution of the formatting of a podcast The importance of season breaks Promotion, marketing, and keeping creative control The experience of winning a British Podcast Award Supporting creators of color and from different backgrounds Resources/Links: Masala Podcast: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/top-feminist-podcast-masalapodcast-mediakit/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos Clubhouse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8729ZpWpmIw
Sangeeta Pillai from Soul Sutras and the award-winning feminist Masala Podcast talks to us about the way in which sex and sexual matters relating to menopausal and postmenopausal women are even more taboo in the South Asian community than they are elsewhere. She points out that India has a rich history of sexual exploration and practice, which goes back thousands of years to some of the temples in which sex was celebrated to the Kama Sutra and other traditions. At some point, with the rise of the patriarchy and the arrival of the British, it was driven out of public life and made taboo (a word which itself has a colonial history, introduced by Captain James Cook, from the Tongan language).Her podcast is designed to break some of these taboos, and to discuss sex in all its varieties within the South Asian community and beyond. We talk about how sex and the over 40s is a subject frowned upon in all communities and societies right across the world. We in the West have gained a certain privilege and made some steps forward in sexual matters, but there is still a long way to go – particularly with the idea of sex and older people. The struggle continues!www.soulsutras.co.ukTwitter: Soul_SutrasInsta: soulsutrasFacebook: SoulSutrasNetworkYouTube: Soul SutrasBRITISH PODCAST AWARDS WINNERMasala Podcast Available on Spotify, Apple & CastboxThanks for reading Sex Advice for Seniors! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sexadviceforseniors.com
This week is a feminist activist who is breaking down taboos for South Asian and British Asian women everywhere. She hosts the phenomenally successful (and award winning!) Masala Podcast. Sangeeta Pillai aims to de-shame sex, sexuality, periods & other taboos within her culture. And we find what a bad Betis really is. Plus Miranda delves into our minds as she discusses what we're REALLY thinking about when we have sex. Make sure you follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode, and of course, give us a cheeky five star rating. To send us your listener stories, or if you just wanna say hi, drop us an email at smutdrop@metro.co.uk You can also find us on Twitter & Instagram; @smutdrop @miri_kane @metro.co.uk @soulsutras Smut Drop is produced by Pineapple Audio Production for Metro.co.uk
“Who’s a strong South Asian woman? Meet Poorna Bell who talks about getting into powerlifting and how that helped her see her body and herself differently.” We’re talking about strong women on this episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Sangeeta Pillai chats with Poorna Bell, an award-winning journalist & author who is also a powerlifter. Poorna won her first powerlifting competition aged 40. Poorna and Sangeeta talk about the concept of womxn being physically strong. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Poorna Bell Masala Podcast
“Grief. Sometimes we just can’t find the words for the intensity of our emotions. Talking about grief can be difficult in any language. And for those of us whose language of birth is different to our adopted language, this can be even harder.” Grief is the theme on this episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Sangeeta Pillai chats with Mona Arshia: a poet, novelist and essayist. Mona is a regular on the radio & her work has been published in several prestigious publications. In this episode, Mona & Sangeeta talk about grief, navigating our language and culture around it. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Mona Arshi Masala Podcast
“We’re never too old to do whatever we want to do. We don’t have to fit into a box because our upbringing or culture says so. Meet the Aunty Skater who took up skating in her 40s.” This episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast features a sari-wearing skater who’s a TikTok sensation. Sangeeta Pillai chats with Oorbee Roy who’s also known as Aunty Skater. Having started skating at 43, Oorbee Aunty Skates shows us that we’re never too old to do whatever we want to do. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Oorbee Roy Masala Podcast
“As women, we carry within us infinite pleasure & the capacity to experience orgasms. But our cultural baggage, with its ideas of ‘shame’ or the sense of feeling ‘dirty’ around sex has stopped us accessing our own pleasure.” Let’s talk about sex, betis! Sangeeta Pillai, from the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast, chats with Pallavi Barnwal, a globally renowned sex & intimacy coach. She has counselled thousands of people helping them understand, navigate, and improve both their sex lives and intimate relationships. On this episode, we explore why sex and pleasure are still so difficult for us within South Asian culture. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Pallavi Barnwal Masala Podcast
“The menopause is still taboo in our culture & we talk through the various stages of the menopause, how it affects our bodies & minds and what we can do about it.” The fiercely feminist Masala Podcast continues as Sangeeta Pillai chats with Dr. Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women’s health and the menopause & a regular on our TV screens. The Menopause is even harder for South Asianwomen, as it’s such a taboo. In this episode, we explore menopause symptoms and how the menopause affects our bodies & minds. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Dr Nighat Arif Masala Podcast
Please note that the topic of this podcast might be triggering for some listeners. Feel free to skip this episode if this is difficult for you. “Mridul shares what it was like growing up in India as a trans woman. She speaks eloquently about her transition journey and all the difficult paths she had to navigate along the way.” On this episode, Mridul Wadhwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre talks to Sangeeta Pillai, creator of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Mridul grew up in India & talks about her transition journey and all the difficult paths she navigated along the way. Mridul has worked in the gender based violence sector in Scotland since 2004. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Mridul Wadhwa Masala Podcast
Please note that the topic of this podcast might be triggering for some listeners. “Nina speaks so openly about being abused by her father. I was struck by how eloquently and compassionately she talked about the incredibly tough circumstances of her life.” Sangeeta Pillai, from the feminist favourite Masala Podcast, talks with Nina Ganguli. Nina is a survivor of sexual abuse, who has dedicated her life to helping others. Listening to Nina talk about the sexual abuse she suffered in her childhood is tough but hearing her talk about her journey is also incredibly inspiring. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For useful resources & transcript, please visit: Nina Ganguli Masala Podcast
“Motherhood and the pressure around it are such important topics for us women. In this episode, we talk about society's obsession with all women being certain kinds of mothers.” On this episode of Masala Podcast, two fierce feminists, Sangeeta Pillai & Pragya Agarwal, discuss motherhood. Pragya Agarwal is a behavioural and data scientist, two-time TEDx speaker & renowned author. Together, Pragya and Sangeeta explore nuances around modern motherhood & society's obsession with all women becoming mothers. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Pragya Agarwal Masala Podcast
“How are we expected to present ourselves as women from South Asian culture? Together, we discuss our experiences as South Asian womxn living all over Europe and what it means to be South Asian feminists today.” The fiercely feminist Masala Podcast goes international! This very special live episode was recorded in Cologne, Germany. Sangeeta Pillai chats with three amazing guests: Prasanna Oommen, Laxmi Manuela & Anu Ambasna as part of the INDERNET festival. We talk about Being (European) Bad Betis (Daughters) living all over Europe and being South Asian feminists. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Masala Podcast: Live in Germany
“What do you get when you put four of the baddest betis (daughters!) on a stage to discuss what it means to break the mould as a South Asian woman? A whole lot of love, laughter & inspiration!” Season Four of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast ends with a brilliant season finale recorded live at the Women’s Podcast Festival. This special show featured three amazing guests. Shazia Mirza, the award-winning British stand-up comedian and writer. Salma El-Wardany, author, poet, TED speaker & BBC presenter. And Seema Anand, a Mythologist & Storyteller, who’s an expert on the ancient erotic literatures of India. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Masala Podcast: Live in London
“Who’s a strong South Asian woman? Meet Poorna Bell who talks about getting into powerlifting and how that helped her see her body and herself differently.” We’re talking about strong women on this episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Sangeeta Pillai chats with Poorna Bell, an award-winning journalist & author who is also a powerlifter. Poorna won her first powerlifting competition aged 40. Poorna and Sangeeta talk about the concept of womxn being physically strong. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Poorna Bell Masala Podcast
“Grief. Sometimes we just can’t find the words for the intensity of our emotions. Talking about grief can be difficult in any language. And for those of us whose language of birth is different to our adopted language, this can be even harder.” Grief is the theme on this episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Sangeeta Pillai chats with Mona Arshia: a poet, novelist and essayist. Mona is a regular on the radio & her work has been published in several prestigious publications. In this episode, Mona & Sangeeta talk about grief, navigating our language and culture around it. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Mona Arshi Masala Podcast
“We’re never too old to do whatever we want to do. We don’t have to fit into a box because our upbringing or culture says so. Meet the Aunty Skater who took up skating in her 40s.” This episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast features a sari-wearing skater who’s a TikTok sensation. Sangeeta Pillai chats with Oorbee Roy who’s also known as Aunty Skater. Having started skating at 43, Oorbee Aunty Skates shows us that we’re never too old to do whatever we want to do. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Oorbee Roy Masala Podcast
“As women, we carry within us infinite pleasure & the capacity to experience orgasms. But our cultural baggage, with its ideas of ‘shame’ or the sense of feeling ‘dirty’ around sex has stopped us accessing our own pleasure.” Let’s talk about sex, betis! Sangeeta Pillai, from the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast, chats with Pallavi Barnwal, a globally renowned sex & intimacy coach. She has counselled thousands of people helping them understand, navigate, and improve both their sex lives and intimate relationships. On this episode, we explore why sex and pleasure are still so difficult for us within South Asian culture. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Pallavi Barnwal Masala Podcast
“The menopause is still taboo in our culture & we talk through the various stages of the menopause, how it affects our bodies & minds and what we can do about it.” The fiercely feminist Masala Podcast continues as Sangeeta Pillai chats with Dr. Nighat Arif, a GP specialising in women’s health and the menopause & a regular on our TV screens. The Menopause is even harder for South Asianwomen, as it’s such a taboo. In this episode, we explore menopause symptoms and how the menopause affects our bodies & minds. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Dr Nighat Arif Masala Podcast
Please note that the topic of this podcast might be triggering for some listeners. Feel free to skip this episode if this is difficult for you. “Mridul shares what it was like growing up in India as a trans woman. She speaks eloquently about her transition journey and all the difficult paths she had to navigate along the way.” On this episode, Mridul Wadhwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre talks to Sangeeta Pillai, creator of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Mridul grew up in India & talks about her transition journey and all the difficult paths she navigated along the way. Mridul has worked in the gender based violence sector in Scotland since 2004. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Mridul Wadhwa Masala Podcast
Please note that the topic of this podcast might be triggering for some listeners. “Nina speaks so openly about being abused by her father. I was struck by how eloquently and compassionately she talked about the incredibly tough circumstances of her life.” Sangeeta Pillai, from the feminist favourite Masala Podcast, talks with Nina Ganguli. Nina is a survivor of sexual abuse, who has dedicated her life to helping others. Listening to Nina talk about the sexual abuse she suffered in her childhood is tough but hearing her talk about her journey is also incredibly inspiring. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For useful resources & transcript, please visit: Nina Ganguli Masala Podcast
“Motherhood and the pressure around it are such important topics for us women. In this episode, we talk about society's obsession with all women being certain kinds of mothers.” On this episode of Masala Podcast, two fierce feminists, Sangeeta Pillai & Pragya Agarwal, discuss motherhood. Pragya Agarwal is a behavioural and data scientist, two-time TEDx speaker & renowned author. Together, Pragya and Sangeeta explore nuances around modern motherhood & society's obsession with all women becoming mothers. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Pragya Agarwal Masala Podcast
“Disabled people are often forgotten. We all need to highlight the need for support and to make the world a more inclusive place for those living with disabilities.” Shani Dhanda, the award-winning disability rights activist is on this episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Its creator Sangeeta Pillai chats with Shani Dhanda, one of the UK’s most influential disability activists, helping organisations integrate inclusion into their business frameworks. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Shani Dhanda Masala Podcast
“Disabled people are often forgotten. We all need to highlight the need for support and to make the world a more inclusive place for those living with disabilities.” Shani Dhanda, the award-winning disability rights activist is on this episode of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast. Its creator Sangeeta Pillai chats with Shani Dhanda, one of the UK’s most influential disability activists, helping organisations integrate inclusion into their business frameworks. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Shani Dhanda Masala Podcast
“How are we expected to present ourselves as women from South Asian culture? Together, we discuss our experiences as South Asian womxn living all over Europe and what it means to be South Asian feminists today.” The fiercely feminist Masala Podcast goes international! This very special live episode was recorded in Cologne, Germany. Sangeeta Pillai chats with three amazing guests: Prasanna Oommen, Laxmi Manuela & Anu Ambasna as part of the INDERNET festival. We talk about Being (European) Bad Betis (Daughters) living all over Europe and being South Asian feminists. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Masala Podcast: Live in Germany
“What do you get when you put four of the baddest betis (daughters!) on a stage to discuss what it means to break the mould as a South Asian woman? A whole lot of love, laughter & inspiration!” Season Four of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast ends with a brilliant season finale recorded live at the Women’s Podcast Festival. This special show featured three amazing guests. Shazia Mirza, the award-winning British stand-up comedian and writer. Salma El-Wardany, author, poet, TED speaker & BBC presenter. And Seema Anand, a Mythologist & Storyteller, who’s an expert on the ancient erotic literatures of India. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Masala Podcast: Live in London
“The funny brown auntie we all wish we had, is taking over the world with her brand of Indian mum comedy.” Season four of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast returns with Sangeeta Pillai chatting with international comedian & TikTok star Zarna Garg. Zarna describes herself as an Indian immigrant wife, mom, lawyer, screenwriter, producer, stand-up comedian & overbearing Indian auntie. In this episode, we explore how we as womxn need to be valued (and paid!) for our time & efforts. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Zarna Garg Masala Podcast
“The funny brown auntie we all wish we had, is taking over the world with her brand of Indian mum comedy.” Season four of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast returns with Sangeeta Pillai chatting with international comedian & TikTok star Zarna Garg. Zarna describes herself as an Indian immigrant wife, mom, lawyer, screenwriter, producer, stand-up comedian & overbearing Indian auntie. In this episode, we explore how we as womxn need to be valued (and paid!) for our time & efforts. Masala Podcast, winner of British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022 is a Spotify Original created & presented by Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras For show notes & transcript, please visit: Zarna Garg Masala Podcast
Introduction: On this episode of the Audience podcast, Stuart is talking with Sangeeta Pillai from the award-winning Masala Podcast about what it is like to create a podcast that talks about taboo content. Sangeeta has important messages to share about diversity, feminism, and inclusion. She shares those messages today, as well as her experience winning multiple British Podcast Awards. Sangeeta talks about her journey into podcasting, what it is like to be backed by Spotify, and how podcasting should change. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at castos.com/subscribe. Today you’ll learn about: What is the Masala Podcast and who is Sangeeta Pillai? Creating a podcast to inspire change Exploring a taboo subject in a constructive, positive way Bringing women of color into feminist conversations The organic evolution of the formatting of a podcast The importance of season breaks Promotion, marketing, and keeping creative control The experience of winning a British Podcast Award Supporting creators of color and from different backgrounds Resources/Links: Masala Podcast: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/top-feminist-podcast-masalapodcast-mediakit/ Castos Academy: https://academy.castos.com/ Castos, private podcast: https://academy.castos.com/privatepodcast/ Castos, website: https://castos.com/ Castos, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/castos
In today's episode we return to exploring the relationship between podcasting and power, this time looking at how "Prestige" podcasting has replicated and interacted with existing power systems. We look at some of the worst cases of podcasts being made with a colonialist mindset, and then look at The Trojan Horse Affair and how that avoided the traps of previous prestige podcast journalism and how it was mostly dismissed by the wider media landscape. This episode is hosted by Race Reflection's Audio Wizard/Witch, Dave Pickering: http://davepickeringstoryteller.co.uk/Down to a sunless sea: memories of my dad: https://podfollow.com/sunlesspod/view LINKS: The Complicated Ethics Of ‘Serial,' The Most Popular Podcast Of All Time: https://archive.thinkprogress.org/the-complicated-ethics-of-serial-the-most-popular-podcast-of-all-time-6f84043de9a9/ White Reporter Privilege: https://www.theawl.com/2014/11/white-reporter-privilege/The Science of Racism: Radiolab's Treatment of Hmong Experience: https://hyphenmagazine.com/blog/2012/10/22/science-racism-radiolabs-treatment-hmong-experienceHow ‘S-Town' Fails Black Listeners https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/how-s-town-fails-black-listeners-112210/S-Town is a stunning podcast. It probably shouldn't have been made. https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/3/30/15084224/s-town-review-controversial-podcast-privacyThe Trojan Horse Affair: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/podcasts/trojan-horse-affair.htmlTrojan Horse: A failure of British journalism and that includes the Observer https://mediadiversified.org/2022/02/20/trojan-horse-a-failure-of-british-journalism-and-that-includes-the-observer/Trojan Horse On Trial https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/02/trojan-horse-podcast-islamophobia-birmingham-michael-gove-sonia-sodhaTrojan Horse affair: Why new podcast evokes both enthusiasm and rage https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-islam-trojan-horse-affair-new-podcast-enthusiasm-rage-whyThe Trojan Horse Affair vs. the British Press https://www.vulture.com/2022/03/trojan-horse-affair-podcast-british-response-interview.htmlThe Real Trojan Horse Affair https://mediadiversified.org/2022/03/08/the-real-trojan-affair/Recommeded podcasts: Human Resources, Have You Heard George's Podcast?, Reclaimed and Rewritten, Coiled, Busy Being Black, Say Your Mind, Intersectionality Matters!, Masala Podcast, Surviving Society (full links in the shownotes on our website)To send us your queries, questions and dilemmas please email atwork@racereflections.co.uk
Stuart and Matt are back to discuss their top podcast industry news stories for the month of July. Acast continues to make the news from spamming podcast host customers like us at Castos, to purchasing Podchaser, the "only social media site for podcasters." Subscription podcasts are making a splash with Marc Maron jumping into the game of selling exclusive access content. Subscription podcasting will be on the rise as more and more creators adopt the method. Castos is proud to host British Podcast Awards, Bronze place winner the Masala Podcast! Send us your audio message! Email us hello@castos.com with the subject "Audience podcast" and we'll take your question or audio clip for the next espiode. Links mentioned https://podnews.net/press-release/acast-podchaser https://plus.acast.com/s/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/about-masala-podcast/ https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/rising-podcast-listenership-draws-advertising-dollars https://twitter.com/marcoarment/status/1546852808049270786?s=20&t=bMUR9ZwMyr2CsfK28-BshQ
I'm officially a Texan!....now for the unpacking. While I'm setting up shop over the next few weeks, I'll be playing some of my favorite episodes from the past two years....this episode is for all you bad betis & besharam bibis!Today I catch up with activist, writer & speaker, Sangeeta Pillai, who is the the founder of Soul Sutras. Soul Sutras is the South Asian feminist platform that is all about tackling taboos in South Asian culture, creating safe spaces where South Asian women can explore everything from sex to mental health.Their projects include Masala Podcast, featuring interviews with fierce South Asian women about taboo topics and Masala Monologues, a series of writing workshops and theatre shows in the UK & the US.Starting life as a blog, Soul Sutras now boasts a range of projects from podcast, theatre shows, webinar to books & beyond.She has become a key voice in British South Asian feminism speaking at the Women of the World (WOW) 2020 and has been featured in the Huffington Post, BBC Asian Radio, Brown Girl Magazine and is the winner of British Podcast Awards 2020 & 2019.She tells me about living life in the slums of Bombay, her volatile relationship with her father and the affect it's had on her throughout life, the complicated relationship between culture and identity, and how it's so refreshing to see the younger generation of South Asian women speak up.http://www.soulsutras.co.uk/
We're joined by Sangeeta Pillai from the Masala Podcast, talking about misconceptions of sex as a South Asian woman, discovering your own pleasure and everything we've got wrong about the Kama Sutra.Plus, Reed has her genital warts frozen off!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In this episode, Hannah is joined by Sangeeta Pillai, a podcaster, activist, and speaker, and the founder of South Asian feminist network Soul Sutra. Sangeeta discusses the impact of colonisation on Indian sexuality, as well as the shame surrounding South Asian women's sexuality. She and Hannah also talk about what the Kama Sutra is really about, and how to own your sexuality yourself. CW: Shame, homophobia, and domestic abuse.MORE ABOUT SANGEETA PILLAIPodcaster, activist & speaker Sangeeta Pillai is the founder of the South Asian feminist network [Soul Sutras](https://soulsutras.co.uk/) which is all about tackling taboos within the culture.She's the creator of Masala Podcast silver winner at the British Podcast Awards 2021 & 2021 & also a winner at Spotify SoundUp 2018. Sangeeta is also the creator of the Masala Monologues series of writing workshops & theatre shows in the UK & the US. She has been featured on BBC Radio London, Evening Standard, Cosmpolitan, Eastern Eye, Huffington Post, BBC Asian Radio, Brown Girl Magazine and has been a writer for over 20 years.- Twitter: https://twitter.com/soul_sutras- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsutras/- Website: https://www.soulsutras.co.uk/
This episode is for all you bad betis & besharam bibis!Today I catch up with activist, writer & speaker, Sangeeta Pillai, who is the the founder of Soul Sutras. Soul Sutras is the South Asian feminist platform that is all about tackling taboos in South Asian culture, creating safe spaces where South Asian women can explore everything from sex to mental health.Their projects include Masala Podcast, featuring interviews with fierce South Asian women about taboo topics and Masala Monologues, a series of writing workshops and theatre shows in the UK & the US.Starting life as a blog, Soul Sutras now boasts a range of projects from podcast, theatre shows, webinar to books & beyond.She has become a key voice in British South Asian feminism speaking at the Women of the World (WOW) 2020 and has been featured in the Huffington Post, BBC Asian Radio, Brown Girl Magazine and is the winner of British Podcast Awards 2020 & 2019.She tells me about living life in the slums of Bombay, her volatile relationship with her father and the affect it's had on her throughout life, the complicated relationship between culture and identity, and how it's so refreshing to see the younger generation of South Asian women speak up.http://www.soulsutras.co.uk/
"For me, coming out at 50 was all about being true to myself..." In this episode, Raga & Sangeeta talk about what it means for South Asian womxn to own their sexuality, in a culture that often represses our sexuality. We also talk about how being true to yourself is all important, and why it’s such a struggle for most womxn. Raga grew up in a traditional Indian family, and came out as queer at age 50 after decades of living the life of a married Indian woman, wife & mother. Raga’s journey of owning her truth is a truly inspiring one. READ MORE
"Talking about life for women in South Asian culture and how society treats older women." Meet Shobhaa De, one of THE most well-know names in India. A fiery, feisty 70-something woman. Super successful & super confident. In this episode, Shobhaa talks about life for women in South Asian culture and how society treats older women. Hint: not well. Shobhaa De is a best-selling novelist, a journalist, an editor, a publisher, a socialite, a scriptwriter, a mother, a grandmother…the list goes on. READ MORE
“Stop cutting our girls, is that too much to ask?” Meet Aarefa Johari, a passionate activist working to end the practise of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in her Dawoodi Bohari community. She experienced FGC in her own childhood, being “cut” at the age of 7. And has dedicated her life to ensuring that young girls are no longer subjected to this horrific practise. Speaking to Aarefa for Masala Podcast in her Mumbai flat was such an incredibly inspiring experience. I found Aarefa to be this quietly powerful force creating a revolution in her community, changing minds and stopping a terrible practise that has gone on for generations. READ MORE
“We should get rid of the shame we feel asking for our pleasure, prioritising our pleasure.” Meet Leeza Mangaldas, India’s foremost sex-positive content creator. Leeza’s work is all about normalising conversations around sexuality, sexual health, gender and the body – with a particular focus on women and pleasure. I interviewed Leeza for Masala Podcast, we talked about why sex & female pleasure is still a taboo in Indian and South Asian culture. READ MORE
“The Kamasutra was the first text to talk about independent female pleasure…” Meet Seema Anand, a mythologist and storyteller, specialising in women’s narratives with a focus on the erotic literatures of Ancient India. According to her, this book is the first text to talk about the Kamasutra as a platform of equality for women, to acknowledge their right to pleasure and to articulate their right to consent. I loved chatting with Seema about the Kamasutra, a text from the third century CE, which is still relevant to the discussion around female sexuality in South Asian culture. We also talked about other South Asian mythologies and stories, many of which have women’s narratives at the heart of them. READ MORE
“People making condoms haven’t considered that these things go INTO women’s bodies!” Meet Farah Kabir, co-founder of HANX, who tackles the taboo around female contraception & women’s intimate sexual health. In this episode, Sangeeta & Farah talk about why women taking charge of their own contraception and pleasure is important. Farah co-founded HANX in 2017, spurred on by the desire to smash taboos around sex, pleasure and intimate health. READ MORE
“I was told I had Vitiligo at 20 & told there was no real cure for it…” Meet Joti Gata-Aura, a Body Positivity Spokesperson & Social Media Advocate. Joti was diagnosed with Vitiligo at a young age. But she turned a difficult situation into a fantastic body. positivity movement. In this episode, Joti & Sangeeta talk about why our culture only offers space for a very limited beauty aesthetic. And how important it is for younger and older people to feel comfortable in their own skin. READ MORE
“We talk about our shared cultural heritage, taking ownership of our bodies as womxn & the sexual harassment we’ve faced in our own lives.” In this episode, I speak with Anoushka Shankar, one of the world’s biggest names in Indian classical music. Daughter of the renowned Ravi Shankar, Anoushka is an incredible musician in her own right as well as a writer, as well as being a music composer & a proud feminist. We talk about taking ownership of our bodies as womxn & the sexual harassment we’ve faced in our own lives. We also discuss our shared cultural heritage, as well as the joys and the pains of being South Asian. READ MORE
“We’re the pride of our families, we’re the shame of our families. Put a foot wrong and you’re out!“ On this episode, Anita talks about all the pressures & pains of being the “right sort” of South Asian woman. As well as the pleasures of being part of this incredible culture. Having grown up in Bradford, Anita is a proud mix of her Yorkshire and Punjabi roots. Her brand new memoir, The Right Sort of Girl, explores both those aspects of her. As well as exploring many thought-provoking & taboo-busting topics. I loved chatting with Anita for Masala Podcast, the conversation warmed my soul and made me tear up a little.Let’s hear it for this Badass Brown Girl, who is exactly The Right Sort of Girl for us all! READ MORE
“I’m sitting in my brown-ness and actually enjoying it…” For this very special episode of Masala Podcast, Masala Podcast interviewed the women behind South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM). On this episode, we talk about what it means to be a South Asian woman in Britain today, particularly during COVID times as well as the rich bits of our culture that excite us the most. Think saris, samosas & music. READ MORE
“The First Live LGBTQ Marriage Proposal, the sense of sisterhood, the love….” This very special episode of Masala Podcast Live recorded at Kings Place London on Sat 11th Sept as part of the London Podcast Festival. Our Bad Betis took over Kings Place, we had a wonderful live audience. The sense of sisterhood and support across the room was electrifying. We had four incredible guests. Raga D’Silva, LGBTQ activist. Farah Kabir, co-founder of female focussed sexual wellness brand HANX. Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan, HIV and Sexual Health activist. As well as Dr. Tina Mistry, clinical psychologist specialising in South Asian mental health. We had the first ever LGBTQ South Asian marriage proposal live on a podcast where guest Raga D’Silva proposed to their long-time partner Nicola Fenton. It was just so moving. We shed tears, we danced a little to some Indian Shaadi (wedding) music. We were witness to the most beautiful moment of love. Not just among the couple but also the huge love from the Masala Podcast community who turned up to support the podcast. READ MORE
“My husband kicked me out of the house with less than £10 in my pocket…” Meet Vandana Shah who went through a horrific divorce herself then went on to become an award-winning divorce lawyer, author, columnist and social entrepreneur. After being thrown out from her husband’s home in the middle of the night with just Rs. 750 in her bank account (around 10 pounds), Vandana rebuilt her life and became a successful lawyer, author and role model for women going through abusive marriages. Vandana is also the author of the bestseller ‘Ex Files’: The story of my divorce’ published by Penguin which looks at divorce through a humorous lens. The book is now a part of the Judicial College syllabus. READ MORE
“People making condoms haven’t considered that these things go INTO women’s bodies!” Meet Farah Kabir, co-founder of HANX, who tackles the taboo around female contraception & women’s intimate sexual health. In this episode, Sangeeta & Farah talk about why women taking charge of their own contraception and pleasure is important. Farah co-founded HANX in 2017, spurred on by the desire to smash taboos around sex, pleasure and intimate health. READ MORE
“I’m sitting in my brown-ness and actually enjoying it…” For this very special episode of Masala Podcast, Masala Podcast interviewed the women behind South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM). On this episode, we talk about what it means to be a South Asian woman in Britain today, particularly during COVID times as well as the rich bits of our culture that excite us the most. Think saris, samosas & music. READ MORE
“We’re the pride of our families, we’re the shame of our families. Put a foot wrong and you’re out!“ On this episode, Anita talks about all the pressures & pains of being the “right sort” of South Asian woman. As well as the pleasures of being part of this incredible culture. Having grown up in Bradford, Anita is a proud mix of her Yorkshire and Punjabi roots. Her brand new memoir, The Right Sort of Girl, explores both those aspects of her. As well as exploring many thought-provoking & taboo-busting topics. I loved chatting with Anita for Masala Podcast, the conversation warmed my soul and made me tear up a little.Let’s hear it for this Badass Brown Girl, who is exactly The Right Sort of Girl for us all! READ MORE
“My husband kicked me out of the house with less than £10 in my pocket…” Meet Vandana Shah who went through a horrific divorce herself then went on to become an award-winning divorce lawyer, author, columnist and social entrepreneur. After being thrown out from her husband’s home in the middle of the night with just Rs. 750 in her bank account (around 10 pounds), Vandana rebuilt her life and became a successful lawyer, author and role model for women going through abusive marriages. Vandana is also the author of the bestseller ‘Ex Files’: The story of my divorce’ published by Penguin which looks at divorce through a humorous lens. The book is now a part of the Judicial College syllabus. READ MORE
“I was told I had Vitiligo at 20 & told there was no real cure for it…” Meet Joti Gata-Aura, a Body Positivity Spokesperson & Social Media Advocate. Joti was diagnosed with Vitiligo at a young age. But she turned a difficult situation into a fantastic body. positivity movement. In this episode, Joti & Sangeeta talk about why our culture only offers space for a very limited beauty aesthetic. And how important it is for younger and older people to feel comfortable in their own skin. READ MORE
“The Kamasutra was the first text to talk about independent female pleasure…” Meet Seema Anand, a mythologist and storyteller, specialising in women’s narratives with a focus on the erotic literatures of Ancient India. According to her, this book is the first text to talk about the Kamasutra as a platform of equality for women, to acknowledge their right to pleasure and to articulate their right to consent. I loved chatting with Seema about the Kamasutra, a text from the third century CE, which is still relevant to the discussion around female sexuality in South Asian culture. We also talked about other South Asian mythologies and stories, many of which have women’s narratives at the heart of them. READ MORE
“The First Live LGBTQ Marriage Proposal, the sense of sisterhood, the love….” This very special episode of Masala Podcast Live recorded at Kings Place London on Sat 11th Sept as part of the London Podcast Festival. Our Bad Betis took over Kings Place, we had a wonderful live audience. The sense of sisterhood and support across the room was electrifying. We had four incredible guests. Raga D’Silva, LGBTQ activist. Farah Kabir, co-founder of female focussed sexual wellness brand HANX. Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan, HIV and Sexual Health activist. As well as Dr. Tina Mistry, clinical psychologist specialising in South Asian mental health. We had the first ever LGBTQ South Asian marriage proposal live on a podcast where guest Raga D’Silva proposed to their long-time partner Nicola Fenton. It was just so moving. We shed tears, we danced a little to some Indian Shaadi (wedding) music. We were witness to the most beautiful moment of love. Not just among the couple but also the huge love from the Masala Podcast community who turned up to support the podcast. READ MORE
“We talk about our shared cultural heritage, taking ownership of our bodies as womxn & the sexual harassment we’ve faced in our own lives.” In this episode, I speak with Anoushka Shankar, one of the world’s biggest names in Indian classical music. Daughter of the renowned Ravi Shankar, Anoushka is an incredible musician in her own right as well as a writer, as well as being a music composer & a proud feminist. We talk about taking ownership of our bodies as womxn & the sexual harassment we’ve faced in our own lives. We also discuss our shared cultural heritage, as well as the joys and the pains of being South Asian. READ MORE
“We should get rid of the shame we feel asking for our pleasure, prioritising our pleasure.” Meet Leeza Mangaldas, India’s foremost sex-positive content creator. Leeza’s work is all about normalising conversations around sexuality, sexual health, gender and the body – with a particular focus on women and pleasure. I interviewed Leeza for Masala Podcast, we talked about why sex & female pleasure is still a taboo in Indian and South Asian culture. READ MORE
“Stop cutting our girls, is that too much to ask?” Meet Aarefa Johari, a passionate activist working to end the practise of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in her Dawoodi Bohari community. She experienced FGC in her own childhood, being “cut” at the age of 7. And has dedicated her life to ensuring that young girls are no longer subjected to this horrific practise. Speaking to Aarefa for Masala Podcast in her Mumbai flat was such an incredibly inspiring experience. I found Aarefa to be this quietly powerful force creating a revolution in her community, changing minds and stopping a terrible practise that has gone on for generations. READ MORE
"For me, coming out at 50 was all about being true to myself..." In this episode, Raga & Sangeeta talk about what it means for South Asian womxn to own their sexuality, in a culture that often represses our sexuality. We also talk about how being true to yourself is all important, and why it’s such a struggle for most womxn. Raga grew up in a traditional Indian family, and came out as queer at age 50 after decades of living the life of a married Indian woman, wife & mother. Raga’s journey of owning her truth is a truly inspiring one. READ MORE
"Talking about life for women in South Asian culture and how society treats older women." Meet Shobhaa De, one of THE most well-know names in India. A fiery, feisty 70-something woman. Super successful & super confident. In this episode, Shobhaa talks about life for women in South Asian culture and how society treats older women. Hint: not well. Shobhaa De is a best-selling novelist, a journalist, an editor, a publisher, a socialite, a scriptwriter, a mother, a grandmother…the list goes on. READ MORE
We were joined by podcaster, activist & speaker Sangeeta Pillai (she/her) to talk about her work tackling taboos within South Asian communities. PLUS, Sangeeta shares some very exclusive news with us about her podcast Masala Podcast!We also give a round up of the latest sexual health news including the global shortage of midwives, the government dragging its feet to ban conversion therapy and words that lead to the female orgasm.You can check out the full references on our website.What do you think of the podcast? We want to know what you've enjoyed or not enjoyed, what you've learnt and how we can improve - your feedback could help us secure funding for Season 3! Share your feedback here: https://k6h3dy9xmnz.typeform.com/to/g7dpVNQ8 ---The Sex Agenda is a podcast created by Decolonising Contraception collective, an interdisciplinary collective of Black and people of colour, working across sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Hosted by Edem Ntumy (she/her), community engagement officer and Dr Annabel Sowemimo (she/her), community sexual & reproductive health doctor. Each episode gives a round-up of sexual health news, social justice issues and focuses on the work of those working to dismantle the everyday prejudice in our sector. Series edited by Veronique Belinga.
Instagram: @stay_you_boo Hello guys, gals and non-binary pals! We're talking about periods this episode, and it's not just for people who bleed, it's for EVERYONE! It's time to debunk some myths, dispel the shame and learn something new (I know that I did). We cover a lot in this episode and definitely want to get into more detail with some topics! Get ready to hear about shame, products, what's ‘normal', period poverty and SO much more! So buckle up, grab a cuppa and tune in! Here are some resources for learning about the non-binary and trans community, and how they might prefer to be addressed: https://transequality.org/issues/resources/understanding-non-binary-people-how-to-be-respectful-and-supportive https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/ https://uihc.org/health-topics/quick-tips-medical-providers-transgender-patients Our favourite content creators to learn a bit more about periods: @gynaegeek @thefoodmedic @theperiodprince @itsaugust And definitely check The Masala Podcast's episode on periods in the South Asian community. Speak out, start the conversation and don't hesitate to ask for help - you are not alone! And remember to stay you boo xoxo Artwork: @printsbygg Music: Roadtrip by Slynk
"This idea of not belonging anywhere is one of the sadnesses of my life." In this episode, I speak with writer, poet, speaker and BBC radio presenter Salma El-Wardany speaks about juggling multiple identities & looking for belonging within those identities. She speaks about her South Asian side and how her ‘Desi' identity plays out in her life & her work. MORE ABOUT SALMA: Writer, poet, speaker and BBC radio presenter, Salma El-Wardany performs internationally, has given 2 TEDx Talks, worked with Edinburgh University on the Dangerous Woman project, as well as partnering with The British Library and The Wellcome Collection. She's half Egyptian, half Irish and part Desi and regularly works with global brands to raise awareness through poetry and conversation, most recently working with Always on their ‘End Period Poverty' campaign. She's also worked with Virgin, Made.com, Bumble, Hinge, Sofar Sounds and Plan International. She writes for Metro, Stylist, Huffpost and Buzzfeed. Website: https://www.salmaelwardany.com/ Insta: @salmaelwardany Twitter: @writtenbysalma RESOURCES If you've been affected by the themes of this episode, please check out these resources: REFUGE Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 CITIZENS ADVICE WOMEN'S AID SOLACE RIGHTS OF WOMEN FOR SOUTH ASIAN WOMXN: SOUTHALL BLACK SISTERS ASIAN WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTRE Email: info@awrc.org.uk Tel: 020 89616549
"I feel pressure to produce perfect chapattis despite being a successful comedian!" I speak with Shazia Mirza, a famous comedian and writer, appearing on Jonathan Ross, Celebrity Island with Bear Gryls, Celebs in Solitary & many more shows. Her new show ‘Coconut' will be on tour in 2021. Shazia travels all over the world doing stand-up comedy, is hugely successful but still feels the pressure to be the perfect South Asian woman. Shazia and I speak about some of the issues we've experienced in our culture: • The expectation to always be the dutiful daughter, to be the quiet subservient one • The expectation to get married, have kids, look after everyone around us • How cultural conditioning carries on even with professional successful South Asian womxn • Anti-blackness that pervades South Asian society, and what can be done to change it • Getting our names mis-pronounced (Shazia being called ‘Shava Minza' has got to be the funniest!) • How all brown women are lumped into the same person (Shazia talks about being mistaken for everyone from Meera Syal to Malala to her local GP) MORE ABOUT SHAZIA: https://www.shazia-mirza.com/Instagram: @theshaziamirzaTwitter: @shaziamirza1 RESOURCESWant to explore more about the themes discussed in this episode? Here are some resources/social media accounts that you might find useful: THE INDIAN FEMINISThttps://www.instagram.com/the_indian_feminist/?hl=enASIAN WOMEN FESTIVAL:https://www.asianwomanfestival.com/BROWN GIRL MAGAZINEhttps://www.browngirlmagazine.com/BURNT ROTIhttps://www.burntroti.com/
"I was depressed & suicidal because of how I was treated because of my skin colour." In this episode, I speak with Seema Hari, who is a model, a Software Engineer and a powerful activist fighting colourism. Seema talks about growing up as a dark skinned Indian girl and the awful way she was treated by teachers and adults around her. She talks about slowly worked towards loving her own skin colour – to become a model and an activist fighting hard to change South Asian attitudes towards dark skin. Seema is a passionate activist fighting colourism in South Asian society, constantly challenging Bollywood actors and government policies. Together, we explore the South Asian fixation for fairer skin, with millions spent on skin lightening creams and bleaches. We talk about: The idea of beauty attached to skin colourHow the Hindi word for beauty ‘gori' translates as whiteHow our South Asian obsession with light skin damages life on so many levels MORE ABOUT SEEMA:Instagram: @seemahari RESOURCES Want to explore more about the issues discussed in this episode? Here are some articles/resources that you might find interesting: Dark Is Beautiful Guardian article BBC article NPR article The Star article
"My mum found out that I was a Porn Star!" This episode features an interview with the South Asian porn star Sahara Knite. We explore attitudes towards porn & sex among South Asians, and talk about very South Asian fetishes. We talk about Sahara's family and their responses to her work. Sangeeta talks about her personal experiences watching porn for the first time, when she was growing up in India. She also discusses how porn skews our idea of what the ‘perfect porn body' should be. And how porn has normalised the concept that all women have hairless bodies and hairless vulvas. As well as the racial stereotyping that exists in porn. MORE ABOUT SAHARA: Website: https://saharaknite.co.uk/ Insta: @itsmesaharaknite Twitter: @saharaknite
"Women are taught to carry shame & honour for their families." In this episode, I speak with Leesa Gazi, the director of a critically acclaimed and highly impactful film about survivors of rape in Bangladesh during the war, who are now in their 70's and 80s. Leesa stayed with the women, connected with them and discussed their experiences – and has now turned this into an empathetic and impactful film. Leesa and I discuss: • How patriarchal attitudes in the culture prevent rape victims from coming forward • The horror and impact of rape on women and young girls in South Asian communities • How the burden of “honour” & “shame” are attached exclusively to women in South Asian culture ABOUT THE FILM ‘RISING SILENCE': https://www.risingsilence.co.uk/ MORE ABOUT LEESA: Leesa Gazi is a Bangladeshi-born British writer, actor, filmmaker and Joint Artistic Director of a London based arts company Komola Collective. She is the concept developer, co-writer and performer of the theatre production Birangona: Women of War, which she later developed into the documentary film Rising Silence, which has won multiple international awards. The film sheds light on the lives of rape survivors of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Twitter: @LeesaGazi Insta: @leesagazi RESOURCES If you've been affected by the themes of this episode, please check out these resources: RAPE CRISIS Helpline: 0808 802 9999 (12-2:30 and 7-9:30) NHS VICTIM SUPPORT Supportline: 0333 300 6389 THE SURVIVORS TRUST Helpline: 0808 801 0818 SUPPORTLINE Helpline: 01708 765200 Email: info@supportline.org.uk SAFELINE
"I had night sweats, hot flushes, itchy skin, insomnia, tingling on my skin..." In this episode, I talk with Madhu Kapoor, Founder, M for Menopause who went through a difficult journey through menopause. She found no literature or support when she was struggling. And is now on a mission to get South Asian women talking openly about the menopause. Sangeeta's monologues talk about how talking about any female bodily functions was such a taboo when she was growing up. In a culture that doesn't discuss periods, or childbirth or sex and how they affect our bodies – talking about menopause is such a long way away. MORE ABOUT MADHUMadhu's menopause journey was horrific; she struggled at home, socially and at work. As her symptoms became severe her relationships broke down and affected her life and work. Despite having been surrounded by women all her life, she'd never had any open discussions about the menopause and she really struggled. This led her to set up M for Menopause which aims to encourage open conversations about the menopause and to increase knowledge, awareness and support for women, employers and families. Website: www.mformenopause.co.uk Insta: @mformenopause Facebook: @mformenopause RESOURCES If you've been affected by the themes of this episode, please check out these resources: NHS MENOPAUSE SUPPORT MENOPAUSE RESOURCES NICE RESOURCES
"My daughter asked if she could choose my wig after chemo..." In this episode, I speak with Susmita Bhattacharya. She's an award-winning author with many books to her credit. Her debut novel, The Normal State of Mind, was longlisted for the Mumbai Film Festival prize, Word to Screen. Her short story collection, Table Manners, won the Saboteur Award in 2019 . Susmita's work has been featured in many magazines and BBC Radio 4. She also teaches creative writing at universities and to young people in the community, and has judged many short story competitions. We talk about the taboo around discussing any major illness in our culture. Particularly, cancer. Susmita shares her own journey of discovering she had cancer, going through chemotherapy, learning to talk about it with her kids. She talks about the silence around the issue within the South Asian community as well as the support she received from some community members. MORE ABOUT SUSMITA: • Creative Writing Lecturer, Winchester University • Creative Writing faciliator for Mayflower Young Writers, an ArtfulScribe project in collaboration with Mayflower Theatre, Southampton http://www.artfulscribe.co.uk/blog-category/mayflower-young-writers Editing services: https://www.upclose-editing.com Insta @susmita_b_writer Twitter @susmitatweets MORE ABOUT SUSMITA'S BOOKS http://dahlia-books.kong365.com/en-gb/products/table-manners https://www.parthianbooks.com/products/the-normal-state-of-mind “A deliciously bold debut novel …vivid and tender, funny and bittersweet. It's fearlessly full of surprises about what it meant to be young and female in 1990s India on the cusp of change.” Rosie Dastgir, A Small Fortune Table Manners on BBC Radio 4 Extra: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dpz8?fbclid=IwAR3NFwKb1VEm905Y34Yl9OGlmhDcfuBS-dJBaNMV3DLpDKT5T9aFHZXiUWQ “These triumphant, sharp eyed humorous stories mark the arrival of an intriguing new voice; tender, poignant and wry.” Irenosen Okojie, Speak Gigantular RESOURCES:If you've been affected by the themes of this episode, please check out these resources: MACMILLAN Phoneline – Support available from 9-5, Monday – Friday – 0808 808 0000 NHS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS STIGMA AMONG SOUTH ASIANS
"An ordinary salwar-kameez clad young woman fights sex trafficking..." In this episode, I talk with Ram Devineni & Dipti Mehta, who are the creators of the Priya Shakti comic book – which has made the topic of sex trafficking really accessible to younger people. Their project was named “Gender Equality Champion” by UN Women. This is the first ever Indian comic book series tackling serious issues like sexual violence and trafficking of young women by using Augmented Reality technology to appeal to younger audiences. MORE ABOUT RAM DEVINENI Ram is the creator of the Priya's Shakti comic book series and named by UN Women as a “gender quality champion”. He is a filmmaker who produced, edited and directed the feature documentary, “The Karma Killings,” which was shot in India and released on Netflix. Recently, he produced “The Russian Woodpecker,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. MORE ABOUT DIPTI MEHTA Dipti is an award winning, actor and writer of the interactive comic book, “Priya and the Lost Girls.” She wrote “HONOUR: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan,” which is an attempt to give voice and a face to brothel dwellers bringing their humanity to encounter that of her audiences, and is now touring internationally, creating awareness about the issues of trafficking and human rights. She best known for her portrayal of Reina in “Life! Camera Action,” which brought her multiple international awards and nominations. MORE ABOUT THE PRIYA SHAKTI SERIES http:// https://www.priyashakti.com/ RESOURCES If you've been affected by the themes of this episode, please check out these resources: APNE AAP ANTI-SLAVERY MODERN SLAVERY SEX TRAFFICKING
"Being Sri Lankan in America is to unapologetically claim my space as a South Asian..." The final episode of Season Two is a special that was recorded, on campus, at UC Berkeley, California interviewing young South Asian American womxn about their experiences. I talked to Sitara Bellam, Emma Desilva, Medhavi G & Shenali Pilapitiya, Students from The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley '20 & '21). They spoke about their identity, their individual struggles, about being South Asian and being American – and how the two fit together. We discussed the taboos faced by all South Asian womxn growing up worldwide: Not being able to dateHaving to hide your sexualityHaving to lead double livesIssues around female sexuality and periodsFighting to become strong powerful women Fabulous, fierce South Asian American womxn... Sitara Bellam: @sitarabellam “I think that as South Asian Americans we have to not only uplift the creatives and change-makers across our Diaspora but remain equally critical in how we engage with our culture and what stories we tell about our identities.” Emma DeSilva: @emmaadesilvaa “I hope South Asian Americans will have the confidence to go after their passions and interests, while not sacrificing their South Asian identities. And we'll see more South Asian American representation in areas, like film, music, media, and politics.” Shenali Pilapitiya: @ _shenali “Being Sri Lankan in America is to unapologetically and proudly claim my space as a South-Asian woman, and to contribute to the culture, knowledge and stories of WOC that shape the foundations of America.”
"Three-quarters of women with HIV in the UK are BAME..." In episode seven, I talk to Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan, an NHS Consultant who's also a Sexual Health & HIV activist, working primarily among South Asian womxn. Many of whom have contracted the virus through their husbands, but are unable to tell anyone because of the stigma around HIV. Plus an interview with Mina Kakaiya, who's had HIV for 20 years and is now an activist working to help other South Asian womxn tackle the stigma associated with HIV. Both Rageshri & Mina who have such passion and compassion in their work, help us look at HIV in a totally different way. We explore: • The shame and secrecy that surround HIV in South Asian culture • How stigma prevents South Asian womxn with HIV seeking support • How shame is such a huge part of South Asian culture MORE ABOUT DR. RAGESHRI: Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan is a Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV at Barts Health NHS Trust and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London. Her clinical work, teaching and research focuses on health inequalities, especially on the intersections between health, race and gender. She is an elected trustee of the British HIV Association, medical board member of NAZ, a charity specialising in the sexual health of minority ethnic communities and has recently joined the Race and Health collective. She has recently co-founded SAHAR, the South Asian HIV Advisory Resource and is passionate about reducing the stigma of talking about sex, sexuality and sexual health in South Asian communities in the UK. Twitter: @crageshri Insta: @crageshri MORE ABOUT MINA:Mina Kakaiya is a social entrepreneur, speaker, author and wellbeing coach. She is a trainer in mental health, emotional resilience and mindfulness. And has been a volunteer peer mentor with Positively UK and informed national BHVIA HIV standards for Peer Support. She has also been involved in HIV campaigns and national and is an international speaker on HIV. Twitter: @KakaiyaMina LinkedIn: @mina-kakaiya RESOURCES: If you've been affected by the themes of this episode, please check out these resources: NAZ POSITIVELY UK TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST THE FOODCHAIN AIDSMAP ORGANISATIONS FOCUSSED ON SEXUAL HEALTH FOR SOUTH ASIANS NAZ & MATT FOUNDATION IMAAN
Today on the Pleasure Podcast we welcome Sangeeta Pillai, founder of feminist online platform Soul Sutras and fighter of Indian Patriarchy! Sangeeta developed SoulSutras to be a safe space for South Asian womxn to tell their stories openly without shame or fear, connecting with one another, sharing a common cultural identity.Soul Sutras has developed into a feminist platform hosting the award-winning taboo-shaking Masala Podcast to developing Masala Monologues, a series of writing workshops and theatre shows in the UK and US.Sangeeta talks to us about her childhood, growing up in the slums of Mumbai and expected to follow the narrow familiar trajectory planned and expected for South Asian women of obedient daughter, wife, and mother. Sangeeta pushed against traditional expectations from a very young age, being the first woman in her family to work and decline marriage, but not without significant personal cost.We discuss the cultural drive for purity and the responsibility of women to guard that safely between her legs. Sangeeta received the message from her family that physical pleasure is not for her, that sex will be the ruin of the archetypal good Indian woman. The strongly conditioned links between nudity and sex and shame at an early age limited access of even simple intimacy.Having a breakdown led to Sangeeta's sexual awakening and eventually her drive to create a safe space for women to speak to each other and open up. A blog became a writing workshop which developed into a theatre space and an award-winning podcast.We talk about reclaiming the sexual heritage of India such as the Kama Sutra for a great seductive sexual experience, and look at India as a liberal secular place of openness and possibility. We discuss the deification of boys that is endemic in Indian culture and how growing up feeling like you are somehow better is harmful for both men and women. We discuss how her more traditional extended family have responded to her work by silence, how to move forward when you are not seen as a success by your family, and how the price she has paid for the path she has chosen is loneliness.Sangeeta keeps pushing the boundaries, recognising the importance of keeping challenging the silence and taboos in Asian culture to allow us all to normalise sex and intimacy and affection.Learn more about Soul Sutras here and catch Sangeeta's wonderful Masala Podcast on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts!*We would love to hear from you: email us at hello@thepleasurepodcast.com or tweet us @ThePleasurePod.Please do rate, review, and share the podcast, it helps other people find us.*Social Media:Sangeeta Pillai: @Soul_SutrasNaomi Sheldon: @NaomiSheldon1Anand Patel: @therealdranandFollow us at @ThePleasurePod and visit us at www.thepleasurepodcast.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Welcome to The Second Circle. A sex podcast for overthinkers.On this episode Franki talks to writer Sangeeta Pillai about the stigma and stereotypes around sex when you're a South Asian woman. Sangeeta is the founder of Soul Sutras and creator of The Masala Monologues as well as the forthcoming Masala Podcast. In The Overthinkers Guide To Sex we hear from sex blogger Exhibit A about how an sexy encounter with a Canadian couple allowed him to tap into previously unrealised desires.We also discuss the ways in which South Asian sexuality gets represented in the mainstream media (spoiler: it doesn't!) and how, while reporting on human rights issues in other parts of the world is important, it's also really crucial we hear the individual stories as well.The Second Circle is a sex and gender politics podcast produced and hosted by journalist Franki Cookney. It seeks to bring some (okay, a LOT) of the nuance back into discussions of sex, relationships, and gender and challenges the idea that sex doesn't deserve the same thought and attention that we give to the rest of our lives.Series 3 of The Second Circle is supported by That's The Spot.Get in touch on Twitter @The2ndCircle or email us secondcirclepodcast@gmail.com.If you're enjoying the podcast, please visit the Patreon page to find out more about how you can support sex-positive content AND get rewarded for your loyalty! Or if you just want to low-key share the love, why not buy me a coffee?Support the show (https://ko-fi.com/frankicookney)
In this final episode for Series 1 of Masala Podcast, the theme is Mental Health especially among South Asian women. I chat with Tina Mistry, clinical psychologist and director of TherapySense. She specialises in issues around race, culture and identity and works with South Asian communities. Tina has a specialist interest in working with trauma (including PTSD, developmental and intergenerational trauma). We talk about issues affecting South Asian girls and women, particularly struggles with their dual identities. We discuss how we are taught to never show rage or anger and how that affects us as women in the culture. We debate whether current mental health methods are “Euro-centric”. I also talk about my own struggles with mental health over the past few years, specifically the anxiety and panic attacks that I’ve experienced. This is a really important episode for me, because this is personally relevant to me. And also, mental health issues affect so many of us. ABOUT MASALA PODCAST The Spotify award-winning Masala Podcast is a show for South Asian women, where we talk about all those things that we’re NOT supposed to talk about in our culture. Sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, mental health, shame, sexual harassment and many more taboos. ABOUT TINA MISTRY Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thebrownpsychologist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brownpsych Website: https://therapysense.co.uk/meet-the-psychologists Email: thebrownpsychologist@gmail.com PRODUCER Hana Walker-Brown Multi-Award-Winning Documentary Maker www.hanawalkerbrown.com Music Credit: Sunny Robertson @sunnyrobertsonmusics FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY PLATFORM SOUL SUTRAS Website: https://soulsutras.co.uk Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Soul_Sutras Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsutras/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulSutrasNetwork/ Click here to join the Soul Sutras newsletter: https://soulsutras.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ddd9c3fdfeb58cecbc5d8a6b2&id=99fbec55d9
A SPECIAL BOOK CLUB EPISODE WITH SASS In this special episode of Masala Podcast, I’m discussing the book ‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows' by Balli Kaur Jaswal with Shirin Shah who’s the Co-founder of SASS - South Asian Sisters Speak (SASS) as well as Mahek Mehta and Maryam Siddiqui who’ve been part of previous SASS book clubs. Described as ‘warm and hilariously funny’ – this gem of a book takes on a big taboo: sexuality among older South Asian women. We read some (saucy) extracts from the book, we discuss lots of important themes like the ‘de-sexualisation’ of older South Asian women. We talk about our perceptions of what is acceptable in South Asian culture vs. Western culture. We explore what physical displays of affections (or the lack of them) mean for us growing up as women in our culture. This is a really special episode for me, because we connected, we chatted about some important themes and we had such a laugh. ABOUT MASALA PODCAST The Spotify award-winning Masala Podcast is a show for South Asian women, where we talk about all those things that we’re NOT supposed to talk about in our culture. Sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, mental health, shame, sexual harassment and many more taboos. SOUTH ASIAN SISTERS SPEAK (SASS) Contact Shirin Shat of SASS: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/weare_sass/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/weare_sass Website: https://southasiansistersspeak.wordpress.com/ Contact Mahek Mehta Insta: @mahek_ Twitter: @mahekstweets Contact Maryam Siddiqui Insta: @quiyam9 Twitter: @msid93 ABOUT THE AUTHOR https://www.ballijaswal.com/ Link to buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M70UBQ6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Masala Podcast Producer: Hana Walker-Brown Multi-Award-Winning Documentary Maker www.hanawalkerbrown.com Music Credit: Sunny Robertson @sunnyrobertsonmusics FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY PLATFORM SOUL SUTRAS Website: https://soulsutras.co.uk Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Soul_Sutras Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsutras/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulSutrasNetwork/ Click here to join the Soul Sutras newsletter: https://soulsutras.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ddd9c3fdfeb58cecbc5d8a6b2&id=99fbec55d9
On this episode of Masala Podcast, I chat with Seeta Patel, a renowned classical Bharatanatyam dancer. We explore how traditional Indian dancing and the female body relate to each other. We discuss the origins of the Bharatanatyam dance, which can be traced back to the Devadasis and temple and court traditions. We talk about classical dance and its place in Indian society today. My guest Seeta Patel, winner of innumerable awards and bursaries, has been a judge, mentor and advisor for the first ever BBC Young Dancer Competition. In 2017, Seeta received the Washington S&R Award for her work championing Bharatanatyam in the diaspora, presented her solo classical performance with live music at Sadler’s Wells as part of the prestigious Darbar Festival in November 2017. This has been an exciting year for Seeta with creating larger ensemble works, including the iconic Rite of Spring, being part of the British Council Showcase in Edinburgh with ‘ Not Today’s Yesterday’ and being nominated for ‘Best Stage Production’ at The Asian Media Awards. MORE ABOUT SEETA PATEL: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/seetadances/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/seetadances Website: https://www.seetapatel.co.uk/ The Spotify award-winning Masala Podcast is a show for South Asian womxn, where we talk about all those things that we’re NOT supposed to talk about in our culture. Sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, mental health, shame, sexual harassment and many more taboos. Producer: Hana Walker-Brown Multi-Award-Winning Documentary Maker www.hanawalkerbrown.com Music Credit: Sunny Robertson @sunnyrobertsonmusic FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY PLATFORM SOUL SUTRAS Website: https://soulsutras.co.uk Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Soul_Sutras Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsutras/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulSutrasNetwork/ Click here to join the Soul Sutras newsletter: https://soulsutras.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ddd9c3fdfeb58cecbc5d8a6b2&id=99fbec55d9
Masala Podcast is a show for South Asian & British Asian women, where we talk about all those things that we’re NOT supposed to talk about in our culture. Sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, mental health, shame, sexual harassment and many more taboos. On each episode, I speak to brave and beautiful South Asian women: burlesque dancers, drag queens, mental health specialists, erotic novel lovers, acclaimed writers as well as queer & non-binary actors. I also talk about my own experiences, growing up in a traditional Indian family, discovering and learning to love my own body, and my sexuality.
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