Her Skin: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Her Skin, a podcast about the minority experience. Culture photographer Abhi Chinniah grew up a minority across two countries; Malaysia and New Zealand. As she seeks to find belonging in a world that does not seem designed for people like her, she dives in deep by connecting with people from all around the world. On Her Skin you’ll jump into the shoes of incredible individuals as they share their stories on diversity, skin colour, race, inclusivity, home and everything in between.
In this special episode, Abhi Chinniah chats with Dr Anna Ponnampalam, Amalen Sathanthar, Ranisha Chand, Stephany Balogh, Suveen Sanis Walgampola and Tenisha Kumar. Join them as they discuss the shift in media representation of dark-skinned people, what it felt like not seeing people that looked like them celebrated in pop culture and how they came to learn about the word colourism. This episode is part one of a three-part series.
This episode is audio from Abhi Chinniah's photo series Melanin Rising. This exhibition looks at colourism, skin discrimination, the use of skin-lightening products and media representation of dark-skinned people. At the core of Melanin Rising sits an important message, love your melanin.
This episode is audio from Abhi Chinniah's photo series Melanin Rising. This exhibition looks at colourism, skin discrimination, the use of skin-lightening products and media representation of dark-skinned people. At the core of Melanin Rising sits an important message, love your melanin.
Experience sweet beats by Karnan Saba ft Sangeet Mishra. Made exclusively for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path which is currently touring Aotearoa. Karnan drew inspiration from Abhi's collection of portraits in the exhibition.
Sophia shares how she keeps her culture alive in Aotearoa for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path
Shailee shares how she keeps her culture alive in Aotearoa for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path
Ravnit shares how she keeps her culture alive in Aotearoa for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path
Jasmin shares how she keeps her culture alive in Aotearoa for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path
Radhika shares how she keeps her culture alive in Aotoeroa, for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path.
Soph shares how she keeps her culture alive in Aotearoa for Abhi's exhibition A Migrant's Path
Founder of Migrant Zine Collective, activist, artist and writer Helen Yeung talks zine culture, self-representation, the notion of home, identity, navigating life as creative during a pandemic, her recent Asian Feminist Project and bringing migrants together to create impactful conversation in Aotearoa.
With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping Abhi and her friend Jasmin Singh away from their families who live in Malaysia – Deepavali has brought on the nostalgia. They get together to reminisce, eat Murukku chips and talk about their favourite Deepavali foods, family and what The Festival of Lights means to them.
Amalen Sathanathar is a Malaysian activist based in Kuala Lumpur. As a climate change warrior he fights for the environment, but along the way has had to fight for his right to be heard as a dark-skinned minority. In this episode, Amalen talks to Abhi about what activism means to him, and how to navigate the world as a walking stereotype.
New Zealand actress Amanda Grace Leo talks about her upcoming project Motherland: Aotearoa's first Asian cabaret, growing up in Singapore, what got her into acting, what it means to be a woman of colour and the calories in a "keropok" fish cracker. Yup you read that right.
Welcoming Fatumata Bah to Her Skin! Originally from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, her family fled to New Zealand when she was a toddler and arrived here as refugees. A 2016 Westpac Women of Influence finalist, Fatumata is passionate about women’s rights, diversity and culture. We talk about her journey coming to New Zealand as a refugee, navigating life as a woman of colour, what home means to us, mainstream beauty standards and her impactful, inspiring work to date.
Neha Saigal has experience spanning 13 years across influencing policy in agriculture and nutrition, designing social accountability models and leading multi-disciplinary teams. She has worked extensively in Odisha, co-designed the Odisha Nutrition Action Plan with Government of Odisha and has facilitated government-working committees on nutrition. Neha and I also talk about her time in Delhi during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her years living in New Zealand as a migrant.
Jasmin Singh, organizer, and facilitator for The Migrant Zine Collective in New Zealand talks about skin color, discrimination, and how Zines are changing the face of minority narratives.
Neelam O'Neill talks about Colorism, the Paralympics, her journey getting there, and her goal to be the first woman in 30 years to represent New Zealand in shooting para-sport.