No Nation with Esther Manito: Recent Episodes
Esther Manito
As racism becomes invogue again mixed race, biracial, dual nationality holding, half breed, non nation….(I could go on but you get the gist) Esther Manito wants to hear the experiences of what it really means to grow up between two countries, two cultures, two religions, two cuisines...again…. you get it. Esther will invite plenty of guests from the world of comedy, academia, law, journalism, TV and sports to chat over their heritage, traditions, culture clashes and experiences being duel heritage in modern day Britain. What happens when your mother tongue “dont match ya lingo”? Or your voice doesn't not match your face? Or your dad is mistaken as your cab driver? Or you’re asked if you’re your child’s nanny…..it does start to chip away at your sense of identity when you are asked for the 40000th time “But mate! Where you from from?”
Sindhu Vee is the star of Live at the Apollo, QI, Jonothan Ross. Sindhu chat to me about her childhood growing up in a house with a North Indian mother and South Indian father, and how big the divide was!
In this episode I chat to stand up comedian as seen on comedy central, stand up sketch show and nominated for best show at Edinburgh Festival -Helen Bauer! We chat about her German heritage and why her family didn't change her name to the British spelling!?!
I also recorded this with covid...so please excuse the heavy breathing!
In this episode I am joined by Ru Paul's Drag Race's Cherry Valentine! I would actually love to go for a drink with Cherry and chat for hours, such a lovely and warm person. We talk about life in the Gypsy community, school, gender roles, juggling two worlds, expressing feelings and the beauty of Drag.
No what was truly amazing is we realised that there is one thing in common between Traveller and Arab housholds.....we love a plastic covered arm chair.
In this week's episode I chat to Journalist, broadcaster, writer, activist and performer Lauren Booth. I saw Lauren's show Accidentally Muslim at the Edinburgh fringe festival. The show was articulate, charismatic and outlined her positive reltionship with the muslim world, it even made me cry. It was a joy to have Lauren on the podcast and to hear her amazing life experiences that lead her to Islam. We also chat about what makes us love England, and why is it so important to never put on the "big light" in every English house?
In this episode im joined by comedian and columist for The Independent; Shappi Korsandi. Shappi (as seen on Live at the Apollo and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here) discusses moving from Iran to london and what the key smells are in an English house and an Iranian house.
In this episode I talk to co founder of Fulwell Productions Ben Turner, who brought us; 'Sunderland Till I die', 'I am Bolt', ' Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special' and 'The late late show with James Cordon". We chat about his families experiences of being East End Jews, and the glorious concept of a "Lady's Excuse Me' dance!
This week I chat to award winning comedian and host of Two Vegan Idiots, Carl Donnelly. We chat about heading back to Ireland for summer holidays and the pure elation at finding a pub at the back of your local post office. What does it mean to be British when you grow up in a tight knit Irish community in South London?
This week Esther is joined by writer and award winning comedian Jen Brister as seen on Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle's New World Order and author of The Other Mother. The brilliantly funny and incredbly smart Jen takes time out to chat with Esther about the true meaning of being Mediterranean blooded, faux lemons and the sheer volume of our families.
This week Esther is joined by actor and comedian Abdullah Afzal; starring in Lunch Monkeys, BBC One's Citizen Khan, BBC Asian Network comedy special and in several documentaries about Islam. Together they discuss what makes us British, and we recount some painful memories of racist encounters.
This week Esther is joined by Television presenter Radzi Chinyaganya; as seen on Blue Peter, ITV's Cannonballin and host of Match of the Day Kickaboutfrom. Together they discuss which how only one side of your mixed heritage gets attention and sometimes archaic imperialist treatment.