Brown Don't Frown Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tania S H
Brown Don't Frown was borne out of a personal journey with womanhood. As a British Bangladeshi, navigating mainstream Feminism often felt exclusionary to me because it didn’t seem to value the experiences or views which shaped my grandmother’s, aunts’, mother’s or friends’ lives. Through this podcast, we seek to build a more inclusive discourse, which breaks down presumptions about different cultures, and shines a positive light on the stories of underrepresented women.
Featuring new guest(s) from different walks of life in each episode, Brown Don’t Frown seeks to engage ordinary women and facilitate openness towards entirely new perspectives. It hopes to spark honest and meaningful conversations about intersectional feminist themes in contemporary society with the acknowledgement that our views are shaped by our cultural, racial, religious, social and political experiences. Whether it's discussing society's preconceptions about the Hijab with a British-born Jamaican Muslim woman or examining the impact of gendered expectations on our ability to grieve on our own terms, we hope listeners finish each episode feeling more rounded than they did before.
Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browndontfrownpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bdfpodcast?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/browndontfrownpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/browndontfrownpodcast
In the final episode of Season 6, I sit down with India Rakusen, a renowned audio and TV producer and presenter. She is best known for her work on BBC's highly acclaimed productions '28ish Days Later', 'Witch', and more recently, 'Child' where India delves into the journey of conception, pregnancy, birth, and the first twelve months of a child's life, exploring the science and history behind our creation.
We discuss the influences of mothering, and the interplay between discipline and affection. India reflects on the image of the Virgin Mary and how it has shaped perceptions of perfectionism and selflessness in motherhood. She also examines the influence of different waves of feminism, from 1970s’ attachment parenting to today's challenges balancing women's independence with mothering. We touch upon childcare, nuclear versus multi-generational families, and the emotional impact of giving and receiving advice.
We also reflect on the bifurcation of medicated and unmedicated birth and the importance of compassion and empathy in recognising that every birth is a unique, special experience. Join us for a discussion that transcends "pregnancy" and "motherhood" and highlights the broader implications for social cohesion, happiness, and economic prosperity.
You can find all episodes of '28ish Days Later', 'Witch' and 'Child' on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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.
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I sit down with hosts of Two Chickpeas in a Podcast, sisters Nikkita and Natasha to talk about our podcasting journeys, including how we started out, as well as our challenges, successes and future aspirations. We also talk about our experience as second/third generation South Asians - how it has shaped us and our outlooks on life and how it differs from our parents/grandparents, including our confidence in our South Asian identity.
We also cover ambition, creativity and overachievement as a double edged sword. We round off with examining our hopes and dreams over the next decade, such as breaking the mould in terms of parting with some of the traditional expectations set by the generations before us while building acceptance and confidence in ourselves.
You can find Two Chickpeas in a Podcast on Apple, Spotify, TikTok and YouTube. Follow them on Instragram @twochickpeasinapodcast.
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.
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Neelam founded Cysters in 2015 as a way to challenge some of the misconceptions and stigma around reproductive health, particularly for marginalised and racialised groups. It started off as a Facebook group and has evolved to become a community-led charity which aims to address some of the systemic barriers to better health outcomes.
In this episode, Neelam's fierce dedication to improving reproductive health outcomes alongside her own lived experience come through poignantly as she shares the journey of Cysters, including its challenges and successes, as well as the significance of its core values of community, collaboration, care, and confidence. We also explore taboos in our communities, notably among South Asian women, discussing progress made and hopes for the next generation.
I ask Neelam about Cysters' mobilisation initiatives and outreach campaigns to raise awareness and empower harder to reach communities to speak openly about their health and have a seat at the decision-making table, such as "Chai and Chat" and "Cysters Smear," including its work to influence public health policy.
To join the Cysterhood, visit @cystersgroup on Instagram or www.cysters.org.
Mitali Dargani is our next guest. As creator and host of Brown Game Strong, an interview show spotlighting creative South Asian minds, Mitali tells us how the show originated from a place of community support and encouragement, and is an embodiment of lifting each other up. Yet, Brown Game Strong is not just about showing outward success, but equally, recognising the flaws, demons, and challenges we all face.
This was a really enriching discussion in many ways as we uncovered our thought processes in being sandwiched between two mindsets: stability and taking risks, as reflected in our life choices.
As fellow creatives in the storytelling space, we also spend some time reframing how we perceive ‘success’, sharing a sense of conscientiousness about ourselves and the world. We ask - is the need to be constantly productive the antidote to unfulfillment or the antithesis to happiness? Finally, we take an introspective look into how we think our 30s will define us.
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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.
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In this episode, I sit down with an inspirational former colleague and friend, Gabbie Stewart. Gabbie is originally from New Zealand but has spent many years in London with her husband and three young children. We talk about the inevitable juggle of life, personal identity, work, motherhood and everything in between.
We consider the evolution and revolution of pregnancy and motherhood over generations, overcoming myths and fears, alongside convention and personal choices. Working mothers are well acquainted with the term ‘motherhood penalty’ and within this context, Gabbie and I talk about reaching our potential, redefining our own narratives, and reclaiming ourselves while finding ways to enjoy the present and thrive.
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.
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Seetal Kaur is our next guest. She is Co-Director of Forward Culture, a social initiative focussing on the empowerment of South Asian women. Seetal explains Forward Culture exists not just for finding pride in our South Asian heritage, but also about critically evaluating previous traditions and evolving them in line with our own empowerment and identity.
In this episode, we talk about our shared experience of something that nothing and no one can ever prepare you for: motherhood. We begin with learning from previous generations, examining what has fallen away and what has stood the test of time. We discuss how soul destroying complete selflessness can be and why we shouldn't put it on a pedestal in South Asian cultures in the way that we do. We also explore setting good examples for our children, ‘unlearning’ and ‘reparenting’ and the contrasts between gentle parenting/validating emotions vs authoritative parenting/disciplinarian approaches. Seetal also shares how therapy for her has been a necessary antidote to emotional barriers and improved self-awareness.
Forward Culture offers an enriching Mentorship programme for South Asian women and runs regular workshops, events and research. You can find out more and get involved through www.forwardculture.co or head over to its Instagram @forward.culture.
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.
Follow us on:
Twitter - @BDFPodcast
Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast
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The first guest of season 6 is Sairish Hussain, author of ‘The Family Tree’ and ‘Hidden Fires’. Sairish shares her writing journey and the inspirations behind the characters and plots in both of her novels. We also discuss the depiction of negative South Asian and Muslim stereotypes in popular culture and how she has defied these narratives in her stories as well as the importance of authenticity and originality.
Diversity in publishing has been a longstanding and ongoing conversation. We look at Sairish’s experience of navigating the world of publishing and discuss the progress that has been made since the publication of her debut novel in 2020, including what more could be done, moving beyond tokenism and quotas.
Sairish also shares some thoughts and advice for aspiring writers and academics, as well as her future hopes and aspirations.
You can find copies of both of her novels ‘The Family Tree’ and ‘Hidden Fires’ online or in most bookstores.
Sign up to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/186e92c0ae06/browndontfrownpodcastnewsletter
If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please consider supporting it, for as little as the price of a coffee! You can donate here: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod.
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X - @BDFPodcast
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Brown Don’t Frown is back again! Season 6 drops March 2024! Make sure you hit the subscribe button and you will be notified as soon as a new episode goes live.
This season is all about empathy and empowerment through various lenses, such as navigating our 30s, not just reaching life goals and milestones but making new ones, parenthood and reproductive health, spinning plates, challenges, fears, surviving, thriving, finding purpose and intention, gratitude, balance, calm, and rest. We’ve got some inspiring women including fellow South Asian podcasters, an acclaimed novelist, a reproductive health campaigner and charity founder, and a co-director of a South Asian women’s empowerment initiative.
Sign up to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/186e92c0ae06/browndontfrownpodcastnewsletter
If you enjoy listening to the podcast, please consider supporting it - for as little as the price of a coffee! You can donate here: www.patreon.com/browndontfrownpod.
Follow us on:
X - @BDFPodcast
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To mark Black History Month, the final guests of season 5 are Alison Burton and Natalie Duvall, founders of March Muses, which produces luxury gifts representing people of colour and received backing from Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden. They are the only UK brand to have created a full range of Black Christmas decorations, shining the light on the need for diverse and inclusive figurines and baubles at Christmas time.
Alison and Natalie are single mums who also have full time day jobs and share their perspectives on balancing entrepreneurialism, motherhood and creativity.
It’s important that we raise our children to value diversity, feel visible and see all humans as equal. As mothers of Black daughters, I ask them why representation is particularly important to them.
Natalie and Alison also frankly share their experiences with motherhood:
“As a parent, you’re winging it every day, because you don’t know what you’re going to be faced with and you have to find a solution for it at that moment. You could be tired, you could be hungry, you could be fed up, you could be stressed, but you have to find the answer. And you have to come down to their level with the way that you communicate.”
“The beautiful thing is, you’re always learning from your children…”
You can follow March Muses on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marchmuses/ Find out more on https://www.marchmuses.co.uk/
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.
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Katie Pearson is an old classmate from Sixth Form. She talks frankly about life as a stay-at-home mum, the societal stereotypes and stigma associated with it, “mum guilt” and how she manages her anxiety and negative thoughts.
The negative perceptions of stay-at-home mums have been created by women. We are the gatekeepers of this narrative. It often feels like whatever women do, they’re not good enough. If you’re a working mother, you’re neglecting your children, and if you’re a stay-at-home mother, you’ve failed to achieve your full potential. A lot of women calling themselves feminists are part of the problem of this women-shaming. We ask, do we have a problem with internalised misogyny?
Raising children is one of the most undervalued roles in life. Author of Invisible Women, Caroline Criado Perez, says “Women’s unpaid work is work that society depends on, and it is work from which society as a whole benefits[...]The unpaid work that women do isn’t simply a matter of “choice”. It is built into the system we have created – and it could just as easily be built out of it”. ONS analysis of time use data shows that women put in more than double the proportion of unpaid work when it comes to cooking, childcare and housework. I ask Katie whether this resonates with her and she shares her typical day of taking care of her children, and working around the house.
We round off with Katie sharing the best thing about being a mum, the hardest thing and a piece of advice she’d give to expectant or new mothers: be kind to yourself.
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.
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Today’s guest is Jane Chelliah, a South Asian midlife influencer and blogger who talks candidly about motherhood, feminism and transforming the female midlife crisis into a happy phase in life. Jane didn’t always see herself as a mother but found that she was absolutely besotted in love with her daughter when she was born.
Jane describes herself as a Feminist mother. I ask her what that means to her and she shares an evocative metaphor: “It’s about putting that oxygen mask on yourself first before putting it on your child, and that way, you can not only be the best version of yourself but you can be the best for your child. It’s about empowered mothering.”
Motherhood can make women lose that sense of self, of who they were before they became mothers. When I ask Jane about whether motherhood affected her identity, she explains how it added further dimensions to her ability to be more compassionate and thoughtful towards another human being and for herself too. Contrary to societal preconceptions of motherhood, it actually sharpened her ambition and empowered her to be more motivated.
We also examine the “motherhood penalty”, assumptions and prejudices in the workforce, how austerity has rested disproportionately upon mothers from economically deprived groups, and the hollowness that comes with becoming an empty-nester.
You can read more about Jane on www.amidlferinlondon.com and www.ambitiousmamas.co.uk.
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.
Follow us on:
Twitter - @BDFPodcast
Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast
Facebook - @browndontfrownpodcast
LinkedIn - @browndontfrownpodcast
Today’s guest is Jane Chelliah, a South Asian midlife influencer and blogger who talks candidly about motherhood, feminism and transforming the female midlife crisis into a happy phase in life. Jane didn’t always see herself as a mother but found that she was absolutely besotted in love with her daughter when she was born.
Jane describes herself as a Feminist mother. I ask her what that means to her and she shares an evocative metaphor: “It’s about putting that oxygen mask on yourself first before putting it on your child, and that way, you can not only be the best version of yourself but you can be the best for your child. It’s about empowered mothering.”
Motherhood can make women lose that sense of self, of who they were before they became mothers. When I ask Jane about whether motherhood affected her identity, she explains how it added further dimensions to her ability to be more compassionate and thoughtful towards another human being and for herself too. Contrary to societal preconceptions of motherhood, it actually sharpened her ambition and empowered her to be more motivated.
We also examine the “motherhood penalty”, assumptions and prejudices in the workforce, how austerity has rested disproportionately upon mothers from economically deprived groups, and the hollowness that comes with becoming an empty-nester.
You can read more about Jane on www.amidlferinlondon.com and www.ambitiousmamas.co.uk.
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.
Follow us on:
Twitter - @BDFPodcast
Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast
Facebook - @browndontfrownpodcast
LinkedIn - @browndontfrownpodcast
The first guest of this special series on the joys and challenges of maternity and motherhood, is Joeli Brearley, Founder and Director of Pregnant Then Screwed. It started off as a safe space for mothers to share stories of their pregnancy discrimination and has evolved to become a one-of-a kind charity that lobbies against the gender pay gap, maternity discrimination and aims to be a voice for working mothers.
Joeli shares striking examples of pregnancy discrimination she’s come across through PTS’s Advice Line and how she’s used these examples to galvanise change in maternity policy. She also talks about the work PTS is doing to reach underserved groups and more Black and Brown women.
Childcare in the UK has been unfit for purpose for a long time. We ask, how do we fix the system? And how can we better engage with employers to encourage them to make their workplaces the best they can be for working parents?
We finish with Joeli sharing her thoughts on the best thing about being a mum and the hardest thing, and one piece of advice she’d give to expectant or new mothers.
You can join the March of the Mummies protest on childcare reform and better parental leave on 29 October, taking place across 11 cities in the UK: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/event-march-of-the-mummies/
RESET 2022 Online Festival of motherhood and mental health takes place from 12 - 16 September: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/reset-2022-festival-of-motherhood-and-mental-health/
Follow Pregnant Then Screwed:
Instagram - @pregnant_then_screwed
Twitter - @PregnantScrewed
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.
Follow us on:
Twitter - @BDFPodcast
Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast
Facebook - @browndontfrownpodcast
LinkedIn - @browndontfrownpodcast
The first guest of this special series on the joys and challenges of maternity and motherhood, is Joeli Brearley, Founder and Director of Pregnant Then Screwed. It started off as a safe space for mothers to share stories of their pregnancy discrimination and has evolved to become a one-of-a kind charity that lobbies against the gender pay gap, maternity discrimination and aims to be a voice for working mothers.
Joeli shares striking examples of pregnancy discrimination she’s come across through PTS’s Advice Line and how she’s used these examples to galvanise change in maternity policy. She also talks about the work PTS is doing to reach underserved groups and more Black and Brown women.
Childcare in the UK has been unfit for purpose for a long time. We ask, how do we fix the system? And how can we better engage with employers to encourage them to make their workplaces the best they can be for working parents?
We finish with Joeli sharing her thoughts on the best thing about being a mum and the hardest thing, and one piece of advice she’d give to expectant or new mothers.
You can join the March of the Mummies protest on childcare reform and better parental leave on 29 October, taking place across 11 cities in the UK: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/event-march-of-the-mummies/
RESET 2022 Online Festival of motherhood and mental health takes place from 12 - 16 September: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/reset-2022-festival-of-motherhood-and-mental-health/
Follow Pregnant Then Screwed:
Instagram - @pregnant_then_screwed
Twitter - @PregnantScrewed
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.
Follow us on:
Twitter - @BDFPodcast
Instagram - @browndontfrownpodcast
Facebook - @browndontfrownpodcast
LinkedIn - @browndontfrownpodcast
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
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.
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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.
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“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.
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.
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 Kelsey. 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.