Masala Podcast: The South Asian feminist podcast
Masala Podcast is a multi-award-winning South Asian feminist show that explores cultural taboos from a South Asian perspective. It covers topics such as sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, porn, mental health, shame and sexual harassment. The podcast amplifies the voices and views of South Asian women and features inspiring guests. It explores intersectional feminism through a South Asian lens and has won multiple British Podcast Awards.
Episodes
The Culture That Hurt Me Will Heal Me: Leaving London for Kerala
Healing Trauma with Ancient Indian Feminist Wisdom in KeralaWhy am I leaving my safe London life, packing away my podcast awards and returning to the very culture that traumatised me?After 11 years in my beautiful canalside flat, I am giving away 70% of my belongings, shedding my "London Sangeeta" identity, and taking nothing with me but my mother’s burnt orange silk sari. I am going back to the l
Control Is Not Our Culture: Honour-Based Abuse
Is It Culture or Is It Control? The Truth About 'Honour'-Based AbuseSPECIAL EPISODE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UK GOVERNMENTWhat do you think of when you hear the words ‘Honour’-Based Abuse? If you think it doesn’t happen to people like you, in cosmopolitan cities like London, then this is a must-listen episode.This week, I, Sangeeta Pillai, am talking about something deeply important and often misun
Stop being ashamed of your South Asian culture
Breaking the Cycle of South Asian Cultural Shame | Masala Podcast I'm peeling back the layers on a tough topic for South Asian diaspora experience: Cultural Shame. This isn't just about feeling "different"; it’s about the deep-rooted psychological burden of feeling that our culture, our bodies, and our very existence are "wrong" in a Western context.1. Why We Feel Cultural Shame We didn't wake up
Lonely? Why Even the Most "Successful" Brown Girls Feel Alone
Have you ever looked at your life and thought it looked perfect on the outside—maybe even "Instagrammable"—yet felt a deep, invisible ache inside? In this episode of the Masala Podcast, host Sangeeta Pillai gets more personal than ever to break the silence around a global epidemic: Loneliness.Sangeeta shares the raw reality of her own "peak" moment—standing in London’s Leicester Square looking at
Stop waiting & start owning your pleasure
The Pleasure is All Yours: Stop Waiting & Start Owning Your FireWhy is female pleasure still the ultimate taboo? In our community, we talk about marriage, children, and duty—but we rarely talk about a woman’s right to her own sexual satisfaction.This week on the Masala Podcast, we’re exploring the psychology of pleasure and the biology of bliss. This episode is a deep dive into sexual agency—t
Mothers & Daughters: Heal The Wound, Break the Cycle
Can you ever truly be a "good" daughter while staying true to yourself?In this episode: understand the the Mother Wound, learn how to stop passing it on.The bond between a mother and daughter is often described as sacred, but for so many of us, it's a complex battlefield of unspoken expectations, inherited trauma, and deep-seated guilt. In this raw and revealing episode of the Bad Daughter miniser
Good Girl or Bad Daughter: who are you?
Masala Podcast is back with the Bad Daughter miniseries. Where we carry on exploring taboo topics, have provocative conversations and challenge patriarchy. Let's go!GOODBYE GOOD GIRL, HELLO BAD DAUGHTER!Are you constantly editing yourself, tweaking yourself, minimising yourself to fit into what the world wants you to be? In this episode, I’ll be exploring Good Girl vs Bad Daughter. In fact, we're
Tantra & Kamasutra: It's not about sex positions
Tantra and Kamasutra secrets - plus Three Interactive Sensual MeditationsSPICY LIVE EPISODE WITH TANTRA & KAMASUTRA EXPERTS, RECORDED AT LONDON PODCAST FESTIVAL Explore the power of pleasure and learn how to tap into own your own body’s innate sensuality.Hint: it’s not about sex positions.Learn Tantra and Kamasutra secrets - plus Three Interactive Meditations to activate your sensuality! All,
Feminism: can I ask a man to fix my mice problem?
"Can I be a feminist and ask a man to get rid of mice?" An fun, light hearted episode asking questions about feminism. And mice infestations.Are you a strong feminist? Are you proud of what you've achieved? I know that I am. I own my own house, I pay my own bills, I buy my own jewellery. But when a mouse crept into my bedroom - I suddenly wanted a man to come get rid of it. In this episode, I talk
Belonging & Identity: South Asians, where is home?
"But where are you really from?" An episode investigating South Asian identity and belonging.Do you feel like you belong? And where do you feel like you belong the most? Belonging often gives us a sense of fitting in or feeling like we are part of something bigger, that we really fit in one place more than any other. I’ve often struggled with that sense of belonging – and in this podcast episode I
Feminism & Resting: South Asian women, let's reclaim rest
"Why does resting make me feel guilty?" - Rest feels radical for women, particularly South Asian women. Because we're brought up to work, to serve, to always say yes. We've seen our mothers and grandmothers exhaust themselves endlessly looking after everyone else. And so we normalise being tired, overworked and overwhelmed. On this episode of Masala Podcast Unfiltered, I talk about going on holida
South Asian Motherhood: it's not for all women
"Where are your kids?" - South Asian women are expected to be mothers, they're told that is the very purpose of being a woman. In fact, society expects all women in all cultures to be mothers.On this episode of Masala Podcast Unfiltered, I talk about a very personal episode in my life where a stranger stopped me on the street, demanding to know where my kids were.It started me thinking about how s
Fargo/Never Have I Ever Star Richa Moorjani on South Asian Beauty
Richa Moorjani on South Asian Beauty & Identity: S5, Ep 13Never Have I Ever & Fargo star Richa Moorjani is talking with me, Sangeeta Pillai, host of Masala Podcast!I'm thrilled to share my conversation with the exceptionally talented Richa Moorjani. We talk about challenging beauty standards, about the importance of representation, about our dual identities as South Asian women l
South Asian Feminism: why do we need this podcast? Guest host Melanie Chandra interviews Sangeeta
Why I became a South Asian feminist activist: Guest Sangeeta Pillai: S5 Ep 12 In this extra-special episode, Masala Podcast creator Sangeeta Pillai becomes the guest. She is interviewed by Hollywood actor & producer Melanie Chandra about the importance of South Asian feminism. Sangeeta talks about her own personal and painful experiences growing up in the Mumbai slums
Racism & Books: Can we fight racists with words?
Author Mira Jacob on Fighting Racism with Books: S5 Ep 11 Mira Jacob is a novelist, memoirist, illustrator and cultural critic. Her graphic memoir, 'Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations,' was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award, longlisted for the Pen Open Book Award, nominated for three Eisner awards, and named a New York Times notable book, as well as a Best Book of the Y
Comedy & depression: Can jokes help mental health? With Aparna Nancherla
Comedian Aparna Nancherla on Depression & Jokes: S5 Ep 10 Aparna Nancherla is an LA-based comedian, actor and writer who performs all over the US and worldwide. Her TV stand-up appearances include Netflix's 'The Standups,' HBO's 'Two Dope Queens,' and Comedy Central's 'The Half Hour.' Aparna was also a series regular on Comedy Central's 'Corporate,' and appeared many times on HBO's 'Crash
Saris in Hollywood: Mean Girls Star Avantika Vandanapu
At just 18, Avantika is already a force as a well-known Hollywood actor and producer. She was the first ever Indian American lead in the Disney Channel Original Movies 'Spin'. She was named in Variety’s Young Hollywood 'Up Next' list in 2021. Avantika plays a lead role in the Sony Screen Gems feature 'Horoscope'. Avantika also starred opposite Rebel Wilson in a #1 mov
NASA's female South Asian aerospace engineer!
Tanya Gupta was a NASA aerospace engineer, a childhood dream for so many of us and Tanya made it happen. She worked on a prototype aircraft, which now sits at the Smithsonian, and she also owns a software patent with Kennedy Space Centre.Born in the UK, she and her family moved to the US and spent some time in India too, all of which informs her work.These days, Tanya calls herself a New York base
Beauty rituals: South Asian skincare secrets from Ayurveda
S5 EP7Michelle shares her beauty secrets as the founder of Ranavat, a skin and hair care brand, based on age-old Ayurvedic traditions. Leveraging her expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and her background in engineering, Michelle honors her South Asian heritage to create a line of beautiful skin and hair treatments.Founded in 2017, Ranavat became the first Ayurvedic skincare brand to launch a
Diversity in Hollywood: Stories about minorities with "Code Black" star Melanie Chandra
Melanie Chandra on Diversity & Equality in Hollywood: S5 EP6Melanie Chandra is an award-winning actress and producer passionate about bringing more empathy to this world through her work. She uses her platforms both on-screen and behind the camera to share powerful and diverse stories about women and minorities.I loved chatting with Melanie Chandra, we discovered our common Kerala he
Sustainable & ethical fashion with Fendi, Gucci & Dior photographer
Tanya Ravichandran, making waves with sustainable fashion: S5 EP5Tanya Ravichandran is just 21 years old and incredibly wise.She is the South Asian creator, director and photographer making waves in the fashion and beauty industries. Tanya was photographing campaigns for well-known brands by the age of 15.She has amassed over one and a half million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Some of Ta
Women & money: breaking the taboo around female wealth
Reshma Saujani On Why Women Need Money: S5 EP4Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and the founder of Girls Who Code as well as founder and CEO of Moms First (formerly Marshall Plan for Moms.Reshma began her career as an attorney and Democratic organizer. In 2010, she surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress.Reshma has spent more than a decade bui
The power of Brown women in US Fashion: South Asian fashionistas in America
Teen Vogue Editor Versha Sharma on brown fashion power: S5 Ep3Editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue Versha Sharma talks about the power of brown women in fashion and elsewhere. She focuses on covering social justice, culture, fashion and politics through the lens of young people. She also talks about the surge of incredible South Asian Americans creatives in the US.Varsha was named South Asian woman of th
Can music be spiritual & sensual? With Coachella musician of Indian descent, Raveena Aurora
Raveena Aurora on music, spirituality & sensuality: S5 Ep2Raveena Aurora is a massive music star & the first woman of Indian descent to play at Coachella. And she’s on Masala Podcast! A gorgeous mix of music, spirituality & sensuality, Raveena talks about the barriers of being a brown woman in the music business. Her genre-bending style mixes soul, jazz, Bollywood & R&B ef
Being LGBTQ & a South Asian Desi is complicated
Dr. Varuna Srinivasan on Being Bisexual & South Asian: S5 Ep1Season 5 of the multi-award-winning Masala Podcast is a USA Special. Our first episode features the trailblazing sex educator, sexual health expert and advocate Dr. Varuna Srinivasan.Listen for a thought-provoking journey as we dive into the heart of sexual orientation, identity, and LGBTQ+ rights with Varuna.Varuna's story is incred
Kamasutra, Comedy & Poetry: Live in London with Shazia Mirza, Salma El-Wardany & Seema Anand
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, t
Bad Betis take over Europe sharing South Asian feminism (Recorded live in Cologne, Germany)
“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: Prasann
Powerlifting and physically strong South Asian women
“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 powerlift
Disability rights & inclusion in businesses with South Asian activist
“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, he
Grief in South Asian culture: communicating it in an adopted language
“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 Arshi: a poet, novelist and essayist. Mona i
Skater in a Sari - TikTok's "Aunty Skates" Oorbee Roy
“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 Skates. Having started skating at 4
Sex & Intimacy: understanding intimate relationships in South Asian culture
“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
Menopause & South Asian women with TV Doctor
“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 f
Growing up in India as a trans woman: Mridul Wadhwa
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
Surviving sexual abuse in childhood (Trigger warning)
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
Are South Asian women pressured into motherhood?
“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, P
Can brown Indian mums be funny? TikTok star Zarna Garg
“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 th
Bad Betis take over London - LGBTQ marriage proposal (Masala Podcast Live at London Podcast Festival)
“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’Sil
Being a South Asian woman in Britain - South Asian Heritage Month
“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 & mus
Who’s the right sort of South Asian woman? With Anita Rani
“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 Sor
From divorce poverty to role-model-lawyer with Vandana Shah
“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
Vitiligo from childhood - why is our idea of beauty so narrow?
“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 ae
The female-friendly condom - South Asian women want control of contraception and pleasure
“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
Is the Kamasutra even relevant today?
“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
Why is South Asian female pleasure still a taboo?
“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 i
Female Genital Cutting - Why are we still cutting our girls?
“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
Coming out as a queer South Asian woman at 50
"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 a
Why are older South Asian women less valued? - With Shobhaa De
"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 journalis
Who Owns A Woman’s Body? Talking sexual harassment with Ravi Shankar's daughter Anoushka
“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 &am
Being American & South Asian (Recorded at UC Berkeley)
"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 Berkel
South Asia Sex Trafficking and Sexual violence
"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 issu
Cancer & other major illness taboos in South Asian Culture
"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 man
HIV in South Asian Culture with NHS Consultant and activist
"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
South Asian Women need to talk about Menopause
"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 an
Survivors of Rape in South Asian Culture
"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 impactfu
South Asian Porn Star talks sex and fetishes
"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 In
British performer talks juggling identities including Desi
"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, spea
Fighting Colourism and South Asian attitudes on dark skin
"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 colo
Being a South Asian Woman on Jonathan Ross, Celebrity Island with Bear Gryls and other shows
"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 pressur
Mental Health & South Asian Women
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
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows with SASS (South Asian Sisters Speak)
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
Bharatanatyam dancing & the South Asian Body
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
Being Transgender, South Asian & Muslim - with drag queen Asifa
On this episode of Masala Podcast, we explore what it means to be transgender, South Asian & Muslim.My guest is Asifa Lahore, Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen. Asifa is a well-known drag performer and TV star. She’s constantly pushing the boundaries of what it means to be LGBT, South Asian and Muslim. Asifa featured in Channel 4’s groundbreaking documentary Muslim Drag Queens in 2015. She
South Asians: Identity, race, sexuality & mental health
This is a live recording of the Masala Podcast Launch Event on 8th Oct, at Rich Mix, London.The official launch of Masala Podcast was such a powerful experience. The audience responses were incredible, the support was overwhelming.The evening was a panel discussion with my guests from Season 1. We discussed the themes of the podcast: identity, race, sexual identity, mental health, the body and per
Periods, menstrual dignity & South Asians with Binti founder
The theme of this episode of Masala Podcast is Periods.On this episode I speak to Manjit K. Gill, CEO & Founder of the period charity Binti. Her mission is to create a huge, social impact whilst generating a sustainable organisation. As a British Indian, providing basic menstrual rights for women in India has become her obsessive, compulsive dedication to making a change.Binti is a registered
South Asian Identity with novelist Preti Taneja
Masala Podcast Episode 3 - SOUTH ASIAN IDENTITYOn this episode I speak to the multi-award-winning novelist, Preti Taneja. Preti was born and grew up in the UK and following a career in human rights reporting, now teaches writing in prison and in universities.Her novel WE THAT ARE YOUNG (Galley Beggar Press) won the 2018 Desmond Elliot Prize for the best debut of the year. It has been described as
Being Queer and identifying as South Asian
This theme of this episode of Masala Podcast is ‘Queer and South Asian’.I speak to three incredible people who identify as queer and South Asian. My guests are open and authentic in discussing their early lives and how they discovered their sexuality. We talk about how heteronormative and patriarchal ideologies in South Asian culture make it almost impossible for some womnx to consider an alternat
Masala Podcast Trailer
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 love
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