Should we review representation? - Mindy Kaling's show 'Never Have I Ever' is a coming of age story from the Indian American perspective. One of the cast members for season 3 pronounced their name in way that was meme-ified by the brown community online. The response was varied, intense and valid across the spectrum but begs for a deeper conversation around representation, what it means, what should we expect from it and is imperfect representation better than nothing?

Amal sits down with the forever funny and insightful Pax Assadi to talk about Raised by Refugees, using humour as a tool for social justice, migrant parents and how to bring about change. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz

This week I sit down with the wonderful Kiran. We discuss him stepping into his own authenticity and tackling the labels of fake gay and fake Indian that have followed him all his life. We discuss how 'coming out' can be harmful in some circumstances, the value of listening, finding refuge in culture and the power of vulnerability.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz

This week I record with my Aabo (dad in the Somali mother tongue) and it was deeply personal coversation. We talked about Aabo's childhood in Somalia, the significance of genealogy, colonisation, the struggles of migrating here and discuss whether we think Aotearoa is a racist country or not. Spoiler alert - we have completely different opinions and it was really eye opening!

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz

There is a lot happening in this world right now and it might be a little hard to think about how to even respond. What are the things we should be talking about? What does it look like to be an ally/activist? Tune in to find out how. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz

Amal sits down with a fellow Somali sister and unpacks Mihad's experiences as a black, muslim wāhine living in Aotearoa. All the stories explored shows the many faces of racism - the casual racism, micro aggressions, discrimination, systemic etc - all of which happened in Aotearoa. We also frankly discuss what it means to use your voice, the existence of being part of a marginalised community is a political existence, her experience as a black model and moving to Aotearoa.

Amal yarns with Alice Canton - theatre artist and all around amazing bad ass. We talk about the importance of storytelling and how that connects to a deeper understanding of ourselves and others, candidly about racism, her mahi being a talking point for deeper societal issues and her experience as a wāhine POC in the theatre world.

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz

Amal unpacks all the things that’s come up for her in the past two weeks and talks about:

-how islam/islamophobia is discussed in a binary

-why brown girls are better than brown bois aka the patriarchy but from an ethnic POV.

-how black girls are erased and seen as invisible

-the expectations we place on people to change

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin oar.org.nz