Welcome back to another episode of OPN TABS! This week, we're opening a TAB on one of our most layered conversations yet: identity, culture and the complicated question of where we truly belong.What does it actually mean to be Black British in 2026? Has it become a culture in its own right, or is it still largely defined by our African and Caribbean roots?We're unpacking the experiences many second and third-generation children of immigrants know all too well: being told you're "too British", feeling like you're "not African enough". We also discuss the pressure to prove your connection to your roots, whether going "back home" more often makes someone more authentically African, and why events like Detty December have become such a topic of discussion for so many people in the diaspora.The conversation also turns to something we don't talk about nearly enough: the concept of "freshies". We explore why the label exists, the harm it causes and what it reveals about the way we judge and distance ourselves from people within our own communities.Plus, we're getting personal. How do we plan to raise our own children? What traditions do we want to pass on? And how do you teach your children to embrace multiple identities without making them feel like they have to choose between them?From the importance of Carnival and class to authenticity and belonging, this episode explores the ever-evolving reality of being Black and British!Let us know your thoughts in the comments xLove,Anna & Sophie

Six months of OPN Tabs, and a lot can change in that time! For our six-month anniversary episode, we’re looking back at some of the things we’ve said on the podcast, the opinions we’ve changed our minds about, and the conversations that have genuinely stayed with us. We talk about our favourite episodes, unexpected lessons, and what 2026 has taught us so far.We also get a little more personal - from therapy, boundaries and self-worth to nostalgia, our twenties and the things we’re still learning to unlearn as we approach turning 25. Plus, we hold ourselves accountable to the intentions we set at the beginning of the year and ask whether we’d still choose the same goals today.And, of course, we talk about OPN Tabs itself: what we’re most proud of and what more you can expect from us in future episodes.Six months in, who are we now - and what would our past selves think?We hope you enjoy this episode!Love,Anna & Sophie xFollow us on Instagram & Tiktok: @opntabspodcast

In this episode of OPN TABS, we open the tab on healing - what it really means, what it looks like in practice, and the parts no one talks about.We start with a simple question: when you hear “healing,” what actually comes to mind? From there, we get honest about the areas of our own healing journeys that still feel messy, unresolved, and uncomfortable.We reflect on our younger selves, unpacking the experiences that shaped how we see ourselves today and the patterns we’re still trying to unlearn.We then zoom out to question the self-help industry and how in a world where self-improvement is constantly being sold to us, we explore how self-development often turns into self-optimisation. We also talk about how healing shows up in our friendships and relationships - the boundaries we’ve had to set, the behaviours we’ve had to unlearn, and the reality of growing while still being in community.This episode is for anyone navigating the in-between: not who you were, not quite who you’re becoming, but doing the work anyway! *Disclaimer: This episode was recorded some time ago, so some of the news, references, examples, and opinions discussed reflect the context at the time of recording. While parts of the conversation may now be out of date, we hope you'll still find the insights and discussion valuable. Thanks for listening!*Love, Anna & Sophie x

This week on OPN TABS, we're joined by Nana, formally known as Herreality, a creator known for challenging the stories we've been told about womanhood, romance, religion and identity!From fairy tales and dating expectations to feminism and faith, Nana has built a platform that encourages people to question the narratives they've inherited and decide for themselves what they truly believe.In this episode, we explore what happens when you start pulling apart long-held ideas about love, gender roles and religion. We discuss the confidence it takes to publicly identify as an atheist, whether romance is often misunderstood, and how patriarchal beliefs can shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships and our place in the world.We also put Nana in the hot seat with our Defend, Reject or Complicated segment, tackling everything from pretty privilege and feminism to provider culture, first-date expectations and whether checking his following list is ever justified.If you've ever found yourself questioning the rules, expectations or belief systems you were raised with, this conversation is for you! Let us know what you think in the comments 🫂Make sure to follow Nana on Tiktok (@herreality1)!

This week on OPN TABS, we’re opening the tab on something we all use every day but rarely stop to question properly… social media.

From filters and digital footprints to parasocial relationships and children growing up online, we unpack how the internet is quietly shaping the way we think, behave, connect and see ourselves.

We discuss whether social media has blurred the line between public and private life, why people feel pressure to overshare intimate moments to stay relevant, and whether adults do enough to safeguard children online.

We also get into the darker side of online culture - burner accounts, influencer responsibility, cyberbullying, Eurocentric beauty standards, and the long-term impact of constantly living in front of a camera.

Plus, we ask the bigger question: has social media made us more connected… or just more exposed?

Let us know what you think in the comments! 🫂💗

Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok  @opntabspodcast / @allthingsannaa / @sophiearinde

This week on OPN TABS, we’re joined by a guest who’s become a refreshing voice in the world of self-discovery, masculinity and religious deconstruction.With over 7,800 followers on TikTok, TimTalks has been creating space for honest conversations around Christianity, atheism, and what it really means to unlearn belief systems that many of us were raised inside.In this episode, Tim opens up about his journey of deconstructing Christianity, the pushback he received when he started speaking publicly, and how his relationships with family, friends and even himself have shifted along the way. We also get into what masculinity looks like when faith is removed from the equation, how to stay grounded without religion, and what values he still lives by.If you’ve ever questioned your faith, your upbringing, or the version of yourself you were taught to be… this episode is a must listen!Let us know what you think in the comments!Make sure to follow TimTalks on Tiktok (@_timtalks) and Instagram (@_t1m24)!

In this episode of OPN TABS, we take a closer look at the concept of virginity - its cultural weight, its origins, and its impact today.

We explore purity culture and how its messages around intimacy, shame, and morality can shape women’s identities, relationships, and mental health. We also reflect on the intersections of religion, culture, and Black womanhood, and how these influences impact the way we understand our bodies and worth.

Opening the tab, we get personal about the messages we grew up with, how our views on intimacy have evolved, and what we’ve had to unlearn.

We also unpack:

– “Body count” discourse and sexual double standards

– The rise of the manosphere and how it objectifies women’s bodies

–  The idea of “soul ties” and whether it empowers or controls

This episode is about questioning what we’ve been taught and reclaiming autonomy on our own terms. 

Let us know what you think in the comments! 🫂💗

TW: Mentioning of r*pe and SA

In this episode of OPN TABS, we open the tab on friendship - what it really takes to build it, sustain it, and show up in it fully. From meeting at university to becoming genuinely close, we reflect on our journey and the intentional choices that shaped our connection.

We get into the cost of avoiding vulnerability and how surface-level friendships can leave us feeling disconnected, even when we’re surrounded by people. We unpack the pressure and politics of birthday dinners, our shared disdain for “we should catch up” friendships, and what those dynamics reveal about how we value each other’s time and energy.

We also explore the rise of parasocial relationships and the idea of “monitoring spirits” online - questioning how social media can blur the lines between real support and silent observation.

From navigating confrontation to defining our friendship non-negotiables, this conversation is about choosing honesty over comfort, depth over convenience, and building friendships that can actually hold us.

Let us know what you think in the comments! 🫂💗

In this episode of OPN TABS, we open the tab on glow up culture and the beauty standards shaping the way we see ourselves.

We reflect on our first experiences of a “glow up” in secondary school, when it happened, how it felt, and how those moments shaped our relationships with beauty, confidence, and our bodies.

We talk about aesthetics and self-image, the rise of the UK Black Girl aesthetic, and the pressure to balance being both “pretty” and “smart.” Along the way, we open up about insecurities we’ve experienced around our appearance and how we’ve navigated those feelings over time.

From beauty trends we love to the standards we’re questioning, this conversation explores how beauty culture influences our identities, and what it means to redefine confidence on our own terms.

As always, we’re opening another tab: questioning, reflecting, and learning in real time.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 

Welcome to OPN TABS! ✨

In our very first episode, we’re opening the first tab by introducing who we are, two creative Black women with academic roots in politics and sociology, navigating culture in real time. We share why we started this podcast, the need to be seen, building community, and creating space for conversations that feel honest, layered and a little bit “too deep.”

Plus, in the spirit of the New Year, we introduce our first segment: Ins and Outs - where we discuss what we’re bringing into 2025 and what we’re leaving behind.

This episode sets the tone: curiosity, nuance, and the tabs you usually keep hidden.

Stay tuned for our next episode!