The Desi Woman Podcast

Henna Artist Tanya Vyas joins me to chat about body art, while I reveal some very personal reasons about why this is the last episode of The Desi Woman Podcast!

Sunita shares her experience of undergoing IVF, tales from her modelling career where she was a rare South Asian face, and gives tips on networking and career advice.

The different experiences of three British South Asian women during coronavirus lockdown

Burlesque star Sukki Singapora discusses colourism in the entertainment industry, what defines sexiness, suffering from imposter syndrome and her Netflix TV show Singapore Social.

The season finale of The Desi Woman Podcast which profiles game-changing South Asian women is a literature special.

Episode 11: Sadia Azmat (Comedian)

Breaking every possible stereotype about Muslim women, Stand Up Comedian Sadia Azmat has broken boundaries and then some.

One half of the podcast duo who present the BBC Sounds podcast No Country For Young Women, Sadia's own brand of honest sex and relationship themed comedy has gained her an international reputation and there's no stopping this free-spirited who's about to embark on a month of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

We chat about how she got into comedy, her recent BBC Radio 2 documentary about being single, BAME representation and why she could never be a Hijab-blogger.

Plus  in 'The Desi Woman Reading List' Literary Expert Obie Matin reviews Nadiya Hussain's novel The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters.

This episode contains content of a sexual nature (but there are no swear words!)

The show samples the track Indra by the Thievery Corporation.

Episode 10: Babita Sharma (TV Presenter and BBC Newsreader)

A BBC Journalist for over 15 years, Babita has worked across regional channels and is currently one of the faces of BBC World broadcasting internationally, that's when she's not on maternity leave...

My first pregnant guest, we chat about everything from her pregnancy to dining with Tibetan monks with her eyes closed, her views on turmeric lattes and why she banned social media at her Indian-Irish wedding.

That's all alongside talking about her TV series Dangerous Borders and most importantly her new book The Cornershop.

Plus Literary Expert Obie Matin returns with a book review in The Desi Woman Reading List. This month we talk about Anuradha Roy's All The Lives We Never Lived.

The show samples the track Indra by the Thievery Corporation.

Episode 9: Sudha Bhuchar (Actress and Theatre Maker)

"We joined the theatre not because we wanted to be stars but because it saved out lives."

For over 30 years Sudha has been one of the most well-known British Asian actresses, appearing in soaps like Eastenders and Coronation Street. She was also co-Founder of Tamasha theatre company where she spent 26 years writing and producing theatre.

In this month's episode I speak to Sudha ahead of her one woman show 'Evening Conversations' showing at Tara Theatre as part of a month long event featuring female artists. 

Plus Literary Expert Obie Matin is back with a book review in The Desi Woman Reading List. This month we talk about Huma Qureshi's short stories 'In Spite of Oceans'.

The episode also samples the track 'Indra' by the Thievery Corporation.

Episode 8: Nida Manzoor - Film & TV Director

She's the woman behind some of the most progressive comedy drama shorts that have been made over the last couple of years including Lady Parts, a tv show promo about an all female Muslim Punk Band which you can watch here:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOEXtrPFEzc&t=7s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOEXtrPFEzc&t=7s)

We chat about how she came up with such an unexpected storyline, what it was like being an alternative teen and her plans to make a Jackie Chan style action movie. (You just know it's going to happen!)

Plus there's the The Desi Woman Reading List with Obie Matin who each month recommends books by Asian female authors and this time she's chosen one of mine eek!

I'm also proud of the episode because it was my smoothest editing experience so far (I'm getting better) so I feel proud!

Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 7: Ashanti Omkar - Radio Presenter & South Indian Specialist

One accurate way to describe Ashanti Omkar is that she is a Tamil Superheroine. Her impressive biography includes being a Bollywood Entertainment Journalist, a member of the London Critics Circle and hosting the first ever South Indian radio show on the BBC Asian Network. 

In our inspiring chat Ashanti talks about her unconventional root into journalism, how she escaped a relationship where she was a victim of domestic abuse and how being an early adopter of tech has played a key role in her successes.

Plus Literary Expert Obie Matin is back with a book review in The Desi Woman Reading List. This month it's Shani Mootoo's Cereus Blooms at Night.

It's an epic episode and one that I hope you will enjoy!