For episode 7, the halfway mark of Season One of the Empower Sounds podcast, we are joined by Rubina Pabani, Co host of the Brown Girls Do it Too Podcast.
Brown Girls Do It Too is “fierce, funny and frank podcast” that touches on sex and all the stigmatised topics that are taboo in the South Asian community. The podcast has amassed a large following for its fresh and candour content, resulting in it winning the ‘Best Podcast of the Year’ at the British Podcast Awards in 2020.
Rubina shares her journey to where she is today, revealing what she wanted to be when she was younger, and how production, film and writing has always been a passion of hers. She also discusses her diaries from her adolescence reflecting on what she advice she would give her younger self and advice she gives to other young women listening in. She also details several anecdotes from her younger years and touches on her love for creativity which is touched her life in a myriad manner.
When discussing her younger years Rubina also reflects on her education around sex and how it was limited. She highlights what she wish she learnt sooner whilst also being transparent about how learning as she went along served her well. When talking about sex education, Rubina advocates for better resources in schools, curriculums and online so that young people can have the support she lacked.
In the theme of passing down ideas and education, Rubina talks about how her journey into motherhood has really emphasised the need to pass down positive attitudes towards sex to her son. She emphasises the need to teach him about consent and boundaries in the bedroom. Alongside passing down healthy mindsets towards sex and his body Rubina discusses what themes she wants to pass down to her son from the South Asian community, ensuring that he doesn’t feel the shame around being brown.
Touching on this idea of stigma Rubina elaborates on her experiences of shame as a south asian women in society, in sexual relationships and also in the podcasting industry which is dominated by cis-gender, straight, white men. She details how she has made steps to over come this stigma, also highlighting the work she has done to eradicate personal prejudices and embracing herself and community. She also shares how she has addressed hate and responded to online trolls, ensuring that her podcast creates an inclusive and safe community for herself and her listeners.
When talking about her journey, alongside sharing the challenges and learnings she has faced along the way, Rubina highlights the ,milestones and all the exciting moments. This includes the Brown Girls Do It Too live show, which was premiered at the London's prestigious Soho Theatre and subsequently toured the UK.
Some of the key themes and takeaways of today's conversation include:
Tune in to learn more and listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all other major streaming platforms.
Follow Brown Girls do it too on social media @browngirlsdoittoo
And listen to the podcast on BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p08k5cp0, or type in “Brown Girls Do it Too” into all streaming platforms.
Follow Rubina at @rubinapabani
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