[Image description: A woman in a denim jacket and white t-shirt is wearing a backpack, holding books in one hand and her earphones in the other hand.] Via Element5 Digital on Unsplash.
The world of science and technology is vast and infinitely complicated. There is so much about our world to learn. From psychology to physics, from geology to coding, humanity has unearthed huge amounts of fascinating information. I find podcasts to be the easiest way to consume this knowledge. Some of these science podcasts are as little as a minute long and take you on fun journeys.
Would humans have evolved if dinosaurs weren’t extinct? Why are we as a species drawn to nature? Questions you’ve had and questions you’ve never dreamt of but would love to know the answer to–find them in these podcasts!
[Image description: The word ‘INVISIBILIA’ is written in white on a red background and the ‘NPR’ logo is in the top left corner.] Via NPR.Invisibilia is the Latin word for invisible. This podcast explores the invisible forces that make humans act the way they do. It combines social sciences and the sciences to study particular incidents and connect them to the broader spectrum of human behavior.
[Image description: A yellow silhouette of a human face is on a pink and purple background. The words ‘THERE ARE NO GIRLS ON THE INTERNET WITH BRIDGET TODD’ are written on the left.] Via iHeartRadio.Yay for feminist podcasts! The host, Bridget Todd, highlights the important roles that marginalized voices play on the Internet. Recently after the Capitol storm, she started the DISINFORMED series. This series tackles the issue of disinformation on the Internet and the often-ignored voices that try to combat it.
[Image description: On a green background the words ‘BBC World Service’ are written in white, and under them, the words ‘Crowd Science’ are written in a special font that makes the letters look like different scientific equipment, animals, or the moon.] Via Listen Notes.This was the podcast that got me into science podcasts. The hosts take listener questions and try their best to find the answers from scientists and experts. If the answer doesn’t exist, they ask the experts to give them their best guesses. Find out what scientists think about our chances of survival would be if dinosaurs weren’t wiped off the Earth!
[Image description: The words ‘Hidden Brain’ are written in white on a blue background.] Via NPR.This podcast is quite famous–and rightly so. If you want to know why humans have a compelling need to tell stories, why memes go viral, or why some relationships work while others don’t, this is the place to go! The episodes have different guest hosts, mostly psychologists with their answers on human behavior.
[Image description: The Radiolab logo, the letter ‘r’ is encased in a light blue circle, which is in turn in concentric white and dark blue circles. The word ‘Radiolab’ is in blue and under it, the words ‘WNYC Studios’ are in black.] Via NPR.You may have heard of this one. After all, it’s been around for almost two decades. Radiolab performs deep dives into specific occurrences and examines why things happened the way they did. Although it does delve into scientific topics, this podcast actually has a broader spectrum and goes into history as well.
[Image description: A picture of scientist Neil Degrasse Tyson sits above the words ’StarTalk Radio Show With Neil Degrasse Tyson’ in yellow, white, and purple, all on a dark blue background. ] Via NPR.Time for some scientific star power on our list! Neil Degrasse Tyson, the American astrophysicist and the director of the Hayden Planetarium, has his very own podcast. StarTalk is what happens when you combine comedy, pop culture, and science. You may also catch other celebrity guests on this podcast.
[Image description: A part of a face with one blue eye visible looks at the camera. The words ‘BBC World Service’ are at the top of the image in white and the word ‘Discovery’ is on the bottom right in black. ] Via Listen Notes.The BBC has some great podcasts. Discovery not only talks about scientific exploration and discoveries but also about the very real human stories that accompany them. What was the reaction of the press when NASA started recruiting women of color? Can digital touch replace the human touch in the future? From dancers to professors, this podcast gets everyone’s views and tries to build a cohesive picture.
[Image description: The words ‘ologies with Allie Ward’ are in black, surrounded by biology diagrams. ] Via Allie Ward.This is a really fun podcast where the host “asks smart people stupid questions”. I really like this one because of the humorous tone and the range of topics covered. Each episode explores a different “ology”. From oceanology to anthropology, there’s something for everyone!
[Image description: An alarm clock is on a blue background. The words ’60 Second Science’ are written in white under it. The Scientific American logo is on the top left.] Via PodBean.This is for busy people or those who don’t want to spend an hour on a podcast! All episodes aren’t exactly 60 seconds long but they don’t exceed 9 minutes. You get simple, bite-sized developments from the world of science.
[Image description: The National Geographic logo, a yellow rectangular frame, and the word ‘Overheard’ are on a background photo of a person pointing at the setting sun on a snowy landscape.] Via PodBean.Love the National Geographic? This one’s for you! This delightful podcast features interviews and stories from the scientists, explorers, and photographers that work at National Geographic. Each episode is around half an hour long. It’s sort of like a behind-the-scenes podcast, where you get to see how they research and write their articles, and capture those breathtaking natural moments.
[Image description: An illustration of two beakers, one with a blue liquid, one with a yellow liquid are next to the words ‘The Science of Happiness.] Via Spotify.This podcast really breaks down complex psychological concepts and helps listeners understand what happiness is and why certain things, like music, help to improve your mood. Each episode starts with a story that effectively demonstrates the concept explained. It’s a nice boost of positivity, and you get to learn something too!
[Image description: The words ‘Making Sense’ are in white, followed by the words ‘Sam Harris’ in red above a white maze on a black background.] Via Audible.Best-selling author Sam Harris is a neuroscientist and philosopher. This podcast is more on the philosophy track than the others, but that in no way means it’s any less fun! There are comedian guest appearances to keep it light too.
[Image description: The words ‘Science Vs’ are in the center of the image on a background with a pink, purple and red irregular shape.] Via Gimlet Media.Science Vs is a great podcast that takes myths and popular beliefs and examines whether or not they are scientifically true. Do people actually see UFOs? Do immunity-boosting pills and hacks really work? A podcast truly needed for our times. May the truth win!
[Image description: An illustration of a spacesuit is followed by the words ‘Houston We Have A Podcast’. The NASA logo is on the top right corner.] Via SoundCloud.The name may have given you a clue as to who runs this podcast. ‘Houston we have a podcast’ is from NASA. There are some interesting astronaut interviews you can listen to. It’s fun to live vicariously through them! There are also episodes that focus on the engineering and designers who make spacesuits and space crafts. This is a great one if you are interested in the present and future of human space travel.
[Image description: The words ‘The Infinite Monkey Cage’ is in red in the middle, surrounded by illustrations of scientific items and a photo each of physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince.] Via BBC.Here’s another podcast that mixes science and comedy – literally. Hosted by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince, The Infinite Monkey Cage is a perfect blend of entertainment and learning. Celebrity guests appear here too – find out what Mark Gatiss thinks the reality of time is, or how Steve Martin wants the world to end!
[Image description: An illustration of a human brain can be seen with a pair of earphones. The words ‘The Psychology Podcast With Scott Barry Kaufman’ are at the bottom of the image.] Via Audible.Psychology again! Each episode features a new guest and a new relevant topic. There are some really interesting episodes here where experts give insights into their fields. So far they have been (among others) therapists, philosophers, journalists, linguists, biologists, and writers.
[Image description: An illustration of a green book with three bookmarks poking out of the pages, and the words ‘School For Dumb Woman’ on the cover on a red background.] Via Acast.Rounding off this list is another feminist podcast! According to the hosts, they “investigate the subjects you’re too proud to admit you know nothing about.” Funny, random, insightful, and really informative, this one is light but a really productive listen!
All of these podcasts are informative and light enough for an easy listen! I’ve been listening to an episode while drinking my morning coffee, or while doing any kind of work that doesn’t require too much involvement. I love knowing that I’m filling my days with learning and I just feel more productive in general. It’s a crazy, beautiful world we live in and there’s a lot to know about it!
[Image Description: A group of people protesting.] Via Unsplash
The NewsRun is a daily email newsletter that delivers smart, clear and digestible breakdowns of Pakistan’s top news straight to your inbox. Check out their website to learn more and subscribe – it’s free!
Being informed is a virtue – there’s no question about that. But do you find yourself feeling stretched too thin while catching up on the constant onslaught of information from your social media feeds, phone notifications, news sites and TV channels? Add a global pandemic to the mix and you have a very exhausted mind trying to keep up with news snippets from everywhere in an attempt to make sense of the world.
So what if less is more when it comes to consuming the news?
According to a survey by Digital Third Coast, 68% of Americans said the news has left them feeling anxious during the pandemic. Meanwhile, 65% and 67% of respondents reported feeling overwhelmed and burnt out by the news respectively. 54% even said they were cutting back on their news consumption to escape these feelings. The trigger in anxiety is not just limited to news readers in the US or the pandemic.
Dutch researchers in 2017 conducted a study on how hard news that deals with shaping political perspectives affects well-being. It was discovered that on average, well-being falls 6.1 percent for every additional television hard news program watched a week. The researchers explained this by noting the dominance of negative stories on such programs, and the powerlessness viewers might experience as a result in the face of all that bad news.
So how do I know if I am overdoing it?
First things first — check in with yourself.
– How does reading the news make you feel? Does it trigger anxiety or stress about things that are completely beyond your control?
– Do you find yourself repeatedly consuming “alarmist” content – think natural disasters, breaking political news, riots and protests etc instead of a more well-rounded news diet that adds value to your knowledge repository?
– Is your body sending you signals via a strained neck, frequent headaches, lack of sleep and/or bad posture indicating that you are spending too much time looking at screens?
If the answer to one or all of the above is yes, it is time to slow down.
Start by changing the little things
Just like all other habits, shaping our news diet should be a conscious process.
Here are some small changes in your routine that can help you stay informed while avoiding emotional and mental burnout.
– Take digital sabbaticals: Simply put, take a break from the news. Not on a specified day or time of the month, but everyday. Set aside hours in your day where you DON’T look at your social media feed or news sites. Similarly, define a time in the day, preferably 30 mins in the morning and once late in the evening when you catch up on the day’s events. Don’t do anything else in that time but focus mindfully on what you are reading, seeking out the relevant sources and finding the right background and contextual information. You will notice an uptick in the quality of your news diet without feeling bombarded with non-stop updates
– Skim less, read more: If you find yourself merely skimming through headlines multiple times a day without finding the time and bandwidth to delve into the stories in depth, you are doing it wrong. Nourish your brain with high-quality, research-backed content instead of overwhelming yourself with the same “breaking” news headlines packaged in different ways.
– Be protective of your time: If the past one year has taught us one thing, it’s that our time is limited and infinitely valuable. Hence, when choosing news sources, be picky about who you devote your time to. Prioritize publications that report responsibly, refrain from sensationalism and provide their readers with a healthy balance of content instead of holding their attention captive with triggering or shock-and-awe content
– Support good content: Show appreciation to those who are putting in the work and enriching your news diet. It can be something as simple as leaving a meaningful comment telling the outlet/journalist that you derive value from their work. Or show financial support to projects, news outlets that are trying to break the advertising-driven journalism mould with more cutting-edge holistic news coverage.
And lastly, don’t forget to tell us if these tips and tricks helped you in being more mindful with your news consumption patterns. Remember, unplugging from time-to-time from your screens does not equate to slacking – instead it is a sign of respect for our time, emotional and mental well-being and the most rewarding form of self-care.
This guest post is a part of The Tempest’s collaboration with The NewsRun. For the next month, we are working together to encourage mindful and smart news consumption.
[Image description: Woman listening to a podcast from her headphones.] Via Siddharth Bhogra on Unsplash
There’s something so comforting about a podcast. If you’re bored with music or just want a little background noise for doing work, they can be a great go to. Especially during social distancing. I have been finding myself gravitating toward podcasts even more often than usual. I enjoy listening to them before bed as a way to fall asleep and during the day as background noise. I think a lot of the joy of podcasts has to do with hearing other people’s voices. Through listening, you feel a sense of companionship and comfort. This quality is especially soothing during a time like this where in-person socializing is a lot more difficult.
Podcasts also span such a wide variety of interesting topics. There is a podcast for literally any activity or subject you could possibly be interested in. Some of my favorite podcast types are crime, comedy, and life advice. I often alternate between these podcast types depending on my mood. Plus, podcasts are a great way to pass time while also staying somewhat productive and informed. When I want a break from watching TV, podcasts provide a similar level of entertainment without the eye-strain.
These podcasts have been some of my favourites recently and really pulled me through quarantine:
1. Modern Love
Modern Love is a collaboration between WBUR and The New York Times and is based off of the publication’s column by the same name. The podcast often features famous personalities such as actors, TV talk show hosts, and other celebrities reading Modern Love’s published essays submitted by writers around the world. The episodes tend to be on the shorter side, ranging from 15 to 25 minutes.
2. Thick and Thin
Thick and Thin, on the other hand, is an advice/stream of consciousness podcast by YouTuber Katy Bellotte. In the podcast, Katy talks about everything from dating, love, being a 20-something in New York City to fear of loneliness, dealing with criticism and more. I genuinely enjoy the podcast for how insightful, honest, and relatable it is. The episodes are on the longer side, usually 45 to 50 minutes. It’s a great option for millenials and Gen Z because Katy caters specifically to young adults navigating the world with her content.
3. Off Menu
Off Menu is a funny hybrid podcast, which is what I enjoy about it. The podcast emerged in 2018 and is currently on its third season. It’s hosts are James Acaster and Ed Gamble, two English comedians. It combines a food-related podcast and an interview-style podcast filled with humorous asides. In it, the hosts have a guest in their fantasy restaurant to talk about their life and career in between favorite courses of a meal. I like this podcast for its banter and ability to both inform and humor listeners. The guests are usually incredibly interesting people who are celebrated in their fields.
4. Gals on the Go
I first began listening to Gals on the Go because of its hosts, Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio, two YouTuber friends who I both enjoy greatly. This lifestyle podcast is a mixture of tips on how to be productive, story times, and college and young adult advice. What I love about it is the ease of Danielle and Brooke’s friendship and the way they play off of one another. I also enjoy how honest and refreshing their advice often is. It feels like you’re having a conversation with a group of your girl friends.
5. Bad Friends
Finally, Bad Friends is a great comedy podcast that my close friend introduced me to recently. It features comedians Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee. There are only 13 episodes in total, but despite being short, the podcast is hysterically funny. Andrew and Bobby play so well off of one another. The episodes span a wide variety of random subjects. They are generally an hour-and-a-half long and will have you chuckling the entire time.
Podcasts have such a special quality about them. They allow people to feel transported through their storytelling. In fact, according to an analysis of people’s brain waves conducted by The New York Times, listening to podcasts triggers at least 12 different areas of the brain while listening.
According to communications professor, Emma Rodero, who specializes in audio design, audio is so powerful because it allows listeners to create their own version of a story in their head. Audio is more active in that way than reading because it requires the brain to keep up with and process the story at the pace it is played. These complex and multifaceted stories create complex reactions in our brains. We form tons of associations hearing even just one simple word. The power of podcasts then, seems to come down to their ability to stimulate our brains and engage and immerse us so fully in a story. If you need a way to pass time during social distancing and staying at home, podcasts are the way to go.
Via BuzzfeedNews.com [Image description: Two women against a purple & magenta backdrop smile to camera with drinks in hand as the logo for "Thirst Aid Kit" sits between them.]
Here is some of what you’ll hear when you listen to the Buzzfeed podcast “Thirst Aid Kit”: two voices, either one a smooth spread. Laughter, cackles, guffaws, snorts, sighs, moans, censures, apologies. Joy, frustration, discovery, and above all, lust.
The podcast’s tagline is after all, “What we do when we lust out loud.”
Via Giphy.com [Image description: A handsome man, actor Chris Evans, raises an eyebrow.]Each week, co-hosts Nichole Perkins and Bim Adewunmi (with the efforts of their diligent production team) pick a dish to be consumed be it a genre of man or a specific object of desire (designated by the podcast as a “thirst object”) to focus on and lust over. They break down why exactly this object is desirable while having a good ol’ swoony time.
Perkins & Adewunmi know that women, particularly women of color, are discouraged in patriarchal and white supremacist systems from expressing their desire Just the fact of women doing so hints that perhaps the world is not and should not be centered around the the male gaze and the desires of men, even though patriarchy is built on this premise. Add race, class, and religion into the mix and you’ve got multiple systems making it more difficult to simply and openly express “yes, please, I would like that.”
It is just that, a simple concept. Let’s just talk about what we like. For myself, this is difficult feat. I don’t think I realized just how much so until I started trying to doing so. I don’t say what I want until I’ve done a thorough analysis of what everyone else around me wants, and, though there is a place for thoughtfulness and consideration I have a feeling I have taken it too far (as a lot of women do, it’s how we’re socialized). It’s gotten to the point where I almost don’t know how to just say what I like and want. What we think should be easy is rarely actually so, and so it’s easier to go about this whole process with a friend or, in the case of Thirst Aid Kit, two.
One of the benefits of podcasts in general is that they are intimate and yet distant. I feel safe with Perkins and Adewunmi even though we’ve never met and I do not actually know them. But with their honesty and analysis, a discussion of lust becomes more accessible and less scary.
It can be scary to assert what you want. It takes a type of vulnerability to do so, and vulnerability is terrifying. So for me, being able to laugh through it in the indirect company of two women of color makes it light years less scary.
Via Giphy.com [Image description: A handsome man, Michael B Jordan, laughs while wiping a tear from his eye.]For me, it’s significant to note that Adewunmi is also a Muslim woman, which is huge to a fellow Muslim woman like me. I have heard my entire life that good Muslim girls do or don’t act a certain way, and part of that has to do with good Muslim girls not being explicit with romantic or sexual desire. Seeing (or rather hearing) a Muslim woman talk about desire is pretty life-changing.
Perkins and Adewunmi are two creative, hilarious women, and even if this podcast wasn’t as eye-opening, it would still be hysterical. There have been too many times I’ll be listening in public and need to cover up an burst of laughter with a cough or else just lean into looking a little mad. But, for me, it is also the former. It tells me “hey lady, it is perfectly acceptable to talk about what you like,” be that Michael B Jordan’s dimples or Rahul Kohli’s full beard. Maybe this reassurance will help me be able to express more readily what I want in other areas of life too. In the meantime, stay hydrated, friends.
Via Giphy.com [Image description: A handsome man, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, smiles and tips a bottle toward the camera in a gesture of ‘cheers.’]
[Image Description : A still from a video from Filtercopy] Via Scroll
YouTube is a black hole we all gladly get sucked into. Time flies when you scroll through the videos, and a new amazing channel is sometimes the best thing you could ever find. And new finds is what I have in store for you today! I’m alllll for diversity so here’s a list of some amazing Indian youtube channels you should definitely check out, whether you are Indian or not.
P.S – I’ve tried to stick to the channels where the major language is English and, if not, uses subtitles.
[Image Description : The wallpaper of the web series Permanent Roommates produced by The Viral Fever] Via Amino AppsThe Viral Fever, or TVF is that channel that started it all. One of the earliest IndianYouTube channels, it also pioneered the culture of web series in India. All of their videos are super fun, but their web series are the best out of the lot.
[Image Description : A still from a stand up comedy video from Kenny Sebastian’s Youtube channel] Via ScrollUnproblematic Desi men are a rare find, and Kenny is one of the very few. The stand up comedian focuses his content around every day desi things, and he’s relatable and his sense of humor is super clean. While his stand-ups are great, his best videos are his Chai Time comedy, which are almost like intimate, casual conversations among friends.
[Image Description : A still from a video from Buzzfeed India Youtube channel] Via YoutubeWell, by Buzzfeed India, I mean Srishti, lol. All the people at the channel are great, but Srishti is the best part of the channel, hands down.
Their videos range from experiments to vlogs to satire, and their epic video, If Real Life Was Like Bigg Boss, is a must watch!
[Image Description : A still from a video from the Youtube channel Film Companion] Via Youth Ki AwaazFilm Companion is a Desi movie lover’s heaven. From dissections to analysis to extremely candid interviews that give you a whole new perception of movie stars and filmmakers, this channel is inclusive, and dares to question the stereotypes of the Indian movie industry.
Their Tape Cast series was exceptionally creative and enlightening.
[Image Description : Kanan Gill is doing stand up comedy] Via DNA IndiaLet’s get this straight first: I have a huge crush on Kanan Gill. So does a lot of his audience, and you can’t ignore his uncanny resemblance to Andy Samberg. That being said, Kanan’s best videos are undoubtedly his satirical reviews of Bollywood movies, which don’t even spare iconic classics like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.
[Image Description : A still from a SNG Comedy video] Via TwitterSNG Comedy is home to a variety of comedy videos. Run by a group of stand up comedians who are all brilliant in their own unique way, their weekly podcast series The Big Question is the highlight of the channel. They also have some fun sketches, my ultimate favorite being Bollywood Couples Therapy.
[Image Description : A girl is reciting poetry at an Unerase Poetry show] Via YoutubeFound by the 16 year old poet Simar Singh, this bold and candid show of beautiful and evocative poetry is a must watch. Every video is honest, hard-hitting, and makes you think.
The best out of the lot are definitely Aranya Johar’s A Brown Girl’s Guide to Gender and Beauty and Simar Singh’s own Legal Rapist is gut-wrenching.
[Image Description : A still from a AIB satire video] Via YoutubeThe people behind AIB are experts at satire. From Bollywood to real-life social issues, they deal with it all with comedy as the weapon, and they don’t refrain from calling out the problems. Their honest series are the highlight, and the podcasts and sketches deserve a special mention.
Do make sure to check out these amazing channels and content! Though it’s better not to start watching them before the days of your finals.
Image description: A screenshot from the Netflix show Thirteen Reasons Why. The main character, Hannah Baker, looks perplexed and upset. Source: Netflix.
It’s been nearly a year since the first season of Thirteen Reasons Why was released, and it’s only become more controversial as the months have passed. The second season just arrived on Netflix las week and many people are questioning whether it should have been renewed for another season in the first place.
Adding to the initial controversy is the fact that Jay Asher, who wrote the book Thirteen Reasons Why is based on, has recently been accused of sexual harassment. Because of these allegations, he was expelled from the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Asher denied the allegations.
In an Exposé podcast last year, CEO of The Tempest Laila Alawa sat down to talk to guests Kayria Taghdi and Katie Kaestner about Thirteen Reasons Why. They discussed the merits of the show as well as its potential harms. The show graphically depicted a suicide, bullying and abuse, social isolation, mental health issues, and sexual assault. It even hinted at the possibility of gun violence at the end of the first episode.
There are many good aspects of the show, of course. While I didn’t grow up in the US and thus am unfamiliar with the cultural context of the show, I feel like it’s quite realistic in its portrayal of high school politics. As someone who’s experienced suicide ideationand mental illness, I felt that the last few episodes depicted suicide in a fairly relatable, realistic way.
The podcast guests concluded that the show can’t positively change opinions about rape culture. I don’t necessarily think this is true, because it does show how the school system – including staff members – protects rapists. When Hannah tries to talk to her school guidance counselor about the fact that she was sexually assaulted, he used typical victim-blaming tactics on her. In my opinion, this was meant to anger the audience and prompt them into talking about rape culture. I don’t know whether it definitely improved people’s opinions, but as someone who’s been assaulted, I felt validated by it.
That said, I have a lot of reservations about Thirteen Reasons Why. I am sure that the show prompted some constructive conversations – but at what cost? A study noted that Google searches around suicide – including searches for information on how to commit suicide – skyrocketed after the show was released.
According to reports, Netflix was advised by suicide prevention groups not to show Hannah committing suicide, as it could trigger suicidal people and those with PTSD. Netflix went ahead and did it anyway. It’s reminiscent of when Netflix was warned about depicting eating disorders in To The Bone, as many of the scenes could trigger those with eating disorders. In both cases, it felt like Netflix was capitalizing on a growing awareness of mental health issues without caring about the people who were affected by it the most.
Many of us know our triggers, and we’d avoid depictions of suicide if we knew it would trigger us. However, there are many people who don’t know what their triggers are and what might push them over the edge. This is why “If you don’t like it, simply don’t watch it” is a problematic attitude to have – it’s not about whether you’d like the show, but how it would affect you and your mental health. Similarly, most people might not know their triggers. It’s possible that the show can trigger people and they won’t realize until it’s too late.
This is especially true for young people, who are given very little space to discuss their mental health and reflect on their emotional wellness. As Laila says in the podcast, teenagers are more impressionable than adults – something that is demonstrated by neuropsychology. Since young people – including teenagers and preeteens – are the target audience for the show, this is particularly worrying.
So what’s to be done now that the show’s second season is out there? As mentioned in the podcast, many high schools were banning conversations on Thirteen Reasons Why, thinking these conversations could promote suicide.
As Laila mentions in the podcast, conversations on mental health are stigmatized enough. Although Thirteen Reasons Why can potentially be harmful, people will inevitably talk about it whether they like the show or not. For that reason, it’s essential that schools use it as an opportunity to promote positive coping mechanisms and to destigmatize mental illness and suicide. Ignoring the existence of the show isn’t a constructive move.
The first season of Thirteen Reasons Why taps into a lot of important conversations, and the second season is bound to do the same. That said, the show is not beyond reproach. The potential gain of “sparking conversations” is not necessarily worth the fact that it’s triggered people and even encouraged people to commit suicide. So, while I’ll watch the second season to satiate my own curiosity, I don’t buy that it’s great for society.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, check out the resources below:
This week we’re catching up on everything – all the crazy news that happened over the break, what’s new in our hosts’ lives, and meeting our brand new host, Donya. From Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, to Laila’s exciting announcement, no subject is off limits in this episode.
The Tempest’s CEO Laila Alawa spoke with Chelann Gienger from the Entrepreneur Before 25 (EB25) podcast. EB25 interviews inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs like Laila who began their journey whilst aged 25 or under.
[bctt tweet=”I found that I started being put in situations where my people pleasing hurt me. ” username=”wearethetempest”]
Laila talked about her background, her family, why she started The Tempest, and life as an entrepreneur.
Whilst explaining the realities of chasing your dreams, Laila also divulged some gems of advice for budding entrepreneurs. She dived in deep and discussed why being a people pleaser has the potential to destroy freedom.
“I used to live my life very afraid of hurting others, I found that I started being put in situations where my people pleasing hurt me.”
Postpartum depression is a topic people are slowly getting more comfortable talking about. We’ve seen celebrities such as Brooke Shields and Chrissy Teigen come out and share their experiences with postpartum depression. This week we discuss postpartum depression, the pressures that women face before, during and after pregnancy, as well as self-care, all in one episode.
This week Kat and Esther are missing in action but we have our community editor, Saffiya Mohamed, and Editorial Fellow, Ariana Munsamy, joining Laila and special guest, Doula Hira Khan, founder of BirthKeeper, providing prenatal services and education to the global Muslim community.
If you’re loving our episodes and would like to get updates from us, follow us on Twitter @theexposeshow. Sign up for our newsletter at thetempest.co/the-wave. Support our show at patreon.com/thetempest.
From beauty products like “Fair & Lovely” that promote fairer complexions to magazines who photoshop models’ skin to look lighter, colorism is a global problem that people from all societies face. Fair skin is promoted as more beautiful and equated with success, wealth, and power. On the flip side, darker skin is viewed as undesirable. This has serious consequences on people of color and their sense of self-worth.
Mashal and Nadia fill in for Esther to help Laila tackle these issues and share their own experiences as women of color. Some of the topics they discuss include skin lightening products, the media’s role in colorism, light skin privilege, and how prejudices against those with dark skin are easily internalized.
MUSIC LIST:
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat – Lucky
The Weepies – Be My Thrill
This week, two Tempest fellows, Katie Kaestner and Kayria Taghdi, join Laila to discuss the problematic Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why. The show is a teen soap opera chronicling the suicide of high school student Hannah Baker and the thirteen tapes she left behind.
Does the show start any useful conversations about mental health, depression or sexual assault? Or does it hide behind the shock value of the graphic depictions of suicide and rape? Is there anything redeeming about a show that glorifies the death of a teenage girl? How do teen-run fan accounts on Instagram give us an insight in to what “kids these days” are responding?
It’s official: there’s a full-fledged attack on our bodies, courtesy of complicit (Ivanka, pay note!) government officials. The proposed healthcare systems are personal – extremely so. We go past the tip of the Trumpcare iceberg into some deep water, so get your diving gear and get ready.
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![Via BuzzfeedNews.com [Image description: Two women against a purple & magenta backdrop smile to camera with drinks in hand as the logo for "Thirst Aid Kit" sits between them.]](https://thetempest.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TAKpod-Featured-Image.jpg)
