Hello friends! This week's episode is a repost from SBS's five-part podcast series My Ramadan, which Soaliha appeared on last week and we've added a preamble to. SBS has given us permission to reshare it here, the following is their description of the episode: From intermittent fasting to Sydney’s iconic Lakemba markets, Ramadan has developed a mainstream visibility and hipster cachet it didn’t used to have. How do Gen Z Muslims in the West square this with historic Islamophobia? Journalist...

This week we discuss James Cameron’s infamous Avatar films, specifically focusing on the second film and its fetishisation of colonialism. Buckle up folks, it’s a wild ride. We talk about colonialism and environmental destruction as a spectacle, the myth of the Noble Savage and the White Messiah, nuclear families and heteronormative depictions of intimacy and domination, and of course, the usual topics of sexism, racism, misogyny and cultural appropriation.   Recommendations:  It’s Not About...

Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault and image-based abuse. This week we discuss the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent months and its political implications with respect to labour, capitalism, racism, and sexism.  We also discuss how new AI technologies are being used to perpetuate violence against women in the case of deepfake pornography.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon:...

This week we discuss the pervasive notion of “reproductive futurism” and how it relates to current issues such as abortion rights, queerphobia, and climate change. We talk about how reproductive futurism – the dominant political order which privileges future children over everything else – structures all aspects of our society and shapes both progressive and conservative thought.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon:...

This week we discuss a series of alarming recordings that were leaked by a Queensland police officer, and a scandalous recycling story which revealed just how precarious recycling is. We talk about the broader culture of racism in our police institutions, the girlbossification of policing, identity politics and the fundamental links between our recycling industry, consumerism and capitalism. Oh, and we discuss Love Is Blind S3 of course.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch:...

This week we discuss representation, toxic identity politics and celebrity queerbaiting.  We talk about the cancellation of Constance Wu, the way we punish actors for not representing their communities perfectly, and how fandom weaponised the term “queerbaiting” to punish Kit Connor.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: [email protected] PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group:...

This week we discuss a controversial article about sustainability in the bedroom, Lydia Thorpe’s ‘conflict of interest’ and ethical issues around Netflix’s Jeffrey Dahmer series.  We talk about consuming our way out of climate change and the sexist nature of sustainability marketing, the hypocrisy and suspicious timing surrounding Lydia Thorpe’s relationship with a bikie, and the growing issue of victims who have their stories co-opted and stolen in the name of the true crime...

Today we talk about Jordan Peele’s latest film ‘Nope’ and explain why we liked it.  We discuss the film’s subversion of colonial anxieties, its themes of exploitation and spectacle, and answer the burning question: what was up with the chimp? This episode was recorded Saturday, October 8, 2022.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: [email protected] PayPal:...

This week we discuss three major news stories from the last two weeks: Black Ariel, Iranian protests against Hijab mandates and a bombshell report about the chemical imbalance myth.  We talk about white supremacy and the concerning emergence of digitally-erased Blackness, white feminists and their gleeful demonisation of hijab (which is actually a praxis, not a clothing) and a suss shift in discourse around the role serotonin plays in depression.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial &...

We're back!!! This week we discuss two topics: the death of the queen and gossip surrounding Harry Styles. We talk about the way monarchists tone police people of colour and downplay the impacts of colonialism. We also examine the recent shift in people’s perception of Harry Styles amid accusations of queerbaiting and the drama around the Don’t Worry Darling premiere at Venice. This episode was recorded on Friday, September 9, 2022.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch:...

We have an announcement: we're taking a little hiatus to rest, recuperate and refresh our little brains. In the meantime, listen to our backlog and hit us up on Instagram! Bye for now, not forever :)   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: [email protected] PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group   

This week we talk about #TraumaTok, aka a corner of TikTok where people openly share their harrowing traumas to the app with little concern about where their stories will end up. We discuss the normalisation of “trauma dumping”, trauma bonding as a modern means to friendship, trauma as an identity or in-group, and how TikTok actively benefits from the #TraumaTok community.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon:...

*NOTE: This is a reshare of a previous episode. But! The first 20 minutes is a discussion on recent events. This week we talk about the rise of ‘ecofascism’ and its concerning prevalence in left wing circles.  We talk about what it is, why it’s so convincing and how to spot ecofascist myths.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: [email protected] PayPal:...

This week we talk about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – not the geopolitics, but the impact these events have had on the boundaries of Australian news media.  We discuss the racist coverage of the invasion and the double standards it exposed, some unprecedented events in our own country’s media, and how all of this has totally shifted the limits on what kind of racism is acceptable to call out.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea &...

CW: This episode briefly discusses suicide. This week we talk about one of our favourite topics – government propaganda. But not the type fed to civilians like us. This time, we’re talking about Australia’s various international anti-refugee ad campaigns, which are specifically aimed at people seeking asylum. We discuss the human rights abuses asylum seekers face in Australia, the morally corrupt companies that partner with our government to create anti-refugee ads, the modern technology...

This week we talk about the link between capitalism and various mental illnesses, and how our collective trauma is a rational response to a decaying world. We discuss the chemical imbalance myth, the history of anti-psychiatry, the social model of disability and how, in an ideal post-capitalist world, the current definition of mental illness would change dramatically, if not cease to exist. *NOTE: While we discuss the political nature of psychiatry and medical prescriptions, we want to...

This week Mitch takes the lead and deep dives into the surprisingly complex discourse around the tiny house movement, and how it exists in a weird, capitalist paradox. We talk about deceiving ‘wholesome’ reality TV shows, Airbnb’s monopoly on the short term rental market, gentrification in trendy neighbourhoods and how some renovation shows are just landlord propaganda. As always, everything is capitalism, baby. *Note. This episode has been released on Invasion Day. We want to remind...

This week we catch up on all of the Covid related stories that broke while we were on break – and, oh boy, a lot has happened. We discuss the constant backflipping from our leaders regarding Covid rules, the nature of capitalism and how this wave of the pandemic manifests it, RAT availabilities and the ~free market~, and how the pandemic has exposed our ableism. Phew. It’s a lot. *CORRECTION: Soaliha said a mentally ill woman was jailed after escaping quarantine in Queensland to see her...

This week we are actually on our end of year break, but we pre-recorded a bonus Q&A session to celebrate reaching our 50th episode! We answer questions about our careers, studies, our relationship origin story, our vision for the podcast, and a bunch of other random fun things our listeners have asked about. Enjoy, and we'll see you in the new year! *Note: this episode was recorded a week early, so we talk about how normal and fine and not anxious we are. We just wanted to issue a...

This week we discuss a topic that our listeners request every month: should we cut off friends that have problematic opinions? We talk about what we define as friendship, what we expect to get out of friendships, and how this measures up when it comes to the people in our lives that are bigoted — and why we think that, actually, cutting off bigots is admirable. And we’re proud of you.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon:...

This week we talk about a range of news topics that have occurred over the last fortnight. A little variety episode for you lovely listeners! The contents? Not so lovely. We discuss the infuriating Kyle Rittenhouse case making global headlines, more local yet equally infuriating stories of police misconduct in NSW, and the way NSW Police seem to be attempting to rehabilitate their image with a new, conveniently timed investigation.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch:...

This week we talk about Facebook groups, university campus culture, fandoms and what they all have in common: safe spaces.  We discuss the ways in which a lot of safe spaces have lost their meaning, often facilitate racism and white fragility, and remain notably unsafe for many marginalised people.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: [email protected] PayPal:...

This week we discuss the concept of ‘churnalism’: a type of journalism that relies on PR packages and repurposing other articles in the writing of stories. We talk about what it’s like working in the modern-day media industry, the pros and cons of churnalism for both writers and readers, and what it actually means for the future of journalism.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email:...

This week we talk about brand activism: can it ever be sincere? And if so, does it matter if the work being done is still positive? We discuss a recent news story where a brand went viral for its social commentary, and how that relates to white feminism, commercialisation, and the girlbossification of, well, everything.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email:...