There are few things as intimate as listening to a podcast. Reading is one of them. We speak with Singaporean novelist, Balli Kaur Jaswal, about her novel Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, and the role stories play in helping us explore and intimate side of ourselves, in a modern yet conservative society. Presented as part of Night Spin 182.7 FM, curated by The Arts House, commissioned by Singapore Writers Festival and organised by National Arts Council. Listen to the full episode on...

In September, Singapore announced plans for a White Paper on gender equality to be published by 2021. To us at Something Private we say: It’s about time! But what does this entail, how can we get involved, and how does it address the mindset problem our country faces? We speak with Minister of State, Sun Xueling, about family violence, sexual harassment, and workplace discrimination, to find out more. Interested in getting involved? Register at go.gov.sg/sgwomen. Reach us at...

Noorindah enjoyed a candid and open relationship with her mother; they often joked about sex. So when her mother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, Noorindah felt angry that she was kept in the dark. It’s been a year since Noorindah’s mother passed, Noorindah shares her heartbreak on her new platform, www.shyandcurious.com.  We remind you to do your routine breast self examination every month, in light of breast cancer awareness month this October. Reach us at...

This World Mental Health Day, we wanna know, how are you really doing? Belle, a healthcare professional, felt anxious and depressed after moving back to Singapore for work, but ignored the signs. After all, health professionals shouldn’t struggle with such issues. But when she couldn’t get out of bed, it struck her that she needed help. Belle shares her experience living in a psychiatric ward, caring for your mental health in your mid-20s, and how to help those around you. Chat -...

Marylyn Tan made history as the first woman to win the Singapore Literature book prize earlier this month, with her debut collection, GAZE BACK. But her achievement stemmed from a violence done to her almost a decade ago, when she was videotaped against her will doing a homosexual sexual act in school. Young Marylyn was prosecuted harshly, while her perpetrator was let off scot-free. Society’s rejection of her, was just the beginning source of her inspiration. Reach us at...

A common trait of an emotionally abusive relationship is when an abuser is compassionate in public but cruel in private. Jenny* lived through years of verbal insults and suicide threats from her ex-husband, but the final straw was when her 3 year old son had to “protect” her from a fight that nearly broke out. Today, she reflects on her loneliness, and the challenges of co-parenting with her ex-abuser. Reach us at [email protected]. (Shout-out to @ChapterZeroSG) *names have been...

Meet 23-year-old Rea kami. She’s one of Singapore’s most popular cosplayers, with a combined following of 50K on Instagram and Facebook, over 7K followers on TikTok, and thousands of views Twitter and Twitch. She’s also, a feminist LGBTQ+ activist, who speaks up about issues like racism and inequality to her global audience. How does a feminist thrive in a community that is inherently built on sexist stereotypes?  Have thoughts you'd like to discuss? Reach us at [email protected].

❗️TRIGGER WARNING❗️ When home is not a safe place, where do individuals living in an expensive, population dense city seek refuge? Deborah shares her story as a survivor, and how her new found space allows her to reflect on making amends with her family. This ep was recorded during circuit breaker, where cases of domestic abuse increased worldwide, and described as a “shadow pandemic” by the UN. Helplines: COMCARE @ 18002220000, AWARE @ 18007775555, or PAVE @ 65550390. Reach us nicole@somethin

There’s a misconception that disabled persons can’t have sex, but they’re just like any of us. Zohra and Liang Le spent most of their lives able-bodied, until a car accident and spine condition led their disability. On this episode, they share about navigating life, prejudices they've faced, and their experience with love and intimacy. > 'Can Ask Meh' by OGS on persons living with disabilities (mid-Sept) > Will and Well http://willandwell/pages/bethedifference.  Reach us at...

Singaporeans are exceptional planners, except when it comes to the topic of harassment, rape or abuse. When a loved one, a friend, or perhaps you, face abuse, do you know what next steps you can take? We speak to lawyer Priscilla Chia, to understand why Dr Wee Tong Boon was cleared of all charges, why Terence Siow Kai Yuan's sentence was relooked, and what individuals like you and I can do to protect ourselves, and those we love.

Ah! The elusive female orgasm. For the longest time, no one knew if it really was a thing because it had no effect on reproduction. But our conservative Asian society is growing open to talking about sex and pleasure. According to vibrator company Smile Makers, sale of vibrators DOUBLED this quarantine. We’re joined by sexperts Dr Jess, and Cecile from Smile Makers, to learn about the female anatomy, our society’s view of sex, and struggles couples AND singles face.  Reach us,...

Alternative menstrual products are HOT these days... everyone talks about how the menstrual cup "changed their life"! Really? It sounds terrifying to me! But every girl is different, so how do you figure out what suits you best? Olivia Cotes-James of LUÜNA Naturals, a sustainable menstrual health company, breaks it down. From spelling out the four stages of the cycle, to the importance of tracking it, and tips on using the cup. Sign up for the Vagina Dialogues at ...

COVID-19 isn’t just a health crisis, mental health experts warn of a looming mental health crisis following long periods of isolation and bad news. But this might actually be... GOOD? Putting mental health in the spotlight destigmatizes getting help for it. We're joined by psychiatrist Dr Kamini Rajaratnam, who dishes out the science behind these feelings, and how we can cope on our own. 💖 Big thank you to our partners TalkYourHeartOut.SG for working with us on this episode! 💖

Preeti Nair, aka Preetipls, claims to be “Singapore's top influencer”. Behind her satirical content, Preeti is outspoken on issues like racial justice. Who can forget the brownface saga of 2019 that left her in a messy situation with the law minister? 😳 On the second part of this two-part episode, Preeti shares her experience being investigated, making her comeback, and how the entire event has her more optimistic about the future. Have thoughts? Reach us at [email protected]. 

Preeti Nair, or Preetipls, is known for speaking up on issues like racial justice. Recall the brownface saga that left her in a messy sitch with the law minister? When COVID-19 hit, a wave of anti-celebrity feelings ensued, but Preeti stood out with Utopia.sg. She raised almost $200K for migrant workers, who were most badly hit by the virus, and started "Miss Education", a video series on social issues. On the first part of this two-part episode, Preeti opens up about her life and using...

We are BACK! WITH A BRAND NEW SEASON!! And just in time to celebrate pride month! 🌈💖💖 The question for us at Something Private? What does it mean to be an ally, and for that matter, a GOOD one? Raja, my 25-year-old cousin, schools me on this. Assigned female at birth, Raja took almost two decades to find their footing in the world. Today, they identify as queer, and on this episode, they share their journey, as we discuss the meaning and role of allyship, in a conservative Southeast Asian...

60,000 women and minors are estimated by UNICEF to be victims of sex trafficking in the Philippines, with some as young as 7 years old. Rebecca Eu is on a mission to stop this. Rebecca, who has been volunteering in the Philippines since she was 20, has heard too many stories of girls forced into this sex trade to get out of poverty. Today, her social enterprise Mei’s Own, puts survivors of sex trafficking to school, by working with local homeware artisans. Meanwhile… WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT THE...

Eu as in…. Eu Yan Sang? Like the TCM shop that sells bird's nest? 🥵140 years of family history in the making, means its almost impossible to ignore the familial pressure and generational trauma that will be passed down. Rebecca shares about how growing up, she was bullied and dubbed as “ginseng girl” her whole life, and how she’s finally learnt to embrace her own path today. P.S. Nobody call her “ginseng girl”!!! She’s sensitive 😜😜

Hello, how are you coping, this COVID-19? It’s been a confusing and unsettling couple of weeks for many of us (hang in there sweetie!!) but amidst global panic are some instances of society being really good. From online dinner parties, to first dates over zoom, we're seeing the world turn kinder, as we pool together supplies for our frontline workers, and those who are in need. With love from Something Private, reminding you guys to #stayhomestaysafe!!! ❤️❤️

Girls, ever been afraid to hit the gym alone? 🥵WE 💯 RELATE. At least, that’s what fitness influencer Megan Yit realised when she first created the Telegurrrs chat. What started out as a platform to find workout buddies, quickly turned into a community of friends sharing the most intimate parts of their lives, including looking out for each other during COVID-19 times. 💪✊️️️Today, the chat has almost 200 girls, with over 20 sub-interest groups; because girls who sweat together stay togethe

Megan Yit was in a three year long fitness spiral, and nobody knew. Better known as @_hiccuppieeyelashiejellie on Instagram, she was one of Singapore’s first and youngest Instagram fitness influencers, with 40,000 followers at her peak back in 2015. But it came at a cost and eventually her body crashed. Today, Megan shares about how she got out of the rabbit hole, the importance of listening to your body and finding a routine that works for you. 💆‍♀️💆‍♀️Tune in now!

Love in the 21st century might be synonymous with dating apps, and can be quite painful. Enter GaiGai's modern solution - relationship profiling and compatibility matching. With a team of certified relationship managers, GaiGai will help you understand yourself and what you want out of a relationship in a 90 min profiling experience. All SP listeners are entitled to a free relationship profiling experience with GaiGai, sign up at: http://bit.ly/findlovewithgaigai

'In Her Words' is a sub-series from Something Private — a space for women to share deeply personal stories of unspeakable pains and triumph, faith and strength. In this third episode, we hear from a Malay-Muslim female* who has undergone female circumcision, or sunat perempuan, in Singapore. What is the type of circumcision practiced in Southeast Asia? Is it the same as those in African states? Are there any health benefits, and how does it affect one’s sex life? *voices augmented to protect...

👏GIRLS🤝HELPING🤝GIRLS🤝HELPING🤝GIRLS👏 Heather, Yunrong, Danelia and Dawn are the young womencfighting campus sexual harassment in Singapore. Their campaign, Girl, Talk, could not come at a better time. What does #MeToo look like in a country that ranks high on the global index for gender equality? The answer lies in the hands of these four modern heroines. We get intimate - as they share their personal experiences with sexual harassment, and how to keep the conversation alive. Tune in now!

👏GIRLS🤝HELPING🤝GIRLS🤝HELPING🤝GIRLS👏 Last May was a turning point for student activism against campus sexual harassment in Singapore, with Monica Baey at the forefront leading young women to stand up to their perpetrators. But many still can't identify signs of harassment, or don’t know how to respond, until four young undergraduates, Heather, Yunrong, Danelia and Dawn, took it upon themselves to educate every girl. They say, if you have the privilege to talk about it, you shouldn’t st