Sangeeta Pillai Masala Podcast A South Asian feminist podcast on her love of podcasts

GENERAL INTERVIEW

Sangeeta Pillai: “You don’t need to have an Oxbridge accent”

Published on April 5, 2023

In every issue of the Pod Bible magazine, we ask a podcast disciple five questions about their love form podcasts and podcasting. To get ready for her headliner talk at the Birmingham Podcast Festival later this month, we wanted to take the opportunity to revisit our fitting interview with Sangeeta Pillai from way back in Issue #014.

PB: WHY DO YOU LOVE PODCASTS?

SP: Podcasting is THE most intimate medium, in my opinion. You’re literally talking into someone’s ear. I love how podcasts allow space for difficult and delicate conversations. With Masala Podcast, I’ve been able to connect with other South Asian womxn, discussing taboo topics like sex, sexuality, periods and even nipple hair! These are topics that would otherwise have been really tough to talk about. As a creator, I also love how democratic podcasts are. You don’t need to have an Oxbridge accent to be a presenter. You don’t need millions to create a podcast. All you need is a strong concept and hard work – and your audio masterpiece can be out in the world right alongside content created by big-name media houses.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST PODCAST YOU EVER LISTENED TO?

I think the first podcast I ever heard was The Guilty Feminist. I remember seeing it somewhere and thinking, “What is a podcast?” Yup, I was that much of a podcast-virgin! I also remember listening to My Dad Wrote A Porno. What a genius name! And a brilliantly funny and original podcast.

WHICH PODCASTER MAKES YOU LAUGH THE MOST?

The podcast that makes me road with laughter is Dear Joan And Jericha. It’s so wrong that it’s right. If that makes sense. I love everything about it. The filthy bits, which make me gasp out loud laughing. The downright unusable advice, always unsympathetic & totally judgemental. The patriarchal bullshit that they present in this funny, ironic fashion. (It’s always the women who are in the wrong in the “advice” given.)

WHICH PODCAST HAS EDUCATED YOU THE MOST?

I’d have to say Where Should We Begin? by Esther Perel. It’s all about therapist Esther Perel counselling couples who’re having difficulties. So as a listener, you can unashamedly hear all about other people’s problems.

But here’s the surprising thing, as I hear someone delve deep into their childhood or behaviour patterns, I find myself looking at my own behaviours and psychology. So it’s been hugely educational for me personally. Like having therapy without having therapy.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND A SHOW OUR READERS MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF?

I only heard about this brilliant podcast recently: Why Won’t You Date Me? Another awesome WOC Nicole Byer exploring why she is single, while discussing topics related to love, life, and sex. Really funny and at times, quite thought-provoking.

Masala Podcast is a podcast about all those things South Asian women are ‘not supposed to talk about’. Everything from sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, mental health, shame, sexual harassment to… nipple hair! Featuring interviews with fierce South Asian women about taboo topics and personal stories around what it means to be a South Asian feminist today. Masala Podcast was a winner at Spotify SoundUp 2018. It is the winner of multiple British Podcast Awards 2020, 2021 & 2022.