86: Why Do We Lap up Other People’s Horror Stories?
Moya and Ash offer a thought for spooky season and solve a dilemma about a mentoring relationship.
If I Speak...
If I Speak is a podcast from Moya Lothian-McLean and Ash Sarkar where the personal meets the political. Every week they tackle social dilemmas, cultural phenomena and the frustrations of modern life.
85: Has Pop Culture Turned to Slop?
Has pop turned to slop? Or should we take responsibility for our algorithmic intake?
84: How to Ace a First Date (By Two Very Different Daters)
Are you a stranger dater or a fan of the ‘indeterminate hang’? Moya and Ash explain their very different approaches to dating.
83: Is Jealousy the Spice of Life?
Prompted by Elena Ferrante’s novel My Brilliant Friend, Ash wonders what makes Moya jealous.
82: Help! I Can’t Stop Hating Men
Moya wants to stop hating men, leading to a dialogue about all the things that make that difficult.
81: Is It Wrong to Love My AI Boyfriend?
A mystery question prompts a conversation about secrets in romantic relationships. Plus: advice for an autistic dater.
80: September Is the Real New Year. Will Your Resolution Stick This Time?
Do resolutions ever work? Why do we always want to start over?
79: Help! I’ve Moved Back Home and Now My Mum Hates Me
Moya and Ash tackle your dilemmas this week, featuring a middle-class mum who’s become distant and critical.
78: What Does It Take to Feel Safe?
A real-life incident prompts a conversation about trusting your gut and the politics of public safety.
77: What’s the Difference Between a Girl and a Woman?
Ash and Moya talk about their animal natures and fear of motherhood in a chat spurred by last week's interview with Sophie Gilbert.
76: How Porn Went Mainstream and Changed Everything W/ Sophie Gilbert
Ash and Moya talk to critic Sophie Gilbert about the pornification of pop culture during the '90s and '00s.
75: The World Needs More Flirting. Here’s How
Moya and Ash tackle a topic that turns up in the If I Speak mailbox every week. Plus: advice on a failed friendship.
74: Can Your Racial Identity Change Over Time?
Ash and Moya discuss where their sense of their racial identity comes from – is it their shade, their community, or how they’re treated?
73: Where Did It All Go Wrong on the Dancefloor?
Having rekindled her appetite for fun, Ash now has a five-point plan to rescue the dancefloor from disaster.
72: Why Does It Always Have to Be Me Taking Responsibility?
Ash and Moya descend into the guilt vortex for a conversation about family responsibility.
71: If I’m So Angry Then Why Am I Crying?!
Moya presents an intrusive thought about rage and resentment. Plus: help for a listener whose friends have taken an anti-trans turn.
70: Can You Ever Change What You Want?
Moya and Ash talk about what to do with their impossible desires and offer advice to a listener whose female bestie has ditched him.
69: Is Marriage a Hard Border? W/ Jeremy Atherton Lin
Is marriage like an island, or more of an open house? Ash talks about state-sanctioned relationships with memoirist Jeremy Atherton Lin.