Content warning: Please note that this episode contains mentions of queerphobia. Art is queer, and queer is art. We are back with another episode where I am in an insightful conversation with Tannaz Mahreen, a rapper and composer, as well as an advocate of intersectionality and inclusivity. We explore the topics of art and queerness, their intersections, and how this intersectionality allows us to advocate for our rights. This episode is presented in collaboration with queerbeat, our media partner. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya. (Originally created for Gender Bender 2023, produced by Sandbox Collective and Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore.)

Content warning: Please note that this episode contains mentions of ableism and queerphobia. Join me in this eye-opening conversation with Mohammed, a molecular biologist, an advocate for queer rights, and co-founder of IHRI (Intersex Human Rights India). They explore the intricate intersections of chronic health erasure, hospital accessibility, and the challenges marginalised communities face in accessing healthcare. Mohammed also delves into the often-overlooked world of neuroqueer identities and the imperative need to create inclusive and safe spaces within the LGBTQIA+ community. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya. (Originally created for Gender Bender 2023, produced by Sandbox Collective and Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore.)

Content warning: This episode includes discussions on queerphobia and ableism. In the eighth episode, I'm in conversation with Garima, a disabled, agender development sector professional. With extensive work in SRHR and LGBTQIA+ community capacity building, Garima shares their journey of exploring disabilities later in life and the intricate interaction between queerness and neurodivergence. We explore the challenges of navigating the workplace as neuroqueer folks, as well as the profound question of how and where queerness and neurodivergence intersect. You can check out the podcast transcript ⁠here⁠. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on ⁠social media⁠. ⁠Say hi⁠ to me, your host Soumya.

Content warning: Please note that this episode contains mentions of queerphobia. Join us for an enlightening conversation as I sit down with Saoirse, a first-year PhD student in the English department at Brown University. In this episode, Saoirse discusses the complexities of living at the intersections of being brown, queer, and neurodivergent within both the Indian education system and as an international student in the United States. From embracing the beauty of queerness to the challenges encountered while navigating legal and bureaucratic systems, they candidly reflect on their experiences and share their journey. Learn more about Saoirse's work here. This episode is presented in partnership with The Red Door. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.

Content warning: Please note that this episode contains mentions of physical and mental abuse, and eating disorders. In this episode, I'm in conversation with K. Vaishali, the author of the memoir "Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India." She shares her experiences as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman, about navigating life with dyslexia and dysgraphia in a world without reliable sources of information or representation in media, how she found comfort in her sexuality in a Brahminical setting, and the pressure of adhering to heteronormative norms. Vaishali is also the host of the podcast Queerious Connections. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.

Content warning: Please note that this episode contains mentions of domestic violence. In the fifth episode, I speak to Jasmin Khoja, a learning and knowledge management professional who has worked on various human rights campaigns and currently working on policy design and implementation by representing the need for disabled Muslim women's point of view. They are a queer Muslim feminist who lives with ADHD, auditory processing disorder, and PTSD. She shares her story, a form of reclamation where she takes pride in her faith and identities true to herself. The conversation revolves around intersectionality and isolation, the struggle to find gender and neuro-affirming mental health professionals, surviving without support in educational institutions, and navigating the workplace as a neuroqueer person. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and episode four of this podcast features an #ActuallyAutistic person: Vignesh, who was diagnosed with ADHD and ASD in adulthood. They share how Autism and ADHD interact with and influence their everyday life, including their queerness. In our society, while most conversations around Autism revolve around parents who speak about their autistic children, here is an autistic person sharing their experiences on how Autism looks from the inside. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.

In the third episode, I speak with Pranav Arwari, a queer-disabled and non-binary person. They share their experiences as a multiply marginalised person in a society governed by neuronormative norms and cis-heteronormativity, and how they have learned to navigate it personally as well as professionally. We also contemplate on the idea of rest, especially in relation to activism. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.

Content Warning: Please note that this episode contains discussions on suicidal ideation. With my second guest, Ayushmita Samal, I talk about what's it like to be neurodivergent and queer, and the challenges that come with these multiple layers of marginalisations, especially at the workplace and even in interpersonal relationships. We also discuss the lack of policies at workplaces to address the needs of neurodivergent folx or people with mental illnesses, and what can be done to change the current state of affairs. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.

Content Warning: Please note that this episode contains discussions on abuse. With my first guest, Srishti Pandey, I take a journey into her life to know her story, motivation and what got her interested in disability rights and inclusion. We also discuss the oft-forgotten intersection of queerness and disability, specifically asexuality and non-visible disabilities. You can check out the podcast transcript here. Follow Atypical Dikkatein on social media. Say hi to me, your host Soumya.