In February this year, Mae Mariyam Thomas, the host behind one of India’s most popular music podcasts, Maed in India , released the first episode of She Says She’s Fine . A departure from topics such as feminism, identity, and the art of crafting music, this time around, Thomas focussed on something that’s often brushed under the carpet: women’s sexual health. And what was even more surprising, it wasn’t a female specialist, but Dr Munjaal Kapadia, a Mumbai-based gynaecologist and director of Namaha Healthcare, who spoke about diverse topics such as sex, slut-shaming, miscarriages, medical check-ups, sexually transmitted diseases and abuse. The unifying theme? “A show that looks at understanding women better by understanding their health better,” says Thomas.
The 10-episode podcast has struck a chord with women — many have taken to social media to applaud her for bringing such issues to the fore.
Expert opinion
Speaking about the decision to bring Kapadia on as host, she says, “He has an amiability and charm that makes it so easy to talk to him. He’s calm, doesn’t judge, and makes you feel like your point of view is valid and valued. The added bonus is that he is an experienced specialist who grew up in a family of gynaecologists.”
Initially conceived as a one-on-one show where the doctor would bring on patients willing to talk about their health issues, it soon morphed into a talk-show format with two women guests per episode. So far, that list includes the likes of comedian Kaneez Surka and spoken word poet Aranya Johar (who talk about their early relationship with sex, and why it was often associated with guilt), rapper Sophia Ashraf (to talk about periods) and author and journalist Meghna Pant (who discusses motherhood).
Having a male host was not a surprising choice for a podcast about women, she emphasises, especially because the host “does not drill ‘a man’s perspective’ on anything”. She adds that this is reassuring because he understands the female experience in what is otherwise still a very patriarchal society. “There are men out there who are good listeners, who don’t claim to know everything about women, and are open to learning about women every day.”
Why it works
The show, which found a spot on top podcast lists on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher, was conceived out of the desire to give women their own platform to voice their opinions. “More people need to listen to what women have to say, at home and in the workplace,” says Kapadia. The aim of the show is to remove stigma, bust myths and do away with the social taboos holding women back.
What makes it so personable is the host’s willingness to be vulnerable. Whether it’s talking about his relationship with sex as a teenager from a small town, or discussing his wife’s own miscarriage-related trauma, Kapadia is not shy to share. Emotional incidents — and there are a few on the show — are not brushed aside, nor are they hyped up. They just pass by.
As working in women’s health gives him insight into what his patients are thinking about, Kapadia comes up with the topics for each episode. The production team, including Thomas, pitches in with their own ideas for guests, the show format, and related topics, along with doing their own research. “This show was about getting behind the ‘I'm Fine’ that every woman has said but deep inside something isn’t fine,” says Thomas.
She Says She’s Fine is available on all major podcast platforms
