Changing Suits

Parenting can be tough at any stage of a child’s life, however being a teenager has changed from the good old days.  Bal and Taj talk to Amit Kalley from @what_doparentsknow about the effect of the digital world. The topics include grooming, cyber bullying and knife crime, as well as others.

After all the stories we hear about marriage, in-laws, divorce - would we really wanted our kids to go through it if they said "I don't want to get married"? In this episode we explore the pros and cons of marriage, and whether parents who force their kids to get married are selfish or doing it for their kids benefit. 

In this episode guest speaker Harjap Bhangal talks about the highs and lows of dealing with challenges faced in his life, where the western and eastern collide. From the most hilarious conversation to the deep and dark part that were faced in his life, including miscarriage, health and mental health. The episode also explores how the National and Borders Bill will have an impact on the BAME commun...

As we've entered 2022 we are exploring what makes us us, who has influenced our lives for the best and the worst, and where we feel we need to improve ourselves. In this episode we also discuss how being Asian influences our personalities and decisions we have made in our lives.

Bal and Taj discuss their previous New Years resolutions and where they fell short of reaching their goals, like achieving round rotiyan! But this New Year it WILL be different (apparently) - because they will be sharing their resolutions with you, so you can hold them to account. Wishing all of the listeners a Happy New Year, with exciting new topics and discussion to come in 2022!!

Should everyone get into the Christmas spirit? In this fun episode Taj and Bal discuss how they celebrate (or not!) the holidays and spread the joy of Christmas. From community Christmas trees to singing hymns, we explore our traditions and living in the UK during this time.

In this episode we discuss our personal experiences of body shaming, and how others perceive us effects our mental health. We also look at whether the Asian community is harsher on themselves in regards to looks, body shape and our appearances. This episode is for those who have every felt like they were too big, too small, or too normal (if there is any such thing)!

Can we help everyone around us when we might need help ourselves? In this episode we have used our previous podcasts to discover how we should prioritise our own mental health before we help those around us. Join us and tell us your experience and feelings on the subject on our instagram page changing_suits.

We welcome Datt_Mom on this weeks episode where we delve into her experiences of social media, including raising awareness of health conditions and trolls. We also discuss how her mental health was impacted by the death of her father followed closely by the birth of her daughter. How does being Asian effect the grieving process and how can we break out of the community's expectations of us du...

Why is social media taking over our lives? Why are we so happy when we receive a 'Like' and down when we are trolled? In this episode the positives and negatives of social media on our lives. We explore how our parents and kids deal with the internet and social media, and look at the mental health aspects of living in this new reality.

Our first guest speaker is a trailblazer in her field and discusses how she balances her high profile career with bringing up her children. In this podcast we discuss how being an Asian woman in a male dominated job has impacted her to strive further.

Are we turning into our parents? When we were younger we'd swear blind we would never be like them. But does saving margarine tubs and washing carrier bags all of a sudden make sense now? In this episode we discuss whether our weird parents were actually geniuses, and whether they are now our role models.

In this episode we discuss how we felt when we returned to work after having our kids. We go through the feelings of guilt, personal challenges and the slight joys of getting away from the kids ;) !

How in control are we of our body? In this episode we discuss how the community deals with sexual harassment and rape. We also look at cases such as Jimmy Saville, Sarah Everard, and what we should be teaching our children about their own personal safety.

Have you ever wondered who has influenced you the most from your family and community? Curious about the values and traditions you've inherited and how they shape your identity? Wondering how you're influencing the next generation? Join hosts Bal and Taj on a reflective journey as they delve into the profound impact of family and community influences in shaping their lives and identities...

Does the perfect woman exist? Can we be everything to everyone?  Our answer...listen to the this episode! In this podcast we discuss the pressures of being a wife, mother, daughter and sibling etc etc. But how can we ensure that the pressure of life doesn't drive us mad?

Divorce is a taboo subject in the Asian community. We discuss why people might get a divorce, the factors which influence their decision, and the stigma attached to the D-word. Is it better to stay in a bad marriage - after all ‘what will aunty say?’

The gender bias in the Asian community has always been a source of contention in the past – but has anything changed? Do we still prefer to have boys rather than girls? In this weeks episode we discuss our experience of having been brought up in a female dominated household, and how we need to raise awareness of the issue girls face in the community.

In this episode, we look at the effects of major events, such as the Euro2020 and the 9/11 attacks, on the BAME community and explore racism within the community, workplace, politics and sport.  Sharing our own experiences of racism, where we have been victims, but also our thoughts on how we can raise awareness of racism and cultures. 

On this weeks episode we explore parenting and how it has changed from the past. We do a comparison of how we were brought up by our parents, and what the benefits and negatives of past parenting which we can apply to bringing up our own children.  The topics discussed include how we teach children about sex education, puberty, the influence of community and culture on bringing up children.

This episode focuses on growing up in a traditional household and fitting into the western world. We discuss how the eastern and western community has shaped our lives.  It’s a funny episode looking at the challenges that are faced everyday by conforming to society's expectations. The topics discussed include culture and language barriers, family relationships and how, in the end, all humans...

Welcome to the first episode, where we will introduce ourselves and explain why Changing Suits has begun.  We will discuss our experiences, and experiences of those people around us, as female Asians. We reflect on how mental health has been managed throughout the different generations and talk about how this podcast has helped our marriages survive!