Illuminating Taboo Illuminating Taboo

Happy International Women's Day/Month/Year/Forever! So this is one of Barnes's favourite episodes and illuminated taboos, not only because she changed her perspective on #FGM and how to tackle it, but because of the compassion of Paige helped her see that maybe her views before were incorrect. In this episode, we cover:
1) What is FGM?
2) Where is it happening? Does it happen in the West? 
3) Is it cultural or religious? 
4) How do we combat it in a culturally sensitive way? 
Hope you enjoyed this episode as much as us. As always, continue the conversation on our Instagram at @illuminatingtaboo and follow @paigenak_ for the important work she does in woman's reproductive health and women's rights. 

What even is toxic positivity!? Are we just putting 'toxic' in front of everything we dislike? Or is there a rational basis for it? where's the balance to be met? Are smiley and positive people being labelled toxic to quash their light? These are all philosophical ponderances of Barnes & Boom in this episode of Illuminating Taboo. Not to be missed! Continue the conversation on our Instagram @illuminatingtaboo and help us lift taboos...

Recorded in December 2020, we are joined by Dan Bradshaw to talk about his journey with Gender Dysphoria when young. This is a very holistic conversation and we hope you learn something new (even if just a different perspective). We discuss: 

1) What is transgender / transexual / transvestite and the differences? 

2) What is the experience of Gender Dysphoria?

3) Individual trans struggles VS social issues with the community;

4) Transphobia - is JK Rowling transphobic?

5) Should hormone blockers be allowed for children and teens? &

6) The Way Forward: How can we learn to communicate on these issues and topics? 



Follow us on @illuminatingtaboo to continue the conversation and add your opinions! Disagreeing is 100% okay. You can also find us on our website illuminatingtaboo.com

Recorded in October 2020, we are joined by Terry from @analyzedatheist to talk about Religion, Atheism & Anti-Theism. This is a critical yet compassionate conversation covering:
1) What is anti-theism? Why would someone be anti-theist? 
2) Analyzing atheism - is it helpful?
3) Religion - are other religions better than others? Why can't people see past their religions? 
4) Spirituality - The Way Forward - can we have a world without any spirituality and should we ever want that? 5) Is the new “woke” movement akin to a Religion? & 6) “Islamophobia” VS anti-Muslim bigotry.
Follow us on insta at @illuminatingtaboo to continue the conversation and SUBSCRIBE to us at illuminatingtaboo, where you can also apply to be on the Podcast like Terry did. 

Recorded in August 2020, Barnes & Boom are joined by April Cote to discuss Domestic Abuse & Violence. We tackle this often difficult topic to talk about from the perspective of: 1) A mother & wife (April), 2) A girlfriend (Barnes) & 3) a daughter (Boom). This is a really difficult topic to discuss, but at Illuminating Taboo we believe that courage inspires courage. We discuss:
1) Our experiences with domestic abuse & life after abuse - how to trust again?;
2) The worst stigma of "why didn't you just leave?" 
3) The perspective of a child witnessing abuse;
4) What we wish the world knew about Domestic Abuse (including gaslighting);
5) The way forward - how do we help survivors? How can society help?

We have also included Domestic Abuse helplines on our Instagram post @illuminatingtaboo - never feel afraid to reach out! Also make sure you're subscribed at illuminatingtaboo.com. 

Recorded on 16 June 2020, this episode is all about the "Patriarchy." Often quoted as
those wanting to ‘smash it,’ we try and tackle the lesser spoken of problem of: what
even is it? We discuss:
1) What is the Patriarchy?
2) Why do people want to smash it?
3) What are the main arguments for / against it?
4) If we smash the Patriarchy, won’t there be another form of hierarchy to smash?
5) Western Patriarchy compared to Middle Eastern;
6) Solutions?

PS: Apologies for tech difficulties, we still thought this episode was important! Follow us on @illuminatingtaboo to continue the conversation.