Burqah & Bikini

Koko

From sexual awakening to self-worth, from boardroom success to bedroom pleasure, Burqah & Bikini is a revolution. The first podcast on sex by a Pakistani woman, we challenge South Asian, Muslim, and patriarchal norms that have long confined women to rigid roles. Liberation is not a privilege, it’s a practice. We dive deep into pleasure, desire, self-regulation, and radical self-acceptance. We explore everything women must do, achieve, and undo to become healthy, pleasured, fully functioning sexual beings. And we are NOT afraid to offend. We refuse to whisper about what matters—self-pleasure, agency, ambition, money, and breaking generational cycles. We want to normalize that women can choose: their desires, their paths, their identities, and how they live unapologetically. Hosted by Koko, this is a fearless, provocative, and one-of-a-kind space for women who refuse to be controlled by culture or shame. Burqah & Bikini doesn’t ask for permission. We don’t whisper. We roar.

  1. Why No One Talks About Vaginismus | Ishta Bhatia on Women’s Pain & Cultural Silence

    10/21/2025

    Why No One Talks About Vaginismus | Ishta Bhatia on Women’s Pain & Cultural Silence

    In this deeply personal and eye-opening conversation, we sit down with Ishta Bhatia, a French woman of Indian origin, as she shares her journey with vaginismus and vulvodynia, two often misunderstood and stigmatized pelvic pain conditions. We explore not only the physical and emotional toll of these conditions but also what it means to navigate them within the South Asian cultural context, where silence around sexual and reproductive health is common. From misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting to societal pressure and family expectations, Ishta opens up about her path to healing and reconnection with her body. In this episode, we explore: -What vaginismus and vulvodynia actually are, and how they impact daily life -Ishta’s personal journey from misdiagnosis to treatment -The trauma of seeking medical help when doctors don’t listen -How South Asian cultural expectations around marriage and sexuality shape women’s experiences with pain -The emotional weight of living with a condition that’s invisible to others -How partners and relationships can either hinder or help the healing process -Differences between Eastern and Western narratives around women, pain, and shame -The kinds of questions South Asian parents ask their daughters, and what gets left unsaid This episode is for anyone looking to understand the intersection of chronic pain, womanhood, relationships, and culture, and how vulnerability can lead to empowerment. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more untold stories that matter.

    59 min
  2. Do Privileged Desi Women Have It Easier — Or Just Different Struggles? with Naima Ahmed

    09/02/2025

    Do Privileged Desi Women Have It Easier — Or Just Different Struggles? with Naima Ahmed

    What does privilege really offer women in Pakistan—and what does it still withhold? Of Pakistan’s 125 million women, less than 50 million live in urban centers. Only 28% participate in the labor force, and fewer than 6% ever make it to managerial roles. Education and employment are available to a tiny fraction, and even then, autonomy is far from guaranteed. In this episode, I speak with Naima Ahmed, a corporate commercial lawyer raised in a privileged household in Pakistan, now working in Dubai. With access to higher education, career growth, and financial independence, Naima has, by all definitions, made it. But her story reveals that privilege doesn’t guarantee ease, it just comes with a different kind of pressure. In this episode, we explore: - The high-performance pressure on educated, privileged women - How “liberal” upbringings still come with unspoken limits - Naima’s relationship with her mother, both role model and fiercest critic - Progressive upbringing in traditional culture - Why she values the pressure to succeed, and what it’s cost her - The invisible rules for daughters in male-dominated desi households - Gendered bias in corporate life: assertive man = leader, assertive woman = aggressive Naima’s journey shows that even within privilege, the struggle for freedom, respect, and self-definition remains. 🔔 Subscribe to Burqah & Bikini for more raw, feminist conversations about sex, identity, and power, told through a South Asian lens. KEEP IN TOUCH: 🎙️ Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts 📸 Podcast Instagram - /burqahandbikini 📸 Host Instagram - /ithebrownwoman 📸 Guest Instagram - /@naimaahmed.official ♪ Podcast Tiktok - /burqahandbikini

    57 min
  3. How To Break the Desi Mold and Reclaim Your Power | Mahvish Ahmad

    08/19/2025

    How To Break the Desi Mold and Reclaim Your Power | Mahvish Ahmad

    What happens when a “good Desi girl” decides she’s done pleasing everyone but herself? Author, life coach, and internet personality Mahvish Ahmad blew up her old life to finally claim her power — sexually, emotionally, and spiritually. In this episode, I sit down with Mahvish — who has completely redefined what it means to be a fulfilled Desi woman. From growing up under the weight of "good girl" expectations to experiencing a profound sexual and spiritual awakening, Mahvish shares how she broke free from cultural conditioning, healed past trauma, and reclaimed her voice, her body, and her life. We talk about everything from parenting teens and navigating Desi marriages, to building boundaries, owning your sensuality, and what it truly means to live unapologetically as a South Asian woman in her 40s. If you're a high-achieving woman, a CEO, or someone on a personal growth journey — this episode will challenge, inspire, and empower you to live on your terms. Topics We Cover: What triggered Mahvish’s awakeningParenting teens with openness and honestyLetting go of appearance-based pressure (yes, even waxing)Desi marriage dynamics & controlThe myth of the obedient “good girl”Creating boundaries and dealing with backlashUnderstanding how abusers operate - and how to spot an abuserBeing vulnerable and vocal in long-term relationshipsRapid fire round — from a woman who's done the work KEEP IN TOUCH: 🎙️ Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts 📸 Podcast Instagram - /burqahandbikini 📸 Host Instagram - /ithebrownwoman 📸 Guest Instagram - /mahvish.ahmad ♪ Podcast Tiktok - /burqahandbikini

    1h 8m
  4. Why Desi Women Are Settling for Less (And How Gender Roles Are Failing Us) | Nimisha Verma

    08/05/2025

    Why Desi Women Are Settling for Less (And How Gender Roles Are Failing Us) | Nimisha Verma

    In this transformative episode, I sit down with Nimisha Verma, a life coach from India who helps people heal from deep-rooted mother and father wounds. This conversation is essential for anyone who wants to understand why they behave the way they do — and how parental dynamics, gender roles, and culture deeply influence our emotional patterns. Together, we unpack powerful truths about growing up in Desi households and how that experience continues to shape our relationships, identities, and desires today. We explore: •⁠ ⁠Were we ever meant to stick to traditional gender roles? •⁠ ⁠How emotional pain influences the partners we choose •⁠ ⁠The rise of the feminine man — and why this can be confusing or even harmful in dating •⁠ ⁠How unresolved mother and father wounds echo through our adult lives •⁠ ⁠Tools for becoming self-aware and breaking intergenerational cycles •⁠ ⁠Why so many Desi women are settling for the bare minimum •⁠ ⁠What a non-toxic, emotionally healed man actually looks like •⁠ ⁠How true sexual pleasure and deep love become possible only after healing If you've ever asked, “Why do I keep attracting the same kind of person?” or “Why do I feel emotionally starved in relationships?” this episode is your mirror and your roadmap. KEEP IN TOUCH: 🎙️ Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts 📸 Podcast Instagram - /burqahandbikini 📸 Host Instagram - /ithebrownwoman 📸 Guest Instagram - /@nimishavermaa ♪ Podcast Tiktok - /burqahandbikini

    1h 12m

About

From sexual awakening to self-worth, from boardroom success to bedroom pleasure, Burqah & Bikini is a revolution. The first podcast on sex by a Pakistani woman, we challenge South Asian, Muslim, and patriarchal norms that have long confined women to rigid roles. Liberation is not a privilege, it’s a practice. We dive deep into pleasure, desire, self-regulation, and radical self-acceptance. We explore everything women must do, achieve, and undo to become healthy, pleasured, fully functioning sexual beings. And we are NOT afraid to offend. We refuse to whisper about what matters—self-pleasure, agency, ambition, money, and breaking generational cycles. We want to normalize that women can choose: their desires, their paths, their identities, and how they live unapologetically. Hosted by Koko, this is a fearless, provocative, and one-of-a-kind space for women who refuse to be controlled by culture or shame. Burqah & Bikini doesn’t ask for permission. We don’t whisper. We roar.