Burqas and Beer Podcast

@burqasandbeer
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

Welcome to your new favorite group therapy session—but with more laughs, hot takes, and probably too much iced coffee. Hosted by an Afghan-Angeleno social worker (that’s me, Madina Wardak) and featuring my best friend Kyna Wise (fellow Angeleno social worker) this podcast is where two millennial mental health professionals unpack the world, one slightly-chaotic conversation at a time. From decolonizing wellness to raging about the news, we cover politics, culture, identity, and the awkward art of existing—all from the cozy dysfunction of my walk-in closet.

Episodes

  1. Sep 10

    Ep 10: We're Back, But We're Different

    Our loyal babies, ty so much for being patient with Kyna & I as we navigate life after loss. Our comeback episode dives into what it's been like after losing Stephanie & Aryan. Grief impacts how we relate to the world, our friendships, and our perceptions of ourself. & it's changed how we treat the pod, too. Originally recorded on 8/9/26. CW: Grief, substance use, trauma.

  2. 12/24/2025

    Ep 9: Merry Xmas, YA WELCOME

    What if I told you the reason Mariah Carey is blastin' in ya ear is because of my ancestors? That's right, ancient winter solstice celebrations in the LAND OF MY PEOPLE eventually influenced what we now celebrate as Christmas! Join me in today's episode as I tell Kyna the story of Shab-e Yalda, which marks the winter solstice - the longest night of the year. Yalda reminds us that darkness is real but never permanent. In the words of the late great 2pac Shakur, "If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day". CURSE YOU SEAN DIDDY COMBS!! Also - EVERYONE GO SAY CONGRATS TO OUR GIRL KYNA - she is officially a FEYONCE!!!! Thanks to everyone who supported the pod in our baby year - SEE YA IN 2026!

  3. 11/27/2025

    Ep 8: More Like ThanksTAKING

    Trump’s bizarre meeting with Zohran Mamdani at the White House, the death of Dick Cheney - a man whose policies reshaped and destroyed entire regions, including our homeland - and what it means to watch history loop on itself. Madina opens up about the revelations she’s been having about her own upbringing, how that childhood shaped her adult relationships, and why the holidays can crack open old grief in ways we don’t always expect. This episode sits at the intersection of politics, memory, and healing - and how we carry the weight of all three. Mentions, listed in order: Passion Planner: ⁠https://passionplanner.com/ Charlize Theron Get Some Young D: https://open.spotify.com/track/2oCh2r7qubt8PJVb7lIzKK?si=70b7dcbcfcf54b33 Kardashian Kolloquium: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/kardashian-kolloquium Havasole: https://havasole.com/

  4. 11/24/2025

    Ep 7: Pakistan’s Frankenstein: The Taliban

    How did Pakistan create the monster it now battles, and what happens when a proxy terrorist group bites the hand that feeds it? In this episode, we break down the uncomfortable truth behind Afghanistan–Pakistan relations: the Taliban didn’t appear out of nowhere. They were engineered, trained, sheltered, and strategically deployed by the Pakistani state for decades - and today that same monster is clawing back. This is the story of borders drawn by colonizers, movements crushed by states, and proxies that grew too powerful to control. If you want to understand the current Afghanistan–Pakistan crisis - the airstrikes, border clashes, deportations, and rising insurgencies - you have to understand the monster’s origin story. (Originally recorded on October 11, 2025)

  5. 10/02/2025

    Ep 6: Far From Home with Ankita Kumar

    In this episode, we spoke with filmmaker Ankita Kumar about her documentary Far From Home, which follows the lives of Afghan refugees in India. For Afghans in India, “refuge” often means being trapped in limbo - denied basic rights, barred from citizenship, and facing daily hostility. Because they are Muslim, Afghan refugees are excluded from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), leaving them with virtually no pathway to safety, stability, or belonging. This film is not just about displacement - it’s about the cruelty of borders, religion-based exclusion, and what it means to be permanently kept at the margins. Read more about Ankita’s experience shooting the film:https://www.outlookindia.com/national/the-endless-wait-of-afghan-refugees-weekender_story-305690 Read about Ankita's grandmothers story:https://thewire.in/south-asia/seeking-refuge-the-story-of-two-women-i-know Ankita Mukhopadhyay Kumar is an award-winning Indian journalist and documentary filmmaker based in the US. Ankita’s directorial debut, Far from Home, was selected to over eight film festivals, including the Academy award-qualifying Tasveer Film Festival and the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival. Far from Home, which is the story of Afghan refugees in India, was funded by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies (AIAS). The film was a finalist for NHK’s prestigious Japan Prize and runner up in the Best Short Documentary category at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF). It’s the first documentary on Afghan refugees in India. The film stemmed from Ankita’s work as a graduate student at Northwestern University and was inspired by Ankita’s own grandmother, who was a refugee to India in 1947 after the country’s partition.

  6. 09/18/2025

    Ep 5: Mexico MAJICO

    In this episode, Madina & Kyna discussed the weird feelings that came up as the Charlie Kirk assassination happened one day before 9/11. As always, Madina cries at some point. Anyone going to CDMX soon? Check out Madina's travel suggestions for beautiful Mexico City. But don't be a gentrifying gringo! Orale.

  7. 08/21/2025

    Ep 4: Hold Me Through the Headlines

    In a world where the news cycle is filled with grief, war, and injustice, friendship becomes sacred. It may be the only place we feel safe. In this episode, we explore how community & friendship protect our mental health, help us co-regulate during times of collective trauma, and provide a lifeline when the world feels unbearable. If you’ve ever felt let down by silence - or held by friendship when you needed it most - this conversation is for you. We sing SO MUCH in this episode. Oh, we also breakdown why Spongebob & Patrick are the ideal model for friendship, and why Squidward is a hater. Because you can always count on us to bring you all the saucey goss from Bikini Bottom.

  8. 08/07/2025

    Ep 3: Afghan Men Deserve Their Flowers

    EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Burqas & Beer DOESN'T hate Afghan men?! In this episode, Madina shares snippets from her workshop, "Deconstructing Afghan Masculinity: Power, Trauma, Possibility" that was presented at the 2025 Afghan American Conference. Using a trauma-informed framework, Madina & Kyna discuss how imperialism, trauma, orientalism and cultural expectations combine to create the perfect recipe for toxic masculinity, and dare we say it, elevate the platform for the Tban to exist. For such a depressing topic, we were EXTRA giggly this episode, so do expect an occasional earbud-assault. While your ears might hate us, your brain will thank us. Let the healing begin!

  9. 07/03/2025

    Ep 2: Moslemz EVERYWHERE! From Zohran to Iran

    Sit down with Kyna & Madina in the B&B walk-in closet studio as they unpack Zohran "mmmDaddy" Mamdani's win and Israeli aggression against Iran. Oh, and if you listen long enough - Madina cries! (It's Cancer szn, DUH)

  10. 06/18/2025

    Ep 1: LA Melts I.C.E.

    I.C.E. raids, DTLA protests, social worker rants & Madina doesn’t know how to use American colloquialisms.

  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to your new favorite group therapy session—but with more laughs, hot takes, and probably too much iced coffee. Hosted by an Afghan-Angeleno social worker (that’s me, Madina Wardak) and featuring my best friend Kyna Wise (fellow Angeleno social worker) this podcast is where two millennial mental health professionals unpack the world, one slightly-chaotic conversation at a time. From decolonizing wellness to raging about the news, we cover politics, culture, identity, and the awkward art of existing—all from the cozy dysfunction of my walk-in closet.

Information

  • Creator
    @burqasandbeer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © @burqasandbeer
  • Show Website
    Burqas and Beer Podcast

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