Inappropriate Questions

3.2 (345)
SOCIETY & CULTURE

Have you ever been curious to know the answer to a question that might be intrusive or too personal for other people? On their biweekly podcast Inappropriate Questions, now in its third season, cohosts Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder Wadhwa make a space for curiosity where guests can unpack the tricky questions they get asked and learn stories about them—whether they ask if polyamorous people cope with jealousy in relationships, if Indigenous people are full Native, or brave the dreaded “have you lost weight” assumption. Created by Hudgins Lyle alongside producers Sabrina Bertsch and Cindy Long, the podcast was built out of a school project while they were studying Media Production in Toronto, Ontario. Bertsch, who’s mixed-race, had been asked a lot of questions about her background and ethnicity after studying abroad for a semester. Long and Lyle, both LGBT, would also get frequently asked about their identity and sexuality. Even if these frustrations served as a jumping-off point for them, they quickly realized that they could also learn about a variety of topics from others too—especially from their parents and older generations. So they auditioned a “dad-like” figure to be a counterpart as co-host. Wadhwa, a project manager with an engineering degree, was the unanimous choice. “Harv was the very first interview we did,” Lyle says. “After the interview, he was like, ‘All right, how many more of these do you have to go?’ You know I'm it, right? You can stop now.’” In each episode, guests share stories about being asked the week’s specific inappropriate question. Though, occasionally, they'll have an expert or academic who can break down more of the historical and social aspect of the question. Both Hudgins Lyle and Wadhwa bridge together their different generational perspectives to challenge themselves and their guests, having casual, yet meaningful conversations that are engaging, unpredictable, and humorous. “Though I've been in Canada for over 20 years, I consider myself an immigrant coming from India,” Wadhwa says. “So, what the show is also trying to do is also bring the balance. Because if everybody's thinking the same way, then we lose out a lot.” Even if they sometimes step into difficult territory, what they both hope to provide with each episode is a starting point for listeners to ease into these topics. “It could be that we've left you with some new ideas and perspectives from the guests who have this lived experience,” Lyle says. “You don't need to change and develop overnight, but hopefully, we've given you a starting place where you can then do your own research or reflection.”

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3.2

out of 5

345 Ratings

These are the questions I would ask

01/15/2022

south philly lilly

In theory this should be a great podcast but, I don’t think that the question posed to which ever disenfranchised subject of the episode, is the question that most people would ask. Example, people that were formerly incarcerated, why did you do it? I think most people would ask did you do it?? But, it percentage of crime in the US is mostly related, to drugs. That’s a fact there are less people locked up for murder then there are drug offenses. I don’t think one would ever ask an ex addict that’s been incarcerated, because of possession or use or the sale of drugs, why they did it. And for a host, who’s never met somebody that was one time locked up, she just really has not a lot of real life credibility, at least with me and I understand that I am not everyone. Another example is the autistic episode, is it OK to ask someone with autism if they are sure? Who would ask that if anybody had questions about us being autistic and ask the person diagnosed with autism, the first question if there were any questions and I can’t stress that “if” enough, how were you diagnosed or when were you first diagnosed or is it difficult for you? I don’t know, I’ve turned to podcasts in the last two years because, there’s too much useless information that only seeks to inflame and not educate, out there in social media and YouTube. With podcasts being one “feed” that I can totally control, this just isn’t any kind of knowledge or of any interest. It’s nothing spectacular here, there’s nothing expert or even relatable. Maybe it’s a generational thing, I am 42 so who knows. Perhaps this is what younger people ask each other, but it’s just a no go for me.
Ignorant of their own prejudices

04/06/2023

Philadaphne

Elena and many other guests speak down to Harv. They think because he is “just” a Cis, straight, middle-aged Cis Man, that he’s is a total idiot. It’s really pathetic.
Bringing an interesting perspective to conversation

01/05/2022

couponer not happy

I like the concept and presentation of bringing awareness to other people’s experiences. I especially appreciate the guests who offer suggestions on how to ask the questions and bring awareness to judgmental questions verses inquiring/conversational questions.
I like

10/18/2021

Biffard Whackard

I actually like this podcast. I haven’t listened to every one. But went through and listened to a few. Think I’ll keep listening.

Have you ever been curious to know the answer to a question that might be intrusive or too personal for other people? On their biweekly podcast Inappropriate Questions, now in its third season, cohosts Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder Wadhwa make a space for curiosity where guests can unpack the tricky questions they get asked and learn stories about them—whether they ask if polyamorous people cope with jealousy in relationships, if Indigenous people are full Native, or brave the dreaded “have you lost weight” assumption. Created by Hudgins Lyle alongside producers Sabrina Bertsch and Cindy Long, the podcast was built out of a school project while they were studying Media Production in Toronto, Ontario. Bertsch, who’s mixed-race, had been asked a lot of questions about her background and ethnicity after studying abroad for a semester. Long and Lyle, both LGBT, would also get frequently asked about their identity and sexuality. Even if these frustrations served as a jumping-off point for them, they quickly realized that they could also learn about a variety of topics from others too—especially from their parents and older generations. So they auditioned a “dad-like” figure to be a counterpart as co-host. Wadhwa, a project manager with an engineering degree, was the unanimous choice. “Harv was the very first interview we did,” Lyle says. “After the interview, he was like, ‘All right, how many more of these do you have to go?’ You know I'm it, right? You can stop now.’” In each episode, guests share stories about being asked the week’s specific inappropriate question. Though, occasionally, they'll have an expert or academic who can break down more of the historical and social aspect of the question. Both Hudgins Lyle and Wadhwa bridge together their different generational perspectives to challenge themselves and their guests, having casual, yet meaningful conversations that are engaging, unpredictable, and humorous. “Though I've been in Canada for over 20 years, I consider myself an immigrant coming from India,” Wadhwa says. “So, what the show is also trying to do is also bring the balance. Because if everybody's thinking the same way, then we lose out a lot.” Even if they sometimes step into difficult territory, what they both hope to provide with each episode is a starting point for listeners to ease into these topics. “It could be that we've left you with some new ideas and perspectives from the guests who have this lived experience,” Lyle says. “You don't need to change and develop overnight, but hopefully, we've given you a starting place where you can then do your own research or reflection.”