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The Bipolar Feminist Podcast

The Bipolar Feminist Podcast

By Nikita Ramkissoon

Intersectional feminism, journalism, mental health, and leftism from a Master's graduate in Gender Studies, Nikita Ramkissoon. Raised in an anti-apartheid activist household, Nikita grew up with a love for human rights and good books. Being a survivor of childhood sexual assault, she developed bipolar disorder and wishes to debunk myths about mental illness and shed light on survivor issues through her writing. Some might call her a raging feminist ... and she is. Guided by bell hooks, Angela Davis, and other black feminists, Nikita wishes to uplift voices of women of colour in media spaces.
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Podcast: Mental health and brown communities

The Bipolar Feminist PodcastNov 27, 2022

00:00
19:42
Podcast: GBA Podcast interviews me on Palestine and some other stuff

Podcast: GBA Podcast interviews me on Palestine and some other stuff

Nez Reign from the GBA Podcast in Germany and I chat about Palestine, journalism, gender identity, and Abu Obeida. 

Mar 24, 202458:27
Genocide, its definition, and characteristics

Genocide, its definition, and characteristics

It was more than seventy years ago that United Nations member states approved the Genocide Convention born out of the desire to ensure that “never again” would any person face the horror of genocide. Since then, we have seen that the world is not free from the threat and reality of the “odious scourge” of genocide as laid out in the document. More than 20 genocides have taken place since the convention was signed and there are three that we know of happening currently - in Palestine, the Congo, and Sudan.

Mar 17, 202418:03
The New York Times and its credibility problem

The New York Times and its credibility problem

If the Times wanted to serve its readers and the world, especially in this volatile time, it would launch a transparent investigation into this botched article, the biggest failure of journalism at the newspaper since Judith Miller’s infamous and discredited articles on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in 2002 and 2003. Just as Miller regurgitated war propaganda on behalf of the Bush administration, the Times is now serving as a mouthpiece for Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet and Joe Biden as his lapdog. But there’s little chance the Times will come clean about this latest fiasco. 

Mar 11, 202414:32
Deconstructing Israel's claims of rape on 7 October

Deconstructing Israel's claims of rape on 7 October

I can safely say that while I believe women regardless - sometimes to my detriment - I do not believe the Israeli government, media, and military.

Mar 03, 202414:36
Analysis of the ICJ ruling against Israel

Analysis of the ICJ ruling against Israel

There are mixed feelings and has been much analysis on why it’s either a success or failure or both. Presiding Judge Joan Donoghue said the court was acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering and that some allegations against Israel fall within the provisions of the Genocide Convention and acknowledged that “Gaza has become a place of death and despair”.

Feb 06, 202437:23
An intersectional approach to Palestine

An intersectional approach to Palestine

Intersections of privilege and oppression play a large part in the current genocide of the Palestinian people and the rhetoric surrounding it.

Feb 04, 202416:10
Germany, the Holocaust, and Palestine

Germany, the Holocaust, and Palestine

In Germany’s eternal search for atonement, it has instead found further imperialism that does not atone for its genocidal past - it feeds into colonialist aims that are built on the eradication of a people that have wanted nothing but self-determination. 

Jan 28, 202416:42
Palestine and press freedom

Palestine and press freedom

The challenges faced by journalists in Palestine serve as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting this fundamental right worldwide. A free press is not only essential for the people in the region but also for fostering understanding and empathy on a global scale.

Jan 21, 202413:51
Interview with Gaza journalist Ahmad Ghanim

Interview with Gaza journalist Ahmad Ghanim

"My heart is cut into pieces." This is just one of the heartbreaking things Gazan journalist Ahmed Ghanim said to me as we spoke about the state of Gaza and his work as a journalist in the area, where journalists are being killed at an unprecedented rate.

Jan 14, 202439:55
Scapegoating the marginalised

Scapegoating the marginalised

The reason they look for a scapegoat is simple. Whiteness is fragile and indefinable - it is constantly shifting and evolving to current and sometimes future needs and white privilege evolves with it.

Jan 01, 202416:00
Interview with Roshan Dadoo of the BDS Coalition

Interview with Roshan Dadoo of the BDS Coalition

Roshan Dadoo explains the meaning of Boycott, divestment, and sanctions, as well as the political landscape of South Africa's relationship with Israel and Palestine.

Dec 24, 202301:01:06
Interview with Dr Khaled Qadomi from the Palestinian resistance

Interview with Dr Khaled Qadomi from the Palestinian resistance

I interviewed the physician and representative of the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, about the current situation in Gaza.

Dec 17, 202326:58
Interview with Busy Wizard Dice featuring Dumbledore and Dobby
Dec 10, 202357:51
Capitalism, colonialism, and multigenerational homes

Capitalism, colonialism, and multigenerational homes

Extended families come with great strengths. An extended family is one or more families in a supporting web. The prevalence of extended families living together meant that things that took a village to do meant families had a village to do it with. When colonisation takes hold of our communities, the multigenerational home and our ways of living have been and are destroyed for whiteness and Western ways of living.

Nov 27, 202320:55
Women in Palestine

Women in Palestine

In the occupied Palestinian territory, Palestinian women and girls endure systemic discrimination, human rights violations, and the harsh consequences of occupation, with specific gender-related repercussions. These challenges are exacerbated by occupation policies such as expanding settlements, eviction threats, house demolitions (especially in East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank), and the 15-year blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Nov 05, 202320:28
Queerness, communism, and the church with The Trans Narrative Podcast

Queerness, communism, and the church with The Trans Narrative Podcast

The Trans Narrative Podcast and The Bipolar Feminist speak to Ross Cheetham about the church, communism, and queerness. On a personal note, Ross is a friend whom I love dearly and is an integral part of this Patreon community and my life as a whole. He is, to this day, the longest-subscribing Patron of The Bipolar Feminist.

Oct 29, 202301:06:18
From the river to the sea

From the river to the sea

Israel is the symbolic bastion of colonial thought, sentiment, and action. A physical reminder to the global south that we are not safe from imperialism. An imperialist-colonialist project in its very essence, from its inception to its current execution.

Oct 22, 202326:16
Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder

Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder

It’s sometimes a feeling of suddenly becoming an observer of my own speech and actions. It’s sometimes hearing voices. In some cases, the voices accompany multiple streams of thought and it feels like everywhere is loud, no matter where I turn and I have no control over it.

Oct 15, 202320:15
Interview: Horror writer Vaughn A. Jackson

Interview: Horror writer Vaughn A. Jackson

I interviewed horror writer Vaughn A. Jackson, who is working on an anthology of short stories written entirely by marginalised people in the horror genre.

Sep 24, 202301:07:44
Hypersexuality and sexual trauma

Hypersexuality and sexual trauma

In the framework of a trauma response, hypersexuality often comes from internalising the sexual objectification thrust upon a person through sexual trauma. This commonly starts from a young age, moulding self-worth as they normalise this belief.

Sep 17, 202319:00
The fetishisation of Indian women

The fetishisation of Indian women

In the realm of fetish communities, some individuals specifically seek out partners from particular racial backgrounds, objectifying and dehumanising them in the process. This not only disregards the complexity of individual identities but also reduces them to mere caricatures.

Sep 10, 202320:29
Interview with Revolutionary Lumpen Radio

Interview with Revolutionary Lumpen Radio

Lumpens of the world unite with this interview by Shibby from Revolutionary Lumpen Radio talking about Marxism and Feminism. It's still strange being on the other side of the interview so enjoy my ranting.

Aug 20, 202354:22
The intersections of racism and fatphobia

The intersections of racism and fatphobia

Fatness has always been seen as a personal failing but there is most definitely a connection to capitalism and access to healthcare. It starts with acknowledging the existence of these biases and working towards understanding their impact on marginalised communities. Education and awareness play crucial roles in dismantling stereotypes and promoting inclusivity. 

Aug 13, 202341:29
Women in fantasy literature

Women in fantasy literature

Fantasy literature is a genre that has captivated readers for centuries, transporting us to imaginary worlds filled with magic, mythical creatures, and heroic quests and has recently begun to enter the mainstream. Within the realms of fantasy, the portrayal of women has evolved significantly over time, reflecting societal changes and challenging traditional gender roles. But the representation of women in fantasy literature and their roles as protagonists, warriors, leaders, and complex characters who defy stereotypes has been paltry at best.

Aug 06, 202316:30
Gender and race inequality in sports

Gender and race inequality in sports

Masculine hegemony is the acceptance that men have rights to authority, and therefore, it is only natural that men are overrepresented in positions of leadership. In the realm of sports, this principle justifies the current statistics on sports leadership.

Jun 11, 202319:54
Managing mental illness without treatment

Managing mental illness without treatment

The lack of access and affordability to mental health treatment make it difficult to manage, which is why we need universal basic healthcare, which is the only way to ensure everyone gets the help they need and not just the few who can afford it.

Apr 16, 202315:23
Interview: Black men's mental health activist Jayvon Thomas

Interview: Black men's mental health activist Jayvon Thomas

Jayvon, known on social media as Original Keith, is a student, educator, and activist whose focus is on the upliftment of the black community in the US. Studying psychology in order to help black men navigate the stigmatised world of mental health, Jayvon is aiming to see black liberation but knows that it may not be in his lifetime. We talk about black identity, books, and police killings of unarmed black Americans. Please support Jayvon by donating to his Cashapp on $JayvonT22.

Apr 02, 202343:01
An overview of privilege

An overview of privilege

The crux of the issue when discussing privilege and how many misunderstand the term is that having privilege does not mean that an individual is immune to life’s hardships, but it does mean having an unearned benefit or advantage one receives in society by nature of their identity.

Mar 19, 202314:49
Interview with Scots poet Len Pennie

Interview with Scots poet Len Pennie

I have a great chat more than an interview with Len Pennie, a Scottish poet and Scots language and mental health advocate, who is also a dear friend and fellow feminist writer.

Mar 12, 202348:14
Whiteness in interracial relationships

Whiteness in interracial relationships

In relationships with white people, we have structures of internalised superiority and internalised inferiority that have resulted in white people overestimating their human value or are unencumbered by race, and people of colour underestimating their worth based on race.

Mar 05, 202320:21
Living with autism

Living with autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD.

Feb 26, 202318:10
Being brown and the beauty industry

Being brown and the beauty industry

Beauty has everything to do with how the world sees us and everything to do with how we choose to show ourselves to the world. In the world’s insistence that we, as brown-skinned people with brown histories, aspire to be as white as possible, any sort of celebration and marking of brownness as good is undesirable for whiteness to flourish.

Feb 12, 202318:04
Say their names

Say their names

Black people killed by police from 1870 to 2023. None of them had been charged with a crime.

Artwork of Aiyana Stanley Jones by Adrian Brandon from his "Stolen" series, dedicated to the many Black people that were robbed of their lives at the hands of the police. I use time as a medium to define how long each portrait is coloured in. One year of life meant one minute of colour.

Feb 05, 202325:23
The Male Gaze and its effects

The Male Gaze and its effects

The male gaze encompasses sexual objectification, which is the way in which the female body is viewed as an object only deemed purposeful for male sexual interaction and gratification. What happens through this sexual objectification is that men objectify woman’s bodies.

Jan 29, 202315:30
Disability, brownness, and feminism

Disability, brownness, and feminism

The disabled people's movement - while many and sometimes the majority of its activists are women - is still informed by political and theoretical debates which strangely sideline brown women's experiences and issues. In this regard, none of the movements are truly intersectional.

Jan 22, 202316:34
Feminism and the Global South

Feminism and the Global South

While I do agree that solidarity is essential, and that listening to other contexts matters, I challenge the idea of passive solidarity with western feminism as the way to go about ensuring freedom for all women the world over. The global South" is not a homogenous space.

Jan 15, 202317:26
The power of the feminist manifesto

The power of the feminist manifesto

The ultimate goal of the feminist manifesto is to direct our energies to the wide range of targets for our oppression, to shamelessly operate as both individuals and a collective body, to welcome into the fold new and forgotten voices of feminist resistance, and to express righteous anger loudly and forcefully, even with the weight of the world on our shoulders.

Jan 08, 202315:12
Mythbusting intersectional feminism

Mythbusting intersectional feminism

There are many myths about feminism that pervade the truth about the movement. In order to debunk these myths we need to understand what feminism actually is before we show what it isn’t. Feminism is the belief in social, political and economic equality of all people regardless of sex, sexuality or gender identity.

Dec 11, 202213:38
A feminist analysis of domestic violence

A feminist analysis of domestic violence

Although domestic violence has been defined in a variety of different ways, and there is no “perfect definition,” it can be defined as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.

Dec 04, 202222:39
Podcast: Mental health and brown communities

Podcast: Mental health and brown communities

Mental health issues are an increasing problem in communities of colour. This is not surprising, given the unique challenges we face as the global majority that do not have the same access to resources, education, and jobs as our white counterparts.

Nov 27, 202219:42
Pornography through a feminist lens

Pornography through a feminist lens

Pro-porn feminists first asserted that sex work is no different from other kinds of work during the fight against the MacKinnon-Dworkin ordinance, an argument that is especially important because it then follows that the porn set, like any other workplace, should be safe, regulated, and free from discrimination.

Nov 20, 202216:11
How rape culture distorts the reality of sexual violence

How rape culture distorts the reality of sexual violence

Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorisation or blatant disregard of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.

Nov 13, 202223:35
Stereotypes and tokenism

Stereotypes and tokenism

Stereotyping is just one of the things that impact people in ways that homogenises large groups of people and it can lead to what is called tokenism.

Oct 30, 202222:39
Whiteness Part II

Whiteness Part II

The second episode in a two-part series that looks at a brief rundown on the history and meaning of whiteness.

Oct 23, 202210:01
Whiteness Part I

Whiteness Part I

The first episode in a two-part series that looks at a brief rundown on the history and meaning of whiteness.

Oct 16, 202216:10
All about ADHD

All about ADHD

Despite how common ADHD is, doctors and researchers still aren’t sure what causes the condition. It’s believed to have neurological origins. Genetics may also play a role. Research suggests that a reduction in dopamine is a factor in ADHD.

Oct 09, 202215:04
TERFs are neither radical nor feminist

TERFs are neither radical nor feminist

It is not sex that determines one’s experiences with oppression, but gender identity’s relationship with that sex. Cisgender women are undeniably oppressed in comparison to cisgender men, and their oppression is not dismissed when compared to their transgender sisters.

Oct 02, 202217:01
Celebrity misogyny and its support harms survivors

Celebrity misogyny and its support harms survivors

Famous perpetrators will set themselves up as pillars of society to hold themselves above reproach. People might go out of their way to establish themselves as charitable or compassionate ... so that when an allegation does come up, that’s their first line of defence.

Sep 25, 202215:03
The nuances of the female orgasm

The nuances of the female orgasm

Women are blessed with bodies that are capable of experiencing orgasm in more ways than one. Some researchers believe that there are as many as 12 types of female orgasms.

Sep 18, 202218:07
Womanism and how it differs from feminism

Womanism and how it differs from feminism

It is well known that black women have a higher likelihood of experiencing violence, receiving lower pay, and seeing fewer media and political representations of women who look like them. Because the mainstream feminist movement does not begin to cover this one-two punch of racism and sexism, a paralleling womanist movement was formed to acknowledge black women’s specific struggle for equality.

Sep 11, 202213:33