Offbeat Perspectives Podcast

Sex positivity? What are you talking about? 

Hands up: How many of us actually went through the birds-and-bees talk with our parents? How many of us really learnt about sex through porn? 

OP sits with Dr. Martha Lee, the first sexologist with a doctorate in human sexuality in Singapore, to discuss her experience as a sex-positive advocate in Singapore, her perspectives on the sex-ed curriculum [1], and female pleasure among the nuts and bolts of "getting there." 

[1] https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/lets-talk-about-safe-sex-sex-education-should-go-beyond-preaching-abstinence-say-students 

Dr. Lee’s webpage: https://www.eroscoaching.com/profile/ 

Music Credits: Lee Rosevere - Where Was It? 

Podcast transcript/timestamp: https://offbeatperspectives.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/op-podcast-ep2-simi-what-is-sex-positivity/

Many find comfort, solace and security in their faith, more so when it's something that they've grown up with most of their lives.  

Also when it comes to organised religions, the believer is situated among people who shares similar beliefs and rituals which breeds familiarity. To leave or switch faith is equivalent to leaving behind this community. 

Hence, leaving one’s faith can become a traumatic decision. In some cases, ex-believers experience moral condemnation and risk cutting off ties with their families when they openly declare their decision to do so [1][2][3][4].  

Why do they still do it despite the cost of doing so? How did they (try) to break the news to their closest ones? How do they then cope with the consequences that follow? OP speaks to two ex-Muslims from Singapore, Mary and Faizi, about their individual experiences leaving Islam.   

[1] https://www.ricemedia.co/6-years-ago-he-left-islam-for-the-streets/ 

[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40704990 

[3] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-phenomenon-of-the-ame_n_817158 

[4] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-women-religion/no-regrets-says-indian-woman-ostracized-for-defying-hindu-temple-ban-idUSKCN1PO1U1 

Video Soundclip Credits: 

Youtube - Ex-Muslims share their experiences | The Economist  

Music Credits: 

Lee Rosevere - As I Was Saying Lee Rosevere - I'm Going for a Coffee Lee Rosevere - Here's the Thing Lee Rosevere - 

Introducing the Pre-roll Podcast transcript/timestamp: 

https://offbeatperspectives.wordpress.com/2019/06/16/op-podcast-ep2-speaking-out-on-leaving-islam-ex-muslims-in-singapore/

Why is a Malay a Muslim in Singapore? How did institutions like AMLA and MUIS which govern specifically Muslim issues come about in a secular state like ours? Why is apostasy regarded a crime in some Muslim countries? 

OP sits down with Mohamed Imran, interfaith activist and researcher from Singapore's Centre for Interfaith for Understanding (CIFU), to discuss the origins of the Muslim Law in nation-states; the impact of British colonial history on our current institutional arrangements; and why apostasy is still regarded a “hush-hush” issue in the Malay-Muslim community despite the secular and multicultural nature of Singapore society. 

Ep Artwork Credits: 

Srivatsa Shanmugam 

Music Credits: 

Lee Rosevere - As I Was Saying Lee Rosevere - And So Then Lee Rosevere - Quizitive Lee Rosevere 

- Introducing the Pre-roll Podcast transcript/timestamp: 

https://offbeatperspectives.wordpress.com/2019/03/10/op-podcast-ep-1-how-to-reconcile-muslim-law-in-a-secular-multicultural-nation-state/