Every year, we find ourselves having the same conversation about smog. Even though we know that Lahore's smog isn't limited to October through January, its visible haze is enough to jolt us, physically and emotionally. Deteriorating health, shrinking social life, and a growing sense of uncertainty make us question the future of our city. This year, I spoke with citizens of Lahore to understand how smog is reshaping their lives, what they've experienced, what they've observed, and what, if anything, has changed. Some are battling serious health conditions; others are documenting the crisis through research and advocacy. But one emotion connects them all: hopelessness. You can find me here: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/pk/podcast/dear-body/id1642998095 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearbodypodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearbodypod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saroshibrahim/ Substack: Dear Body [https://saroshibrahim.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips]

This episode of Dear Body explores the physical and emotional transformations women experience during perimenopause and menopause, phases that are rarely talked about but deeply affect how a woman feels, thinks, and connects with her world. We talk about the exhaustion that doesn't go away with sleep, the hot flashes, the headaches, the brain fog, and the growing irritation that no one seems to understand. But most of all, we talk about what it means to go through all of this alone, in a culture that celebrates a woman's youth but silences her body as she ages. This isn't just biology, it's identity, emotional labour, and survival. Let's break the silence around menopause, hormones, and women's health in Pakistan and beyond. Because understanding these changes means understanding the women who raised us, nurtured us, and continue to hold everything together even when their own bodies are falling apart. You can find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saroshibrahim/ #DearBodyPodcast #WomensHealth #Perimenopause #MenopauseAwareness #SouthAsianWomen #HormonalHealth #BodyAcceptance #EmotionalHealth #PodcastPakistan

In today's episode, I open up about a world beyond social media, the 9 to 5 world. The world where being a Pakistani working woman means living by a different set of rules.  We talk about body image, feminism, workplace bias, mental health, and the weight of expectations women carry in professional spaces.    Through real stories, this episode explores the unseen struggles of women navigating careers within patriarchal systems, from labels and rumors to the quiet ways our workplaces fail to support us.   Tune in if you've ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated at work.

In this episode of Dear Body, host Sarosh Ibrahim takes listeners into one of the most urgent and silenced issues in Pakistan: suicide among women. September marks Suicide Prevention Month, but here, conversations about suicide are often hidden behind whispers of shame and honour. Through real stories from Southern Punjab, Rawalpindi, and Chitral, and with insights from studies by Farooq Ahmed, Neha Jain, and Hussain et al., Sarosh explores how patriarchy, forced marriages, domestic violence, and family honour shape women's lives, and sometimes, their deaths. This is not easy listening, but it is necessary because silence can be deadly. You can find me on Instagram @saroshibrahim. 

What happens when more than half the women in a country are living with a condition no one talks about? In this episode of Dear Body, we're diving into the world of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), what it is, how it affects women's bodies and minds, and why silence around it can be just as harmful as the symptoms themselves. I'll share stories of young women navigating shame, stigma, and confusion, while also highlighting the groundbreaking work of initiatives like PCOS Helps, who are reframing PCOS as not just a health issue, but a human rights issue. This isn't just about medical facts, it's about empathy, awareness, and breaking cultural silences. Whether you're living with PCOS or want to better understand the women around you, this episode is a must-listen. Follow the journey and join the conversation with me on Instagram: @saroshibrahim [https://www.instagram.com/saroshibrahim]

This week on Dear Body, I step into a story that is both urgent and deeply personal to me: the gendered impact of floods in Pakistan. When we talk about climate disasters, we usually hear numbers: homes destroyed, acres submerged, lives lost. But behind every statistic is a body, often a woman's body, carrying the heaviest burden. That's why I collected and wove together these stories. I felt the need to highlight them because these stories show that floods are not "gender-neutral." They reshape women's health, dignity, futures, and they demand a response that sees women not just as victims but as leaders of resilience.  These are not my stories, but I carry them forward because they deserve more ears, more eyes, more urgency. Please support the organisations named here: Mahwari Justice, Mama Baby Fund, Sujag Sansar, HER Pakistan, whose work restores dignity where disaster strips it away.

In this episode of Dear Body, let's unpacks a troubling pattern in Pakistani television: the endless cycle of baby-faced, fair-skinned female leads in their early 20s paired with male actors twice their age. From the diverse casting of the 2000s to today's obsession with youth and "innocent" features, we explore how beauty standards, popularity politics, and colonial-era ideals continue to shape the stories we tell, and the women we put at the centre of them. Why are older male leads allowed to age on screen, while women are replaced by younger faces every few years? And what does this say to the next generation of girls watching at home? Tune in for a critical conversation on representation, ageism, and the future of inclusivity in our media.

What kills women in Pakistan isn't always a weapon. Sometimes, it's the silence that surrounds them. In this deeply personal and reflective episode, Sarosh speaks about the harrowing realities of femicide and honour killings in Pakistan — where women are murdered for speaking up, for dreaming, for choosing. Through the stories of Humaira Asghar, Qandeel Baloch, Noor Mukadam, and countless unnamed victims, this episode explores the systemic violence that justifies a woman's death in the name of honour. It questions why society remains silent until after a woman's body is found — and why her life was never considered sacred to begin with. From legal loopholes to social apathy, this episode of Dear Body asks: What is the cost of a woman's freedom in this country? And who decides which dreams are worth dying for?

In this episode of Dear Body, host Sarosh returns after a 2.5-year hiatus to critically examine how toxic relationships are romanticised in Pakistani television, particularly in the drama Mann Mast Malang. Through a character analysis of Kabir and Riya, Sarosh explores how media normalises control, silences women, and embeds dangerous expectations into cultural understandings of love and marriage. This episode delves into the psychological and societal dimensions of these portrayals: childhood trauma, coercion masked as love, the invisibilisation of women's voices, and the deep-rooted pressures surrounding fertility and gender roles in marriage. Dear Body is a podcast about the lived experience of Pakistani women — their bodies, their stories, and the systems that seek to shape them. Each episode invites listeners to reflect, question, and reimagine what it means to reclaim agency in a society that often denies it.

In today's episode, we have a bit of a complicated situation with Taylor Swift's new music video that came out recently titled "Anti-Hero." Here, she reflects upon her experiences being in the limelight. However, some fans and viewers took to Twitter to address their take on one of the clips from the music video. Before we dive into it together, do not forget to follow me for weekly episodes on our bodies because this is your safe space. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

In today's episode, we will together explore a major stigma in various cultures and spaces i.e. Periods. I am going to start off with how this physiological process of bleeding continuously for 6-7 days was labeled a luxury. How much does the Pakistani awam know about menstruation, and how well-aware are Pakistani women about Menstrual Hygiene Management? There are so many projects and campaigns in Pakistan fighting to remove the stigma of menstruation so young girls cannot be stopped from sitting in classrooms during their period. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

In today's episode, we are going to be looking at the ongoing human rights violation in Afghanistan ever since the Taliban took over in 2021. Women are being deprived of their basic right to receive education or continue working in a professional space. It is very important that we look into how the Afghan women after fighting for basic human rights in a country ruled by those who limit their opportunity to economically stabilize the country. Their mobility is being measured by the Taliban who are deciding for the Afghan women increasing gender inequality in the process. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

In this episode, we are going to talk about the unfortunate series of events that recently occurred in Iran coupled with what veiling really stands for Muslim women vs what has been portrayed by Western media. Let's dive right into it. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

Do you believe the entertainment industry decides the culture of a particular society? Do drama serials reflect the society or does the society internalize what is being shown to them on screen? Can we as viewers change the way we look at stars, basing our views on how they react rather than how they appear visually? Does cinematic performance require male and female actors to look a certain way? Is the drama industry showing irresponsible behavior towards body inclusivity? I leave these questions with you to self-reflect or share it with a friend. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

At The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu utilized her rising popularity to talk about menstrual equity. Her mother being a gynecologist imparted this knowledge to her daughter about how women's health is so important. They also proceeded to talk about how she was bullied online for gaining weight after the competition. This raises a number of questions. Does the competition equalize a woman's body weight with her beauty? Is there a stereotypical bodily appearance attached to the contestants? Is the competition focusing on impacting lives globally through the steps the contestants take? Or did the competition in fact emerge to objectify women? If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

Janice Tessa is a Pakistani actor who bagged the role of Zoya in the drama serial HABS. She highlighting how growing up she was made to believe that only fair women could appear or were allowed a chance to be on screen. Moreover, she talked about her struggles as a Pakistani woman on the screen and the difficulties she faced post habs recognition. Instead of people critiquing upon her dialogue delivery, her facial expressions or other rightful ways of analyzing an actor, they scrutinized her for her skin color. Deeming her kaali being dark, they were ultimately making her feel restricted in her role as an artist. For a Pakistani woman, it all came down to the color of her skin. Now what is this obsession we have as Pakistanis on someone's skin color? Why do we only associate words like beautiful or pretty for women that are fair? Are the Mahira or Ayeza Khan's the only ones acceptable on screen due to the color of their skin? If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Follow me on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

Recently, Meera jee, a well known Pakistani artist graced the Times Square with her dance performance with the aim of raising money for flood victims within Pakistan. I couldn't help but notice some of the comments about her left behind under her Instagram post. One of them from a girl being "Mujre karke unko haraam khilao ajeeb jahil" & another one saying "naach ga kay paisaa akhty karne waali haraam ki kamayi". One can't help but notice the usage of two words in the comments section. Both tawaif, and the word mujraa. Let's go back in time to how the terms tawaif & mujra evolved in the pre & post-colonial period. Because they will open our eyes to how we were made to ostracize an entire art form simply because our invaders, our colonizers deemed it as a tactic to control our lands, our minds, our values, everything. They decided for us. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim

Exactly 5 years ago, I decided to lose weight. There is this girl who loves parathas, wants to snack on something every time she watches a comedy movie with Akshay Kumar in it, and just wants to wear whatever she finds pretty, mostly floral in my teenage years. But she wakes up one morning and is ready to lose weight. But I was not ready to spend money on buying myself separate meals or getting a gym membership. I was ready to put those free YouTube exercise videos to use. If you have any thoughts on this topic or any other issue, or just want to get in touch with me about the show, email me at ibrahim.sarosh@gmail.com. • Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RZkdon • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://apple.co/3RXPvfs • Follow me on IG: @saroshibrahim • Follow me on Twitter: @saroshibrahim