This Stays Between Us

S2 Ep 2: Pick up the pen, babe! For the girls who love to write

Is there a novel that you've been wanting to write? A poetry collection hiding at the back of your OneDrive? A protest speech that you just don't think is good enough but rehearse when no-one's watching you? 
 
In Episode 2 of Season 2: Go Global, we dive into a deep conversation with Ayman Sabir, who will make you rethink your decision to hide your writer-self away. Because if you don't write, how will you express yourself? How will you communicate your feelings to the world and connect on a global level? 
 
Ayman Sabir is not only a writer, but also is a poet and the founder of her very own literary magazine, called Samajh My Gal, centred on uplifting South Asian voices for Gen Z and providing us with a literary space to be loud and creative. 
 
So what are you waiting for? Pick up the pen, babe!
 
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

S2 Ep 1: All Eyes on Sudan - The Crisis The World Has Ignored

Content warning: this episode mentions abuse, violence, torture and sexual assault in the context of the experiences of Sudanese people during the war. 
 
Welcome to episode 1 of a new chapter in my podcast: 'This Stays Between Us'. This series is called Go Global. Today we will be learning about Sudan and bearing witness to the pain, the suffering and the resilience that blooms in Sudan despite the ongoing violence that erupted since April 15th, 2023. I will talk about what is currently happening in Sudan, the impact of historical colonialism, and I will also go into detail about four fascinating and brave women with stories that you need to listen to: 
 
1) Fatima  - a mother who had to be separated from her children due to not having a foreign passport
2) Kawther - a mother who underwent a dangerous journey to protect her thirteen-year old son from the RSF army 
3) Imaan - an amputee with such strong imaan, that despite the horrors she has faced, she still continues to cares for others
4) Lubna's story - a Sudanese university student, just like you and me- but wait till you hear how she transformed her pain into purpose and created a kindergarten for the children who were unable to go to school.
 
To end, I will share with you how, this 2026, I'm also taking the Falkirk Abseiling Challenge to raise money for Sudan through Islamic Relief. The fundraiser link can be found in my instagram bio at @this_st4ys_between_us. 
 
If you are able to, please donate. 
If not, please support this episode by following, leaving a review and sharing the knowledge with your friends and family.
As always, keep Sudan in your prayers and alive in your conversations. 
 
Salaam, your host, Z.K.
 
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

S1 Ep 8: What Do I Know About Love, Part Two

To wrap up 2025, I will tell you a winter love story featuring two people. 
The girl who held a date between her fingers, and the boy who stared at her in wonder.
The girl who choked on her Arabic, and the boy who picked up each word. 
The girl who couldn't make eye contact, and the boy whose eyes seemed to swallow her every move.
 
The minutes pass, and a year does too. 
He has forgotten this moment. 
But she remembers everything through and through.
 
That's right. This is 'what do I know about love, part two.'
 
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

S1 Ep 7: What Do I Know About Love?

My generation thinks that love is a YA novel. That love is Draco and Hermione making eyes at each other. That love is the chocolate boxes, the bouquet of roses, and the candle lit dinners. And yes, maybe all of those contain an element of love. But what about the love that our parents have for us?
Why don't we ever consider that in our grand definition of love?
In the seventh episode of 'This Stays Between Us', I take you on a trip back to Year 13, but this story is not about me. Rather, it is about the woman who held my hand the entire time - my mother. Or as I call her, Mamuni. 
This is a story of a mother who sacrificed her dreams, and a daughter who promised to carry them. But what happens when the dream falls apart? Will they still love each other then? 
Sit tight, this one is for all the eldest daughters. The people-pleaser kids. And the mums who need to hear how much we love you. Because we do. We know nothing except the kindness that flows from you like a river. 
To the Ammus, Mamas, Ummis, Muttis and Mamans in the world, 
This one's for you.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

S1 Ep 6: Tea and Paper Cranes, Part 1

Being the only brown girl and hijabi at school was never going to be easy - except it became one of my biggest battles in my self-worth journey. From being bullied over my skin colour to finally seeing my worth, this has been a tough ride through which I hope to share some key learnings that helped me along the way. Get ready my friend, episode 6 is going to be a deep one.
 
Things you will need: a quiet space, a notebook, a pen, maybe some bubble tea :)
 
Things we will let go of together: worrying about what people think, negative self-talk and limiting beliefs.
 
Throughout this piece, I have inserted quiet moments where you can use the journaling prompts to reflect on your own childhood experiences and how they have shaped you as an adult. What I hope to give you is an opportunity to make a promise to yourself and have an appreciation of how far you've come.
 
Trigger warning: I go into depth about the emotional impact of experiencing racism and Islamophobia at a young age. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, then perhaps this is not the episode for you. 
 
Resource round-up: 
1) Islamophobia Awareness Month - https://www.islamophobia-awareness.org/resources/
2) Young Minds - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/islamophobia-and-mental-health/
3) Show Racism the Red Card - https://www.theredcard.org/
4) Stop Hate UK - https://www.stophateuk.org/
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

S1 Ep 5: 15 Qs to get to know your podcaster a bit better

As a thank you to everyone for all the support you've given me with my podcasting journey, I wanted to give you a bonus episode which is called: 15 Qs to get to know your podcaster a bit better (that is one mouthful of a title AHAH)!
In this episode, I asked Chat GPT to come up with 15 questions and my, it came up with some deeply philosophical ones! From exploring my relationship with books to how I've learned to accept myself as a soft-spoken woman with stories to tell, this is definitely one to sink your teeth into and perhaps, in the process, you may learn things about yourself too.
Bismillah <3.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

S1 Ep 4: When I Wear Kohl I Think Of You

In Episode 4 of my podcast, I will be exploring the break-up that no-one really talks about - the death of a friendship. I know! We should talk about this more! But don't worry, your big sister on the internet is here to talk about this huge topic and (hopefully!) make it easier to come to terms with.
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that some friendships are like a second skin, a shadow that haunts you even when they end.  You’ll notice the remnants of that other person in the way you see yourself, the way you laugh, the way you find yourself walking to uni, and even in something small like the way you like to wear your kohl. But what do these lingering memories mean and what do you do with them?
In this episode, I will explore the ache of a friendship that felt like home and the quiet heartbreak of letting them go. When I Wear Kohl, I Think of You is a reflection on loss, love, and the tender art of making peace with what won’t ever be the same again. So grab your matcha, your chai latte and your notebook - let’s dive in!
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

S1 Ep 3: A Bengali Woman Does Not Shrink

“A Bengali woman does not shrink.
She burns. She blooms. She becomes.”
In the third episode of ‘This Stays Between Us’, I challenge the negative expectations placed on a Bengali woman and teach you that she does not have to shrink to please others. 
For the girl who had to walk on eggshells around the elders. 
For the girl who was made to feel less than her brothers. 
For the girl who was undermined by her mother and consequently by others around her. 
For the girl who is afraid of love, because she was taught that unless she fits the narrow standard of Bengali beauty, she won’t be loved. 
Down with the cultural trauma. 
Down with it all.
Let’s begin this revolution with bismillah.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

S1 Ep 2: The Tea on Tawakkul

In the second episode of ‘This Stays Between Us’, I will take you back to my first year of uni. I studied engineering for the first time and hit a wall.
I bunked lectures. I failed modules. I wanted to walk away. On top of that, I wanted to be a writer, and thought, what am I doing in this degree that glorifies equations and fluid flowing through a pipe? 
But then I prayed istikhara. 
What happened next? 
The sign I received was not instant; it was a journey that unfolded quietly. In this episode, I share how tawakkul - trusting Allah’s plan even in uncertainty - guided me through my degree, kept me rooted, and eventually led me to exactly where I needed to be.  
So buckle up, and get ready with your notebook, and bring a friend too! This one's going to be an imaan-booster! 
As always, bismillah.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

S1 Ep 1: Let Their Words Be Air

In the first episode of 'This Stays Between Us', I take you back to a moment where someone once said something that almost made me give up on my dreams. A boy who made me question my worth. But this episode isn't really about him. It's about the journey I took to silence his criticism and trust the voice inside me that said: 'I can do it'. In this episode, I'll be drawing on stories from my sixth form days, which feature:
Hot, burning brownies that taste like sand
A monumental, ground-breaking English literature exam
A (chaotic) lunchtime debate club
And a high dosage of 'this girl can'!
So buckle up, and get ready with your notebook, your pillow, and your blanket. This one's a cosy one, perfect to hold a cup of chai and plug your headphones in.
As always, bismillah.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.