The Two Chickpeas are back! They are joined by FitnesswithKeisha who is a fitness trainer that specialises in helping women with PCOS. We have recorded this episode as 1 in 5 women are diagnosed with PCOS and Nikkita has been diagnosed with this condition for the last 10 years. There is so much misinformation about the condition that we had to clear up! PCOS is often referred to as 'lazy girl syndrome' but we are here to discuss how it is far from that! PCOS can affect you on a daily basis in regard to your mental health, mood swings, weight gain, hair loss - the symptoms are an endless daily battle and we are here to raise awareness on the matter in PCOS Awareness month!  @fitnesswithkeisha if you would like to enquire further into her services :)  @twochickpeasinapodcast if you don't already follow us on Facebook and Instagram!  Artwork by @auntydoodles

Two Chickpeas In A Podcast

PCOS Awareness

Disclaimer: There may be spoilers!  The Two Chickpeas were honoured to be invited to Picturehouse London to review Space Jam, A New Legacy! It was amazing to see how the film has adapted to current trends, technology and culture. The film was so nostalgic for anyone who has seen the original film but is a great family hit for audiences who haven't seen the original Space Jam! The Two Chickpeas discuss their love for the film, the giggles they had throughout and how they feel Zendya, who voices Lola Bunny, could have been utilised more in this film.  Space Jam, A New Legacy is out in cinemas now and we think it is worth the trip!  A massive thank you to Warner Brothers UK, Media House London and Ritika Sharma. 

Reviews: Space Jam, A New Legacy

On Two Chickpeas, Mental Health Matters so we continue with Poonam. We look at the histories of where our parents and our grandparents have been, the stresses and traumas in life they may have faced and how this can be passed genetically especially if these haven't been dealt with and how we can break the cycle of generational trauma to manage our well-being.  You can find us on Instagram: @TwoChickpeasinaPodcast Poonam: Mental_WealthMatters 

Generational Trauma

PositiviTEA with Kareem Jarche. The Two Chickpeas sit down with lifelong friend @kareemjarchemakeup to get the real TEA on trying to maintain a positive mindset when struggling with mental health and maintaining this in a healthy and positive way.   The Chickpeas discuss how your friends can sometimes know you better than you know yourself, how this has played into our own mental health struggles and how Kareem in particular chooses to look at the glass half full no matter what life chucks his way. Kareem has overcome incredible hardship and loss and has developed his own coping mechanisms to approaching his mental health and shares how to get back on track if we lose our way.

PositiviTEA

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and The Two Chickpeas discuss their own mental health and what it means to learn about dealing with their own emotions, feelings and traumas. In this episode, they're joined by Aaron, a close friend who shares his experience of Depression; how he knew he was depressed, how he dealt with it and ultimately how he is now. The episode explores recognising physical and mental symptoms and how we can help each other when battling with mental health.

Recognising Your Own Mental Health

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and The Two Chickpeas discuss their own mental health and what it means to learn about dealing with their own emotions, feelings and traumas. In this episode, they're joined by Aaron, a close friend who shares his experience of Depression; how he knew he was depressed, how he dealt with it and ultimately how he is now. The episode explores recognising physical and mental symptoms and how we can help each other when battling with mental health.  

The Two Chickpeas have launched their first-ever review episode (lookout for more to come reviewing the latest film, tv and music!) and were kindly invited by Warner Brothers to the home premier of Tom & Jerry The Movie, which is now available to rent at home from 25th March. The Two Chickpeas discuss their love for the film, how nostalgic the movie is and how brilliantly it pays homage to the original episodes and how amazingly diverse the cast is! 

Two Chickpeas Reviews: Tom and Jerry The Movie

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ This episode explores themes of mental and physical domestic abuse in a same-sex relationship. Please see the below organisations for help if this episode affects you. Part Two of Hakeem’s story explores what he went through to finally leave the toxic and abusive relationship he was in and he reflects on this time in his life and how he is starting life again from his 8-year abusive relationship. If this story has affected you or you have experienced similar experiences and want to seek help please see the below organisations and links. Galop - http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/ KSS Informative Support - https://www.ksscrc.co.uk/2020/04/30/research-domestic-abuse-in-lgbt-communities/ Switchboard - https://switchboard.lgbt/ Victim Support - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/live-chat?gclid=CjwKCAiAhbeCBhBcEiwAkv2cY404WoSnuGWWtb5xXJmT8toMGLy5vChQLXEF0gSWiaZjO7Nj3gezbRoCPjUQAvD_BwE

Hakeem, Part Two

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ - this episode explores domestic abuse in a same-sex relationship.  Part one of Hakeem's story explores how he entered an abusive relationship from a young age and how his inexperience and fear of coming out made it hard for him to recognise that he was being abused, and even harder to leave the relationship.  If this story has affected you or you have experienced similar experiences and want to seek help please see the below organisations and links.  Galop - http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/  KSS Informative Support - https://www.ksscrc.co.uk/2020/04/30/research-domestic-abuse-in-lgbt-communities/  Switchboard - https://switchboard.lgbt/  Victim Support - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/live-chat?gclid=CjwKCAiAhbeCBhBcEiwAkv2cY404WoSnuGWWtb5xXJmT8toMGLy5vChQLXEF0gSWiaZjO7Nj3gezbRoCPjUQAvD_BwE 

Hakeem, Part One

Out and proud; we speak to Raheem who is completely proud to be who he is and will never apologise for doing so. It can be hard to own yourself with complete confidence and Raheem talks to us about how he does this, being an androgynous person and the importance of loving yourself.  We also explore the ridiculousness of even having to come out as heterosexual people are not asked to and we want this to change in the future moving forward. 

Raheem

The Twochickpeas sit down with Guntaj, one of the running members of the @QueerPunjab page on Instagram. Guntaj explains his childhood of growing up in Mohali, Punjab. To the Chickpeas, this was interesting because of the lack of acceptance in India as a whole and knew it could not have been as easy as being open and proud from the beginning. He describes how he remembered something was 'wrong' with him and felt suffocated in feeling 'not normal' as a young person. Now, he lives in Vancouver and is comfortable with his sexuality but still understands the struggle of others silently battling their feelings because of the stigma in India and as a Punjabi. Queer Punjab is a page where people can go to express their feelings, to talk about their stories and feel heard. Guntaj tells his story of growing to become comfortable in his skin. Follow Queer Punjab on Instagram: @QueerPunjab

Queer Punjab

As the Two Chickpeas continue with another episode of South Asians from the LGBTQ+ History month they sit down with an old school friend. When Mia left school, she entered her new world of university life and there she finally was able to admit to herself, she was gay. Mia has been through the ups and downs going through school life, trying to date boys, understanding what kissing a girl meant to her, and later faced traumatic events in her life. Being a South Asian woman, Mia faced the sad reality that her parents were not accepting of her sexuality when she first told them. This led Mia and the Chickpeas to peel back layers and understand her life from a young age and to look at how far she has come now. 

The Two Chickpeas are back with Season 2! We have grown leaps and bounds through our first season and are so grateful for all the guests that have joined us, chatted with us and taught us through their stories and experiences. It is currently LGBT History Month and whilst we feel we have some general understanding of the topic and are allied with this community, we have realised we haven’t even scratched the surface and have created a series of episodes based on LGBT experiences in the South Asian Community. We start with Mario who talks to us about his experience of growing up in a small town and being outed by force from people he went to school with, moving to London and letting his wings spread and basque in his freedom to them returning home to Leicester because of the coronavirus pandemic and finding himself in the closet once more as his family don’t know that he is gay.

Mario

The Two Chickpeas are joined by founder of the Desi Brotherhood, Ram Lamba. This episode explores their experiences of growing up in the UK, rejecting their culture and finding a new understanding with their culture and heritage that works for them now. Other themes in the episode explore generational trauma, developing new relationships with your parents as adults and our experiences at school in the UK.  Outro for this week's episode is Laila by Mad Star Base

Growing Up Coconut

The Two Chickpeas are in conversation with Srini, Andrew and Riya from the National Hindu Society at Kingston University to discuss a very different Diwali this year due to the Covid-19 Winter Lockdown and how they plan to celebrate knowing they can't be with friends and family. The Two Chickpeas also explore how Diwali is celebrated in India and the Middle East and what their lives might be like if they were to live in India.  Happy Diwali to everyone and we hope you are still able to celebrate with close friends and family - perhaps virtually! Let your Diwali be filled with samosas, lassis and light! 

Diwali Lockdown

Two sisters from West London explore their heritage and identity as they question the different issues that affect that arise from being third-generation Asian. Guests often join the Two Chickpeas to help them on their journey to understanding who they are as British Asians.