If I Speak

Novara Media

Ash Sarkar and Moya Lothian-McLean sort the personal from the political, tackle listener dilemmas and air their opinions on the frustrations of modern life.

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127 episodes
Updated July 28
Explicit

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Episodes127

Newest first

Dec 31, 2024 · 1 hr 7 min
45: Surviving end-of-year burnout
What has 2024 taught us? Ash and Moya reflect on a year of discomfort and grief, from personal challenges to political setbacks. Plus: what classic dance track does Ash have stuck in her head? Email your dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Dec 24, 2024 · 1 hr
44. How to deal with people who can’t deal with you
Moya and Ash swerve the fuzzy festive feelings in order to get some things off their chest. Plus, advice for a listener who feels trapped in their happy relationship. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Dec 17, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
43: How far would you go to be yourself? w/ Amrou Al-Kadhi
Moya and Ash talk to writer and director Amrou Al-Kadhi about their brilliant debut film, Layla, which follows a young drag queen in chaotic pursuit of self-expression. Plus, advice on how to handle a partner with a porn addiction. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Dec 10, 2024 · 53 min
42: Why won’t they just break up?
[Updated file!] Moya has a theory for Ash about unhappy couples who will do anything except break up. Why are we sometimes so hesitant to pull the plug? Plus, advice for a special one dealing with guilt after the end of a relationship. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Dec 3, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
41: When do good habits become dark obsessions?
Moya and Ash tackle a mystery question about breaking bad habits, with a frank discussion about open relationships, exercise and disordered eating (content warning). Plus, a listener with a question about cross-racial dating, and verdicts on Gladiator II and GNX. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Nov 26, 2024 · 1 hr 3 min
40: Do aesthetic trends offer clues to political shifts?
Moya has a big theory for Ash about aesthetic trends as a harbinger of the US election results, which prompts a very adult discussion (read: argument) about the purpose of the podcast. Plus a bundle of your Missed Connections, including hotties spotted in Glasgow, Manchester, at the Palestine protest and – where else! – an NTS street party. Moya’s favourite print is from Headway East London: https://www.submittolovestudios.org/ Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Nov 19, 2024 · 57 min
39: I’m in big trouble! Your dilemmas answered
Ash and Moya tackle another bumper crop of your dilemmas, including a special one who wants to stop mothering her friends, a burned-out student struggling to get back on track, a self-confessed slacker looking for a meaningful career, and an expat looking for laughs. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Nov 12, 2024 · 1 hr 11 min
38: Why is Andrew Tate’s manosphere so seductive? w/ Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin
Moya and Ash are joined by the authors of Clown World, a new book exposing Andrew Tate’s grip on his followers around the world, to talk about why patriarchy is so seductive. Plus, advice for a special one who is drowning under their workload. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Nov 5, 2024 · 56 min
37: Do you believe in ghosts?
The veil is thin this time of year, so Moya and Ash tackle a mystery question about the spirit realm. Plus, neighbourhood cat panics and advice for a listener who can’t stand that her friend is a police officer. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Oct 29, 2024 · 54 min
36: Should being a girlboss earn me a break from cleaning?
Ash and Moya wonder why women still shoulder the burden of housework, even when they’re #leaningin to their careers. Plus, a listener who doesn’t know how to deal with his cheating ex-partner. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Oct 22, 2024 · 1 hr
35: Help! My scatty friends can’t meet my standards
Are you a Black Cat? Or a #cleangirl? Do you have Main Character Energy? Moya has a big theory about the urge to give ourselves new labels. Plus, a listener who feels like her friends and family can’t meet her standards. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Oct 15, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
34: How mean can you be to other people’s kids?
Ash and Moya channel their inner Clint Eastwoods to lament the rise of trick or treating, and consider how to interact with other people’s children. Plus, a listener dealing with confusing feelings after a difficult abortion. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Oct 8, 2024 · 51 min
33: What makes you embarrassed to be leftwing?
Moya and Ash turn the weapon on themselves with a Mystery Question about the lows of being on the left – haters and losers, pyrrhic victories, strategic balls-ups and the rest. Plus, a listener who’s falling out of love just as their partner needs support. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Oct 1, 2024 · 49 min
32: What makes a house a home?
Inspired by Moya’s big move, Ash wonders what the necessary ingredients are to turn a house share into a home. Plus, advice for a listener whose friend is infatuated with her lecturer. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley. Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support
Sep 24, 2024 · 58 min
31: Why isn’t my best friend excited about my wedding?
Moya and Ash argue over a big theory about our need for surprise. Has modern life killed off spontaneity in everything from dating to holidays? Plus: advice for a listener who’s wondering why an old friend isn’t more excited to be his best man. We’re sorry about the uneven audio quality for part of the dilemmas section! Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley. Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support
Sep 17, 2024 · 1 hr 7 min
30: Unbothered, moisturised, happy – and ready for a relationship?
Are you sitting comfortably? Because Moya has come to a big realisation – and some new rules on dating etiquette. Plus, a whole a new batch of your Missed Connections! Get in touch if you recognise any of these objects of our affection. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Sep 10, 2024 · 1 min
A message from Moya…
Moya and Ash are absent this week – but in the meantime, they’re preparing for a LIVE recording of the show this Sunday, 15th September, as part of the London Podcast Festival. They’ll be joined wise guest Yomi Adegoke, author of The List, to help solve your dilemmas and sort the personal from the political. Special Ones, assemble. Final tickets are available from kingsplace.co.uk.
Sep 3, 2024 · 1 hr
29. Has therapyspeak improved our lives?
Does knowing your attachment style make life any easier? Moya and Ash tackle a mystery question about our newfound fluency in the language of therapy. Plus: advice for a listener who’s becoming estranged from his sister. ONLY TWO WEEKS until our live show at the London Podcast Festival! Join Moya, Ash and special guest Yomi Adegoke, author of The List, for an intimate conversation on 15th September. Tickets are available from kingsplace.co.uk. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Aug 27, 2024 · 58 min
28: What the hell is a gut feeling, anyway?
Moya is on the brink of change – but can she trust her gut on the biggest decision of her adult life? Plus, advice for a listener confused about their lifelong lack of sex. You’ve only got a few weeks to grab your ticket for our live show at the London Podcast Festival on 15th September, with a very special guest… available from kingsplace.co.uk. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.
Aug 19, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
27: I’m in big trouble! Your dilemmas answered
Ash and Moya dedicate a whole show to answering your dilemmas! Featuring a woman questioning her age-gap relationship, an infuriating parent who won’t budge on politics, a ghosted lover plotting her revenge, a loner who wants to start socialising, and a low-earner who resents her rich friends. You’ve only got a few weeks to grab your ticket for our live show at the London Podcast Festival on 15th September, with a very special guest… available from kingsplace.co.uk. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.