1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I wo through stuff 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: never told you production of Bot Hurt Radio and today 3 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: for our feminist around the world, we are talking about 4 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: Nepali feminist, writer, filmmaker, advocate and storyteller and so much 5 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: more of course with all the people as we talk 6 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: about Nirvana Bandari. So Bandari is a seasoned writer and 7 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: journalist who's been working to advocate for the rights of 8 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 1: women and queer people in her community. She actually calls 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: herself an agitator and I've listened to many interviews when 10 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: she talks about this more so than an activist, because 11 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: she knows that her conversations, this conversation alone ruvels a 12 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: lot of feathers. She talks about it agitates men. When 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,639 Speaker 1: you talk about feminism, the word alone causes a lot 14 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: of agitation. And yes, we know this, we know this 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: is special today and she claims it. She likes it, 16 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: she goes with it, and I love everything about it. 17 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: We love everything about claiming what people would criticize you with. 18 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: And it's such a big talk. When she's talking about 19 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: feminism and women's rights, she make sures that she pinpoints 20 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: that as the focal reason of what she is doing, 21 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: and here's what she writes about herself in her upcoming book, y'all. 22 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: By the way, unsns Scari a feminist life. So since 23 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: scari is a Hindi word that is kind of like 24 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: a badge of honor or based on the person's behavior, 25 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: they're civilized, they're I guess what you would say, lady 26 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: like good and demeanor and dress. So unscen Scari is 27 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: the book she is writing, A feminist life. She writes 28 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: this about herself. I am committed to creating impactful spaces personal, 29 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: digital and social where women can exist with authenticity, vocalize 30 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: their truths, and become agents of change. My name is Nirvana. 31 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: I am a feminist writer, independent filmmaker, digital activist and 32 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: creative powerhoalth Originally from Kutmandu, Nepal. I have led a 33 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: life of wonderlust the last eight years that has taken 34 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: me from places like Australia all the way to Morocco. 35 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: Along my journey, I have designed leadership projects for refugee 36 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: women in Melbourne, captured the oral stories of women living 37 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: in the Saharan Desert, and curated immersive travel education programs 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: for girls in India. Through all my experiences, the one 39 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: thing that remains constant is my commitment to seeing women 40 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: flourish into the best versions of themselves. My passion is 41 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: supporting women to reclaim their narratives and regain complete control 42 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: over their life choices. I do this through avenues such 43 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: as conscious independent travel, oral and digital storytelling, and building 44 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: society community and curating bespoke events. So when you go 45 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: and look her up, all of our articles range from 46 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: so much including how to travel in Katmandu. As a 47 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: feminist like, she is very focused on keeping you safe 48 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: and where to go and how to do this and 49 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: also doing it. I think that's one of the big 50 00:02:58,120 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: things that we have talked about when it comes to 51 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: travel and seeing the world that a lot of times, 52 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: especially for by ourselves or it's a group of women, 53 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: feels unsafe, and so she is all about empowering young 54 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: girls and women to do this, to be able to 55 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: go out and enjoy themselves and see the world without 56 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: fear or how to best be safe. So I love 57 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: that that's something that she does, and she has many 58 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: articles written about different areas, so you definitely should check 59 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: it out. Obviously, I don't think you want to travel 60 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: to cut them on, do right now. Always be responsible 61 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: in your travel. Always look yes, what's going on? Yes, 62 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: always look up the current events. So she talks about 63 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: being able to feel safe in all environments, including in nature. 64 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: She talks about hiking a lot because she loves hiking 65 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: ourselves and talking about being able to explore nature in itself, 66 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: but also is what it is to be in society, 67 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: being able to go out to drink or have partying 68 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: as she would ay, or be safe in restaurants, in 69 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: society in general. And she's talked about her growth and 70 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: feminism and using her voice. So this is from an 71 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,839 Speaker 1: article she wrote for austray dot com, which she has 72 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: several articles in there. She writes, this, my university course 73 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: comprised of ninety five percent women, and my first job 74 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: was at a women's nonprofit organization. This is the time 75 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: I began to find my feminist voice, recognizing the manifestation 76 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: of patriarchy and squeezing out the splinters of internalized misogyny 77 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: from my epidermis. I loved working solely with women. Power, 78 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: dynamics and conflict exist as in any workplace, but to 79 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,679 Speaker 1: spend seven hours a day in a space without sexist 80 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: microaggressions and harassment created a desperately needed sanctuary. Interacting primarily 81 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: with women has always been natural to me. It has 82 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: made sense with regards to both my physical safety and 83 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: emotional comfort. In the presence of women, I can fully 84 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,559 Speaker 1: express my personality, including the qualities that society has labeled 85 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: as intense or hysterical. Having so many women in my 86 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: spaces without being conscious of the male gaze, without being 87 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: main explained, has made me a vocal advocate for increasing 88 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: the number of formal women's spaces. These spaces should exist 89 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: in regardless of a woman's age, race, religion, income, sexuality, 90 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: or ability. These spaces should be accessible, and she actually 91 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: does this. She creates different types of events that she 92 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: calls Nirvana's Vibes, which curates events for women only. I 93 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: love it, and she even talked about in an interview 94 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: that I saw recently about how, yes, she knows that 95 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: US has been doing this, but obviously for areas that 96 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: she's going to, its new and so being able to 97 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: create these spaces where women feel safe to drink, women 98 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: to feel safe to dance, women's feel safe to look 99 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: cute because we're not most of the times, we're not 100 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 1: dressing up for men. We're dressing up for me, for 101 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: ourselves or for other women to say I like your dress, 102 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: and you can say I have buckets, yes, or I 103 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: got it for this price, which part a lot of 104 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: women like to do. I do this, or I just 105 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: tell you where it does you should go get it? Yeah? 106 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: Weyet she can you look cute in this anyway? We 107 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: love those types of faces, and she is creating more 108 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: opportunities for that in her events, Like when she says 109 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: that she is a powerhouse, she is a powerhouse. And 110 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: with all of that, she explains even more about the 111 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: feminist movement in Nepal and how it's changing or hopefully 112 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: changing and grown through the years. She wrote another article 113 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: wrote for boe L dot Dee and she sits down 114 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: with two other Nipalese activists and they talk about what 115 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 1: has happened before Now, I guess, as you say, in 116 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: the past years with feminism. So this is what she writes. 117 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: The feminist movement in Nepal is dynamic, diverse, and rooted 118 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: in both individual and collective struggles. Since the establishment of 119 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: the Nai Samiti, Nepal's first women's rights organization, in nineteen 120 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: eighty progress has been both gradual and inspiring. Over the 121 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: last three decades. Concerted efforts have focused on reducing ginger 122 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: based violence, dismantling minstrual taboos, and ensuring access to safe 123 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: reproductive health services for women. A significant milestone was achieved 124 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen when Nepal elected its first female president, 125 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: Head of the US, Head of the US. While Nepal's 126 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: protest culture may not be as visible on the global 127 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: stage as larger countries more fraught with political tensions, grassroot 128 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: activism is meaningful and worthy of recognition. That has changed, 129 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: that has changed. So this was earlier this year. By 130 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: the way this article, Feminist resistance does not always take 131 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: the form of public marches or rallies, but can also 132 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: be found in everyday acts of defiance. For many Nepali women, 133 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: the very act of realizing their oppression and deciding to 134 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: resist as a significant feminist and class awakening. Which is 135 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: so true, Which is so true. I think, like we 136 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: think in the US, we've progressed so far, But like 137 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: when women come to that point of understanding, which is 138 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: still happening today, that in itself is resistance and I 139 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: love reading that. But she actually has some beautiful interviews 140 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: and conversations with other activists about the specific conversation, especially 141 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: in Nepal in India. Like, she is very focused in 142 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: women's rights, but also she is a queer activist as well. 143 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: She is bisexual herself. It has talked about what that 144 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: looks like in her culture and what that looks like 145 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: in a culture that doesn't celebrate that, and having to 146 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: walk safely in a heterosexual space. So like, there's a 147 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: lot of great conversations she has in understanding, like yeah, 148 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: that's good for you, liberated and out, but there's a 149 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: lot of places that's not okay. So we have to 150 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: navigate these spaces differently. So I think she does a 151 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: lot of great thing pieces on those as well. So 152 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: if you get to look her up again, like we said, 153 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: she actually has a book coming out. I believe it's 154 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 1: going to be September thirteenth through the twentieth when it's 155 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: supposed to be released. So we're recording ahead y'all. So 156 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: by the time this is out, you should be able 157 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: to get this book. And again is called Unsakari My 158 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: Feminist Life, So it's very cool. You should definitely go 159 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: check it out. She is on social media as well, 160 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: and she's been doing little excerpts of that from her book. 161 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 1: So I think it's important to see because she is 162 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: again a powerhouse. As we talked about the experiences that 163 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: she has, the events for the Nirvana Vibes. She has 164 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: feminist projects that work with Nepali Writers Collective, Women White 165 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: Writers Collective, and digital platform storytelling, so she's helping with 166 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: that as well as created projects with that. But also 167 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: she has she's had a documentity already released called Nepali 168 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: Women Reclaim their Bodies and it has been like in 169 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: several film festivals already. But she's got a new one 170 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:01,839 Speaker 1: coming out in twenty twenty six called Unwed and the 171 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: film cover alone is gorgeous. That is written and directed 172 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: by her. So I'm sure there's gonna be a lot 173 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: more things that we can look into add to our 174 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: many a list, Annie, that's a part of yours. But yeah, 175 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: she is a woman of many talents, a storytelling, of 176 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: opening conversations, of travels. I want to be her friend 177 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: in real life. I make that happen. You're good at that, Samantha. 178 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to find you. You are, I'm gonna do this. 179 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: I believe in you. I truly do well. Listeners, Please 180 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: let us know if you have any suggestions for the 181 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: segment or any thoughts about anything we've talked about. You 182 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 1: can email us at Hello at Stuffannever Told You dot com. 183 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: You can find us on Blue Sky at mom Stuff podcast, 184 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: or on Instagram and TikTok at stuff I Never Told 185 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: You for us on YouTube. And we have new merchandise 186 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: at Cotton Bureau. And we have a book you can 187 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: get where you get your books. Thanks as always to 188 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: a super producer is teen or executive to my end 189 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: a contributor Joey, Thank you, and thanks to you for 190 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: listening Stuff Never Told You'spiction by heart Radio. 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