To celebrate the start of Ramadan, the ‘My Ramadan’ is breaking down stereotypes beyond the A-Z of fasting, by and for Muslims and all Australians.
SBS is launching a new conversational podcast to celebrate Ramadan featuring well-known Muslim-Australians and compelling stories of fasting, food and family.
A deep exploration of both the joyous and the complex, My Ramadan discusses fasting in the workplace, Iftar traditions (the fast-breaking evening meal), mixed-culture families, spirituality, reconciling the hipsterfication of Ramadan and Islamophobia, and how the month connects with belonging and identity for Gen Z.
Hosted and executive produced by Walkley Award winning journalist and SBS presenter Sarah Malik, this five-episode series is a deep dive into life during Ramadan that’s more than just the ‘A to Z of fasting’.
“It is my joy and delight to share a project close to my heart, a podcast made by and for Muslims and the wider Australian community,” Malik said.
“By sharing our stories in thoughtful ways this podcast aims to celebrate diversity, hybridity and complexity of Muslim communities in Australia today.”
SBS Podcast and Digital Audio Manager Caroline Gates said it was an important commission for SBS Audio.
“We hope this series provides a unique insight into how the global tradition of Ramadan and Eid is experienced in modern, multicultural Australia,” said Gates.
My Ramadan speaks directly to Muslim communities and looks at everyday realities from waking up before the sun rises, favourite foods and how to celebrate Eid and Ramadan when you’re in mixed culture or interfaith relationships.
Full of nuanced stories, the podcast also talks about everything from the hipsterfication of Sydney’s Lakemba Ramadan Nights food markets, to the secret world of ‘the first aid room’ which is often the go-to place for Muslims in schools and workplaces to pray and break their fast.
Talking to their own stories of connection to community are prominent Muslim-Australian women, including academic Dr Susan Carland and former Masterchef contender Amina El Shafei.
“Women power so much of Ramadan through their behind-the-scenes labour in homes, workplaces and communities. This podcast aims to celebrate them and discover both the joys of connecting with community as well as the challenges of being a working parent and the Ramadan mental load,” said Malik.
Personal stories are told candidly by guests that shed light on a wide range of experiences from being a young convert to environmentally conscious Iftars, and how Ramadan helps promote mindfulness and wellbeing within modern hustle and burn-out culture.
“Dr Susan Carland converted to Islam as a young woman and fasted by herself. Being an outsider to fasting was part of her spiritual journey that led to her organically developing her own Australian cultural family traditions around Ramadan and Eid,” said Malik.
“I also learned a Gen Z concept known as the left-tar where those interested in sustainability opt for leftovers instead of big feasts.”
My Ramadan speaks to Muslims from all walks of life with the hope of creating greater understanding and inclusive practices.
“One woman I interviewed was a young graduate corporate lawyer who asked to leave the office early to work from home, and got no response from her manager,” said Malik.
“Her firm had dinner at the office at 7:30pm and she was terrified to ask for accommodations around diet and time, so she stayed until 7:30pm even though she’d been hungry all day.
“From being ‘hangry’ at work to coping with coffee addiction and what to do if you don’t fast for health reasons, I wanted to share stories from the serious to the light-hearted, to reflect that there is no ‘one’ Muslim experience – but many – that form the tapestry of our society.”
Episodes Synopsis:
Episode 1: Ramadan and spirituality
How hard is it to maintain a no swearing, no caffeine, and no gossiping vibe when you are hangry? Author Dr Susan Carland shares her journey adopting fasting as a young convert and how she re-connects with spirituality and self in Ramadan.
Episode 2: The hipsterfication of Ramadan
From the rise of intermittent fasting and the iconic Lakemba night markets – Ramadan has developed a hipster cache and visibility it didn’t used to have. How do Gen Z square the new visibility with historic Islamophobia? Pedestrian journalist Soaliha Iqbal and podcaster Lina Ali discuss.
Episode 3: Ramadan and Iftar
Hosting, gathering family and navigating the corporate, community and networking Iftars are all month-long dilemmas. Masterchef Amina Shafei and cross-cultural consultant Tasneem Chopra share their favourite Iftar foods and traditions.
Episode 4: Fasting and work, “Not even water?”
In this episode journalist Najma Sambul and lawyer Sara Mansour discuss how Ramadan restructures work routines – the motherhood Ramadan mental load, the joys of the first aid room, burn-out and work-life balance.
Episode 5: Eid
Moon controversies, cash gifts in envelopes, a BBQ sausage at the mosque – we discover what Eid looks like for two working mothers and mixed-culture families. Writer Raidah Shah Idil and doctor Inda Ahmad Zahri share new ways they are celebrating Eid.
