‘The One Story’ is a podcast series where we narrate The Swaddle’s longform features at the intersection of health, gender, and culture.
Latest episodes
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8 min
What Pop Culture’s Fixation With ‘Daddy Issues’ Is Really About
In this episode, we look at 'Blonde,' Sylvia Plath, and why the absent father figure narrative is used to erase women's agency in pop culture. This piece was written and narrated b…
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10 min
Dissecting the Myth of 'Bad Mothers'
In this episode, we look at Britney Spears, 'The Lost Daughter,' and how the idea of 'bad mothers' is used as a weapon against women. This piece was written and narrated by Rohitha…
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12 min
Why AI Art Makes the Internet — And Art — Less Authentic
In this episode, we look at the ethical and philosophical questions around A.I. art, and how it takes away from the process of creation. This piece was written and narrated by Rohi…
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9 min
How Our Fixation on Independence as a Universal Goal Excludes Disabled, Chronically Ill People
In this episode, we look at how society's obsession with independence ignores the support disabled, neurodivergent, or chronically ill people need. This piece was written and narra…
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14 min
How Facial Recognition AI Reinforces Discrimination Against Trans People
In this episode, we look at how facial recognition tech is based on an outdated understanding of gender, putting trans people at risk of discrimination. This piece was written and…
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8 min
How Pop Culture Paints an Unhealthy, Unsustainable Picture of Friendships
In this episode, we look at how movies and TV shows create unsustainable friendship "goals," and why that sets up real-life friendships to fail. This piece was written and narrated…
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15 min
Anti‑Capitalism Is Cool. When Will It Be Revolutionary Again?
In this episode, we look at how anti-capitalism has become an edgy subculture online, and why that makes meaningful change difficult. This piece was written and narrated by Rohitha…
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12 min
How Representation in Horror Films Creates Space for Our Most Urgent Fears
In this episode, we look at how the present crop of horror films depicts our darkest collective fears as a society, forcing us to confront systemic issues like racism, sexism, and…
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9 min
How the Lack of Sex Education Makes Many Indian Women Unable To Communicate Their Sexual Needs, Pleasure
In this episode, we look at how treating sex as a taboo deprives women of the vocabulary to navigate sexual relationships. This piece was written and narrated by Devrupa Rakshit. ‘…
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13 min
How a Culture of Guilt Around Spending Fractures Young Indians’ Relationship With Money
In this episode, we look at how young Indians are conditioned to associate spending with guilt, impacting their lifelong relationship with money. This piece was written and narrate…
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14 min
How Modern Society Complicates the Grief of Heartbreak
In this episode, we look at why society does not recognize how painful breakups are, and the way that impacts our ability to heal. This piece was written and narrated by Rohitha Na…
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13 min
Why Young Indians Continue to Sacrifice Sleep
In this episode, we explore why Indians look down on rest, and what will it take to value sleep as a social necessity. This piece was written and narrated by Saumya Kalia. ‘The One…
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12 min
Science Shows Miscarriages Don’t Happen Because of Anything Women Do. So Why Does Society Continue to Blame Th…
In this episode, we look at the many cultural myths around miscarriages in India, and how they are rooted in prejudices denying bodily autonomy to women. This piece was written and…
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8 min
How Tattoos, Piercings Can Serve as a Coping Mechanism From Trauma
In this episode, we look at how the physical pain from tattoos and piercings can give people a sense of control over their bodies -- and their lives. This piece was written and rec…
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15 min
What Women in Pop Culture Teach Us About the Many Joys of Anger
In this episode, we look at depictions of women's anger on screen, and what makes feminine rage subversive. This piece was written and narrated by Saumya Kalia. ‘The One Story’ is…
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12 min
Why We Need to Re‑Examine ‘Brownness’ as an Identity Marker
In this episode, we look at the problems with 'Brownness' as an identity, how it caters to the White gaze, and gets co-opted by privileged desis settled abroad. This piece was writ…
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10 min
For Young Adults, the Trauma of Watching Parents Fight Impacts Their Relationships
In this episode, we look at how the trauma of watching parents' fights stays with young people, leading them into destructive relationship patterns. This piece was written and reco…
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14 min
How Asexual People Feel Excluded From Queer Spaces, Complicating Their Identity
In this episode, we look at why asexual Indians feel excluded from queer spaces, and how this exclusion makes it harder for them to accept their ideas about sex and desire. This pi…
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11 min
Why the Cult of Doing What You Love Is Losing Steam
In this episode, we look at dream jobs, the ‘labor of love’ myth, and why it’s okay to prioritize a well-paying job over a ‘meaningful’ one. This piece was written and narrated by…
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11 min
The Issue With Seeing PCOS As Just a ‘Period Problem’
In this episode, we explore the problems with how society views PCOS, and why it is important to recognize it as a chronic condition that reduces the overall quality of life. This…