What is food for Pakistani's if not a companion in joy, grief and memory? How do we truly see food when it encompasses so many of our relationships and defining moments beyond just the act of eating itself? With Masterchef Pakistan back, amidst a slew of criticism and support, host Anmol Irfan sat down with finalist Muhammad Zain for today's episode to take a deeper look at what food means to him as a self taught chef and why emotions and exploration play such a huge role in his journey. From his creative fusion creations to his background in Astrophysics, Zain takes us through his culinary inspirations, his Masterchef experience and what it means to him when he steps into the kitchen Follow Echoes Media for more stories and slow news.

Does the best writing come from rage? Pakistan's latest debut author seems to think so. In our latest episode, host Anmol Irfan speaks to author and writer Arslan Athar about his debut book, 40 days of mourning, writing and publishing in Pakistan's rocky literary industry and the difference between fiction and non fiction writing. Arslan gets deep into how writing is impacted by his emotions, what this journey has been like personally and professionally and what it takes to "make it" as a writer. You can order 40 Days Of Mourning directly from Run On Press here.

What does it mean for tech solutions to actually be made for diverse global communities of survivors? When the tech available genuinely caters to the needs of some of the world's most vulnerable communities?

In this episode, host Anmol Irfan is joined by Hera Hussain, founder of Chayn, an organisation developing tech led survivors for, and by, survivors of abuse. As a Pakistani based the UK, Hussain developed a truly global approach to an initiative that started out aimed at Pakistanis and the Pakistani diaspora - after helping friends escape from abusive situations. This is the final episode for our latest project Echoes Unmuted: Navigating TFGBV. Echoes Unmuted is a two part educational and awareness initiative in collaboration with WOW Pakistan, ahead of the upcoming WOW Festival being held from 24-25 January in Karachi You can be part of Chayn's work through their current survey, where they are mapping out what image based abuse can mean within global contexts. This series is being delivered with support from the British Council as part of the WOW Pakistan Creative Gender Grants

What does it mean for our digital realities to take root offline? When does digital hate and violence become a danger to the rest of our lives?

As our digital reality increasingly takes over our lives, we all have concerns about our safety within these spaces, especially as online violence and cyber attacks against women and vulnerable groups continue to increase. That's why we're bringing you the first podcast for Echoes Unmuted: Navigating TFGBV, which is part of our ongoing Echoes Unmuted Project in collaboration with WOW Pakistan ahead of the WOW Festival in January

Our guest Wardah Iftikhar takes us on a deeper dive into the online and offline consequences of TFGBV, and what it means to create a society that supports women without having to isolate them.

This series is being delivered with support from the British Council as part of the WOW Pakistan Creative Gender Grants

Follow Echoes Media for a better look at what we're doing with Echoes Unmuted and more stories on the global south

Ever worry about what you're putting into the digital realm? Concerned about the kind of backlash you can receive or whether the online hate might cause some very really harm? You're not alone. As our digital reality increasingly takes over our lives, we all have concerns about our safety within these spaces, especially as online violence and cyber attacks against women and vulnerable groups continue to increase. That's why we're bringing you the first podcast for Echoes Unmuted: Navigating TFGBV, which is part of our ongoing Echoes Unmuted Project in collaboration with WOW Pakistan ahead of the WOW Festival in January Our guest Vaneeza Jawad, the communications manager at the Digital Rights Foundation takes us on a deeper dive into the online and offline realities of tech-facilitated gender based violence (TFGBV) what it means to work with survivors and tailoring solutions to a Pakistani context to best serve vulnerable communities

This series is being delivered with support from the British Council as part of the WOW Pakistan Creative Gender Grants Follow Echoes Media for a better look at what we're doing with Echoes Unmuted and more stories on the global south

What do we mean when we say climate change is gendered? The truth is climate change doesn't impact everyone the same way - and that's why a gendered approach to climate action is crucial to a just, equitable and effective solutions.

In today's episode host Anmol Irfan is joined by Aayisha Siddiqa, a development practitioner working with Baithak - Challenging Taboos on a more gendered approach to climate action in Pakistan. This is the second in a two part episode series as part of Echoes Unmuted: Where Climate Meets Gender, a multimedia educational and awareness initiative in collaboration with WOW Pakistan. For Aayisha, gendered climate action means including more voices and survivors, not excluding - and in this episode she opens up about what it means to balance her own wellbeing with the work she does every day with survivors of climate disasters and how others can get involved.

Follow Echoes Media for a better look at what we're doing with Echoes Unmuted and more stories on the global south

Why do we still shy away from talking about periods? What happens when an already stigmatised issue is made worse by climate disasters? And why do we still struggle with listening to those who are living through the crisis?

In today's episode host Anmol Irfan is joined by Bushra Mahnoor, a period rights activist, founder of Mahwari Justice, and winner of the Diana Award. For Bushra, period justice is a key part of achieving a gender just approach to the climate crisis, and she's been working from the grassroots up, all the way to a larger policy level to ensure that the change she hopes to see comes about Through this unfiltered conversation around social stigmas and taboos, and women's health from the lens that it's often most ignored, Bushra challenges conceptions of what helping women really means on the ground. This episode is all about unlearning our preconceived notions around what women in vulnerable situations need and why the climate crisis is and never will be gender-blind.

How far can we push cinema when we start understanding it as an art? Why is Cannes such a big deal? And who decides what cinema "makes it"? In today's episode host Anmol Irfan is joined by Aleem Bukhari ,a Pakistani filmmaker, and the writer-director of the short horror film, Karmash. Aleem's work pushes the boundaries of what many South Asians consider to be cinema, and asks a very important question, Who are we looking to satisfy with the art we create? By exploring the power of film as an art medium and a way of expression, Aleem takes us through his career path and journey - the highs and the lows. This episode is all about staying true to your creative process and creating for yourself, and Karmash's global success is proof that it works. If you're interested in filmmaking, art or just want to see how passion can really drive meaningful careers, tune in Follow Echoes Media for more slow news and stories on the Global South