The Feminist Bar Podcast 🍸

Solidarity Under Fire: Resisting Division, Co-optation & Burnout in Movements

In this episode of The Feminist Bar, host Tinatswe Mhaka is joined by Dumi Gatsha for a powerful conversation on what solidarity really means in the midst of increasing political violence, burnout, and donor fatigue. Together, they explore how movements can resist division and co-optation while navigating scarcity, repression, and the emotional toll of doing this work.

Dumi brings lived experience and political insight to a timely conversation on the contradictions of being praised but unsupported, the ways funding politics shape access and visibility, and how competition can fracture movements meant to thrive through collaboration. What does it take to build lasting solidarity under fire? What happens when survival requires performance? And can movements still resist without losing their edge?

This episode holds space for hard truths about activism, while also imagining funding and solidarity models that are honest, inclusive, and sustainable.

Follow the podcast on social media:
Instagram: @thefeministbarpodcast
Twitter/X: @thefeministbar
Support on Patreon: The Feminist Bar Podcast

season break is over bby...

Hi everyone :) 

Welcome to Behind the Bar, a personal segment to share and discuss what has been going on with the pod and behind the scenes. Episodes will be back next week, and here is some of what's been on my mind. Let's get into the second half of the season with a bang.

Feminist Histories & Storytelling with Bella Matambanadzo

In this episode of The Feminist Bar, host Tinatswe Mhaka is joined by Bella Matambanadzo, a Zimbabwean feminist, writer, and movement builder. Bella shares her personal journey, reflecting on the history of feminist organizing in Zimbabwe and the power of storytelling as a tool for activism. From her early experiences in media and advocacy to her role in shaping regional feminist spaces, she offers deep insights into feminist life-building, movement sustainability, and the ways storytelling connects generations of activists.

The conversation explores the challenges and victories of the Zimbabwean feminist movement, the importance of documenting feminist histories, and the transformative potential of narratives in resisting oppression and imagining new futures.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Nawi – Macroeconomics 101
• The Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists

Support & Stay Connected

Follow The Feminist Bar on Instagram and Twitter
Support the podcast on Patreon.

Activism, Mobilizing & Online Performances - Movements in the Social Media Age

In this episode of The Feminist Bar, Tinatswe Mhaka and Sandra Mpanyira discuss the transformation of activism in the digital age. They explore how social media has enabled rapid mobilization and amplified marginalized voices, citing movements like the #BlackLivesMatter, and the Zimbabwe protests in 2018. However, they also address the pitfalls of performative activism, including superficial engagement and the spread of misinformation, as seen with #BlackoutTuesday and COVID-19 conspiracy theories.

The conversation shifts to influencer culture, highlighting the positive role influencers play in raising awareness while acknowledging the risks of oversimplifying complex issues. Tinatswe and Sandra also discuss how to foster nuanced, in-depth conversations online and the importance of balancing speed with substance.

Finally, they offer strategies for leveraging social media for effective activism, stressing the need for leaders on the ground and turning online energy into offline action.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own social media activism and engage intentionally. Stay connected through Twitter at @thefeministbar, Instagram at @thefeministbarpodcast, and support the podcast on Patreon at The Feminist Bar Podcast.

Thanks for tuning in!

2 Doctors and a Feminist on Sexual Pleasure and Medicine

Host Tinatswe Mhaka is joined by Chido Musamirapamwe Siame and Melusi Dhlamini to discuss the evolving field of sexual pleasure medicine. Together, they unpack how this area of medicine is defined and approached, exploring its impact on personal lives, relationships, and broader societal narratives about intimacy and the body. This insightful conversation challenges stigma and highlights the importance of understanding sexual pleasure through a medical and feminist lens.

💜 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thefeministbarpodcast
🐦 Stay connected on Twitter: @thefeministbar
✨ Support and join the community on Patreon: The Feminist Bar Podcast

Tune in to learn, unlearn, and rethink pleasure!

happy 100th episode to The Feminist Bar !!!

It’s our 100th episode, and what a journey it’s been! Thank you for tuning in, showing up, and being part of this growing community of feminists, thinkers, and changemakers. This isn’t just a celebration of the podcast—it’s a celebration of all of you who’ve made it possible.

In this quick 2025 update, I’m sharing some thoughts on where we’ve been, what’s coming next, and why you should come on the podcast this year! Let’s discourse, chat, and make 2025 the year of even deeper, richer, and louder conversations.

💜 Be sure to follow us on Instagram: @thefeministbarpodcast.

Who will Bury You? Stories about home & family with Chido Muchemwa

In this episode, host Tinatswe Mhaka sits down with Zimbabwean author Chido Muchemwa to explore stories of home, family, and belonging. They dive into the complexities of why we leave home and why we stay, reflecting on the emotional experiences of being the one who leaves—or is left behind. Through the lens of Chido’s recently published collection Who Will Bury You and Other Stories, they examine these themes in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Chido Muchemwa is a Zimbabwean writer based in Canada and the author of Who Will Bury You and Other Stories. A 2022 recipient of the Morland African Writing Scholarship, her work has appeared in The Baltimore Review, Canthius, and Humber Literary Review. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, where her research explored queer histories and narratives in Zimbabwe.

Follow Chido Muchemwa:

• Website: www.chidomuchemwa.com
• Twitter: @chidomuchemwa
• Instagram: @chidomuchemwa

Follow The Feminist Bar:

• Instagram: @TheFeministBarPodcast
• Twitter: @TheFeministBar

 

An Activist, A Queer and a Feminist talk Misogyny + Red Pill Content

In this episode, we’re diving into the rise of red pill content and its impact on our lives. We explore what red pill content is, how online misogyny has evolved over the years, and the way it intersects with patriarchy, feminism, and violence.

We also discuss how these dynamics play out in online spaces and what it means to navigate them as activists, feminists, and queer individuals. Join us for this critical conversation on resisting misogyny and reclaiming digital spaces. If you would like to follow or support the podcast you can follow on: 

• Twitter: @TheFeministBar
• Instagram: @Thefeministbarpodcast
• Support Us on Patreon: The Feminist Bar

2 Feminists on Self-Discovery and Transformation through Shadow Work

In this episode of The Feminist Bar Podcast, host Tinatswe Mhaka welcomes Thandi Gula-Ndebele to dive deep into the concept of shadow work. Together, they explore how confronting our childhood wounds and generational trauma can help us cultivate healthier relationships, both with ourselves and others. They discuss the importance of working on our inner self, healing from past pain, and breaking cycles passed down through parental relationships. For anyone curious about starting their own journey of shadow work, this episode offers guidance on the "how" and "why" of this transformative process.

For more on Thandi’s work: @phola.herbal on Instagram
Learn more about shadow work: Conni’s blog on shadow work
Try a shadow work journal: Download here

Follow us on Instagram: @thefeministbarpodcast
Support us on Patreon: The Feminist Bar

hi feminists, this could have been a diary entry.

Let's talk about what is happening behind the scenes of the feminist bar, the host and many other things that could have been a diary entry.