Singapore podcaster aims to break Asian taboos, from cancer to self-pleasure
- Nicole Lim started her ‘Something Private’ podcast after a friend’s herpes diagnosis led her to realise she knew little about her own sexual health
- She hopes by talking about issues such as genital warts, masturbation and breast cancer, the podcast will help shift mindsets in Asia
From genital warts to masturbation, taboo-breaking Singaporean podcaster Nicole Lim tackles topics that may make some squirm but has won a following in socially conservative Asian societies.
With her series Something Private, she has tapped into a growing appetite for more open discussion about sensitive issues affecting women in the city state and beyond.
It has featured interviews on subjects ranging from domestic violence to disabled women’s dating experiences and intimate relationships involving multiple partners.
The podcast has racked up tens of thousands of downloads, mostly in Singapore but also in Indonesia and Malaysia, where traditional media shy away from covering topics often considered taboo.
“I was trying to look for honest and open conversations around sexual health and wellness, but when you look at women’s magazines that exist in this part of the world it’s very lifestyle,” the 24-year-old said. “Where are the platforms for tougher conversations or things that are more hard-hitting?”