Redefining Identity & Challenging Societal Norms with Shakeb Zuber

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Rabia and Sana welcome Shakeb Zuber, an advocate, educator, and truth-seeker, whose journey has been about growth, adaptability, and challenging stereotypes. Shakeb's work includes working with NGOs on campaigns for women's empowerment as well as in the corporate sector, content management and business development. In this episode, they explore how deeply culture and society influence the way we see beauty, religion, and women’s identities—especially in South Asian communities.

They unpack society’s version of religion versus the actual essence of faith, and how women’s identities are often reduced to their appearance. Shakeb shares his personal journey of unlearning the toxic ideals of beauty he was taught, redefining it through resilience, authenticity, and inner strength. From the dangerous obsession with fair skin to the cruel reality of acid attacks in India, this episode sheds light on the pain that fuels his mission—and how we are all part of the mindset that enables it. Shakeb speaks candidly about working with acid attack survivors and young children who already associate value with glamor. His message is clear: we are more than how we look, and breaking free starts from within.

They go deep into the sensitive topic of how culture and religion intertwine in the South Asian culture and what we can do to separate culture from religion.

💬 "We are not worshipping God—we're worshipping people. That’s not religion, that’s culture."

👉 Listen now, reflect deeply, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Change starts with awareness.

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