Podcasts by Inappropriate Questions

Inappropriate Questions

Have you ever been curious to know the answer to a question that might be intrusive or too personal for other people? On their biweekly podcast Inappropriate Questions, now in its third season, cohosts Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder Wadhwa make a space for curiosity where guests can unpack the tricky questions they get asked and learn stories about them—whether they ask if polyamorous people cope with jealousy in relationships, if Indigenous people are full Native, or brave the dreaded “have you lost weight” assumption.

Created by Hudgins Lyle alongside producers Sabrina Bertsch and Cindy Long, the podcast was built out of a school project while they were studying Media Production in Toronto, Ontario. Bertsch, who’s mixed-race, had been asked a lot of questions about her background and ethnicity after studying abroad for a semester. Long and Lyle, both LGBT, would also get frequently asked about their identity and sexuality. Even if these frustrations served as a jumping-off point for them, they quickly realized that they could also learn about a variety of topics from others too—especially from their parents and older generations. So they auditioned a “dad-like” figure to be a counterpart as co-host. Wadhwa, a project manager with an engineering degree, was the unanimous choice. “Harv was the very first interview we did,” Lyle says. “After the interview, he was like, ‘All right, how many more of these do you have to go?’ You know I

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Inappropriate Questions
“How old are you?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is it rude to ask someone their age? Harv isn’t comfortable telling people how old he is anymore and he’s not alone. He and Elena speak to author and activist Ashton Applewhite to debunk some myths...

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Inappropriate Questions
“Have you tried _____?” from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Have you tried yoga? Or changing your diet? Well-meaning people propose lots of ways for people with chronic illnesses to treat their conditions. But managing a chronic illness can be more complica...

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Inappropriate Questions
“How did you get pregnant?” from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There are lots of ways to start a family as an LGBTQ+ person, and not all of them are well understood. Harv and Elena speak to queer mom Farrah Khan about why she didn’t want to explain her pregnan...

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Inappropriate Questions
“How are you?” from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s hard to know the right thing to say to someone who’s grieving. Even the simplest questions aren’t always helpful. Elena and Harv speak to comedian Michael Cruz Kayne, who lost his child, about...

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Inappropriate Questions
“Have you lost weight?” from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Asking someone if they’ve lost weight is often seen as a compliment, but maybe it shouldn’t be. Elena and Harv talk with performer Ivory and writer Bob Kerr to unpack some thoughts about weight. Di...

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Inappropriate Questions
We’re back with Season 2! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Elena and Harv are coming back with a whole new list of inappropriate questions. Our millennial and dad duo sit down with more guests to find kinder ways to navigate difficult conversations.

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Inappropriate Questions
Bonus: Asked and Answered: from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Elena and Harv sit down with Rymn, Harv’s daughter, to answer your questions! Learn about their favourite podcasts, potential questions for Season 2, and what millennial slang Harv thinks he unders...

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Inappropriate Questions
"Why don't you have kids?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People are curious about the choice to be childfree. Harv and Elena discuss it with Meghan Daum, editor of Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on the Decision Not to Have Kids. Soc...

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Inappropriate Questions
"Why do/don't you wear a headscarf?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some Muslim women cover their heads, and some don’t—either way, they get asked questions. Elena and Harv speak to writer and entrepreneur Mariam Nouser about her experiences both wearing and not we...

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Inappropriate Questions
Bonus: "How did we get here?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

You’ve met the hosts, you’ve met the guests, but what about the producers? Harv interviews the Inappropriate Questions team about their not-so-inappropriate origins. Hear how the project started, h...

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Inappropriate Questions
"Why don't you drink?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Harv doesn’t drink alcohol, and he doesn’t have a problem with people asking him why. He and Elena speak to numerous guests to find out whether or not they think “Why don’t you drink?” is an inappr...

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Inappropriate Questions
"Can you have sex?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People are curious about sex. They can be really curious about people with physical disabilities’ sex lives. Disability After Dark host Andrew Gurza joins Elena and Harv to talk sex and disability....

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Inappropriate Questions
"What are you?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Asking a mixed-race person about their background can get problematic. Elena and Harv welcome Rema Tavares, who founded Mixed in Canada. Also featuring educator Charlotte Henay.

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Inappropriate Questions
"Have you had the surgery?" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Transgender folks can get asked invasive questions about their bodies. Harv and Elena speak to student activist Robert Molloy. Also featuring trans youth mentor Danielle Araya from The 519.

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Inappropriate Questions
Episode 0: Trailer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

People are curious and that's great. But there are some questions you just shouldn't ask—or at least not like that. Introducing Inappropriate Questions, hosted by Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder W...

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Inappropriate Questions
Episode 0: Trailer from 2019-01-21T00:10

People are curious and that's great. But there are some questions you just shouldn't ask—or at least not like that. Introducing Inappropriate Questions, hosted by Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder W...

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Inappropriate Questions
Episode 0: Trailer from 2019-01-21T00:10

People are curious and that's great. But there are some questions you just shouldn't ask—or at least not like that. Introducing Inappropriate Questions, hosted by Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder W...

Listen