Loudmouth Ladkis

Unsurprisingly, we love therapy so much that we're training to be clinicians. This week, your favorite therapy stans talk about their biggest takeaways from their therapy sessions - from lessons on boundary setting as daughters of immigrants to self-compassion and survival. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loudmouth-ladkis/support

There are SO many ways to describe ourselves and our communities…but which term is the right one? This week, we talk about being "Brown," "Desi," and "South Asian," and the histories behind them. How do these words contribute to our individual and collective identities, and why does terminology even matter in the first place? And if you want to read more check out these amazing articles: - https://www.npr.org/2017/12/11/569983724/ask-code-switch-who-can-call-themselves-brown - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna1886 - https://scroll.in/global/975071/is-the-term-desi-offensive-some-south-asian-americans-think-so --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loudmouth-ladkis/support

This might be our most unhinged episode yet. It's 2023 and we're still not over 2020. So what better way to process than by doing a kids react to our 2020 new year's resolutions? Join us as we listen to our 2019 selves who had no idea what was about to hit them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loudmouth-ladkis/support

Bella! Where the hell have you been loca?? It's been a long 1.5 years without LL, but we're so excited to be back. This episode, we talk about what we‘ve been up to since we last recorded. It's been a wild ride (college graduations, world travels, new jobs, and new cities), and we're ready to bring what we've learned and experienced here to our 6th season!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loudmouth-ladkis/support

The COVID-19 situation in India right now is beyond devastating. This week, we discuss America’s role in the global access to the vaccine, the two-fold experiences faced by members of the Indian diaspora, and most importantly, how we can help. Throughout this episode, we included information from The Guardian, New York Times, and The Atlantic. For resources to check out and donate to, please check out this Linktree compiled by our lovely friend Rhea Shetty. Proceeds from our sticker sales with Dewy Apricot will be donated to the only hospital in the rural village of Kosadi in Gujarat, India. You can purchase your stickers here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/971796491/dewy-apricot-x-loudmouth-ladkis-sticker?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=dewy+apricot&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&variation0=1831754680

Spring Break this year looked like making a hot cup of chai, bundling up in our comfiest blankets, and reading “untold: defining moments of the uprooted.” Untold is a Brown Girl Mag anthology, a collection of stories that explores the intergenerational, diverse South Asian experience throughout the diaspora, through the lens of identity, being, and relationships. This week, we sat down and did a little book club to share our favorite stories from Untold! You can get your own copy of Untold and you HAVE to check out Garmi for beautiful, sustainable, and South Asian accessories!

Tax season is upon us, and we’d be lying if we said we knew what we were doing - turns out, we’re not alone! The conversation about women and finance has just scratched the surface, and we wanted to talk about how women of the South Asian diaspora interact with money differently. We speak about our own experience navigating the world of personal finance, common money mindsets prevalent among South Asian women, and the effects of “money trauma” in our lives. Check out Boss Betis (@bossbetis) who helped us so much with this episode! And check out The Mighty Mithai (@themightymithai) to get your own pack of Mixing Up Masti - you can use our code "LOUDMOUTHLADKIMASTI" for 10% off!

On this podcast, we speak often about therapy and mental health, and this week, we had the pleasure to sit down with Aparna Sagaram, a licensed marriage and family therapist who works with immigrants and children of immigrants. According to a 2018 study published in World Psychiatry, scientists suggest trauma can be passed down to subsequent generations through an enduring change in the function of DNA. This week, we speak about concerns that often come up in the South Asian population, intergenerational trauma, and how we can break the cycle and move towards generational healing.

It’s that awful time of the year where every website and every advertisement pushes you to get your “dream summer body”. What does that mean and why is it so harmful? This week, we talk about nutrition and exercise through a lens of body neutrality, abundance over restriction, and our own nutrition and exercise journeys. Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or shoot us an email at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and we'll see you next week.

Representation is a buzzword in the South Asian diaspora. Though we’ve all had the conversation about viewing representation as a consumer, we haven’t been exposed to the perspective of depicting representation through one’s work. This week, we sat down with Sonya Lalli, a romance and women’s fiction author of Indian heritage, and we chat about embracing biculturalism in literature, her journey navigating the author space as a South Asian woman, and how she used her experiences and those of her favorite loudmouths to write her new book “Serena Singh Flips the Script” which is out now! Head over to our Instagram @loudmouthladkis to learn how you can win your very own copy of "Serena Singh Flips the Script"

Storytelling is the backbone of our mission with Loudmouth Ladkis. This episode, we talk about how we have used storytelling in our own lives to advocate for access to healthcare, access to medicines, and mental healthcare. But it’s not always easy - storytelling is realizing that you’re more than your adversity and your hard experiences. You’re more than a single story.  Make sure to catch "Each & Every Day" on MTV to hear more of Saniya's story.  A huge shout out to Sindoora Designs for the amazing episode artwork this season - go give her some love ❤️❤️ Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or shoot us an email at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and we'll see you next week.

Valentine’s Day is an *extremely* polarizing holiday. Whether you’re incredibly cuffed, single and ready to mingle, in the middle of a complicated situation-ship, or OVER relationships, the most important thing this Valentine’s Day is self love! This week, we talk about tangible ways to practice self love, dealing with breakups, and celebrating self love and female empowerment! A huge shout out to Sindoora Designs for the amazing episode artwork this season - go give her some love ❤️❤️ Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or shoot us an email at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and we'll see you next week.

Navigating the dating world as a Desi individual is tough enough considering culture clashes and familial expectations, and a pandemic makes it so much more challenging. This week, we react to some of your shocking Dating Horror stories - including one of our listeners’ soap opera-esque story of breaking up with someone she was dating because his secret fiancée in a foreign country wanted to get back together… wild! During this last episode of 2020, we also talk about looking for quarantine romances and dealing with breakups during a pandemic. Thank you to the wonderful Dewy Apricot as always for the incredible artwork this season. Happy holidays, everyone! Sending love & take care! Winter & the holiday season can definitely be rough, so please reach out if you need help. LL co-host Saniya has been working on Loop, a mental health check-in and peer support app, which is a wonderful mental health resource we recommend you all check out!

Ever reminisce about the Danish cookies in that blue tin your mom keeps her sewing kit in? This week we sat down with Seema Hari to talk about sustainability in the South Asian diaspora. We chat about consumer power, the challenges of thrifting, privilege in sustainability, and adopting a shame-free mindset when leveraging our individual and collective action cycles to evoke change.

Self care is more than a tree pose and a “golden turmeric” latte; self care is hard work and it’s challenging ourselves to seek a better wellbeing. This week, we talk about how we can decolonize self care, as it’s something our ancestors have been doing for centuries! Tune in to hear the Ladkis explore how can we use cultural humility to change the way that we view, consume, and practice self care.

Yup, that’s right - ‘Samosa Caucus’ is a real phrase coined by Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi to group together fellow Indian-American members of Congress. Given the widespread efforts of South Asian voter mobilization and South Asian-Americans seemingly claiming Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, it’s interesting to think about our community’s political consciousness and how rampant identity politics truly is. This week, we spoke with Anna Eapen, a Senior Associate at Hamilton Place Strategies, and we discussed the range of South Asian-American voters (yes, even the ‘socially-liberal, fiscally-conservative’ folks), South Asians in American politics, and advice for people who want to pursue policy-work. Reminder to hold your elected officials accountable, regardless of identity politics, their last names, and/or their cultural heritage!

This week, join us in a conversation with one of our favorite South Asian-American entrepreneurs, Rooshy Roy! In this episode, Rooshy talks about her journey in founding and rebranding Aavrani and embracing authenticity and duality through her experience with her skincare brand that emphasizes clean beauty and Ayurvedic beauty rituals. Want to learn how to find yourself in your career and maintain authenticity as a CEO? Check out this episode! You are also all invited to use our code LADKI10 for $10 off any Aavrani purchase!

Somehow, we’re almost eight months into quarantine, and it is HARD being a college student right now! This week, we talk about the joys (hint: there are next to zero) and many challenges of Zoom University. From maintaining structure on a day to day basis to battling zoom fatigue and from dealing with FOMO to dealing with unaccommodating professors, the Loudmouth Ladkis talk about their experiences and share some tips that have worked for them! Go check out the amazing @sitharabysriya at https://www.sitharabysriya.com and use the code “LML15” when purchasing for 15% off her gorgeous masks this Diwali season!

As we begin Season 4, we realized that we’ve never formally introduced ourselves, so hey! Want to know who’s irrationally afraid of elevators or which Loudmouth Ladki accidentally unmuted herself on Zoom in a 200-person class? Stay til the end to learn about our new spicy segment! XOXO, Loudmouth Ladkis

Giving yourself consistent and wholehearted self care is crucial, especially during a global pandemic! This week, we’re keeping it real with you: the self care journey has been quite challenging for us. We’re reminding ourselves time and time again that our self worth is not tied to our productivity and that self care is not a selfish act! In this episode, we discuss our failures with self care and tips that have worked for us over these past few months. Each episode this season was recorded over Zoom to ensure safety of our guests and hosts. Thank you @colorsofroshni for the amazing episode artwork this season - go give her some love❤️❤️ Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or shoot us an email at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and we'll see you next week.

#BlackLivesMatter is a movement (not a moment!) and we must continue to listen, learn, and advocate for Black lives. For our second episode this season, we wanted to discuss the South Asian community’s roles in standing in solidarity with #BLM, having difficult conversations with family and friends, and keeping anti-racist momentum after the news cycle has ended. Please DM us or email us if you would like to chat about anything we’ve discussed today or if you want more resources! Each episode this season was recorded over Zoom to ensure safety of our guests and hosts. Thank you @colorsofroshni for the amazing episode artwork this season. Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or shoot us an email at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and we'll see you next week.

Hosted by two young South Asian American women Saniya Soni & Sapna Ramappa - Loudmouth Ladkis is THE podcast for young South Asian loudmouths that explores the the intersection of South Asian and western identities with an emphasis on mental health in the diaspora. We explore everything from representation to sexuality, sustainability to identity politics. Join us as we honor the art of storytelling, break taboos, and define the South Asian experience. 

We're back with season 3 in the midst of a global pandemic. This week, we talk about the question that's been on our mind since the beginning of quarantine: how has COVID affected mental health? Will the health, economic, and social consequences of COVID-19 impact the mental wellbeing of millions, or does the very nature of this situation warrant stress and anxiety? We explore the how our relationship with managing our own mental health from home and more. Each episode this season was recorded over Zoom to ensure safety of our guests and hosts. Thank you @colorsofroshni for the amazing episode artwork this season. Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or shoot us an email at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and we'll see you next week.

Getting your bangle caught on a man’s kurtha or dancing in the rain while wearing a sari are the epitome of desi romance. But what does romance look like for a generation of Desi millennials who are told they can’t date until they’re married? In the last episode of the season, we talk about the Desi Dilemma - being a young South Asian and navigating the dating sphere; from unrealistic expectations and hiding from aunties on dates to the age of dating apps and parental approval. We talk about finding the balance of relationships as college students, considering Bollywood's romanticization of relationships and the simultaneous taboos of love and relationships in many South Asian-American households. Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode of Loudmouth Ladkis, and for following along this whole season. It’s been such an amazing journey and we hope you enjoyed being a part of it. If you haven’t gotten a chance to catch up on all the episodes, you can listen to them on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Anchor. A huge shout out and thank you to ZHK Designs, DJ Anupya, and The Katra Box. Follow our Instagram @loudmouthladkis for upcoming content, collaborations, and literature. Feel free to email us at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com with comments, questions, or even suggestions for what topics or guests you’d want to see next season.

Students of color are less likely to seek mental health services than their white counterparts (Harris Poll, 2015). Should brown girls only seek therapy from brown therapists? On this week's episode we discuss therapy: what is it, who should go, and why it matters. We share our own experiences with receiving therapy, both good and bad, and how to seek it out once you're on your own in college. We talk cultural competency, stigma, and accountability. While we recognize that COVID-19 has shifted healthcare online, we still wanted to have a discussion about mental health. In addition to our COVID Diaries on our Instagram, we'll also be sharing some mental wellness resources that may help you during this time. As always, make sure to follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis for updates on our COVID Diaries, new episodes, and related content!

CW: domestic violence, abuse This week we talk about domestic violence in the South Asian community. In this episode, we'll weave in statistics, anecdotal evidence, and cultural narratives that set up this issue of domestic violence in South Asian-American communities. From the cultural barriers like “shame”, “fear”, and “family honor” to issues of financial literacy and the stigma behind divorce, we discuss the reasons why intimate partner violence is so prevalent in South Asian households. While this is a difficult topic to discuss, it was one we really wanted to bring to the forefront, especially seeing as many womxn may be stuck in abusive situations due to the current lock-down. If you or someone you know is in danger please call the toll-free helpline at 1-888-862-4874. For folks in the Bay Area, reach out to Maitri a free, confidential, nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that primarily helps families and individuals from South Asia facing domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, or family conflict, or Narika, who's mission is to promote women’s independence, economic empowerment and wellbeing by helping survivors of intimate partner abuse and violence with advocacy, support, and education.

This week we explore mental health in college. We talk about our experiences at our respective universities, why mental health doesn't seem to be a priority for college students, and delve in to the toxic grind culture. We look at the pressure to do it all: balancing school, extra curricular, physical health, and mental wellbeing. While we recognize that COVID-19 has shifted all students online, we still wanted to have a discussion about wellness in higher education. In addition to our COVID Diaries on our Instagram, we'll also be sharing some mental wellness resources that may help you during this time.  As always, make sure to follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis for updates on our COVID Diaries, new episodes, and related content! 

CW: sexual assault, rape, violence towards womxn This week's episode pays homage to Ruth George and Dr. Priyanka Reddy, South Asian womxn who lost their lives due to sexual assault and violence. We discuss the ramifications of cat calling, sexual assault in the United States and in India, victim blaming, as well as some of our own experiences. While this is a difficult topic, we thought it was an incredibly important one to share with you all. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis for updates on our COVID Diaries, new episodes, and related content!

We're back with season 2! These episodes were recorded early January this year, but due hectic schedules we decided to take a hiatus and spend some time taking care of our mental health. But we're back and have content to keep you occupied during this quaran-time. In addition to the weekly planned episodes we have in store for you, we'll also be releasing bonus COVID-19 related content. This week's episode is about the new year. We might've spoken too soon about the positive things 2020 had planned for us, but all of this down time gives us a chance to reflect on goals we set for ourselves in the past! We look back at the last decade, talk about the Loudmouth Ladkis of 2019, and share our resolutions. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis for updates on our COVID Diaries, new episodes, and related content!

TW: depression, self harm, suicide, domestic violence For the final episode of this season of Loudmouth Ladkis, we bring it back to the source of our passion, drive, and the inspiration behind our career paths - mental health in the South Asian community. More specifically, we talk about the stigmatization of mental health and medication among our community. We share some of our own struggles with mental health, judgement from aunties, and how the stigmatization of medication in South Asian cultures can prove to be detrimental. We discuss collaboration with non-profits like MannMukti and Dil to Dil that are spearheading the movement to start discourse and provide resources to South Asian communities. Ultimately, we hope that through an emphasized focus on cultural competency in healthcare, and efforts to remove barriers from speaking about mental health, the Desi community becomes more open and willing to have these conversations. Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode of Loudmouth Ladkis, and for following along this whole season. It’s been such an amazing journey and we hope you enjoyed being a part of it. If you haven’t gotten a chance to catch up with all the episodes, you can listen to them on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, and Anchor. Follow our Instagram @loudmouthladkis for upcoming content, collaborations, and literature. Feel free to email us at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com with comments, questions, or even suggestions for what topics or guests you’d want to see next season.

On this week’s episode, we tackle the idea of body image from the desi perspective. From aunties commenting on our weight to body and facial hair removal stories, comprehending Americans’ obsession with tanning while battling the Desi consumption of skin lightening cream, Eurocentric beauty standards and ultimately how it impacts even Desi couture like Sabyasachi. We share our experiences with our self confidence journeys and shout out the wonderful womxn who helped us along the way. Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis to join the growing LL community and feel free to email us at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com with your own stories!

This week, we talk about our journey to becoming Loudmouth Ladkis. While competing in Speech and Debate, we learned about professionalism, how to run in pencil skirts and heels, and the power of our voices. And of course, we met each other along the way! From being able to finally speak about mental health on a national stage, to being able to recognize a "speech voice," here’s to the activity and community that encouraged us to speak out and to be loudmouths!

On this week's episode, we talk about growing up Desi in a Western society. From Subtle Curry Traits to Starbucks names, learning the language and about the culture while assimilating into our white communities, there seems to be a disconnect in achieving a holistic bi-cultural experience. We hope to ultimately answer that question nagging so many South Asian kids: am I Desi enough? Thank you to @zhkdesigns for our amazing logo and DJ Anupya for the bomb soundtrack.

This week, we break down the experience of growing up as Loudmouth Ladkis in Silicon Valley - exploring the nuances of being a "majority minority," being children of immigrants, experiencing high amounts of stress, and how it all impacts mental health. We open up about our own struggles with toxic competition culture, the consequences of living in a high pressure environment, and of course growing up with Aunties around every corner. Follow us on Instagram @loudmouthladkis or email us at loudmouthladkis@gmail.com.

In the first episode of Loudmouth Ladkis, we talk about our trip to the Besharam relaunch in San Francisco and Hatecopy's popup gallery. We explore the meaning behind the word Besharam, the beautifully curated amalgamation of Western and Desi experiences by Maria Qammar, the innovative and supportive work done by La Cocina, and the tantalizing fusion cuisine and inspiring story of Heena Patel. Check out the pictures from the event on Instagram @loudmouthladkis and follow us as we aim to become Besharam Enough.

Hosted by Saniya Soni and Sapna Ramappa - Conversations with two young South Asian American women about their experiences navigating the world and coming into their identities as Loudmouth Ladkis. In each episode, we'll talk about an issue that has impacted us as we explore the intersection between Desi and Western culture. From mental health to wardrobe and food to everything in between, join us as we explore our place in the melting pot.  HUGE thank you to :  @ZHKdesigns for our amazing logo  and DJ Anupya for our bomb soundtrack