Podcasts about south asian

Is Islam really benevolent towards Christians? Allie debunks Tucker Carlson's guest, JD Hall, who stated that the Ottoman Empire didn't tax Christians, rebuilt Christian holy sites and were generally kind towards Jesus-following subjects. Allie also uncovers some disturbing IVF stories, including the tale of a white couple who had a South Asian baby and two couples who accidentally raised each other's biological children. Finally, Allie gives a viewer some encouragement after her miscarriage. Do you have a question for Allie? Leave a voicemail at 844-755-5252 Share the Arrows 2026 is on October 10 in Dallas, Texas! Tickets are on sale now at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sharethearrows.com⁠⁠⁠ Share the Arrows is sponsored by: A'del Natural Cosmetics: AdelNaturalCosmetics.com Range Leather: RangeLeather.com/ALLIE We Heart Nutrition: WeHeartNutrition.com Buy Allie's book "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.toxicempathy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Time Codes 0:00 Introduction 5:21 The Soft Peddling of Islam 25:20 Tucker's Guest's Past & Pro-Islam Motivations 35:24 IVF Mix Ups & Consequences 51:21 The Moral Case Against IVF 1:00:45 Allie Gives Advice – Today's Sponsors: We Heart Nutrition | Check out We Heart Nutrition at ⁠⁠⁠WeHeartNutrition.com⁠⁠⁠ and use the code ALLIE for 20% off. Alliance Defending Freedom | Every dollar you give to ADF by March 31 will be doubled by a special matching grant, only while matching funds last. Go to JOINADF.com/ALLIE or text ALLIE to 83848 to have your gift matched to protect brave Americans. A'del | Visit AdelNaturalCosmetics.com and enter promo code ALLIE for 25% off your first-time purchase. Good Ranchers | If you go to ⁠⁠⁠GoodRanchers.com⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to any box of 100% American meat, you'll save up to $500 a year! Plus, if you use code ALLIE, you'll get an additional $25 off your first order. EveryLife | Visit EveryLife.com and use promo code ALLIE10 to get 10% off your first order today! Episodes You May Like: Ep 1347 | Going Soft on Islam? The Right's Shifting Views Explained | Jeremy Boreing https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1347-going-soft-on-islam-the-rights-shifting-views/id1359249098?i=1000767965230 Ep 1041 | Granger Smith on Suicide, Self-Love & IVF | Guest: Granger Smith https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1041-granger-smith-on-suicide-self-love-ivf-guest/id1359249098?i=1000663716233 --- ► Buy Allie's book, "You're Not Enough (& That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love": https://alliebethstuckey.com/book ► Subscribe to the podcast: iTunes: https://apple.co/2UVssnP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2FwkXxj ► Connect with Allie on Social Media: https://twitter.com/conservmillen https://www.instagram.com/alliebstuckey/ https://facebook.com/allieBlazeTV/ ► Relatable merchandise – use promo code 'ALLIE10' for a discount: https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey

One brand is preparing for a regulatory shakeup. Another just landed in Target with $24 million in fresh capital. The Taste Radio hosts discuss BRĒZ's bet on a future beyond THC, Stars & Honey's leap from DTC success to a nationwide Target launch, and how brands are reinventing Shirley Temples, protein bars, and Rice Krispie treats for a new generation of consumers. Show notes: 0:20: Fancy Talk. Strategizing For A Ban. E-Comm Insights. Why Buy? Shirley A Hot Trend. Aye, Captain. –  Ray highlights the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show and Taste Radio's Elevator Talk series before the hosts shift to a conversation about the challenges facing cannabis beverage brand BRĒZ. They discuss looming federal regulations that could severely restrict THC products and the company's efforts to expand with non-infused adaptogen beverages. The conversation then turns to protein bar brand Stars & Honey, which secured a nationwide Target launch and a $24 million investment from VMG Partners after spending years refining its direct-to-consumer business. The hosts discuss the brand's growth strategy, product positioning, and the broader appeal of flavor-forward protein bars. They also sample protein bar brand Samsara, praising its South Asian-inspired flavors, clean ingredient profile, and emphasis on taste over traditional nutrition-focused messaging. The hosts then discuss GT's Synergy Shirley Temple kombucha collaboration with Cheribundi, spotlight Lil' Bucks' buckwheat-based snack bars and note the rise of better-for-you alternatives to classic Rice Krispie treats. The episode wraps with a look at Protein Pints' new Protein Pops and a lighthearted farewell to longtime BevNET team member and "Sample Captain" Colin Segrue as he relocates from Boston to the New York area. Brands in this episode: BRĒZ, Stars & Honey, Neutonic, Cann, Trip, Celsius, Olipop, Samsara, Mezcla, MOSH, GT's Living Foods, Cheribundi, Lil' Bucks, BTR Nation, Protein Pints

Rootless are a Glasgow-based collective of Romani and Indian musicians united by a shared mission: to honour the deep historical bond between Roma and Indian cultures through music. The band was created by producer Janos and Sodhi, drawn together by the ancient migration story that connects both communities. Their sound fuses Bhangra rhythms with Romani instrumentation, blending folk, Sufi and South Asian influences into something entirely their own. Their debut single "RakiTakitaNana" was covered by EarMilk, Plastic Magazine and Magnetic Magazine among others. Their new single "Dam Mast Qalander" releases June 19th, 2026.Born of the Ando Glaso Collective. Follow @ando_glaso and @rootless64We spoke to Janos Lang - Founder of the band (AG Productions - Roma led multicultural production company), Sarmad Ghafoor - British - Pakistani Music Producer for Rootless, and Matus Jaco ( Guitarist ) .The Romani crushes for this episode are Lulo Reinhardt, Tcha Limberger, Taraf de Haidouks, Roby Lakatos, and Gipsy Kings.Thank you for listening to Romanistan podcast. Please subscribe, rate, + review, + share with your friends! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @romanistanpodcast. Subscribe to our Patreon to join the conversation and our private community for just $5 a month. Or donate any amount to Ko-fi.com/romanistan. We depend on your support to keep going. You can book readings and events and take workshops with Jez at jezminavonthiele.com, and book readings and holistic healing sessions with Paulina at romaniholistic.com. Follow Jez on Instagram @jezmina.vonthiele & Paulina @romaniholistic. Get our book Secrets of Romani Fortune Telling wherever books are sold. If you love it, write us a review. Visit us at romanistanpodcast.com and email us at romanistanpodcast@gmail.com for inquiries. Romanistan is hosted by Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina StevensConceived of by Paulina StevensEdited by Viktor PachasMusic by Viktor PachasArtwork by Elijah VardoSupport the show

When Shekar Sathyanarayana, founder of Nalla, began visiting wineries in Santa Barbara and talked about Indian food, winemakers loved the food, but had never paired it with wine. Now, Nalla has brought Indian food and wine pairing to over 100 events hosted at wineries and other venues and Shekar shares what he has learned about match Indian food and wine. Detailed Show Notes: Shekar's background: 1st generation South Indian, grew up in Kansas, was a talent agent and lawyerNalla foundingStarted as Indian food gatherings (2016) to explore different Indian cuisinesShekar knew nothing about wine, started driving to Santa Barbara wine country and learningWineries said they'd never paired wine and Indian cuisine beforeNalla experiences, officially launched 2023Where South Asian cuisines and wine industry meet, includes culture (live music, dance, decor - e.g. - Thali plates, plates with small bowls in them)Done 100+ events at wineries and 3rd party venues1st winery partner was Brecon Estate in Paso Robles, learned Albarino and samosas work well togetherDoes 4 entrees, each from a different region, coursed w/ 2 wine glasses side by side, and data captured on preferences~25-50 guests at each eventLarge market opportunity: 2.1B South Asians globally, ~6M in the US; highest household disposable income (~$100k for South Asian, ~$150k for Indians); very food forward and know little about wineIndian wine~200 wineries in IndiaGrow varieties to sell (e.g. - rose), haven't figured out what grows best yet2 harvests / yearFocus is educating people about wine, not yet integrated w/ food4 components to “spicy” foodCapsaicin - the heat in chilis, gives a burning sensation; can be offset by milk/dairy which has casein, a protein that binds to capsaicinAromatics (e.g. - coriander, cumin, cinnamon, clove, cardamon) - no heat, but lots of smell and tasteSichuan pepper - gives a tingle, drying, numbing sensation (not common in Indian food)Piperine - key compound in black pepper, common in South Indian cuisine; can often flatten winesIndian food & wine pairing - match aromatics w/ wine, heat comes secondCapsaicin and alcohol make the heat worse, try to stay

Mystapaki aka Bilal Hassan is a content creator, writer and photojournalist who posts primarily about travel and culture while opening up a window for the outside world to have a peek into what everyday life is like in Pakistan. He's written for and been in numerous local and international publications namely VICE, the Guardian, Toronto Star, Print India and Dawn Pakistan.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceTo support the channel:Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912Patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceAnd Please stay in touch:https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperienceThe podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikhFacebook.com/Shehzadghias/Twitter.com/shehzad89Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44l9XMwecN5nSgIF2Dvivg/joinChapters:0:00 Introduction and Bodybuilding4:00 Myanmar and South Asian connection15:00 Buddhism and Politics 20:00 Travelling to Myanmar and Karachi Airport32:00 Iranians have Aura and visiting Lebanon 35:00 G*nocide sites in Myanmar38:00 Pakistan deserves credit for diplomacy in Iran-USA47:00 Shahbaz Sharif, Journalism and Islamabad talks1:00:00 Godi Media, Modi and Kunal Kamra 1:06:32 Old Actors looking for relevance 1:09:30 PTI Cult1:11:31 Nadir Ali, Sparrow and disagreements online1:19:00 Trolls online1:25:20 Culture in Pakistan and basic etiquettes 1:41:26 Traffic in Pakistan1:46:00 What can Pakistan learn from other countries1:49:50 Favourite places to visit1:53:24 Audience Questions

After working with NSW Corrective Services for the past ten years, Mohinder Singh, a Sikh migrant, has now been appointed Community Brand Ambassador. After leaving a career in banking and moving to Australia, he chose a career path that remains largely invisible in the Indian and South Asian community in Australia. In this conversation with SBS Hindi, Mohinder Singh shares his story and explains why this field holds stable, meaningful career opportunities for new migrants.

Listen to the latest Australian news from SBS Gujarati. - SBS Gujarati પર ઓસ્ટ્રેલિયાના તાજા અને મહત્વના સમાચાર મેળવવા ઉપર ઓડિયો પ્લે બટન પર ક્લિક કરો.SBS Gujarati is a part of SBS South Asian, the destination channel for all South Asians living in Australia.To hear more podcasts from SBS Gujarati, subscribe to our podcast collection.Tune in to SBS Gujarati live on Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website.On SBS South Asian YouTube channel, follow SBS Gujarati podcasts and videos. You can also enjoy programs in 10 South Asian languages, plus SBS Spice content in English. It is also available on SBS On Demand. - SBS Gujarati ના વધુ પોડકાસ્ટ સાંભળવા માટે, અમારા Podcast પેજને સબસ્ક્રાઇબ કરો.SBS Gujarati નું જીવંત પ્રસારણ બુધવાર અને શુક્રવારે બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે SBS South Asian પર બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે ડિજિટલ રેડિયો પર, તમારા ટેલિવિઝન પર ચેનલ 305 પર, SBS Audio એપ્લિકેશન દ્વારા અથવા અમારી Website પરથી માણી શકો છો.SBS South Asian YouTube ચેનલ પર, SBS Gujarati podcasts ને ફોલો કરો.તમે SBS Spice પર અંગ્રેજી સહિત 10 ભાષાઓમાં કાર્યક્રમો માણી શકો છો.તે SBS On Demand પર પણ ઉપલબ્ધ છે.Listen to SBS Gujarati every Wednesday and Friday at 2 pm

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Pritika Swarup, founder of Prakti, for a conversation that explores the intersection of Ayurveda, modern skincare, and cultural authenticity. More than a discussion about products, this episode examines how ancient wellness philosophies can inform a more thoughtful and holistic approach to skin health.Drawing from her upbringing and lifelong exposure to Ayurvedic traditions, Pritika shares how her perspective on beauty was shaped by the belief that skin reflects much more than what happens on the surface. Rather than focusing solely on visible concerns, Ayurveda encourages a broader understanding of balance, lifestyle, stress, and overall wellbeing—an approach that continues to guide the philosophy behind Prakti.The conversation also explores the challenges of building a culturally rooted brand in a global market. From honoring South Asian traditions through design and storytelling to thoughtfully incorporating Ayurvedic botanicals into modern formulations, Pritika discusses the importance of creating products that feel both authentic and accessible. Throughout the episode, she advocates for moving beyond simplified labels and embracing a deeper understanding of where ingredients, rituals, and beauty practices originate.Pritika also reflects on her own experiences with acne, hyperpigmentation, and representation in beauty, sharing how those challenges influenced her commitment to developing products with long-term skin health in mind.Listen to the full episode to hear Pritika Swarup discuss Ayurveda, botanical innovation, cultural authenticity, and why the future of skincare may lie at the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern science.Shop PraktiDon't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!Support the show

The usual way to measure women's power in politics is to count the seats they hold in parliament. But most women who take part in politics never stand for office. They vote, attend meetings, petition, protest, or try to get the water supply fixed. In this week's VoxDev Talk, Soledad Artiz Prillaman of Stanford talks to Tim Phillips about her new review of the research into non-elite women's participation in politics, written with Peace Medie (University of Bristol).They are not elite women with less money, she argues. They want different things and face different constraints. Social norms can prevent them from achieving the change they want. But in the Global South there is evidence that non-elite women are using collective action to gain access to politics, and using that access to renegotiate the norms that hold them back, rather than waiting for those norms to shift first.The research behind this episode:Medie, Peace A., and Soledad Artiz Prillaman. 2026. "Nonelite Women's Participation in Politics." Annual Review of Political Science, vol. 29.To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim, and Soledad Artiz Prillaman. 2026. "Nonelite Women's Participation in Politics." VoxDev Talks (podcast). Assign this as extra listening. The citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About the guestSoledad Artiz Prillaman is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University and faculty director of the Inclusive Democracy and Development Lab. Her research spans comparative political economy, development, and gender, with a focus on South Asia and on how and when women gain access to politics, both as citizens and as representatives. She is the author of The Patriarchal Political Order: The Making and Unraveling of the Gendered Participation Gap in India (Cambridge University Press, 2023).The paper is co-authored with Peace A. Medie, Associate Professor in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies at the University of Bristol. Her work covers gender, security, and politics in Africa, including the campaigns to end violence against women.Research cited in this episodeElite and nonelite women. The paper defines eliteness by access to political power, not by office held or income alone. Elites include elected representatives, but also academics and business executives whose position gives them access to power. Nonelites are those who lack that access. The distinction matters because policy aimed at getting more women into elite positions only helps everyone else if elite and nonelite women want the same things, and the evidence that they do is thin.The income puzzle. At the individual level, income is generally uncorrelated with women's turnout; at the national level, GDP predicts nonelite women's participation only in some places. Women in paid work do participate more, but the driver appears to be the networks and information that come with a job, not the wage.Vote agency. Showing up to vote is not the same as voting freely. Asked whether they would vote for their own preferred party or the one a male gatekeeper preferred, at least half of women in some South Asian settings say they would defer. Work by Sara Khan shows that the women with the least agency are those whose preferences differ most from the men who hold power over them.Varieties of patriarchy. All societies are patriarchal, but patriarchy operates differently across them. In parts of South Asia it takes the form of explicit, socially sanctioned control over where women go and how they vote. In the United States and Europe it shows up earlier, as socialisation, producing large gender gaps in stated political interest. Same underlying force, different mechanics, different policy conclusions.Quotas. More than 100 countries have adopted some form of electoral gender quota, making it the most widespread women's empowerment policy in the world. The evidence on whether quotas help nonelite women is mixed; they raise some women's participation in some places, but in others the effect is null or negative. In India, Prillaman notes campaign material for quota seats that pairs the woman candidate's name with a man's photograph.Collective action. Networks outside the home, through women's groups, microcredit groups, churches, unions or friendship circles, raise women's participation by widening their information and giving them cover against backlash. Prillaman argues that in the Global South women are increasingly using collective action to gain access to politics, and using that access to renegotiate norms, rather than waiting for norms to change first.More from VoxDevWhere are the Indian female politicians?, an interview with Lakshmi Iyer on why a woman winning office in India does not lead to more women standing next time.Related reading on VoxDevGrassroots party activism by women promotes equal political participation, in which Tanushree Goyal finds that women politicians in Delhi recruit women activists, narrowing gender gaps in political knowledge and participation.Women's microcredit groups empower women politically, in which Prillaman shows that microcredit groups raise women's political participation in India by building their networks, not their bank balances.

From cinematic wedding films to designer ethnic wear and multi-day celebrations, South Asian weddings in Australia are becoming bigger, more personalised, and increasingly experience-driven. Through conversations with wedding storyteller Robbie, luxury fashion retailer Ayushi, and Melbourne-based wedding planner and decorator Guneet, this audio report explores changing expectations, digital influences, and how couples are bringing the scale and grandeur of Indian weddings to Australia.

Listen to the latest Australian news from SBS Gujarati. - SBS Gujarati પર ઓસ્ટ્રેલિયાના તાજા અને મહત્વના સમાચાર મેળવવા ઉપર ઓડિયો પ્લે બટન પર ક્લિક કરો.SBS Gujarati is a part of SBS South Asian, the destination channel for all South Asians living in Australia.To hear more podcasts from SBS Gujarati, subscribe to our podcast collection.Tune in to SBS Gujarati live on Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website.On SBS South Asian YouTube channel, follow SBS Gujarati podcasts and videos. You can also enjoy programs in 10 South Asian languages, plus SBS Spice content in English. It is also available on SBS On Demand. - SBS Gujarati ના વધુ પોડકાસ્ટ સાંભળવા માટે, અમારા Podcast પેજને સબસ્ક્રાઇબ કરો.SBS Gujarati નું જીવંત પ્રસારણ બુધવાર અને શુક્રવારે બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે SBS South Asian પર બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે ડિજિટલ રેડિયો પર, તમારા ટેલિવિઝન પર ચેનલ 305 પર, SBS Audio એપ્લિકેશન દ્વારા અથવા અમારી Website પરથી માણી શકો છો.SBS South Asian YouTube ચેનલ પર, SBS Gujarati podcasts ને ફોલો કરો.તમે SBS Spice પર અંગ્રેજી સહિત 10 ભાષાઓમાં કાર્યક્રમો માણી શકો છો.તે SBS On Demand પર પણ ઉપલબ્ધ છે.Listen to SBS Gujarati every Wednesday and Friday at 2 pm

House of Ed Vol. 105 Feat. Sana Show: House of Ed Artist: Ed Hoffman Guest: Sana Air Date: 18 June 2026 Genre: House / Tech House / Disco House / Minimal On this month's episode of House of Ed, we are bringing a piece of Miami magic straight to your speakers. I had the absolute pleasure of crossing paths with the incredibly talented Sana down in Miami, and it was instant friendship. Beyond being an amazing human, her production skills and curation are next level. Hailing from NYC, Sana is taking over the guest mix to showcase her signature sound: a brilliant blend of global and experimental house, beautifully woven with rich South Asian influences. Get ready for a sonic journey that bridges continents, genres, and friendships. Tracklist: Ramin Rezaie - Simple (Original Mix) Cside - Cosmic Funk Stevie Williams - House Music's Bumpin' Hayden Atkins - Shake It (Bonus Track) Flash 89 - Track Control (Extended Mix) Seumas Norv - No Dancer (Extended Mix) Holt 88 - Miss Bossy (Extended Mix) St. David - Lola Revenge Dam Swindle feat. DJ Minx - Back to the Old School Dale Howard - House Mentality Dec Duffy - Boulevard Ed Hoffman, Eskay - Meant To Be Ft. Veronika Wild Ryan Nicholls - Take Your Time Alyment - ID Balta - Ready Tabby - Boom (Original Mix) SONIKSSP, Tom Reed - Alert (Original Mix) Nhii, Shao Dow, Akira Arasawa - Mata (Original Mix) Indo Warehouse, Rashmeet Kaur, Kahani, Kunal Merchant - Chor Sana - Dhol Rhythm X-Coast - Bailando (Original Mix) Green Velvet, Walter Philips - Shake & Pop (Original Mix) Sana, Shehaq, Naayaab - Laparwa (Sana Remix) Whitesquare - Acid Flashes (Original Mix) Akki, Aaliyah - Are You That Somebody (Akki Remix) Tim Dauz, In The Red - Left Shoe Taylor Bradford - Chicken Marinara Dinero Saqib, Naayaab, Indo Warehouse - Junoon (Original Mix) Originally broadcast on Data Transmission Radio. Listen live and explore the archive: https://radio.datatransmission.co

Psychologist and "mindhacker Hiba Balfaqih tell us about the four money mindsets and how to address them. Injeel Moti tell us why she created "Brown Girls Invest", a platform that address the cultural roots of many South Asian women towards money. She is joined by Gulnoor Issabek, finance coach. Will you let your teenagers work in Dubai? We've got working students Alia and Roshan sharing their stories, and employer Riyaz Sutterwalla of View Emirates to share their experience. Audrey Hametner, Founder and CEO of The Bedrock Programme, also joins us to tell us why the "working student" culture hasn't taken off in the UAE. And finally, are you the main caregiver and sole breadwinner in the family? Who's looking after you?Dr. Ritu Gupta, clinical psychologist, addresses the issues that arise with being the "responsible one".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mirza Ghalib's Har Ek Baat Pe Kahte Ho Tum Ki Tu Kya Hai is one of the most quoted, most performed, and most misunderstood ghazals in the Urdu canon. Burair and Kshitij go sher by sher through one of Ghalib's most layered and defiant ghazals — wounded pride, jealousy, blood and ash, wine and paradise, and a final, bitter jab at the Mughal court.Burair wrestles honestly with Ghalib's density — the philosophical leaps and unusual word choices that make this poet famously difficult even for native Urdu speakers. Kshitij offers his own reading of the khum sher, suggesting the wine vat represents something larger and all-encompassing, with the smaller vessels standing in as different paths — each holding a part of the whole, but not all of it. The two also unpack the cultural and religious context behind Ghalib's most provocative sher on paradise and wine, drawing on Burair's own upbringing in an Islamic household.The episode also touches on Gulzar's 1988 Doordarshan series Mirza Ghalib, starring Naseeruddin Shah, and how lines from this very ghazal were used in that series to dramatize the poet's struggles with court patronage and personal isolation.

Listen to the latest Australian news from SBS Gujarati. - SBS Gujarati પર ઓસ્ટ્રેલિયાના તાજા અને મહત્વના સમાચાર મેળવવા ઉપર ઓડિયો પ્લે બટન પર ક્લિક કરો.SBS Gujarati is a part of SBS South Asian, the destination channel for all South Asians living in Australia.To hear more podcasts from SBS Gujarati, subscribe to our podcast collection.Tune in to SBS Gujarati live on Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website.On SBS South Asian YouTube channel, follow SBS Gujarati podcasts and videos. You can also enjoy programs in 10 South Asian languages, plus SBS Spice content in English. It is also available on SBS On Demand. - SBS Gujarati ના વધુ પોડકાસ્ટ સાંભળવા માટે, અમારા Podcast પેજને સબસ્ક્રાઇબ કરો.SBS Gujarati નું જીવંત પ્રસારણ બુધવાર અને શુક્રવારે બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે SBS South Asian પર બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે ડિજિટલ રેડિયો પર, તમારા ટેલિવિઝન પર ચેનલ 305 પર, SBS Audio એપ્લિકેશન દ્વારા અથવા અમારી Website પરથી માણી શકો છો.SBS South Asian YouTube ચેનલ પર, SBS Gujarati podcasts ને ફોલો કરો.તમે SBS Spice પર અંગ્રેજી સહિત 10 ભાષાઓમાં કાર્યક્રમો માણી શકો છો.તે SBS On Demand પર પણ ઉપલબ્ધ છે.Listen to SBS Gujarati every Wednesday and Friday at 2 pm

What happens to career strategy, leadership, and professional growth when the traditional rules of the corporate game are rewritten in real time?  In this episode of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, I sit down with executive search expert, leadership advisor, and host of the Corporate Confessions podcast, Deepali Vyas. Known widely as the "Elite Recruiter," Deepali has spent 25 years advising Fortune 500 companies, hedge funds, and high-growth AI organizations on executive hiring and leadership strategy.  Deepali pulls back the curtain on the "unwritten rules" of hierarchical organizations and explains why the traditional chronological resume is completely dead in today's attention-deficit economy. She introduces a modern framework for career positioning, detailing how professionals can build "The Signal"—a powerful one-page personal narrative—and why tying your outcomes directly to the dollar is essential for survival.  We also dive deep into the rising era of the "Company of One," the crucial differences between mentorship and true sponsorship, and how human skills like storytelling and judgment become your ultimate agency in the age of Agentic AI.  Deepali shares insights on:• The Death of the Traditional Resume: Why a chronological autobiography fails to get noticed, and how to capture an employer's attention in six seconds using "The Signal".  • The "So What" Filter: A simple, high-impact framework to flip your resume bullet points from passive tasks into quantifiable business value.  • Advisor vs. Mentor vs. Sponsor: Delineating these three fluid yet distinct roles, and why assuming your manager is your mentor by default is a common career trap.  • The "Company of One" Era: How new graduates and professionals can use portfolio careers and skill-stacking to build independent influence and security.  • Overcoming the Intelligence Paradox: Why highly accomplished individuals frequently fall into analysis paralysis, and how executive judgment thrives under ambiguity.  Whether you're a recent graduate navigating an unstable market, an executive looking to pivot, or someone trying to protect your human agency in an automated world, Deepali's masterclass in career literacy provides an invaluable blueprint.  If you enjoyed this deep dive, please hit that subscribe button, leave a comment, and share this video with someone looking to scale their own vision!   --------------------------Chapters-00:00 Introduction01:32 Deciphering Success in a Disrupted World04:05 The Unwritten Rules of Corporate Culture07:35 Post-Pandemic Workforce and Changing Rules09:23 Why the Traditional Resume Is Dead12:11 Tying Your Value to the Dollar: Modern Resume Metrics14:14 Falling into Recruiting: Cowardly Resignations & Indian Parents15:49 Navigating Wall Street & Standing Out at Goldman Sachs17:30 Sponsor Break: Travelopod19:18 Advisor vs. Mentor vs. Sponsor: Delineating the Roles23:47 Learning from Mentorship Mistakes and taking action28:49 Sponsor Break: Timberdog29:19 Overcoming the "Intelligence Paradox" & The "So What" Filter32:53 Identity, Seasons of Career, and Merit36:55 Portfolio Careers & The Era of the "Company of One"40:50 Cultivating Trust & Why AI Will Never Replace Human Connection42:44 Wrap-up & Shoutouts

Listen to the latest Australian news from SBS Gujarati. - SBS Gujarati પર ઓસ્ટ્રેલિયાના તાજા અને મહત્વના સમાચાર મેળવવા ઉપર ઓડિયો પ્લે બટન પર ક્લિક કરો.SBS Gujarati is a part of SBS South Asian, the destination channel for all South Asians living in Australia.To hear more podcasts from SBS Gujarati, subscribe to our podcast collection.Tune in to SBS Gujarati live on Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website.On SBS South Asian YouTube channel, follow SBS Gujarati podcasts and videos. You can also enjoy programs in 10 South Asian languages, plus SBS Spice content in English. It is also available on SBS On Demand. - SBS Gujarati ના વધુ પોડકાસ્ટ સાંભળવા માટે, અમારા Podcast પેજને સબસ્ક્રાઇબ કરો.SBS Gujarati નું જીવંત પ્રસારણ બુધવાર અને શુક્રવારે બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે SBS South Asian પર બપોરે 2 વાગ્યે ડિજિટલ રેડિયો પર, તમારા ટેલિવિઝન પર ચેનલ 305 પર, SBS Audio એપ્લિકેશન દ્વારા અથવા અમારી Website પરથી માણી શકો છો.SBS South Asian YouTube ચેનલ પર, SBS Gujarati podcasts ને ફોલો કરો.તમે SBS Spice પર અંગ્રેજી સહિત 10 ભાષાઓમાં કાર્યક્રમો માણી શકો છો.તે SBS On Demand પર પણ ઉપલબ્ધ છે.Listen to SBS Gujarati every Wednesday and Friday at 2 pm

On this day, 13 June 1992, around 20 mostly South Asian women workers at a metal finishing plant in Burnsall, Smethwick, walked out on strike. They were demanding union recognition, equal pay and basic health and safety. The employer retaliated by sacking all of them. There were several disagreements between the union, GMB, and the strikers about the form and nature of the strike action, with the strikers increasingly resisting the union's attempts to take control of the strike action. Though the women had had strong community support, the strike was eventually called off after a year by union officials, who decided it was unwinnable.More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8492/burnsall-strikeOur work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

On Saturday, voters will elect a new mayor in Frisco for the first time in nine years. Candidate Rod Vilhauer said on a podcast in March that South Asian immigrants were “moving in and out of Frisco like rats” and called Islam a “terrorist group.” In other news, as the Dallas Wings seek answers about when they can move their game-day home to downtown Dallas, the WNBA team has made progress on a new practice facility; New zoning for more than 3,300 acres in South Dallas, a continuation of a wide-ranging community vision, got the green light from Dallas City Council on Wednesday night; and Clark and Dan Hunt said their dad, Lamar, could not have fully fathomed what's happening over the next four weeks with D-FW the epicenter of the World Cup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on America in the MorningTrump Signals Agreement With Iran President Trump on Thursday withdrew threats to take Iran's most critical oil terminal and also put a stop to his previously scheduled attacks on Iran, saying in the Oval Office that an agreement to end hostilities with Iran may happen as soon as this weekend.  Politico is reporting that this was put into motion after several Gulf and South Asian nations called the president to change his mind.  Ed Donahue reports that if an agreement is signed, it will include Iranian guarantees that it will not pursue any nuclear weapons and also reopen the Strait of Hormuz.   Trump Names New DNI Nominee With Democrats and some prominent Republicans revolting over President Trump's pick to serve as interim Director of National Intelligence after the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard, the President has named someone else as a permanent replacement.  John Stolnis has the latest from Washington.   FISA Expiring A key surveillance tool that lets the U.S. collect intelligence abroad now seems nearly certain to expire at midnight, after 20 Republicans broke ranks with the GOP and joined House Democrats to vote it down.  Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.   86-47 Etched Near White House Large numbers “86-47,” a phrase generally used to signal opposition to President Donald Trump appeared etched into the grass on the National Mall on Thursday in an area just a short walk from the White House and where a UFC fight will be held on the South Lawn of the presidential residence.   Pentagon Incident There was concern at the Pentagon on Thursday after the home of the Department of War went into lockdown after its internal systems detected a dangerous air quality issue.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports about 25-thousand people who work inside the building were impacted.   SCOTUS Says No To Execution The US Supreme Court in a ruling on Thursday night said the state of Alabama cannot execute a death row inmate by a method using nitrogen gas.  The high court's ruling upheld two lower courts that said using that type of method of execution violates the ban on cruel and unusual punishment, sending Jeffrey Lee back to death row.  Mike Hempen reports.   Debating The Anthony Case America is still reacting to the murder conviction of a black teenager in Texas who stabbed another teenager at a high school track meet.  Correspondent Clayton Neville has the latest from Dallas.   Minnesota Shooter Takes A Plea Deal The man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband...and the injuring of a state senator and his wife, has taken a plea deal that spares him the death penalty.  Correspondent Joan Jones has details on the case that shocked the nation nearly one year ago.   SpaceX IPO Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX makes its debut on Wall Street today, with an initial public offering that is expected to shatter records.   Correspondent Damian Troise explains. Producer Prices Higher The prices for what we pay shot up in the Month of May, as a report points at the war with Iran for price hikes.  Correspondent Mike Hempen reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you talk about breast cancer when it’s something your community rarely discusses, sometimes because of culture, sometimes because of faith, and sometimes just because it’s hard? Salima Hirani faced breast cancer not just as a patient, but as a mother, a daughter, and someone who knew the taboos around speaking up. In this episode: - You’ll hear how Salima found her own voice in a world that often keeps silent. - You’ll learn how faith and culture shape conversations about cancer in the family. - You’ll find out how sharing your story can help break stigma and help someone else feel less alone. Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts. Key Questions Answered 1. How did Salima first discover her breast cancer and when was she diagnosed? 2. What was Salima’s initial reaction upon being told she had breast cancer? 3.How did Salima share her diagnosis with her children and what were their reactions? 4. What was Salima’s treatment journey for breast cancer? 5. How did Salima’s children support her during her cancer journey? 6. What taboos or social challenges did Salima encounter in her community regarding breast cancer? 7. Why do some women in Salima’s community avoid breast cancer screening or mammograms? 8. How does Salima recommend supporting other women facing a breast cancer diagnosis? 9. What advice does Salima offer to her community about breast cancer awareness and prevention? 10. How does Salima view the importance of forming support groups and community awareness initiatives? Timestamped Overview 00:00 "Breaking Taboos on Breast Cancer" 06:05 Cancer Chart Reviewer Experience 07:59 Quick Errand Across Street 10:19 Single Parent's Concerns for Kids 13:26 Sibling Misunderstanding Spurs Emotions 17:48 "Nurse Overcomes MRI Anxiety" 21:06 "Personal Choice for Peace" 26:10 Private Strength Amid Diagnosis 29:23 "Prioritize Health Screenings Now" 31:12 Silent Support Network 34:41 Engaging Older Generations in Health Conversations 38:38 Addressing Health Concerns Early 39:51 Silent Struggle: Family's Cancer Journey 43:42 Breast Cancer: Treatable at Any Stage 49:08 Empowering Dialogue for Women's Health 52:58 Breast Cancer Warriors UniteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a venture capitalist steps out into the front office of a major sports franchise?   In this episode of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, I sit down with entrepreneur, VC, and the new co-owner and alternate governor of the Portland Trail Blazers, Sheel Tyle. We break down the massive shifts happening at the intersection of global technology, venture capital, and professional sports.  Sheel pulls back the curtain on why an NBA franchise is less like a legacy asset and more like a fast-scaling tech startup. He opens up about the reality of being a local team owner, the "external rate of return" that matters more than profit maximizing, and how a new generation of tech-forward owners are preparing for an AI revolution in basketball.  We also dive deep into what it means to be a first-generation Indian-American sports owner, challenging the traditional immigrant path toward stable careers to take massive risks that can shape a community.  Sheel shares insights on:• The Reality of Local Ownership: Navigating the public eye in Portland alongside his wife, Oregon's Secretary of Health.  • The True ROI of Sports: Why building a civic anchor matters far more than just looking at profit margins.  • The Tech Revolution in the NBA: Lessons learned from fellow owners like Steve Ballmer and Mark Lore on how AI will reshape player analytics and fan experiences.  • Redefining Risk for First-Gen South Asians: Honoring our immigrant parents' hard work by having the courage to make bold, unconventional bets.  • The Mindset of a Champion: Why contentment does not mean stasis, and lessons on the grind from Damian Lillard's 6:30 AM gym sessions.  Whether you're a sports fanatic, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone navigating your own "quantum leaps" in life, Sheel's framework for mission-driven leadership offers a compelling blueprint.  If you enjoyed this deep dive, please hit that subscribe button, leave a comment, and share this video with someone looking to scale their own vision!   Chapters:00:00 Introduction03:28 Local Ownership in the Portland Community05:22 The True ROI: Purpose Over Profit Maximization07:41 Is the NBA a Startup? Global Expansion & Asia Markets12:53 The Tech-Forward Owner15:09 Solving Massive Challenges: Lessons from CelTel & NALA20:46 Sponsor Break: Travelopod22:24 Data vs. Emotion: Navigating the Noise of Fans and DMs25:19 Embracing Risk as a First-Gen Indian-American Leader32:54 Leadership, Parenting, and Damian Lillard's Work Ethic37:09 Why Contentment Does Not Mean Stasis#SheelTyle #PortlandTrailBlazers #VentureCapital#SouthAsianExcellence #TrustMeIKnowWhatImDoing #NBAShoutouts from this episode: - to the Spurs, the Knicks, and their fans for holding the space until my Lakers are ready to play June basketball again! - to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for stepping up in the T20. - to Nithya Raman for closing the gap as those votes are still being counted.Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple or Spotify or wherever you podcast!TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING is proudly brought to you by TRAVELOPOD, with personalized travel support to help you explore the wonders of the world.  Start your next journey at vacation.travelopod.com

In this episode, Geopolitical Analyst and Commentator Jason Vaidya delivers a deep geopolitical analysis of some of the most important global events shaping today's world. From the ongoing Ukraine Russia War and the latest battlefield developments to the growing tensions between Israel and Iran, this conversation explores the shifting balance of power in international relations. Jason Vaidya examines the current political situation in India, public protests, governance challenges, and the broader implications for South Asian politics. The discussion also covers the Strait of Hormuz and its strategic importance to global energy markets, along with the role of major powers in the Middle East. Other key topics include China Taiwan tensions, the controversy surrounding the Dalai Lama reincarnation issue, Nepal border concerns, GCC developments, South America's changing geopolitical landscape, and the future direction of global politics. Jason also shares insights from his professional journey, including his experience in plastic recycling, observations on Nepal's economic development, agriculture policy, and the feasibility of data centers in Nepal. If you're interested in geopolitics, international relations, world affairs, India politics, the Russia Ukraine conflict, Israel Iran conflict, Middle East tensions, China Taiwan relations, Nepal economy, and strategic global analysis, this episode provides valuable perspectives and in-depth commentary. GET CONNECTED WITH Jason Vaidya: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GeoPoliticalCrossroad  

This episode is deeply personal to me.As the daughter of Indian immigrants, a breast surgeon, and a breast cancer survivor, I've seen firsthand how difficult it can be for our community to talk openly about health issues—especially breast cancer.Too often, conversations are delayed by fear, stigma, modesty, or the belief that we should simply "stay strong" and endure.But when it comes to breast cancer:

Rhea is an Indian-American teen who discovers her passion for creating DJ mixes that blend the rich textures of her South Asian culture and the world around her. Her life revolves around her eclectic group of friends, her after-school coding club, her family's Indian restaurant and her tightknit, multigenerational family. Everything changes when she falls for aspiring DJ Max, and her long-lost fervor for music is reignited. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Jay shares her journey working in cancer research to receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer herself. Jay opens up about discovering a lump in 2018 at age 47, navigating a stage 3 diagnosis, and dealing with chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Drawing on her science background, she also explains how understanding the system helped her advocate for herself and regain some sense of control. She reflects on the emotional realities of cancer, and the role of family, culture and her community in her experience. Jay also speaks about the challenges within the South Asian community, where cancer is often a taboo subject, and highlights the urgent need for better awareness and representation. Jay is now a strong advocate for health literacy and inclusion, and tells Laura about her dedication to empowering women to listen to their bodies, ask questions, and speak up in healthcare settings.Breast Cancer Now support & information: https://breastcancernow.orgClinical trials database: https://clinicaltrials.govKey topics:01:11 Let's get to know Jay02:19 Jay's background working in clinical trials03:52 Jay is diagnosed with breast cancer08:59 The loneliness of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment12:12 What Jay learned from her cancer diagnosis16:19 The importance of self advocacy and health literacy20:43 How Jay approached telling her parents about her cancer diagnosis26:53 Jay 8 years on from diagnosis28:38 Troubles with tamoxifen31:33 Ways Jay deals with life after cancer treatment34:45 Working towards better research representation in under-represented communities37:44 Jay's work educating people about breast cancer40:51 Cancer in the South Asian community42:59 Improving cancer outcomes in Black and South Asian populations

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Technology isn't magic. But sometimes dropping your spoon in a bowl of soup during a pandemic leads you somewhere extraordinary.In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O'Kane speaks with Thierry Sanders, founder of Kolekt, a platform connecting waste collectors, buy-back centres, and recyclers across the Global South. Thierry's background spans fintech, microfinance, and living in developing countries from Ecuador to Pakistan to Indonesia, and Kolekt grew directly out of two weeks spent riding around Bali on a motorbike with informal waste collectors, learning how their world actually works.What makes Kolekt's story unusual is the order of operations. Thierry didn't arrive with a product looking for a market. He started with cigarettes, lunch, and genuine curiosity, and the technology followed the problems he discovered: collectors wasting half their time searching for materials that weren't there, workers without phones or bank accounts locked out of digital systems, and facial recognition tools that didn't work for the people who needed them most.The conversation is direct about the harder edges of this work: the fossil fuel industry flooding markets with cheap virgin plastic, governments demanding surveillance data on immigrant workers, and the gap between EPR policy and what actually reaches the people doing the collecting.✨ In this episode:Thierry tells the origin story of Kolekt, from a pandemic soup bowl in Jakarta to 14,000+ waste collector profiles across six countriesWe explore the practical technology challenges of serving users who have no phone, no bank account, and no reliable connectivityThierry explains how Kolekt discovered and worked around racist bias in open-source facial recognitionBarry and Thierry discuss the economics of informal waste collection and why recycled materials cost more than virgin plasticThierry shares his work advising South Asian governments on EPR legislation and the $100 billion opportunity it representsWe hear how Kolekt chose to lose contracts rather than hand over user data to governments targeting immigrant collectors

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/language

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/poetry

Amrita Chowdhury and Ujaan Ghosh bring into English for the first time a long-inaccessible masterpiece of South Asian literature Baidehisha Bilasa: The Amorous Plays of Sita's Husband (2025). Composed in the late seventeenth century by Upendra Bhanja — the Odia prince-poet hailed as Kavi Samrat, the Emperor of Poets — the work is a Ramayana that privileges shringara, the erotic sentiment, over martial heroism. Rama-the-lover overshadows Rama-the-warrior, and his conjugal life with Sita takes center stage in a poem dense with puns, classical ragas, and chitrapadya — word-arrangements that resolve into wheels, chariots, and arrows on the page. Famously, every verse begins with the letter ba, and the text has long been considered untranslatable. With a preface by Wendy Doniger, Chowdhury and Ghosh's decade-long translation preserves the strangeness and sensuality of the original while opening it to a new readership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

What happens when the career you've worked so hard to build no longer energizes you? In this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, host Anjel B. Hartwell welcomes Bela Shah, a former attorney and ICF-certified coach. Bela shares how feelings of disconnection, burnout, and a lack of alignment ultimately led her to leave a successful legal career and step into coaching. Drawing on her experiences as a first-generation South Asian immigrant, meditation practitioner, and leadership mentor, Bela offers a powerful perspective on self-trust, purpose, and navigating major life transitions.  This conversation is a reminder that leadership begins within and that sometimes the greatest act of courage is trusting yourself enough to create a new path.   What You Will Learn: How to recognize when your work is no longer energizing you. Why self-trust is the foundation of authentic leadership. The signs that may indicate it's time to leave a career that no longer aligns with your values. How small and big leaps of faith contribute to meaningful life transitions. Why rest, reflection, and pauses are essential for making aligned decisions. How meditation and mindfulness can support personal and professional growth. The connection between perfectionism, self-doubt, and the feeling of "not enough." Why community and support systems are critical during periods of change. How coaching helps individuals uncover their own wisdom and insights. The importance of moving from self-sacrifice to self-trust in leadership.   Connect with Bela Shah Wisdom Leadership https://www.wisdomleadership.com/ Connect with Wickedly Smart Women® Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic [5X Award-Winning Book] Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds Email: listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com  

How do we move the needle from simple charity to true, lasting systems change?  Megha Desai, President of the Desai Foundation, joins the podcast to share how they have impacted over 12 million lives by treating dignity as a measurable currency. If you want to catch more deep dives into the global desi and diaspora experience, hit the Subscribe button to join our community!In this episode of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, host Dr. Abhay Dandekar sits down with Megha to explore the powerful intersection of big data and human-centered storytelling. From scaling a modest family ethos of abundance into a globally recognized public non-profit, Megha reveals what it takes to operate an impact organization like an entrepreneurial startup. We also dive deep into the global movement for menstrual equity, shifting the narrative from control to care, and what it truly means to build a sustainable infrastructure of dignity across rural India.In this episode, we cover:• Generational Shepherding: Scaling a family ethos of abundance.• The Startup Mindset: Approaching global philanthropy like a venture pitch• The Currency of Dignity: Bridging corporate investors and rural villages• Data vs. Storytelling: Why the story is the arrow tip but data is what pierces through• Menstrual Equity: Confronting global stigmas to drive health, literacy, and GDP-------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introductions and Identities04:00 Generational Shepherding: Scaling a Family Ethos of Abundance05:55 Moving from a Family Foundation to an Entrepreneurial Startup Model09:45 The Currency of Dignity: Bridging Corporate Donors and Rural Villages13:03 Active Listening in Boardrooms and Villages 17:49 Staying Loyal to Beneficiaries 21:26 Sponsor Break: Travelopod23:55 Collaborative Ecosystems and Sharing Information for Greater Impact  25:58 Menstrual Equity: Confronting Global Stigmas 29:46 Unlearning Assumptions, Cultivating Growth, Sustaining Empowerment35:08 Creating True Systemic Change and Finding Personal ConnectionConnect with Megha Desai & The Desai Foundation:• Website: https://thedesaifoundation.org/• Personal: https://meghadesai.com/Shout outs this week:• Spelling Bee Champ Shrey Parikh• Air conditioners everywhere• Primary voters across the US and especially in California#TheDesaiFoundation #MeghaDesai #MenstrualEquity #SystemicChange #WomenEmpowerment #TrustMeIKnowWhatImDoing #SouthAsianVoices #DiasporaStories #SocialImpact --------------------------Trust Me I Know What I'm Doing | Dr. Abhay DandekarA mirror and window for global Indians and South Asians through conversation.Every week, we share chats with artists, leaders, musicians, chefs, experts, change makers, and innovators from the home and diaspora - sharing their journeys and motivations.Support our sponsors: Start your journey with personalized travel support at https://vacation.travelopod.com/For enquiries

If you've ever felt stuck in a job that looks good on paper but doesn't feel right for you, this episode is for you. Today we are talking about career switching and how to actually change your career to a job that's more aligned to you. Growing up, I was told that you should pick a career and stick to it but the world of work has changed and so has the way we see our careers/jobs. I'm joined by Priya Raj, a fashion and lifestyle journalist who has written for Vogue India and worked at Business Insider and The Telegraph among other big global publications. Both me and Priya started our careers in Finance and in our 20s realised that it wasn't what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives so we decided to change. It wasn't easy to start a new career in our 20s, but in this episode we are going to share how we did it, what motivated us to take that leap, how we keep our imposter syndrome in check and whether or not we regret it. So if you are someone who's struggling with their career or having a little bit of a career crisis and don't know what to do- then this is the episode for you! In the episode: 00:00:00 Intro00:01:37 Why did we start working in Finance? 00:05:29 What made us want to change careers? 00:12:27 Mental Health at work 00:14:07 How have careers changed in 2026?00:15:23 The rise of portfolio careers00:16:14 How to change your career- practical steps00:17:41 Priya's journey to writing for Vogue India00:20:42 Balancing working in Finance and Fashion 00:21:37 Dealing with imposter syndrome 00:23:10 Career switching internally in tech 00:27:55 The importance of good co-workers00:30:38 Dealing with rejection00:31:12 How to build confidence in a new career00:34:24 Telling family about being a journalist 00:37:46 Priya's experience on BBC News 00:40:16 Corporate 9-5 to creative career 00:44:58 How to reach out to journalists to pitch your brand?00:48:40 What is a press release?Don't forget to follow or subscribe to It's Preeti Personal and leave a 5★ review as it helps other South Asian girls find the podcast and feel a little less alone

What would you do if a stranger on your morning commute told you she couldn't have children — and you offered to help? In this episode, I sit down with Gini Bhogal (@ginibhogal), a celebrity bridal hair and makeup artist and a household name in the Asian bridal scene. But behind the brushes and bridal chairs is a story she kept quiet for nearly 30 years... until now. Gini shares how a chance encounter on the London Underground led her to donate her eggs to a complete stranger, for free, against her husband's wishes, without telling her family, and with no idea how it would all unfold. 26 years later, the child she helped bring into the world reached out and found her. If you've ever felt pulled to do something that made no logical sense but felt completely right, this one is for you.

This week on the SheerLuxe Middle East Podcast, Tamara Jabi is joined by Talar and Hebah for a fun-filled catch-up from the stunning new Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai.The trio discuss everything from the latest fashion collaborations making headlines – including Zara x Galliano, Balenciaga x Manolo Blahnik and Hailey Bieber's new Mango campaign – to the standout brands currently on their radar, including Lirika Matoshi, Origin Studios and some exciting South Asian labels worth knowing about. They also share their latest fashion finds, summer wardrobe essentials and the beauty products they can't stop using, from Hourglass highlighters and Dior lip launches to the mascaras currently dominating their makeup bags.Finally, the team dive into the TV shows they're bingeing right now, including Netflix's ‘Million Dollar Secret', debate controversial fashion takes and chat about the wellness products, supplements and health trends everyone is talking about. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe for more weekly episodes.PANELTamara Jabi | @tjabi | https://www.instagram.com/tjabi/ Lioness Horseshoe Jeans | https://lionessfashion.com/products/horseshoe-jean-snow-leopard Talar Nina | @talarnina | https://www.instagram.com/talarnina/Ganni Polo Shirt | https://www.ganni.com/en-gb/polo-shirt-in-spacedyed-knit-chalk-pink-A107007286802.htmlUniqlo Barrel Leg Jeans | https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E479000-000/00?colorDisplayCode=67&sizeDisplayCode=024&pldDisplayCode=033Hebah Baker | @hebahbaker | https://www.instagram.com/hebahbaker/Origins Studios | https://origins-studios.com/THINGS WE LOVErhode Spotwear | https://www.rhodeskin.com/products/spotwear-daisy?_pos=1&_psq=spot&_ss=e&_v=1.0rhode Pocket Blush | https://www.rhodeskin.com/products/pocket-blush-piggyrhode Peptide Eye Prep | https://www.rhodeskin.com/products/peptide-eye-prep-rhode-logorhode Glazing Milk | rhodeskin.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooD2iCylppcO_praPnVYTHYfNLNMTkewtQO-qC_dHuPXXXXpUa-Refy Glow & Sculpt | https://www.sephora.me/ae-en/p/face-primer-glow-sculpt/P10063123Lirika Matoshi Gemstone Jeans | https://lirikamatoshi.com/products/cream-gemstone-jeans?_pos=2&_sid=49e3947bb&_ss=rHai Flora Jacket | https://www.homeofhai.com/product/flora-jacketCord Ivy Top | https://www.cordstudio.com/products/ivy-top-ss26-ivyt-loftNouria | https://nouriadesign.com/Bambah Sleepwear | https://bambah.com/collections/bambah-sleepwearH&M Broderie Anglaise Cotton Pyjamas | http://ae.hm.com/en/buy-broderie-anglaise-cotton-pyjamas-white-0It's 9pm x OCEANUS | https://its9pm.co.uk/collections/its-9pm-x-oceanusH&M Studio Sailor-collared Poplin Blouse | https://ae.hm.com/en/buy-sailor-collared-poplin-blouse-creamKosas Shiny Objects Highlighter | https://www.sephora.me/ae-en/p/shiny-objects-wet-glisten-highlighter-powder/P1000211772Hourglass Unreal Liquid Highlighter | https://www.sephora.me/ae-en/p/unreal-liquid-highlighter/P1000213630Mac Strobe Cream | https://www.maccosmetics.ae/product/strobe-creamDior Addict Glass Lipstick | https://www.sephora.me/ae-en/p/dior-addict-glass-lipstick-ultra-shine-and-hydrating-lip-gloss-stick/P1000214119Mac Lip Liner (Soar) | https://www.maccosmetics.ae/product/lip-pencil?shade=SoarBy Mina Al Sheikhly Layered Mascara | https://byminaalsheikhly.com/products/layered-mascaraLancome Mascara Melter | https://www.lancome.co.uk/makeup/eyes/mascara/mascara-melter/01267-LAC.html

Sealtest's six per cent milk has hit the dairy aisles in Ontario grocery stores. With nearly twice the fat found in whole milk, it's a staple in South Asian recipes. US President Donald Trump has promised to reintroduce whole milk in the United States' school lunch programs, but Health Canada advises lower-fat options for ages above 2-years-old. We speak with Anika Dhalla, a South Asian registered dietician, about the dairy aisle's new addition and the trend towards whole milk

Celeste Vee is an electric violinist who built V Entertainment — a multi-city agency placing trained violinists at South Asian weddings. In this episode, she shares how she went from solo gigging to coordinating 180+ gigs a year across New York, DC, Dallas, Atlanta, and beyond — and how she's training the next generation of Bollywood violinists.

The role of women is growing in Ukraine's war effort, from military recruitment to frontline drone warfare. Anita Rani talks to 'Morva,' a female combat drone pilot who, aged 25, is fighting Russian forces on the front line and Olesia Horiainova, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre - a think tank that works in military recruitment - about how women, and not just Ukrainian women, are getting involved in the fight to defend the country.Alan Milburn, the former Labour health secretary says there's a risk of a "lost generation" in the UK, unless urgent action is taken to ensure more young people are either earning or learning. He's the author of a government-commissioned interim report titled Young People and Work that's released today. To look at what this means for women Anita talks to Kate Nightingale, the campaigns director at Young Women's Trust which champions for young women on low or no pay. When the American Professor of Law, Kimberlé Crenshaw was five years old, at the time of the civil rights era in Ohio, USA, she was allowed to portray a witch but not a princess in a nursery play. Puzzled by her teacher's behaviour, Kimberlé spoke up and never stopped, firmly establishing herself as a Backtalker, the name of her new memoir. Kimberlé joins Anita to talk about becoming a pioneering scholar and writer on civil rights and her instinct to question power and challenge what others accept as fair.A new retrospective of the late Indian artist Mrinalini Mukherjee, a modernist sculptor, has opened at The Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire. Called Mrinalini Mukherjee: Unbound Forms - Women Sculptors of India and Bangladesh, it presents her art alongside that by other sculptors from India and Bangladesh, including her own mother, and explores the impact of South Asian women. Anita talks to the exhibition's curator Tarini Malik and the artist and close friend of Mrinalini's, Bharti Kher. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rebecca Myatt

APEX Express is a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. On this episode, host Miata Tan is joined by guests from the South Asian Coalition, an emergent national network committed to collective liberation and solidarity. Together they explore what it means to build South Asian political power in this moment—and how cross-movement solidarity can shape a more just, multiracial future. Learn more about the South Asian Coalition Website | Instagram | Policy Priorities   The South Asian Coalition was convened in October 2024 by: Manavi, Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, Muslims for Just Futures, and Raksha.   Transcript ​[00:00:00]  Miata Tan : Hello and welcome. You are tuning in to APEX Express, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miata Tan. Tonight, we're focusing on South Asian communities and the organizers working to build political power. South Asians are one of the fastest-growing racial groups in the United States, Over six million people [00:01:00] and roughly a quarter of the Asian American population. South Asian is used as a broad umbrella term for people with roots in countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and sometimes Afghanistan. Though exact definitions can vary across communities and organizations. And as we'll talk about tonight, within the South Asian diaspora who call the United States home, you have a mix of nationalities, religion, immigration status, and more. Tonight, I'm joined by four people working to address the issues impacting South Asian communities in the US and beyond. At a time when questions of belonging, safety, and political power continue to shape immigrant communities across the country, South Asian organizers are building new forms of solidarity while also grappling with the diversity and complexity within their own communities. The first voice you'll hear is Sabiha Basrai Sabiha is the daughter of Muslim Gujarati immigrants and has been [00:02:00] organizing with the Bay Area-based Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA, since 2009. Here's Sabiha helping us to understand how South Asian political organizing has evolved in the United States, especially in the post 9/11 era Sabiha Basrai: Thanks for the opportunity to do some reflection this year marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which was a real a political flashpoint that absolutely changed my life because I was a 19-year-old college student trying to figure out a lot of things about how the world works and my place in it, and my own identity and the multiple identities I hold. Uh, and also where my responsibilities lied in solidarity, not just with other Muslims who were being targeted, but our broad immigrant diasporas and allies, uh, who have experienced discrimination in different forms from the state. So thinking about the ways in which- organizing happened in the, months and years after 9/11 to support immigrant [00:03:00] rights that was really a time in which new projects formed, um, or existing projects kind of found a new focus. ASATA as an organizing project, as a group of volunteers, has both done things like shown up to support folks being called up for the NCR's Special Registration Program and also participate in direct action protests in solidarity against the war, and has continued to be part of coalitional work regionally in the Bay Area. And, you know, more recently, uh, when we think about the ways in which our communities under, are under increased pressure with the Trump administration's immigrant policies, there have been also opportunities to build more relationships and make sure that as we advocate for our community's rights, we're doing so in formation with others, not just focusing on one particular bad piece of legislation, but connecting that to a larger story, to really build towards liberation for all of us. I'll [00:04:00] just add, too that those relationships that were kind of seeded and invested in in that moment of crisis and anxiety and fear have endured in many ways to now. The fact that that very ecosystem is actually growing in this moment is a testament to the relationships that were built in those days. Miata Tan : That was Sabiha Basrai grounding us in the history of South Asian political organizing in the US. As she mentioned, for many South Asians, 9/11 marked a particularly mobilizing moment, one that helped our communities organized and built solidarity. To help us better understand how that moment influenced the evolution of progressive South Asian activism, we now turn to Deepa Iyer, South Asian American writer, strategist, and lawyer. Deepa leads projects on solidarity and social movements at Building Movement Project and brings more than 25 years of experience in Asian American organizing and advocacy Deepa Iyer: I think that I would say that there [00:05:00] were, looking back, a couple of trends and themes that we can pull out from that time. one is that there was definitely a shift in the general consciousness of South Asian communities about our place in American society, our understanding of racism, Islamophobia, and also the role of the state. And so we had a situation where both hate violence and state violence were actually being endured by South Asian, Muslim, Arab communities. And so I think that there was a shift in the ways in which our communities began to think about ourselves in the United States. A second piece is the growth of a field, an ecosystem of South Asian organizations in the wake of the attacks and the global war on terror. So we began to see a lot of groups that were actually formed or becoming more staffed up in the weeks and months after 9/11. For example, the Sikh [00:06:00] Coalition was actually birthed the evening of the attacks, and an organization that I was close to, SALT, was also emerging and forming in the months after 9/11 as well. So we began to see that a, a field was growing. And the third, sort of theme I would point out that Sabihah alluded to is this sense of solidarity, that instead of sort of being siloed as, you know, South Asians working within just our communities and just talking about certain specific issues, there was real sense that we needed to collaborate and build bridges with Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and, Black communities in the United States to understand the trajectory of racism and xenophobia, and how they were all kind of coming together in the weeks after 9/11. Those three themes and trends are what, when I look back, I see coming up over and over again in our messaging and in our advocacy. Miata Tan : [00:07:00] That was Deepa Iyer, as you heard from Deepa, collaboration across movements was essential in helping South Asian communities to understand and respond to the waves of xenophobia in the wake of 9/11. Now we turn to Rajiv Narayan and Farah Mahesri, who lead national policy work at the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA together they launched and now co-lead ASATA's new political base building group, ASATA Power. Rajiv begins by reflecting on what South Asian communities are facing today and what has and hasn't changed since 9/11. Rajiv Narayan: I think unfortunately many of the challenges present in the early 2000s remain today. They take new form. Some have evolved and transformed, but they were ex- existed in, in much the same form following 9/11. One of the, the instances in which I, I learned about that is at the recent South Asian Coalition convening where we did this exercise in mapping a number of [00:08:00] historical and present day events, as well as a future vision of things that are important to our organizations and to our movements. And something that we reflected on together in the convening is that a number of these attacks on our communities have waxed and waned, uh, at different periods in time, dating back to the, the 1960s and truly at, even at the beginning of, you know, the 19th century and the late 18th century. And so, to answer your question specifically, in the early 2000s, like Deepa and Sabihah mentioned, we've dealt with, uh, an incredible expression of Islamophobia of, uh, anti-Brown and anti-Black racism and hate speech. There was a, in, in general a skepticism and unwelcoming of South Asian communities. And unfortunately with the current federal administration and political discourse in our country, uh, a number of those same themes are relevant today and take on similar forms, whether they're in [00:09:00] response to what the federal administration is doing in countries like Iran or previous administrations have done in Afghanistan or Pakistan. I think all of those events underscore all the more so that it's important for our organizations to, organize together, much as we did in the early 2000s, to address these harms, to remember what they look like at previous stages of history, and to fight to prevent them again from happening in the future. Miata Tan : Farah, perhaps you could speak a bit to the organizing. What did that look like, a few years ago, and what does that look like today? How has that changed? Farah Mahersi: Rajiv and I started ASATA Power a couple of years ago specifically to be able to look forward to practice radical imagination, and fight for not just protection of our communities, which we will always do. That is built into our DNAs. It's what we know. It's how we move. And also to fight for things that we want, to build the world that we want to live in so that we're not constantly caught in these cycles. And as we're doing [00:10:00] that, we are learning a lot about how organizing is happening today, the BLM movement, Black Lives Matter, and incredible street power, but also that movement's ability to change our national discourse and change what is baseline, what we should be demanding, and how we are visioning a future that is built on policies governance and hard material changes in our lives is profound. beyond that, also the Palestine solidarity movement over the last couple of years has rewritten every book about organizing. And so I think that it is an interesting moment of both a little bit of sadness, to be honest, that we are still fighting some of these same fights and we are still in some of these same dynamics that we have been for 25 years, and the profound opportunity that we have to build power and to look forward, and I think that is, more true in the Bay Area than it is almost everywhere else. Uh, because of what our workforce looks like, because of the sheer [00:11:00] amount of wealth that is accumulated in this little corner of our world, and also when you look around at the political power and people who hold political power or are running for political power and elected office around the Bay Area, you could really start to see not just how South Asians are increasingly politicized and increasingly looking to build electoral and political power, but also s- very specifically progressive political power. And so when you look to Congress now, The progressive caucus is full of South Asian progressives who are leading the charge, who are doing some of this critical work, that's part of our organizing strategy, is to be part of those conversations and to continue to push and to continue to, again, advocate for policies and changes at that big level to make the future we want possible. Miata Tan : I love that. Coming together to dream and really fight. Rajiv, you are leading this work at the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action. Can you speak more to why the Bay Area [00:12:00] is a, like, a distinct microcosm in this progressive South Asian movement? Rajiv Narayan: Of course. So Farah and I, we both work together at ASATA Power, and ASATA is sort of political power building project within the auspices of, uh, ASATA which has been operating in the Bay Area for more than 25 years now. I think what makes the Bay Area a microcosm of the South Asian diaspora is a tremendous amount of diversity and, uh, a set of interrelated intersectional challenges. So you have, uh, folks of South Asian descent with all different immigration histories. So I'm, for example, a person, um, who has birthright citizenship in the United States as I was born here. But there are folks who immigrated here, like my parents and had to attain their citizenship uh, through the, the US legal system, and folks beyond that who are refugees or asylees or are undocumented due to a variety of political and social and economic pressures. And so we all coexist in this same space across an economic gradient. So there are folks [00:13:00] who are very well compensated in the tech sectors and healthcare sectors sometimes, uh, characterized, uh, as part of a, a model minority myth, um, as representatives of the South Asian diaspora, um, within the San Francisco Bay Area and the United States broadly. And then there are whole variety of South Asians who are working in less well-compensated, often quite exploited industries. For example, in, care industries as people who are providing childcare or senior care services, people who are working in the restaurant industry folks who are lesser compensated within healthcare as well as in tech industries and other ways. Of course, those economic positions interact with the political and legal system. So for example, even if a person might be, um, well-compensated in a tech job in the Bay Area, um, which they attained by way of an H-1B visa that person might be subject to exploitative labor conditions based on the, uh, the legal configuration of how H-1B [00:14:00] visas are treated. For example, that you depend on your employer for your immigration status in this country, which changes the worker-employer relationship in a way that makes it very difficult to identify workplace abuses. beyond that, we also have a diverse range of South Asians across the age gradient. So we have folks who are quite young, who are in Gen Z, and are entering politics in a completely different way than somebody like myself or Deepa entered politics at, in earlier in, in our lives and experience it today, which provides an opportunity for us to learn from earlier generations and to also share lessons from our political experience. So like with many things, the Bay Area has it all, the good and the bad, and ASATA and ASATA Power work within that, that space to identify opportunities for solidarity. Miata Tan : That was Rajiv Narayan and Farah Mehestri. Through their work with the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA, Rajiv and Farah are helping to build South Asian political power here in the Bay Area and [00:15:00] nationwide. The ASATA team and all four of our guests tonight are connected through the South Asian Coalition, a network of local and national organizations focused on advancing policy issues affecting South Asian communities and building shared spaces for strategy and collaboration. To better understand this evolving movement of progressive South Asian action, let's return to Deepa Iyer, who shares how and why this coalition came together Deepa Iyer: Yeah. I really appreciate Rajiv bringing up, um, how- what is happening in the Bay Area is part of a larger movement. And what I would say about this ecosystem, this field that I talked about earlier, and I've been able to understand this through the course of the work I've done, but also a book I've written about post 9/11 America, is that so much happens on the coasts, and we often forget that there are organizations and are communities that are really [00:16:00] growing in other parts of the country, right? You know, I grew up in Kentucky, um, and there are places like Kentucky and Indiana where you are seeing, um, more South Asians settle and build their lives there. So one of the things that I think has been important in thinking about as we come up on this 25th anniversary of 9/11 is how our coalition of South Asian groups, how that field has grown with these additional organizations, in geographic areas that are different, as well as the ways in which folks are organizing. So now we've got, for example, groups that are working with Bhutanese refugees or Nepali-speaking community members, or groups that are organizing around the exploitation of community members based on caste. These are, um, really important movement interventions and organizations that are growing. one of the key aspects of network infrastructure is the ability to connect with each other, [00:17:00] not to flatten our experiences and say we're all the same, but to actually find some threads of commonality in our shared struggle and our experiences, and to also know that together as collectives, as Farah mentioned earlier, we can actually build the futures that we wanna see. One of the really, I think, inspiring pieces of coalition building that I've been fortunate to work with and support along with, um, everyone here is the South Asian Coalition, which is this emergent network of now 35 organizations around the country, and this coalition really seeks to build relationships and strengthen relationships, engage in peer learning and skills building, make it clear that there are certain policy issues that we need to uplift and to advocate around, and to create opportunities and pathways for solidarity with larger movements. This coalition and the infrastructure that it's been [00:18:00] creating is a way for us to look at our ecosystem of South Asian organizing in this moment, and to really see what happens when we galvanize our power collectively. Miata Tan : and Deepa, can you share a bit about the various co-conveners that make up the South Asian Coalition?  Deepa Iyer: So the South Asian Coalition, um, as we've mentioned, is this emergent network of groups that address various issues but are aligned around shared values. And the groups that really came together to co-convene it include Asad the Power, as well as Muslims for Just Futures, Raksha, which is an organization in the South, and Manavi, which is based in New Jersey. And these four organizations really had the vision to set up the structure for the coalition. the organization where I work at, Building Movement Project, supports the coalition through infrastructure, so providing facilitation, providing resources, policy analysis, and creating the container to support [00:19:00] movements in that way, which is so critical for coalitions. Miata Tan : That was Deepa Iyer a South Asian American writer, strategist, and lawyer. after the break, we'll hear more from organizers and advocates working to address issues shaping South Asian communities today. Stay with us  [00:20:00] [00:21:00] that was “Phenom” by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. You are tuned into [00:22:00] APEX Express on 94.1 KPFA, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miada Tan. Tonight, I'm joined by four people who are working to address the issues impacting South Asian communities in the US and beyond. Back in March, organizers, advocates, and community leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, for a national convening focused on the challenges and possibilities facing South Asian communities today. Here's Sabiha Basrai with the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA. She speaks about how this coalition of progressive South Asian groups formed and why this moment called for it. Sabiha Basrai: So this new emergent South Asian Coalition had its first convening in Washington, DC in March, and this was, the culmination of, a little over a year of monthly Zoom calls which started because [00:23:00] we knew we were on the verge of a Trump re-election. Uh, we knew that there was this ecosystem of South Asian activism and organizing across the country. Some of us knew each other from previous collaborations, but some of us didn't. New organizations were forming, and there was this recognition that we need each other in order to face what's coming, and we are stronger together. And we know that being South Asian is not a monolith, uh, that we deal with within our own communities based on labor exploitation, caste discrimination, anti-Muslim violence. And when we talk to each other, when we connect, we give ourselves the best chance at being able to move through those pieces of pain and build towards a future where we can all feel a sense of belonging, feel represented, and an agency in shaping that future together. So what started with a few conversations with a few folks, grew steadily [00:24:00] and, um, and through some intentional work to, to kind of invite each other in, which is of course an ongoing process, we were able to unite under this umbrella called the South Asian Coalition. Uh, we committed to some shared political points of unity and kind of community agreements to really set some expectations with one another on how we could move well in formation. And, made sure we had pathways to share information with each other so that someone like me working in Oakland could understand what, uh, someone working in Texas or in Georgia was facing, what local policy positions they were needing to, to navigate. And, uh, we could give each other advice, give each other moral support, and also sharpen our political understandings. So, uh, these kind of, uh, regular check-ins was one way of just understanding what we were all facing and feeling connected. But, actually being together in person was remarkable. I cannot overstate how much of a difference it makes to be able to share [00:25:00] space and see each other as whole people and not just representatives of a particular organization or a particular issue area, and, have those in-between moments where we actually build, build some friendships. One of the things that was also really important for me to understand when we met together was just how important that intergenerational work is. we had folks in the room who were, in their 50s and 60s who had been doing this work for decades. And we had folks in the room who were in their 20s for whom 9/11 was, something that happened in history. The conversations that were happening across generations informed the way that we think about ourselves as a coalition and helped me also to let go of some of the constraints that, kept my imagination small about what we were capable of. I was really grateful that so many people attended and chose to prioritize that work. It's hard, you know, to take a pause from The daily work to leave, fly to [00:26:00] DC take those risks as well because for many of us, uh, going through TSA is no small thing. There's a lot of harassment and racism that still permeate, you know, these institutions. So not to minimize just the effort that ta- it takes to convene and really make the most of our time together. One of the things that we did while we were in DC together was hold a congressional briefing to really, uh, amplify and share the issues that were coming up for our communities that folks were already working very hard on. Miata Tan : That was Sabiha Basrai with the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA. Now let's return to Rajiv Narayan, another member of the ASATA team and co-lead of their political action group, ASATA Power. Rajiv will take you inside the congressional briefing that Sabiha mentioned and how South Asian organizers from across the country shared the issues shaping their communities and what support is needed now Rajiv Narayan: We in ASATA Power worked in [00:27:00] collaboration with a number of the organizations in the South Asian coalition, to put together a congressional briefing on the issue of South Asians and immigration in the heart of Washington, DC, in the halls of Congress in Capitol Hill. And we were fortunate to do so in collaboration with Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Grace Meng. we had a number of, speakers representing, different perspectives and political struggles within the South Asian, uh, space in the United States, especially as it relates to immigration. So, for example, we had representatives from the Dalit Solidarity Forum talking about the plight of oppressed workers, caste-oppressed workers, in New Jersey working in a Hindu temple.  ​ Dr Roja Sunganthy-Singh – Dalit: I stand here as a Dalit, formerly known as an untouchable in India's caste system, speaking for over two hundred skilled Dalit artisans who were brought to the US from India to build the largest Hindu temple in New Jersey. In their words, ” We are the Indian stone workers of America, workers [00:28:00] rescued by the FBI in twenty twenty-one from forced labor conditions constructing the BAPS temple in New Jersey. we were brought to the US on R one visas and compelled to perform construction labor for over eighty-seven hours a week and paid just a dollar twenty an hour. Rajiv Narayan: We heard from, um, the executive director of the Sikh Coalition talking about Sikh truck drivers and religious workers and their experience under the federal regime's, uh, rule-making efforts. Harman Singh – Sikh Coalition: Uh, Punjabi Sikhs began entering the US trucking industry in large numbers during the nineteen eighties, and Sikh truck drivers and business owners have played a critical role in addressing driver shortages over the past several years. Unfortunately, Sikhs in this critical industry have become the subject of harmful rhetoric and policy from this current administration. These drivers are being excluded solely because of their specific immigration status and regardless of their driving histories, skills, knowledge, or English proficiency.  Rajiv Narayan: We heard from, the executive director of Asian Refugees United, who [00:29:00] spoke about the experience of Bhutanese refugees who have been rendered stateless by the current administration's, deportation efforts Robin Gurung – ARU: Because of the ethnic cleansing campaign of Bhutan government, more than hundred thousand Bhutanese citizens were forced to flee the country. For twenty years, I lived in a refugee camp in Nepal. In 2008, the government of this country came to rescue us. We were promised safety and security. But last year, that promise was broken. As of March 2025, over seventy of our community members are deported to Bhutan, the same country that persecuted us and made us refugees. These community members are kidnapped from their homes and jobs. They have been taken from their routine ICE check-ins. We know due process was not followed. Rajiv Narayan: We also heard from the executive director of Raksha, a domestic violence organization based in the Southern United States that has played an instrumental role in supporting South Asians who have been the victims [00:30:00] and who are now survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence, about the needs for supporting these kinds of organizations, with federal dollars and through the grant-making systems conditions. Aparna Bhattacharyya – Raksha: For thirty years, we have supported community members in navigating interpersonal violence, but also waves of racism and policy backlash.  South Asian and Indo-Caribbean survivors need safe places to turn, safe places that speak their language, understand their unique immigration and cultural needs. Raksha recently had $700,000 in OVC grants terminated by DOGE. additionally, we are still waiting for OVW sexual assault cultural funds for five months, where we have gotten no determination of whether we're getting that funding or not. Five months. Rajiv Narayan: We also heard from, the director of the South Asian American Justice Collaborative, which is currently, before the US Supreme Court in the birthright citizenship case, and [00:31:00] filed this foundational amicus brief detailing the story of South Asians in the United States going back to the 1600s. Klapana Peddibhotla – SAAJCO: Our brief pushes back against this notion that we are forever foreign.  South Asians actually arrived on these shores in the sixteen hundreds, and by the seventeen hundreds, South Asians were already asserting their rights here. In an Afghan immigrant actually fought in the Civil War in the Union Army. by the late nineteenth century, the largest farming group in Central California was formed by Punjabis. Today, South Asians are one of the largest immigrant populations in the US, but many families are caught in immigration backlogs that last for decades and make them vulnerable to the President's executive order restricting birthright citizenship. Rajiv Narayan: Across all of these speakers, you know, the, the, the message became very clear that we have so many different struggles, but they're all [00:32:00] united by a sense of solidarity for each other's political experiences under the same system of exploitation and oppression, and that there, there's so much that Congress can do in this moment to support the South Asian diaspora in the United States and, and even abroad in some cases. for ASATA Power's part, we, had the opportunity to put together over the course of the last year a policy brief on undocumented South Asians, and it was during the congressional briefing that we shared some pretty startling statistics that we, collected and collated from a number of public sources. And so what we were able to identify for the room is that there are about eight hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand undocumented South Asians in the United States, and because there are only six point five million South Asians in the US, both those who are undocumented and those who have birthright citizenship or are otherwise naturalized, refugees, asylees, and, and everyone in between. Of those six point five million South Asians One in eight of [00:33:00] them is undocumented, which is shocking and not something that somebody would understand at the outset given these problematic narratives like the model minority myth and whatever you see these days on X or Twitter about South Asian immigrants. So it's important for us not only to, to set the narrative straight and to identify both the diversity and opportunity for solidarity across our struggles, but to do so in the halls of power and to speak that truth to power directly. Miata Tan : That's Rajiv with ASATA Power reflecting on a recent congressional briefing in Washington, DC he helped to organize alongside other progressive South Asian leaders, organizers, and activists. Here's a snippet of Rajiv's opening remarks at the briefing Rajiv Narayan: I want to draw your attention to the slide behind me, they'll show a couple of images of South Asian community members who've been impacted recently by the horrific policies and practices of the federal administration. These members include Sheraz Fatehali Sachwani, a forty-eight-year-old citizen of Pakistan who died in ICE [00:34:00] detention last December. They include seventy-three-year-old Harjit Kaur, who was arrested during a routine ICE check-in, separated from her family, and deported to India without notice. I should say, I grew up seeing Harjit Kaur behind the counter at Sari Palace in Berkeley. She would help my mom try on saris. Her home was here. Her community was here. You know, these are just some of the names and stories of community members who have been affected by immigration policy as of late, and we hope that you will keep them in mind as you hear from our speakers today. There are many more we were not able to picture or name, but their stories are just as important. We'll be making many asks over the course of today's briefing. Some of those include the following: Congress should not increase funding for ICE or Border Patrol, including providing funds for detention facilities, especially in this funding moment. We have to remember that ICE is not a long-standing American institution. It was created in two thousand and two, recently, as part of the Homeland Security Act following nine [00:35:00] eleven. Miata Tan : That was Rajiv Narayan with ASATA Power speaking at a recent congressional briefing in Washington, DC. The briefing was part of a larger national convening organized by the South Asian Coalition, bringing together progressive South Asian groups from across the country. Now let's return to Deepa Iyer, who leads projects on solidarity and social movements at Building Movement Project here's Deepa reflecting on her takeaways from the congressional briefing Deepa Iyer: I think that there were so many pieces in that briefing that maybe people didn't know about that organizations are struggling with, and part of it is that, um, our communities, and Sabihah said this earlier, are not a monolith, right? And there are so many different ways in which we are experiencing what is happening right now in the United States, the fractures and the fissures that we're seeing. Rajiv spoke so well about the community needs and issues. One thing I'll lift up is actually the impact on nonprofit [00:36:00] organizations. Several of the groups that were, uh, speaking at the briefing noted how the attacks on nonprofits that are specifically working on issues like immigration in terms of losing federal funding and grants, being forced to certify that they are not addressing issues work that deal with undocumented immigrants, as well as the ways in which, um, nonprofit organizations are being, in some ways, seen as doing risky and un-American work. there is the, the exploitation of domestic terrorism as a frame that is being used right now to target certain nonprofit organizations. This is something that I think is not necessarily known to many people in terms of the ways in which national security, immigration issues are also affecting the nonprofit sector as a whole. And where I work at the Building Movement Project, we really look at the nonprofit sector and the health of the nonprofit sector, and we're [00:37:00] seeing that these types of external threats, the spotlight on organizations that are on the front lines, including South Asian groups, um, Muslim groups, Palestinian groups, that are working with, um, immigrant communities, queer and trans community members that are providing- Vital language access, service provision, community safety are really under threat right now, and this includes many of the organizations that were present at the, coalition's convening. So that's something that I also wanna lift up, that in addition to our communities who are facing the impact of the current moment in really acute ways, our nonprofit sector and our organizations are also dealing with a range of constraints and threats and difficulties. So that is one thing that came up over and over again. Miata Tan : That was Deepa Iyer with the Building Movement Project, highlighting the pressures facing the nonprofit sector right now, [00:38:00] especially as it relates to South Asian organizers, advocates, and communities. Let's return to Farah Mahesri with ASATA Pawa.  Farah Mahersi: One of the other things that I am very proud of for this congressional briefing that we did was that it was us telling our own stories and us presenting our own policy recommendations. There was no need to have, like, an expert come in and talk on behalf of our communities or try to represent our communities. We were the experts in the room, and we were really recognized and seen as that. As Rajiv mentioned, you know, there, the room was packed with Hill staffers and congressional staffers who were taking diligent notes as we spoke our truths Miata Tan : That was Farah Mahesri with ASATA Pawa reflecting on the recent congressional briefing she helped to organize, one that brought greater visibility to the experiences of South Asian immigrants. You'll hear more on how South Asian activists, organizers, and community groups [00:39:00] are mobilizing after this. Stay with us ​ Miata Tan : [00:40:00] [00:41:00] [00:42:00] That was Lion on the Hunt by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. You are tuned into APEX Express on 94.1 KPFA, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miata Tan. Tonight, we're talking about South Asian organizing in the United States and how community leaders are responding to immigration challenges, political representation, and the shifting landscape of civil rights back in March, organizers and advocates from across the country gathered in Washington, DC for a national convening focused on the challenges and possibilities facing South Asian communities today. Here's Rajiv Narayan with the Alliance of [00:43:00] South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA, reflecting on the importance of honoring both the diversity of the South Asian diaspora and the shared struggle that connects these communities Rajiv Narayan: Something I appreciate about, your work, Miata, at APEX Express, is to highlight both that diversity of the South Asian diaspora and the many struggles and experiences that unite our political experiences and our commitment to social justice. It, it used to be, and in, in some places it still is the case, that folks will use an over-broad group to represent all of the South Asian diaspora. For example, talking about all Brown people as Indian or Desi or to, to collapse all the differences in our community. And part of the power of the congressional briefing is that we are able to show that what it means to be South Asian is at once an incredibly diverse expression and at the same time a collective expression of solidarity. We can do two of these things at the same time. We can recognize our differences and fight for each other. One of my [00:44:00] favorite takeaways that I, I heard from Deepa at the briefing is that there are some staffers that came up to her and said, “I've never heard my story, my experience, my political struggles represented in a panel in this building in front of other congressional staffers.” And that's something that we can do, and we should do more of. There are so many ways in which we can tell the stories and highlight the campaigns of folks from different parts of the South Asian diaspora who are all fighting for a better life for all of us. Miata Tan : That was Rajiv Narayan with ASATA, in the recent congressional briefing that Rajiv helped to organize through the South Asian Coalition, organizers also pointed toward the future of South Asian organizing in the United States and the role of a new generation shaping it. back to Deepa Iyer with Building Movement Project. Here, Deepa Iyer: Some of the young folks that are entering or working at nonprofits now, supporting South Asian nonprofits don't have a living memory of 9/11 and the global war on terror, [00:45:00] and they have been politicized in different ways, right, over the last eight years, for example, the pandemic global wars, et cetera. And so there are a couple of ways in which I've been thinking about how we can support South Asian young people. so for example, how can we share historical analysis and political analysis so that young people understand that they are part of a trajectory of South Asian activism that actually started well before 9/11, before the 1960s, right, and that continues to today, so they don't feel fragmented. So that's something I've been sitting with a lot. Another is around pathways into public service and community service and into the nonprofit sector. So how could we support young people in terms of building their skills, in having pathways open to them into our nonprofit organizations? And then finally, how do we support them, um, so that they, can do this work for the long run? You know, we all struggle with burnout, we all [00:46:00] struggle with sustainability. what are some lessons learned that we can pass on? What are some best practices? that's something that's been sitting with me quite a bit since the gathering that we had, and I hope that the coalition will really think about, supporting young people's leadership and finding different avenues and pathways to do that. Miata Tan : That was Deepa Iyer reflecting on how movements can better support the next generation of South Asian organizers. Within the South Asian coalition, that work also means building long-term infrastructure for better collaboration. Now back to Sabiha Basrai with ASATA. Sabiha Basrai: I'm also really appreciating that the South Asian Coalition is this model for creating a container for many, many organizations to unite as a group while maintaining regional focus and individual issue priorities. I also wanna name that the place where I first learned how to do national coalition work was as a member of the National South Asian Coalition that ASATA had been part of. [00:47:00] It was facilitated by a group called SALT which played such a critical role in the post 9/11 era and continued to then work on DACA, creating resources for undocumented South Asians, along with other issues facing our diverse diasporas. And SALT closed a few years ago. It was a decision that I don't understand and was- has really left me with a lot of sadness and confusion. but I al- I know that sometimes institutions do end, but that the work does not end and the relationships do not end. And the South Asian Coalition is this emergent space that, um, is not led by any one organization. it is a space that is being invested in collectively, and we're really moving at the speed of trust so that we can be really laying that strong foundation that supports the work ahead. I'm really sitting with the ways in which sometimes this labor of Building the container, creating the container, [00:48:00] investing in the network. It's sometimes invisible labor, but it is the most critical because without it we can have moments of mass mobilization, but then that wasn't actually building any power over the long term. And I'm really looking forward to all of the very good work ahead, because I trust the relationships and the containers that we're building. Miata Tan : That was Sabiha reflecting on the collaborative infrastructure that the South Asian Coalition is helping to build. Now let's return to Deepa Iyer. I asked Deepa what campaigns are on the horizon for the coalition, especially as this year marks 25 years since 9/11. Deepa Iyer: As Sabiha mentioned, the coalition is a space for invested leadership, and so there are lots of different campaigns that groups within the coalition are eyeing and taking on. One of them Rajiv mentioned already is the fight around birthright citizenship. And so there are groups like SACHCO and others that showed up with a South Asian [00:49:00] delegation at the Supreme Court on April 1st when that case was being heard, and it was really great to see so many South Asians out there in a delegation along with other communities, to raise their voices on this really vital, pivotal issue. And so that is a campaign that some of the groups within the coalition are going to continue to be lifting up as we get the results of that case and moving forward. Another one that you mentioned, is around the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and there are groups that are considering, along with others in other movement spaces what does narrative strategy look like as we go into this time period? How do we think about the fact that we're marking the 25th anniversary in the same year that we're marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, right? how do we use 9/11 and its anniversary as a lens through which we understand empire, through which we understand the ways in which domestic [00:50:00] policies are being recirculated against other communities? And also this piece around awareness and education. this is an opportunity to share some of the personal experiences that many of us have around that moment in time, but also the ways in which our communities have built up themselves as well as the solidarity with other communities. So I think there are lots of ways in which organizations are thinking about that anniversary and how they can, utilize that moment, to draw greater attention to our community's experiences. Miata Tan : Rajiv, Farah, would you like to add anything about upcoming campaigns and how you're thinking about the South Asian political power movement moving forwards?  Rajiv Narayan: Yeah, I'm happy to talk about one sort of continuing campaign, which is that, like I mentioned, we put together this policy brief on undocumented South Asians, and we had this great opportunity to circulate and talk about it on Capitol Hill in DC. But it's also important for us to bring that story home. And so part of [00:51:00] what we'll be doing, um, for the remainder of, of this year is identifying opportunities to do town halls both, with community members and potentially with elected officials to help educate, do political education about the nature of undocumented peoples in the South Asian community. A large part of what we did in that policy brief is to collate all these numbers to tell you, how many folks might be undocumented, what is the proportion of undocumented people in the South Asian community. But an important, equally important contribution of that report is the nature of undocumented experiences. Why do people become undocumented? What are the factors that put them in that position, and what does it mean for a person to become undocumented? How can we support them, not just in different policy prescriptions, but also the ways that we talk about undocumented people and the South Asian community as a whole? So that'll, that'll be, um, a focus that we have, uh, and a contribution that we hope to make both in the, the Bay Area and beyond.  Farah Mahersi: I'll add to that, that it is election year. It is [00:52:00] a… I feel like we say every election is a critical election, and I do believe that that is very true this year. And so ASATA Power, as a political organization, will be making endorsements and talking through not just that it is important to vote, but it is really important and critical for us in this moment to vote for progressive candidates who are part of our, what is often called like a build coalition, who are here to help us build this world that we are dreaming of, who are aligned on policy positions. The other thing that we are working on locally and nationally is around the war budget. So as a group that has been so directly impacted by the global war on terror 4.5 million Muslims around the world who have been killed by US war-making in that global war on terror, and just watching kind of what the United States foreign policy in particular over the last couple of years has been, we have a particular point of view and a particular interest on tracking and watching things like the [00:53:00] largest, request for a defense budget in US history. How are those dollars being spent, And how those dollars that are being spent abroad to do war-making are also having a boomerang effect and coming back to impact our communities at home. So the same technologies that were developed and used in war-making through the global war on terror that impacted, uh, so many of our communities around the world for 25 years, a lot of that is the same technology that ICE is now using to go after undocumented South Asians in the United States, right? And so that's another way in which we really see our struggles are interconnected, and that we are wanting to dismantle als- a lot of these systems of harm, and also, again, at that intersection between both hate violence and state oppression that's happening. Miata Tan : That was Farah Mahestri with ASATA and ASATA Power. As she shared, ASATA Power is focused on the midterm elections and how war spending and post 9/11 policies continue to affect South Asian communities today. [00:54:00] To close out, we return to another ASATA organizer, Sabiha Basrai. Sabiha Basrai: So I wanted to bring the conversation back locally to the Bay Area again, and just thinking about, the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, which is, part of a network of AAPI and Asian organizing in the Bay Area as a space where South Asians progressive South Asians can actually build community, sharpen our political analysis, embrace our responsibilities here in the Bay Area in this political moment. And just also, lifting up that ASATA currently is working on things like the Oakland Arms Embargo or local community defense against ICE , environmental justice projects, and also looking for more ways to fight supremacist ideologies of Hindutva but in collaboration with anti-Zionist Jewish community activists. these are opportunities that we have here in the Bay Area. And also thinking about ways that we participate in mobilizations. Like, we show up for Reclaim MLK Day, [00:55:00] International Working Women's Day, May Day, the Trans March every year because we understand our responsibility to show up and to show up consistently. And so when I think about the South Asian Coalition and this moment of, okay, we've been trying to- we've built- been building towards this convening and this congressional briefing, and now we're on the other side of this moment, and we are kind of reflecting and coming back together around how we maintain this energy. Also wanted to highlight,  Some of the amazing work that many of our coalition members are, are already doing. One is Savaira, so Savaira United Against Supremacy is actually a coalition of work as well, they focused, their energy on addressing Hindu nationalism and and Hindutva ideology and the, and the many ways in which, the supremacist ideology is kind of insidiously part of institutions, policy even cultural work, uh, within our diaspora. they're so committed to both, like, [00:56:00] resisting the tides of hatred but also combating all forms of supremacist politics and the intersections between them. so their, their work has been a big part of my political education, and I'm really glad that they're part of this coalition. Every member of the coalition is bringing analysis and experience that cross-pollinates to the rest of us. So I'm looking forward to just more of that   also considering what ASATA's role is and how ASATA working in the Bay Area alongside so many other amazing organizing projects here can be strengthening those relationships nationally. Miata Tan : That was Sabiha Basrai with the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, or ASATA.  This is APEX Express on 94.1 KPFA, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. APEX Express airs every Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. And with that, we're at the end of our time here [00:57:00] tonight. We really appreciate you for tuning in to listen, and a huge thank you to our wonderful guests. For a transcript of tonight's episode, please visit our website. That's kpfa.org/program/apex-express  We've also added links on the episode page for tonight's show so you can learn more about the South Asian Coalition, ASATA, and all of the organizations we've talked about tonight, along with their upcoming campaigns as well. APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me, Miata Tan. Get some rest y'all. The post APEX Express – 5.28.26 – Building South Asian Power appeared first on KPFA.

South Asian influence in electronic music is undeniable, from underground club movements to global stages. Yet influence does not always equal ownership. The next chapter is about authorship and narrative. Who tells the stories? Who curates the spaces? And how can cultural impact translate into lasting leadership and a defining role in the future of electronic music? Recorded live from the International Music Summit (IMS) - one of the leading conferences for the electronic music industry, held annually in Ibiza. Founded by Pete Tong, it has become the defining forum where the global dance music community gathers to catalyse sustainable growth and inspire positive change from the boardroom to the dancefloor.Featuring Ahadadream, founder of Dialled In; Kunal Merchant, co-founder of Indo Warehouse; Meedy, founder of DESCENDANTS Records, and our host, Farah Nanji. Moderated by BBC broadcaster and artist Amber Haque."Indians and Pakistanis, supposed enemies, all dancing together. That's what the dancefloor does." - AhadadreamJoin us as we explore:✅ The real cost of being South Asian in the electronic music industry✅ Why creating Indo House as a genre is an economic argument, not just a cultural one ✅ Why the dancefloor has always solved what politics refuses to ✅ What it takes to back yourself when the industry doesn't believe in your vision✅ What the next generation of South Asian artists inherits, and what they still have to fight for➤ Follow us at:⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ @missionmakers⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠ @dj.n1nja⁠⁠TikTok:⁠⁠ @dj_n1nja⁠⁠Soundcloud:⁠⁠ @dj-ninja⁠➤ Credits:Music: Mission Makers - N1NJA (Unreleased)Producer: Farah Nanji⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mission-makers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dj-ninja.com/⁠⁠

In this episode of Best in Fest, host Leslie LaPage sits down with Shalini Dutta, an accomplished actress with over three decades of experience across Bollywood, theater, television, and independent film to discuss her journey, career reinvention, and the evolving landscape for women and South Asian talent in the global film industry.From her early start in Indian cinema to stepping away for family life and returning years later to pursue meaningful storytelling, Shalini shares what it really takes to sustain a creative career across different life stages.

In this episode, Abhay sits down with dance artist Nikita Banawalikar — a Kathak exponent, choreographer, and scholar who seamlessly bridges the gap between ancient tradition and modern storytelling.Nikita shares why she views Kathak not just as a dance, but as her true "home". She discusses the rigorous journey of becoming a scholar of the arts and offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of choreographing for major films like Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. From finding inspiration in the mundance to the challenge of "unlearning" technical precision for the camera, this conversation explores how to maintain artistic purity while embracing evolution.In this episode, Nikita shares insights on:• How to find inspiration for art in everyday life, architecture, and nature.• The reality of film choreography and making actors shine on screen.• The impact of digitalization on classical arts and the debate between social media reach vs. live experience.• Why "embracing innocence" is the key to staying authentic as an artist.-------------------------Connect with Nikita :https://www.instagram.com/nikkitakathak/#Kathak #NikitaBanawalikar #BollywoodChoreography #IndianClassicalDance #TrustMeIKnowWhatImDoing #DanceEducation #RockyAurRani #ArtisticJourneyCHAPTERS:00:00 – Introduction and Welcome03:13 – Living the Dream: When a Hobby Becomes a Profession05:07 – Finding Inspiration in Nature, People, and even Mumbai Traffic08:17 – The Integrated Life: Does an Artist Ever "Shut Off"?10:08 – The Process of Falling in Love with Kathak13:16 – Building Confidence16:11 – Learning and Growth with Kathak19:21 – Sponsor Break: Travelopod 20:26 – Digitalization: Teaching and Performing Post-COVID22:57 – Live Performance vs. Social Media: The Purist Debate26:46 – Film Choreography: Working on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani29:53 – Unlearning for the Commercial Screen34:26 – The Future of Kathak: Evolution, Purity, and New Narratives40:09 – Discipline and Observation: How Dance Shapes the Person43:27 – Embracing Innocence and SensitivityShout out to my cousins Vaishali Potdar from Nupur Kathak Academy and Vedashri Mahajan in Australia and anyone else out there who is learning, teaching, and promoting this dance art!--------------------------Trust Me I Know What I'm Doing | Dr. Abhay DandekarA mirror and window for global Indians and South Asians through conversation.Every week, we share chats with artists, leaders, musicians, chefs, experts, change makers, and innovators from the home and diaspora - sharing their journeys and motivations.Support our sponsors: Start your journey with personalized travel support at https://vacation.travelopod.com/For enquiries

In this insightful episode, Simi Markar, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, joins our host, Nandini Ray, to explore the realities of couples counseling and partner relationships.What exactly is couples counseling, and when should couples consider seeking support? What are the early warningsigns of a toxic or unhealthy relationship? How do family interference, cultural expectations, and traditional gender roles shape couple relationships in the South Asian community — and how can couples navigate these pressureswithout harming their bond?Tune in for a thoughtful conversation filled with professional insights, practical guidance, and culturally grounded perspectives on building healthier relationships.About Simi Markar: Simi Markar, MFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the Bay Area. She has been in practice for the last 20 years and is the founder of Mindset Counseling Group. This is a group practice that has a diverse team of clinicians and serves clients all throughout California. Herwork has been focused on supporting the South Asian community on issues related to: marriage, parenting, divorce, and co-parenting. She is passionate about reducing the stigma around mental health and making counselingservices easy to access. More info can be found on the website: www.mindsetcounselinggroup.com 

Rare artifacts within the vast archives of the Library of Congress (LOC) represent a shift in how our region's history is fundamentally understood. Moving beyond traditional nationalist timelines, Arab World specialist in the African and Middle East division at the LOC, Dr. Muhannad Salhi, explores the transition of diverse items in the library's "Near East" collection, from 3000-year-old economic receipts to unique cultural fragments, into autonomous objects of study that define a global narrative. Reclaiming these stories serves as a resistance against regional erasure and the invisibility often felt in the global cultural landscape.   0:00 Introduction 1:52 The "Near East" Section: Geographic and Linguistic Scope 3:02 The Library's Path 4:46 Overview of the Arabic Collection 5:20 The Library's Oldest Items 7:06 Digitization Efforts and Copyright Restrictions 9:10 The Purpose of the Library of Congress 13:24 Regional Context and Cultural Insight 16:00 A Public Resource and Supporting Global Scholarship 18:36 Overseas Offices and Book Dealers 19:17 A Typical Week with Rare Materials and Scholarly Research 22:11 The Oldest Piece of Islamic object in the Americas 25:00 Calligraphy Styles: From Kufi to South Asian and Persian Aesthetics 27:03 The Chinese Quran: A Unique Intersection of Cultures 28:03 The Dalail al-Khayrat and Mantle of the Prophet 31:55 Manuscripts from Gambia 33:24 Arabic Translations of Greek Medicine 35:45 A Unique Work on Petroleum 36:54 Astronomy and Astrology 39:53 Mapping the Region 44:42 Archiving Historic Newspapers and Pop Culture 48:42 Early Arabic Printing 52:10 The Jefferson Quran: Myth vs. Reality in Pop Culture 57:00 Arab-American Literature: Ameen Rihani's The Book of Khalid 58:20 Iraq's Most Wanted Deck of Cards 01:00:22 A Lost Letter from West Africa 01:02:15 Photography Archives 01:03:33 The Items That Got Away 01:06:08 What Policymakers Should Understand About the Region   Muhannad Salhi is the Arab World Specialist in the African and Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress, where he covers the Arab world, North Africa, and Islam. He received his doctorate in history and his MAs in history and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. He is the author of Palestine in the Evolution of Syrian Nationalism (1918-1920) as well as other book chapters, book reviews, and blogs. His interests include the Ancient Near East, Classical Islam, the Modern Middle East, and Islamic studies. Prior to coming to the Library of Congress, he taught courses on the Arab World and Islam at various colleges and universities in the Chicago area, including the University of Chicago and Governors State University.   Connect with Muhannad Salhi

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Aditya Madiraju for a conversation that moves far beyond beauty tutorials and social media trends. What unfolds is a thoughtful discussion about identity, representation, creativity, and the realities of building a public career in an algorithm-driven world. Before becoming one of the most recognizable voices in beauty content creation, Aditya spent years working in microbiology, finance, and risk management—an unconventional path that reflects one of the episode's central themes: the tension between stability and fulfillment. Growing up in a South Asian household where traditional careers were often prioritized, choosing beauty and content creation felt radical. Yet rather than framing that tension with resentment, Aditya approaches it with empathy, recognizing the sacrifices that allowed his generation the freedom to pursue creative work. The conversation also explores the emotional weight of visibility online. Aditya reflects candidly on navigating the internet as a South Asian creator, from stereotypes and racism to the pressure of constantly representing more than just himself. His perspective on humor, resilience, and composure adds nuance to larger conversations around race, beauty, and digital culture. At the same time, the episode celebrates the role of beauty as joy and self-expression. For Aditya, makeup is deeply technical—but it's also personal, cultural, and meant to be enjoyed without justification. Throughout the conversation, he returns to a larger idea: visibility matters because it expands what feels possible for the next generation. Listen to the full episode to hear Aditya Madiraju discuss beauty, identity, representation, and what it really means to build authenticity online.Learn more about Aditya MadirajuDon't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!Support the show