Southern region of Asia
POPULARITY
Categories
Cardiologist Monzur Morshed discusses the article, "Why South Asians in the U.S. face a silent heart disease crisis." Drawing from his direct experience treating the Bangladeshi-American community in New York City, Monzur explains why people from South Asia are disproportionately at risk for developing heart disease 5 to 10 years earlier than other populations, often despite having normal cholesterol levels. The conversation delves into specific, often overlooked risk factors like the "thin-fat" phenotype, genetic predispositions such as elevated lipoprotein(a), and cultural barriers including diet and the stigma around mental health. They provide actionable clinical tips for health care providers and patients, emphasizing that standard risk assessments are failing this vulnerable community. The key takeaway is a call for a paradigm shift: clinicians must treat South Asian patients as high-risk by default and utilize culturally sensitive, aggressive screening to close the equity gap in cardiovascular care. Careers by KevinMD is your gateway to health care success. We connect you with real-time, exclusive resources like job boards, news updates, and salary insights, all tailored for health care professionals. With expertise in uniting top talent and leading employers across the nation's largest health care hiring network, we're your partner in shaping health care's future. Fulfill your health care journey at KevinMD.com/careers. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/careers Discovering disability insurance? Pattern understands your concerns. Over 20,000 doctors trust us for straightforward, affordable coverage. We handle everything from quotes to paperwork. Say goodbye to insurance stress – visit Pattern today at KevinMD.com/pattern. VISIT SPONSOR → https://kevinmd.com/pattern SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended
Happy Tuesday, Everyone! This week, I sat down with my new friend Rahul Kohli to chat, while on a break from filming Mike Flanagan's new show Carrie. In addition to co-starring with me on the new project, Rahul has found so many new fans as a heartthrob in Mike's other recent shows, including playing Owen in The Haunting of Bly Manor, Sheriff Hassan in Midnight Mass and Leo Usher in The Fall of The House of Usher. You may also know him from his roles as Ravi Chakrabarti in iZombie and Bri in The Life of Chuck, as well as his prolific video game voice work. We had a lot of fun talking about how he fell in love with movies and video games, while growing up as a South Asian kid in the UK and he found his way as an actor without a well-worn path to follow. This conversation really feels like two friends sitting down for coffee, getting real about the life of a working actor— from how to use social media, to embracing insecurity and learning to let go and trust your director. I feel much closer to Rahul after this conversation, and I think you will too! Be sure to stick around after our chat for the Hindsight, where my producer Jeph and I talk about the episode, share details about upcoming live shows and vent about an airplane nemesis! Send me an email thesackhoffshow@gmail.com Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow ----------------------------------------------------- Support our Sponsors: Try Mint Mobile's Unlimited Wireless Plan for only $15/mo for three months at MintMobile.com/SACKHOFF Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/SACKHOFF! #honeylovepod Get 15% off OneSkin with the code SACKHOFF at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Minhas Kahn about her book, Divine Diplomacy, which explores the impact of post-9/11 American evangelicals on Pakistan-United States relations. Kahn details how her research challenged initial perceptions of evangelicals, revealing that many engaged in positive diplomacy through humanitarian aid, fostering interfaith harmony, and advocating for religious freedom. She argues that this engagement not only influenced US foreign policy but also helped create a better understanding at a local level in Pakistan, leading to new dialogues and initiatives. The conversation also delves into the complexities of US-Pakistan relations, the misuse of religion for political purposes, the differing interpretations of concepts like blasphemy laws, and Pakistan's strategic need to balance its alliances with major world powers. Dr. Minhas Kahn is an Associate Professor of International Relations with nearly two decades of experience in teaching, research, and policy engagement. She earned her Master's from the University of Peshawar in 2005 and began her academic career soon after, joining the Department of International Relations as a lecturer in 2006. Her Ph.D. research, “Evangelicals' Influence on U.S. Foreign Policy: Impact on Pakistan–U.S. Relations (2001–2007),” earned her a fully funded fellowship at the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding (ACMCU) at Georgetown University in 2010, followed by her selection as a SUSI Scholar at the University of Florida in 2012. She completed her Ph.D. in 2013 and progressed to Assistant Professor in 2014 before assuming her current role as Associate Professor. Dr. Kahn has also held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, researching religious freedom and democracy in Pakistan under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). This work, along with her fellowship at the Center for Women, Faith, and Leadership (CWFL) in Washington DC, reflects her commitment to understanding the complex ties between religion, politics, and security. Her published work explores religious extremism and terrorism, interfaith dynamics, peacebuilding, countering violent extremism, Islamophobia and Westophobia, South Asian regional politics, and the role of gender in peace and security. She regularly presents her research at national and international conferences and remains dedicated to producing scholarship that bridges divides and informs policy.
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
Episode 536 of the Sports Media Podcast features Fox Sports play by play announcer and Chicago Bulls broadcaster Adam Amin. In this podcast, Amin discussed attending the annual Fox NFL preseason seminar and what's it like interacting with all of Fox Sports' on-air talent; being assigned Cam Ward debut for Fox; his thoughts on Stacey Dales serving as a color analyst on preseason Bears games; his playoff baseball schedule; his hobby as a DJ in Chicago; young, South Asian broadcasters, especially of Indian or Pakistani descent, reaching out to him for advice and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi met in the White House back in February, US-India relations appeared to be on solid ground. Back then, Trump was still confident he could broker a quick resolution in Russia's war against Ukraine. Then, last week, the Trump administration said that if India continues to import Russian oil, the US will double tariffs on Indian goods, starting August 27. This move threatens to undermine relations between the US and India — and it could impact more than India's energy imports. The dispute is forcing bigger questions about India's approach to foreign policy and the country's long-standing policy of strategic autonomy. So will India bow to US pressure and reduce its Russian energy imports? Or will India continue to import a significant amount of oil from Russia? And what does all of this mean for global energy markets and the use of coercive economic tools like tariffs or sanctions in the years ahead? In this special episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, Jason speaks with Richard Nephew, Tatiana Mitrova, and Shayak Sengupta about this latest development in President Trump's trade war. Richard Nephew is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) and former US Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, where he played key roles in economic sanctions policy. Tatiana Mitrova is a global fellow at CGEP and former deputy director general of the National Energy Security Fund in Moscow. She brings deep expertise on Russian energy markets. Shayak Sengupta is a senior research associate at CGEP and leads its India program. He's an expert in South Asian energy policy and US-India relations. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by James Rowlands.
I sat down with Osama Syed, the founder of luxury fashion label SAAF GARMENTS, who transformed a single outfit at an Eid celebration into a globally recognized brand worn by celebrities and styled by Hollywood's top professionals.Osama's journey is a masterclass in turning cultural identity into a competitive advantage. With no formal fashion training, he launched SAAF GARMENTS in May 2022. Within three years, he has dressed celebrities on red carpets, collaborated with major artists, and established relationships with generational artisans across India, Italy, and Japan. His approach to "flamboyant minimalism" – creating structured, monochromatic pieces that honor South Asian silhouettes while resonating with New York's urban edge – offers powerful lessons for any entrepreneur seeking to carve out their unique market position. This conversation will leave you inspired and ready to approach your own entrepreneurial journey with a fresh perspective. You'll learn valuable lessons on building a brand, staying authentic to your roots, and the importance of community and collaboration.“I want to be able to create these wardrobes for people where anything you put on from SAAF GARMENTS, you're gonna feel really good” ~ Osama Syed.In this Episode:- Meet Osama Syed, founder of SAAF GARMENTS- Exploring cultural fusion in fashion- The story behind the SAAF GARMENTS brand- Why does SAAF design monochromatic outfits only?- How Osama expanded the fashion brand- Introducing color to SAAF GARMENTS- Balancing cultural identity and authenticity in fashion- The importance of building genuine connections- Lightning round questions: fabric, form, and future- How to connect with Osama SyedAbout Osama Syed:Osama Syed is the founder of SAAF GARMENTS, a luxury fashion label that bridges South Asian heritage with American streetwear aesthetics. Despite having no formal fashion training, he has built a globally recognized brand in just three years, with pieces worn by celebrities on red carpets and styled by Hollywood's top professionals. His designs are crafted by generational artisans from India, Italy, and Japan, emphasizing craftsmanship and cultural storytelling through modern minimalist silhouettes.Website: https://saafgarments.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theosamasyed/SAAF on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saafgarments/ Connect with me here:
They say your 20s are the best time of your life but what they fail to mention is how confusing it can be. In this episode we are breaking down the two biggest reasons we feel so lost in this decade: comparison and time.We will get into why these two pressures keep us stuck, and the mindset shifts that will help you stop overthinking, trust your own path and actually enjoy this chapter of your life…because let's be honest, our 20s are messy, magical and incredibly confusing.Timestamps: (00:00) Intro(01:11) Breaking down our 20s(02:29) Why do I feel confused in my 20s? (06:47) Reason 1: comparison (20:11) Reason 2: time (30:15) Outro————————————————————ABOUT IT'S PREETI PERSONAL: This podcast is all about sharing South Asian stories and having everyday conversations but from the lens of being a brown girl so expect girl talk episodes covering topics like love, career, mental health, finances, friendships, female health and living life in our 20's and 30's. ————————————————————SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preetipersonal/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itspreetipersonalTikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSvmbM63/Email: itspreetipersonal@gmail.comDon't forget to subscribe and follow @itspreetipersonal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or the place you listen to podcasts————————————————————MUSIC: Upbeat-party by scottholmesmusic.com
Abhay shares a compelling discussion with Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. They chatted about the intriguing shifts in political allegiances among the Indian Americans, the concept of "Modi Democrats," the broader implications of US- India relations, and the optimism he has for continuing to study the global Indian diaspora. (0:00 - 2:41) Introduction(2:41) Part 1 - questions to ask today as an Indian American, affirming political movements(16:40) Part 2 - reform and faith in institutions, personal journey to pursue scholarship, praise and continued blind spots for the Modi government(36:22) Part 3 - India as a global power, academic roundtables to kitchen tables, optimism (50:07) ConclusionCatch Milan on the Grand Tamasha podcast
In this compelling episode of Parallax, Dr Ankur Kalra sits down with Dr Anandita Kulkarni, preventive cardiologist at Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, for an eye-opening conversation about addressing cardiovascular disparities in South Asian populations through the innovative Dilwale registry. Dr Kulkarni tells the story of returning to her Texas community to serve South Asian patients and her determination to create meaningful change through data. What started as a local initiative grew into something much larger: a comprehensive registry of over 31,000 South Asian patients that's revealing critical insights about heart disease in this underserved population. Beyond the clinical data, this episode delves into the practical challenges of culturally informed preventive care. Dr Kulkarni shares insights on addressing barriers to physical activity within South Asian communities, helping patients navigate dietary changes while respecting cultural food traditions, and the delicate work of motivating lifestyle modifications in a population already facing higher cardiovascular risks. Her patient-centered approach demonstrates how combining population-level research with deep cultural understanding can fundamentally improve both individual outcomes and community health. Questions and comments can be sent to "podcast@radcliffe-group.com" and may be answered by Ankur in the next episode. Host: @AnkurKalraMD and produced by: @RadcliffeCardio Parallax is Ranked in the Top 100 Health Science Podcasts (#48) by Million Podcasts
Sneha Madhavan-Reese is an award-winning writer and author of the poetry collections Elementary Particles and Observing the Moon. Her poems have appeared in publications around the world, including The Best Canadian Poetry in English 2016. Sneha's second collection, Elementary Particles, is inspired by her South Asian heritage and passion for science, and has themes of identity and belonging, language and loss. Elementary Particles was longlisted for the Raymond Souster Award and was a finalist for the Ottawa Book Award. Find more info here: http://madhavan-reese.com/sneha/ As always, we'll also include the live Prompt Lines for responses to our weekly prompt. A Zoom link will be provided in the chat window during the show before that segment begins. For links to all the past episodes, visit: https://www.rattle.com/rattlecast/ This Week's Prompt: Write a sonnet in which someone sings. Next Week's Prompt: Write an ekphrastic poem based on a well-known painting that you dislike. The Rattlecast livestreams on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, then becomes an audio podcast. Find it on iTunes, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
In this bold and deeply reflective episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with New York-based attorney and writer Gargi Sen, founder of Unsquashable Girl. Together, they uncover the invisible yet painful layers of familial gaslighting, cultural conditioning in South Asian households, toxic workplaces, and the lifelong impact of childhood emotional abuse. Gargi shares how she overcame these cycles—choosing courage, setting boundaries, and embracing healing with the unexpected support of her dog, Mr. Dempsey. Learn about her viral 3-Column Method to assess emotional safety in relationships and why it's okay to disappoint your family in order to honor yourself. This conversation is a roadmap for anyone ready to stop abandoning themselves and start living free. About the Guest:Gargi Sen is a New York-based attorney, author, and the founder of Unsquashable Girl—a global movement supporting women to break free from toxic relationships, cultural oppression, and generational dysfunction. Her story of resilience includes escaping an abusive upbringing, breaking cultural taboos, and rebuilding self-worth with the help of her dog, Mr. Dempsey. Key Takeaways : Healing begins when you stop seeking approval and start honoring your inner voice. Cultural conditioning in South Asian families often normalizes emotional abuse. Gargi's story powerfully challenges this status quo. Her 3-Column Method—positive, neutral, and negative energy mapping—is a practical and transformative way to assess all relationships (family, friends, workplace). It is okay to disappoint your family if it means preserving your peace and dignity. Animals, like Mr. Dempsey, can be our emotional guides—offering us unconditional love and mirroring what safe connection feels like. Toxic leadership in the workplace often reflects unresolved personal trauma; self-awareness is essential to walk away from dysfunction. The phrase “love shouldn't hurt” is central to Gargi's philosophy. If a relationship repeatedly drains or devalues you—it is not love. Estrangement from family can be an act of self-love and emotional survival, especially when safety is at risk. How to Connect with Gargi Sen: Website: unsquashablegirl.com Book: Spiritual Energy Mapping Journal Instagram: @unsquashablegirl Learn more about Mr. Dempsey: mrdempsey.com Listeners can enter their email in this webpage and join the reader list Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik CHECK PODCAST SHOWS & BE A GUEST: Tune to all our 19 podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/healthymindbyavik Subscribe To Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/ Join Community: https://nas.io/healthymind OUR SERVICES Business Podcast Management – https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/corporatepodcasting/ Individual Podcast Management – https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/Podcasting/ Share Your Story With World – https://ourofferings.healthymindbyavik.com/shareyourstory STAY TUNED AND FOLLOW US!YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@healthymind-healthylifeInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/healthyminds.podThreads – https://www.threads.net/@healthyminds.podMedium – https://medium.com/@contentbyavikFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/podcast.healthymindLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/reemachatterjee/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/avikchakrabortypodcasterPinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/Avikpodhealth/ SHARE YOUR REVIEW Google Review – https://www.podpage.com/bizblend/reviews/new/ Video Testimonial – https://famewall.healthymindbyavik.com/ #podmatch #healthymind #healthymindbyavik #wellness #mentalhealthawareness #podcastshow #selfcare #boundaries #gaslighting #emotionalabuse #southasianvoices #traumahealing #unsquashablegirl #healingfromabuse #doghealing #emotionalresilience #toxicfamily #personalgrowth #podcastepisode
How do you make sense of the complexities of your mind and life to build a life where you thrive and prioritise yourself?In this week's episode, we sit with Soni, a third culture kid who grew up in Gran Canaria, moved to the UK for university and work, and at 31 made the decision to move to Australia by herself. She joins us to unpack the unspoken hierarchy of ‘adulting' - study, work, marriage, kids, and what it means to rewrite the bullsh** rules she had placed on herself as well as the importance of taking care of your mind. We begin with discussing growing up South Asian in Spain, and the cultural and social conditioning that shaped how Soni measured success. From there, we trace her feelings around being the only unmarried one in her group of friends who are all now having kids, unpacking her discomfort with her life through therapy, and her eventual decision to move across the world solo, the discomfort of starting over, and how she's learning to trust her own pace.In the second half, we talk about shedding societal timelines, the grief and beauty of life transitions, and what it means to own your story, even when it's messy or uncertain. Through it all, Soni reminds us that there's power in doing life differently, especially when it's scary.(0:00) Introduction(03:19) 'I've always been a creative at heart'(04:19) Themes in Soni's book ‘Your Mind Matters'(04:59) Was the corporate job stifling her creative potential?(05:41) On starting her own dance academy in Gran Canaria(09:15) The Sindhi community don't often open up about their challenges(09:30) The mental turning point(12:20) Soni's therapy journey(23:30) Unpacking her bullsh** rules(26:50) The ‘hierarchy of successful adulting'(39:25) The move to Sydney(50:43) Takeaways from her book ‘Your Mind Matters'(54:42) What does Soni have strong game in?Check out Soni's new book ‘Your Mind Matters' where she talks about it all and more - https://a.co/d/asUv0JV To be the first to get updates on new episodes, please do give us a subscribe or follow!
First: Nigel Farage is winning over womenDoes – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? ‘Around me there's always been a perception of a laddish culture,' he tells political editor Tim Shipman. In last year's election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, ‘that has begun to change'. According to More in Common, Reform has gained 14% among women, while Labour has lost 12%. ‘Women are ‘more likely than men… to worry that the country is broken.'Many of Reform's most recent victories have been by women: Andrea Jenkyns in the mayoral elections, Sarah Pochin to Parliament; plus, there most recent high profile defections include a former Tory Welsh Assembly member and a former Labour London councillor. What makes Reform's success with women all the more remarkable is that it appears organic; ‘we haven't forced this' says Farage.So why are women turning to Reform UK? Tim Shipman and Sarah Pochin MP join the podcast to discuss. Next: is Italy experiencing a renaissance? From Italy, Owen Matthews argues that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revived her nation. While he says that Italy has been ‘suffering from the same economic malaise' as the rest of Europe, the macroeconomics covers up the true affordability of the country. Espressos cost €1.20, pizzas are no more than €10, and rents in even the swankiest areas are ‘laughably' cheap compared to Britain. Plus, Owen sees none of the ‘media catastrophisation' over issues like immigration, social cohesion and militant Islam that appears to grip the UK. So how has Meloni done it? To discuss, Owen joined the podcast alongside Antonello Guerrera, UK & Westminster correspondent for the Italian newspaper Repubblica.And finally: one in three British adults cannot swimThis week, Iram Ramzan provides her ‘notes on' learning to swim saying, ‘it's humiliating to admit that at 37' she can't. She's not alone though – one third of British adults cannot swim, and the proportion appears to be rising. Iram highlights the disparities between different communities; 76 percent of South Asian women for example cannot swim 25 metres. Iram joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside fitness professional and entrepreneur Elle Linton who also learnt to swim in her thirties.Plus: what small error led Rachel Johnson to get a telling off from Noel Gallagher? And Max Jeffery reports from court, where the Spectator and Douglas Murray have won a defamation claim brought against them by Mohammed Hijab. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
First: Nigel Farage is winning over womenDoes – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? ‘Around me there's always been a perception of a laddish culture,' he tells political editor Tim Shipman. In last year's election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, ‘that has begun to change'. According to More in Common, Reform has gained 14% among women, while Labour has lost 12%. ‘Women are ‘more likely than men… to worry that the country is broken.'Many of Reform's most recent victories have been by women: Andrea Jenkyns in the mayoral elections, Sarah Pochin to Parliament; plus, there most recent high profile defections include a former Tory Welsh Assembly member and a former Labour London councillor. What makes Reform's success with women all the more remarkable is that it appears organic; ‘we haven't forced this' says Farage.So why are women turning to Reform UK? Tim Shipman and Sarah Pochin MP join the podcast to discuss. Next: is Italy experiencing a renaissance? From Italy, Owen Matthews argues that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revived her nation. While he says that Italy has been ‘suffering from the same economic malaise' as the rest of Europe, the macroeconomics covers up the true affordability of the country. Espressos cost €1.20, pizzas are no more than €10, and rents in even the swankiest areas are ‘laughably' cheap compared to Britain. Plus, Owen sees none of the ‘media catastrophisation' over issues like immigration, social cohesion and militant Islam that appears to grip the UK. So how has Meloni done it? To discuss, Owen joined the podcast alongside Antonello Guerrera, UK & Westminster correspondent for the Italian newspaper Repubblica.And finally: one in three British adults cannot swimThis week, Iram Ramzan provides her ‘notes on' learning to swim saying, ‘it's humiliating to admit that at 37' she can't. She's not alone though – one third of British adults cannot swim, and the proportion appears to be rising. Iram highlights the disparities between different communities; 76 percent of South Asian women for example cannot swim 25 metres. Iram joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside fitness professional and entrepreneur Elle Linton who also learnt to swim in her thirties.Plus: what small error led Rachel Johnson to get a telling off from Noel Gallagher? And Max Jeffery reports from court, where the Spectator and Douglas Murray have won a defamation claim brought against them by Mohammed Hijab. Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk
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 tonight's edition of Obbligato on APEX Express, which focuses on AAPI artists, musicians, and composers in the classical music world, host Isabel Li is joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. Featured Music: Sonatrinas: https://richardan.bandcamp.com/album/sonatrinas i got the electroshock blues: https://rasprecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-got-the-electroshock-blues RICHARD AN (b.1995) is a performer and composer, born and raised in Los Angeles. Richard plays new music – usually with House on Fire – co-founded the tiny backpack new music series, and has performed with Monday Evening Concerts' Echoi Ensemble, Piano Spheres, The Industry and on Bang on a Can's LOUD Weekend. Richard plays piano and percussion, and has been known to sing, conduct, and teach. Richard's music has been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Calder Quartet, HOCKET, C3LA, and more. His music has been released on CMNTX Records. Richard has a BM in Composition from USC and an MFA from CalArts. He is on faculty at the Pasadena Waldorf School, Glendale Community College and Harvard-Westlake. He plays taiko and tabla, and makes YouTube videos. Learn more about Richard's work on his website: https://richardanmusic.com/ Richard's social media: https://www.instagram.com/richardanmusic/ If you are in LA and want hear Richard's work, he's playing with House on Fire at the Sierra Madre Playhouse on August 17! https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/event/richardan2025 Transcript Opening: [00:00:00] APEX Express. Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the APEX Express. 00:00:46 Isabel Li Good evening and welcome back to a new episode of Apex Express on KPFA, 94.1 FM. We are bringing you an Asian and Asian American view from the Bay and around the world. I'm your host, Isabel Li, and tonight is a new edition of Obbligato, which explores AAPI identities and classical music. Tonight I'm joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. 00:01:41 Isabel Li Welcome to the show. Welcome to APEX Express, Richard. My first question for you is how do you identify and what communities would you say that you're a part of? 00:01:50 Richard An My name is Richard An I use he/him pronouns and I'm a second generation Korean American. My parents are both Korean. My dad came from Busan, which is a large city in South Korea, and my mom was born in Seoul and then moved to South America and then made her way up to Los Angeles where they met. And as for identity, like, I think Korean American would be the most accurate one. This is and I think an ever evolving part of first of all my identity and the way that it intersects with my practice and also I think that's the case with many Asian American artists, I mean artists from immigrant families, you know, the the matter of your identity, especially if you feel more distanced from it for one reason or another, is like an unsolved question for everyone like there is no one answer. That works for people and that's a thing that me people like myself I think will be exploring for our entire lives. When I introduce myself to people, I say that I'm a classical musician. And at the very core of it, that is true. That's not a lie. And I am, you know, a part of the classical music community in Los Angeles. But as time goes on, I have noticed and realized. That I tend to align myself more with like the avant-garde and experimental contemporary music communities of Los Angeles, which has certainly an overlap with the classical community, both in practice and historically, but yeah, I I would say those are the sort of two biggest ones, classical musicians and experimental avant-garde, contemporary musicians, whatever label you want to use for that. 00:03:47 Isabel Li Yeah. Some of our listeners might not know what avant-garde music entails. Can you — how would you describe avant-garde music to someone who might not be as familiar with this particular movement? 00:03:57 Richard An Yeah. So avant-garde music, a sort of flippant and joking way to to talk about it is ugly music or music. You know, my dad, for example, wouldn't like, but I think. It's music that either interfaces with elements or confronts facets or issues in music that aren't typical of other kinds of music. The music that you might hear that is labeled of on guard might be noisy or dissonant or uncomfortable, or any kind of, you know, adjectives that are synonyms for noisy or ugly, but I have come to love that kind of music, you know 1. Because of the the kind of questions that they might ask about our perceptions of music and two, because I guess one way to put it is that to be a classical musician, you need to be in a practice room for many hours a day for many years and go to what is unfortunately a college, which is usually very expensive and I guess for lack of a better term, paywalled for like you need to have the kind of resources that allow you to attend a four year undergrad and then a two year masters and then a three-year doctorate. But avant-garde music, contemporary music, experimental music doesn't necessitate that kind of thing. Often those musicians do have a background that gives them some amount of, you know, virtuosity or facility in an instrument. But like some of the best experimental musicians. Alive and some of the best ones that I know have no, like extensive training in a particular instrument and some may not have a degree in music at all. And that's one thing that I in like that separates it from classical music is that. 00:05:44 Richard An Classical music can be, unfortunately a little bit exclusionary. I don't think by any one specific design, but the fact that you need so many hours and very specific instructions from a mentor that necessitate that kind of relationship. But experimental music, I think does a little bit better job of diversifying or making it feel more equitable. 00:06:12 Isabel Li That's a great point, actually. One of my questions following up with that was what do you think is possible with this genre, which you kind of mentioned earlier with perhaps how this genre makes classical music a little bit more equitable for those who are interested in this field. In your experience, composing, what do you think makes the genre special, and how do you go about it? 00:06:35 Richard An One thing that I've noticed about being involved in the sort of contemporary experimental avant-garde music sphere is that it makes me a better listener, and I think other people who attend these concerts will agree. Like for example a large part of this kind of music is drone or repetition or, you know, like long spans of unchanging sound. And if the the sound that is being produced at face value is not changing, well then what do you notice about it? What do you grab on to and one of the most, I think, gratifying experiences is listening deeper and realizing that, ohh, even though you know for example this piano playing two notes for 30 minutes might not like the instructions will say to do the same thing for 30 minutes, but your experience as a human being will certainly change over those 30 minutes, even if the the notes are not like you will notice the slight fluctuations in the way that someone is playing, you will notice the beating patterns in the pitches on an instrument that may not be perfectly in tune, you will note other ambient sounds, you will note like you will notice so much more about the world when you are confronted with the kind of music that you know. You can say it forces you to listen to these sounds but also invites you to listen to these things. And I think that's really, really special. That's not to say that that can't happen with other kinds of music. Or even with classical music. Surely you know there are many, many ways to listen to everything. But I've noticed this within myself. When I listen to long, repetitive drone based music that it really opens my ears and makes me a more active participant as a listener. 00:08:30 Isabel Li It's a great point actually. Part of my work– because I studied music, history and theory in college– was how music can engage various listeners to participate. Have you composed anything that perhaps engages the listener in this more of a participatory setting? 00:08:47 Richard An Yeah. So I guess in order the some of the stuff that I've done to engage the audience, I guess both literally, and maybe more figuratively is, I wrote a piece last year for the Dog Star festival, which is a a contemporary and experimental music festival that is actually happening right now, at the time of this recording. It's a multi week long festival that focuses on music of this type that was founded by people in the sort of CalArts music world. But I wrote a piece for that last year for three melodicas, which are these basically toy instruments that look like keyboards, but you blow into them and you blowing air through these makes the sound happen. It's basically like if you cross a harmonica and a piano together. But I I wrote a piece for three of these, playing essentially the same notes. And because these instruments are pretty cheap, and they're often considered toys or, you know, instruments for children, they're not tuned to the exact way that, like a piano or a vibraphone or an expensive instrument might be. But I wanted to use that for my advantage. For example, if I play an F# on one melodica the same F# on another melodica will not be exactly the same and playing those two pitches together will produce what's known as a a beat or beat frequency. Which is, you know, a complicated, you know, mathematic physics thing, but basically 2 notes that are really, really close, but not quite together will create a kind of third rhythm because the the pitches are so close. Like, for example, if if I play an A at 4:40 and another A at 441, you will notice that difference of 1 Hertz inside of your ears. And that's a really cool phenomenon that happens explicitly because you were there listening to the piece. They don't happen necessarily, you know, like in, in recorded formats like, it's a very difficult thing to capture unless you are in the room with these instruments. And the fact that we had this audience of, let's say, 40 people meant that all forty of these people were experiencing these beat frequencies and another really cool factor of this is depending on where you are located in the room. With the way that the beats will sound in your ears are different and purely by the fact of acoustics like a wave bouncing off of the wall over on your left, will feel really different if you are closer or further from that wall. So not only do the audiences ears themselves, you know, invite these this this participation, but the pure physicality of each listener means that they will have a very slightly different experience of what the piece is, and again like this will happen in any concert. If you're at a classical show, if you're at a rock show if, if you're further from the stage, if you're further to the left or right, you will get a slightly different position in the stereo field that the musicians are playing in, but pieces like what I wrote and many others that exist emphasize this kind of like acoustic phenomena. That is really, really fascinating to listen to. 00:12:23 Isabel Li That's fascinating. And to get a sense of Richard's work, we'll be hearing coming up next. The short excerpt from his album Sonatrinas. This is the duo excerpt performed by Wells Leng, Katie Aikam, Kevin Good and composer Richard An himself. [COMP MUSIC: Sonatrinas (Excerpt: Duo)] 00:17:38 Richard An And so the back story for this piece is this was written for one of my recitals at CalArts. I was planning on playing this piece by Michael Gordon called Sonatra, which is a really, really beautiful and difficult piece for solo piano that I gave myself as an assignment, which I was not able to do with the amount of time. And, you know, like I just didn't give myself enough time to do this thing, so I still had this program of several pieces written with the idea of having this Michael Gordon Sonatra in the middle, but now that that sort of middle part was gone, there was a bunch of pieces about a piece that didn't exist. So in order to fill that hole, I wrote this piece called Sonatrinas which is a cheeky nod to the Michael Gordon Sonatra, but also to the fact that each part of this is kind of a diminutive Sonata form. Everything has a sort of ABA– here's some idea. Here's a different idea, and now we go back to that first idea. Every single part of this has a little bit of that in it. 00:18:51 Isabel Li Yeah, that's fascinating. Even the name itself reminds me of Sonata form in classical music, where it's kind of like an ABA section. As you sort of talked about earlier. And it's really cool that you're adapting this in a more avant-garde context. This is a reminder you're listening to Apex Express. Today we are interviewing composer and musician Richard An. 00:19:12 Isabel Li I think the general question that I have next is can you tell me a bit about what drew you to music and how you got your start in music, how you got introduced to it and what things have inspired you over the years? 00:19:24 Richard An Yeah. So a real quick sort of, I guess, history of my involvement with music is that I started piano lessons when I was pretty young, either three or four years old. I continued that until I was 12 or 13. I decided I really wanted to become a musician. I started taking composition lessons with this composer, AJ McCaffrey, who is really responsible for a lot of what I know and my successes, if you can call it that. He got me into a lot of the music that I am into now and set the foundation for what I would study and what I would write he was one of the instructors for this program called the LA Phil Composer Fellowship program, which back when I was a participant from 2011 to 2013, was a program hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic that took 4 high school age students every two years. And you know, they they taught us, you know, everything. How a young composer needs to know how instruments work, how to write a score, how to talk to musicians, how to do everything that a that a composer needs to learn how to do and at the end of this program, after the two years the young composers write a piece for the at the LA Philharmonic. So I was extremely lucky that by the age of 17 I was able to write a piece for orchestra and get that played and not just any orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, you know, undisputedly one of the best orchestras in the world. Right. And then after that I I went to USC for my undergrad and then went to CalArts for my masters. And then here we are now. And that those are sort of the like, you know if someone writes a biography about me, that's what we'll be, you know, involved in the thing. But I really started to develop my love for music in my freshman and sophomore year. In high school I I started to get into more and more modern composers. I started to get into more and more noisy things and a lot of this coincided actually with the passing of my mother. She died when I was 14 and you know that in any human the death of a parent will cause you to reevaluate and rethink aspects of your life. Things that you thought were certainties will not be there anymore. So for me, I stopped taking piano lessons and I sort of went headfirst into composition and which is why my degrees are specifically in composition and not piano. Had my mother's passing not happened, you know, who knows what I would be doing now? Maybe I'm not a composer at all. Maybe I'm not into avant-garde music at all, but because things happen the way that they did, I suddenly took a quick turn into avant-garde music and my involvement there only grew more and more and more. Until you know where I am today, I'm almost 30 years old, so I've been listening to and a participant of this music for maybe 15 years or so and I'm quite happy. 00:22:43 Isabel Li That's awesome to hear. 00:22:45 Isabel Li And perhaps a testament to Richard one's very versatile compositional style and avant-garde music coming up next are three pieces from his album i got the electroshock blues. There are five pieces in the album in total, but we will be hearing three of them. The first one called “feeling, scared today,” the second one, “pink pill,” and the fifth one, “la la.” [COMP MUSIC: i got the electroshock blues: 1. “feeling, scared today”, 2. “pink pill”, 3. “la la”.] 00:36:41 Richard An Earlier last year, I released a collection of live recordings under the title of I got the Electroshock Blues. Electroshock Blues is a song by the band Eels I encountered at a pivotal moment in my life. This was right around the time that my mother passed and this record and this song is heavily centered in grief. The main musician in the Eels, Mark Oliver Everett, was dealing with the passing of multiple family members and people who were close to him so it hit me in just the right way at just the right time. And because of that, this song specifically has stayed with me for many, many years. I found myself coming back to the contents of this song as I was composing and all the pieces on this album, of which there are 5 heavily take material from this song, whether that's words, chords, the melody. I really, you know, take it apart, dissect it and use those as ingredients in the pieces that I have written here and all of these are live recordings except for the first piece which was recorded in my studio. I just sort of overdubbed the parts myself, and there are credits in the liner notes for this album, but I just want to say that. The first piece which is called “feeling, scared today,” was originally written for the Hockett piano duo, which is a duo comprised of Thomas Kotcheff and Sarah Gibson. Sarah Gibson was a really close friend of mine who passed away last year and now this piece which in some way came out of a feeling of grief now has renewed meaning and another facet or aspect of this piece is centered in grief now. Because this was dedicated to Thomas and Sarah. Yeah. So these pieces are all derived from this one song. 00:38:57 Isabel Li That's a beautiful response. Thank you so much. Kind of following along your background and how you got to where you are. How do you think your identity has informed your work as a composer and musician? And this could be– you can interpret this in any way that you wish. 00:39:11 Richard An Yeah, this is a really interesting question. The question of how my identity interfaces with my music. In my art, particularly because no person's answer is quite the same, and I don't necessarily have this figured out either. So for a little bit of I guess for a little bit of context on me, I'm second generation Korean American, but I've never been to Korea and I never went to Korean school. My parents never really emphasize that part of my education. You could call it assimilation. You can call it whatever, but I think they valued other aspects of my growth than my explicit tie to Koreanness or, you know my specific identity as a Korean or Korean American, and because of that, I've always felt a little bit awkwardly distanced from that part of my identity, which is something that I will never be completely rid of. So in in a world and the field where whiteness is sort of the default part you know, particularly because you know, classical music does come from Europe, you know, for hundreds of years, like all of the development in this particular kind of music did happen in a place where everyone was white. So because of that background of where I come from and where my musical activity comes from, whiteness has been the default and still feels like it is. So me looking the way that I do as, an obvious not white person, as a person of color will always have a little bit of an outsider status to the thing. And with that comes the question of what are you bringing to classical music? What do you bring to the kind of music that you're creating? Like for example, the most I think the most well known East Asian composers are people like Toru Takemitsu or Tan Dun, people who will interface with their Asianness, in many different ways, but that often involves bringing, for example, a Japanese scale into your classical composition, or bringing a Japanese instrument into your classical composition. Those are, you know, examples of of of pieces by Toru Takemitsu, and other, you know, very successful. Asian American composers now may do similarly. Texu Kim is maybe someone who can also give insight into this, but nothing about me feels explicitly Korean, maybe besides the way that I look. And besides, the way that I grew up a little bit like I've never been to Korea. What right does that give me as a Korean, to for example, use a Korean instrument or use a Korean scale? I've never studied that music. I've never studied that culture. I in in some arguments I would be guilty of cultural appropriation, because I, you know, have not done the work to study and to properly represent. And for example, like Pansori, if I were to use that in any of my music. 00:42:46 Richard An But then the the the difficult question is well, then who does have the right? Does being Korean give me all the license that I need to incorporate aspects of my identity? And if I am not Korean, does that, does that bar my access to that kind of music forever? Another way of looking at this is, I've studied North Indian Classical Hindustani music for a while. I've played tabla and and studied that music at CalArts and I really, really love playing tabla. It's it doesn't make its way into my composition so much, but it is certainly a big part of my musicianship and who I am and, like, but am I barred from using ideas or aspects of that music and culture and my music because simply for the fact that I am not Indian? Many musicians would say no. Of course you've done your homework, you've done your research. You're doing due diligence. You're you're representing it properly. And many people who study this music will say music cannot go forward if it's not like the innervated and continued and studied by people like me who are not explicitly South Asian or Indian. That's an example of the flip side of this of me using or representing the music from a culture that I am not a part of, but again, am I really Korean? I've never been there. I wasn't born there. I speak the language conversationally. But this is an extremely long winded way of saying that I feel a tenuous connection to my Korean this my Korean American identity that hasn't been solved, that isn't solved and probably will never be completely solved. But I think that's exciting. I think that's an evolving aspect of my music and will continue to be that way as long as I continue to be involved in music and as as long as I continue to write. 00:45:05 Isabel Li Yeah, absolutely. That's a wonderful response. Actually. I was, as I was studying different types of world music and learning how people kind of borrow from different cultures. There is this always, this kind of question like ohh, like which types of musical elements from which cultures can I incorporate and obviously the aspects of personal identity definitely play into that a little bit. And part of my senior thesis in college was studying AAPI artists in classical music, and specifically that there are a lot of Asian-identifying musicians in the classical music world. But as you kind of mentioned earlier, I think classical music is very much still like grounded in whiteness and has this kind of air of elitism to it just because of its roots. How do you think this kind of identity intersects with the classical music world? And forgive me if you've already kind of talked about it before, but it's an interesting juxtaposition between like, for example, musicians who identify as AAPI or Asian in this kind of genre that is very– it's very associated with whiteness. Could you kind of talk about the dynamics of how these two aspects of like culture kind of interplay with one another? 00:46:26 Richard An Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, there are ways that I personally feel like I intersect with classical music with reference to my identity, and that also plays with the sort of cultural expectations, like there are stereotypes of Asian musicians, of Asian classical musicians. But there are not necessarily the same the same kind of stereotypes with white classical musicians. A very dominant like stereotype that you'll run into is the young Asian prodigy who practices 10 hours a day and may therefore be labeled as mechanical or unfeeling or, you know, are involved in in this a lot. So much so to the fact to the to the point where to excel an Asian American classical musician or as an Asian classical musician, in general, seems to always carry that stereotype. Like you know, Seong-Jin Cho's success as a pianist may not necessarily be attributed to his musicianship or his skill as a pianist. Because he is an Asian person, an Asian guy. Like how much of his success is because of the perceived tiger mom-ness that he might have existed under? How much of it is attributed to the same type of stereotypes that are labeled like that that label the five year old pianist on YouTube that that is clearly better than I am? Like some of these stereotypes help and some of these don't, but the I think it's undeniable that they exist in a way that doesn't in a way that doesn't carry for white people in the classical music sphere. And I think part of that is that classical music is still rooted in its Eurological identity. I think I'm using that correctly. That's an idea from George Lewis. Eurological versus Afrological. The context that I'm using Eurological right now is specifically in reference to George Lewis, who is a composer, trombonist, and musicologist who, I think coined the two terms to differentiate the roots of different styles of music, and you know, I haven't read enough to confidently say, but classical music is Eurological by example and like jazz would be Afrological by an example and the contexts in which they develop and exist and grew up are fundamentally different, which is what makes them different from each other. And again like this needs a little bit more research on my part. 00:49:23 Richard An Yeah, and because the classical music is so rooted in this thing, I don't believe that the stereotypes that exist for Asian classical musicians exist for white people. And I think that is something that will naturally dissipate with time, like after another 100 years of Asians, and, you know, people of color in, you know, every country in the world, with their continued involvement and innova otypes will disappear like this. You know, it may require certain concerted efforts from certain people, but I do believe that after a while these things will not exist. They'll sort of equalize right in the same way. That the divisions that we make between a Russian pianist and a French pianist and a German pianist, though you know people still do study those things like those aren't really dividing lines quite as strong as an Asian composer or an Indian composer might be. 00:50:27 Isabel Li Thank you for that perspective. I think it's, I think these are conversations that people don't kind of bring up as much in the classical music world and it's great that, you know, we're kind of thinking about these and probably possibly like opening some conversations up to our listeners hopefully. And so my next kind of pivot here is as you know with our current administration, Trump has canceled millions of dollars in National Endowment of the Arts grants, and it's been affecting arts organizations all over the nation. And I was kind of wondering, have you been affected by these cuts to arts programs and what kinds of advice would give upcoming musicians or composers in this era? 00:51:07 Richard An Yeah, that's a yeah, that's a big thing. And like, you know, changing day by day, right. So the Trump administration's effects on my life as a musician is simultaneously huge and also not really that much. So in one way these grant cuts have not affected my personal musical life because I haven't ever received a government grant for any of my arts making. So in one way like my life is the same, but in many, many, many other ways it has changed. Like I am involved with and I work with concert series and organizations and nonprofits that do rely on NEA funding and other government arts based funding. And if they have less money to fund their next season, that means certain projects have to be cut. That means certain musicians have to be paid less. That means certain programs have to change, especially if these funding cuts are aimed towards DEI or quote and quote, woke programming like that is, you know this that will by design disproportionately affect people of color in this field, which already you know, like is in a Eurocentric urological tradition like this is already something that people of color don't have a head start in if the funding cuts are aimed at certain types of programming that will disadvantage already disadvantaged groups of people, well then I don't know, that's even–we're starting even later than other people might be, and you know, like, if a musicians, if a person's reaction to this is despair, I think that's reasonable. I think that is an absolutely, like that's an appropriate reaction to what is fundamentally an attack on your voice as an artist. But I I have for as long as I can, you know, I have always worked under the impression that I will have to do the thing myself, and that's in the piece of advice that I give for a lot of people. You shouldn't necessarily wait for this ensemble to come pick you to play or or to to, you know, commission you to write a piece if you want to write the piece, you should do it and figure out how to put it on yourself. If you want to perform you know music by a certain composer, you should do it and then figure out how to do it yourself. That certainly comes from a place of privilege, like I can do this because I have enough work as a musician to be able to pay for the the passion projects it comes from a place of privilege, because I live in Los Angeles and the resources and musicians and other people who I would like to collaborate with live here, so you know, completely acknowledging and understanding that I I do believe that it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I think if you're a young musician and are feeling some despair about these funding cuts and you know the many, many, many other transgressions against humanity by this current administration. 00:54:38 Richard An I recommend you just go out and do it yourself. You find your people, you find your community, you pull favors, you work long nights and you do it and the reward will firstly be the good you're putting out into the world and then the the art you're making. But also this will be paid in kind by the community you're building, the musicians you're working with. And the the connections you make like you know I I have, I am currently conducting this interview from a studio space that I am renting out in Pasadena that I have built over the last two years that I do all of my rehearsals and my performances in, and that I, you know, host rehearsals and performances for other people, and this cannot happen and could not have happened without the goodwill and help and contribution from other people. When I say go out and do it yourself, I'm not saying that you as a human being are alone. I'm saying you don't need to wait for institutional approval or permission to go out and do these things. Get your friends and do them themselves. And my optimistic belief is that the support and the work will follow. 00:55:53 Isabel Li Richard, thank you so much for sharing your perspectives and your voice on this show today. And thank you to our many listeners of KPFA on tonight's episode of Obbligato on Apex Express. Which focuses on the AAPI community of the classical music world. There were some inspirational words on arts and arts making by Richard An musician and composer based in Los Angeles. 00:56:18 Isabel Li Please check our website kpfa.org to find out more about Richard An and his work as well as the state of the arts during this period of funding cuts. 00:56:29 Isabel Li We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating and sharing your visions with the world, your voices and your art are important. 00:56:41 Isabel Li APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by Isabel Li. Have a great evening. The post APEX Express – 8.7.25 – Obbligato with Richard An appeared first on KPFA.
Welcome back! In this episode we will be continuing our conversation with Manveer, a British punjabi girl who is pharmacist by day but an upcoming chef/ food content creator by evening who is also one of my best friends. In this episode we will continue to reflect back on our 20's but this time around focusing on dating, relationships, friendships, mental health and our honest feelings about turning 30. Listen to Part 1:EP46: Reflections on our 20s: What we'd tell our younger selves? with Manveer | South Asian, Careers, Bhangra Timestamps: (00:00) intro(01:37) our mental health in our 20s (06:11) attaching self-worth to achievements(09:09) will our 30s be like our late 20s?(10:11) how have our friendships changed over our 20s?(12:47) high value, low commitment friendships (16:05) dating in our 20s (23:55) attachment styles(25:55) uncomfortable conversations in relationships (29:24) advice on thriving in your 20s (32:42) our honest thoughts on turning 30(37:58) outro————————————————————MANVEER: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beghalbites/ ————————————————————ATTACHMENT STYLES:Do the test: https://www.attachmentproject.com/attachment-style-quiz/ Book: Attached: Are you Anxious, Avoidant or Secure? How the science of adult attachment can help you find – and keep – love ————————————————————ABOUT IT'S PREETI PERSONAL: This podcast is all about sharing South Asian stories and having everyday conversations but from the lens of being a brown girl so expect girl talk episodes covering topics like love, career, mental health, finances, friendships, female health and living life in our 20's and 30's. ————————————————————SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preetipersonal/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itspreetipersonalTikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSvmbM63/Email: itspreetipersonal@gmail.comDon't forget to subscribe and follow @itspreetipersonal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or the place you listen to podcasts.
Abhay delves into the transformative journey of Shweta Katti, the Director of Education at KRANTI. Discover how KRANTI empowers daughters of sex workers from India's red light districts, turning adversity into strength and resilience. Shweta shares her inspiring journey from growing up in a red light district to empowering girls from similar backgrounds. She discusses the contrasts of love and trauma within her community, the importance of building trust and safety, and the evolution of self-trust. Shweta shares her personal story of enduring generational trauma and abuse to become the first woman from an Indian red-light area to study abroad. She emphasizes the need to challenge toxic masculinity and highlights the role of community in healing and support, and also shares insights on Kranti's mission to create agents of social change - a testament to the power of community, empathy, and unwavering hope.(0:00 - 3:17) Introduction(3:17) Part 1 - responsibility, contrasts and difficulties(18:23) Part 2 - empathy to build empowerment, evolving reflections, changing stereotypes(37:24) Part 3 - building allyship and stopping toxic masculinity, therapy, building trust(49:27 ConclusionKRANTI is an organization in India dedicated to empowering girls from red-light districts to become agents of social change. Kranti currently supports 50+ girls & young women who are survivors of trafficking or daughters of sex workers. Read a recent blog post titled "The Brothel is My Temple" written by Shweta here.Please consider supporting KRANTI through volunteering or donating in kind, at kranti-india.org/join
Preeti Kalra is a Hospital Clinical Pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Masters in Health Administration. She is the Director of Partnerships and Communications and Chicago Network Lead for WE ARE SAATH, an organization dedicated to advocating for South Asian mental health and defying the stigma in the South Asian community when it comes to talking and seeking therapy for mental health. She is also on the Associate Board for March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving maternal health and ending preventable premature birth within the United States. Preeti was born prematurely. In this episode, she talks about her experience as a preemie and as a member of the South Asian community, including: The circumstances of her birth as a preemie and how that affected her health as a child How she discovered that she was neurodivergent and how that impacted her life as a South Asian woman and as a preemie How her neurodivergence affected her academic studies and shaped the direction of her career Some potential long-term effects of being born a preemie, and why is it important to consider those effects when those babies become adults Her research on premature birth and the current state of maternal healthcare in South Asian countries How parents can be good advocates for their preemie children Follow Preeti on Instagram @pkalra33 or email her at pkalra33 at gmail dot com. Learn more about the Adult Preemie Advocacy Network at AdultPreemies.com/resources. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript. Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes. Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*
Zahra Sabri comes on TPE to discuss Workplace harassment, IBA, her case and the Urdu debate.Zahra Sabri is a Karachi-based academic who teaches Indo-Muslim History and Literatures. She received her MA degree from the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York through a Fulbright Scholarship. She has taught History and Urdu Language and Literature at universities such as McGill University, Canada (where she pursued doctoral work at the Institute of Islamic Studies), IBA Karachi, the Aga Khan University, Pakistan, Habib University, and the University of Karachi's Pakistan Study Centre. Her research focuses on Mughal History and the influence of the Persianate on Indo-Muslim languages, cultures, and traditions of learning, as well as on politics of identity centred around Urdu in South Asia. She is the curator of Koozah -- an anthology of Urdu short stories by new and little-known Pakistani writers (Oxford University Press, 2015). She is a literary translator, and has translated folk and classical poetry from almost a dozen Pakistani languages for eleven seasons of the popular music programme Coke Studio, Pakistan. She has also worked as a journalist for the Herald magazine (Dawn), winning the Zubeida Mustafa Award for Journalistic Excellence (2013) and has contributed articles to Pakistan's national press on diverse political and educational issues.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 Introduction2:15 Story of the IBA lecturer harassment case47:47 Workplace Harassment, the Law and the Process52:55 Careerism and Old boys clubs1:00:00 Ombudsman ruling and the process after1:04:00 Publications1:10:30 The Urdu Debate1:13:48 Languages evolve1:17:30 Teaching Urdu and different styles of Urdu1:29:00 India Policy and Hindi1:31:25 Urdu vs Bengali1:40:00 Press Releases
Get ready for a literary hungama unlike any other! PerryFlix is thrilled to announce the super launch of its groundbreaking "PerryFlix Short Stories" book series, pioneering didactic tales crafted in Hinglish! These stories are designed for both international learners struggling with initial Hindi, and native speakers seeking what sounds most practical in everyday conversation [Conversation History]. This venture, featuring acclaimed author Jimmy Mello's journey into India's linguistic landscape, marks the "birth of a language" [Conversation History], a natural yet forged evolution over years.So, what exactly is Hinglish? It's a dynamic and vibrant linguistic blend [Conversation History, 74]. In Britain, Hinglish refers to the use of specific South Asian words—especially Hindi, Urdu, or Punjabi—within a predominantly English sentence. Conversely, in India, it's often the reverse: English words woven into predominantly Hindi, Urdu, or Punjabi sentences. This unique fusion is already spoken by millions and encapsulates the heart and akal (common sense) of South Asian culture.Our new "PerryFlix Short Stories" series leverages this blend to offer an immersive and accessible experience. You'll find narratives that flow seamlessly between English and South Asian terms, giving you a genuine feel for contemporary communication. For example, in Anubhav Agarwal's Why Not Me? A feeling of millions (Hinglish Version), you see phrases like:"Zindagi! Ek sahi alfaaz hai apne bachpan ke dino ko bayaan karne ke liye" (Life! A correct word to describe the days of childhood)."Maine aadhi se zyada school life 'Boy's school' mein bita di thi, sirf 2 saal bache the" (I spent more than half my school life in a 'Boy's school,' only 2 years were left)."Mujhe pata tha milna na milna kismat hai, par ye ehsaas hona, ki wo aur main dono ek hi sheher mein hain, bilkul waisa ehsaas tha jaise wo aur main dono ek hi ghar mein hain" (I knew meeting or not meeting was fate, but feeling that she and I were in the same city was exactly like feeling that she and I were in the same house).This blending adds unique flavour and emotional depth to the narrative [Conversation History], allowing for a richer understanding of cultural nuances.Here are just a few examples of the rich vocabulary you'll encounter in "PerryFlix Short Stories," explained with their context, much like in "The Queen's Hinglish":Expressions of Emotion & Affection:Aish (pleasurable activity): "I just did aish at school."Izzat (honor, respect): "How can I insult her izzat when she had none in the first place?"Jaan (life/dear one): Often suffixed to Ammi or Abba (mother/father) to convey greater affection, e.g., "Abba-jaan, would you give me a lift?".Cultural & Social Concepts:Aadat (custom; habit): "I hope he doesn't make it his aadat."Badmash (hooligan/rascal): "That friend of yours is a good-for-nothing badmash."Bevakoof (fool): "Honestly, that boy is such a bevakoof."Chalaak (sly/crafty).Dosti (friendship): "Punjabi dosti could hold the key to better relations."Pukka (properly/perfectly done, genuine, or excellent): "That's a pukka road they've laid down."Everyday Life:Chai (tea): "All this chai is boiled with condensed milk."Chowk (marketplace).Colony (apartment complex).Mithai (South Asian sweet).Interjections & Responses:Arre! (calling attention).Bas! (enough).Haina? (isn't it?): Used to ascertain agreement.Haan (yes) / Nahi (no).Jaldi-jaldi! (go faster!).Namaste (salutation used for greeting and goodbye).Shabash! (well done!).Shukriya (thank you).Vaah vaah! (admiration).Yaar (friend).Join us on this exciting journey into the heart of language! PerryFlix Short Stories in Hinglish are your ticket to unlocking a deeper connection with South Asian culture and its unique way of expression. It's like discovering a secret language that millions already speak – ready to bring a new dhamaal (excitement) to your literary world!
Amar Wala is a Canadian film director and writer whose debut film, “Shook,” follows a South Asian man named Ash who's navigating issues of love, family and identity in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. Amar joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the challenges of transitioning from documentary to narrative film, the personal parallels between the main character's journey and his own, and why the racially-diverse and economically-challenged Scarborough is such a fantastic setting for a film.
Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners.This episode covers South Asian mental health with Dr. Farooq Naeem, a senior scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He is also a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.Dr. Naeem pioneered techniques for culturally adapting CBT. These techniques have been used to adapt CBT in South Asia, North Africa, Middle East, Kenya and China. His research areas include CBT, psychosis, and culture, with an overall aim to improve access to CBT. He has also published on issues related to health services and quality improvement. He works with a team of IT experts and has developed a CBT-based therapy program — called eGuru — that can be delivered through web and smartphone apps.The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:By the end of this episode, you should be able to…Recognize the unique mental health challenges and barriers faced by South Asian communitiesUnderstand how cultural nuances shape mental health presentations and assessmentsDescribe culturally adapted CBT and its benefits for South Asian patientsIdentify initiatives and future directions in transcultural psychiatry for South AsiansGuest: Dr. Farooq NaeemHosts: Hira Ahmad, Gurvir Rai, Nikhita SinghalAudio editing by: Nikhita SinghalShow notes by: Nikhita SinghalResources:PsychEd Episode 29: Cultural Psychiatry with Dr. Eric JarvisCulturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Canadians of South Asian OriginSouth Asian Canadian Mental Health FoundationSociety for the Study of Psychiatry and CultureReferences:Gadalla, T.M. (2010). Ethnicity and seeking treatment for depression: a Canadian national study. Canadian Ethnic Studies 41(3), 233-245. https://doi.org/10.1353/ces.2010.0042Karasz, A., Gany, F., Escobar, J., Flores, C., Prasad, L., Inman, A., Kalasapudi, V., Kosi, R., Murthy, M., Leng, J., & Diwan, S. (2019). Mental health and stress among South Asians. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(S1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0790-4Kumar, A., & Nevid, J. S. (2010). Acculturation, enculturation, and perceptions of mental disorders in Asian Indian immigrants. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 274–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018352Lai, D. W. L., & Surood, S. (2008). Socio-cultural variations in depressive symptoms of ageing South Asian Canadians. Asian Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 3(2), 84-91.Leung, P., Cheung, M., & Tsui, V. (2011). Asian Indians and depressive symptoms: Reframing mental health help -seeking behavior. International Social Work, 55(1), 53–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872810372801Masood, N., Okazaki, S., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2009). Gender, family, and community correlates of mental health in South Asian Americans. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 15(3), 265–274. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014301Vakil, K., Desse, T. A., Manias, E., Alzubaidi, H., Rasmussen, B., Holton, S., & McNamara, K. P. (2023). Patient-centered care experiences of first-generation, South Asian migrants with chronic diseases living in high-income, Western countries: systematic review. Patient Preference and Adherence, 17, 281–298. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S391340For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (@psyched.podcast), Facebook (PsychEd Podcast), X (@psychedpodcast), and Bluesky (@psychedpodcast.bsky.social). You can email us at psychedpodcast@gmail.com and visit our website at psychedpodcast.org.
Jagpreet Singh is the Political Director for DRUM Beats and in an in-depth interview, he examines how and why South Asian voters in New York City mobilized for Mamdani and what lessons the election holds for the rest of the nation.
On this episode of the SheerLuxe Podcast, Sapna Rao is joined by SL contributor Billie Bhatia and stylist Monikh Dale. They kick things off with a review of Mount St. Restaurant before Sapna shares her experience of the Réalisation Par pop-up and all the details from her dreamy Mallorca trip, which includes stays at Belmond La Residencia, Hotel Corazón and Portella Palma. Next, the three run through their latest high-street fashion finds from Zara and H&M, and highlight some standout pieces from LESET, Hope & May and Matteau. In this week's ‘Mustn't Miss', they turn to some South Asian favourites – including Aashni & Co in Westbourne Grove, Kareena Kapoor's iconic looks in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and the viral Nike x NorBlack NorWhite campaign. Plus, they spotlight the Supriya Lele x Mango collab and Ambika Mod's turn in One Day. The trio also reveal their current ride-or-die beauty products, including bits from Prada, Augustinus Bader, Victoria Beckham and the ever-reliable L'Oréal Lumi Glotion. Finally, they answer your beauty dilemmas…Subscribe For More | http://bit.ly/2VmqduQ Get SheerLuxe Straight To Your Inbox, Daily | http://sheerluxe.com/signup PANEL GUESTSBillie Bhatia | @billie_bhatia | https://www.instagram.com/billie_bhatia/?hl=en Sapna Rao | @@sapna_rao | https://www.instagram.com/sapna_rao/?hl=en Monikh Dale | @monikh | https://www.instagram.com/monikh/?hl=en WIN | https://sheerluxe.com/win/2025/06/win-the-ultimate-luxury-holiday-at-oku-bodrum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu 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
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/technology
With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format.Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly. Nathan Smith is a PhD candidate in Music Theory at Yale University nathan.smith@yale.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture
What happens when your sin goes viral?In this powerful episode of Restoring Our City, hosts Jobbin and Jeswin dive into the now-infamous “Coldplay CEO scandal” — where a man was caught hugging someone who wasn't his wife on the concert jumbotron — and connect it to the deeper, often unspoken issue of public shame, scandal, and restoration within the South Asian Christian community.
New data is out about gun deaths in Minnesota. They creeped up in 2024, despite new laws to keep weapons out of the hands of potentially violent people. We got the details on how advocates are taking action.If you've tried to buy gold or silver recently, you know those prices are remarkably high. It's driven by uncertainty around federal tariff policies. We'll hear from a jeweler about how her business is impacted.We learned more about how uncertainty for immigrant workers under the Trump administration is playing out in rural Minnesota.A new play with the Minnesota Fringe Festival this weekend highlights queer relationships in the South Asian community. We talked to the playwright.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Broken Wing” by Good Night Gold Dust and our Song of the Day was “Sleight of Hand (feat. Aby Wolf & Omaur Bliss)” by Joey Van Phillips.
Starting this Thursday, local theaters across the Twin Cities will be filled with unique projects, plays and performances as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. In all, there will be hundreds of performances over 11 days. “Manasu” is a play featuring a South Asian queer love story, with an all South Asian cast. Divya Maiya is the playwright and director of the show and the co-founder of the South Asian Arts and Theater House in the Twin Cities. She joined Minnesota Now to talk about the show and the Fringe Festival.
A power outage at the West 4th Street station is causing delays on the A, B, C, F, and M subway lines, according to the MTA. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams says it appears a gunman who opened fire inside a Midtown skyscraper Monday was targeting NFL offices. Four people, including an off-duty police officer, were killed. Plus, WNYC's Arun Venugopal reports on how mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is mobilizing some immigrant voters while facing criticism from others within his own South Asian community.
Send us a textIn this episode, Aunee Bhogaita, shares her lived experience of alcohol problems and recovery. Aunee is a South Asian woman who has empowered herself through her experiences of sexual abuse, domestic abuse and alcohol addiction in order to challenge stigma and taboo surrounding these issues and help others.We discuss her early experiences of trauma as laying the foundations for her alcohol problems, her life story, her challenges and successes, and her recovery journey. Please note: This episode includes mention of sexual abuse, domestic abuse and mental health difficulties including suicide attempts. It does not go into detail about these events but listener discretion is advised.Note from the host Dr James Morris:Aunee describes her past traumatic experiences with inspiring openness and bravery. It is one of the most powerful lived experience accounts I have heard, and Aunee beautifully demonstrates how recovery is possible and how it exists as a fundamentally a human experience. I am hugely grateful to have had her on the show for this episode, she is a truly inspiring individual. Support the showIf you are interested in one-to-one support for your drinking with Dr James Morris, contact him at DrJamesMorris.com For more episodes visit https://alcoholpodcast.buzzsprout.com/Follow us at @alcoholpodcast on X and Instagram
The magic of South Asian cinema, fashion, and culture returns to Dallas this summer for the 8th annual Bengali Film Festival of Dallas. It will be taking over the Angelika Film Center this weekend starting Friday August 1st through 3rd. You can expect red carpet glamour, award-winning films, and a historic fashion event to North Texas. Joining us today is Dr. Tariq Yasin, Festival Director, Bengali Film Festival of Dallas to talk about what audiences can expect from this prestigious celebration.
In this episode, Jonny speaks with Dr Sushma Jansari, lead curator of Ancient India: living traditions at the British Museum, about the featured ancient Indian devotional imagery across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Exploring the exhibition in depth, they discuss how sacred figures evolved from symbolic footprints to human forms, and how the exhibition connects these shared origins to contemporary practices, particularly in the South Asian diaspora. It is the British Museum's first major multi-faith exhibition on ancient South Asian devotional art, spotlighting its global relevance and deep ties to living communities. Ancient India: living traditions runs at the British Museum from 22 May to 19 October 2025, featuring over 180 objects: sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and more. You can claim your 2 for 1 tickets by using code INDIA2FOR1**Offer valid on pre-booked tickets from the British Museum website for visits until 12 October 2025 (subject to availability). Please enter code online before selecting your ticket date, then select 2 Adult tickets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A professor of anthropology at the American University of Sharjah and the author of "Impossible Citizens: Dubai's Indian Diaspora" and "Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar," Neha Vora talks about her experience living in the United Arab Emirates, the influence of South Asian communities in Dubai, the concept of citizenship beyond legal definitions, and the evolving diaspora dynamics in the Gulf. The conversation touches on the impact of American university branch campuses in the region and their long-term effects on citizenship and community. 00:00 Introduction00:30 Living in the UAE: An Anthropologist's Perspective01:31 Exploring the Book "Impossible Citizens: Dubai's Indian Diaspora" 01:52 Dubai: A South Asian City?03:39 Community vs. Citizenship in the Gulf06:39 Expat vs. Migrant Worker: Defining Terms11:24 Researching South Asian Diaspora in Dubai21:47 Citizenship and Belonging: A Complex Relationship26:40 The Gulf as a Fluid Space28:57 Introducing "Teach for Arabia" and Critiques of Branch Campuses33:29 Impact on Citizenship and Society42:14 Generational Perspectives in the Gulf48:32 Retirement and Residency Changes52:06 Current Research Focus: Stray Animal Care53:30 Final Thoughts Neha Vora is Professor of Anthropology in the Department of International Studies at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE. She received her PhD in anthropology and gender studies at University of California, Irvine. Her interdisciplinary research and teaching interests include diasporas and migration, citizenship, globalized higher education, gender, liberalism, political economy, and human-nonhuman encounters, primarily in the Arabian Peninsula region. She is the author of "Impossible Citizens: Dubai's Indian Diaspora" (Duke University Press, 2013) and "Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar"Connect with Neha Vora
Life in your 20's can sometimes be a roller coaster- it's the decade of growth, figuring out who you are and navigating life being a fully fledged adult. Your twenties is where for the first time everyone's path goes in a different direction but also according to society the decade we are supposed to have it “all figured out”- which is a lot of pressure. This episode I'm joined by Manveer, a pharmacist by day but an upcoming chef/ food content creator by evening who is also one of my best friends and has been on the podcast before in Episode 8 where we spoke about what society's ideal desi/south asian girl looks like?Since we are both turning 30 this year- i thought it would be really cool to reflect back at the past 10 years of our lives, sharing what lessons we've learnt in our early 20's vs late 20's, our memorable moments, our regrets and how we feel about turning 30. We'll be talking about our careers and hobbies- how we balanced our careers whilst studying for professional exams and how we felt training for bhangra competitions. Timestamps: (00:00) intro(02:44) thoughts on turning 30 (03:49) what did our 20s look like(08:02) how covid affected our 20s(09:52) balancing our careers whilst studying for professional qualifications (14:40) how our careers have changed in our 20s (18:57) our parents careers vs our careers (21:28) how we became bhangra dancers (27:44) how our hobbies have changed after covid (30:19) relationship with body image (33:49) half marathon training ————————————————————MANVEER: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beghalbites/ EP8- Society's ideal Desi girl (w/ Manveer)————————————————————ABOUT IT'S PREETI PERSONAL: This podcast is all about sharing South Asian stories and having everyday conversations but from the lens of being a brown girl so expect girl talk episodes covering topics like love, career, mental health, finances, friendships, female health and living life in our 20's and 30's. ————————————————————SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preetipersonal/TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSvmbM63/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itspreetipersonal Email: itspreetipersonal@gmail.comDon't forget to subscribe and follow @itspreetipersonal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or the place you listen to podcasts
Much of world history is Indian history. Home today to one in four people, the subcontinent has long been densely populated and deeply connected to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through migration and trade. In this magisterial history, Audrey Truschke tells the fascinating story of the region historically known as India--which includes today's India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan--and the people who have lived there. A sweeping account of five millennia, from the dawn of the Indus Valley Civilization to the twenty-first century, this engaging and richly textured narrative chronicles the most important political, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural events. And throughout, it describes how the region has been continuously reshaped by its astonishing diversity, religious and political innovations, and social stratification. Here, readers will learn about Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Sikhism; the Vedas and Mahabharata; Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire; the Silk Road; the Cholas; Indo-Persian rule; the Mughal Empire; European colonialism; national independence movements; the 1947 Partition of India; the recent rise of Hindu nationalism; the challenges of climate change; and much more. Emphasizing the diversity of human experiences on the subcontinent, the book presents a wide range of voices, including those of women, religious minorities, lower classes, and other marginalized groups. You cannot understand India today without appreciating its deeply contested history, which continues to drive current events and controversies. A comprehensive and innovative book, India is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the past, present, or future of the subcontinent. Audrey Truschke is professor of South Asian history at Rutgers University, Newark. She is the bestselling author of Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King and other books. 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
Much of world history is Indian history. Home today to one in four people, the subcontinent has long been densely populated and deeply connected to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through migration and trade. In this magisterial history, Audrey Truschke tells the fascinating story of the region historically known as India--which includes today's India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan--and the people who have lived there. A sweeping account of five millennia, from the dawn of the Indus Valley Civilization to the twenty-first century, this engaging and richly textured narrative chronicles the most important political, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural events. And throughout, it describes how the region has been continuously reshaped by its astonishing diversity, religious and political innovations, and social stratification. Here, readers will learn about Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Sikhism; the Vedas and Mahabharata; Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire; the Silk Road; the Cholas; Indo-Persian rule; the Mughal Empire; European colonialism; national independence movements; the 1947 Partition of India; the recent rise of Hindu nationalism; the challenges of climate change; and much more. Emphasizing the diversity of human experiences on the subcontinent, the book presents a wide range of voices, including those of women, religious minorities, lower classes, and other marginalized groups. You cannot understand India today without appreciating its deeply contested history, which continues to drive current events and controversies. A comprehensive and innovative book, India is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the past, present, or future of the subcontinent. Audrey Truschke is professor of South Asian history at Rutgers University, Newark. She is the bestselling author of Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King and other books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
What does it take to lead a global restaurant empire — and raise two daughters with intention and grace? In this episode of That's Total Mom Sense, Kanika sits down with powerhouse attorney and CEO of Tony Roma's, Mohaimina “Mina” Haque, who shares her remarkable journey from the White House and DOJ to scaling a global franchise in the UAE and Malaysia. Mina opens up about how AI is transforming the restaurant industry, the realities of being a South Asian woman in the C-suite, and how she navigates her family life. This is a deeply personal and professional conversation about leadership, legacy, and what it truly means to serve — at home and on the world stage. WEBSITE: AttorneyMina.com MEET MY GUEST: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this special episode, filmmaker and contemporary artist Alia Syed joins EMPIRE LINES live, to weave together their works in moving image, photography, and oral history, and reflect on personal experiences of migration in South Asian diasporic communities in 1960s–1970s Glasgow, through their ongoing film series, The Dhaba (2025).Drawing inspiration from the tale of St. Mungo - the patron saint and founder of Glasgow - Alia Syed's exhibition, The Ring in the Fish, is an intimate exploration of memory, cultural transmission, and identity in Scotland. In The Dhaba (2025), Alia gleans stories from a series of interviews she initiated with members of the South Asian community, exposing absences in official narratives and archives, and illuminating histories in the spaces between national identities, race, gender, and diaspora. With this new, experimental, 16mm film work, Alia explores the role of imagination in migration, and how images carried across multiple generations of migrants from India and Pakistan can create new landscapes and enable new ways of being.Alia details her relationships with ‘the second city of Empire', Swansea in Wales, and London, including her long-term creative relationship with Gilane Tawadros, her formative work, Fatima's Letter (1992), filmed at Whitechapel Underground Station, and shortlisting for the Film London Jarman Award (2018). From her current work with curator Shalmali Shetty, we discuss her many intergenerational collaborations, and relations to artist women including Jasleen Kaur, who shares Alia's experiences of ‘monocultures' in Glasgow. Alia shares the importance of audio, literature, language, and translation, in her work with film and moving image.Plus, we consider political solidarity through her life and practice, from her father's activism and connections to Yasser Arafat, to the present. Alia reflects on the CCA Glasgow as an institution – one that she recalls having occupied as a teenager, when it was known as the Third Eye Centre - including the Board's ambiguous statements around endorsing PACBI (The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) and BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions), and response to Art Workers for Palestine Scotland's programme to Reclaim the CCA in June 2025.This episode was recorded live as part of the public programme for Alia Syed: The Ring in the Fish, an exhibition at CCA Glasgow, in June 2025. The exhibition was originally scheduled to continue until 26 July 2025. Join the artist in a panel discussion at Many Studios in Glasgow on Saturday 26 July.For more information, visit: instagram.com/p/DKuql9-It_3/?img_index=1Wallpaper (2008) is on view as part of Tigers & Dragons: India and Wales in Britain at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea until 2 November 2025.Read about Alia's work at John Hansard Gallery in Southampton, and relations to Jasleen Kaur and Permindar Kaur, in gowithYamo: gowithyamo.com/blog/permindar-kaur-john-hansard-galleryListen to Ingrid Pollard's EMPIRE LINES episodes, from Carbon Slowly Turning (2022) at the Turner Contemporary in Margate: pod.link/1533637675/episode/e00996c8caff991ad6da78b4d73da7e4, and with Corinne Fowler, as part of Invasion Ecology (2024) at Southcombe Barn on Dartmoor: pod.link/1533637675/episode/9f4f72cb1624f1c5ee830c397993732eNil Yalter on Exile is a Hard Job (1974-Now) at Ab-Anbar Gallery in London, part of London Gallery Weekend (LGW) 2023, on EMPIRE LINES: pod.link/1533637675/episode/36b8c7d8d613b78262e54e38ac62e70fAnd Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq Karinkurayil, sounding out 1960s migration between post-colonial Kerala and the Arab Gulf in a cassette of S. A. Jameel's Dubai Kathu Pattu (Dubai Letter Song) (1977): pod.link/1533637675/episode/417429b5c504842ddbd3c82b07f7b0f8PRODUCER: Jelena Sofronijevic.Follow EMPIRE LINES on Instagram: instagram.com/empirelinespodcastSupport EMPIRE LINES on Patreon: patreon.com/empirelines
Beauty brand founder, Priyanka Ganjoo, created Kulfi Beauty with a mission to celebrate South-Asian culture and allowing room for embracing diversity, community, and joy. In just a few years, Priyanka went from being on the corporate side of the beauty industry to launching the first South Asian-owned makeup brand in all Sephora stores across North America. She is driven by a mission to celebrate individuality, and the result is that Kulfi has cultivated a thriving, engaged community while also tying in to her original purpose of filling a major gap in the beauty market. Her company is successfully bridging South Asian beauty with mainstream appeal, which is easily demonstrated by looking at their social media, models, branding, and more.Priyanka worked on the corporate side of the beauty industry for 5 years and saw first-hand how South Asians were underrepresented. After constantly searching for products that matched her skin tone and feeling like an outsider in the industry, she wanted to create more inclusive products. She launched Kulfi in 2021. Shortly afterwards, Kulfi's cult-favorite kajal eyeliners, concealers, and eyeshadows won awards from Allure and Byrdie. Contact Info:Priyanka Ganjoo - GuestPriyanka Ganjoo (Instagram)Kulfi Beauty websiteJulie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn) Send Julie a text!!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020. If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much.
Kristin and Kate speak with Pooja Bavishi, the founder of Malai Ice Cream, about her debut cookbook. They ask Pooja about her company's history from stand to scoop shop, why she wanted to revolutionize ice cream by highlighting South Asian flavors and why now was the right time to write a book—even when many publishing professionals told her to wait a year or two. She takes us through the expectations vs. the realities that came up while writing, how she got connected to her agent and why the photoshoot was wildly different from what she expected. Finally she shares her thoughts behind the formatting and the advice she has for other business owners who are interested in writing their own cookbook.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsPooja BavishiMalai Ice Cream websiteInstagram Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showMalai Ice Cream by Pooja Bavishi
In this exclusive interview, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander reveals how he became the kingmaker behind Zohran Mamdani's shocking primary victory over Andrew Cuomo. While mainstream media missed the story, we dive deep into the political strategy that helped Mamdani defeat establishment candidates in the race for NYC mayor.Zohran Mamdani's upset victory on his way to possibly becoming the next New York City mayor may have come as a surprise to everyone except Brad Lander. Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman, and Lander, the city's comptroller, cross-endorsed each other in NYC's ranked-choice primary voting system for the Democratic mayoral nominee. Mamdani and Lander found common ground in their progressive values and their mutual commitment to defeating the status quo in disgraced former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, a billionaire-backed “Democrat” with multiple workplace s*xual harassment allegations in his rearview mirror. With Mamdani on his way to defeating scandal-plagued NYC Mayor Eric Adams and becoming the city's first Muslim and South Asian and Ugandan mayor, Lander is contemplating his next move.This week, Katelyn and Christine spoke at length with Lander about how he helped Mamdani overcome the Cuomo machine, his controversial ICE arrest and how it changed the primary race, and the political and media discourse over antisemitism after Mamdani's win. What is Lander's next move? Katelyn asks!Brad Lander breaks down the progressive cross-endorsement strategy that centrist politicians like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams never saw coming. From behind-the-scenes political maneuvering to the future of NYC, this conversation exposes what traditional media won't tell you about New York City politics.Key Topics Covered:-How Brad Lander's endorsement strategy changed the NYC mayor race-Zohran Mamdani's path from outsider to primary winner-The political calculations that shocked Andrew Cuomo supporters-The Media's reaction to Zohran Mamdani's win in the NYC mayor race and the weaponization of antisemitism-Brad Lander's vision for New York City's political future post-Eric AdamsLinks:Follow Brad Lander on Bluesky: @bradlander.bsky.social and Instagram: @brad.landerNo, it is not misspelled. It's “Comptroller.”—New York's neighbor at NJ.govGwynne Hogan, Ben Fractenberg, and Rachel Kahn for The City: Brad Lander Detained by Masked Federal Agents and Accused of Assault — But Released With No ChargesNew York State Attorney General Letitia James: Transcripts and Exhibits from Independent Investigation into Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Former Governor Andrew CuomoZohran Mamdani's Queens assemblyman biographyMamdani, in his own words, on being called an antisemiteJustin Baragona for The Independent: Anti-woke activist applauds his ‘friends' at the New York Times for Zohran Mamdani college application ‘scoop'Cancellation List Patreon Supporters:-Megg-I Beauregard-Diego M Sanchez-Leslie Zavisca-Maggi Joseph-Siobhan GreenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What happens when you ditch the “perfect” life path and book a one-way ticket instead? In this bold and joyful episode, Dr. Neeta Bhushan sits down with travel content creator and pharmacist-turned-global-connector Dr. Nabila Ismail, founder of Dose of Travel. From navigating South Asian family expectations to launching a business by accident, Nabila shares how solo travel cracked her wide open—and how she's now helping hundreds of others do the same through curated group travel experiences.If you've ever craved reinvention, feared doing something alone, or wished you had deeper friendships in adulthood—this one's for you. Get ready for laugh-out-loud travel stories, powerful permission slips, and the courage to say yes to the unknown.What you'll get out of this episode… What most people get wrong about solo travel—and how to make it magicalThe link between loneliness, adult friendships, and curated travelWhy South Asian women face unique challenges (and power) in solo adventuresThe surprising career pivot that led to a sold-out travel businessBehind the scenes of planning group trips (including matchmaking!)How to budget travel smartly—even if you're broke, burned out, or in schoolWhy confidence, clarity, and self-trust skyrocket when you travel aloneNew rituals for adventure, community, and breaking cultural normsThis Episode is Powered by Health NagMeet your new daily glow-up: Health Nag's Bioactive Collagen Jelly—the world's first collagen with Types I, II, III & IV for full-body support (skin, gut, joints & more).Tastes amazing. Absorbs fast. One spoon a day = science-backed resilience from the inside out.