This past month, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and act that would have created national standards for policing in an effort to increase accountability, sadly couldn’t reach a bipartisan deal-leaving it dead in the water.  

We all have heard about the horrific killing  of George Floyd, the protests that occurred after, and the many stories that have been shared over social media.  Today, I interviewed Rahul Dubey, one of Time Magazine's Heroes of 2020 who simply, as he puts it, opened the door to those in need.

On June 1, Rahul Dubey was at home in Washington, DC, as demonstrators filled the streets  to protest the killing of George Floyd.  After a 7 p.m. curfew, he noticed crowds in the street outside who were  seemingly trapped and being pepper-sprayed by police.

We talk about his story of housing 70 protestors overnight to help them avoid curfew, the fear and pure terror he felt for himself and the demonstrators, and how that one night changed his life. 

Recent News-Today, a Texas parole board recommended posthumous pardon for George Floyd.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/george-floyd-should-receive-posthumous-pardon-for-drug-charge-texas-parole-board-says-11633461144

So there are a few (hundred) topics that South Asians tend to not discuss, divorce being one of them.  

When I read Shibani Joshi’s ELLE article called "The Other Side of Divorce", I knew I had to have her on the pod.

Shibani Joshi is an experienced journalist who has covered business, technology and general news for global media outlets including ABC News, Fox News Channel, Yahoo! Finance and Huffington Post. Shibani Joshi is a writer, speaker and lecturer focused on bleeding-edge tech, grounded excellence and tactical business concepts that enhance everyday life.

Previously, Shibani anchored a daily markets show and had her own dedicated technology segment on TV called “Joshi on Tech” on the Fox Business Network in New York City. In her almost 6-year tenure, she evolved into the dedicated on-air technology reporter at both Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.

We of course talk about her journey writing and publishing the ELLE article as well as her newsletter, Boldly-Forward, but we also get into so much more.  It was SO refreshing to talk to a South Asian woman who is not only so accomplished, but who is also so open, vulnerable, and real. I think most of you ladies out there will resonate with this one.

www.shibanijoshi.com

Now that I am in my..ahem...proper adulthood age, things are starting to work a bit...differently.  The fall routine has begun and I know that my daily routine is pure madness and with that, I tend to ignore my own well-being.  This is why I had to get some advice from a professional!

Anita Mirchandani, M.S, R.D, C.D.N received a B.A. from NYU and a M.S. in Clinical Nutrition from NYU. After completing a dietetic internship at New York-Presbyterian hospital, Anita became a Registered Dietitian in 2011.  Anita also maintains current fitness certifications in indoor cycling, kickboxing, group exercise, and personal training. She is also an AFPA certified prenatal and postnatal exercise specialist.

We talk about growing up in Texas and in the 80s where portion control was not a concept, how we're both alive after eating Pop-Tarts 5 times a day growing up, launching India's first Greek yogurt and how Indians in general are starting to understand our common chronic diagnosis.   Anita also has a passion for  women’s health and intuitive eating and gives her top 3 pieces of advice to South Asian women about how to eat “well”.

I ask her about different diets and why they don't work, what the deal is with "gluten-free", and why balance is key to every diet. I also talk to her about my own inflammatory issues and we talk about things that I need to adjust in my day-to-day routine.  

Basically,  I am totally convinced that talking to a dietician can change your life.

Follow @FitNutAnita for interesting updates of fitness and nutrition content and check out her site, www.anitamirchandani.com for updates on ARM Nutrition.

The first episode of the fall season is officially here! Feels good to be back!  I thought the best way to start off the podcast this fall is to talk to someone who has been working in journalism for over 15 years.

Sriram Iyer is editor in chief of Business Insider India.  He tells me why he chose the path of journalism versus the "traditional" Indian career path, how journalism has become a lot more discerning, and why journalist need to be more than just a one-trick pony in order to succeed today.

We dive into how social media and "fake news" has affected journalism in India, his thoughts on how the Indian government has been trying to control online speech and content coming out of the country,  why the concept of "hyper-personalization" has become an issue with the media industry, and if he himself is ever worried about publishing certain stories that could potentially be polarizing.

We go over important topics such as cryptocurrency, the COVID crisis in India, and women in the workforce.  I ask him about his growth strategy for the publication,  why "labels are lazy", and who he ultimately would love to work with.

Please also check out THE FUTURE OF WORK, hosted by Business Insider India, happening Sept 16th and 17th.

https://fow.businessinsider.in/

https://www.businessinsider.in/

BONUS EPISODE!!

Before we begin our fall interviews in September, we wanted to post some of our favorite chats from this past year for the next 5 days.  The final episode for our "highlight" series is my interview with actress and author, Lisa Ray.  

Thank you for your support and for subscribing to our podcast.  We'll see you next week with all new episodes!

Internationally acclaimed performer, philanthropist, author, and public speaker Lisa Rani Ray does not shy away from a challenge.  With a career that spans three decades and several continents, this trailblazer has a reputation for taking on issue-orientated films with courage and grace.   The two of us get a chance to play catch-up after 18 years (I basically was a chaiwallah on her movie set) and talk about it all.  From her first taste of public attention, to working in Bollywood in the 90's, to how serendipity has really played a major role throughout her career.  

We talk about how all the unexpected turns in her life, including her multiple myeloma diagnosis, led her to completing her memoir, Close to the Bone, and her plans to continue writing in the future.  From motherhood to breaking it down with Govinda to pet names for our hubby's, we pretty much cover it all.  Let me tell you guys, I would be a chaiwallah for this fascinating woman any day.  

BONUS EPISODE!!

Before we begin our fall interviews in September, we wanted to post some of our favorite chats from this past year for the next 5 days. Next in line for our "highlight" series is my interview with chef, restaurateur, author Maneet Chauhan.

Maneet Chauhan knows a thing or two about best-laid plans...they often tend to go awry.  From India to Nashville, we talk about her journey and relationship with food, what it is really like building a business with her husband, how she didn't know she was going to have twins and why she was born to be a judge on Food Network's Chopped.

We discuss her upcoming book CHAAT and the epic train ride through India that inspired it as well as her support for the #BLM movement and what it felt like to open up a few of her restaurants in the time of Covid. After this interview, a road trip to Nashville will be happening.  

BONUS EPISODE!

Before we begin our fall interviews in September, we wanted to post some of our favorite chats from this past year for the next 5 days. Next in line for our "highlight" series is my interview with author, Alka Joshi.

Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. At the age of 62, Joshi published her debut novel, The Henna Artist, which immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was long listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and is being developed into an episodic series by Miramax TV starring Frieda Pinto. 

The sequel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, premieres June 2021, and will be followed by the third book in the trilogy in 2022. We talk about what it was like growing up in India and the transition to Iowa, how her family viewed dating and relationships, why she decided to break the glass ceiling on her own terms, and how she became an "accidental writer". 

She talks about the origins of The Henna Artist and how the main character, Laxmi, is an ode to her mother, her mother's own journey finding herself, why she believes women are better leaders, and how she hopes these books will be her legacy.

 www.alkajoshi.com

BONUS EPISODE!!

Before we begin our fall interviews in September, we wanted to post some of our favorite chats from this past year for the next 5 days. Next in line for our "highlight" series is my interview with comedian and writer, Nimesh Patel.

For my last interview of the year, I stand-up with my guest, Nimesh Patel, and talk all things comedy.  Nimesh is the first Indian-American to write for SNL, where he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for his work.

We talk about growing up brown in New Jersey, how he actually did try the whole doctor route, what it was like seeing Chris Rock laugh at his jokes, and why Hasan Minhaj was sleeping on his dirty couch.  

Nimesh talks about his passion for comedy and writing, how SNL was the Harvard for a comedic education, how he got away with working in finance while pursuing his real passion, and who he thinks are the funniest people in his life.

He is currently a staff writer for the 2nd season of 'A Little Late with Lilly Singh' and has launched a new adult animation series called Zooidiots.  This one made me laugh.  The series and the interview.

www.zooidiots.com

@findingnimesh

BONUS EPISODE!

Before we begin our fall interviews, we wanted to post some of our favorite interviews from this past year for the next 5 days.  First up, my interview with Manpreet Singh.

India’s six-month-long farmer protests, which has recently gained global attention, has been on the forefront of news around the world.  With the recent attacks on protestors and a government shutdown of the Internet, the international community is left wondering what exactly is happening there.

I chat with my friend, Manpreet Singh, trial attorney and board member of the Sikh Coalition as well as the ACLU, about the history of the Sikh community in India, what she understands about the protests, and what deregulation means for farmers in India.

She also talks about the outpouring of international support, why farmer suicides have been such a big issue, what we can do from here to support the cause, and why we should always remember "no farmers, no food".

Please check out these two organizations for more information:

https://www.sikhcoalition.org/

https://www.khalsaaid.org/

Premal Dharia has spent the last twenty years dedicated to challenging injustice in the criminal system and nearly 15 years as a public defender.  She has tried dozens of cases and supervised lawyers at various levels of practice. 

Premal will be joining Harvard Law School as the inaugural Executive Director of the Institute to End Mass Incarceration, launching this summer. The Institute’s mission is to end mass incarceration in the United States through a movement-centered, action-oriented organizing and advocacy program with a bold and ambitious innovation institute.

We talk about the history of mass incarceration and the current situation as it stands in the United States. She discusses why prisoners are disproportionately Black and Latino,  her work as a public defender and civil attorney, why she thinks public defenders are key to systemic change within the criminal system, founding and directing the Defender Impact Initiative, and what we need to know about post-colonialism and the impact it has had on people of color.

We discuss her upbringing as a South Asian woman, what she is most excited about in he new role as Executive Director, and why public defenders have the reputation they do.

To learn more, please check out-

https://endmassincarceration.org/

https://inquest.org/

It's time for an update people!

We've done over 60 episodes, brought on big names, shared fantastic stories, and undoubtedly have some new listeners to the show from all around the world . So, I wanted to take this week to re-introduce myself a bit, as well as re-introduce the show -- what we're all about here at Tuckered Out, what we're trying to accomplish, and where we're hoping to go with everything.

I started this show because I wanted to tell the stories of South Asian voices around the world and share all the amazing contributions my community is a part of.  I also wanted to hear their journeys and how they found their calling because frankly, I was Tuckered Out (see what I did there) from trying to find what mine was.

The hope for this podcast is simply this- to share stories for underrepresented voices, to share lessons to those who are figuring out what their mission really is, to share what our culture and heritage represents, and of course to share laughs.   Because let's face it, I gots the jokes.

Also, I need some help from you guys!  

I  NEED YOUR VOTE for Best Asian Hosted Podcast!  Please log on to www.podcastawards.com and vote.  

I WOULD SO APPRECIATE you rating and reviewing on Apple.  It really does help support the podcast and let's face it, it helps my ego.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT my website and sign up for upcoming emails I'll throw your way.  I promise, they'll be entertaining.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! You guys, I need to hear your voices, your thoughts, your random uncle jokes.  Please email me or DM me to ask questions about the podcast,  if you have suggestions on people I should  interview, if you want to collaborate, or even if you have direct questions for my guests!  I'm sure I can make that happen.  I think.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING AND SUPPORTING!!!  I love doing this and appreciate each and every one of you.  

ami@tuckeredoutwithami.com

www.tuckeredoutwithami.com

@tuckeredoutpodcast

My next guests have built an organization that is not just starting the conversation around menstrual hygiene in India, but they are educating people across India and changing the way menstruation has been talked about in the past and even today.

Tarun Bothra and Kristin Kagetsu are co-founders of Saathi, a purpose driven manufacturing company that makes eco-friendly hygiene products. Their mission is to create hygiene products that are good for the body, environment, and community. Saathi pads are biodegradable and compostable, using plant-based materials for the leak-proof outer layers of the napkin.

Kristin has been featured on Forbes 30 under 30 as well as the Women Economic Forum.  

I have no doubt that these are the kinds of  ideas and the people that will help change our world for the better.

www.saathipads.com

 

 

Pallavi Sharda knows what chasing your dreams is all about.  Growing up in Melbourne Australia, she knew from a very young age she wanted to become a Bollywood actress.

We talk about making the decision to move to India to fulfill her dreams of working in Bollywood, her biggest takeaways from her time there and what she learned about herself, what she would tell other young women who want to make their mark on the world's largest film industry, and her relationship to Bollywood now.

She discusses why there is still a lack of diversity and representation for South Asian women in the film industry,  how being an Indian-Australian forced her to redefine herself time and time again, and the reason coming back home to Melbourne helped reclaim her voice and identity.

An honors graduate from the University of Melbourne Law, Arts and Languages schools, Pallavi is an advocate for India-Australia relations and the strengthening of intercultural links between the two countries. She was named on the list of forty most influential Asian-Australians at the inaugural Asian-Australian Leadership Summit.

Her film credits include Oscar nominated film Lion (2016), Bollywood films Begum Jaan (2017) and Hawaizaada (2015), and comedy Australian film Save Your Legs! (2012). She has worked in Hindi films like My Name Is Khan, Dus Tola, and Besharam.

This year, she starred in Tom Jerry and The One, now streaming on Netflix. She also has two feature films coming out in 2022- Black Site and Wedding Season.

 

In honor of Pride Month, I had the honor of interviewing my friends, Parag Mehta and Vaibhav Jain,  a couple who has not just inspired the LGBTQ+ community, but also the South Asian community around the world.

Last March, they tried to register their marriage with the Indian Consulate in NYC under India’s Foreign Marriage Act, which is a pretty standard process for Indian citizens who get married abroad (Parag is from Texas and Vaibhav is from Delhi).  This is their story, their journey really, from the time they got denied the registration at the NYC consulate to filing  a precedent-setting petition with the Delhi High Court, urging the Indian government and its Ministry of External Affairs to recognize same-sex marriages.

We talk about the history of gay rights and laws in India, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, attorneys Menaka Guruswamy  and Arundhati Katju, the faces behind the historic Section 377 verdict in 2018, and other gay couples who are fighting for equal and inclusive rights in India.

Parag and Vaibhav discuss their family's journey of acceptance and love, how they met at Vaibhav's first Pride parade in DC and how they were able to support each other, why we all need to understand how mental illness can play a big role for many young kids who don't have the support they need, and why it is so important for them to represent the LGBTQ+ voices in India that are not being heard, even while they worry about the safety of their own families.

And while their case is still going on, one thing is for sure-Parag and Vaibhav love their country. They see progress and they see a positive shift towards acceptance. They have faith in the Indian government, they have faith in the people, and most importantly, they have faith in true Indian values.

 

Sharbari Zohra Ahmed is a Bangladeshi-American writer and was on the writing team for the ABC show Quantico, making her the first woman of Bangladeshi origin to write for a network show.

We talk about why she never thought she would get picked to walk into the writers’ room for the show, why the show didn’t focus on Priyanka Chopra’s cultural background, the reason she was heavily trolled online for an episode she didn’t write, why there is still a lack of diversity behind the scenes and how that affects stories revolved around minority families, and the reasons South Asians still have a hard time supporting one another when it comes to the arts.

We discuss the reason her family fled from Bangladesh while she was just 3 weeks old, how that move shaped her life and inspired her creative journey, and why identity and a strong female protagonist has been a central theme in a lot of her writings.

She discusses her debut novel, Dust Under Her Feet, and her current projects including Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Bose Perkins, which she adapted for the screen.

 

The India Covid crisis has devastated the country and has affected many of us living in the US. I chat with Megha Desai, President of The Desai Foundation, about their efforts to help thousands in need and what we can do to support the cause.

We also talk about the Asani Sanitary Napkin Program, which trains women in rural India to manufacture and distribute sanitary products.  We talk about why there has been such a negative stigma in our culture when it comes to women’s menstrual cycles and how we need to help change the conversation.

The Desai Foundation was born in 1997 as a family foundation started by Samir A. Desai and Nilima Desai. The Foundation had one simple goal: to serve the communities that had served them. After ten years of successful partnerships, the Desai Foundation found itself getting more and more involved in its partner organizations.

The Desai Foundation is now a robust public and programmatic organization working to empower women and children through health and livelihood in India and the U.S. The Foundation believes that empowering local community members to run projects leads to the best results. And that restoring dignity is at the center of helping people to dream beyond their circumstances.

www.thedesaifoundation.org

Recognized among TIME Magazine’s 16 people fighting for a more equal America, Simran Jeet Singh is Senior Adviser for Equity and Inclusion at YSC Consulting, a professor at Columbia University, a Senior Fellow at the Sikh Coalition, a 2020 Equality Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, an author, a father, and a devout San Antonio Spurs fan. 

We talk about his American story, the reasons that pushed him to embrace advocacy, his new book, Fauja Singh Keeps Going, and his upcoming book, More of This Please, which talks to audiences about his unique experiences of racism, and shares how Sikh teachings give us a model for engaging hate without internalizing it.

We dive into his experiences growing up Sikh in San Antonio, Texas, how his faith helped him respond to racism all his life, why he wrote about the oldest marathon runner in the world, and his deep work focusing on empathy-building as an approach for personal development and social change.

www.simranjeetsingh.org

As immigrants to this country from India, Reshma and her family had to build a new life from the ground up and make every dollar work for them.  

A graduate of MIT, Reshma was an advisor to the NYC Comptroller’s office for almost a decade, including during one of the City’s darkest moments, 9/11.

This past year has laid bare a failure of government on many levels and highlighted that NYC is not serving all of its people equally. Reshma is running for NYC Comptroller because right now our City needs to be able to stretch a dollar far like her parents taught her and to make sure that, as we rebuild, all New Yorkers are part of the solution.

Listen in as Reshma's talks about using her skills to fight for equity for all and why she has never wavered. Her commitment to service has remained steadfast and she is ready to apply that experience and vision to the NYC Comptroller job from day one. 

www.reshma2021.com

Nitin Pandey is the founder and CEO of Parentune.com, a pro-parent network supporting parents in India to do more for their child. Parents can find trusted advice, validated solutions and real time support on the platform. Their vision is to be the must-have support for each parent and believe that an empowered pro-parent community is crucial to improve the quality of child development. Parentune supports parents to overcome their day-to-day challenges and achieve more for their child within their limitations at various life stages.

The startup has grown rapidly and has been recognized by Nasscom Design Awards, the Wall Street Journal Global startup showcase, Superstartups by Superbrands, Smart50CEO, HOTTECH100, and as BusinessWorld Techtors-Technology company to watch out for.

Parentune is also doing ground-breaking work by helping to open up conversations around children's mental health, autism, sexual wellness, high-risk pregnancies and much more.

They are building the future of India, one healthy child at a time.

www.parentune.com

Sharan Dhaliwal founded, developed and now runs the UK’s leading South Asian magazine Burnt Roti, which is a platform for young creatives to showcase their talent, find safe spaces and destigmatise topics around mental health and sexuality, amongst others. Her particular interests focus on discussing the representations of young women, South Asian women and queer women.

She is the Director of Middlesex Pride and creator of Oh Queer Cupid, a queer speed dating and comedy night.

She has had bylines in i-D, HuffPost, the Guardian and was on the list of global influential women for the BBC 100 Women 2019.

She is currently writing her debut non-fiction, Burning My Roti, to be released in Feb 2022 by Hardie Grant.

www.burntroti.com

Smita Sharma is an award winning photojournalist and visual storyteller based in Delhi, India, reporting on critical human rights and social issues in her own community as well as in the Global South on assignments for Human Rights Watch, National Geographic Magazine, and other publications.

From documenting the effect of pregnancy on girl’s education in Kenya to child marriage in Nepal, and sex-trafficking across India and Bangladesh, Sharma is committed to representing people with dignity and telling underrepresented stories with impact. Sharma is an IWMF Reporting Fellow and a TED Fellow. Her work has been exhibited and shown globally including at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Smita is a member of Women Photograph and Diversify Photo and has taken HEFAT training in Mexico City organized by IWMF. She is a graduate from the photojournalism and documentary photography program of International Center of Photography, New York and has a post graduate diploma in Journalism from University of Pune.

In 2016, Smita organized a bicycle campaign along with non-profit PVCHR in Varanasi and donated bicycles to abuse survivors who were assaulted on their commute to school. The campaign was a way to de-stigmatize and reintegrate the girls in their communities and help them to continue their education.

 

http://www.smitasharma.com

One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is reconnecting with people who have been part of different phases in my life. Dr. Sumun Pendakur and I met 20 years ago when I was a production assistant on her hubby’s film set. Needless to say, I knew she was a rock star even then.

She is a #dei strategist, consultant and trainer who has spent the last 20 years focusing on building community strength as well as institutional capacity for #socialjustice and #racialjustice in the #highereducation sector.

She was the #chieflearningofficer @uscraceequity center and has built programs that address underserved needs and communities.

We talk about the influence her parents had on her career, how they were definitely both “woke” back in the day when a lot of #southasianimmigrants were not, how she got involved in amplifying the #asianamerican voice, and the history and true meaning of the term “model minority”.

I admit that I have had a certain narrative in my head about the South Asian community, we discuss the awful violence against out #aapi brothers and sisters, and she tells me what she finds so shocking about it all, even after being on the frontline for so long.

This episode is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the #indianapolis #oakcreekgurdwara and #atlantaspa #massshootings #balbirsinghsodhi , #vilmakari and to all of those who have suffered because of these heinous #hatecrimes 💔

www.sumunpendakur.com

I could not think of a better guest for EPISODE 50 🥳then the Founding CEO of Times Bridge, Rishi Jaitly.

Beginning late 2016, Rishi envisioned, architected and scaled a new business to help purposeful ideas travel more evenly around the world. Today, Times Bridge, the global investment and partnership arm of Times Group, is the U.S.'s largest venture firm bringing the world's best ideas and technology to India and Asia.

We talk about our relationship with our Indian identity as Indian-Americans and how it’s evolved through the years, how we both made soulful decisions when it came to our professional journeys, how his interest in India was more of a anthropological one versus a social one, and what it means to be a place-based person.

We of course discuss about how we were both surprisingly fell in love with cricket and what his team at Times Bridge considers when meeting and talking to entrepreneurs.

WE ARE SUPPORTED by RocketClub, a the virtual entrepreneurship, coding, and robotics academy for kids aged 7-14! Please check them out by using the link below.

https://lnkd.in/eEVuV-N

#southasiantrailblazers #tuckeredoutwithami #tuckeredoutpod

Zarna Garg is an Indian immigrant, mom, and lawyer turned New York comedian and TikTok star (https://www.tiktok.com/@zarnagarg) with more than 20 million views on the platform. She has performed standup at sold-out clubs across the country and headlined her own show My American Dream at the famous Carolines on Broadway. Unwilling to let the pandemic stop her, Zarna has kept audiences laughing with online comedy shows (which were recently profiled in the New York Times) and impromptu sets outside major landmarks across New York City including Central Park and The Met.

Her debut romantic comedy screenplay “Rearranged” won the Best Comedy Screenplay Award at the 2019 Austin Film Festival (placing #1 out of 11,000 scripts), and was also a 2019 Academy Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist. The script has been optioned by Marginal Mediaworks.

 

Pat Shah has had his ear pressed against the audio industry for awhile now.  He is the Head of Content Acquisition and Development for Audible, a  membership service that provides customers with the world's largest selection of audiobooks as well as podcasts, exclusive originals, and more.

We talk about how both of our dads would teach us math nightly using white boards,  how he initially thought about taking the doctor route but found out early that wasn't the right path for him, and how our parents dealt (or didn't deal) with dating and relationships growing up.

Pat talks about his remarkable career path- from Wall Street to his own start-up to working at Universal, Spotify, and Twitch-and his takeaways from each role,  his experience working side-by-side with Paul Allen, and why he currently has the best job in the world.

He tells me what he looks for in storytellers, why the past 3 years have been a watershed moment for the audio industry,  how he's excited about the future with NFT's, and we discuss who should be India's version of Joe Rogan (cough, cough).

Pat mentions that it is an exciting time for creators and to remember one thing during the journey- always chase the energy.

Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. At the age of 62, Joshi published her debut novel, The Henna Artist, which immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was long listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and is being developed into an episodic series by Miramax TV starring Frieda Pinto.

The sequel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, premieres June 2021, and will be followed by the third book in the trilogy in 2022.

We talk about what it was like growing up in India and the transition to Iowa,  how her family viewed dating and relationships,  why she decided to break the glass ceiling on her own terms, and how she became an "accidental writer".

She talks about the origins of The Henna Artist and how the main character, Laxmi, is an ode to her mother,  her mother's own journey finding herself, why she believes women are better leaders, and how she hopes these books will be her legacy.

www.alkajoshi.com

When Siyona Vikram realized there were few Indian podcasts specifically for children, she decided that it was time to start one herself.

Siyona’s podcast is called Little Mind Chats and focuses on helping kids breakdown the news, current events, and important topics.  She covers everything from science, the environment, politics around the world, and important figures in history such as Gandhi.

We talk about what it's like to work with her partner, her mom, on the podcast, how it's been learning remotely this past year, and what she envisions herself doing with the podcast.

She also talks about her Change.org petition focusing on banning plastic toys, who her dream interview would be with ( hint, hint Elon Musk), and also helps me out with a few interview tips!

Her slogan, "Minds Are Little, Not Our Thoughts", is spot on. One thing is for sure, Siyona is proving that we should never underestimate the power of a child's mind.

www.littlemindchats.com

The #BlindianProject is the "meeting place for Black x South Asian communities". Started as a passion project in 2017, the project drew its inspiration from an incident in which street mobs attacked African students in Noida, New Delhi.

Restarted at the beginning of 2020, the events of this year have seen the community grow enormously. The #BlindianProject aims to normalize Black x South Asian relationships while dismantling anti-Blackness and believes in removing negative stereotypes by creating experiences that unite our communities and inspire solidarity.  

To date, the #BlindianProject has been featured in international publications such as: The BBC World News, The Lily (Washington Post), The Times of India, BBC Asian Radio, and many others.​

@blindianproject

www.blindian-project.com

 

As part of my podcasting fellowship with On Deck (beondeck.com) , I had the chance to interview On Deck fellows Nivi Jayasekar and Paula Hernandez Forero about their peer coaching platform for women called YaYa.

joinyaya.com

 

Dr. Saya Nagori is a Digital Health Executive who is passionate about telehealth and innovation in healthcare. She is widely known in the health tech space for her early work in telemedicine and increasing access to healthcare through innovative patient solutions.

In 2015, Dr. Nagori created the first remote telemedicine eye exam. Since 2015, her company Simple Health (previously known as Simple Contacts) has grown from a team of 3 to a team of over 70 people who are passionate about increasing access to birth control and reproductive health care. Femhealth was founded by Dr. Nagori in 2019 to educate and empower individuals through evidence-based information direct from doctors.

This free resource and physician community is helping to stamp out misinformation in medicine so people have a place to find information with ease and confidence.

 

@doctor.saya

www.femhealthproject.com

India’s six-month-long farmer protests, which has recently gained global attention, has been on the forefront of news around the world.  With the recent attacks on protestors and a government shutdown of the Internet, the international community is left wondering what exactly is happening there.

I chat with my friend, Manpreet Singh, trial attorney and board member of the Sikh Coalition as well as the ACLU, about the history of the Sikh community in India, what she understands about the protests, and what deregulation means for farmers in India.

She also talks about the outpouring of international support, why farmer suicides have been such a big issue, what we can do from here to support the cause, and why we should always remember "no farmers, no food".

Please check out these two organizations for more information:

https://www.sikhcoalition.org/

https://www.khalsaaid.org/

Rajiv Satyal is a Los Angeles-based comedian/host with over 50 million views on YouTube.  From stand-up performances, to going on tour, to hosting talk shows, events, and podcast, this one-man band has done it all.

We talk about how Pete Sampras' advice impacted his comedy career, what it was like closing for Jerry Seinfeld, whether he would open up for Prime Minister Modi again, and why he believes in keeping his act "clean".

He tells me why dating apps really do work, why his tour No Man's Land changed his life, what his opening monologue would be if/when he hosts the Oscars, and all about his new game show, Desi Chain, now playing on Facebook.

Rajiv has a lot more up his sleeve, but don't worry, he won't be pulling out any curse words...at least not yet.

@funnyindian

www.rajivsatyal.com

Jia Wertz is  a South Asian true crime documentary filmmaker and director.. Her debut film, Conviction, recently released on Amazon Prime and, selected at 11 film festivals around the world, and won 3 awards. The documentary sheds light on the shortcomings of the criminal justice system through Jeffrey Deskovic's wrongful conviction of a rape and murder in New York. In addition, Jia is a featured writer for Forbes, and the Founder and fashion designer of Studio 15.

 

https://www.jiawertz.com/

I chat (and laugh) with the co-founders of Product of Culture, Archana Jain and  Monika Sharma.

Product of Culture (#POCNation) empowers South Asian creatives and innovators to grow and thrive globally. The organization is a WOC founded and funded collective that amplifies Brown brands + creatives with strategy, content, and experiences rooted in culture.

Based in New York City and Los Angeles, these women are changing the way South Asian creatives work and grow together.  

#supportbrowncreatives

www.productofculture.org

CEO & Founder of Mango and Marigold Press (formally Bharat Babies) Sailaja Joshi sits down and chats with me about building her company literally starting from scratch.

Joshi founded Mango and Marigold Press in 2014, a publishing company that aims to fill bookshelves across America with age-appropriate, culturally sensitive and visually vibrant books that tell tales of brown kids growing up in diasporic communities.  

@mangoandmarigoldpress

www.mangoandmarigoldpress.com

 

 

I dive into the details of the Georgia Senate runoff elections with my friend and public policy lawyer with Squire Patton Boggs, Amol Naik.

Amol served as the Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Atlanta, where he reported directly to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and served as a member of her Cabinet, with responsibility for Atlanta’s efforts on sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and smart cities technology.  Prior to joining the administration, Amol served on the Mayor’s Transition team, leading its efforts on ethics and transparency reform.

Additionally, Amol was a Mayoral appointee to the Atlanta Regional Commission. The Atlanta Business Chronicle has selected him as a 40 under 40 honoree, and the Daily Report designated him as one of the top 10 lawyers under 40 in Georgia.

From basic questions about the Senate races in Georgia to his insight into election laws and his experience recounting votes, we talk about it all. He discusses the candidates in more detail, how each party has positioned itself, and what effect "Trumpism" will have on this election.

 

 

SPECIAL EPISODE: It's a new year. Thank god.  

Although this past year has been a long and difficult, many of you were able to share some good moments that 2020 gave you.

Here are a few of those moments.

@amituckeredout

www.amituckeredout.simplecast.com

For my last interview of the year, I stand-up with my guest, Nimesh Patel, and talk all things comedy.  Nimesh is the first Indian-American to write for SNL where he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for his work.  He is currently a staff writer for the 2nd season of A Little Late with Lilly Singh and has launched a new adult animation series called Zooidiots.  

www.zooidiots.com

@findingnimesh

BONUS EPISODE with Gautam Gupta, SVP Head of Strategy & Consulting, Pfizer is the first in a bonus series where we discuss and dissect important current events.  Gautam chats with me about Covid 'D-Day' (December 14th, 2020), the preparation leading up to the first day the vaccine was distributed, some of the logistics behind the scenes, and how the past nine months have been within the walls of Pfizer. 

 

When it comes to South Asian representation in the media, Sheetal Sheth has had a few conversations the past 20 years on the issue.  Author, actress, producer and activist Sheetal Sheth has been a trailblazer for women of color across media with 20 feature film roles and many TV show appearances throughout her compelling career. Sheetal’s story is a beautiful amalgam of strength, perseverance, grit and heart.  On a side note, she can also bust out with some ghetto Gujarati (Indian language from state of Gujarat, India) when needed.

www.sheetalsheth.com

@beneaththesheetz

www.equalitynow.org

www.therepresentationproject.org

I sat down and chatted with my childhood friend, Devang Shah, who is Head of Marketing at AyurPrana and previously oversaw operations at Banyan Botanicals, both in Albuquerque, NM. He teaches me the basics of Ayurveda, its universal principles and how it is actually a sister science of yoga but why it isn’t as  well-known and understood.

Please check out Banyon Botanicals and Live Ayurprana!

www.banyanbotanicals.com

www.liveayurprana.com

www.ayurveda.com

@banyanbotanicals

@liveayurprana

Zameer Kassam is the Founder and CEO of Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry, which he launched in 2011. Through every iteration of his career, one thing has remained constant: his passion for storytelling.  We get to hear some of those epic stories in this episode.

Follow Zameer 

@zameerkassam

http://www.zameerkassam.com/

In part two of South Asians and Voting, I sit down with one of the organizers of South Asians Vote 2020, Samidh Guha. 

He talks to me about why South Asians Vote is really a non-partisan organization and is focused on helping to resume a normal functioning government, the reason our parent's generation has different political views, and how South Asians Vote has reached out to this group by creating three videos (hint-think Whatsapp groups that have every member of your family).

 

It's here guys. Election Day 2020.  I thought it would be a good time to understand more about South Asians and voting here in the US and the numbers that we need to know. Here is my interview with the  co-hosts of the South Asian Block Party for Biden/Harris, DJ Rekha and Rajan Shah.  This is part one of my two-part series.

https://iwillvote.com

https://www.southasiansforbiden.org

https://www.southasianwomenforbiden.com

https://chhayacdc.org

 

 

1.  

 

 

 

 

It's rare to get a chance to sit and chat with a media mogul.  Someone who started her blogging career even before the age of Facebook.  Someone who had the foresight to see what was missing in a $24B  media and entertainment industry. Someone who built her own empire, without anything but her own ambition, the family and friends that stood by her side, and a voice that has been heard and respected in a typically male-dominated field.

Enjoy my interview with Malini Agarwal.

Follow Malini Agarwal @missmalini @maliniagarwal @malinisgirltribe

Follow moi @amituckeredout

www.amituckeredout.simplecast.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

A podcast interviewing South Asian trailblazers around the world. We discuss growing up brown, personal journeys, and topics we could never talk about in front of those aunties and uncles we grew up with.

Follow Rasika @funnyogini @jalapenopopper2012

Follow moi @amituckeredout

VOTE!!

From the start, DJ Kayper knew that she belonged behind the turntables- scratching, producing and making waves in an industry traditionally dominated by men. 

From writing fake letters to her parents so she could sneak out to deejay to working with legends such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Diplo to letting Chris Brown know what's up, Kayper has been fearless and focused throughout her journey.  This music savant has not only become a trailblazer for South Asians, she has definitely proved one thing to everyone time and time again-don't judge a DJ by her cover.

If there were any doubts that "chicks" can deejay, Kayper is happy to prove you wrong.  

Internationally acclaimed performer, philanthropist, author, and public speaker Lisa Rani Ray does not shy away from a challenge.  With a career that spans three decades and several continents, this trailblazer has a reputation for taking on issue-orientated films with courage and grace.  

The two of us get a chance to play catch-up after 18 years (I basically was a chaiwallah on her movie set) and talk about it all.  From her first taste of public attention, to working in Bollywood in the 90's, to how serendipity has really played a major role throughout her career. 

We talk about how all the unexpected turns in her life, including her multiple myeloma diagnosis, led her to completing her memoir, Close to the Bone, and her plans to continue writing in the future.  From motherhood to breaking it down with Govinda to pet names for our hubby's, we pretty much cover it all.  Let me tell you guys, I would be a chaiwallah for this fascinating woman any day.

 

Celebrity chef, restaurateur, author, and overall superwoman Maneet Chauhan knows a thing or two about best-laid plans...they often tend to go awry.  From India to Nashville, we talk about her journey and relationship with food, what it is really like building a business with her husband, how she didn't know she was going to have twins and why she was born to be a judge on Food Network's Chopped. We discuss her upcoming book CHAAT and the epic train ride through India that inspired it as well as her support for the #BLM movement and what it felt like to open up a few of her restaurants in the time of Covid. After this interview, a road trip to Nashville will be happening.  

Ameeth Sankaran is CEO of the Religion of Sports, a Media company co-founded by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and Gotham Chopra. He is also an Executive Producer of Tom vs. Time, Stephen vs. the Game, Headstrong: Mental Health and Sports, and the Why Sports Matter podcast among others. We sit down and chat about why this is more than just a media company and the unique ways the team is engaging with communities around the world to help bring to life uplifting sports stories. He tells me about his first time sitting around the table with the company’s co-founders, what they do to continually strive to create new and unique content through various platforms, and how he is basically living out his fandom.  We discuss #BLM and the ways ROS has been contributing to this conversation from day one.  I let Ameeth know that if Tom wants to grab a drink, I’ll figure out a way to free up my schedule.

 

Show Notes:

https://www.religionofsports.com

https://www.instagram.com/religionofsports

https://www.facebook.com/religionofsports

Follow us:

https://www.instagram.com/amituckeredout

http://www.facebook.com/amituckeredout

Email Us: amituckeredout@gmail.com

It's time to toy around!  Ok, sorry, had to let that out.  We got a chance to sit down and get to know the co-founder of Modi Toys, Avani Modi Sarkar,  in this interview where she talked about it all. From moving to the US and her deep connection to the India to how she was able to create her own little India here to how Modi Toys transformed into a family business.  She gives advice for those who want to start their own entrepreneurial journey and why her mom is unofficially the CEO of the company (and life in general).  She also gives us some insight into some new products and answers our fun lightning round.  

  For those of you that have kids (and even those that don't), her mantra-singing Baby Ganesh plush is definitely a unique product that you must check out!    

Show Notes: https://www.moditoys.com https://www.instagram.com/moditoys https://www.facebook.com/moditoysfortots

https://amituckeredout.com https://www.instagram.com/amituckeredout http://www.facebook.com/amituckeredout

Email Us: amituckeredout@gmail.com

It’s the ultimate story of friendship- childhood buddies turned fellow models turned business partners working in one of the world’s most exciting industries.  Megha Rao and Pooja Desai Shah both fell in love with fashion- but they were ready to carve their own unique path.

We had a blast chatting with them a few weeks ago where they shared their personal stories and how holiChic by Megha was born. 

Tune in as they talk about how fashion in India has changed over the years, who they consider to be the ultimate Indian designer, what their biggest hurdles were launching a fashion brand and who they would love to collaborate with.  They also leave us hanging with an exciting teaser which I’m still trying to figure out!

The takeaway from this episode? Stay true to yourself.

"Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude." —Iris Apfel

 

Show Notes: https://www.holichicbymegha.com/ https://www.instagram.com/holichicbymegha/ https://www.facebook.com/Holichic

https://amituckeredout.com

Email Us: amituckeredout@gmail.com

From the plantations of Kerala to her backyard, Monica blends and delivers spices in her chai with her own unique and delicious twist.   Although Monica currently has her own boutique consulting firm, she considers The Chai Box to be her other full-time job and credits the time teaching her kids about the Indian culture as the origins of her company. Listen in and learn about how she became a spice snob, how chai has been murdered in the US and what chai really does mean to her. And, of course, why Parle-G biscuits still rock!   Monica's mantra when it comes to taking the leap into entrepreneurship- The pain passes, but the beauty remains.   Show Notes: https://thechaibox.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thechaibox/ https://www.facebook.com/thechaibox/   https://amituckeredout.com   Email Us: amituckeredout@gmail.com

Varsha Mathur has one main goal- to uproot cultural stigmas and taboos with coaching and blogging topics related to dating, marriage, divorce and to focus on goals, communications skills and above all, mindfulness.  

After attending her first Indian wedding post-divorce, Varsha was inspired to change the course of her career and work with women who were struggling through bad relationships just as she had.  Growing up in a culture where dating and sex was not talked about, Varsha realized that many of her peers had gone through similar experiences and felt that she could help fill that void.   We talk about everything from dating as teenagers, to her first marriage to what her program, KnowingLuxe, is all about.  Check out Varsha's program at KnowingLuxe.com and give her a call to see if this is something for you.  We know we're ready for our second call with her.   Links from the Show: http://www.knowingluxe.com http://www.instagram.com/knowingluxe  

Filmmaker Shruti Rya Ganguly may be a successful producer, director, writer and perpetual student of the arts, but she will tell you that when it comes to making chai, she would fail miserably.  From her childhood in Oman to shooting in her favorite location, Ethiopia, Shruti's story is one for the books (speaking of which, she just got an essay published in one). We talk about her roots and what drove her to finally come to terms with the idea of pursuing the arts as an actual career.  From working as a intern on Bollywood films to getting her MFA/MBA to starting her very own shop,  she talks to us openly about some of her setbacks and regrets but most importantly, lessons learned, starting over and her support system.  She has worked with the likes of MFA classmate James Franco, collaborated with actor and producer Keanu Reeves and has helped grow brands such as Conde Nast, NYLON and MTV.  And that's just to name a few things. The best part of the interview was learning that the Shruti I met 9 years ago at a bar in NYC was still the same Shruti today.  With just a few more stories.

How about that time you interviewed someone you just met and became best friends immediately.  That's what happened to us after we talked with Simmi Patel, founder and creator of Paper Samosa, a fantastic and innovative brand that produces artwork with a touch of  Indian masala and Western pop culture-tightly wrapped in a crispy light-hearted shell of course.  We talk about everything from pigs on farms to why Simmi really dances like no aunties are watching- she just goes with whatever dance move feels right. 

  Learn how she quit her 9-5, made decisions based on the weather and what she wants her followers to takeaway from her brand.     Not only will you fall in love with her work, you will want to hang out with her in SF, I guarantee you.   Pancakes guys, always go with pancakes.   Links from the Show: http://www.papersamosa.com http://www.simmipatel.com http://www.instagram.com/paper.samosa ___________________________________ http://www.instagram.com/amituckeredout 

Damn if feels good to be a podcaster.  

  We're bbbaaaaccccckkkkkkkk!!!  Nizar (@nizarbabul) and I (@amituckeredout) had to take a small break this summer so I could officially become a Arkansonian (is that a word?). In our relaunch episode, we talk about the move to this "flyover state" and how it feels to live here as a South Asian, especially during the insane political environment in which we're living now. We are also joined by two guests, Raj Suresh (@rajdoescomedy) and Shabana Kauser (@shabanakauserart)  who discuss their careers, compare accents, and explain how living in this region has helped shaped their specific artforms.   We're so excited to relaunch Season 1 with this #browntabletalk and are happy to be back and plugged into a headphone near you.

She started out dancing before she started walking. She was the first South Asian dancer to enter the LA scene. She toured with Madonna. She's the Girl on the Yellow Dress in La La Land. She takes fashion to another level. From talking about Superman chadis to to the politics of dancing to becoming a forest ranger, Reshma Gajjar has been a South Asian Trailblazer since she was born.

 

Listen to how she started off in the dance world why she got her biology/business law degree, what happened during her Bombay Dreams tryouts and how she lives in the moment every day.

 

She is my good friend, a Shaft Crew member, a daughter, a sister, a wife. She is an artist in every sense of the word. And we could not stop laughing the entire time.

We have an editor-in-chief in da house! Now if that's not boss, I don't know what is.

Our crew had a chance to chat with the indomitable Supriya Dravid, the woman in charge of one of the largest magazine brands in the world, ELLE India. Ever wonder about what an editor-in-chief does? How about how extremely cool Mindy Kaling is? And does the Bollywood audience support Priyanka Chopra's rise to fame in the US? Well, let me tell you, we chat about it all..and them some. Learn about the many hats Supriya wears, her journey to becoming editor-in-chief, the stories that she is most proud of and how beauty and fashion magazines are evolving into something more than skin deep.

  Thank you Supriya for taking the time out during your VACATION in Thailand to chat with us....we're not jealous or anything....   Check out ELLE India to read more great content and listen in to hear about their upcoming projects!

I don't know about you guys but I didn't realize that the Instapot could perform miracles!

In this episode of Browntable Talks, we sit down with the ladies behind "Instapottin' With Poonam" and talk about it all. From how they all met to how Kinky Boots played a role in coming up with the whole idea. I even get the opportunity to jump into one of their videos and learn to make my own Instapot dish!

Between the wine glasses and the random Gujurati busting out, this interview was definitely cooking! (see what I did there?) 

We’re baaaaaccccckk!!! After a little bit of a break due to honeymoons in New Zealand, trips to Iceland and packing boxes for an upcoming move, our crew is back with a fascinating South Asian trailblazer interview!!

 

Dr. Tara Narula Cangello is a cardiologist, professor, director and medical journalist with CBS. We talk to her about growing up Sikh-Italian in Miami, the hardest cases she’s had to work on and how she literally carved her own path to become a medical journalist. We also get personal with some motherhood talk while Dr. Tara schools us about the number one health concern in the South Asian community (hint, hint, something to do with the heart).

 

Find out why serendipity is her favorite word and hear the story of how her parents first met. Super pumped to ramp up the show again with this amazing trailblazer!

It's an update folks! In this mini-episode, we discuss what we've been up to the past week, our takeaways from the first few months after launching AmiTuckeredOut, why we may be a little M!A over the next 2 weeks, and a teaser on a few of our upcoming dynamic guests. You don't want to miss these upcoming episodes, trust me.  Otherwise you'll feel like that kid who gets picked last on the soccer field....LEFT OUT.

  Stay tuned for some big changes happening soon...we're just getting ramped up people!  Ok, I'll stop putting two sugars in my coffee...

It's time to get political! In this episode of South Asian trailblazers, we talk to Communications Specialist and my college friend Parag V. Mehta. We start off our interview discussing our University of Texas at Austin days as dandia/raas champions (of course) to how the story of Matthew Shepard changed his life.

  We then get into Parag's impressive and expansive experience in the D.C. political scene. He addresses many important issues such as South Asians in government and their evolution as activists, questions regarding Proposition 8, his reflections on Hillary Clinton's devastating loss, what happened when Vivek Murthy (our first Indian Surgeon General) was "relieved" of his duty and how to find hope in our crazy political atmosphere today.   He also highlights the story of falling asleep while taking the MCAT's, attending the first White House Diwali party organized by his friend Kal Penn, his upcoming big fat Indian wedding, Texas style of course, with his partner Vaibhav and how lotion became a subject matter when he first met with President Obama.

Who doesn't love sitting around chatting it up with some chicks and salsa?  And maybe some tequila. On this week's episode, we get to laugh it up with the ladies from the Chicks and Salsa Blog, Rina Puri, Sonia Shah and Avani Patel.

  We cover everything from our prom nights to rollin' rotis to why Avani slays all day. They give me the inside scoop on how it really is to work together as best friends and sisters and what their ultimate goal is for the Chicks and Salsa brand.   And really, how well do they know each other?  We decide to test the ladies in our final segment of the episode by asking them some super deep, insightful questions.  You know, AmiTuckeredOut style.   Get ready to laugh it up during this candid, honest and #momsoffduty episode!

We had a blast on our first Special Edition episode- 4 Days, 4 Years of DFW SAFF!  My producer and I decided to do this one off-location and head to the final after party to talk to festival attendees, actors and activists! We began the interview talking about the films of the weekend and the indomitable founder and director, Jitin Hingorani.  We then jump into interviews with some of our favorite festival attendees and their takeaways from the weekend, actor and producer (and fellow Texan) Shawn Parikh (Outsourced, The Mindy Project), and the lovely Priyanka Bose (Lion, Nirbhaya The Play). 

  Shawn shares his journey as a Texas boy from Plano to an L.A. producer, writer and actor. We get a sneak peak of his new project and the lowdown on Mindy Kaling. Yes, she's as cool as you think she is.   Priyanka talks openly about how real life events led her to the phenomenal role she played in Nirbhaya The Play, her struggle growing up in Delhi wanting to be an actress and how she finally found her place amongst the madness of Bollywood.   Don't mind the club music in the background and the clinking of glasses, we were all in celebration mode!

Sometimes us mama's need a little bit of guidance on how to cope with the stresses of parenthood and how to carve out a little #metime in our daily routine. I know I do!

In this episode of Browntable Talks, we chat with Mindful Mama Coach Tejal Patel as she takes us through her own personal struggles during childhood and her journey to becoming a certified Kundalini yoga, meditation and mindfulness teacher...aka, the Child Whisperer.     We also talk to Priya Rathod, a self-proclamined inspiration addict who has a passion for helping other mothers focus on self-care of and whose 11k Instafans agree that she definitely empowers and uplifts them through her "real talk" and mommyhood moments.   We also get on the topics of our fathers and how they can also benefit from a little mindfulness practice. We just have to Jedi mind trick them.   #amothersjourney #destress #mindfulmama #childwhisperer #breakthecycle #manageemotions #emotionalintelligence #4cruciallifeskills #dadscandothistoo #lawofattraction #positiveselftalk #visionboards #brenebrown #oprahchopra #icanbewoowoo #attorney #corporateamerica #inspirationaddict #puttingmoneyinthebank #deepbreathing #themasksofmasculinity

In this episode, my co-hosts and I talk about everything from scandals in India to our personal experience with racism and why stereotypes exist. We also discuss our own parents and how they dealt with racism, racial profiling after 9/11 and how the current political environment effects us all now.

  Most importantly, we dive deeper into the the greatest mystery of all...what exactly is Amway?

In this bonus episode, we decide to ask our favorite mompreneur, Ami Desai, questions from the Millennial point of view. 

Listen to Ami's advise for preventative care in your 20's, choosing the best drugstore brands, building a social media following and actually MAKING MONEY!

This episode is brought to you by my millennial cohost, Nisha Bhatt, who is constantly reminding me that I need to figure out how to use Snapchat.

Continuing our South Asian Trailblazers series, we talk to host, producer, beauty and lifestyle blogger Ami Desai. Listen as she discusses her journey up until now, how Oprah surprised her on the OWNshow, how the word "harmony" defines the way she balances career and family, her favorite curse word and why donuts actually make you skinny. 

We will also get a chance to hear beauty questions from five of Ami's Instagram followers from all over the US.  So be ready to take some notes because Ami has A LOT of great advice we could all use!   Ami's daily mantra sums up the way she approaches life best- attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect and mirror what you admire.   We close with our Who Run the World segment and, as always, my Song of the Week!   SHOWNOTES Interview The Journey (02:10) Presently Speaking (21:00) The South Asian POV (30:00) Getting to know Ami, Lightning Round (38:00) Listener Questions (47:10)   Who Run the World/Song of the Week (1:04:25) Song: "Let's Go" by Matt and Kim   Thanks to everyone for listening! Find Ami Desai on Instagram @amirawaldesai and on her site http://amidesai.com

It's 2018!!  We discuss the blur that was 2017, New Year's resolutions and why Mariah Carey needs a hug. 

Nisha and Nizar also give a shoutout to their Who Run The World person of the week, podcaster David Chen and graphic artist Timothy Goodman.

Launching our new South Asian Trailblazers interview series, we sit and chat with the Co-Founder of Doonya Bollywood Fitness, Kajal Desai. 

Kajal talks about going from being a management consultant to helping create the first large-scale Bollywood dance-centric workout program that lead her to the Oprah Winfrey show and The Today Show. She shares her journey to “almost famous” and how it changed her life.

Also on the show, we start our Who Run The World segment, discussing a light-hearted, inspirational moment this week that and close out with our Song of the Week.

 

Send all feedback to AmiTuckeredOut@gmail.com

Website: http://amituckeredout.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/amituckeredout

Facebook: http://facebook.com/amituckeredout

On our very first episode, we meet the team and learn a little bit more about the podcast.  We then dive into the “What The…” moment of the week, discuss the #MeToo movement and how it impacts us personally as well as the brown community. We may open a bottle of wine during our discussion because, you know, why not?