#southasianpodcast

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New Podcast Episode!

2021 Lessons: Playing Big, Embracing Fluidity, Boundaries with Family, & Dancing with my Inner Teen Welcome to a new solo episode! As we’re nearing the end of the year, I wanted to share the ups and downs I’ve faced on This week I’m recapping lessons I’ve learned in 2021, so grab a cup of your coziest drink and let’s reflect 🥰 2021 taught me how to: stop playing small & begging for my dreams…

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Is an all-female power cast enough to make a good feminist movie?

Find out on the first episode of Sarees On Screen - Friday, April 30th, 2021.

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EPISODE 32 (SEASON 3) – May Aaj Ka Kabootar + Interview with Dr. Almas Merchant

This week’s mix bag of Aaj Ka Kabootar jellybeans comes with some bitter pills and some extra nutritional value. In keeping with our Mental Health May theme and as promised at the end of our last episode, we have an interview with Dr. Almas Merchant – so stick around till the end while we get this show pony on the road!

First up, the bitter pill – Sweety and Pappu discuss the death sentence given by the Supreme Court to those accused in the Nirbhaya case.  While the death sentence is a barbaric and totalitarian form of capital punishment, we cannot help but feel that this is the closest to any form of justice that there can be for her family. Also, did you know that since 1995 only 25 death penalty executions have been carried out in India? Compared to this, in USA alone has had 11 executions already since the start of 2017. But, is death sentence a strong enough deterrent enough to address the rape culture epidemic in India? Sweety and Pappu weigh in.

The past week and two has also been somber for Bollywood – we lost Vinod Khanna (6 October 1946 – 27 April 2017) and Reema Lagoo (21 June 1958 – 18 May 2017). Sweety remembers Vinod Khanna for being one of the most good-looking actors in the 70s-80s. Reema Lagoo will be sorely missed – there can be no other Bollywood Maa that can take her place.

This week, we saw a our own divas sashay into the Cannes sunset – while Aishwarya Rai revealed herself as the true Ice Queen in her Cinderella-esque powder blue number, Deepika shouldered like wildfire in her emerald green number, and added another fashion feather in plum Marchesa tulle. Yes, as you can gather from this – fashion and Bollywood is our escape.

Last week also saw our other Bollowood starts, specifically Shah Rukh Khan, indulge in more lofty pursuits – namely his TEDx Talk in Vancity recently. Pappu shares why she would rather watch him host a wedding or an award show than in a TEDx talk, while Sweety remains resolutely indifferent to his charms.

Last week India played host to everybody’s favourite Canadian – no, not Justine Trudeau, the other one – Justine Bibier while he pulled a Britney. Sweety and Pappu compare how big a fan they are of his music.

Sweety is finally coming out of her funk – thanks to a few Netflix binge sessions. She recently watched Angry Indian Goddesses and gives her two anna on the movie. Well, lets just say our expectations greatly fell short for this one. Bollywood really needs the ultimate desi girl buddy movie. And, while we’re at it we are going to name our Dream Team and put out to the universe. Hint: it has Malika Duaa in it.

Talking about disappointments and exceeded expectations – we really are truly blessed with good shows this year – Sweety aka the biggest Neil Gaiman FANGIRL you’ll ever know is loving American Gods. While, Pappu is holding her emotions in check as Margaret Atwood’s adapted novel The Handmaiden’s Tale unfolds on Hulu.

Finally, Sweety has a tête-à-tête with Dr. Merchant. Almas (Ally) Merchant is a clinical psychologist. Besides her clinical work, she is also the externship coordinator at Brightpoint Health, where she supervises externs from doctoral programs in psychology. Ally's specializes in trauma, as well as child and adolescent psychotherapy, specifically with queer people of color. She is engaged within Division 39 of the American Psychological Association (Division of Psychoanalysis) and the Association of Psychoanalysis in Culture and Society.

Enjoy the show, see you in June!

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Episode 32 (Season 3) – May Mental Health Awareness

As promised at the end of our last week’s episode, welcome to Mental Health May!

Many among us have a little puff of a gloomy cloud hovering over us. On some days it seems to be as light as a wisp of smoke, while on others it is dark and foreboding like a raging storm – so big that it covers our entire head so that we can’t see, think or feel clearly.

“Yeah, we could cry until we can't breathe.” – Sadness, Inside Out

This week, we say hello to Darkness - our old friend. Sweety opens up about her year-long (and continuing) battle with depression, anxiety and (at times) crippling panic attacks.

According to the WHO about 56 million Indians suffer from depression, and another 38 million suffer from anxiety disorders. That’s more than the entire population of Germany. Roughly one in 20 Indians suffer from depression, accordingly to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

Despite this overwhelming number, we desis are ill-equipped to talk about mental illnesses and understand the broad spectrum they operate within.

“वह दिमाग का संतुलन खो बैठी है”

Meena Kumari was called the Tragedy Queen. Her heart-wrenching portrayal of pain, loss and suffering was celebrated on celluloid. She gave expression to these emotions like no one could. In real life she battled alcoholism which eventually lead to her early death. But, could she also have been clinically depressed?

For any country, pop culture i.e. what we see, read, sing about is the zeitgeist of its times. When it comes to talking about, or even portraying mental illness, Bollywood has served us vacant-eyed, lobotomized ‘electric shock’ lewks. Off late, Bollywood seems to have finally got the memo with Dear Zindagi.

Pappu and Sweety talk about celebrities who have been brave and honest about their struggles with depression and related mental health issues. Live, Laugh, Love is an organization started by desi queen Deepika Padukone, borne out of her personal struggles with depression.

Includes in this episode, is a questionnaire by Sweety to self-administer. But ultimately this should be no substitute for a professional assessment.

Finally, we also share our top tips on how you can fight back when you feel the fast approaching shadow of your Gloomy Old Friend. We talk about how you can be a supportive friend when you get that 4 a.m. call from your friend in the middle of a panic attack. Also, we talk about Things You’re Not Allowed to Say when someone confides to you they are in therapy or are depressed.

Resources we talk more about on this episode:

Your Dost  - Online web portal with counsellors to help you through work stress, relationship, self-image issues and more.

The Vandrevala Foundation -  A not-for-profit organisation that provide funding and aid contributions for those suffering from mental health problems and illnesses in India.

Maple Jar Online Counselling

Better Help Online Counselling App on iTunes & Google Play – Get private, affordable online counseling when you need it from licensed, board-accredited therapists at a nominal monthly fee.

While one-on-one therapy can be expensive, some resources you can consider are attending support groups meetups, reconnecting with your support system (family and close friends, provided they are there to help you), self-care and exercise. You can also check with your insurance to see if psychotherapy is covered.

In continuation of our Mental Health May theme, on our next episode, we have a special guest: Dr. Almas Merchant who is a kickass clinical psychologist practicing in NYC. If you have a burning question you need us to ask her, you can send it via email (chuskipop@gmail.com) or Facebook or Instagram DM.

 Peace out! ✌️  

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Episode 31 (Season 3) - April Aaj Ka Kabootar

You know what I like about April? Well, for starters there are lots of things I don’t like about April – it is the month after my birthday month so it is mostly a sobering month. Like, it’s the month when I take stock of my life and think “what next”. But, here are some of the things I LIKE about April: first of its AAM SEASON, people! Did you get your Aamasutra on yet?

Also, #Happy420 ✌️

Before we begin, can we collectively take a moment to congratulate Serena Williams on her pregnancy! 👶 Currently, five months into her pregnancy she has announced to be on maternity leave for the rest of 2017 – and rightly so! That makes her two months pregnant when she won the Australian Open back in January! 👏

So, what’s in-store for this month’s packet of party mix… dig in to find out!

First up, Snapchat! We talk about the alleged half assed comments made by app’s founder and CEO Eric Spiegel about India being ‘too poor’ – this got a lot of people riled up. Well, for starters Sweety’s kinda has had a love-hate relationship with this app in the first place so how does this bit of news sit with us.

Next, we talk about the doctor’s strike that took place last month in Mumbai. Shout out to listener @MasalaChaiOnTheRocks aka. Vaishalee for making us aware of this story!

Then, let’s take a moment to admire the sheer ballsy-ness of Saffiyah Khan, who showed us what it looks like to have grace under pressure.

Moving on, to the story on new serum-like contraceptive (with a ‘chocolate-like consistency’), which is being developed for men. But are there any takers? We talk about why major pharma companies don’t dig this too much.

In #EarthHour news, we have the story of a 9-year old who is filed a case against the Indian government for failing to do enough to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Considering that this nine-year-old, Riddhima Pandey, represents a generation who will finally inherit this earth and bear the consequences of the climate policies in effect today – helps put this in perspective.

On our Hollywood & Bollywood segment, we talk about the lead zeppelin that was the Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad.

Look out for our Word of the Day on our Love Gyaan segment: Breadcrumbing. Find out if you have been at the receiving end of this trail?

AAANDD, FINALLLY! GIRLS! [MAJOR SPOILER ALERT IF YOU’VE NOT WATCHED THIS SHOW AND PLAN TO WATCH IT TUNE OFF!] Sweety and Pappy react to the seasonal finale to this Millennial epoch-defining show by Lena Dunham.

Tune in…

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