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Chai and Chat

Chai and Chat

By Aditi and Natasha

Our podcasts are stories about women from around the world who have made United States their home. How do we negotiate and adapt habits, attitudes and thoughts? Are there culture clashes or cultural harmony? What successes and failures define us in our new home? Follow us and find out!
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The world at her feet- Alexandra Paucescu

Chai and ChatNov 02, 2021

00:00
38:31
Words to live by - Vijaya Sundaram

Words to live by - Vijaya Sundaram

The first thing you notice about Vijaya is her voice. It’s deep and musical and it takes me right back to college days when we’d listen, enthralled, to her sing. She still sings beautifully, plays several instruments and writes songs. But what we dwell on is her love of words, in poetry, in writing, in teaching. How did she navigate the duality of teaching English in the public school system and homeschooling her daughter in parallel? We round out 2021 with our last chai and chat of the year.
Nov 30, 202137:50
The world at her feet- Alexandra Paucescu

The world at her feet- Alexandra Paucescu

It isn’t often we get to traverse the globe during our little podcast chats. But that’s exactly what Natasha and I felt after our chat with Alexandra. She introduced us to her exciting life in diplomatic circles, her nomadic existence, her life experiences. As a diplomats wife and an author in her own right, Alexandra does her bit in bringing people together. Do listen to our chat with a bonafide world harmonizer!
Nov 02, 202138:31
Home on the Range with Blogger Nupur

Home on the Range with Blogger Nupur

Our chat with Nupur on her 16 year journey with “One Hot Stove”, a blog about home cooking and so much more. What got her started, what keeps her going, her fun, adventurous A-Z series (check out her X for eXploration:new vegetables, old ways) And what the future hold for her and her blog! Khayali Pulao for starters?!! Link to her blog onehotstove.blogspot.com/
Sep 22, 202132:11
Light tea, full of happiness - Mangala

Light tea, full of happiness - Mangala

To the world at large, she is Dr Mangala Khadilkar, a psychiatrist working in the state prison system. To me and other students of music, she is Mangal Mavashi (aunt), warm and welcoming. How did she adjust to life in this new country in the mid-70s? How did she balance the toughness of her job with the happy and culturally-rich family life she created with her late husband, Vivek? As for what’s in her tea, we got the most “perfect” reply ever to that question. Do listen to the very end. I hope it moves you as much as it did us!
Jun 30, 202133:43
The No nonsense Ms Dhillon

The No nonsense Ms Dhillon

Ever met a feisty firebrand who lives life on her own terms? You are about to. Rennu Dhillon is the life-force behind Genius Kids, the organization she founded to provide quality education to kids that focuses on character building and confidence. Running a business is what she does. But what she is is so much more. Natasha and I have a no holds barred chat with Rennu about her life growing up in Kenya to her life as a single mom in the US. What has she learnt about herself and others in the journey? How does she pay it forward and what does she hope for the Indian community? Most importantly - what’s in her Gurudwara Style cup of chai? Listen and discover!
May 09, 202137:33
Earth Calling Chitra Srikrishna

Earth Calling Chitra Srikrishna

Earth calling Amma!!! There are times when carnatic singer Chitra Srikrisna is so deeply focused on her art that her family has to gently call her back to reality. Singer, writer, teacher, podcaster! Through all these facets of Chitra’s life run the swaras and ragas of her beloved music. Dedicated as she is in maintaining the purity of the art form, she knows that for classical music to survive and thrive, she must continue to innovate and adapt. We chat about how she does this and so much more, including how one so “steeped” in music makes her perfect cup of chai! I know this pun will get me in “hot water”!
Apr 09, 202128:36
Anu Mahadev: Never at a loss for words

Anu Mahadev: Never at a loss for words

Writing was always Anu’s first love and she went back to it after a short detour as an engineer. As the editor of Jaggery Lit online and Woman inc online and a published poet, Anu lives in the world of words. Words inspire, words are cathartic, words heal! In this podcast listen to Anu, as she talks about the beauty behind loss, writing as therapy and the poetry that feeds her soul!

Mar 08, 202130:44
intROspectively yours, Rohini!

intROspectively yours, Rohini!

Do you feel your life is good enough, comfortable enough, secure enough but still not enough? Our very first guest from across the pond, Rohini Rathour, a former fund manager turned leadership coach, chats with us about how she helps clients articulate and fulfill their dreams. And how she developed the Find Your Flow (with Ro) program to help them live the best version of themselves. Its our most introspective conversation to date. .. once we stop “oohing” over that gorgeous Brit accent!
Feb 23, 202132:47
A Boston Chai Party with Jaya Pandey

A Boston Chai Party with Jaya Pandey

The word “party” comes to mind when you meet Jaya! Everything about this spunky woman is a celebration of life in all its joys, complexities, and challenges. From joining the 100Saree Pact to blogging to creating a community for Indian moms with special needs kids, Jaya uses her outgoing, vivacious personality to raise awareness about autism and bring about social change. Natasha and I chai and chat with a true-blue, sari-wearing revolutionary! Check out her blogs (momlovesanand.blogspot.com and JayaPandey.blogspot.com) and do reach out to her if you or someone you know needs information about the community.
Feb 06, 202131:16
Part realtor, part reality check=Bela

Part realtor, part reality check=Bela

When there's a house you want,
In that neighborhood
Who you gonna call?
Bela Vora!
Bela isn’t just a realtor. She’s a dream-spinner! Passionate and dedicated, she holds her clients hands through one of the biggest and most stressful decisions of their lives. Along the way, she acts as marriage counselor, therapist, and reality check... all rolled in one! Her client stories could fill a book and they will! Remember you heard them here first! And about her chai? Don’t mess with it, she says!!
Jan 27, 202126:07
The Extraordinary Expat: Nyna Caputi

The Extraordinary Expat: Nyna Caputi


We kick off the new year with the multifaceted Nyna Caputi.
As a film maker, she talks about the challenges she faced while making the award winning documentary “Petals in the Dust: The Endangered Indian girls” an unflinching look at female infanticide and sex determination in India and shockingly, among the Indian diaspora! Her second incarnation, as the founder of The Expat Woman, happened as a result of her struggles with acute homesickness and an inability to fit in when she first arrived in this country. Hear about how she grew a network of expatriate women to 13k strong and fostered a community that provides a platform for collaboration, networking, and sharing of resources! And about Nyna’s chai? Let’s just say that she may be missing a “tea” ingredient!
Jan 17, 202126:09
Swati follows her joy....why not!

Swati follows her joy....why not!

Movement is meditative and a source of joy for Swati Chaturvedi. Listen to her story about choreographing people and horses to Bollywood music! Whether it is therapeutic horseback riding (yes, you read that right!) or her "passion project", the Community Bollywood Dance Project (CBDP) which she founded as an outreach program using Indian culture and story telling through dance to bring people together. How does she keep her passion alive? What is this one-of-a-kind special project that has her excited? What's in her cup of tea? You do not want to miss this final chat of 2020!

Dec 29, 202027:18
Art that heals: Swaroopa

Art that heals: Swaroopa

As a physiotherapist and yoga instructor, Swaroopa Gadgil’s life was focused on healing others. But when she was at a low point in her life and looking for solace, it was sharpies and markers that beckoned. From the creation of her colorful and vibrant artwork to the birth of her business,Swa Designs, Swaroopa takes us on her journey of self healing!
Dec 06, 202029:07
Shali’s Indian Kitchen on Wheels

Shali’s Indian Kitchen on Wheels

Far from the hustle bustle of her beloved subzi mandi and machhi market, Vaishali has created her own slice of India in her hometown of Nacogdoches. She drives her "kitchen on wheels", laden with Indian delicacies to tickle Texan tastebuds. Her passion for food, and her encounters with customers will make you crave a chicken tikka masala yourself! And her cup of chai? It has to be just perfect!
Nov 22, 202024:31
On the edge with Dr Shaily Menon

On the edge with Dr Shaily Menon

It is entirely appropriate that at the end of a roller coaster week, as the nation elects leaders with a progressive agenda which includes recommitting to protecting the environment, we bring you our chat with Shaily Menon, the Dean of Arts and Sciences at St Jo’s, As a life long educator, Shaily is an impassioned crusader for environmental ethics and conservationism. Listen to Natasha and I fangirl through a chat that includes lion-tailed macaques, flying squirrels and the occasional golden masala chai. Find out why interesting things happen on the edge and at the boundaries!
Nov 08, 202029:31
Yolanda: From Suriname with Love

Yolanda: From Suriname with Love

If you are a fan of Hindi movies, you have, doubtless, heard of Raj and Simran from Dilwale Dulhania... Today we bring you Raj and Yolanda, and their story is far more interesting! Yolanda lived in Suriname, where she met her Raj, who brought her to Miami, Louisiana and Texas. How did Yolanda adapt to her new multicultural Indian and American life? How different was it from Suriname? And what's in her cup of tea that always keeps her bubbly and optimistic? Listen in!
Hosts: Natasha and Aditi
Sound editor: Nakul
Oct 25, 202019:55
Minal : The doctor is in the house

Minal : The doctor is in the house

To mark breast cancer awareness month, we bring you hematologist/oncologist, Dr Minal Dhamankar. We chat about her many many years in training in India and the US (with a short but important detour in Germany), the differences in healthcare in both countries and how she deals with her stressful job. But it’s not all serious stuff, people! How many of us can describe our life choices with the help of....a Bollywood song? Any guesses ? PSA: Get your mammograms, ladies. Yes, even in a pandemic. Partners-in-Crime: Nakul Agrawal, Natasha Agrawal
Oct 18, 202026:42
Priya's Tea - Steaming Hot Till the Last Drop

Priya's Tea - Steaming Hot Till the Last Drop

Priya's life is full of transitions.  From Pune to California, from a corporate job to elementary school, from a teacher to an author and a researcher...she embraces every change and every flavor of life! Her life mantra: perspective is everything!  In the morning, she loves her steaming hot ginger tea (no sugar, thank you), but as evening descends, it's time to be Californian and transition to another beverage! Ready for more? Get your chai and tune in! 

Sound Editor: Nakul Agrawal

Oct 10, 202030:22
Sharing coffee, Brazilian style with Cristiane

Sharing coffee, Brazilian style with Cristiane

Move over chai! This week we bring you coffee, strong and sweet, from Brazil. Meet Cristiane who came to the US to take courses to improve her teaching skills. Along the way she met her husband, created a bilingual family, and wrote a book! Cristiane talks passionately about language as a rich cultural connection to our roots. Check out the fun Brazilian music (shared by her) that Nakul added to the episode. Sound editor: Nakul Agrawal. Art: Vicki Qvintero
Oct 04, 202026:01
Arathi: Staying Rooted with Dance

Arathi: Staying Rooted with Dance

Can traditions be tweaked? Do they still remain traditional? Listen to Arathi speak about Bharatnatyam with a passion, and Bollywood music with glee! Arathi claims to be “reborn" in her new American life. Her search for masala chai in India is hilarious, as is her observation about spaghetti strap dresses! Don't miss her special tea ingredient, helpful for her art and aging knees! ! Sound editor : Nakul Agrawal. Art: Vicki Qvintero
Sep 27, 202022:32
Tea flavored water, Lidia?

Tea flavored water, Lidia?

What a treat we have for you today! Chai and Chat goes global with an intrepid adventurer from Indonesia. Imagine being a “minority” in every place you’ve ever lived and never letting that stand in your way. Lidia traces her journey from Surabaya to her university days in the Netherlands to bringing up her daughter in New Jersey. Her hilarious account of meeting her Dutch husbands family for the first time and his visiting her family in Indonesia will have you in splits. Join us as we chat over a cup of chai! Sound editor : Nakul Agrawal. Art: Vicki Quintero
Sep 20, 202021:11
Rucha: A mother and a woman in tech

Rucha: A mother and a woman in tech

A bit of an oddball is how Rucha describes herself. This articulate and intelligent woman is so much more than that. She talks about the many challenges that she faced in her career trajectory, the lack of support for working mothers, and her vision for the future. Listen in as we chat with our youngest guest to date over a cup of chai! Sound editor: Nakul Agrawal. Art: Vicki Quintero
Sep 14, 202028:26
Science, Art, and Politics with Esha

Science, Art, and Politics with Esha

Three things stand out when you hear Esha speak - the strength of her convictions, her empathy for those without a voice, and her belief in leading a purpose driven life. Her passion is to make a difference! Join us for a cup of masala chai (ginger optional) as we chat with Esha about her childhood in India and how it has shaped her view of the world.
Sound editor: Nakul Agrawal
Art: Vicki Quintero
Sep 06, 202029:15
Walking the Ramp with Urmila

Walking the Ramp with Urmila

Meet fashionista, model, pageant winner and trendsetter all rolled in one. Urmila talks about “living her dream” , representing India on the international stage, making her mark as a model, and anchoring a show on a South East Asian channel, while balancing on 6 inch heels! Wanna hear about her journey, her determination and tea preferences? Here she is!
Sound editor: Nakul Agrawal
Art: Vicki Quintero
Aug 30, 202030:46
Cathy: The Only Indian in the Family

Cathy: The Only Indian in the Family

From being handed babies at the airport, to the bonding experience, and the impact of a multicultural upbringing, Cathy enthralls us with her narration of life as a mother of two Indian children.  Listen to her as she strives to connect them to their Indian heritage, deeply aware of the curiosity caused by her multiracial family.  Her chai ingredients - sugar, spice and a bit of indulgence! Wanna know what she adds? 

Join us with your cup of tea on Chai and Chat! 

Sound editor: Nakul Agrawal

Art: Vicki Quintero

Aug 23, 202027:55
Deepta : The Chief Problem Solving Officer

Deepta : The Chief Problem Solving Officer

Listen in as we chat with the problem solver and savorer of everything life has to offer, Deepta! What follows is a searingly honest, no holds barred discussion with her on her escape to the US , her capitalist take on Indian mythology, and her second career in an unconventional business! 

Her attitude to life can be summed up with : Why stop at one pot of tea when you can have 45?

Find out more when you listen in . As always, we’d love to hear from you!

Sound editor: Nakul Agrawal

Art: Vicki Quintero

Aug 16, 202025:09
Naila: From Dhaka to Dallas

Naila: From Dhaka to Dallas

Ever tried adding green chilies to  Moussaka for an extra kick?  Naila does! Listen to how she adds a philosophy of fusion to everything in her life.  Naila began her life in Dhaka, moved to Dallas, and recently was an English language fellow in Kazakhstan. She has learned to blend multiple cultures, languages and philosophies while still remaining true to her roots. All this, while raising her daughters to value humanism above all other “isms”. And, in turn, learning tolerance and acceptance from them . And there's fusion in her cup of tea too! Don't miss her nugget of wisdom! 

We're excited to bring Naila to you! Share your thoughts about this episode!

Aug 09, 202028:01
Mala's Secret Ingredient

Mala's Secret Ingredient

Listen to our conversation with Mala as she takes us through her journey of acculturation and her concept of a "culture toolbox". Our discussion includes mindfulness, and a focus on "here and now" to find balance and maintain boundaries. Don't forget to listen right till the end when she reveals her secret ingredient for a perfect cup of tea!
We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a comment!
Sound Editor: Nakul Agrawal
Artwork: Vicki Quintero
Aug 02, 202027:19
Tea Time with Anusha

Tea Time with Anusha

Listen in as Anusha describes her cup of tea as milk with a spoonful of Bournvita! Her joys of motherhood include finding a grape in a diaper and  and an international group of new moms on Roosevelt island. Her passion for journalism and story telling runs deep as she shares her adventures in New York, Toronto, and Delhi! Tune in to hear her story! 

Jul 26, 202028:15
Chai-ing with Samhita

Chai-ing with Samhita

In this episode, meet Samhita Rhodes, and listen to her hilarious interpretation of life with her "monochromatic" family!  Her joie de vivre keeps us laughing as she relates her experiences with teenagers, in-laws, her Hindu wedding ceremony and life in Michigan. And her preferred cup of tea? Find out! 

Jul 23, 202035:49
1 Hello! Namaste!

1 Hello! Namaste!

Listen to Aditi and Natasha as they explore their lives, navigating and negotiating their Indian identity in the United States.. Do you drink garam chai or prefer iced tea instead? How do women change, adapt or retain attitudes and habits? Join us as we introduce our theme this week! 

Follow us to meet amazing women whose stories are as unique as they are! 

But get your cup of chai first! Whichever way you like it best! 

Jul 13, 202013:27