Before all the conversations about breaking the glass ceiling and fighting for equality even came into the picture - the desi women had learned that taking control of her destiny in her own hands was the only way out. From giving her family the perfect life, to contributing to the household finances - this woman did it all. There could have been no light at the end of the tunnel but she still found her way. This is the common thread in the stories of desi super heroins I saw all around me...

While the glamour of a life abroad and a promise of stronger relationships and happier marriages holds true for most of us, there is a another harsh side of this reality for a lot of NRIs too. Contrary to popular belief, NRIs too can be victim to domestic violence and for them -legal protection is a vague concept. This episode is an attempt to bring to light some of the more harsh realities of an immigrant and expatriate life and domestic violence is the topic of conversation.  Check out...

For some of us, nothing beats the joy of enjoying a sweet and crisp paan after dinner. The humble little paan could be nothing more than a few sweet condiments wrapped in a green leaf; but for some of us desis, this paan is a little packet of nostalgia and our childhood memories.  In this episode, I reminisce about paan walahs or panwaris back home and share some stories of how more pan shops are opening up in the west.  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my...

Being a multi-linguist isn't unusual for a lot of us desis. In this episode, I share the story of how I came to speak 4 languages other than english and how my life growing up back in India made it possible. With the UN declaring 2019 as the year of indigenous languages, I reflect upon how regional and local languages all over the globe could be under a threat of extinction and we all could do our bit in preserving these rich cultures before its too late.  Check out more episodes from...

There is a thing or two our nation knows about finding opportunities in adversity and against all odds. That is what India did with stereotypes built by the western media - whats more ? We not only found an alternate approach to tell our side of the story and break some of those unfair stereotypes, but we also almost bank rolled our way into it. In this episode, I share some of my insights about how we have been extremely creative and rather business savvyin our quest to destroy some of these...

While watching Uri this past weekend at a theater in Toronto, every NRI was in tears and the movie climax was filled with unanimous chants of Jai Hind. While films and cricket mostly dominate the expression of patriotism for those  of us living away from India, the boundaries of our sentiments for the homeland are not limited to that.  Whether it is the opposition to NRIs being able to cast their votes this coming election or it is questioning our ability to post a simple tweet about an...

This December, our country witnessed the strangest obsession with with outrageous weddings but if you're thinking that the wedding wave is finally over, think again..because the NRI wedding season is just beginning and it promises to be a bigger and a gaudier circus with every passing year. In this podcast, I try to look into where the thin line is between extravagance and outrageousness and how NRIs are changing the Indian wedding industry. Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I...

What would our long distance relationships with our family be without video chats? This episode is dedicated to all the apps on our phones and computers that have stayed with us throughout our NRI lives and have magically transported us back home and our parents and them to us with every call, just like that.  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave...

While immigrants and expats are more widely accepted than ever before, they all continue experiencing subtle hints of racism in their daily lives. Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review on iTunes. Thank you for listening!

The festival of light is celebrated with the same spirit the world over but Abroad waali Diwali comes with a slight twist and in this podcast, I share how some basic diwali things can be a little convoluted for NRIs. Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review on iTunes. Thank you for listening! Twitter: @culture_chaos Facebook: Isha...

Ever wondered why the humble papad is known by the complex and vague name 'papadom' in the west? If you have, than you aren't alone. Check out this week's podcast where I try to find answers about where this word really came from and how it became the new brand name of this humble desi crisp. Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review...

The #MeTooIndia movement in India has opened a whole new set of dialogues which are finally approaching the issue of women's safety in the subcontinent and all over the world, with a progressive point of view. In today's episode, I share my take on this revolution which is storming our nation and on why it is important for our generation to ensure that these dialogues are carried forward responsibly.  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying...

Last week, I was able to visit my home in Mumbai after almost three years and my favorite thing during home visits is revisiting my old memories and giving myself a good dose of nostalgia before I get on the place to return back to my NRI life. This episode is dedicated to nostalgia and all those products that build the foundations of our lives and memories growing up back home.  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away...

A historic judgement was recently passed in India decriminalizing homosexuality. While this judgement was a long awaited step in the forward and progressive direction, I take a minute to question if it is time for us Indians to rejoice at #LoveIsLove just yet?  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review on iTunes. Thank you for listening!

The thing about popular culture and its references is, that it changes faster than the seasons. From being the life of a party with my Bollywood treasure-trove of knowledge ready at the tip of my tongue to being completely clueless in conversations and not getting some of the most basic of jokes, comments and references without depending on urban dictionary. In the west, a FOB's struggle with popular culture is very real. In this episode, I talk about how I still fail to get most western...

Contrary to common assumptions, Indian festivals are celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and pomp abroad and us desis don't leave any stone unturned when it comes to making a party out of our festivals. This podcast is a little sneak peak into how the mood is during the long festival season spread over the last 4 months of the year.  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at...

Life in the west definitely promises a higher standard of living than back home, but some luxuries that are so readily available in India, are unheard of in this part of the world. The one luxury that I miss the most is having a house-help or a 'Bai' to help around home and that's the topic of today's podcast.  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave...

Often for us immigrants and expats, the experience of living in a country abroad varies drastically from the experience of friends and families visiting the same country as a tourist. In this episode, I talk about how living in a country and seeing the same country as a tourist can be two completely different experiences!  Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected]...

One of the challenges of living in advanced North American countries is understanding how to navigate around the complex health care norms and finding ones way to an actual doctor's clinic. It is especially difficult when you go from extremely convenient and logically sound systems in a country like India to a place where getting an actual appointment to see a real doctor, without being sent home a bill of a couple of thousand dollars is a challenge in itself. In this episode, I talk about...

What is more potent? The concentrated version of something that is really tough to gulp down, or a watered-down milder version of it, which might be better suited especially for the first encounter with this spirit called "culture"? Todays episode looks at how immigrants have succeeded at creating milder, watered down versions of their cultures for the masses, and how this has helped immigrant cultures gain more acceptance after moving into different parts of the world.  Check out more...

For the longest time, Bhagyashree from Maine Pyar Kiya was the poster child for the ideal woman in India. Over the years that has changed but the expectations from women continue blocking the path for a desi woman to be able to make her own life choices. In such a scenario, with ever evolving standards against which women are evaluated, what is feminism and where exactly do we draw the line in trying to balance the Beyonce and the Bhagyashee within us? That's the topic of this podcast! Check...

As a desi abroad, if there was one thing you could do for your country today, try doing some very much needed PR and image management for your Country. I seriously feel the need to do it now more than ever before and this podcast talks about why all of us should really give this a thought. Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review on...

Being really impressed by the small talk and exchanging pleasantries with strangers every morning, I initially thought that making a connection with people in the west would come as naturally as it did with folks back home in India, but it's not quite the same. Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review on iTunes. Thank you for listening!

One of the things people either applaud or mock about me is how after having lived in the west for almost a decade, have a not picked up an "American Accent". In this episode, I talk about my appreciation for the Indian english accent and for the way we have learned to speak english in our country and share my philosophy for why I will never really let go off it, as it is a big factor in representing who I really am! Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my...

Every desi living abroad develops his own weekend traditions. Traditions that reconnect him to his roots, traditions that bring alive his memories. This episode is an ode to all those weekend traditions and an appeal to all us to continue building them for the future generations to come.   Check out more episodes from Culture Chaos where I share stories of my experiences trying to navigate life away from India. You can write to me at [email protected] or leave your feedback/review on...