Shows
The Nepali OutpostSagun Lawoti: Crown, Crowd, and CrisisPro-monarchy protests are gaining traction in Nepal, but can they really undo the secular republic? In this episode, I sit down with Sajun Lawoti, spokesperson for the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), to discuss the movement’s goals, its chances of success, and why he believes Hindu Republicanism would be a mistake. I push him on the skepticism many Nepalis have toward his party, the RPP’s struggle to convert frustration into votes, and whether the political center-right has a future in Nepal. Tune in for a candid conversation about the country's shifting political land...
2025-04-0147 min
The Nepali OutpostChef Bikram Vaidya: Aasan Tol, standardizing recipes, and demystifying the Nepali kitchenIn this episode of The Nepali Outpost, we sit down with acclaimed Chef Bikram Vaidya to discuss his newly released book, The Mystic Kitchens of Nepal. Join us as we explore his inspiring journey from Aasan Tol to the USA, delving into the challenges he faced while mastering French cooking and how his experiences have shaped his perspective on Nepali cuisine.
Chef Bikram shares his insights into the evolving food culture of Nepal, highlighting how traditions blend and adapt over time. His book, a fusion of culinary art and travel narrative, celebrates the intricate Nepali culinary heritage...
2025-01-0448 minThe Nepali OutpostDr. Bipin Ghimire on Nepal's unique borders & managing the two neighbors.Our latest episode features the insightful Dr. Bipin Ghimire, an expert on South Asian geopolitics and border dynamics. In this episode, we take a look into the complexities surrounding Nepal's borders, both colonial and non-colonial, highlighting the historical implications and current challenges.
Dr. Ghimire discusses how Nepal's borders were shaped during colonial rule and the impact that legacy has on its present-day political landscape. We also discuss the "Chuche Naksha" and explore what it means for Nepal in the context of national identity and territorial integrity. Dr. Ghimire shares insights on how China's security concerns affect Nepal’s p...
2024-11-281h 01The Nepali OutpostIt's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future, with Dr Anil Sigdel🎙️ New episode out now with Dr. Anil Sigdel!
We cover:
What Trump’s re-election might mean for the Ukraine war,
Changes in Indo-Pacific security,
How New Delhi sees the election,
And why Nepali-Americans may have voted differently from Indian-Americans.
Plus, Dr. Sigdel shares some thought-provoking book recommendations:
📚 How Democracies Die – Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
📚 Why I Am a Hindu – Shashi Tharoor
📚 The Rise and Fall of Great Nations – Paul Kennedy
A mix of global insights and great reads—don’t miss it!
🎧 Listen now!#GlobalPolitics #Uk...
2024-11-211h 04The Nepali OutpostBangladesh: Spirit, State, Sharia with Md Mizanur RahmanAs the dust begins to settle after the "July Protests" in Bangladesh, we speak with political scientist Md Mizanur Rahman about what politics and society look like post-Sheikh Hasina. Mizanur guides us through the reasons for the protests and the key characters. We also speak about what these changes mean for the "spirit of Bangladesh", the state, and the future of secularism. Happy Listening!
Show recommendations include:
Laurence Gautier: Between Nation and ‘Community'
William Dalrymple: The Golden Road
Ashfaque Nipun: Mohanagar
Mejbaur Rahman Sumon: Hawa ( হাওয়া )
2024-09-211h 14The Nepali OutpostS2E1 - Managing Million Mutinies: Dr. Nirmala Mani Adhikary on Identity, Punarjagaran, and CivilizationWelcome to Season 2 of The Nepali Outpost! The first few episodes of Season 2 are part of a mini-series The Nation and the Civilization.
In Episode 1, we talk with Dr. Nirmala Mani Adhikary, author and communication theorist, about the fractional nature of identity politics, how the Hindu community should respond to cow killing, and why Nepal has to look at its knowledge system to resolve social conflict.
The discussion then moves on to how Nepal's indigenous civilizational conception of the state and the nation is different from the Western understanding of the nation and state. Dr...
2023-08-282h 04The Nepali OutpostDirecting Change with Kirtana BanskotaIn the final episode of Season 1 of The Nepali Outpost, we speak with filmmaker Kirtana Banskota. Kirtana speaks to us about her creative journey, why representation is important, and what it means to be one of the few Nepali-American filmmakers and producers. We dive deeper into the cultural changers in Nepali diaspora, and why Nepal's filmmakers are underappreciated and how some of its best films go unrecognized.
She also speaks about her new projects; highs (and lows) of working with the Nepali community; and what the American in "Nepali-American" might mean.
Find out more about...
2023-04-241h 10The Nepali OutpostTrust but verify: National Security, "Angrezi" Media, & Foreign Funding with Kosh Raj Koirala,In this episode, Kosh Raj Koirala, Editor, of Republica talks with us about what he thinks is Nepal's most pressing national security challenge and why we are ill-equipped to face it. We talk about the growing distrust of the media, and misinformation in light of the infamous Rabi Lamichanne press conference. Kosh Raj also speaks to us about the opportunity he sees for English language media in Nepal.
Show recommendations include:
Nepal: Strategy for Survival, Leo E. Rose
Pashtuns: A Contested History, Tilak Devasher
2023-03-0753 minThe Nepali OutpostThe Great Nepali Diaspora: Goals, Guilt, and "Giving back" with Preeti AdhikaryThis last week has people questioning ideas that this episode speaks directly to. First, what role can (and should) Non-Residential Nepalis and the Nepali Diaspora play in Nepal's growth story? Second, the struggle of Nepali entrepreneurs and the realities of doing business in Nepal.
In this episode, we speak with Preeti Adhikary, founder of The Great Nepali Diaspora, about why creating a platform for professionals in the diaspora, to share their expertise and lift each other up, is an idea whose time has truly come. Preeti talks about why the diaspora needs to take ownership of its o...
2023-01-2951 minThe Nepali OutpostCry, beloved Country: Party, Politics, and Pessimism with Dipak gyawaliIn a much delayed, but highly relevant episode*, The Nepali Outpost speaks to Dipak Gyawali about the recent elections in Nepal and why he remains pessimistic about the health of Nepal's democracy.
Dipak Gyawali shares his experiences of asking the US to arm-twist the Indians into allowing the Maoists to negotiate with the King's Government; his thoughts on the growth of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and why he calls himself a Green Democratic Socialist - a one-man party of which he is both the party chairman and the only cadre!
...
2023-01-031h 06The Nepali OutpostCivilisational Consciousness: Anubhuti, Aesthetics, and Awakening with Raghava KrishnaWhat does it mean that a civilisation is sleeping?
In this episode, The Nepali Outpost talks to Raghava Krishan, Founder of Bṛhat- Culture Engine, about what it takes to wake up a sleeping civilisation. Raghava shares his personal journey and how Bṛhat is bridging the gap between yearning and realization. Raghava also shares the importance of indigenous aesthetics in the design of a culture engine. In this first of many sessions, we try to lay the foundation for continual conversations on the civilisational ties that bind Nepal and India.
Show Recommendations Include:
Kant...
2022-11-0859 minThe Nepali OutpostAwkward Friends: Nepal, China, and the importance of language with Aneka R. RajbhandariAneka Rebecca Rajbhandari on why Nepal and China still find each other hard to decipher. We also discuss why Nepal’s China-watchers must pay attention to the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) ideology. And why China’s Nepal experts need to talk to a diverse array of stakeholders in Nepal. We talk about her work with The Arniko Project and the importance of language.
Show Recommendations include:
All Roads Lead North, Amish Raj Mulmi
China in Ten Words, Yu Hua, Allan H. Barr (Translator)
The Chinese who are learning Nepali, Aneka Rebecca Rajbhandari
The Sandman, Neil Ga...
2022-08-1850 minThe Nepali OutpostTracing History through Food: Culture, Spices and Nepaliness with Prashanta KhanalWhat makes a food "Nepali"? What makes food "authentic"? Do Western cooking standards hamper how we engage with Nepali food? We talk about it all in this episode of The Nepali Outpost with guest Prashanta Khanal, whose new book Timmur – Stories and Flavours from Nepal is available in fine book stores near you. We also talk about the politics of food, question Nepal's inferiority complex, and wonder about the future of Kathmandu's foodscape. Prashanta and Slok also share their one controversial take on Nepali food -- it involves vegetable momos and Dalle Khursani. Happy Listening!
Show recommendations an...
2022-08-051h 05The Nepali OutpostKnow thyself! Data to know Nepal’s provinces better, the future of tech policy, and what Nepal can learn from Sri Lanka.Technology is changing Nepal. And quicky. Thankfully, Jaya Mahat and NiPoRe have their eyes on it. Hear Jaya talk about the newly released Nepal Competitiveness Index (NCI) and the Nepal Risk Outlook.
We talk about how COVID-19 might change the government's policy towards the health sector, what he makes of the Sri Lanka crisis, how climate change will impact policy priorities, and why @Nepalipotpost is his favourite podcast. The last officially making him The First Outposter! :-)
We also talk about NRN’s role (if any) in Nepal’s future, The Kashmir Files, and the Sri...
2022-07-1249 min
The Nepali OutpostIs Geography Destiny? Urban Geography, ISI’s evolving relations with the Afghan Taliban and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.Please note: This episode was taped before the recent earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan, to learn more about the earthquake please click here.
The death toll from an earthquake that hit Afghanistan on June 22 has reached 1,000. The disaster barely made news in the West. The West seems to have moved on. And left behind it a trail of broken promises and lost opportunities. Taliban is back in Kabul, and there is a humanitarian crisis on our hands. In Episode 8, we talk to Chayanika Saxena about urban geography, ISI’s evolving relations with the Afghan Taliban, kebabs, and why we...
2022-06-2339 minThe Nepali OutpostLost and Found: Resilience, Trauma and Nepaliness in the Bhutanese-Nepali community in the US with Jhuma N AcharyaJhuma N Acharya, Chairperson, Board of Directors of the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO) on the ethnic cleansing of Nepali speakers from Bhutan in the 1990s, how he spent 19 years in refugee camps in Nepal, and his journey to the US. We talk about what it means to have multiple identities, what it means to be a refugee in the US, and why he identifies as Bhutanese-Nepali.
Jhuma talks about how the Bhutanese-Nepali community is trying to make the best of the opportunities that the US provides, and how the community continues to grow and contribute...
2022-05-181h 13The Nepali OutpostThe Heritage Chronicler : Aashish Mishra on heritage, sacredness of Bagmati, and GuthisNamaste and welcome to Episode 5! In this episode, we speak with Aashish Mishra, a reporter for The Rising Nepal about the sacred history (and secrets) of Bagmati, the state of heritage conservation outside of the Kathmandu Valley, caste, and cultural exclusivity in Nepal. We also talk about Spiderman and why he'd not do well in Kathmandu.
Show recommendations include:
Stolen Image of Nepal - Lain Singh Bandel
Spiderman: No Way Home - Jon Watts
Vimarsha Foundation - Ācārya Dr. Sthaneshwar Timalsina
Dune: Denis Villeneuve
2022-04-2849 minThe Nepali OutpostA Pakistani drama -- Foreign hand, Abraham Accords and cricket with Dr. Khurram AbbasNamaste everyone! Very often those of us from Nepal pay limited attention to the political conversations happening beyond India, China, and the West. To partially correct that, host Slok Gyawali speaks with Dr. Khurram Abbas, Research Fellow at Islamabad Policy Research Insititute (IPRI) about Imran Khan's innings as prime minister, why Pakistan has shied away from normalizing relations with Israel, and the different approaches India and Pakistan take in their relations to Gulf countries. We also talk about why some Pakistanis cheered the Taliban victory in Afghanistan and the return of cricket to Pakistan.
Show recommendations:
...
2022-04-0747 min
The Nepali OutpostCan Nepal Speak?: Shiva Tiwari on Great Power Politics and Knowledge Production in Nepal.Shiva P. Tiwari, the managing editor of the Nepali Journal of Contemporary Studies, speaks to The Nepali Post about Nepali political elites' tendency to drag great powers into Nepal's internal politics and the state of knowledge production in Nepal. We also talk about why China prefers to engage with the Nepali Communists and not the Nepali Congress, the tragedy depicted in Prakash Saput's Pir, and Hindu politics in India and Nepal.
Show recommendation
The Rise and Fall of Communism, by Archie Brown;
Chha Maya Chhapakkai, by Dipendra Lama;
India that is Bharat, by Jai Sai Deepak;
Sati, by S...
2022-04-0252 min
The Nepali OutpostWhen friends drop by: Pandemic, Everest, and writing with Paavan MathemaIn this episode of The Nepali Outpost, I speak with Paavan Mathema, Chief correspondent AFP Kathmandu Bureau, about the pandemic, upcoming Everest season, Paul Shah, and her career as a journalist. She also shares her book/movie/show/podcast recommendation (see below):
Show: After life- Ricky Gervais
Movie: Turning Red - Domee Shi
Podcast: Boju Bajai - Bhrikuti Rai, Itisha Giri
Book: All Roads Lead North- Amish Raj Mulmi
Graphic Novel: The Many Deaths of Laila Starr - Ram V
2022-03-2336 min
The Nepali OutpostThe world on fire: Ukraine, MCC, and India with Dr. Anil SigdelIn the inaugural episode of The Nepali Outpost, host Slok Gyawali talks with Dr. Anil Sigdel, author of India in the era of China's BRI: How Modi Responds to Xi about NATO's reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, MCC, and the future of India-China relations. We also bring up dragons and Bride and Prejudice.
India in the era of China's BRI: How Modi Responds to Xi
2022-03-0942 min