Shows
A Desi WomanMayank DeogaonkarIn this interview we catch up with Hollywood based filmmaker Mayank Deogaonkar who is an award winning South Asian American filmmaker with a diverse background. Originally born in India, he has been raised in the United Kingdom, and the United States. This upbringing has made him appreciate the multifaceted and diverse world we live in. As such, he strives to tell stories that discuss the struggles and obstacles faced by an immigrant abroad.Mayank has worked as a writer, director, and video editor on multiple projects. In 2021, he has won Best Script for American’s at the New Yo...2024-07-2934 minA Desi WomanChhaya NeneChhaya has appeared on ABC's Big Sky, General Hospital, and Speechless and you can also catch her on Netflix's The OA, and BET's Sacrifice. Chhaya’s latest project and film ‘Kurta Pants’ is making waves at the Toronto International Film Festival. But Kurta Pants’ isn’t your typical film—it’s the latest installment in the television anthology series ‘Civil Disobedience’. Combining comedy with poignant social commentary, each episode tackles pressing issues of justice and prejudice. This particular episode explores the complexities of interracial dating within South Asian and Nigerian cultures, shining a humorous yet insightful light on inherent biases. Don’t miss this conv...2024-07-0338 minA Desi WomanMrinalini GarvMrinalini Garv the Career Coach for South Asian Professional Women. As a highly accomplished career coach exclusively for South Asian women Mrinalini uses a transformative approach to empower professionals so they can step into their full potential and command the recognition they deserve. In this episode Mrinalini shares her journey from feeling undervalued in her life and career to becoming a beacon of change. Discover how she helps women reclaim their voice, assert their leadership, and achieve unprecedented career milestones, all while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. If you're ready to stop working 80 hours a week without recognition, and inste...2024-06-2644 minA Desi WomanRohini JadhavRohini is a production designer and art director with a professional background in architecture currently working in art departments of film and television projects in Los Angeles.She has worked in multiple roles within the art department, as a production design assistant, researcher and digital asset manager, before taking on the challenge of production designing and art directing for multiple short films and music videos. She has worked on a couple of Netflix films, a HBO pilot, feature films with award winning directors both in India and the U.S. and even a design proposal for a $500 billion city proposed to be...2024-06-2342 minA Desi WomanMegha KadakiaWith a background spanning the realms of business development, finance, and artistic vision, Megha Kadakia is a luminary in the world of independent filmmaking and media strategy. Her journey began with pivotal roles at Disney | ABC and Deloitte Consulting, honing her skills in business acumen and strategy. But it was in the realm of film production where Kadakia's star truly rose. From her tenure at Blue Velocity Pictures to co-founding the global media entertainment brand, SUPER AMAZING PRINCESS HEROES, she has been a driving force behind groundbreaking projects that captivate audiences worldwide. A recipient of prestigious fellowships and accolades, including...2024-06-1636 minA Desi WomanDivya Sethi & Shival BajayIn this episode we catch up with Actor, Producer and Model Divya Sethi and her equally talented partner and co-collaborator Shival Bajay who is also the Chief Investment Officer at Atlas. Divya Sethi has an impressive bio and is known for Billions (2016), Bull (2016), Extrapolations (2023) and most recently CSI.Shiv is the chief Investment officer at Atlas and together they are co-creators of Shark Bait. Shark Bait (Shark Bait: https://www.sharkbaitseries.com/) is a 6 episode limited series and we dive into questions about the series, diversity in Hollywood (or lack thereof) and how media consumption and habits are...2024-06-0540 minA Desi WomanTansu PhillipThis week we are excited to welcome actor, writer and business owner Tansu Philip! Tansu Philip is a third culture kid from Redlands, CA. After graduating from film school at Chapman University with degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, she opened Viva La Boba, a community coffee shop in San Bernardino, CA.She has improv training from Upright Citizens Brigade and is impassioned about storytelling and increasing diversity across the entire landscape of media and entertainment. In this episode we discuss being ‘brown’ in Hollywood and the excitement and challenges associated with this career path.Thanks so much!2024-05-2943 minA Desi WomanAshwini PrasadAuthor & Screenwriter Ashwini Prasad MBA is impassioned about storytelling & more importantly, about elevating stories focused upon marginalized groups and ensuring that these rich perspectives continue to be shared with the world more broadly and be celebrated.As a screenwriter, Ashwini cultivates safe spaces for storytelling and is a firm believer in lifting others up to move from surviving to thriving. Ashwini has her own podcast about Inclusive Screenwriting and is a published author with two Master’s Degrees and an MBA.2024-05-1337 minA Desi WomanDr. Gitika TalwarDr. Gitika Talwar is a Psychotherapist & Immigrant Advocate whose goal is to facilitate collaborative conversations that have a unique focus on mind, body & spiritual wellness. Gitika’s personal and professional experience working in the area of mental health in both India and the U.S. makes her uniquely equipped to understand the challenges facing our communities.2024-05-0559 minA Desi WomanRashmi RustagiRashmi Rustagi was Born and raised amidst the vibrant tapestry of Lucknow, India, and has brought stories to life since a young age, starting with radio plays and theater. Over the years, this passion led her to the silver screen, where she continues breathing life into film and television characters. You may have seen her in movies such as The Avengers, India Sweets and Spices, and TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Atypical, and Never Have I Ever, to name a few. She has written and produced several short films on narratives advocating social change. She aspires to ins...2024-04-2931 minA Desi WomanNY State Senatorial Candidate Minita SanghviEpisode 4 of "A Desi Woman" featuring NY State Senatorial Candidate Minita Sanghvi.2024-04-2137 minA Desi WomanA Conversation with the Life Coach for Indians, Dr. Maneesha AhluwaliaToday we are so excited to be joined by Dr. Maneesha Ahluwalia. Maneesha is a board certified Infectious Disease doctor and a Certified Life Coach who is on a mission to help Indians create the connections they crave by first creating genuine, true, inconvenient, unabashed love for themselves. Maneesha helps Indian professionals all over the world feel less frustrated and stressed in their closest relationships and she is the Life Coach for Indians.2024-04-1443 minA Desi WomanA Conversation with Author & Life Coach Shanita LiuShanita Liu is a first-generation Indo-Guyanese American, who was born and raised in Queens, NY. As an encourager, transformational coach, reiki master, medium, mystic, and Chief Energy Officer at Coach Shanita, Inc., she leverages her top two superpowers—intuition and courage—to help people live victorious lives. Shanita is also the online course creator of Activate Your Courage to Increase Workplace Success and maker of Little Box of Courage®, a 44-card deck featuring interactive techniques to become your most courageous self. All of this is an extension of Shanita’s wildly popular 2021 TEDx talk, “How to Activate Courage,” which aims to help peo...2024-04-0744 minA Desi WomanA Conversation with Former Obama Administration Official & Maryland Congressional Candidate Ashwani JainA Desi Woman is excited to catch up with current Congressional Candidate for Maryland’s 6th District and previous Obama Administration Official Ashwani Jain! Ashwani is a 34-year-old son of Indian immigrants and small business owners, a product of Maryland public schools, a published author and a cancer survivor. Ashwani is the only AAPI candidate running for Congress in his district and, if elected, would be Maryland’s first Millennial, first Asian-American and first Indian-American to be elected. Ashwani began volunteering for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign as a high school senior and worked his way from a volunteer to serving...2024-03-2141 min
StokemeterEpisode 39: Soniya Gokhale - Curiosity and Bridging DividesSoniya Gokhale is the founder of “A Desi Woman”, a podcast where she interviews thought leaders from across the world. In this episode, we discuss what she has learned from her upbringing as a child of immigrant parents, working in a Fortune 100 company, and the power of curiosity and its power in understanding others and bridging differences.2021-11-1050 min