Brown People Problems

By Nikita S

Hi! I’m Nikita. I’m a Brown therapist in Toronto who loves to chat with guests about diversity and inclusion of South Asian stories and experiences, and what it looks like to navigate life while bring... more

· Society & Culture

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FAQs about Brown People Problems:

How many episodes does Brown People Problems have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.

Brown People Problems episodes:

May 04, 2023 14. Can being too nice kill you?
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about life experiences and circumstances specific to Brown folks! In this episode I explore Dr. Gabor Matè's research on chronic stress and some personality features that are most present in individuals with chronic illnesses. I find this topic very relevant to the larger Brown culture. Let me know your thoughts!

Sources:
The impact of stress on body function: A reviewYaribeygi et al.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579396/
How stress affects your health https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/health
Stress effects on the body - American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
Understanding the stress responsehttps://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
MYTH OF NORMAL: trauma, illness & healing in a toxic cultureDANIEL - VERMILION - 2023

Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!

Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal

Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized medical or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
#podcast #society #lifestyle #stress #chronicstress
...more
28min
April 20, 2023 13. Intergenerational trauma: It's not in your head, it's in your body
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown! In this episode I chat with Dr. Pavna K Sodhi, a fellow Indo-Canadian, about intergenerational trauma.
Pavna Sodhi (she/her) is a registered psychotherapist, adjunct professor, and author. With several years of psychotherapeutic and research experience, Pavna has interacted with a multitude of populations in various clinical, academic, and supervisory spaces. Her professional background and personal narrative offer a unique research perspective regarding culturally responsive trauma-informed work, BIPOC communities, and immigrant mental health. Her research has been featured in national and international scholarly journals, books, and podcasts. In 2017, she wrote, Exploring Immigrant and Sexual Minority Mental Health: Reconsidering Multiculturalism (Routledge). Content from her book is supported by intergenerational immigrant narratives, who share their lived experiences of systemic oppression, migration, trauma, identity formation, and mental health concerns. She is currently authoring a book regarding decolonizing mental health and trauma-informed practices.
Find Pavna here:
https://www.instagram.com/sunotherapy/?hl=en
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Pavna-K.-Sodhi/author/B072S3JY4Z?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Resources mentioned: The body keeps the score: https://a.co/d/9o03YCNWhat happened to you: https://a.co/d/2dEcgRDMyth of normal: https://a.co/d/7jzK6G1
Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!
Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized nutritional or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
#podcast #society #lifestyle #intergenerationaltrauma #trauma #selfhelp
...more
47min
April 13, 2023 12. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown! In this episode I chat with popular author Balli Kaur Jaswal about her book Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, her experience of writing about the Punjabi diaspora and much more.
Balli is a world famous, widely published, and award wining author of several books, including Sugarbread, The Unlikely Adventures of Shergill Sisters, and my personal favourite - Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, which was a Reese Witherspoon’s book club pick as well. A former writing fellow at the University of East Anglia, Balli has taught creative writing at Yale-NUS College and Nanyang Technological University, where she completed her Ph.D. in South Asian diaspora writing. Her most recent book, Now You See Us, just hit the shelves last month.
Find Balli here:
https://www.ballijaswal.com/about
https://www.instagram.com/ballijaswal/

Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!

Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized nutritional or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
54min
April 06, 2023 11. Is the Desi wedding culture harmful?
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown! In this episode I chat with wedding designer Supriya Mehra to chat about the toxicity and stress behind the Desi wedding culture, and more.
Supriya Mehra is a CPA - CMA from Toronto, Ontario and started her event design firm - Design Mantraa in 2009 as a hobby. In 2016 she took the company full time and specialized in providing a boutique wedding design experience that focuses on creating bespoke weddings for couples who appreciate art, culture and timeless design. She believes that every wedding should be unique to the couple and their story. Her mission is to create beautiful weddings that reflect her clients’ personalities and cultures, while staying true to her own signature aesthetic. Her vision is to become the go-to source for simple, elegant, multicultural weddings that are both stylish and authentic.
She also serves as a Finance specialist in the Real Estate Industry. Her practical approach to life has helped numerous couples and clients buy their starter homes and eventually build a real estate investment portfolio. She educates her fellow Canadians through her podcast - Canadian Real Estate 101. Follow her journey as a Financing Pro and Creative entrepreneur on IG @canadianrealestate101 and @designmantraa

Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!
Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized nutritional or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
48min
March 30, 2023 10. How to raise a feminist - part 2
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown!
In this episode I share second half of suggestions on how to raise a feminist, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from her book titled Dear Ijeawele. If you haven't listened to the first episode, please check it out! Join me for a conversation on what these suggestions look like in the Brown communities and in the context of Brown people problems!

Book discussed: https://www.amazon.ca/Ijeawele-Feminist-Manifesto-Fifteen-Suggestions/dp/152473313X
Discover more about Chimamanda Adichie here: https://www.chimamanda.com
Don't forget to subscribe & follow!

Who am I: Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy

Disclaimer: I am not a parenting expert. The information shared in this episode is for educational and awareness purposes only.The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized therapeutic or parenting advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.

...more
27min
March 16, 2023 9. Stepping out of the shadows: Saaya Unveiled
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown!
In this episode I chat with Mrinal Gokhale, who is the author of an anthology book on South Asian mental health, Saaya Unveiled. Since its publication, she has also become a speaker and writing workshop facilitator. Listen to this episode to hear us chat about mental health stigma, variation within cultures, and Mrinal's own experience of writing a collection of real SA folks' mental health stories.
GIVE MRINAL A FOLLOW:
https://linktr.ee/mgokhale

Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!
Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
41min
March 09, 2023 8. How the brown culture & role identification is impacting brown men's mental health
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown!
In this episode I chat with Mitra Bissessar. Mitra (he/him) is a registered social worker, currently working as counsellor specializing in mental health and youth/parent relations. He works full-time at a mental health agency in Ottawa supporting parents whose youth are experiencing complex mental health, trauma, and addictions concerns and don’t want to engage with helping professionals themselves. He works with caregivers to increase their capacity and tolerance to support their adolescents. Mitra also works part-time in private practice at Shanti psychotherapy in Toronto. Mitra was born in Trinidad and moved to Durham region, Ontario in 1992.
GIVE MITRA A FOLLOW:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitra-bissessar-93700168/
Shanti website: https://shantipsychotherapy.janeapp.com/
Resources shared:
"A call to men" (Man Box I mentioned) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td1PbsV6B80
article on intergenerational trauma: https://www.shantipsychotherapy.ca/post/can-we-really-inherit-trauma-and-pass-it-on
Books:
https://www.amazon.ca/Didnt-Start-You-Inherited-Family/dp/1101980389
https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=justin+baldoni+man+enough&gclid=CjwKCAiA85efBhBbEiwAD7oLQOVf5f7sTb6OeCVXhwyrypyceonvM-auUK_AET8GhbRRQ68wj7s09BoCWfUQAvD_BwE&hvadid=523279189659&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9000674&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1942775849495763961&hvtargid=kwd-1167992499062&hydadcr=21800_10107454&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_9t7sz4dmjr_e
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684034140?ots=1&linkCode=ogi&tag=menshealth-auto-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C2139.g.38393341%5Bsrc%7C%5Bch%7C%5Blt%7Csale%5Bpid%7C7ca32fc0-e8f5-4ced-a303-8588b12bbc31
Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!
Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Canada 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized nutritional or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
51min
March 02, 2023 7. What you eat is affecting your mental health
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown!
In this episode I chat with Sana Motlekar, a registered dietitian in Canada who's practice focuses on PCOS and Weight Loss. Being a Person of Color herself, she wanted to fill this gap and create a safe space for people of diverse cultural backgrounds to achieve their health goals without feeling like that is only achievable if they give up their cultural foods. Her ultimate goal is to empower women of different ethnic/cultural backgrounds to take charge of their health while still enjoying the foods they grew up eating.
GIVE SANA A FOLLOW:
https://www.instagram.com/pcos.weightloss.dietitian/?hl=en
https://www.pcosweightlossdietitian.com
Resources shared:
Glucose Godess: https://www.instagram.com/glucosegoddess/?hl=en

Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!

Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Toronto 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized nutritional or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
50min
February 23, 2023 6. "It's vulva, not vagina" - Brown women's sexual health
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown!
In this episode I chat with Dr. Niyati Malkani, who is a daughter of South Asian immigrant parents, an old friend, and a senior OB/GYN resident based in Saskatchewan, Canada. She holds special interest in global health work and equitable access to healthcare for Indigenous populations. In this episode, listen to us chat about the lack of sexual health information in Brown communities, barriers experienced by Brown women, learning to name our parts correctly (!!), and what we need to do differently as a community.
TW: sexual relationships, medical examination, brief topics of consent and rape.

Resources shared:
https://www.amazon.ca/Come-You-Are-Surprising-Transform/dp/1476762090
https://sexualhealthontario.ca/en/home
https://www.sasmha.org
https://www.ohtn.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/rapid-response/RR53-2012-East-South-East-Asian-Womens-Sexual-Health.pdf
Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!

Who am I:
Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Toronto 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life!
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal
Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy
Disclaimer:
The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized medical or therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
43min
February 17, 2023 5. 15 ways to raise a feminist - part 1
Welcome to Brown People Problems, where your host, Nikita Sehgal, along with her guests chat about what it means to navigate life while being Brown!
In this episode I share 7 of the 15 suggestions on how to raise a feminist, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from her book titled Dear Ijeawele. Join me for a conversation on what these suggestions look like in the Brown communities and in the context of Brown people problems!

Book discussed: https://www.amazon.ca/Ijeawele-Feminist-Manifesto-Fifteen-Suggestions/dp/152473313X
Discover more about Chimamanda Adichie here: https://www.chimamanda.com
If you enjoyed this video and would like to see a part 2, rate and review this podcast episode! Hope you enjoyed today's podcast! Don't forget to subscribe & follow!

Who am I: Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I’m Nikita, a full time brown Psychotherapist, living in Toronto 🇨🇦 and love to create creative content part time. Through book reviews and my podcast, called Brown People Problems, I chat about inclusion and diversity in lives of BIPOC and specifically SA lives, in both literature and in real life! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nikitasehgal Instagram: @inlcusivepsychotherapy

Disclaimer: I am not a parenting expert. The information shared in this episode is for educational and awareness purposes only.The guests and the host at ‘Brown People Problems’ do not offer individualized therapeutic advice, and our conversations should not be interpreted as such. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy. This podcast exists for educational purposes only. Please consider your circumstances and engage with the content mindfully.
...more
22min

FAQs about Brown People Problems:

How many episodes does Brown People Problems have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.