How do you scale a South Indian restaurant chain without losing authenticity? Jay Jayaraman, founder of the Mylapore brand, reveals how he applied software engineering principles to revolutionize restaurant operations in the USA.

In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues, we break down his systems-first approach, moving away from chef-centric models toward centralized kitchens and standardized processes. If you are an NRI entrepreneur looking to build or scale a business in North America, this is a masterclass in operational excellence.

We discuss:

Subscribe for more insights for the diaspora community.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:20 Early Days in the Restaurant Business

08:01 How Covid Helped the Business Grow

13:07 Why Mylapore Food Tastes the Same Across Locations

15:13 On Mylapore’s Atlanta Expansion

24:32 On Diaspora Food Habits and Airlifting Food

29:40 Why Storytelling is Important for Restaurant Business 

34:52 On Women in the Workforce

38:42 Bengaluru: The Capital of South Indian Veg Food?

41:44 On Mylapore’s Business and Pricing Model

47:51 Jay Jayaraman’s Pet Peeves About the Diaspora

📸 Follow us on:

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Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 

🎧Listen to us on: 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast 

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh 

Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ 

and

Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en 

"I didn't want to just create a workout — I wanted to create a movement that made people proud of where they came from." 🧡 Sarina Jain's journey from personal loss to building a global fitness brand is one of the most powerful stories we've featured on Diaspora Dialogues. Watch the full episode and let us know — what's a moment in your life that changed everything? 👇

Her father died suddenly, of a heart attack. What came after changed how millions of people work out.

Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with Sarina Jain about creating Masala Bhangra, the Bhangra workout that turned grief into one of the world's most recognized Indian fitness movements.

From losing her father to collaborating with Jane Fonda and building a community that stretches from New York to Japan, Sarina shares the highs, setbacks, and purpose behind her 25-year journey.

They discuss diaspora identity, entrepreneurship, cultural criticism, food, fitness, and why making people move has always been about much more than exercise.

All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues.

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction

03:21 How a Personal Loss Led to Masala Bhangra09:35 What Masala Bhangra is All About13:23 Why Bhangra can be a Form of Exercise17:15 Sarina’s Thoughts on Masala Bhangra Critics 

22:43 Appearing on the Jane Fonda Documentary

24:54 Why Sarina’s Videos Don’t Feature Too Many Desis

31:11 Global Impact: Masala Bhangra in Japan

36:50 What’s Next for Sarina Jain

📸 Follow us on:

Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesbytoi/ 

Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 

🎧Listen to us on: 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast 

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh 

Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ 

and

Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en 

Dr. Ram Charan — advisor to the world's biggest CEOs — reveals why business strategy execution, not strategy alone, is what separates winning companies from failing ones.

In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues, we break down the real CEO challenges nobody talks about: how China is playing a different economic game entirely, what business schools get wrong about global leadership, and why execution is the only differentiator that matters in today's AI-driven economy.

In this episode:

Why business strategy execution is where most companies fail

The CEO challenges that business schools never prepare you for

How to compete in an era of global competition and AI

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction

3:43 Understanding ‘The 90% Model’

8:47 What China Does Better Than the Rest of the World

13:11 Rise of Assertive Leadership Across the Globe

18:40 Why Top CEOs are Stepping Down

22:51 Is the CEO’s Role Fundamentally Changing?

28:03 Dr Ram on Strategy vs Execution 

31:09 On Microsoft and Satya Nadella

35:49 Learnings from the Indian Trade Arithmetic

43:28 Leadership in the times of AI

48:40 Dr Ram on What Makes a Great Leader

📸 Follow us on:

Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesbytoi/ 

Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 

🎧Listen to us on: 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast 

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh 

Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ 

and

Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en 

Growing up in North America with South Asian roots often means living between two worlds. Kal Penn sits down with Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ to break down the real pressures of balancing Indian American identity with professional success.

Whether it was navigating the stereotypical roles in Hollywood or finding his voice in the White House, Kal’s story is the story of so many in our community. In this episode, we dive into:

The reality of the South Asian American experience in mainstream media.

Defying the "model minority" myth.

How the diaspora is reclaiming the narrative.

This is a space for our community. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced navigating your own path as a first-gen or second-gen immigrant? Let us know in the comments below. 👇

Time stamps: 

0:00 Introduction

4:36 Story of the ‘Kal Penn’ Screen Name

9:53 Stories from The Namesake

14:50 Growing up as a Diaspora kid 

20:44 Kal Penn on his Gujarati heritage

21:54 Kal Penn on the Harold and Kumar film series

28:53 Kal Penn’s experience working with the Government 

34:16 Kal Penn on his relationship with social media

36:10 Has the Media Landscape changed?

38:05 Kal Penn on Zohran Mamdani

44:35 Will Kal Penn ever run for a public office?

46:13 Kal Penn on his Podcast

48:40 Kal Penn on trying his hand at stand-up comedy

52:34 What’s next for Kal Penn?

📸 Follow us on:

Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesbytoi/ 

Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 

🎧Listen to us on: 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast 

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh 

Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ 

and

Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en 

Why is Indian food always expected to be affordable? Chef Vijay Kumar has been asking that question for years, and Semma is his answer.

Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with one of the most celebrated South Indian chefs in the world about food racism, diaspora identity, and the restaurant that made New York rethink Tamil cuisine entirely. From his grandmother's snail curry to a James Beard Award, Vijay breaks down what it took to get here and why none of it came easy.

All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

Timestamps: 

0:00 - Introduction

3:38 - What does ‘Semma’ mean?

4:48 - Chef Vijay Kumar's Story

6:07 - Growing Up & His Parents' Reaction

9:28 - Facing Racism & Bullying as a Chef

10:40 - Why He Chose to Become a Chef

14:46 - How Semma Became NYC's Hottest Restaurant

16:56 - Rich food vs poor food

24:01 - Food, Identity & Being Unapologetically Indian

28:50 - The Emotional Connection to Food

30:19 - Winning the James Beard Award

36:30 - Is Indian food too spicy?

41:12 - How to make Idli batter?

43:05 - His Advice for Aspiring Indian Chefs

📸 Follow us on:

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesshow/ 

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784 

🎧Listen to us on: 

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues 

Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast 

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh  and  Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. https://sistarmortgage.com/ 

At a time when America saw chai as a sugary latte, Ani and Ayan Sanyal decided to change the story. Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with the founders of Kolkata Chai Co. about how they built a million-dollar business rooted in culture, not trends.

In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, we go behind the scenes of the Hasan Minhaj partnership and the long road of entrepreneurship - from selling at NYC farmers' markets to surviving COVID shutdowns.

We discuss:

- Growing up as 1st Gen Indian Americans in the 90s.

- The nostalgia of Kolkata summers and "Adda" culture.

- The pressure of running a startup with family.

- Why authenticity is the ultimate business advantage.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - The Hook: Hasan Minhaj & Kolkata Chai 

4:10 - Growing up in 90s America & Kolkata Summers 

8:25 - The ‘Chai = Connection’ Moment

10:24 - Starting at a NYC Farmer's Market 

14:01 - Selling Chai in a Coffee Country

22:12 - Convincing Parents for a Chai Startup

26:10 - On Being Brothers and Business Partners

32:04 - Surviving COVID Two Months After Opening 

36:55  - The Hasan Minhaj Partnership Story  

42:41 - What’s Next for Kolkata Chai Co.

45:44 - Making a Perfect Cup of Chai

📸 Follow us on:

Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesshow/⁠ 

Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 

30 trial shows. 6 months of writing. One finished set.

What looks effortless on stage is anything but.

Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with Amit Tandon about the unseen side of comedy. This is a conversation about the constant rewriting, the failed jokes, and the discipline behind every performance. From recording every set to rebuilding material night after night, Amit walks us through how a single hour of comedy is actually created.

All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

Timestamps:

00:00 - Opening

3:52 - Early Days

6:12 - Following Passion vs A Safe Career

9:50 - Amit’s Views on the Indian Stand-Up Comedy Scene

11:57 - Amit Tandon on ‘Clean Comedy’

14:30 - Finding Humour in the Indian Family Situation 

16:12 - Pressures of Staying Relevant

18:43 - Amit Tandon on Writing Jokes on his Wife

19:53 - Family Support in the Early Years of Amit’s Career

25:08 - Indian Audience vs Diaspora Audience

28:37 - Feedback Mechanism for Jokes

29:50 - Is Social Change a Comedian’s Responsibility? 

31:36 - Meeting Johnny Lever

32:47 - Amit Tandon’s Favourite Comedians

34:05 - Should Comedians be Mindful of What They Say?

36:29 - Amit Tandon on Finding his ‘Real Calling’

40:00 - Amit’s Kapil Sharma Story

41:08 - What’s Next for Amit Tandon

📸 Follow us:

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesshow/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784

Diaspora Dialogues is a video-first podcast by the Times of India. We bring you unfiltered conversations with the people redefining culture, business, and creativity across the global South Asian diaspora.

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one.

Diaspora Dialogues is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati - https://tinyurl.com/27zfrp3f and Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions - https://sistarmortgage.com/ 

Vidya Vox sits down with us for an honest, unfiltered conversation about growing up Indian in America, navigating her desi identity, and building a global music career — entirely on her own terms.

From Chennai to California, Vidya's journey is one of the most inspiring Indian American stories on the internet. In this episode, she opens up about the moments that shaped her sound, her viral mashups, and what it really means to be a brown girl chasing a dream in the West.

What We Cover:

• Growing up between two cultures and finding her own identity

• How she built her audience without a label or industry backing

• The making of her most iconic Vidya Vox songs and mashups

• Navigating desi family expectations while pursuing music

• Her advice for Indian American artists starting out today

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

03:59 - Vidya’s Message on Passion vs Education

07:11 - Growing Up Between Two Cultures

14:38 - Vidya’s Troubled Childhood

19:46 - On Shankar Tucker, Returning to Music, and Moving to India

25:39 - How Music Helps Express Vidya’s Identity 

30:51 - Deleting Videos Worth 200 Million Views

37:20 - Singing in Multiple Languages and Collabs

42:36 - The Economics of Music

49:16 - What’s Next for Vidya Vox

📸 Follow us:

Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠

Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience.

Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati and Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh⁠ | ⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/⁠

Not everyone who leaves, leaves completely.

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is a podcast about the South Asian experience abroad. The identity, the memory, the ambition, and the quiet pull of where one came from. 

Hosted by Sujatha Padmanabhan from The Times of India, each episode is a conversation with someone who has built a life between places. Innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, and changemakers from across the South Asian diaspora. 

This isn’t about the highlights, but about what sits beneath them. What shaped the choices. What gets carried forward. What never quite lets go. Honest, unfiltered, and without easy answers.

Stay tuned for the first episode!