Down to Brown

In the final episode of Down to Brown, Lahari talks to Nirmitha Iyangar, apparel designer, mother, and gun violence survivor. Nirmitha is a long-time Down to Brown listener, and when talking to Lahari, realized it was time to tell her story. Together, Lahari and Nirmitha talk about the harrowing incident; ways South Asians can take action with gun control and why we should care; how gun violence intersects with gender-based violence in our communities; and our community's journey with trauma. You can get more involved in the fight towards gun control here: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/take-action/volunteer/https://giffords.org/take-action/https://www.everytown.org/https://www.bradyunited.org/https://wearorange.org/about/

Lahari talks to Jigisha, founder of Ji Clothing and Living about our responsibility as consumers, especially in the context of the interiors and textiles space. We unpack the "trendiness" of purchasing local artisan-made work, how our behavior impacts craftsmen from countries outside the US, the "savior complex" of purchasing goods, and how we can be adapt to be more fair and equitable consumers.

Lahari talks to Victoria Kennedy and Isabelle Seale, who are product and design leaders turned investors who set early stage companies up for long term success. Their VC, Seed to Harvest, believes companies built by and for women of color (WOC) are the new unicorns. We talk about the basics of the VC world, exploring generational wealth as it impacts WOC, and access to financial literacy. Learn more about them on their website https://www.seedtoharvestvs.com/

This episode was sponsored by Brooklyn Delhi, use code LAHARI10 at checkout for 10% off!

Lahari talks to Victoria Kennedy and Isabelle Seale, who are product and design leaders turned investors who set early stage companies up for long term success. Their VC, Seed to Harvest, believes companies built by and for women of color (WOC) are the new unicorns. We talk about the basics of the VC world, exploring generational wealth as it impacts WOC, and access to financial literacy. Learn more about them on their website https://www.seedtoharvestvs.com/

This episode was sponsored by Brooklyn Delhi, use code LAHARI10 at checkout for 10% off!

Host meets host! Host of Down to Brown, Lahari Rao chats with Mitali Dargani, host of London-based Brown Game Strong, to review Prince Harry's book, Spare. They examine how Prince Harry, a man who is building a global platform to vouch for racial equity and media toxicity, delivered his value proposition in his book. We approach it from a lens of 2 women who's ethnic and nationalities fuse India, British, Spanish, and American identities. We ask universal questions around intentionality, family trauma/patterns, forging your own path, global history, etc.

Gita Vellanki is the founder and CEO of Neeshi. Working with medical experts and doctors, Neeshi uses natural superfoods at the right ratio can help you balance your hormones naturally to result in no heavy periods & ridding cramps naturally. Lahari Rao asks Gita how her upbringing and identity brought her to this path of helping women live healthier lives, common stories she hears, and how menstrual health and health are the same.

Janani Ramachandran is City Councilmember for Oakland, district 4. She is the youngest member to be sworn into this position in Oakland, as well as the first South Asian and queer woman of color. Janani talks to host Lahari Rao about how her global upbringing between India and the US informed her perspective to take action locally. As someone who strives to be the voice for the voiceless, Janani has exposure to the trials that face both countries, and shares her thoughts on how South Asians can become more involved and why it is so important.

Show notes: (1) California’s 2022-2023 Asian population (2) California legislature LGBTQ+ representation (3) Gun violence in America 2022

Host of Down to Brown, Lahari Rao, returns after 5 months to address her thoughts on 2022 and what it meant for women and women of color - that it blew. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade and trends that women saw in business, media, and politics...she thinks we can do better in 2023. Lahari talks about a Down to Brown 2023 that focuses on women coming together to find their true voices and selves - whether it's their bodies, minds, or spirits.

[TRIGGER WARNING ]In the wake of Sania Khan's tragic murder, Lahari Rao, host of Down to Brown focuses on domestic violence and abuse, and its silent prominence within the South Asian community. In the first 40 minutes, she talks to psychologist Gayle Paul, MFT, to understand the psyche of domestic abuse situations and how the victim experiences it. They cover ways to safely support a friend or loved one going through this. https://gaylepaul.com

Next, she speaks with Kavita Mehra, executive director of Sakhi, to dive into why domestic abuse and violence IS truly a South Asian problem, and why our community needs to participate in broader conversations around gun violence in the US.

Sakhi is committed to serving survivors through a combination of efforts including—but not limited to—direct services, advocacy and organizing, technical assistance, and community outreach. (https://www.sakhi.org).

Follow Down to Brown on IG @downtobrown_

What exactly is Ayurveda? Who has the right to practice it? Teach it? Lahari Rao talks to CEO and founder of Sahajan, Lisa Mattam. Lisa shares what she knows about Ayurveda, how she founded Sahajan, and her journey to celebrate this South Asian wellness practice on a global stage. They also get into the potential risks of popularizing Ayurveda, and "who" is truly an expert in it. You won't want to miss this conversation!