Down to Brown

Down to Brown host Lahari Rao talks to the fabulous, superfat queer bisexual non-binary sex therapist Sonalee Rashatwar (they/he) !! They cover fatphobia, sexual trauma that exists in South Asian communities, what colonization has to do with the way we feel about bodies and sex, gender and sexual fluidity, how some people love sex and others are meh…aka everything! This episode we replace the chup chup rapid fire round to ask audience submitted questions at the end. Listen and follow Down to Brown on IG @downtobrown_

Lahari reflects on what she's learned and unlearned about the podcast's intention and impact. Tune in at 07:00:00 to meet Namrata Rohack, our special guest today.

Namrata lives in Jacksonville, FL with her husband and two cats. As she went through her journey to become pregnant, she learned so much about herself. She learned what mattered to her, how not to be a people pleaser and find joy in her life. Through her journey of becoming pregnant, she realized she wanted to help women who have been in her position (trying to get pregnant, loss of a pregnancy, and pregnancy after loss) and created her company Tranquil Lotus Yoga. Through her company, she uses Yoga tools to help people bring some peace to their life.

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Kamala Avila-Salmon is the first ever Head of Inclusive Content for Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. Kamala and Mana Yamaguchi, VP for Inclusive Marketing and Business Strategy for the same team, join Lahari it talk about what their team at Lionsgate is doing to address the gaps between authentic and inclusive storytelling in movies. We ask tough questions: does Hollywood really care about POC storylines? Should we "just be happy" with tokenized representation? What does it mean to show a full story about a character? How will we talk about multiracial stories one day?

Join us to hear all the wisdom from Kamala and Mana, and don't miss our blast of a rapid fire round (Chup Chup round) at the end! Follow the podcast on IG @downtobrown_

Within the brown community, our love stories are diverse, complex, and beautiful. This episode spotlights 3 brown women who share brown and brown love, queer brown love, & interracial brown love. Listen to Jolly Singh, Sofie Khan, and Roshni Kamta share their stories. Follow us on IG @downtobrown_

Oorbee Roy is better known on the internet as "Aunty Skates," with her badass videos of skating in a sari and helmet (safety first!) Oorbee and Lahari talk about how we might've come to the "Toxic Aunty Culture" we came to know in the US, and ways to shift that as we interrupt the cycle. We discuss British Colonialism, white supremacy, the patriarchy's way of turning women against each other, and being the "hero" of our own stories. Follow us on IG @downtobrown_

Sareena Rama, Portland-based fitness and wellness professional, talks to Lahari about wellness in these "unprecedented times." She shares her philosophy on shifting the perspective of fitness, pulling from traditional South Asian practices. We also cover yoga taught by those outside of the South Asian diaspora and the relationship between brown communities and fitness. Follow us on IG @downtobrown_

About our guest: Sareena is a fitness and wellness professional based in Portland, Oregon. She is a loving dog-mom, plant-based human, a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and an advocate for accessible wellness.

Sahiti Karempudu and Lahari Rao review the latest revival, 'And Just Like That,' of the beloved TV series, 'Sex and the City.' Sahiti is a former lawyer, current public servant in her hometown of Austin, TX, and claims to have a shoe collection that rivals Carrie Bradshaw. Sahiti and Lahari discuss what the show might be accomplishing, and the diversity that it’s desperately trying to include. Of course, you bet we tackled that Diwali episode. Follow the podcast on @downtobrown_ on IG!

Down to Brown is welcoming 2022 with cautiously optimistic arms. In this short introduction into Part 1 of 2022, Lahari talks about her wedding and the feelings (of utter confusion) it inspired in her as a brown gal. She also announces a few changes coming up for this season. Stay tuned for our next episode and follow Down to Brown at IG @downtobrown_

In the 2021 Down to Brown finale, Lahari talks to Christine Chitnis, writer, photographer , and four-time author. We anchor our conversation on her book "Patterns of India: A Journey Through Colors, Textiles, and the Vibrancy of Rajasthan". We start with her love story with her Indian husband and how it sparked her appreciation of Indian culture and stories. We then cover what it means to be working through your identity as first-generation vs. as interracial parents, raising multiracial kids, the South Asian male identity, masculinity as experienced by women, and more!

Anila Yadvalli is a STEM Program Coordinator with Mt. Tamalpais College leading mathematics educational programs for San Quentin State Prison. A big part of what we cover is the humanity of people and the right to a good education - something that can feel a bit more nuanced when we consider the stigmas surrounding the carceral system. We discuss what attracted her to this role, her teaching and leadership experiences with incarcerated people, and how she views her role in this American system as a South Asian-American.