Down to Brown

In observation of May’s Mental Health Awareness & Asian and Pacific Islander Month, Down to Brown partners with Radha Dalal of Pink Rose Wellness. We cover burnout and how it can uniquely show-up for South Asians. Most importantly, we discuss strategies to improve the way you talk to yourself to help mitigate the effects.

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion about suicide, depression, anxiety, and sexual assault/violence.

Down to Brown's Lahari Rao talks to Niralli D'Costa, Psychotherapist/MFT, about mental health in the South Asian space. In addition to getting to know the wise Niralli, we talk about mental health themes in the South Asian community, stigmas against therapy, the LGBTQ community, getting help, and insights to move us forward as a collective. We also cover anxiety, depression, suicide, & domestic violence.

Down to Brown's Lahari Rao sits with Ayan Sanyal, co-founder of Kolkata Chai Co, a chai company with a cafe in NYC and online marketplace. We discuss the vibrant community their chai shop hosts, what the history of this drink is, and what it means to us today - especially as children of immigrants. We also get into brown boy and brown girl culture, and how we can support each other as we learn how to break long existing cycles of misogyny and patriarchy in our societies.

Follow @downtobrown_ on IG for more info/updates!

Dr. Najwa Javed, Podiatrist-turned-entrepreneur, talks to Lahari about Imposter Syndrome, a commonly occurring feeling that one will be exposed as a "fraud" or "phony", despite external evidence. When coupled with the stigmas and messages internalized by brown women, this can result in a lot to unpack and work on so that women can own their successes and navigate their life with a strong sense of self. We cover what it is, why it occurs, how to mitigate, and how Dr. Javed has experienced this in her life as a woman, a professional, and mother.

Hanifa Abdul Hameed, known as Colors of Honey, rose to popularity in 2020 when her digital art went viral. You may recognize her from the "Kamala Aunty for VP" sweatshirts sold by Meena Harris on Phenomenal. Lahari talks to Hanifa about who she is behind her art: the uprise of digital art/illustrations, Hanifa's upbringing, identifying with culture and/or religion, negative and positive reactions, exploring the division in South Asian society, our first times learning about caste, and the pressure to represent all of the South Asian and American experience.

Lahari talks to Dr. Gaya Murugappan, MD, at Stanford Hospital, about fertility, sex, and vaginismus. We start with egg freezing is and the scientific process, comparisons to previous generations, sex vs. reproduction. and the privilege of affording newer fertility treatments.

The second half of the conversation brings us to raising awareness on vaginismus, specifically the secrecy, hurt, and shame associated with it. We go into how it happens, how to support someone who has it, what treatments are available, and why we should care about this - whether or not you identify as a woman.

Shanehi Shah, social impact strategist, and Lahari talk about being a Bad Indian Daughter. What do we mean by that? The concept of becoming your true self after examining and challenging internalized messages of what "good" looks like growing up as South Asian women. In addition, we cover: guilt and conflict, the pain of letting go, "cautionary tales" about women we should refrain from identifying as, not wanting kids, conversations about race with parents, and conflict avoidance and obedience.

Lahari sits down with Richa Shukla Moorjani, actress, dancer & activist best known for her role of "Kamala" on Netflix's Never Have I Ever. They cover Richa's journey pursuing acting, especially as she navigates success, failure, and, most importantly, the times in between. We dive into the dualities she has to balance between her Indian and American community, both in the support she receives and the pressure she feels from expectations, criticism, etc. Plus, she talks about her passion for environmental and animal activism. Richa is a great example of how to focus on what you can do/control, and doing the best you can so that the rest can fall into place - you won't want to miss this conversation!

Heejin (Irene) Koo, of the changemaker platform Revolutionnaire, and Lahari talk about what the Asian-American community is experiencing with increased violence and hate in the recent year. Irene helps us understand the history leading up to today, why elderly Asian-Americans are being targeted, and what it's like to process this as a Korean-American in NYC.

Priya Sawhney is a co-founder of the global animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). Her investigatory work has been featured in The New York Times and Washington Post, and has reached tens of millions via social media.

Since she first was exposed to animal conditions in Punjab and after immigrating to the US, Priya has passionately advocated to liberate animals from abuse and violence. We talk about how understanding animal liberation only helps us better understand the fundamentals of human liberation - that no body is better than the other. (Especially in connection with the Black Lives Matter movement). On top of that, she is an advocate for women to have the choice to be who they are, daring to be the bold, courageous, and badass Priya that she is.