This week, we’re breaking down exactly how much we made and how much we spent in Q3 of 2025. From business expenses and taxes to travel costs and takeout runs, we’re getting real about the numbers (and yes, it’s a little scary).

How do two self-employed creators actually manage their money? Are we saving enough? Do we need to go back to our 9-5s? Let’s find out together.

So settle in, get cozy, and grab your chai. ☕️

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Book a call with Autonomy: https://www.southasianfatloss.co.uk/vsl

Donate to Therapist Beyond Borders here: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Use code HALFPASTCHAI to get 15% off https://andcollar.com/

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

2:31 - Q3 Finances

5:57 - Our relationship with money

10:27 - Why is this transparency important

12:29 - July Numbers

13:32 - August Numbers

14:04 - SPONSOR

14:41 - September Numbers

16:35 - Why I was stressed

19:01 - Why what we are doing is worth it

21:44 - My money trama

24:37 - September Spend

30:08 - Net worth update

Today we’re sitting down with Rajan Chida - an entrepreneur who turned down a job offer at JPMorgan to build his own path. Instead of taking the traditional 9-5 route, Rajan co-founded Royal Oak Retreat, a luxury cabin experience in Virginia, where he’s building more than just a business he’s building a lifestyle.

We dive into what it’s like going against cultural expectations, buying land, building a retreat from scratch, and why betting on yourself can be the most rewarding risk you ever take.

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Royal Oak Retreat: https://www.royaloakretreat.com

Donate to Therapist Beyond Borders here: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Use code HALFPASTCHAI to get 15% off https://andcollar.com/

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

2:27 - Who is Rajan Chida?

8:51 - Where did the money come from?

11:53 - How did the shoe business start?

16:30 - How Rajan met his business partner, Renzo

22:16 - How did the shoe business help you with what you’re doing now

25:50 - The long game.

34:14 - Do you ever question what you’re doing?

37:05 - What happened when you went viral?

40:01 - EVERYTHING ON YOUR PHONE

46:40 - Advice for someone trying to start their own business

50:08 - The technical side of the business

55:13 - Rapid Fire

HAPPY MONDAY, Half Past Crew. This week we’re BACK with these insane assumptions that YOU guys have about US?! Did Suketu marry Hallie for a green card? What kind of meat do we actually consume? Is Suketu’s family LOADED in India? All this and more on this weeks assumptions video. Thank you all for submitting your assumptions of us!

 New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Book a call with Autonomy: https://www.southasianfatloss.co.uk/vsl

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Donate to Therapist Beyond Boarders here: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

4:10 - The meat we eat…

8:32 - Our opposite personalities

20:40 - The green card dilemma…

22:02 - The rest of the assumptions

Today’s episode is a special one. Suketu is sharing the 10 most valuable lessons he’s learned from Hallie over the course of their relationship. From learning to communicate better to slowing down, being present, and choosing love daily. These are the lessons that have completely changed the way we live and love together.

Whether you’re married, dating, or single, these are lessons that can transform any relationship (and honestly, your life).

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Donate to Therapist Beyond Borders here: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Use code HALFPASTCHAI to get 15% off https://andcollar.com/

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

4:22 - 1. Communication is the most important

9:46 - 2. Money isn't the most important thing

16:11 - 3. Slow down and be present

20:59 - 4. Flight the problem not the person

22:42 - 5. Celebrate the small wins

26:46 - 6. Sometimes a little bit of space can be the solution

28:54 - 7. Be more spontaneous

31:09 - 8. Protecting each other in public

34:43 - 9. Don't stop dating each other

38:04 - 10. Love is a daily choice

What do you do when your parents say “no” to the person you love? 💔 This week on Half Past Chai, we’re answering YOUR questions from family approval and religion to surviving the hardest seasons of life.

We’re sharing:

✨ How Suketu’s family first reacted to meeting Hallie (and how the relationship grew over time)

✨ How we got through our lowest points and what kept us going

✨ What we’d say to parents who won’t accept their child’s partner

✨ How to balance work, fitness, culture, and a healthy relationship

Whether you’re struggling with faith differences, family expectations, or just trying to stay motivated through tough times this episode is for you.

So settle in, get cozy, and grab your chai. 💛

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Book a call with Autonomy: https://calendly.com/d/3qr-dzb-tgh/autonomy-team-game-plan?utm_campaign=halfchai&utm_source=podcast?el=adread

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Donate to Therapist Beyond Boarders here: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

3:13 - Rapid Fire Instagram Questions

11:02 - SPONSOR

12:07 - How did Hallie meet Suketu’s family & how is the relationship now?

21:18 - Dealing with hard times & dark thoughts

36:07 - Will my daughters be “allowed” to take care of me?

39:14 - We broke up because of different religions.

46:45 - My dad won’t meet my boyfriend

48:19 - Show this to your DAD.

In this episode, we're getting real and personal about a topic that’s been central to our lives lately: mental health.

We’re opening up about the challenges we faced over the past year, sharing why we truly decided to leave our jobs, and what we learned about the importance of prioritizing ourselves. It's easy to get caught up in the grind and the pressure to be everything for everyone, but we've learned the hard way what can happen when you don’t put yourself first. We'll also highlight resources and help normalize the conversation around therapy and self-care.

You are worthy of a healthy body and a healthy mind. So settle in, get cozy, and grab your chai. Let's get into it, Half Past Crew.

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Donate to Therapist Beyond Boarders here: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Use code HALFPASTCHAI to get 15% off https://andcollar.com/

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

2:08 - Why your mental health matters

4:31 - Why the last year was so hard on us

12:28 - Why we really quit our jobs…

27:38 - Resources for therapy

30:05 - What happens when you don’t take care of yourself?

37:38 - How to take care of yourself

In this week's episode, we're busting 10 common marriage myths and talking about what actually makes a relationship thrive. Does getting married make everything easier? Do happy couples never fight? Will kids really bring you closer?

We're pulling back the curtain on some of the most widely held beliefs about marriage and sharing what we've learned as an interracial couple. We'll get real about the hard work, the missteps, and the intentional effort it takes to build a strong partnership.

Join us as we talk about:

• The truth about fighting, romance, and date nights

• Why your partner shouldn't be "your everything"

• The importance of setting boundaries with in-laws

• Why every marriage, even a good one, can benefit from therapy

• How love is a verb, not just an effortless feeling

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Use code HALFPASTCHAI to get 15% off https://andcollar.com/

Book a call with Autonomy: https://calendly.com/d/3qr-dzb-tgh/autonomy-team-game-plan?utm_campaign=halfchai&utm_source=podcast?el=adread

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

4:28 - Myth #1: Once you’re married, everything gets easier

8:16 - Myth #2: Happy couples never fight

12:55 - Myth #3: Your partner should be your everything

16:47 - Myth #4: Date nights fix everything

22:07 - Myth #5: Marriage kills romance

24:52 - SPONSOR

25:47 - Myth #6: Kids will bring you closer

29:24 - Myth #7: You have to share everything

32:28 - Myth #8: In-laws will always be a nightmare

34:22 - Myth #9: Good marriages don’t need therapy

39:06 - Myth #10: If you’re truly in love, it should feel effortless.

So… we quit our jobs. And now that we’ve had a full month of being self-employed, we have a lot to say.

In this episode, we’re getting honest about the things no one tells you when you leave the 9–5 life… the mental rollercoaster, the unexpected stress, the new definition of success, and what it’s really like working with your spouse (spoiler: it’s not all cute cafés and midday walks).

Whether you’re thinking of quitting, just made the leap, or are deep in your self-employed era, this one’s for you. We’re sharing our routine, real struggles, and the biggest lessons we’ve learned so far.

Settle in, get cozy, and grab your chai ☕️

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

🏃‍♀️ NYC Marathon Fundraiser for Hallie!: https://givebutter.com/H8JMbY

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Use code HALFPASTCHAI to get 15% off https://andcollar.com/

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

3:37 - What IS our job now?

5:23 - Be WAY more intentional with your time

14:41 - You have to force yourself to stop working and enjoy life

18:52 - You will feel more lost & scared than you did before

24:27 - You WILL have more stress

27:41 - You WILL BE BUSIER

30:47 - You don’t have to sit at your desk to be productive

33:27 - Your definition of success will always change

36:42 - Your income will always be unpredictable

40:17 - Others may not understand your new schedule, and that’s okay

44:56 - You need a community now more than EVER

WE’RE BACK. And we went deep into the Reddit trenches.

This week, we’re reading and reacting to the most jaw-dropping marriage posts we could find from messy in-law drama and work-from-home fights, to cheating scandals and influencer marriages gone wrong.

You know we had to bring some Desi family chaos into the mix too. As always, we’re spilling the chai and sharing our own takes, relationship advice, and a little too much personal experience.

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Book a call with Autonomy: https://calendly.com/bhavanasingh079/autonomy-game-plan-bhav?utm_campaign=halfpastchai

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

2:45 - The WFH Situation…

8:51 - Is it possible to cheat again after cheating once?

14:05 - Dealing with Indian In-Laws In Our Home

23:33 - A Word From Our SPONSOR: Autonomy

24:51 - My wife became an influencer and now she hates me

32:14 - Am I asking too much of my husband to put in more work?

37:59 - Brides family didn’t come to the wedding…

44:34 - Is it wrong if I’m attracted to other people?

49:33 - My husband’s needs are too much

This week on Half Past Chai, we’re answering YOUR questions and you didn’t hold back. We’re diving into everything from friendship breakups and strict Indian parents to interracial love, starting a podcast, and how to navigate difficult conversations in relationships.

We also share our own experiences with crying in front of each other, building trust in marriage, and how we make content creation a full-time job. Whether you're dealing with cultural pressure, want to start creating content, or just love some good relationship tea this one's for you.

🫶 Topics we cover:

• Feeling left out in friendships

• Interracial/intercultural relationship struggles

• Strict desi parents & dating

• How we started our podcast and YouTube channel

• Our "non-negotiables" in marriage

• Crying, emotional intimacy & supporting your partner

• Aunties & uncles asking too many questions

• Making content creation a full-time career

New episodes every Monday at 7 am. Don’t forget to subscribe, and as always, we love you! Thank you for spending your Monday with us 💛

Book a call with Autonomy: https://calendly.com/bhavanasingh079/autonomy-game-plan-bhav?utm_campaign=halfpastchai

🎙 Submit your stories: https://www.halfpastchai.com/

📲 Follow us: https://bio.site/halfpastchai

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

3:54 - Friendship break ups

8:47 - Interracial problems

16:51 - What boundaries did we set after breaking up?

24:00 - How to start a podcast?

28:52 - Parent asks question about kids relationship

37:39 - How do you make money?

41:58 - Boyfriends mom walk in on us

46:08 - When did we cry in front of each other?

51:44 - How do you handle aunties' questions?