Half Past Chai

This week’s Questions of the Week episode gets DEEP.

You all sent in some of the most emotional, complex, and honest questions we’ve ever answered especially around intercultural relationships, strict parents, breakups, identity, and navigating love when family expectations get in the way.

We share our own experiences, what we learned the hard way, and how to protect your peace while still honoring your culture and your partner.

💬 In this episode, we answer:

• Loving someone whose parents don’t accept you
• Dating an Indian partner who hides the relationship
• Age gaps, having a child, and whether Indian parents ever come around
• How to ask an ex if you can “start over” without scaring them away
• Why anti-Indian racism feels more visible right now
• Introducing a vegetarian partner to a meat-heavy family
• Dealing with social burnout as a couple after nonstop obligations

This episode is personal, vulnerable, and full of advice we wish we had years ago.

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 or DM Nathan on Instagram: 

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

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

Donate to Team For Kids here: https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/suketu-patel

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

4:21 - Stress on your relationship

8:57 - His parents didn’t accept their relationship

14:05 - How long should I wait?

17:22 -  How do i move past fear of societal gossip?

23:04 - SPONSOR

23:41 -  They asked me to convert

27:05 - I am in a situationship

30:07 - Racism against Indians 

34:19 - dating a vegetarian

37:31 - social battery drain

In this episode we sit down with Rushi Patel, med student, longtime friend, and one of those people who somehow manages to balance curiosity, creativity, and grit. We talk high school, how creative projects shaped career opportunities, and what it’s actually like to go to Harvard and then endure the grind of med school.

From the awe of seeing the human body’s resilience to the rawness of trauma cases. We close by talking about the power of family, how support systems reset you when life gets overwhelming, and one simple piece of advice Rushi wants everyone to remember.

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

📅 New episodes every Monday at 7 AM

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

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

01:06 - Meet our guest: Rishi Patel

3:21 - Garba, Navratri & how we first met

13:36 - The Avon lip-dub: going viral and what it taught us

18:20 - College & Harvard: experience, growth, and perspective

23:22 - College balance, saving, and learning to have fun

30:00 - Why some careers need passion (not money)

33:01 - The pre-med grind: MCAT, pre-clinicals & rotations

37:02 - Surgery stories: seeing the human body’s resilience

41:52 - Trauma on day one: cardiac massage & the fragility of life

49:58 - RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Ever wondered what it’s really like to run the New York City Marathon? 🏃‍♀️💨 In this episode of Half Past Chai, Hallie breaks down everything from how she got accepted, trained all summer, fundraised, and finally ran 26.2 miles through the streets of NYC.

We talk about the highs, the pain, the money behind marathon training, and why this experience changed everything for us. Whether you’re a runner, a dreamer, or just love a good story, this one’s for you.

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 💛

DM Nathan if you’re interested in my fitness plan!

Suketu’s Team For Kids Fundraiser

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

📲 Follow us

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

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

1:57 - Why would I run a MARATHON?

7:44- How I got into NYC

12:41 - Suketu’s big announcement

17:41 - How hard was the training?

24:33 - Finances behind running a marathon

27:30 - RACE DAY BREAKDOWN: exactly what happens the day of the marathon

33:21 - Why I’m obsessed with the NYC Marathon

Sagar Parekh joins us for a conversation that goes beyond miles and muscles, it’s about mental clarity, connection, and finding joy in life. We talk about the realities of motivation, the impact of community and family, along with how mindfulness shows up in every stride.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by LIFE, this episode will remind you: it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.

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

Follow Sagar: https://www.instagram.com/poweredbyparekh/

Ahara Rasa Ghee 10% off: https://iloveghee.com/discount/HALFPASTCHAI10

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

Time codes

4:16 - Who is Sagar

8:57 - My content then vs now

12:05 - My therapy experience

17:46 - What is the PROBLEM?

20:49 - Don’t give your age too much power

23:18 - Everyone has problems

26:07 - GHEE SPONSOR

26:50 - The childhood story

30:21 - My sisters are a huge inspiration

39:30 - How to get into journaling

43:42 - Anxiety.

46:59 - Running a marathon in a Kurta

56:30 - Making videos online

1:05:38 - RAPID FIRE

Ten years. Countless versions of ourselves. And a whole lot of lessons learned along the way.

In this episode, we’re packing a decade of love, growth, and hard-earned wisdom into one conversation, the kind of lessons you can only learn through time. From learning to grow as individuals and as a couple, to navigating trust, independence, and all of life’s “firsts” together we’ve been through it.

Whether you’re in a new relationship, married, or just curious what a decade together really looks like, this episode’s for you. 💛

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

Autonomy: Follow Nathan!

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

3:08 - When we fell in love

8:17 - 1. On the hard days, remind yourself who you fell in love with

11:29 - 2. You’ll go through so many versions of yourselves in a relationship

15:40 - 3. Your partner can’t be everything for you, and that’s okay.

18:36 - 4. You both need your own space to grow.

24:28 - 5. Your vows really do mean in sickness and in health

28:53 - 6. Invest in experiences that strengthen your bond

31:00 - 7. It really is that damn phone. 

33:47 - 8. Don’t seek constant validation from your partner.

36:48 - 9. Just because you have an agenda doesn’t mean your partner does. 

39:08 - 10. Live in the moment

In this episode of Half Past Chai, we sit down with Brook & Harjot, an interracial husband-wife duo who’ve built a loyal following sharing relatable, funny, and heartfelt content about culture, love, and identity.

We talk about what it’s truly like marrying across cultures (Punjabi & Western), the surprises, the challenges, and the joy. From family expectations to the funniest misunderstandings, and how content creation became their space to laugh together and bring others in.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to balance two worlds, stay true to yourself, and build something together, this is for you.

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

Follow Brook & Harjot: @brookempaul

Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

2:18 - Why did you start posting content?

9:13 - How they met

11:49 - Harjot’s arranged marriage

20:52 - How they told the parents 

28:23 - Wedding story time

33:08 - Advice to couples who’s parents won’t accept their S.O.

35:48 - Raising kids in 2 cultures

39:00 - Social media journey & best advice for interracial couples

45:48 - Rapid fire questions

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