Zohran Mamdani - NYC's mayoral candidate - delivers a tearful speech on his Muslim faith — "the dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as every New Yorker."

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“Translation — it's listening and understanding. It's trying to understand each other, trying to find some common ground, but understanding that there is a gap and that's okay, because we're all different.” 

There’s this really good book about a kid in England who gets into an elite school to learn the magic that can literally change the world. There’s friendship, betrayal, enchanted objects, and the fate of the world hanging in the balance. But we’re not talking about Hogwarts - this is Oxford. 

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang — might just be the most important story you’ll read this year.  It’s what happens when a coming-of-age fantasy grows up — when instead of asking who gets to wield magic, it asks who built it, who profits from it, and who gets burned by it. By page 100, you'll start to hear the opening lines of Rage Against the Machine. It’s Harry Potter meets Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and so much more.  Joining is longtime FrieMMd of the pod, and comic-book partner-in-crime Paresh Jha. 

LEARN MORE:

BABEL (RF Kuang): goodreads.com/book/show/57945316-babel

ARTICLE (New Yorker): The Otherworldly Ambitions of R. F. Kuang - newyorker.com/magazine/2025/08/25/the-otherworldly-ambitions-of-r-f-kuang

MENTIONS

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“The Philippines isn't the president, it isn't the government. The Philippines is the people. Our role as Filipino Americans living in the diaspora is to stand with them. Tama na. Enough.”

Politics is divided, institutions are fragile, and truth feels up for sale. Sounds familiar? Here’s the twist — we’re not talking about America, we’re talking about the Philippines. With over 110 million people, it’s one of the largest democracies on Earth — a nation with deep ties to the U.S. that most of us are not taught in school. If recent decades have taught us anything - it mirrors the challenges we face at home in the U.S. today: corruption, disinformation, and the erosion of trust in power. One might say it’s a canary in the coal mine, which many Filipinos, and Filipino-Americans have been calling attention to those who will listen. 

And since October is Filipino American History Month, FrieMMd of the Pod Lisa Angulo Reid, co-founder of Dear Flor stopped by for a chat. Lisa recently penned a Substack post “Fighting for a Home That Isn’t Mine” - we continued a longer conversation we’ve been having - ranging from her essay, corruption, diaspora identity, her calling, the economic potential on both sides of the ocean. and what it means to fight for a home you no longer live in but still carry inside...

ABOUT LISA: dearflor.com // dearflor.substack.com

MENTIONS

Maria Ressa (Nobel Prize winning journalist): wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Ressa

Maria Ressa on the Daily Show (9/18/2025) :  youtube.com/watch?v=Tsb1I7hqaJ4

HISTORY 

First landing of Filipinos in the USA (1587): wikipedia.org/wiki/First_landing_of_Filipinos_in_the_United_States

Philippine-American War - wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War

Independence Seaport Museum (Philadelphia) / USS Olympia exhibit

newyorkpcg.org/pcgny/2024/10/11/philippine-american-war-1899-1902-complex-symbols-conflicting-relationships-exhibit-unveiled-aboard-olympia/

India: British business / colonial rule (~1600 - 1757 - 1947): wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_India

British East India Company - wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company

Duterte drug killings (WARNING - graphic) - nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/07/world/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-drugs-killings.html

BOOK:  Patron Saints of Nothing (Randy Ribay): goodreads.com/book/show/41941681-patron-saints-of-nothing

BOOK (Poems): Antiemetic for Homesickness (Romalyn Ante): goodreads.com/book/show/53095607-antiemetic-for-homesickness

FOOD: Ginataang Tilapia  panlasangpinoy.com/ginataang-tilapia/

PLACES

Visayas: Southern island region, rich in beaches and culture.

Ilocos: Northern coastal region known for heritage towns.

Baguio: Mountain city with cool climate and tribal roots.

Batangas: Cultural heart of the Tagalog people.

Taal: Volcano within a lake within a crater.

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A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, we started a podcast...

300 episodes later, instead of a self-congratulatory retrospective, we asked our MANY longtime FrieMMds of the Pod to “ask us anything” — from how ideas of being a minority have changed, surprises and lessons hidden from 300 conversations, fond unexpected memories, what our kids continue to teach us, and all the conversations we somehow still haven’t had. Big thanks to FrieMMds of the Pod - Nina Pearl, Jay Veraldi, Rajiv Satyal, Jieun Kirtley, Steven Wakabayashi, Melissa Haughton, Joe Medved, Bob Gilbreath, Lisa Angulo Reid, Maurice Cherry, Sudha Ranganathan, Sarah Poritt, and one very special secret (and very curious) surprise guest. Messy, meaningful, and maybe even memorable — just how we like it...

Ask us anything, featuring...

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“ Build your own identity and understand what drives you — I just wanna be as authentically me as possible and let others know that this world is better when you can embrace what is unique to you, and not try to dim it.”

Priti Ohri is an award-winning adtech executive and entrepreneur. She’s Co-founder & CEO of Advertible, and one of the founders of DesiUs - a group for South Asians in adtech. Priti’s been recognized as one of the top women in media and technology by all the places that matter. But more importantly, Priti’s an authentic leader, comfortable in her own skin and a believer in setting her own path for others to see that they don’t always have to do things the way they’ve always been done. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation on how Priti navigates change - in business, life, and the world.

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“ None of us know how to be bored anymore. Some of the best things in my life have come from those moments where I'm not connected” — “...can you poop without your phone?

We're going to solve our social media's problem — but first, you have to accept we ALL have a problem. Nearly every challenge we face as a society becomes infinitely harder if we stay on our current path. Division, misinformation, a slow erosion of critical thinking — we’re all feeling the effects. And we haven't even thrown AI into the mix. Yet at the same time, social media has undeniable upsides: connection, creativity, even community. So what do we keep? What do we change? What role should incentives, business models, regulation, and culture play in reshaping these platforms?

Recently longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Jay Veraldi put together a small workgroup — including entrepreneurs Loren Appin (Fishbowl co-founder) + Maggie Silver (Mother of Invention) — to meet, share perspectives, and figure out — how do we fix our social media problem?That’s the conversation our particular workgroup had. and it was with two fantastic, interesting, and intelligent people I'd never met - Loren and Maggie. Loren’s a product leader and community builder who’s spent the last 15 years building social platforms, including founding Fishbowl and leading product at Glassdoor. These days, he’s just as focused on inner growth — through meditation, music, and even the occasional quantum physics rabbit hole. Maggie’s an actor-turned-startup veteran with two kids, a handful of exits, and a new consumer products company called Mother of Invention in the works. She’s lived the arc of being all-in on social, then going dark, and now re-emerging with a mindful, founder’s presence. It was a fascinating conversation about how we navigate the mess of social media today — where things broke, how we might fix it, and why it matters right now — and for the future

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 ​“What's funny is, people are talking about these movies being woke, but it's literally just what superheroes are supposed to be about — kindness, empathy, and protecting people that can't be protected. ”

“These are times where we are told that you can't afford to look out for more than yourself — And to stand amidst that — to care about somebody even if it doesn't have some immediate benefit to me? Yeah, that's punk rock.”

In a world spinning faster than a speeding bullet — where doomscrolls rain like cosmic rays, truth is stretched, accountability is turning invisible, everything is on fire, and our foundation is becoming rocky — maybe what we need isn’t just another (super)hero — but a reminder of what everyday, real heroism looks like.

This week we're talking about SUPERMAN + THE FANTASTIC FOUR - not one, but two summer movies appropriate for the time we're living in. At first glance, it might feel like another studio cash grab — but these movies arrived right on time, reminding us of the power of hope, kindness, and the audacity to care in a world that tells us not to. “It’s clobberin’ time!” is more than just a tagline; it’s a call to stand together and fight the good fight, together. 

So we gathered a couple of our favorite superhero sons of Cincinnati — Stefan K. James and Karl Preissner — longtime friends, early podcast guests (#11 + #12). Karl Preissner a longtime friend, allyship expert, and person who dances like no one is watching. And Stefan James is arguably my favorite Jamaican- Chinese- midwestern- Floridian father and business dude to nerd out on all things fiction and non-fiction. Both are gents who i don’t spend enough time talking to. They both joined to talk through their thoughts, feelings, and anxieties of the moment we’re in, and reflect on how these films can show us a better way forward. After all punk rock, and rebellions, are built on hope. 

MENTIONS

EGOT:.wikipedia.org/wiki/EGOT

COMIC: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (Ryan North, Erica Henderson) goodreads.com/book/show/23732096-the-unbeatable-squirrel-girl-vol-1

FILM: Zero Dark Thirty (Kathryn Bigelow):.imdb.com/title/tt1790885

FILM: A Hidden Life (Terence Malik) -.imdb.com/title/tt5827916

SHOW: Andor (Tony Gilroy, Disney+):.imdb.com/title/tt9253284

COMIC: Invincible (Robert Kirkman) -.goodreads.com/series/66423-invincible

BOOK: The Ministry for the Future (Kim Stanley Robinson) -.goodreads.com/book/show/50998056-the-ministry-for-the-future

KIDS BOOK: Why? (Adam Rex, Claire Keane) - .goodreads.com/book/show/42453554-why

PERSON: Zohran Mamdani - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zohran_Mamdani

SHOW: Young Justice (HBO Max):.imdb.com/title/tt1641384

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 ​“A lot of creativity stems from lack of access — born outta having less. You have less, so you have to think about how to do more — that's what's Black design is about.”

Maurice Cherry is a designer, strategist, and an important voice in the history of Black design — best known as the creator and host of Revision Path, an award-winning podcast that’s spotlighted over 550 Black designers, developers, artists, and digital thinkers — and became the first podcast inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Born in Selma, Alabama, Maurice took anything but the traditional path expected of him. Raised on writing and tech - in magazines, the library and the radio - he studied math at Morehouse, and hustled his way into the creative industry - from Limewire to HTML. Maurice views design as a lens into cultural storytelling, and in the importance of Black design to understand a big part of the American design experience. Maurice is thoughtful, funny, and curious - his work helping shape the future of design. But you’ll also enjoy how we traded hometown memories and podcast war stories.

LEARN MORE

MENTIONS

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“Chai is amazing — it should be right alongside a good cup of coffee, espresso, or cappuccino. This business helped me reconcile my American upbringing and my Indian heritage — that push and pull, that beautiful combination of everything.”

Ayan Sanyal is Co-founder of Kolkata Chai Company, which if you’re in NY, you should stop by sometime soon (or order some online) — it’s something special. I’ve been going for a couple of years, and more than a few others do to, including frieMMd of the pod Rajiv, and his bud Hasan Minhaj, who’s become a big investor and advocate. Chai is something special — and good, REAL chai is something transcendent (just don’t call it chai tea). Good chai takes time. It takes people. And it creates friendship.

Ayan and his brother founded Kolkata Chai Co. in 2018 to bring authentic masala chai to New York City. Growing up to Bengali parents in Amherst, MA, the brothers navigated tea times, rock bands, and trips back to India (street food FTW) - finding different inspirations along the way. The two built a career and background in digital advertising and media, but quickly challenged themselves to take a side passion - brewing chai at home - to farmers markets and beyond — redefining how chai and culture can be experienced in the city, and further into America. Hearing Ayan’s journey, from Amherst, MA to Kolkata and back again — and all the comic books and rock music in between - you’ll be inspired to do more, and have a great cup along the way.

LEARN MORE:

kolkatachai.co

instagram.com/kolkatachaico

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“It was not nostalgia — I kept waiting for that to hit. I was worried about — what if New York doesn't live up to it? Because then where do I go from here?

Kay Sohini is an Indian comics-maker living in New York City. She’s the author of the graphic novel THIS BEAUTIFUL, RIDICULOUS CITY . But Kay’s a lot more than a comics creator - she’s a writer, researcher, and artist. Kay grew up in Kolkata, where she fell in love with American culture - through TV and literature - as a contrast to her life in India. Kay eventually left India, got her PhD in English from Stony Brook University, and drew her doctoral dissertation — "Drawing Unbelonging" — as a comic. Since then her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Nib, and more. Her work focuses on utilizing comics in the scholarly examination of healthcare justice, environmental humanities, resisting disinformation, and creating an equitable future for all. 

“This Beautiful Ridiculous City” is getting glowing reviews from NPR, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, The Financial Times and more. Kay shares some of her journey from India to America, from Kolkata to New York, but we actually talked a lot about the business - and art of comics - in the US, France, and India. Kay’s a very thoughtful, observant and direct artist and thinker. Kay’s work isn’t just deeply personal — it also challenges bigger ideas through personal narratives — with themes of marginalization, intersectionality, and the power dynamics embedded in our language and culture. Kay’s work will move you in a way few comics can. 

LEARN ABOUT KAY

kaysohini.com

instagram.com/kaysohini

goodreads.com/book/show/212294437-this-beautiful-ridiculous-city

MENTIONS

Alison Bechdel: goodreads.com/author/show/54223321.Alison_Bechdel

Deb JJ Lee: goodreads.com/book/show/60316964-in-limbo

BOOK: Ginseng Roots (Craig Thompson): goodreads.com/book/show/216971212-ginseng-roots

BOOK: Unflattening (Nick Sousanis): goodreads.com/book/show/23503006-unflattening

BOOK: Kari (Amruta Patil): goodreads.com/book/show/3174768-kari

BOOK: Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir (Malik Sajad): goodreads.com/book/show/25394441-munnu

BOOK: Skin (Mieke Versyp, Sabien Clement): goodreads.com/book/show/214387878-skin

COMEDIAN: Zarna Garg wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarna_Garg

BOOK: Summit of the Gods (Jirō Taniguchi): goodreads.com/series/55939-the-summit-of-the-gods

SHOW: When Life Gives You Tangerines: imdb.com/title/tt26471411/

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