Marriages are made in heaven. But in India, parents often play the celestial role of "arranging" them. Decisions are dominated by religion and region -- apparently, it helps long-term adjustment with your better half along with other benefits.

So what happens when people from different communities -- religion and region -- decide to tie the knot? Does all hell break loose? Do divine powers intervene? More importantly, how do the non-celestial partners ensure the union evolves notwithstanding the differences in customs and traditions?

This episode has Priti Thomas, née Jamwal and Preeti Thomas discuss their inter-faith marriages and share thoughts on what "faith in marriage" means for them.

This episode is in English with just a bit of Hindi thrown in. Thoughts and perceptions shared are truly our own and not intended as a framework for others.

Feel free to connect at:
https://www.instagram.com/notjustgupshup
or e-mail: [email protected]

Credits:

Sound Engineering - Aman Dembla (www.amandembla.com)
Artwork - Prateek Gurbani (www.prateekgurbani.com)
Track: 24 Happy Hours a Day — Igor Khainskyi [Audio Library Release]
Music provided by Audio Library Plus
Watch: https://youtu.be/mLyP3rqZe3U
Free Download / Stream: https://alplus.io/24-happy-hours-day

Raising kids is definitely one of the more challenging things to do in life. While it is not without its joys,  it is no cakewalk either. Some questions that frequently pop up are -- Am I raising them right so they can be gracious, well-adjusted adults? Is there a blueprint available to raising happy kids? How do I become the perfect mom? Or is it possible to be one?

Anuja and Sharyu, friends and fellow moms to teens and preteens, get in conversation with Preeti in this episode to share their journey so far - pet peeves, parenting challenges, fears and whether the one-glove-fits-all. Everything but parenting tips or magic potions is discussed. 

This episode is recorded via Zoom and is in English with a smattering of Hindi.

Connect at:
https://www.instagram.com/notjustgupshup
 
or e-mail:

[email protected]

Credits:

Sound Engineering - Aman Dembla (www.amandembla.com)

Artwork - Prateek Gurbani (www.prateekgurbani.com)

Music - Igor Khainskyi's aptly titled 24 Happy Hours a Day

There are so many factors that make individuals decide to migrate to a new country and to make a new life for themselves. While it is definitely an upheaval - from leaving the known to entering the unknown - it also seems like an adventure - new beginnings and new opportunities.

This is what I ask my friend,  Arunima Nair, who made a similar move and left  a well-settled life in India to move to Australia where she is currently busy building her new life and also indulging her passion of photography to the fullest! Listen to her experiences and thoughts on whether the grass is greener, on stereotypes, being desi and much more.

This episode is in English with a smattering of Hindi and was recorded via Zoom.

Also, the thoughts expressed here are in no way intended to hurt or offend anyone; if they inadvertently do, please accept our apologies.

Connect at:
www.instagram.com/notjustgupshup
or e-mail:
[email protected]


Credits:
Sound Engineering - Aman Dembla (www.amandembla.com)
Artwork - Prateek Gurbani (www.prateekgurbani.com)
Music - Igor Khainskyi's aptly titled 24 Happy Hours a Day

To travel itself is such a romantic idea (new cultures, people, food), and then to do so by yourself, even more! In this episode, I talk to Moushumi Sarkar who did exactly this despite being a stay-at home mom and a military spouse, just like me.

How did she do it? Where all did she go? What was her experience like? This is the conversation we have in our first episode of Not Just Gupshup. The interview was recorded via Zoom.

This episode is largely in English though a couple of Hindi phrases did creep in.

Also, the thoughts expressed here are in no way intended to hurt or offend anyone; if they inadvertently do, please accept our apologies.

Connect at:
www.instagram.com/notjustgupshup

or e-mail:
[email protected]

Credits:
Sound Engineering - Aman Dembla (www.amandembla.com)
Artwork - Prateek Gurbani (www.prateekgurbani.com)
Music - Igor Khainskyi's aptly titled 24 Happy Hours a Day

Preeti, a chatty, forty-something (and still curious) stay-at-home Indian mom gets talking to her friends to hear their take on different things - raising kids, traveling, migrating to a new country, and a lot else.  So join in and listen along to get a peek into our own interesting world through the lives of other regular people. 

Although the language spoken is English, there is a smattering of Hindi.

Episode 1 is out in a week and after that every fortnight on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts. So keep an eye out.

A big shout out to friends who love to talk and keep things interesting, to a family that stays indulgent (so far) and to technology for the immense possibilities it presents. (Yay to podcasts).

Credits: 
Artwork by Prateek Gurbani (www.prateekgurbani.com)
Sound Engineering by Aman Dembla (www.amandembla.com)
Music is Igor Khainskyi's aptly titled 24 Happy Hours a Day (yt-audio-library)


If you have a great conversation starter that you want to hear/share/talk about, then write in.

Connect at:

[email protected]

www.instagram.com/notjustgupshup