Queering Desi

On this episode, Priya talks to Chef Navin Hariprasad and his husband, Andrew Pettke. The two, along with their friend Sarah Hartshorne, formed team Mystikka Masala and won The Great Food Truck Race, Season 12!

Navin and Andrew open up about their relationship and their unique wedding (including a drag queen minister!) Navin also shares what drag means to him, as well as how he fell in love with cooking. The two talk about their journey as restauranteurs, and what it was like to bring their Indian/Tex-Mex flare to The Great Food Truck Race. The two also share the experience of bringing Navin's drag alter ego, Mystikka Masala, into the competition, as well as the warm response and outpouring of support they received. Finally, Navin and Andrew play a rapid-fire round and unveil their social media habits on Instagram vs. Reality!

On this episode, Priya talks to a panel of three queer South Asian artists about their work and how the arts have been affected by the pandemic: Bhumi Patel, an artist, activist and dancer; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a visual artist, performer and curator; and Ashok Sinha, a board member of the India Center Foundation, which started the South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund to assist U.S.-based South Asian arts workers.

Bhumi and Zulfikar talk about their art, including how their experiences have informed their work and how this crisis has affected them. Ashok adds perspective on ICF, and why this fund was created. Later, all three weigh in on how we can support queer artists, and the arts, during and after these difficult times.

For more information about our guests, this fund, and other resources for our communities, please visit our website: queeringdesi.com

Join the movement, be Bakwaas.

On this episode, Priya chats with Dinesh Patel, a cook, pastry chef and finalist of "MasterChef India" Season 5.

Dinesh shares his earliest memories of being in the kitchen and how he fell in love with cooking. Later, Priya asks about how Dines ended up on the show, and what his favorite part of the experience was. Later, the two chat about doing work in our communities to challenge stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people and the undue pressure on coming out. Finally, the two play a MasterChef-themed rapid-fire round and "Instagram vs. Reality."

You can follow Dinesh on Instagram (@dineshpatel.ofc), Twitter (@dineshpatelofc) and Facebook. For his full bio, visit our website.

Join the movement, be Bakwaas.

How does this pandemic disproportionately affect marginalized communities? What can we do to protect ourselves? How can we support health care workers?

On this episode, Priya chats with Dr. Musaub Khan, a queer Muslim Pakistani-American physician in New York. Musaub shares how the virus has spread and what he's seeing on the frontlines at his hospital. He also offers tips for staying safe, and shatters some myths about the virus, including how it's transmitted, its effect on younger people and more.

For more resources, visit our website: www.queeringdesi.com/resources

On this episode, Priya chats with Nakul Dev Mahajan, an award-winning Bollywood choreographer best known for his 12 years of choreography on "So You Think You Can Dance."

The two begin talk about "So You Think..." and the journey that led Nakul to open NDM Bollywood Dance Studios, one of the most popular Bollywood dance schools in the U.S. He opens up about his earliest memories of dance and talks about the cultural reckoning he faced in pursuit of it. Later, he shares what it was like coming out after establishing himself as a leading dance teacher in the community and the two do a deep dive about Karan Johar and the LGBTQ idols they wish they had. Finally, Nakul talks about his work on the new Disney Junior show, "Mira: Royal Detective" and the two play a Bollywood-themed rapid-fire round and "Instagram vs. Reality."

You can follow Nakul (@nakuldevmahajan) on Instagram and Twitter.

For his full bio, visit our website.

On this special bonus episode, we talk to Amrit Kapai, one of the cast members of Bravo's brand-new reality show, "Family Karma." The show follows the lives of seven young Indian-Americans as they navigate the pressures of adulthood, while maintaining deep-rooted ties to their culture.

Amrit, who identifies as gay, talks to Priya about what it was like to come out in such a close-knit community, how his parents took the news, and most importantly, why he felt that being a part of this show was important. Later, he plays a special "Family Karma" rapid-fire round and shares advice he would give his younger self!

Be sure to catch the debut of "Family Karma" on Sunday, March 8 at 9 p.m. Eastern, only on Bravo!

On this episode, we welcome Amir & Aamir, a gay South Asian married couple and the hosts of the "You Don't Love Me" podcast.

Priya opens the conversation with Amir & Aamir talking about their experiences as queer people of color in New York City and the U.K., as well as around the world. They also share how they met and fell in love, as well as why they started the podcast. Later, they share details from their recent event with London's Club Kali, the longest-running South Asian LGBTQ+ party. Finally, they share advice they'd give their younger selves, and then play some games!

On this episode, Priya chats with Rav Bansal, a former contestant on The Great British Bakeoff.

Rav opens up about what it was like to come out publicly last year, and what it meant to come to terms with his sexuality as a Sikh man. Later, the two chat about Bake Off and Rav shares what his experience was like on the show as well as how baking is still part of his life. Later, the two play a fun, baking-themed rapid-fire round and Priya's latest favorite game, "Instagram vs. Reality"!

In this episode, Priya chats with Kareem Khubchandani, an assistant professor at Tufts University and performance artist also known as LaWhore Vagistan.

The two chat about drag and performance art in queer South Asian spaces, and Kareem opens up about his own experiences and research on the subject. Later, he talks about his upcoming book, "Ishtyle: Accenting Gay Indian Nightlife." Finally, the two play a few games, including a rapid fire round and Instagram vs. Reality!

On this week’s episode, Priya talks to Shiva Raichandani, the principal dancer and lead instructor of London School of Bollywood! You may also recognise him from Britain's, India's and France’s Got Talent.

The two talk about everything from expressing gender in dance and problematic representations in Bollywood, to Shiva’s own forthcoming short film, “Queer Parivaar,” based on an interfaith queer South Asian romance. Later the two play a fun rapid-fire round, and Priya debuts a new game called "Instagram vs. Reality"!