TDS 1.0 (featuring Annika and Nehal)

'Tis the season to give, and American India Foundation's NY-based CEO Nishant Pandey and Chief Development Officer Kalpana Kanthan are with That Desi Spark this week to discuss the outcomes for over 17 million people this non-profit has impacted, the social programs it innovates, women in non-profit leadership, and why we all have a stake in shaping the future of our homelands across South Asia!

Learn more about the American India Foundation's programs, follow them on Instagram, and visit on LinkedIn! Want to donate to the Light a LAMP Campaign? Do it here!

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

The way parents communicate with each other is HUGE in influencing the way we, as immigrants and children of immigrants, engage with our partners. Psychotherapist and founder of Being, Sadaf Siddiqi,  joins us for her second episode with TDS to talk about how we can unlearn some of the toxic behaviors and communication techniques we may have grown up with, amplify the healthier ones, and create happier relationships.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Saumya Dave, MD, knows what South Asian women are up against - the psychiatrist and novelist is a staunch advocate for mental health, and explores what self-care really means (spoiler: it's MUCH more than than eating a brownie!) for burnout, anxiety, and societal expectations on this must-listen episode of TDS.

*This episode is sponsored by Therapy in Colour and Hachette Book Group*
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Therapy in Colour is a therapy practice that offers Telehealth appointments that blend psychological interventions with cultural understanding. Visit therapyincolour.com today.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Masculinity and mental health have come under greater scrutiny by the South Asian community in recent years. Clinical Psychology student Paritosh Joshi, a contributor to Brown Girl Magazine, joins TDS to explore how toxic masculinity impacts relationships, upholds patriarchal values, influences mental health, and creates a less inclusive atmosphere for South Asian men to seek mental health resources.

Connect with Paritosh on LinkedIn!

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

1 in 5 girls in South Asia will drop out of school after the onset of their period. Period poverty is a global issue with wide-ranging impact. The Desai Foundation's President, Megha Desai, joins TDS to discuss their initiatives to provide access to education, period products, infrastructure, and more - and above all, dignity.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

When journalist Ruchira Gupta traveled across India to find out what was happening to young girls across the country, she stepped into the world of prostitution, sex trafficking, bribes, death threats, and more. Her riveting account of sex trafficking, her founding of Apne Aap - an NGO helping women, girls, and their children in the red light districts of Mumbai, her work with the UN and Hillary Clinton, and above all, hope, are the focus of this episode of TDS.

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Imagine if you had a pair of glasses that did all the work for you by showing you every man’s true colors. 

Director and Media Critic, Aneesa Khan’s next short film, “Criteria Kya Hai?” needs your help in celebrating young Pakistani-American women no screen! There's one month left in the film’s Kickstarter campaign! Make a donation and be a part of making this film a reality for more accurate South Asian American media representation!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aneesakhan/what-is-the-criteria-criteria-kya-hai-a-short-film?ref=project_link
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Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Netflix' Never Have I Ever's central characters, the Vishwakumar family, were trailblazing for South Asians on screen. Star of the series Maitreyi Ramakrishnan joins TDS to discuss her journey on the show, representation as a South Asian, her favorite memories with Devi, and so much more on this engaging episode.

This episode is sponsored by Reti Swimwear, Recover Season, and Therapy in Color.

Reti Swimwear, inspired by the comfort of warm sand, is a desi-inspired swimwear line. Find them on Instagram at instagram.com/retiswimwear!

Therapy in Colour is a therapy practice that offers Telehealth appointments that blend psychological interventions with cultural understanding. Visit therapyincolour.com today.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Sameera Qureshi, MS OTR, joins TDS to discuss her career with sexual health and Islam - what to do when values and lifestyles clash, issues around not exploring sexuality, how she's educated people about sex, and finding peace with sexual health.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Actress from movies like ABCD, bestselling author of "Always Anjali," and "Bravo Anjali," and outspoken activist about all politics but especially those around children, multi-hyphenate Sheetal Sheth joins TDS to discuss anti-AAPI narratives, why book bans are a problem, and how diverse literature changes lives.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!

Clinical Neuropsychology PHD resident Nawal Mustafa joins TDS to chat through how to recognize emotional triggers and manage emotions to strengthen relationships around you and increase your emotional intelligence.

Annika's book, Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice, is available at all bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon!

Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Asana Voices on IG. Until next time, keep lighting That Desi Spark!