Hi guys, welcome to Thanda Chai Talks! In this short segment, I just discuss the reason for my absence and what I plan on doing with this podcast, as well as introducing new topics for the upcoming episodes!

I will be posting on Wednesdays rather than Mondays due to conflicts between uni work and other projects.

Hope you talk to you soon and happy new year!

In this episode, I discuss what it's like to be an immigrant in London with my best friend Ksenija. Ksenija has a Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and Russian background, whereas I have a Bangladeshi and Italian background. Life can be tough as an immigrant, especially if you're a student struggling with language and Student Finance. Also, join us in discussing aggressions we have faced as new immigrants in the UK.

Episode contains gossip. Just for jokes.

In this episode, I discuss some new revelations I had this year and especially during the last two months regarding mental health. In a time where hustle culture is celebrated, prioritising mental health can be seen as difficult and unusual. Join me in exploring ideas regarding mental health and how important it is to be grounded and present. 

If you need to talk to someone ASAP, you can contact Samaritans at 116 123.

In this episode of Thanda Chai Talks, we discuss how Bollywood impacts female actresses with their sexist ageism. Meaning older Bollywood actors get jobs as the lead, whereas older women are cast as side characters, the main character's mother, or in nostalgia films. Listen to this episode of Thanda Chai Talks to discover more. 

Join me and Shekinah in discussing colourism in Bollywood and how celebrity culture enables it to be perpetuated in the industry, followed by a conversation on skin bleaching and how Indian actors and actresses must stop endorsing such products. Lastly, we go a bit more personal with Shekinah's views on representation and hopes for the future, followed by her own experience as a dark skin Indian woman. 

In the first ever episode of Thanda Chai Talks, I simply introduce myself,  walk you through what I intend on doing with this podcast and what this podcast personally means to me.  To give more context, I also talk about my experience auditioning for the National Youth Theatre and how having a brown interviewer affected me and the outcome. 

Extra point - find out the meaning behind the name of this podcast!