The Two Chickpeas host their first live podcast at The Natural History Museum in London

Activist, Joshua Virasami and scientist, Ashar Aslam are in conversation with the Chickpeas to talk about the importance of Climate Justice and discussions of our complicated relationships with nature and its disproportionate impact on people of colour. As the conversation delves into the industrial revolution and how this has impacted climate change to the tragedy and devastation of the flooding in Pakistan, we also look to see what humans as a collective can do in order to help raise awareness of the change that will be for the future and generations to come that will too, face hardships due to the climate. 

This podcast was in line with the first Explorer's Night at The Natural History Museum on Thursday 26th January 2023. 

The Two Chickpeas were invited to watch Magic Mike's Last Dance and give their review on the film.

Magic” Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus and has bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse…and an agenda all her own.

Magic Mike's Last Dance is out in all cinemas 10th February 2023. 

The Two Chickpeas sit down with Sudha, invited to a special spot in her Wimbledon home, around a 30 year old table which has held many evening conversations. 

Middle class, middle aged multicultural mother of millennial sons, Sudha lives a “squeezed middle” life in Wimbledon. As she navigates her

career, family and returning to India as a NRI (Non-Resident Indian), she is prompted to investigate her own sense of home and her place in the

world.

Evening Conversations is a warm-hearted monologue inspired by Sudha’s banter with her dual-heritage (Pakistani/East African Indian)

millennial sons who have grown up in leafy Wimbledon while her life has spanned three continents. She invites her boys to ‘crack open a cold

one’ and share their views on life. Will her fiercely British sons see their heritage as a place of strength or an unwelcome inheritance?

Being cooped up together during the pandemic may have dampened their spirits, but it certainly sharpened their tongues. Shots are fired in the

quick-fire exchanges between mother and sons, forcing Sudha to take stock.

In this episode, we speak with fellow Hounslow content creator Zainab, who you may also know as 'Cooking with Zainab'. We discuss everything from why we love food, how being Asian can influence our styles in cooking and the importance of spice! Zainab also takes us on her journey to becoming 'Cooking With Zainab' through losing her mother and the responsibilities of being the eldest sibling. However, the episode is also full of inspiration, and appreciation and is full of laughter and love for food! 

Find Zainab on @CookingwithZainab 

We had the privilege of speaking with the inspiring, talented and eloquent Asma Khan. We spoke with Asma about her new cookbook, Ammu, which is available from all major retailers now. We explore cultural representation, the role and place of women today and food as a love language. 

We can't explain enough how inspiring Asma is and how much more we could talk with her, but you can get your dose of her here with the Two Chickpeas and by purchasing Ammu :) 

Asma Khan is the chef and owner of Darjeeling Express. She moved to Cambridge from Calcutta in 1991. Now residing in London with her husband and two boys, she comes from a royal background – Rajput on her father’s side and Bengali on her mother’s. After studying law, Asma went on to do a PhD in British Constitutional Law at King's College London.

Cooking was always her passion and she began her food career in 2012 as a supper club in her home. In 2015, she opened a pop-up in a Soho pub to much acclaim, and Darjeeling Express the restaurant opened its doors in June 2017. A year later, her debut cook book “Asma’s Indian Kitchen” was published by Pavilion on 4th October 2018. The book was the winner in the U.K. category for food publishing in Indian cuisine in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Asma is the first British chef to feature in Netflix's Emmy nominated Chef's Table. Her episode also received a 2020 James Beard Award nomination.

Business Insider named her number 1 on their list of "100 Coolest People in Food and Drink". The Evening Standard listed her in The Progress 1000 as one of London’s most influential people 2019. She has been included in the eighth edition of the GG2 Power List –profiling Britain’s 101 most influential Asians and she is now the first chef to be featured on Vogue's list of 25 most influential women of year for 2020. (Taken from the Darjeeling Express Website) 

We speak with Ashika Lal from California for the Two Chickpeas X Timepass Podcast crossover episode! We talk about our love and hate for all things Brown Boys, everything from fashion to dating to brown boys in the mainstream media! We had an amazing time talking with Ashika and encourage you to check out her podcast and follow her @timepass_podcast 

Whether you remember her from Newsround or you watch Escape to the Country on BBC you will know the name Sonali Shah, she joins us in conversation to talk about her new book ‘The Best Diwali Ever’ that explores the special relationship held between brother and sister. The Chickpeas explore the essence of what Two Chickpeas in a Podcast is about: what it means to be a British Asian today. What that means to them and how religious festivals can be celebrated the way you want to.  Popular broadcaster Sonali Shah sprinkles Diwali magic this year with ‘The Best Diwali Ever’, a heartening story about family, culture and the traditions of Diwali. The picture book, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, is incredibly rich in colour on every page and brings to life the spirit of Diwali as well as touching on a young brother and sister relationship. ‘The Best Diwali Ever’ also includes a non-fiction spread about Diwali and it is celebrated around the world and how the occasion is observed in different religions.

The Two Chickpeas talk to Sara Nisha Adams, a British Asian author from Wembley who grew up in Hertfordshire and debuts her first book The Reading List. Nisha describes how she grew up feeling as though she didn't quite know where she belonged as a mixed raced British and Asian girl. Nisha also describes how the language barrier of being unable to speak fluent Gujurati didn't hinder her strong bond with her Grandfather as they had a mutual love for Gujurati food. In this episode, Nisha speaks on how the characters have been influenced by people in her life, and how the growth in characters evoke themes and emotions that make us consider our own lives

Some more on The Reading List, available in all good book shops now.

A new chapter is just beginning…

A love letter to reading and some of our best-loved novels, THE READING LIST is the story that everyone needs on their nightstand in 2021.

The Two Chickpeas are back! They are joined by FitnesswithKeisha who is a fitness trainer that specialises in helping women with PCOS. We have recorded this episode as 1 in 5 women are diagnosed with PCOS and Nikkita has been diagnosed with this condition for the last 10 years. There is so much misinformation about the condition that we had to clear up! PCOS is often referred to as 'lazy girl syndrome' but we are here to discuss how it is far from that! PCOS can affect you on a daily basis in regard to your mental health, mood swings, weight gain, hair loss - the symptoms are an endless daily battle and we are here to raise awareness on the matter in PCOS Awareness month! 

@fitnesswithkeisha if you would like to enquire further into her services :) 

@twochickpeasinapodcast if you don't already follow us on Facebook and Instagram! 

Artwork by @auntydoodles

Disclaimer: There may be spoilers! 

The Two Chickpeas were honoured to be invited to Picturehouse London to review Space Jam, A New Legacy! It was amazing to see how the film has adapted to current trends, technology and culture. The film was so nostalgic for anyone who has seen the original film but is a great family hit for audiences who haven't seen the original Space Jam! The Two Chickpeas discuss their love for the film, the giggles they had throughout and how they feel Zendya, who voices Lola Bunny, could have been utilised more in this film. 

Space Jam, A New Legacy is out in cinemas now and we think it is worth the trip! 

A massive thank you to Warner Brothers UK, Media House London and Ritika Sharma.