Social Media can both make and break stereotypes. Everyone knows the contentious state in which post-colonial Hindustan was left in and how the partition resulted in religious divides, many injustices and hurt sentiments. We seldom hear positive stories so, an Instagram reel on life in Pakistan initiated by Pakistani Hindu influencers Deepna Rajput and Prekshi Boparai along with their younger cousin, created much buzz on social media. We sat down with Prekshi Boparai (@prekshi.boparai), a social media microinfluencer and 4th year medical student, to listen to her personal experience about life in Pakistan as a modern Hindu woman. She breaks several stereotypes and enlightens us on how a post digital world has helped bridge several gaps between stereotypes, but also, how the current news media at times plays a role in continuing to keep divisive narratives and stereotypes alive for the average citizens of the world. Brown History link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QRV96skGrgyBTPIyeNI8x?si=1qpZCzUgQYSNHY-DmIASMA

For many of us, time spent playing or engaging in sports is time wasted on academics! If you grew up in a south Asian household, you would be lucky to have family and society actively encourage you to participate in extracurriculars. This narrative couldn't be truer for our guest this episode, Dr. Srikanth Nithyanandam. Having been raised predominantly in south India, interspersed with his trips to meet his parents in Thailand, he grew up seeing two different lifestyles. This unique experience has driven his passion to establish himself in the field of sports and family medicine in Kentucky, USA. He has a YouTube Channel @drsrikanthnithyanandammd where he shares evidence based knowledge and exercise tips to help manage various aspects of health like diabetes, arthritis and postpartum care just to name a few. He candidly gives us evidence based care tips on how to manage our lifestyle to keep our genetic predispositions, like diabetes and arthritis, at bay.

Talking about the south Asian body can be complicated one as it is often associated with physical appearance that is constantly under scrutiny by south Asian 'aunties' and family members. But, way beyond our appearance or weight, there are so many other factors that determine your health. We talk to Dr. Preyasi Kothari to guide us through how our genetics may put us at risk for certain ailments and how we should be rethinking how we care for our bodies specific to those risk factors. Dr. Preyasi Kothari is an ER physician, certified physical trainer and health coach who uses evidence based techniques to guide her clients to achieve their health goals. You can visit her website www.preysmd.com or follow her on Instagram @preysmd to get your daily dose of science backed inspiration to stay healthy and incorporate healthier habits in your life.

In this episode, we tackle a question commonly asked by NRI parents who move abroad with their growing child, particularly those approaching puberty and teenagers. Parenting teens can be tough but nurturing them while they navigate a different world outside and within (aka hormones) can be quite stressful for both parent and child. Tune in for an open and honest conversation with practical advice from our hosts Nimi & Keerthi!

In this minisode, host Keerthi Jan, an academic writer with degrees in psychology and health systems management, walks you through the advantages and challenges of a child raised in two different countries and cultures. Their world view is a result of not just psychological, but some neurological components as well. Third culture kids (TCKs) are often misunderstood and characterised by their ability to camouflage their traits that stand out and blend into any society as adults. But, how true is this? What happens to those who fail to accept the move? We briefly cover all this and more in this minisode.

Aarty Gurung (@close_to_sunshine on Instagram) hails from Dehradun in India. She and her husband had fallen in love with Sweden from during their many travels across the globe. But of all the countries they had visited, Sweden beckoned their hearts again and again. Having had settled in India with a strong community, family, and the luxuries of having an established business called Armour in Dehradun, they finally took the courageous step to act upon their calling. Along with their thirteen-year-old son (at the time), Aarty and her family moved, she joined college again and started their dream cafe cum bistro in Stockholm called Aama Himalayan Kitchen where they specialise in her famous Himalayan cuisines. Their journey wasn't without its immense challenges. Party talks to us with full transparency as to how she embarked on what she calls, a life expedition, and how she is working hard towards building her future in Sweden while having started from scratch.

Raji Kaippallil is a millenial money expert, British Bank Awards finalist and astute financial coach @financewithraji who gives direct answers to our money and investing questions. As south Asians, the emphasis on saving and bargaining is well ingrained into our minds, but has this contributed to a scarcity mindset prevalent in many millenials of our culture? Where should we start with investing? Which country? Raji talks about how a multicultural view made her think about money differently and shares her knowledge without gatekeeping her secrets to financial success with all of us. Here are some resources she has shared with us for free! Click here for her e-book! Click here for her website

Dr. Flora Sinha is an internal medicine physician and a mindset transformation coach. With a passion for spreading awareness on infertility as an IVF warrior herself, she gets candid about the pressures of society as a woman in desi circles and how we, through her examples, can also set boundaries to protect our mental health. Hailing from a Gujarati-American immigrant family, she provides first-hand advice on coming to grips with bicultural identity and passing down culture to the next generation. She gives the listeners practical steps for their journey to mental health, healthy community building, dealing with social media clutter, new-age parenting and much more! If you would like to book a mindfulness consultation with Dr. Sinha, you can reach out to her by DMing her on instagram @drflorasinha or by emailing her at [email protected]. The Coconut Culture is a podcast hosted by Dr. Nimi and Keerthi. It covers a mixed bag of desi issues and news that the global diaspora is influenced by. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow this podcast to stay tuned for our subsequent episodes!

In this infotainment episode, we take a look at the perception of culturally sensitive issues by sociologically dissecting the the case of Apu from The Simpsons and Raj from The Big Bang Theory. Peppered with personal anecdotes and opinions from Keerthi and Nimi's lives, this episode is bound to get you wondering if, by popular opinion, first-generation abroad raised Desis are softer and more easily offended than their native counterparts.

Priya Bajaj, who founded @itsokyaaar with her husband shortly after immigrating to the US from India, shares with us her take on being a first-generation immigrant and the challenges that come with it. Immigration isn't a journey for everyone but it definitely has its perks. We discuss all things marriage, relationships, friendships, mental health and society. This episode has something that almost all first-gen immigrants can relate to.