That Desi Spark (formerly The Woke Desi)
That Desi Spark (formerly The Woke Desi)
ANS Entertainment LLC
That Desi Spark, formerly known as The Woke Desi, is a bold podcast created by three founders who recognized a space void of color and conversation around the topics that impact dual-identity, South Asian millennials the most. From education to entertainment and social justice issues to social media trends, That Desi Spark approaches each episode with compassion, advocacy, and information, bolstered by subject-area experts and unfiltered celebrity moments. Founded by healthcare manager/author Annika Sharma, marketing whiz/lifestyle blogger Nehal Tenany, and hedge fund trader/producer Sridhar Pisupati, That Desi Spark ignites conversation, illuminates learning, and sparks a community to own their stories, rise up with confidence, and blaze a path forward. The podcast has been featured in the Times of India, at BBC’s CDX, and on Forbes. They have been featured speakers at multiple conferences, ViacomCBS, and universities. They can be found on the web, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Boundaries with Families | A Conversation with Therapist Divya Robin on Establishing and Setting Boundaries within South Asian Families
Home for the holidays and in need of boundaries with family? TDS has got you covered, alongside Divya Robin, LMHC (@mindmatterswithdiv) who specializes in mental health with South Asian populations and offers an episode full of tips on how to decide if a boundary is right for you, how you should speak up, when you should draw a line, and tips to make it easier because we all know the guilt is real.
Dec 14, 2022
44 min
Egg Freezing | A Conversation with Ranika Kejriwal on freezing eggs at age 30
Ranika is a product manager in tech and got her eggs frozen earlier this year at the age of 30. Conversations around fertility are still stigmatized in the South Asian community and Ranika navigated this short but intense process on her own. Now she is passionate about sharing her journey, normalizing the conversation, and encouraging women to take control of their future and speaks to TDS about the process, the physical effects, factors that influenced her decision and so much more!
Dec 6, 2022
29 min
Love is Blind: Cutie Edition | An Interview with Zanab Jaffrey from Netflix' Love is Blind S3
The ENTIRE South Asian reality television-watching world has opinions on Cutie-gate, the wild conclusion to Love is Blind Season 3 on Netflix! TDS speaks with Zanab Jaffrey, one of the stars of the show, about her experience, mental health, competition amongst South Asians on all the things, what the show didn't include, and so much more.
Nov 22, 2022
34 min
Sakhi for South Asian Women | A Discussion with Anita Bhatia of the Bhatia Foundation and Kavita Mehra of Sakhi
Speaking up for survivors of gender-based violence is more than providing logistical support as they leave harmful situations: it also involves mental health counseling for families, behavioral therapies, access to resources and more. The Bhatia Foundation (led by Anita Bhatia) and Sakhi (led by Kavita Mehra) have partnered to create programs and share their insights on domestic violence within the South Asian community.
Nov 15, 2022
35 min
Racial Equity and Cultural Competence | A Conversation with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Anjali Ferguson
Clinical psychologist Dr. Anjali Ferguson, an expert in racial equity, cultural competence, and trauma - particularly with children - joins TDS to discuss a wide range of subjects: from parenting and advocating for children of color, to trauma-informed therapy, to what cultural competence should look like across settings. 
Nov 8, 2022
45 min
Friendship Breakups | Annika and Nehal Get Real about Ending Friendships
It's back to the core TDS hosts this week as Annika and Nehal explore adult friendships, how breakups of friends can be even more devastating than amorous relationships, how to cope, and how to end a friendship gently.
Nov 1, 2022
44 min
Rebelling with Burhan | A Conversation around South Asians Trans Activism with Burhan
Burhan, a Pakistani non-binary activist, speaks up about the transphobia across the South Asian diaspora, their experiences in both continents, and how we can change the way we speak, act, and think about what transphobia looks like.
Oct 25, 2022
44 min
Mamas Matter Too | A Conversation with Dr. Natasha Sriraman about Postpartum Care
Dr. Natasha Sriraman (@natasha.mom.md) is a pediatrician, postpartum advocate, and author of "Back to You," a book for moms, support systems, and how to make sure moms are taken care during their most vulnerable time.
Oct 18, 2022
46 min
Attachment Styles | A Conversation with Therapist Israa Nasir on South Asians and Attachment Styles
Attachment styles influence every one of our relationships, from family to platonic to romantic - Israa Nasir of Well Guide joins TDS to discuss how these influence our connections, how they can change, and yes, the desi mama's boy stereotype.
Oct 4, 2022
56 min
After the Altar: An Interview with Netflix' Love is Blind stars Deepti Vempati and Natalie Lee
Nehal took LA and had the chance to interview Love is Blind: After the Altar stars Deepti Vempati and Natalie Lee about their stories after the show wrapped, Kyle and Deepti's friendship-to-love story, her upcoming book, and so much more!
Sep 27, 2022
26 min
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