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Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

Written by: Times of India
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What does it really mean to build a life between worlds? Diaspora Dialogues is a Times of India podcast hosted by Sujatha Padmanabhan. A conversation series for the millions of South Asians living between cultures and building new lives while carrying the old ones forward. We sit down with innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and changemakers from across the South Asian diaspora and ask the questions that don't usually make the headlines. What shaped them. What guides them. And what pulls them back. Honest conversations about identity, ambition, belonging, and the quiet responsibility so many of us feel to give back. New episodes every two weeks. Stream on your favorite podcast platform. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI ™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati - click here to know more and Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions - click here to know more Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Growing Up Desi in America: Kal Penn on Defying Expectations | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    Growing Up Desi in America: Kal Penn on Defying Expectations | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    Jun 24 2026
    Growing up in North America with South Asian roots often means living between two worlds. Kal Penn sits down with Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ to break down the real pressures of balancing Indian American identity with professional success. Whether it was navigating the stereotypical roles in Hollywood or finding his voice in the White House, Kal’s story is the story of so many in our community. In this episode, we dive into: The reality of the South Asian American experience in mainstream media. Defying the "model minority" myth. How the diaspora is reclaiming the narrative. This is a space for our community. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced navigating your own path as a first-gen or second-gen immigrant? Let us know in the comments below. 👇 Time stamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:36 Story of the ‘Kal Penn’ Screen Name 9:53 Stories from The Namesake 14:50 Growing up as a Diaspora kid 20:44 Kal Penn on his Gujarati heritage 21:54 Kal Penn on the Harold and Kumar film series 28:53 Kal Penn’s experience working with the Government 34:16 Kal Penn on his relationship with social media 36:10 Has the Media Landscape changed? 38:05 Kal Penn on Zohran Mamdani 44:35 Will Kal Penn ever run for a public office? 46:13 Kal Penn on his Podcast 48:40 Kal Penn on trying his hand at stand-up comedy 52:34 What’s next for Kal Penn? 📸 Follow us on: Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesbytoi/ Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 🎧Listen to us on: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience. Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ and Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en
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    55 mins
  • Chef Vijay Kumar on Why He Refused to Simplify Indian Food for the West | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    Chef Vijay Kumar on Why He Refused to Simplify Indian Food for the West | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    Jun 10 2026
    Why is Indian food always expected to be affordable? Chef Vijay Kumar has been asking that question for years, and Semma is his answer. Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with one of the most celebrated South Indian chefs in the world about food racism, diaspora identity, and the restaurant that made New York rethink Tamil cuisine entirely. From his grandmother's snail curry to a James Beard Award, Vijay breaks down what it took to get here and why none of it came easy. All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:38 - What does ‘Semma’ mean? 4:48 - Chef Vijay Kumar's Story 6:07 - Growing Up & His Parents' Reaction 9:28 - Facing Racism & Bullying as a Chef 10:40 - Why He Chose to Become a Chef 14:46 - How Semma Became NYC's Hottest Restaurant 16:56 - Rich food vs poor food 24:01 - Food, Identity & Being Unapologetically Indian 28:50 - The Emotional Connection to Food 30:19 - Winning the James Beard Award 36:30 - Is Indian food too spicy? 41:12 - How to make Idli batter? 43:05 - His Advice for Aspiring Indian Chefs 📸 Follow us on: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesshow/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784 🎧Listen to us on: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience. Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh and Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. https://sistarmortgage.com/
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    47 mins
  • The Chai Business That Got Hasan Minhaj's Attention | Kolkata Chai Co.'s Million Dollar Story | Diaspora Dialogues TOI™

    The Chai Business That Got Hasan Minhaj's Attention | Kolkata Chai Co.'s Million Dollar Story | Diaspora Dialogues TOI™
    May 27 2026
    At a time when America saw chai as a sugary latte, Ani and Ayan Sanyal decided to change the story. Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with the founders of Kolkata Chai Co. about how they built a million-dollar business rooted in culture, not trends. In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, we go behind the scenes of the Hasan Minhaj partnership and the long road of entrepreneurship - from selling at NYC farmers' markets to surviving COVID shutdowns. We discuss: - Growing up as 1st Gen Indian Americans in the 90s. - The nostalgia of Kolkata summers and "Adda" culture. - The pressure of running a startup with family. - Why authenticity is the ultimate business advantage. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - The Hook: Hasan Minhaj & Kolkata Chai 4:10 - Growing up in 90s America & Kolkata Summers 8:25 - The ‘Chai = Connection’ Moment 10:24 - Starting at a NYC Farmer's Market 14:01 - Selling Chai in a Coffee Country 22:12 - Convincing Parents for a Chai Startup 26:10 - On Being Brothers and Business Partners 32:04 - Surviving COVID Two Months After Opening 36:55 - The Hasan Minhaj Partnership Story 42:41 - What’s Next for Kolkata Chai Co. 45:44 - Making a Perfect Cup of Chai 📸 Follow us on: Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesshow/⁠ Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠
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    50 mins
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