Amituckeredout

A podcast interviewing South Asian trailblazers around the world. We discuss growing up brown, personal journeys, and topics we could never talk about in front of those aunties and uncles we grew up with.

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From the start, DJ Kayper knew that she belonged behind the turntables- scratching, producing and making waves in an industry traditionally dominated by men.  From writing fake letters to her parents so she could sneak out to deejay to working with legends such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Diplo to letting Chris Brown know what's up, Kayper has been fearless and focused throughout her journey.  This music savant has not only become a trailblazer for South Asians, she has definitely proved one thing to everyone time and time again-don't judge a DJ by her cover. If there were any doubts that "chicks" can deejay, Kayper is happy to prove you wrong.  

Internationally acclaimed performer, philanthropist, author, and public speaker Lisa Rani Ray does not shy away from a challenge.  With a career that spans three decades and several continents, this trailblazer has a reputation for taking on issue-orientated films with courage and grace.   The two of us get a chance to play catch-up after 18 years (I basically was a chaiwallah on her movie set) and talk about it all.  From her first taste of public attention, to working in Bollywood in the 90's, to how serendipity has really played a major role throughout her career.  We talk about how all the unexpected turns in her life, including her multiple myeloma diagnosis, led her to completing her memoir, Close to the Bone, and her plans to continue writing in the future.  From motherhood to breaking it down with Govinda to pet names for our hubby's, we pretty much cover it all.  Let me tell you guys, I would be a chaiwallah for this fascinating woman any day.  

Celebrity chef, restaurateur, author, and overall superwoman Maneet Chauhan knows a thing or two about best-laid plans...they often tend to go awry.  From India to Nashville, we talk about her journey and relationship with food, what it is really like building a business with her husband, how she didn't know she was going to have twins and why she was born to be a judge on Food Network's Chopped. We discuss her upcoming book CHAAT and the epic train ride through India that inspired it as well as her support for the #BLM movement and what it felt like to open up a few of her restaurants in the time of Covid. After this interview, a road trip to Nashville will be happening.  

Ameeth Sankaran is CEO of the Religion of Sports, a Media company co-founded by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and Gotham Chopra. He is also an Executive Producer of Tom vs. Time, Stephen vs. the Game, Headstrong: Mental Health and Sports, and the Why Sports Matter podcast among others. We sit down and chat about why this is more than just a media company and the unique ways the team is engaging with communities around the world to help bring to life uplifting sports stories. He tells me about his first time sitting around the table with the company’s co-founders, what they do to continually strive to create new and unique content through various platforms, and how he is basically living out his fandom.  We discuss #BLM and the ways ROS has been contributing to this conversation from day one.  I let Ameeth know that if Tom wants to grab a drink, I’ll figure out a way to free up my schedule.   Show Notes: https://www.religionofsports.com https://www.instagram.com/religionofsports https://www.facebook.com/religiono

It's time to toy around!  Ok, sorry, had to let that out.  We got a chance to sit down and get to know the co-founder of Modi Toys, Avani Modi Sarkar,  in this interview where she talked about it all. From moving to the US and her deep connection to the India to how she was able to create her own little India here to how Modi Toys transformed into a family business.  She gives advice for those who want to start their own entrepreneurial journey and why her mom is unofficially the CEO of the company (and life in general).  She also gives us some insight into some new products and answers our fun lightning round.     For those of you that have kids (and even those that don't), her mantra-singing Baby Ganesh plush is definitely a unique product that you must check out!     Show Notes: https://www.moditoys.com https://www.instagram.com/moditoys https://www.facebook.com/moditoysfortots https://amituckeredout.com https://www.instagram.com/amituckeredout http://www.facebook.com/amituckeredout Email Us: amituckered

It’s the ultimate story of friendship- childhood buddies turned fellow models turned business partners working in one of the world’s most exciting industries.  Megha Rao and Pooja Desai Shah both fell in love with fashion- but they were ready to carve their own unique path. We had a blast chatting with them a few weeks ago where they shared their personal stories and how holiChic by Megha was born.  Tune in as they talk about how fashion in India has changed over the years, who they consider to be the ultimate Indian designer, what their biggest hurdles were launching a fashion brand and who they would love to collaborate with.  They also leave us hanging with an exciting teaser which I’m still trying to figure out! The takeaway from this episode? Stay true to yourself. "Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude." —Iris Apfel   Show Notes: https://www.holichi

From the plantations of Kerala to her backyard, Monica blends and delivers spices in her chai with her own unique and delicious twist.   Although Monica currently has her own boutique consulting firm, she considers The Chai Box to be her other full-time job and credits the time teaching her kids about the Indian culture as the origins of her company. Listen in and learn about how she became a spice snob, how chai has been murdered in the US and what chai really does mean to her. And, of course, why Parle-G biscuits still rock!   Monica's mantra when it comes to taking the leap into entrepreneurship- The pain passes, but the beauty remains.   Show Notes: https://thechaibox.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thechaibox/ https://www.facebook.com/thechaibox/   https://amituckeredout.com   Email Us: amituckeredout@gmail.com

Varsha Mathur has one main goal- to uproot cultural stigmas and taboos with coaching and blogging topics related to dating, marriage, divorce and to focus on goals, communications skills and above all, mindfulness.   After attending her first Indian wedding post-divorce, Varsha was inspired to change the course of her career and work with women who were struggling through bad relationships just as she had.  Growing up in a culture where dating and sex was not talked about, Varsha realized that many of her peers had gone through similar experiences and felt that she could help fill that void.   We talk about everything from dating as teenagers, to her first marriage to what her program, KnowingLuxe, is all about.  Check out Varsha's program at KnowingLuxe.com and give her a call to see if this is something for you.  We know we're ready for our second call with her.   Links from the Show: http://www.knowingluxe.com http://www.instagram.com/knowingluxe  

Filmmaker Shruti Rya Ganguly may be a successful producer, director, writer and perpetual student of the arts, but she will tell you that when it comes to making chai, she would fail miserably.  From her childhood in Oman to shooting in her favorite location, Ethiopia, Shruti's story is one for the books (speaking of which, she just got an essay published in one). We talk about her roots and what drove her to finally come to terms with the idea of pursuing the arts as an actual career.  From working as a intern on Bollywood films to getting her MFA/MBA to starting her very own shop,  she talks to us openly about some of her setbacks and regrets but most importantly, lessons learned, starting over and her support system.  She has worked with the likes of MFA classmate James Franco, collaborated with actor and producer Keanu Reeves and has helped grow brands such as Conde Nast, NYLON and MTV.  And that's just to name a few things. The best part of the interview was learning that the Shruti I met 9 years ago at

How about that time you interviewed someone you just met and became best friends immediately.  That's what happened to us after we talked with Simmi Patel, founder and creator of Paper Samosa, a fantastic and innovative brand that produces artwork with a touch of  Indian masala and Western pop culture-tightly wrapped in a crispy light-hearted shell of course.  We talk about everything from pigs on farms to why Simmi really dances like no aunties are watching- she just goes with whatever dance move feels right.    Learn how she quit her 9-5, made decisions based on the weather and what she wants her followers to takeaway from her brand.     Not only will you fall in love with her work, you will want to hang out with her in SF, I guarantee you.   Pancakes guys, always go with pancakes.   Links from the Show: http://www.papersamosa.com http://www.simmipatel.com http://www.instagram.com/paper.samosa ___________________________________ http://www.instagram.com/amituckeredout 

Damn if feels good to be a podcaster.     We're bbbaaaaccccckkkkkkkk!!!  Nizar (@nizarbabul) and I (@amituckeredout) had to take a small break this summer so I could officially become a Arkansonian (is that a word?). In our relaunch episode, we talk about the move to this "flyover state" and how it feels to live here as a South Asian, especially during the insane political environment in which we're living now. We are also joined by two guests, Raj Suresh (@rajdoescomedy) and Shabana Kauser (@shabanakauserart)  who discuss their careers, compare accents, and explain how living in this region has helped shaped their specific artforms.   We're so excited to relaunch Season 1 with this #browntabletalk and are happy to be back and plugged into a headphone near you.

She started out dancing before she started walking. She was the first South Asian dancer to enter the LA scene. She toured with Madonna. She's the Girl on the Yellow Dress in La La Land. She takes fashion to another level. From talking about Superman chadis to to the politics of dancing to becoming a forest ranger, Reshma Gajjar has been a South Asian Trailblazer since she was born.   Listen to how she started off in the dance world why she got her biology/business law degree, what happened during her Bombay Dreams tryouts and how she lives in the moment every day.   She is my good friend, a Shaft Crew member, a daughter, a sister, a wife. She is an artist in every sense of the word. And we could not stop laughing the entire time.

We have an editor-in-chief in da house! Now if that's not boss, I don't know what is. Our crew had a chance to chat with the indomitable Supriya Dravid, the woman in charge of one of the largest magazine brands in the world, ELLE India. Ever wonder about what an editor-in-chief does? How about how extremely cool Mindy Kaling is? And does the Bollywood audience support Priyanka Chopra's rise to fame in the US? Well, let me tell you, we chat about it all..and them some. Learn about the many hats Supriya wears, her journey to becoming editor-in-chief, the stories that she is most proud of and how beauty and fashion magazines are evolving into something more than skin deep.   Thank you Supriya for taking the time out during your VACATION in Thailand to chat with us....we're not jealous or anything....   Check out ELLE India to read more great content and listen in to hear about their upcoming projects!

I don't know about you guys but I didn't realize that the Instapot could perform miracles! In this episode of Browntable Talks, we sit down with the ladies behind "Instapottin' With Poonam" and talk about it all. From how they all met to how Kinky Boots played a role in coming up with the whole idea. I even get the opportunity to jump into one of their videos and learn to make my own Instapot dish! Between the wine glasses and the random Gujurati busting out, this interview was definitely cooking! (see what I did there?) 

We’re baaaaaccccckk!!! After a little bit of a break due to honeymoons in New Zealand, trips to Iceland and packing boxes for an upcoming move, our crew is back with a fascinating South Asian trailblazer interview!!   Dr. Tara Narula Cangello is a cardiologist, professor, director and medical journalist with CBS. We talk to her about growing up Sikh-Italian in Miami, the hardest cases she’s had to work on and how she literally carved her own path to become a medical journalist. We also get personal with some motherhood talk while Dr. Tara schools us about the number one health concern in the South Asian community (hint, hint, something to do with the heart).   Find out why serendipity is her favorite word and hear the story of how her parents first met. Super pumped to ramp up the show again with this amazing trailblazer!

It's an update folks! In this mini-episode, we discuss what we've been up to the past week, our takeaways from the first few months after launching AmiTuckeredOut, why we may be a little M!A over the next 2 weeks, and a teaser on a few of our upcoming dynamic guests. You don't want to miss these upcoming episodes, trust me.  Otherwise you'll feel like that kid who gets picked last on the soccer field....LEFT OUT.   Stay tuned for some big changes happening soon...we're just getting ramped up people!  Ok, I'll stop putting two sugars in my coffee...

It's time to get political! In this episode of South Asian trailblazers, we talk to Communications Specialist and my college friend Parag V. Mehta. We start off our interview discussing our University of Texas at Austin days as dandia/raas champions (of course) to how the story of Matthew Shepard changed his life.   We then get into Parag's impressive and expansive experience in the D.C. political scene. He addresses many important issues such as South Asians in government and their evolution as activists, questions regarding Proposition 8, his reflections on Hillary Clinton's devastating loss, what happened when Vivek Murthy (our first Indian Surgeon General) was "relieved" of his duty and how to find hope in our crazy political atmosphere today.   He also highlights the story of falling asleep while taking the MCAT's, attending the first White House Diwali party organized by his friend Kal Penn, his upcoming big fat Indian wedding, Texas style of course, with his partner Vaibhav and how lotion became a subj

Who doesn't love sitting around chatting it up with some chicks and salsa?  And maybe some tequila. On this week's episode, we get to laugh it up with the ladies from the Chicks and Salsa Blog, Rina Puri, Sonia Shah and Avani Patel.   We cover everything from our prom nights to rollin' rotis to why Avani slays all day. They give me the inside scoop on how it really is to work together as best friends and sisters and what their ultimate goal is for the Chicks and Salsa brand.   And really, how well do they know each other?  We decide to test the ladies in our final segment of the episode by asking them some super deep, insightful questions.  You know, AmiTuckeredOut style.   Get ready to laugh it up during this candid, honest and #momsoffduty episode!