Episode 2.00: Coming soon: Season 2! The People's Podcast

In this transitional episode, I discuss how the focus of this podcast is shifting more towards emotional education, in addition to awareness of mental health and wellness, what the key differences are, and why. New, full episodes coming October 2nd.

When this podcast first began, it was about discussing mental illness and wellness issues and how they look for us Desis. It was about how as a people we share similar resentments, and we used our platform to explore sociological and historical factors that have combined to define what it means to be Desi today. Over time, I learned that by constantly examining and reflecting on my own life and history, I was NOT a victim of the things that happened to me. All of the oppression, confusion, pain, and shame we all experience in our lives are NOT just there to hurt us. They are just a part of our education. We need to challenge, question and interrogate these resentments until we understand them, and resolve them.

The inception of this podcast helped me realize that my purpose here on this Earth is to lift and empower others using whatever facilities I have at my arsenal. This has translated into all facets of my life. Most recently, I made a career switch from a full-time mechanical engineer and consumer product designer to education. Now, I’m teaching design, art, math, physics, English, across all ages and demographics, to anyone who wants to know. And because as an educator I’m constantly mulling over what traditional school pedagogy is missing (hint: empathy, relatability, holistic learning - honestly, I could go on and on), it really was just a matter of time before I started to see an analogous gap in the education of not just the Desi, but the human condition.

Education should be present, and people-centered. Looking at sociology and history are essential, but can only take us so far in understanding the emotionality and conflict of the Desi condition. And vice versa. That’s why this podcast is going to see some small but crucial changes as I guide it towards comprehensive emotional education. This podcast is about more than the fact that desis don’t talk about mental illness. It is about the aspects of our culture and history that feed into and exacerbate mental health conditions, discouraging empathy while encouraging destructive tendencies. It is about the conflict of aspiring to be more than our legacies, contrasted with negotiating culture shock.

Finally, this podcast is my labor of love for the world. Because I have begun to find some peace with my place here. Education is how I stay connected, and how I stay present. It helps me to know that I'm real, and I belong. That’s why the new logo is brown and green, to represent how our bodies and the Earth are one and the same. I hope you stay with me on this journey. This may be a "me" effort, but you're all here doing this thing with me.

I know, it’s been a minute. Let's do the damn thing. Trailer for Season 2 (with more info) coming Sept 25th. Season 2 coming Oct 2nd.

Listen here.