The Maansik Meets Podcast

Maansik

The Maansik Meets Podcast is a podcast presented by the Maansik Meets team from the greater Maansik Movement group. We look to bring perspectives and voices of the greater south asian community to speak on topics that need to be highlighted and heard.

Episodes

  1. Jan 12

    Maansik Meets Episode 1 | Featuring Ravia Dhaliwal | Substance Use and Drug Addiction in the South Asian Community

    In this episode of Maansik Meets, we dive into a complex and often unspoken topic: addiction in the Punjabi community — what drives it, how it is experienced by families, and what culturally-sensitive support could look like. Our special guest is Ravia Dhaliwal, community organizer, researcher, and advocate, whose work focuses on substance use, cultural barriers to care, and community-led approaches to support. Ravia’s research — rooted in her own lived experiences and academic work on Punjabi-Canadian alcohol use and addiction — sheds light on how cultural expectations, stigma, and inaccessible resources shape the way addiction is understood and treated.  Together, we explore: How alcohol and opioids intersect with cultural norms and immigrant experiences Why many families struggle to recognize addiction as a health issue The barriers Punjabi individuals face in finding meaningful help The role of mental health, gender expectations, and community stigma in substance use Ways our communities can better support loved ones through education, empathy, and culturally grounded care Whether you’re personally affected, supporting someone you care about, or simply want to understand how culture and health interact in meaningful ways, this conversation offers insight, compassion, and a call to rethink how we talk about addiction. Tune in for a thoughtful, important discussion that bridges research, lived experience, and real possibilities for change.

About

The Maansik Meets Podcast is a podcast presented by the Maansik Meets team from the greater Maansik Movement group. We look to bring perspectives and voices of the greater south asian community to speak on topics that need to be highlighted and heard.