120 episodes
That Desi Spark (formerly The Woke Desi) ANS Entertainment LLC
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- Society & Culture
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4.4 • 117 Ratings
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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.
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Toxic Masculinity | A Conversation with Clinical Psychology Student Paritosh Joshi
Masculinity and mental health have come under greater scrutiny by the South Asian community in recent years. Clinical Psychology student Paritosh Joshi, a contributor to Brown Girl Magazine, joins TDS to explore how toxic masculinity impacts relationships, upholds patriarchal values, influences mental health, and creates a less inclusive atmosphere for South Asian men to seek mental health resources.
Connect with Paritosh on LinkedIn!
Go to https://betterhelp.com/thatdesispark for 10% off your first month of therapy withBetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help! #sponsored
Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting that Desi spark! -
Period Poverty | A Conversation with Megha Desai, President of the Desai Foundation Around Menstruation in South Asia
1 in 5 girls in South Asia will drop out of school after the onset of their period. Period poverty is a global issue with wide-ranging impact. The Desai Foundation's President, Megha Desai, joins TDS to discuss their initiatives to provide access to education, period products, infrastructure, and more - and above all, dignity.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/thatdesispark for 10% off your first month of therapy withBetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help! #sponsored
Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting that Desi spark! -
Sex Trafficking | A Conversation with Activist and Journalist Ruchira Gupta, Founder of Apne Aap
When journalist Ruchira Gupta traveled across India to find out what was happening to young girls across the country, she stepped into the world of prostitution, sex trafficking, bribes, death threats, and more. Her riveting account of sex trafficking, her founding of Apne Aap - an NGO helping women, girls, and their children in the red light districts of Mumbai, her work with the UN and Hillary Clinton, and above all, hope, are the focus of this episode of TDS.
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Imagine if you had a pair of glasses that did all the work for you by showing you every man’s true colors.
Director and Media Critic, Aneesa Khan’s next short film, “Criteria Kya Hai?” needs your help in celebrating young Pakistani-American women no screen! There's one month left in the film’s Kickstarter campaign! Make a donation and be a part of making this film a reality for more accurate South Asian American media representation!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aneesakhan/what-is-the-criteria-criteria-kya-hai-a-short-film?ref=project_link
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Go to https://betterhelp.com/thatdesispark for 10% off your first month of therapy withBetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help! #sponsored
Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting that Desi spark! -
Never Have I Ever | An Interview with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Star of Never Have I Ever
Netflix' Never Have I Ever's central characters, the Vishwakumar family, were trailblazing for South Asians on screen. Star of the series Maitreyi Ramakrishnan joins TDS to discuss her journey on the show, representation as a South Asian, her favorite memories with Devi, and so much more on this engaging episode.
This episode is sponsored by Reti Swimwear, Recover Season, and Therapy in Color.
Reti Swimwear, inspired by the comfort of warm sand, is a desi-inspired swimwear line. Find them on Instagram at instagram.com/retiswimwear!
Therapy in Colour is a therapy practice that offers Telehealth appointments that blend psychological interventions with cultural understanding. Visit therapyincolour.com today.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/thatdesispark for 10% off your first month of therapy withBetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help! #sponsored
Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting that Desi spark! -
Islam and Sexual Health | A Conversation with Occupational Therapist Sameera Qureshi
Sameera Qureshi, MS OTR, joins TDS to discuss her career with sexual health and Islam - what to do when values and lifestyles clash, issues around not exploring sexuality, how she's educated people about sex, and finding peace with sexual health.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/thatdesispark for 10% off your first month of therapy withBetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help! #sponsored
Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting that Desi spark! -
Anti-AAPI Narratives, Book Bans, and More | A Conversation with Activist, Actress, and Author Sheetal Sheth
Actress from movies like ABCD, bestselling author of "Always Anjali," and "Bravo Anjali," and outspoken activist about all politics but especially those around children, multi-hyphenate Sheetal Sheth joins TDS to discuss anti-AAPI narratives, why book bans are a problem, and how diverse literature changes lives.
Go to https://betterhelp.com/thatdesispark for 10% off your first month of therapy withBetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help! #sponsored
Follow TDS on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and catch up with the hosts, Annika and Nehal, on their personals. Until next time, keep lighting that Desi spark!
Customer Reviews
Needs to be less scripted
Glad they’re willing to talk about what can be taboo topics in the culture but their presentation of the material needs to improve. They obviously write scripts and go line by line making the commentary feel like the news for most of the podcast. I’d recommend a format like the comments by celebs podcasts where they give the “news” but give actual thoughts/opinions so it feels authentic and is fun to listen to. I also hate the intro music but thats probably just be a personal preference.
Toxic
This is a HELLLA toxic podcast
Awakening
I found this podcast recently after reading Annika Sharma’s book, “Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words” (I loved the book and looking forward to the next in the series) and enjoy it immensely. Although I’m not of South Asian descent, the topics are relevant and help me be a more understanding and inclusive person. Thank you so much!