Diasporastan: Recent Episodes
Diasporastan
A pod space for discussions on the South Asian diaspora, both as topic and lens through which to view our world. Hosted & Produced by Maryyum Mehmood and Aditya Desai.
We were thrilled to be guests on the amazing High Theory podcast! Host Saronik Basu interviewed us about -- what else -- the word "Diaspora" and how we approach it.
Music used in promotional material: ‘The Beginning or the End’ by Nicholas Mackin.
High Theory takes on difficult ideas from the academy with irreverence.
http://hightheory.net/podcast/diaspora-with-diasporastan/
Subscribe to it on your favorite pod app!
Akhtar Mohammed joins us to talk about his Fijian background, the history of the South Asian labor trade, Islamic finance ethics, and how that all led to his new book, Islamonomics.
Intro: "Kabi Nai Drao", nvee music.
Outro: "Satoshi Nakamoto", Gramatik
Mid: "Tabla Solo in Vilambit Teentaal", Cassius Khan
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
As Ramadan 2021 begins, writer Maz Halima joins us to discuss how to create conversations around celebrating and observing the holiday when our identities, lifestyles, or health concerns pose challenges and set us on the fringes of what is "traditional". For more resources, please check out:
Imaan, the UK's leading LGBTQ Muslim Charity and Hidaya Foundation, serving the poor and needy in the Muslim population.
Follow Maz on Twitter @MazHalima and follow her newsletter!
Intro: "Husn-e-Haqiqi" by Arieb Azhar and Rohail Hyatt
Outro: "See Me" by Ajah UK
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Our guest is Nathi Ngubane, South African writer & illustrator of the children's book series DUMA SAYS, which teaches kids about how to cope with and protect themselves in the COVID-19 pandemic. He talks to us about what inspired the books, how they reflect the particulars of his South Africa, his background, and more!
Follow Nathi on Twitter @Nkosinaartjie
Intro: "Brand New Day", Emtee feat. Lolli
Outro: "Sponono" Kabza de Small
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Sharmin Hossain, Political Director of Equality Labs, joins us to talk about uprooting and resisting casteism, religious intolerance, gender-based violence, and other oppressions through organizing, digital security, and (possibly), K-Pop stans.
Follow Sharmin on Twitter @sharminultra.
Intro: "Esho Brishti Namai", Habib
Outro: "Laal Meri Pat", Abida Parveen
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Halima Begum, Chief Executive of the Runnymede Trust, joins us to mark one-year of the pandemic quarantine in the UK and how it has affected the BAME population in distinct, particular ways.
Follow Halima on Twitter @Halima_Begum.
Intro: "Only Way Out Is Through", Banglamotorr
Outro: "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano" in Twelve Languages
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Wardah Abbas, co-founder and editor of The Muslim Women Times zooms in from Nigeria to talk about what inspired her to start this project and why it is important for modern Muslimahs to take control of their narratives, both past and present.
Follow @Wardah_abbas and @TMWT_tweets on Twitter.
Intro: "As Real As They Come", Miss Undastood
Outro: "Hijabi", Mona Haydar
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Shivam Bhatt joins us to talk about challenging Hindu fundamentalism and adapting his religious faith, values, and traditions towards contemporary social justice issues.
Follow him on Twitter @elektrotal.
Intro: "Dhalsim's Theme," Capcom's Street Fighter
Outro: "Caught in the Divide" by Punk on Toast
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
We examine the Punjab Farmer's Protest with a duo of interviews.
First, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, British Labour MP for Slough, details his engagement and advocacy for the protest in UK Parliament and politics. Follow him on Twitter @tandhesi.
Next, Gizmodo writer Dharna Noor shares the environmental implications as written in her Earther article, "What India Really Needs To Do To Protect Its Farmers." Follow her on Twitter @dharnanoor.
Songs:
"Jatt Takda Hoja", Jass Bajwa
"Panjab", Sidhu Moose Wala
"Kisaan Anthem", various
"Wapas Jao" (Hindi Bella Ciao), Poojan Sahil
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Manu Chander, Professor of English at Rutgers University-Newark and author of Brown Romantics: Poetry and Nationalism in the Nineteenth Century, joins us to talk about Brownness and its expressions through political & poetic forms.
Read his latest piece on Brown reading at The Rambling: https://the-rambling.com/2021/02/13/ramblist-chander/
Intro: "Poets & Gangstas" by Talib Kweli and Styles P
Outro: "Sunshine" by Mos Def
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
We're back for Season 2! Kicking off with Warda Khokhar, nonfiction editor of the Khidr Collective Zine, a print and digital publication aimed at voicing the needs of young British Muslims.
Follow Warda and the Khidr Collective on Twitter.
Their latest, Issue 4 "Water," is coming soon. All previous issues are available for purchase on their website.
Intro: "Bindis and Bangles" by Raja Kumari
Outro: "XS" by Rina Sawayama
Cover Art by Nirja Desai, @kalakar on IG.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan.
Because its our podcast and we wanted to have some much needed end-of-2020 fun, we recorded a fun chat about Christmas memories with two beloved guests: returning by popular demand, Maryyum's brother Ahmed, and first-timer & Aditya's BFF (one of), Sumil Desai (no relation).
Topics include: Taco Bell, the war on Christmas, holiday movies, the Late Late Toy Show, New Year's resolutions, and more.
Follow Ahmed on Twitter @Y_slap_m
Find Sumil on LinkedIn.
Intro: "Natal" by Samson Garcias via YouTube
Outro: "Jingle Bells - Indian Version" via YouTube
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Lakshmi Sridaran, Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), joins us to talk about her career, SAALT's work, as well as the broader outlook for South Asian American political identity and engagement.
Follow Lakshmi and SAALT on Twitter.
Intro: "Brown Kid" by Anees
Outro: "Vivasayam" by The Casteless Collective
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Filmmaker Rishi Gandhi tells us about his journey to becoming editor, cinematographer, producer, and director of his many projects that use genre, theme, and style to tell stories of nostalgia, loss, and the finding one's self on the big screen.
Follow Rishi on Twitter @RishiJG
Find his work on Vimeo.
Intro: "Movie Over India", Apache Indian
Outro: "Bollywood Blvd", DJ Yung Vamp
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Co-Founder and COO of Global Wonks Bilal Baloch joins us to talk about his career in academia, global policy, and changing the conversation around how field experts apply their knowledge and trade to today's important global conversations.
Follow Bilal on Twitter @bilalabaloch
Intro: "Ho Jamalo", Abida Parveen
Outro: "Flowers" by Jaykae
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Pakistani American author Saadia Faruqi joins us to talk about her career, writing for young brown and Muslim girls, representation in literature, the Yasmin series, and her new book, A Thousand Questions!
Find her @SaadiaFaruqi on Twitter and Instagram.
Intro: "Karachi", Shamoon Ismail
Outro: "Bandar Road Se Kemari", Ahmed Rushdi
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Maryyum and Aditya unpack the results of the US elections and respond to listener's thoughts! Maryyum then tells us about what community faith based leadership can look like going forward with an exciting new Master's program.
Intro: "Ben Haana Wa Maana", DAM
Outro: "For Love, From the Law", Humeysha
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Anthropologist, writer, and podcaster Anar Parikh joins us to talk about political community-making among South Asian Americans. Topics include voting, fascism, the 2020 election, and her Whatsapp Warrior dad.
Follow Anar on Twitter @anarparikh.
Intro: "Young Indian" by Madame Gandhi
Outro: "Kuttandan Punjayile" by Vidya Vox
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Doctor, music producer, film lover, and Maryyum's brother Ahmed Mehmood joins us for a special Halloween episode to talk about horror and thrillers from the subcontinent!
Follow Ahmed on Twitter @Y_slap_M
Intro: "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen" from Baazigar
Outro: "Golimar" from Donga
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
New York based Pakistani home cook extraordinaire Owais Siddiqui (aka the creator of the viral doodh-patti-ice-cream-in-paratha-cone) joins us to talk about everyone's favorite subject - food! We discuss the trends, adaptations, politics, and influences of khana & pakana.
View more of Owais' creations at his Instagram: @owaisiawo
Intro & Outro: "Mittran Ne Dhaba Kholeya" by Mohammad Sadiq & Ranjit Kaur.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Journalist and fiction writer Nur Nasreen Ibrahim joins us to talk about dissent in Pakistan, the motorway incident, the Salam Awards, sci-fi lit, borders, and all manner of reality that feels unreal.
Intro: "Spaces" by Miracle Mangal ft Umair
Outro: "Dosti" by Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Jenny Bhatt joins us to talk about the uses of the term South Asian, Desi, hyphenates (or not), and all of the variations therein.
Follow Jenny on Twitter @jennybhatt. She is a writer, literary critic, and host of the Desi Books podcast.
Intro & Outro: "Show Me the Meaning of Being Desi" by Penn Masala
Clips from standup by Hari Kondabolu.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
We talk to Dr. Fauzia Ahmad of Goldsmith's University of London, about sustaining a career as a South Asian Muslim in precarious faculty positions through personal upheavals, department politics, and most recently, a redundancy that was rescinded after advocacy from colleagues and unions.
Read more:
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Solidarity Letter from Goldsmith's Student Union: https://www.goldsmithssu.org/news/article/6013/Goldsmiths-SU-stands-in-solidarity-with-Dr-Fauzia-Ahmad-and-all-precarious-workers/
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Lecture: 'The British Muslim Marriage Crisis': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGnsvEndD3U
Intro: "Brimful of Asha" by Cornershop
Outro: "Soul School" by Cornershop
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Maryyum tells Aditya about the Pakistani web series Churails, and they discuss the limits and possibilities of "representation" in television and film.
Intro: "Das Main Ki Payar Wicho Khataya", Ghauri
Outro: "Mein", Meesha Shafi
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
We discuss Kamala Harris' nomination for VPOTUS, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, and what it means to have South Asians in the corridors of power.
Intro & Outro: "I'm the Best" by Jaspinder Narula from PHIR BHI DI HAI HINDUSTANI
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
A sneak peak at our episode recorded the week of Kamala Harris' nomination as the Democratic candidate for Vice President, talking about tokenism in politics.
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan
Welcome to Diasporastan! On the week of both Pakistan and India's Independence days, discuss our diaspora stories, and our relationships to these countries and our new ones, and attempt to figure out what the show is and could be.
Intro: "Bel Balad", Sotosura
Outro: "Ina Mina Dika", Goldspot
Comments & suggestions for future topics: diasporastanpod@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @diasporastan