Invisible India | Navigating Indian Culture With Love: Recent Episodes
Jessica Kumar
Jessica Kumar is an American development advocate living in Bihar, India. She engages in powerful & empathetic interviews to shed light on lesser known aspects of Indian culture, founded in cultural anthropology, sprinkled with hints of modern relationships.
Join us to hear diverse voices, stereotype breakers & interesting people who are experts in: -language learning (specifically acquisition of South Asian languages) -breaking stereotypes about racial identity -cross-cultural parenting -interracial relationships, navigating cross-cultural marriage -gender roles -doing business in India
Tajammul Islam talks about growing up in Kashmir and becoming an international kickboxing champion at a very young age. The interview is less about medals and more about what it took emotionally and socially to get there.She did not grow up with an environment that naturally encouraged girls to pursue combat sports. There were societal expectations, criticism from people around her, and practical obstacles. Yet her family — especially her father — continued supporting her.She explains how discipline became part of her identity very early. Training wasn’t dependent on motivation. It became routine, sacrifice, and responsibility.Dr Sujit Paul, corporate tycoon, but also personal coach and mentor, interviews Tajammul about the challenges in her life and how she grew up in such a conservative state in India, yet still found her passion.
This video is shared with permission from Dr Sujit Paul. Be sure to check out his other videos as he uncovers stories of amazing people overcoming barriers and finding their true calling in life.
www.sujitpaul.com
Given his crossover work between corporate work, personal growth and spirituality, you will see why I wanted to have him on the show.
Shared with courtesy from Dr Sujit Paul.
See the full YouTube version here.
What do you think about consciousness? What happens after death?
Dr. Sujit Paul is a dedicated and passionate individual with a mission to help others unlock their full potential. With an impressive 25+ years of experience in personal development and holistic coaching, he has established himself as a trusted expert in the field. He is also a veteran executive having worked for some of the largest brands in India.
He and Jessica had a full conversation about spirituality, and how people can live their best lives. Watch the full episode 96 on India with Jessica on YouTube here.
Find out more about Dr. Sujit Paul and his counseling and mentoring services at www.sujitpaul.com
There are 5 common mistakes that most Hindi learners make and I have solutions for each of them.
Whether is it speaking informally or following "bookish" Hindi, there are easy fixes for them all. Getting confused while Indians speak fast, freezing while speaking Hindi or getting confused with grammar, we have answers.
Mentioned in the episode
Free Hindi Roadmap
Hindi Learner's Corner- Consult one on one with Jessica
Hindi Membership
See the video version on YouTube!
Jessica spills all the tea with Chandra Chandhok, who brings her into the Verona Matchmaking ecosystem, where there are no rules and ANYTHING can be said. Jessica and Chandra dive into an hour long conversation about cross-cultural marriage, specifically what it is like to be in an Indian-American relationship.
In this episode:
- Do cultural differences really make that big of a difference?
- Beyond the sparks, what makes a marriage last?
- How do you deal with controlling in-laws?
- How do you deal with the stereotypes people have about India?
Listen in and comment on social media if you want to share about your experiences.
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Mentioned in the episode:
Jessica's newest course "Intermediate Hindi Grammar Level One."
If you're beyond basic Hindi and want to become more fluent, this is the course for you!
Also check out "Interacting Confidently with Indian Family and In-Laws," which is a course specifically for those who want to communicate better with their own Indian family or Indian partner's family.
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Sign up for my newsletter HERE to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content!
See all my Hindi courses! www.learnhindianywhere.com
Most of us could use help in connecting better with our in-laws, especially when their is a culture gap.
In episode 93, Jessica Kumar talks about her top 3 strategies for building bridges with Indian in-laws as an American married to an Indian. There is no sure fire way to a perfect relationship, but these 3 things go a long way and can win over most aunties and uncles and give them a positive impression.
My new course "Interacting Confidently with Indian Family and In-Laws" covers Hindi that you need to know as well as sociological concepts which will help you navigate tricky relationships!
Perfect For:
- Romantic partners of Indians who want to better understand Indian family culture
- NRIs looking to improve interaction with elders
- Brides and grooms of Indian origin preparing for their wedding
- Indians living abroad who want to stay connected with family traditions and customs
- Anyone attending an Indian wedding who wants to practice Hindi before the event
See the 14 part course here-- it includes video lessons, homework, audio files and printable materials to help you better interact with Indian family members.
All my courses at www.learnhindianywhere.com
Hindi Membership Interest List/ Waiting List
By dropping your email you are joining the update and waitlist for the Hindi membership, launching in January 2026! This is not a commitment to sign up, but an interest list for those of you who would be interested in joining a group where we have live classes, an exclusive platform and weekly prompts for greater accountability.
Drop your info here
Gunjan Bradshaw Saini and Jessica have a completely different situation, yet much in common. Gunjan is Punjabi married to an American man. Jessica is American married to a Bihari man. While Gunjan and Jessica may seem to be on opposite sides of life, they have similar misunderstandings, culture clashes and hilarious moments with their families and husband's families as well.
Gunjan and Jessica discuss the juiciest listener questions in this episode and talk through our personal experiences about cross-cultural conflicts.
Related Episodes:
Episode 63 Behind the Scenes of an Indian-American Marriage
Episode 59 Help! I'm in Love with an Indian
Episode 42 What We Would Change About Our Indian American Wedding
Sign up for my newsletter HERE to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content!
See all my other courses! www.learnhindianywhere.com
India has an ecosystem of multilingualism. Yet there is an immense pressure to let go of indigenous languages which are less frequently used and adopt majority languages like Hindi. In India, the modern hierarchy of languages puts English on top, major languages like Hindi in the middle and regional languages and dialects on the bottom. A sad state of linguicide is occurring in India and regional languages are being lost.
Listen in to my conversation with the Lexicon Club at Patna Women's College in Patna, Bihar. The conversation covers my personal experiences, thoughts on regional language retention and a vibrant question and answer session with the bright young women of Patna Women's College.
Related Episodes 41 "Exploring Indian Education"
Episode 78 "Indian vs Western Education."
Episode 1 "Why Did We Move Back to India?"
Sign up for my newsletter HERE to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content!
See all my other courses! www.learnhindianywhere.com
What do kids need to prepare for the future? Are the current educational philosophies of today cutting it?
I dove deep into conscious, self-driven learning with Ms Lina Ashar.
Ms. Lina Ashar. is a renowned and prominent educationist. Not only has she started She has started over 100 centres in India, Dubai, Qatar, and Maldives today.Ms. Ashar founded Billabong High International School, was was ranked one of the top 10 international schools in india.
Her newest venture, Dreamtime Learning School, one of its kind education-first schools exploring conscious learning and online schooling for kids in India and beyond. But today, we go far outside the boundaries of education between east and west and talk about preparing kids for the future while equipping them with the technological tools of today, right thinking patterns and self-driven learning.
Related Episodes 41 "Exploring Indian Education"
and 78 "Indian vs Western Education."
See a short YouTube Version on my channel.
Sign up for my newsletter HERE to get Hindi learning deals and updates on new content!
What kind of questions can you expect to be asked by the average person in India?
As a person who has lived in India for almost 2 decades, I have heard a lot of odd questions and underlying assumptions about foreigners. Hear my reaction to the top 5 overly personal questions, invasive or just plain strange questions I get asked regularly in India. Understand more about Indian culture from this video and learn Hindi with me at www.learnhindianywhere.com where I have online video courses which you can do at your own pace. ____ Learn Hindi with me! ____
I currently have 5 courses: -Hindi Hacks - beginner course -Overcome Hindi Pronunciation Pitfalls- beginner/intermediate course -Hindi Grammar Foundations- beginner course -Kids' Hindi Kickstarter Course- kids age 4-10 beginner course -Travel Hindi You Will Actually Use I also do one on one consults to help you get assessed and figure out how you get from where you are to where you want to be! SEE ALL COURSES HERE https://learn-hindi-anywhere.teachable.com/
Does India seem intimidating? Are you afraid you'll do something which may offend people when you visit? Or even if you attend an Indian function outside of India, what do you do?
In this episode, Jessica shares a number of stupid things she did and mistakes she has made over the years, with humor and lessons attached.
She also talks a fair amount about overcoming a white saviorism mentality and learning to take a back seat to Indian leadership.
Additional Resources:
- No White Saviors - Instagram
- Episode 41 The Indian Education System
- Book- When Helping Hurts especially helpful if you are a person of Christian faith. But also relevant for everyone to understand basic principles of development amongst the developing communities.
We also had a mic malfunction for part of the episode. Apologize for some muffled sound in the middle.
Is India safe for foreign travelers? I believe that in 95% of situations, having the right skills and language will help you get out of sketchy situations.
But how?
With most Hindi travel guides out there, the book is going to teach "Namaste, Mera naam Jessica hai. Aap kaise hain? Aapka naam kya hai?" While these are not bad things to learn, but actually not that important if you’re just trying to survive in India.
But what are the things you need to know? How to book a taxi and how to give directions to an Uber coming to pick you up. How to get out of an uncomfortable situation, how to negotiate or count money. How to tell someone to leave you alone!
In this podcast, we talk about how to get out of situations:
-how to get around by taxi, auto, train and airplane -negotiation strategies and vocab
-how to get out of compromising/scary situations
-managing money, counting and smart ways to manage payments.
This is a segment from "Travel Hindi You Will Actually Use" - a 10 part course which will teach you all this and more!
See the Video version of this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/670cSlPHHm8
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Review me on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen— i’m going to enter you into a drawing to get my latest course for free! So just click on my Invisible India page wherever you listen and leave a review! It will help me so much and I will see your comments there. It means a lot to me.
Also, be sure to download the India Travel Guide- 30 pages of LOTS of tips, including safety for women!
https://learn-hindi-anywhere.teachable.com/p/my-downloadable-india-travel-guide
https://blog.feedspot.com/indian_culture_podcasts/
Asking questions in Hindi might be the most important thing you can learn.
In this episode, Jessica talks about the importance of asking questions and not just making declarative statements in Hindi.
In this episode, we talk about "kya - what." "Kya" is the most important word you need to know to be able to ask questions in Hindi. This video is a sample from the larger Hindi Grammar Foundations course by Jessica Kumar. Hindi Grammar Foundations is a 2.5 hour course including 30+ video lessons, downloadable homework, audio recordings and multiple perspectives from two teachers. Enroll in Hindi Grammar Foundations today.
https://learn-hindi-anywhere.teachable.com/p/hindi-grammar-foundations
If this is your first trip to India or eighth, this episode highlights the top 10 pro pointers you need to known to reduce the headaches, inconveniences and ripoffs that are likely to happen while visiting India.
Download the new e-booklet "The Traveler's Guide to India"
What's Included in the e-booklet?
30+ pages of practical tips, which will put you years ahead in:
-Language Learning
-Transportation
-Money & Payments
-Guide to Food
-Communication Strategy
-Things NOT to Say in India
-& so much more!
Also see the accompanying YouTube video to this episode!
https://youtu.be/H918-ESq2JI
Links included in the episode:
Gender Based Inequality & Violence- Episode 15
Learn Hindi with me! www.learnhindianywhere.com
Navigating the Indian medical system can be incredibly confusing, intimidating and even downright frustrating if you didn't grow up in South Asia. Knowing the ins and outs of how the medical field is run in India is crucial to being able to care for yourself and others in routine visits and especially emergencies.
If you are visiting India, living in India as a foreigner, or an NRI who is caring for someone, this is the episode for you.
A recent injury prompted me to record this episode while my mind was fresh with lots of doctor visits, medical tests, procedures, pharmacy experiences and even emergency room dramas. I cover it all in this episode and give practical tips of how to get through most situations.
I also summarized this information in a free PDF guide on my website www.invisibleindiapodcast.com. Save it on your phone or print it out for your next visit to India.
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Get the free download "Questions to Ask Your Doctor in India"
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Physician Assistant, Melody Crisp - Instagram
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See the YouTube version of this video here.
- For further information about Giving Birth in India, see Episode 3 Giving Birth in India.
I've been following Indicast with Aditya Mhatre and Abhishek Kumar for 17 years. They are the hosts of India's longest running multi-person podcast. Covering major business tycoon stories, to media personalities, to the latest news, these guys are the dynamic duo of Indian podcasting.
In Part 2, Jessica talks with them about predictions for future digital India and how they think tech has changed the ways people live.
Part 1 about their personal lives of being two of India’s first podcasters and how the show came into being.
Hear about some of their most popular episodes and high profile guests and most interested episodes that would have never otherwise gotten exposure in the mainstream media.
Find Indicast at www.theindicast.com
Mentioned in this Episode:
See the new Kids’ Hindi Starter Course. Meant for kids Ages 4-10, the Kids’ course culminates years of experience with hard data on how kids learn best. Shot in a fun YouTube style, it is designed to keep even the most active kids engaged.
Check out Jessica’s other Hindi courses, including Overcome Hindi Pronunciation Pitfalls, and Hindi Hacks You Never Knew You Needed!
Be sure to subscribe to Jessica’s newsletter for discounts and special announcements about courses and other important items.
Aditya Mhatre and Abhishek Kumar were two of the first people in India to start podcasting, and today more than 15 years later, their show theindicast.com is still running. Interviewing some of the biggest celebrities in India, with humility, intellect and humor, Aditya and Abhishek are a dynamic duo.
During this interview, Jessica gets behind the scenes of what it meant for Abhishek and Aditya personally to run the show this long and how the podcast has opened new opportunities for them during the dawn of Digital India.
Mentioned in the Show:
See the newest Hindi course from Jessica at www.learnhindianywhere.com
Sign up for my newsletter to get special recommendations and deals on language learning services and products at www.invisibleindiapodcast.com.
What NOT to say in Hindi as a kid!
This is an preview from the Kids' Hindi Kickstarter Course coming out next week on www.learnhindianywhere.com. It is an 18 part course taking you through all the responses you need to know as a kid in your first years of speaking Hindi.
Jessica has 17 years experience in helping others learn Hindi and has multiple other courses online including Hindi Hacks, Overcome Pronunciation Pitfalls.
This time, she teams up with her 8 year old son to create a whole course for kids designed for kids 4-10 years old.
This is especially helpful for NRIs or kids who have had some exposure to Hindi, but aren't confident speakers. The whole 18 part course is pre-recorded with videos, audio files and visual homework assignments which are proven to engage the linguistic part of a child's brain.
Be sure to watch the visual of this episode on YouTube - India with Jessica.
The course launches March 10, so sign up for Jessica's newsletter and get updates on when it is coming.
It will be up soon at www.learnhindianywhere.com
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To see my NEW Hindi courses and the Hindi Learners' Corner for one on one consultations, check out www.learnhindianywhere.com!
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER to get deals, tips and discounts on upcoming products and my courses as well. I don't send annoying stuff and definitely not every day. Only when its relevant.
In Episode 80, Jessica Kumar and Mallika Thoppay take on colorism in South Asian communities.
Mallika shares about her activism and how colorism affects everyone and hurts us all. She works with children in helping them to accept others as they are and stand up for themselves if they are being discriminated against.
She authored "Unfair and Lovely" to combat colorism in India. The book tackles colorism and is an effort to nip this social issue in the bud. It chronicles the journey of Sahana, who is a middle school girl. She and her sister, Surabhi, move to a new city and start attending school there. Both of them aspire to succeed at their new school, academically and socially, hoping to make new friends, participate in extracurricular activities etc.. Sahana happens to be darker skinned than Surabhi. The book delves into how the sisters' journeys are different, and how Sahana has to overcome the obstacles she faces. The author's hope is that the book teaches kids to accept everyone, regardless of physical appearance, and to stand up for themselves when the situation demands it.
You get get this book in the US & India.
In India: http://www.tinyurl.com/unfairlovelyindia
In US: http://www.tinyurl.com/unfairlovely
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60794691-unfair-lovely
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Be sure and follow my Instagram for a giveaway of the book in the US and India both!
Follow Mallika on Instagram @mallikamt
Be sure to watch the YouTube version of our interview as well. https://youtu.be/GSJhv-oK6sc
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To see my NEW Hindi courses and the Hindi Learners' Corner for one on one consultations, check out www.learnhindianywhere.com!
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER to get deals, tips and discounts on upcoming products and my courses as well. I don't send annoying stuff and definitely not every day. Only when its relevant.
Join me for a wrap of 2022 with snippets of the best episodes from this year.
I'm very thankful for your support and encouragement through the past four years!
Here are the highlight episodes of 2022!* Episode 68 - Eliza Keyton (EliKutty) - Ethics of Language Learning * Episode 71 - Devika Cariapa - childrens' author and archaeologist! * Episode 72 - What is it Really Like Being Married to an Indian Man? a conversation with two other women married to Indian men about the things they love about being married to an Indian. One woman, Sheida is from Iran, and Parneet is French living in Belgium. * Episode 74 -Boundaries with Indian inlaws-- this is one I did on my own. Listen to part 1 as well Episode 73. * Episode 78 - Indian vs. Western Education
To keep the Invisible India Podcast going, please consider supporting me on Patreon. I am still basically a one-woman show and its great to have your support to keep it going! www.patreon.com/invisbleindia
To see my NEW Hindi courses check out www.learnhindianywhere.com!
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER to get deals, tips and discounts on upcoming products and my courses as well. I don't send annoying stuff and definitely not every day. Only when its relevant.
If you've ever wondered what the differences are between the educational system in Western countries, this episode is for you. If you're an NRI wondering if you should move back to India, or if you are a Westerner thinking about making the shift to India, this is for you too.
In this episode, Jessica details the major differences between Indian and Western education styles as well a a LIST OF QUESTIONS you need to ask a new school before enrolling your child.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Check out Jessica's new Pronunciation Course, Overcome Hindi Pronunciation Pitfalls! Be sure to subscribe to Jessica's newsletter for discounts and special announcements about courses and other important items.
Also see the YouTube version of this video on www.youtube.com@indiawithjessica
Be sure to follow Jessica on social to keep up with announcements, giveaways and discounts.
- Instagram- www.instagram.com/indiawithjessica
- Facebook- www.facebook.com/indiawithjessica
- TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@IndiaWithJessica
- Twitter- www.twitter.com/invisibleindia_
How do you build relationships in India? Part 2 of this 2 part episode deals with the relational dynamics of living in India as someone who didn't grow up there. Skip the outdated guide books and listen in to this advice from Jessica, who first started living in India in 2006.
Friendships, finding common ground, how to manage house help and language learning tips are all here.
Whether you are visiting or planning on living in India, these tips will help you go beyond surviving to thriving in India with these tips!
Mentioned in this episode
Download the Ultimate Hindi Learning Resource Guide for FREE
It is a 21 page PDF including curated resources of Jessica's top recommendations of Indian owned businesses who are creating the best Hindi learning tools!
The Guide Includes:
-Ratings of Hindi teachers, top classes, programs and apps!
-Contact information and discount codes for the best teachers and programs to learn Hindi!
-Personal notes and recommendations on ways to learn Hindi through native speakers.
-21 pages of Jessica's curated recommendations for teachers based on 16+ years of experience in learning Hindi
Get it here!
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Other episodes to check out
Surviving the Most Common Inconveniences in India Episode 18
My Top 5 Most Raw Experiences in India Episode 50
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Join our Patreon community for special content and perks!
www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
How do you build relationships in India? Part 2 of this 2 part episode deals with the relational dynamics of living in India as someone who didn't grow up there. Skip the outdated guide books and listen in to this advice from Jessica, who first started living in India in 2006.
Friendships, finding common ground, how to manage house help and language learning tips are all here.
Whether you are visiting or planning on living in India, these tips will help you go beyond surviving to thriving in India with these tips!
Mentioned in this episode
Download the Ultimate Hindi Learning Resource Guide for FREE
It is a 21 page PDF including curated resources of Jessica's top recommendations of Indian owned businesses who are creating the best Hindi learning tools!
The Guide Includes:
-Ratings of Hindi teachers, top classes, programs and apps!
-Contact information and discount codes for the best teachers and programs to learn Hindi!
-Personal notes and recommendations on ways to learn Hindi through native speakers.
-21 pages of Jessica's curated recommendations for teachers based on 16+ years of experience in learning Hindi
Get it here!
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Other episodes to check out
Surviving the Most Common Inconveniences in India Episode 18
My Top 5 Most Raw Experiences in India Episode 50
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Join our Patreon community for special content and perks!
www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
What are the crucial elements you need to life life well in India? Part 1 of this 2 part episode deals with the practicalities of living in India as someone who didn't grow up there. Skip the outdated guide books and listen in to this advice from Jessica, who first started living in India in 2006.
Negotiation, dealing with the complications of Indian currency, how to give and receive directions and of course tips on learning the local language(s) of the place you are visiting or living in.
Whether you are visiting or planning on living in India, these tips will help you go beyond surviving to thriving in India with these tips!
Links mentioned in this episode
Download the Ultimate Hindi Learning Resource Guide for FREE
It is a 21 page PDF including curated resources of Jessica's top recommendations of Indian owned businesses who are creating the best Hindi learning tools!
The Guide Includes:
-Ratings of Hindi teachers, top classes, programs and apps!
-Contact information and discount codes for the best teachers and programs to learn Hindi!
-Personal notes and recommendations on ways to learn Hindi through native speakers.
-21 pages of Jessica's curated recommendations for teachers based on 16+ years of experience in learning Hindi
Get it here!
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Join our Patreon community for special content and perks!
www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Episode 75 contains a teaser of Jessica's upcoming course Overcome Hindi Pronunciation Pitfalls! Abhishek joins Jessica to work through some of the most common pronunciation errors that learners of Hindi make. In this episode, we take a small slice and discuss the vowel sounds of Hindi which are often mispronounced.
Hear the subtle differences between short A and long A, and why you may have been saying "Namaste" incorrectly all these years!
Keep an eye out of the upcoming course later in the summer of 2022. www.learnhindianywhere.com
Links mentioned in this episode: The "Hindi Hacks You Never Knew You Needed" course is live! Cut out the fluff and get the first phrases and concepts that you need to know to get you speaking quickly and on your way! _____________________ Download the Ultimate Hindi Learning Resource Guide. It is a 21 page PDF including curated resources of Jessica's top recommendations of Indian owned businesses who are creating the best Hindi learning tools! The Guide Includes:-Ratings of Hindi teachers, top classes, programs and apps! -Contact information and discount codes for the best teachers and programs to learn Hindi! -Personal notes and recommendations on ways to learn Hindi through native speakers. -21 pages of Jessica's curated recommendations for teachers based on 16+ years of experience in learning Hindi Get it here! _____________________ Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Jessica dives deeper about having Indian in-laws as a foreigner. In this 2 part episode, Jessica discusses listener questions about having Indian in-laws when you didn’t grow up in Indian culture.
We talk about how to address conflict, what happens when you're in a multi-generational home and how to address the different view of boundaries in East vs West.
Be sure to listen to Part 1 to hear about meeting the inlaws for the first time and other popular questions about marrying an Indian.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
The "Hindi Hacks You Never Knew You Needed" course is live! Cut out the fluff and get the first phrases and concepts that you need to know to get you speaking quickly and on your way!
_____________________
Download the Ultimate Hindi Learning Resource Guide. It is a 21 page PDF including curated resources of Jessica's top recommendations of Indian owned businesses who are creating the best Hindi learning tools!
The Guide Includes:
-Ratings of Hindi teachers, top classes, programs and apps!
-Contact information and discount codes for the best teachers and programs to learn Hindi!
-Personal notes and recommendations on ways to learn Hindi through native speakers.
-21 pages of Jessica's curated recommendations for teachers based on 16+ years of experience in learning Hindi
Get it here!
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Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Jessica tells all about having Indian in-laws as a foreigner. In this 2 part episode, Jessica discusses listener questions about having Indian in-laws when you didn’t grow up in Indian culture.
You probably know Indian families are close knit. That is why having a good relationship with our in-laws is so important.
We discuss questions like what to expect when meeting the in-laws for the first time, gender biases, handling boundaries, managing questions about children and more.
Listen in as a guide for your own masala desi relationship.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- The "Hindi Hacks You Never Knew You Needed" course is live! Cut out the fluff and get the first phrases and concepts that you need to know to get you speaking quickly and on your way!
- Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Hearing others' perspectives always brings out new perspectives. I interviewed two other women who are married to Indians who bring various cultural and linguistic background to their stories. Sheida is from Iran living in Canada. Parneet is French, living in Belgium.
I asked the various questions to bring out these women's thoughts and experiences:
1) Things you enjoy about being married to an Indian.
2) Your favorite thing about Indian culture.
3) One challenge of being cross culturally married.
Hear their thoughts, opinions and be exposed to different cultural perspectives.
Find Parneet @paris_punjabexpress and Sheida on Instagram.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- The "Hindi Hacks You Never Knew You Needed" course is live! Cut out the fluff and get the first phrases and concepts that you need to know to get you speaking quickly and on your way!
- Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Devika Cariapa is an award-winning children’s author who uses her background in history and archaeology to creatively communicate with a young audience.
Her first book, India Through Archaeology: Excavating History (Tulika Books) encourages children to explore Indian history through the lens of archaeology.
It was awarded the Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Award 2018 and the Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2019. She is also the author of India Through People : 25 Game Changers (Tulika Books) about the courageous men and women who left an imprint on the course of modern India, The Adventures of the Kohinoor (Juggernaut), an adaptation of William Dalrymple and Anita Anand’s book, Kohinoor and Uncle Nehru, Please Send an Elephant, a picture book for younger readers on Nehru’s ‘elephant diplomacy’. The Adventures of the Kohinoor is on the Neev Book Awards 2021 short list.
Listen to this conversation about children's literature in India!
Find Devika on Instagram @stories_from_stones.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- Tulika Books is offering a 10% discount and free international shipping with code "INDIA" for orders of more than $40. Get some of these amazing books for your friends, family and yourself!
- See Devika Cariapa's books on Tulika here!
- The "Hindi Hacks You Never Knew You Needed" course is live! Cut out the fluff and get the first phrases and concepts that you need to know to get you speaking quickly and on your way!
- As mentioned in the episode, Pratham books has an online library of free books, especially for children in need. Share with those you know and support their cause.
- Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
What are the top five verbs you need to now in Hindi to start most simple conversations? Jessica breaks down the basic verbs to listen for in Hindi conversation and how these verbs can be used for beginners and intermediate speakers of Hindi.
This episode is a sneak preview of Jessica's upcoming Hindi course "Hindi Hacks You Didn't Know You Needed to Know." This course if different from other courses on the market. If you've ever felt perfectionism stop you from trying to speak Hindi, this is a great place to start to overcome barriers and learn the most irrelevant. The first course will be released mid-March 2022 with many more to come!
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SIGN UP for the Invisible India Newsletter to hear about Jessica's upcoming Hindi Course! It is coming mid-March. There will be a discount for subscribers of the newsletter. Sign up for updates here!
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Know a company that would like to sponsor the show? Have an idea for a guest who is breaking stereotypes in South Asian spaces? Write to me jessica@invisibleindiapodcast.com
Eliza Keyton (Eli Kutty) and Jessica Kumar are both language learners of Indian languages. In the years since learning Malayalam and Hindi, Eliza and Jessica have become increasingly convinced that there needs to be greater representation of Indians and proper credit given to those who have taught their indigenous languages to foreigners.
In this episode, Eliza and Jessica talk through the challenges of navigating leftover colonialism which makes learning a language responsibly tricky in today's climate.
Jessica and Eliza both share their clear intentions of uplifting Desi voices and pointing the attention back to native speakers of their target languages. They both speak about their unique experiences as white Americans and how one needs to be aware of white privilege while learning a language.
Hear Episode 68 for more information about Eliza and Jessica's personal journey of learning Indian languages.
Find Eliza on Instagram @Eli.Kutty and YouTube!
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SIGN UP for the Invisible India Newsletter to hear about Jessica's upcoming Hindi Course! It is in the works now! There will be a discount for subscribers of the newsletter. Sign up for updates here!
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Know a company that would like to sponsor the show? Have an idea for a guest who is breaking stereotypes in South Asian spaces? Write to me jessica@invisibleindiapodcast.com
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This episode was edited by Sahastranshu Mishra.
Eliza Keyton (Eli Kutty) is an American Malayalam learner and dedicated to sharing her learnings with other learners. Jessica and Eliza dive into the complexities of learning Hindi vs Malayalam and the challenges of learning an Indian language.
Jessica and Eliza both share their clear intentions of uplifting Desi voices and pointing the attention back to native speakers of their target languages. They both speak about their unique experiences as white Americans and how one needs to be aware of white privilege while learning a language.
Both women are married to Indian men, yet have very different paths that have led them to diving deep into learning Indian languages.
Find Eliza on Instagram @Eli.Kutty and YouTube!
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SIGN UP for the Invisible India Newsletter to hear about Jessica's upcoming Hindi Course! It is in the works now! There will be a discount for subscribers of the newsletter. Sign up for updates here!
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Know a company that would like to sponsor the show? Have an idea for a guest who is breaking stereotypes in South Asian spaces? Write to me jessica@invisibleindiapodcast.com
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This episode was edited by Sahastranshu Mishra.
2021 was the year where I (Jessica) hosted only South Asian guests! Hear 2-4 min blurbs from 8 of our best episodes with powerful, empathetic and informational interviews!
In this episode we highlight:
- Episode 48 - The Carolina Desis - Rashmili Vemula and Gurtej Singh - language and how that fits into their identity as Indian Americans
- Episode 50 - Kunal Dutt- historian and activist, We dive into Bihar's rich history and why its in danger. @SaveHistoricPatnaCollectorate
- Episode 53 - Positivity- Rashmi Chadha- female entrepreneur, business coach owner of WoVoyage women’s travel company. An inspiring story from a woman who has overcome sexism, tragedy and disability.
- Episode 55 - Vaishali Patel - Gujarati and Hindi teacher Sanskar Teaching (see discount for Sanskar Teaching on www.invisibleindiapodcast.com/offers)
- Episode 56 - Anita Sachariah- Founder of Bhasha Kids- talk about heritage language and teaching kids Indian languages. We were on a panel as part of the Lingua Cultura Experience Listen in! (see discount for Bhasha Kids on www.invisibleindiapodcast.com/offers)
- Episode 57 and 58 - Tripti Lahiri, author of Maid in India - Get ready to geek out on economics of the informal labor market.
- Episode 62- Kevin Wilson, CEO of Chai and tiktok storyteller. Third culture kid.
- Episode 64 and 65 - Yoga is Dead with Jesal Parikh - We dive into elements of cultural appropriation and we answer Who Killed Yoga? Interesting and provocative episodes.
In 2022, I will be focusing more on Hindi resources and language innovators. Expect to see more from me about linguistics and I plan to bring more reviews and more language innovators to the show.
Know a company that would like to sponsor the show? Have an idea for a guest who is breaking stereotypes in South Asian spaces? Write to me jessica@invisibleindiapodcast.com
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Links Mentioned in this Show:
Incredible products made ethically in India. Shipping in the US.
If you order now, you can still get them before the end of the year:
www.Ziyada.org use the code invisibleindia10 for 10% off your purchase!
India Art create wooden handicrafts including the featured Sloth Ornament - get it here on Amazon!
Jessica takes a moment to reflect on some of the learnings about Indian culture she has observed in the last 15 years.
The most common questions she gets asked as a foreigner married to an Indian living in India:
How do you celebrate festivals as a cross cultural couple?
Is it safe to eat street food in India?
How many languages have you learned? AND MORE...
Two Ethical Businesses Supporting Local Artisans:
Ziyada Handicrafts - beautiful hand made fabrics for the Holidays. Enjoy a 10% discount with code "Invisibleindia10"
India Arts Sloth Ornament- adorable hand made sloth ornaments. Purchase it here on Amazon!
Explore all discounts with this link www.invisibleindiapodcast.com/offers
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Join our community on Patreon!
Consider supporting us on Patreon. Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
This is Part 2 of Jessica's conversation with Jesal Parikh, the co-host of the provocative podcast “Yoga is Dead.” She and her co-host Tejal Patel, highlight injustices of the digestion of yoga by modern Western culture. In this episode, Jessica and Jesal explore the process of historical Indian yoga and how that has morphed into a different animal in Western society. Jesal names names trends of the colonization of yoga and how South Asians are taking it back.
Enjoy this highly nuanced conversation about how power, privilege, race and economic shifts have created a yoga industry out of an ancient practice.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Consider supporting us on Giving Tuesday! Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
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See my Offers page for all discounts on language learning products and services.
Mentioned in this episode:
Launch India – mention Invisible India to receive 10% off of your first 100 hours of language sessions
Get ready to have your mind blown. Jesal Parikh is the co-host of the provocative podcast "Yoga is Dead." She and her co-host Tejal Patel, highlight injustices of the digestion of yoga by modern Western culture. In this episode, Jessica and Jesal explore the process of historical Indian yoga and how that has morphed into a different animal in Western society. Jesal names names trends of the colonization of yoga and how South Asians are taking it back.
Enjoy this highly nuanced conversation about how power, privilege, race and economic shifts have created a yoga industry out of an ancient practice.
See Jesal and Jessica on YouTube for a short tidbit of this conversation here.
Links mentioned in this episode:
The Mix Membership- a safe place for women in interracial relationships
Use code "MIXJESSICA" for your first month free!
Join our Patreon community for special content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
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See my Offers page for all discounts on language learning products and services.
Mentioned in this episode:
Launch India - mention Invisible India to receive 10% off of your first 100 hours of language sessions
Should I share pictures of my life on social media even if I fear being judged by conservative relatives? What are the no-nos of social media in more conservative Indian families? If you are in a desi/non-desi relationship, maybe you have some of the same questions we do.
How do you protect your relationship but also interact on social media with the ever watchful Indian aunties?
Jessica shares her top 5 tips for protecting family relationships online.
Plus, bonus - Is our life really all it looks like on social media? What are we hiding as an Indian-American couple?
LINKS mentioned in this episode:
www.launchin.in
Mention the Invisible India Podcast and get 10% your first 100 hours of language learning.
Join our Patreon Community and get special perks and hand picked content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Follow Invisible India on social media:
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisbleindiapodcast.com/episodes
Kevin Wilson has formed his identity as fitting in the spaces between black and white binary spaces throughout his life. Best known as "The CEO of Chai" on social media, he goes by @crossculturechristian as an expression of someone who wants to invite people into a safe place on the harsh landscape of critical social media sites. People talk about the "vibe" of his tiktoks and reels, but he sees his social media presence as a way to encourage and nourish people.
And if you learn how to make a fresh cup of chai along the way, you win too. Find Kevin on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@crossculturechristian or Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/crossculturechristian/
His Website - https://crossculturechristian.com/
YouTube cut coming soon of Jessica's conversation with Kevin!
LINKS mentioned in this episode:
www.launchin.in
Mention the Invisible India Podcast and get 10% your first 100 hours of language learning.
Join our Patreon Community and get special perks and hand picked content! www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Follow Invisible India on social media:
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisbleindiapodcast.com/episodes
The dissonance caused by learning a new culture and language can be one of the most disorienting things that humans can go through.
How can one respectfully and responsibly learn a new language without doing harm to those around them or losing themself in the process?
Join Jessica Kumar, Invisible India Podcast host and lifelong Hindi learner as she guides us through being aware of our own motivations, practicing cultural humility and decolonizing the language learning process.
burningman #burningman2021 #sparkleverse #burner #virtualburn #virtualburn2021 #CampLanguages.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:
www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
What does it take to successfully learn Hindi?
Jessica breaks down tips and tricks and answers the most common questions about how to learn Hindi fluently.
-What is unique about learning Hindi?
-Why is it so hard to learn Indian languages from a book?
-Is language school worth it?
-Is it more important to focus on Hindi pronunciation or vocabulary?
-Does age matter in learning a language?
-How important is it to learn Devnagri script?
Also check out previous episode and YouTube video "Why I Learned Hindi" where Jessica breaks down the motivations and environment you can set yourself up to become fluent.
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In this episode we talk about Jessica's top 3 favorite Hindi learning programs:Launch India - mention Invisible India to get 10% off
Sanskar Teaching - use "invisibleindia" for 15% off any online course
Language Curry- use "invsibleindia" for 10% off any class.
All these deals are also mentioned on www.invisibleindiapodcast.com/offers
Be sure to listen to the whole episode to get a special discount code on HindiUnlocked.com's courses! Special discount just for listeners of our podcast.
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Find the video episode on YouTube here.
Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisbleindiapodcast.com/episodes
Are you in a relationship with an Indian? Overwhelmed by the differences between your culture and Indian culture? In Episode 59 of the Invisible India Podcast | Navigating Indian Culture with Love.... we dive in! As a veteran in India (15 years) and being married to Abhishek from Bihar for 11 years, Jessica shares 3 main tips for engaging with Indian culture and understanding the deep undercurrents of how language, family and cultural contexts influence the way people behave in relationships. She covers how to understand joint families, language learning and how to share frustrations about the culture without hurting your partner.
Find the video episode on YouTube here.
See all the offers including Karadi Tales books here. _____
Follow Invisible India on social media - Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible _____
www.invisbleindiapodcast.com/episodes
"Maid in India" is a masterful work that not only uncovers some of the biggest challenges to India's informal labor sector, but some of the greatest opportunities it presents. Jessica rates it as one of the best books she has read on Indian culture as a whole, as it highlights the invisible aspects of hierarchy and classism through storytelling and hard data.
Tripti Lahiri, Author, joins Jessica for an enlightening conversation about the book and personal experiences of grappling with the patron/client relationship of employing domestic help in India. This is Part 2 of a 2 Part Conversation.
A video of Tripti and Jessica speaking can be found here on YouTube.
Win a FREE signed copy of "Maid in India" --- see our social media sites to find out how you can win. You can find Maid in India on Amazon US and Amazon India as well as major bookstores.
_____ Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisbleindiapodcast.com/episodes
"Maid in India" is a masterful work that not only uncovers some of the biggest challenges to India's informal labor sector, but some of the greatest opportunities it presents. Jessica rates it as one of the best books she has read on Indian culture as a whole, as it highlights the invisible aspects of hierarchy and classism through storytelling and hard data.
Tripti Lahiri, Author, joins Jessica for an enlightening conversation about the book and personal experiences of grappling with the patron/client relationship of employing domestic help in India. This is Part 1 of a 2 Part Conversation.
A video of Tripti and Jessica speaking can be found here on YouTube.
Win a FREE signed copy of "Maid in India" --- see our social media sites to find out how you can win.
You can find Maid in India on Amazon US and Amazon India as well as major bookstores.
_____
Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisbleindiapodcast.com/episodes
Jessica hosts Anita Sachariah to share on tidbits of how to teach Indian origin children heritage languages like Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Urdu, Tamil, Punjabi and many more. Jessica and Anita speak about their experiences teaching their own children and creating resources for children and adults to bridge the gap in learning Indian languages wherever learners are in the world.
This conversation was part of the Lingua Cultura Experience held on June 24-27, 2021 on Clubhouse.
FULL AUDIO recording on www.invisibleindiapodcast.com/episodes
View the YouTube of Anita and Jessica speaking together here.
DISCOUNTS:
Bhasha Kids included offers Printables in a number of languages!
To get these for just $3.99 use code "INVISIBLE" at checkout or use this link.
You can also get Bhasha Kids flash cards for sale. Use code INVISIBLEINDIA for a 10% discount on cards in any language, including Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam!
www.bhashakids.com
ALSO mentioned in the episode:
Launch India is a Hindi-Urdu language and orientation service offering online and in-person language sessions using an immersive and relational approach called the GPA (Growing Participator Approach). Other services include kids classes, Hindi Script Workshops, Grammar Workshops, as well as fully furnished apartments in Delhi for short or long term stays to make the most of their in-person learning options.
Check out www.launchin.in for more information and mention Invisible India to receive 10% off of your first 100 hours of language sessions.
Vaishali Patel is passionate about passing on the Gujarati and Hindi languages and cultures to others! Hear her story of how she immigrated to the US and started teaching others Gujarati. Her company, Sanskar Teaching, includes a number of programs both online, live classes and products to bring students closer to Gujarati, Hindi and Punjabi languages.
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Discount for Sanskar Teaching: Vaishali is offering discounts for listeners to the Invisible India Podcast. Use code INVISIBLEINDIA for 15% on any course https://www.learngujarationline.com/store
ALSO mentioned in the episode: HindiUnlocked is an online Hindi learning course for beginner and intermediate learners. Until July 31, 2021, get a FREE lesson. Contact jon@hindiunlocked.com and mention the Invisible India Podcast to claim your free class!
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Find more including the audio version on: https://invisibleindiapodcast.com/learn-Gujarati-vaishali-patel-sanskar-teaching/
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
Enjoy this conversation lesson including Hindi words with English explanation. The lesson is 10 minutes, including simple instructional vocabulary and vocabulary about fruits (mango, lichi and banana.) Learn more about Indian culture from Jessica's perspective (an American living in India since 2006.) She shares her learnings about cultural significance of different fruits, where they come from and the kids demonstrate how to eat them!
A few words we are going to review before we begin
Aam- mango
Lichi - lichi
Kela - banana
Phal- fruit
Listen for these words throughout the episode and see what else you can pick up!
Get your hands on FREE Download - Hindi Starter Kit for Kids by clicking here - https://mailchi.mp/df0c27d7c373/free-download-hindi-kids-kit _________________________________________
See the full video version on YouTube-
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Follow Invisible India on social media:
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
Rashmi Chadha is an entrepreneur, travel influencer and international speaker. Despite her ever smiling persona, there is depth and pain in her story. Overcoming sexism at many junctures, the tragic loss of her mother and obstacles from society, she continues to push forward to make the world a better place for women. She is the founder of wovoyage, a travel company making women’s travel experiences more safe and enjoyable. And with her media background now she is consulting companies like Yatra, Policy Bazar and small businesses in social media marketing.
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Find Rashmi on Instagram @rashmichadha & @wovoyage
www.wovoyage.com
Facebook, YouTube, TED Talk & more.
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Download the Bhasha Kids Hindi Printables for only $3.99 by clicking here or using the code "INVISIBLE" at checkout.
See Jessica's review with her kids here on YouTube!!
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Find more about this episode on https://invisibleindiapodcast.com/episodes
Follow Invisible India on social media -
TikTok
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
What is really happening in India right now with the COVID Crisis?
Jessica, an American living in India with her family tells a first hand account of what it feels like to be in the midst of India's huge COVID crisis. How did we get here and what was the progression like from lockdown #1 in 2020 to a life of normalcy in late 2020, to complete chaos now in April 2021.
What does it feel like to be in a small city and how is the healthcare infrastructure holding up?
Hear from her perspective.
RESOURCES:
- covidresource.glideapp.io - resource by city for Oxygen, Sanitation
- Bit.ly/MutualAidIndia - Ongoing fundraisers
- Register for your vaccine in India --- cowin.gov.in
- Find Data on COVID Numbers Daily- https://covid19.healthdata.org/india
- Follow my Instagram for regular update of ways to help. https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
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See this on YouTube- https://youtu.be/zN3H4zELSX8
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
Patna, Bihar’s historical sites are in danger. Kunal Dutt shares about the top 5 historic sites in Patna, the capital of Bihar, India. Kunal founded the Save Historic Patna Collectorate campaign to raise awareness of how Patnaites are allowing their history to be cannibalized in the name of becoming a “smart city.” He shares the tragic story of losing several iconic pieces of history and what you can do to get involved to stop further demolition of Indian history!
- Follow Kunal Dutt: Instagram- @SaveHistoricPatnaCollectorate https://www.instagram.com/savehistoricpatnacollectorate/
- Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/SavePatnaCollectorate
- Sign Petitions to Save landmarks
Painting in the cover art by Brian Paul Bach - https://www.instagram.com/hooghlyside/
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Find the YouTube video version here on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/Xd3MNzm8veQ
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Mentioned in the episode - sign up for Language Curry's LIVE Hindi Class starting May 5 - use code "invisibleindia" for 15% off this already affordable course. Details here www.invisibleindiapodcast.com/offers
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
- Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
- Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleindia
- TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
- Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
In Jessica's 15 years in India, there have been countless interesting and exciting moments.
Here in our 50th EPISODE she reflects on 2 dumb newbie mistakes, 1 religious experience, 1 natural disaster and 1 wild animal story.
Hear about the crazy, dumb mistakes that Jessica made as a young intern in India and the other wild experiences that come with living off the beaten path.
Learn more about Jessica and Abhishek's life in Bihar, whey they moved back to India after settling in the US and how Jessica learned fluent Hindi. Chalo!
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:
www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
Join our Patreon community today to get special insights into the show!
_________________________________________
Find more including the audio version on:
https://invisibleindiapodcast.com/episodes
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
- Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
- Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleindia
- TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
- Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
Is COVID really worse in American than India?
What did it feel like on the ground in India during the world's biggest lockdown.
Why on earth would anyone travel between the US and India right now?
Listen to Jessica and Abhishek share about their experience traveling from Bihar, India to Chicago and BACK AGAIN in the middle of a pandemic! Why did they go? What were their observations? What was the flight like?
We answer questions that many people have asked us in the past few months about the differences between India and America during the COVID experience.
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See us face to face on the YouTube version on: https://youtu.be/m-ZgjwHQu44
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Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleindia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
The standard for Indian-Americans is seemingly impossibly high wherever they go. Not fully accepted as "American" nor fully embraced as "fully Indian." Rashmili Vemula and Gurtej Singh join Jessica in a conversation about assimilation, cultural retention and language learning as Indian-Americans. Rashmili talks through her Telegu roots and how dance was a connection point to Indian culture. Gurtej shares how American Sikhs are used to being a minority wherever they go.
Check YouTube for the video of our conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIrG7vE8Ua4&ab_channel=InvisibleIndiaPodcast
Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite platform- iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all major streaming platforms.
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Find more including the audio version on: https://invisibleindiapodcast.com/episodes
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
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Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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Check out the Carolina Desi:
-iTunes- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-carolina-desi/id1218531161
-Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/thecarolinadesi/?hl=en
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
Direct vs indirect communication has been a painful point for Indians working with Westerners and vice versa. Craig Storti, author of “Speaking of India” draws on his decades of international consulting experience to share about the common pain points between Western and Eastern professionals.
Jessica and Craig dive in deeper to see how these differences in direct vs indirect communication impact personal relationships, marriage, parental relationships between 1st generation diaspora desis and their parents who grew up in South Asia.
Get “Speaking of India” here. Listen and follow Invisible India on social media to see how you can get a free copy of the book. https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-India-Bridging-Communication-Working/dp/1941176119
Consider supporting us on Patreon in 2021! If you’ve gained from this free podcast we put out twice a month, please consider jumping onto patreon and becoming a part of the community- where you can be more closely connected with us and get personal attention to your questions, thoughts and even have a chance to have a shout out on the show.
Thanks for considering supporting us. The more support we have, the more we can put into making this podcast even better. www.patreon.com/invisibleindia
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Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
In this bilingual episode, Jessica tells all the questions you may be wondering about what its like to be a foreigner in India, how she learned fluent Hindi and what it is like being married to an Indian while living in a conservative community in North India.
- do people treat her weird as a foreigner?
- how do people react to her speaking fluent Hindi?
- how did Abhishek's parents feel about their son marrying an American?
Hear her answers and how she relates some of the off the wall things you may have never thought about being a foreigner in India, married to an Indian and living immersed in Indian culture!
Find more including the audio version on: https://invisibleindiapodcast.com/jessica-tells-all-hindi-learning-marrying-an-indian/
Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
At first glance, one may assume Aparna Mulberry is a Western woman who has merely visited India. But only a few moments after speaking to her, you realize the depth and knowledge of her experiences as growing up in the Amritapuri Ashram in Kerala, India.
Aparna is an American born, but India raised woman who spent her formative years in Kerala. Fluent in Malayalam, her story of finding her place of fitting in in India and also America is inspiring and enlightening for anyone living a multicultural life or finds themselves struggling to raise children in a cross-cultural environment.
Now married to a Spanish woman, living in France, her multicultural journey continues. During this episode, she reflects on her Indian roots and gives Jessica advice on raising children in a context where they may feel they are “third culture kids” between worlds.
Find more including the audio version on: https://invisibleindiapodcast.com/growing-up-white-in-india/
Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
This month we are focusing on Transnational Adoption and hearing the stories of 3 families who are perfectly blended, where at least one member of the family is South Asian.
What are the things adoptive parents need to be aware of before adopting from India?
What is it like to be Indian parents of an adopted African-American child?
What is it like to be two Australian parents living in India with two adopted Indian children?
This week, we talk to Mahi. She and her husband are an Indian American couple in a metropolitan city in the US. They both work in communities where they serve low-income African American families and have felt the desire to foster and adopt a child from that community. Their open-minded, welcoming approach will touch your heart. Mahi dives into cultural adaptation and how her Indian family has reacted to welcoming a black child into their multicultural family. She also shares the importance for support and friendships in community.
Our second guest is Melinda. Melinda, a white Australian, lived in India for 25 years doing social work. She and her husband adopted 2 children from India and raised them there before moving to Australia. She shares difficult truths behind the pain and rage that adoptees can feel when being separated from their birth families. Melinda sheds light on the importance of doing your research and being deeply committed to supporting your child through the identity challenges they will go through as an adoptee.
If you missed Part 1, where Jacob, a Tibetan-Nepali man shares his journey of being adopted and growing up in the US, check out Episode 43.
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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Find the audio version everywhere podcasts are found! iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, JioSaavn, etc. www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
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The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
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indianculture #interracialcouple #interracialmarriage #interracialdating #lovemarriage #arrangedmarriage #indianwedding #learnhindi #fluentinhindi #foreignerinindia #videshi #multicultural #multiculturalfamily #mixedcouple #iloveindia #indianshaadi #adoption #transnational #transnationaladoption #trans #adoptee #indian #indianadoption
This month we are focusing on Transnational Adoption and hearing the stories of 3 families who are perfectly blended, where at least one member of the family is South Asian.
What is it like to be adopted as a South Asian into a totally different culture across the world? What is it like to be Indian parents of an adopted African-American child? What is it like to be two Australian parents living in India with two adopted Indian children? This week, we hear from Jacob, born into a Tibetan Nepali family, who was later adopted by an American family and raised in Indiana. As an adult, Jacob went back to Nepal for a job and reconnected with his family, learned the language and immersed himself in Nepali culture for several years. He talks about wrestling with his identity, and the joys of his ever expanding family ties.
Our second guest is Mahi. Mahi and her husband are an Indian American couple in a metropolitan city in the US. They both work in communities where they serve low-income African American families and have felt the desire to foster and adopt a child from that community. Their open-minded, welcoming approach will touch your heart.
Listen in to our next episode for part 2 of Mahi's story and hear from Melinda in Australia who is raising two Indian teens in Australia after decades in India.
A listener alerted us to this important petition regarding promotion of adoption in India. Please sign it and make a difference! www.change.org/SafeSurrender
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
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Find the audio version everywhere podcasts are found! iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, JioSaavn, etc. www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
_________________________________________
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
_________________________________________
indianculture #interracialcouple #interracialmarriage #interracialdating #lovemarriage #arrangedmarriage #indianwedding #learnhindi #fluentinhindi #foreignerinindia #videshi #multicultural #multiculturalfamily #mixedcouple #iloveindia #indianshaadi #adoption #transnational #transnationaladoption #trans #adoptee #indian #indianadoption
Indian weddings are generally a multi-day affair, including a number of rituals and family get togethers. And lets not forget the food!
After 10 years of marriage, Jessica and Abhishek reflect on what they would change about their "Big Fat Indian Wedding." What are the important things to include and what doesn't matter years later?
- What do a bride and groom need to compromise?
- Is it better to have one ceremony or two?
- How do you convince your family to include what you want in your wedding?
See the YouTube version of Abhishek and Jessica talking face to face here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Ha0aMeq34&ab_channel=InvisibleIndiaPodcast
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Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
_________________________________________
Find the audio version everywhere podcasts are found! iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, JioSaavn, etc.
www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
_________________________________________
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
_________________________________________
indianculture #interracialcouple #interracialmarriage #interracialdating #lovemarriage #arrangedmarriage #indianwedding #learnhindi #fluentinhindi #foreignerinindia #videshi #multicultural #multiculturalfamily #mixedcouple #iloveindia #indianshaadi
From the outside, the Indian educational system is a confusing landscape that produces some of the world's top talent, CEOs and world leaders, yet is criticized for inequality and illiteracy.
- What are the basic building blocks of Indian education?
- How did India move from the Guru/Shishya ancient system to a high tech, competitive enterprise?
- Does the Indian school system really start at age 3?
Shubhada Ranjan is the Head of Public Relations at a 3000 student school in Patna City, Bihar. A product of Indian education herself, college professor and community activist, she explores common questions and misconceptions about the Indian system from a unique global perspective.
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jessica and Shubhada Ranjan explore many common questions and misconceptions about the Indian school systems.
See the YouTube version of Shubhada and Jessica talking face to face here:
https://youtu.be/92JxeIbmHqI
__________________________________________
Follow Invisible India on social media -
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia
TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia
Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible
_________________________________________
Find the audio version everywhere podcasts are found! iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, JioSaavn, etc.
www.invisibleindiapodcast.com
_________________________________________
The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi.
_________________________________________
indianculture #interracialcouple #interracialmarriage #interracialdating #lovemarriage #arrangedmarriage #indianwedding #learnhindi #fluentinhindi #foreignerinindia #videshi #multicultural #multiculturalfamily #mixedcouple #iloveindia #indianshaadi
Indian weddings are knock-down, drag-out get togethers work remembering! What are 10 aspects that are unique to Indian weddings?
Karl Rock, popular YouTuber in India, tells Jessica more of his personal story of marrying his Indian wife, making India home and learning Hindi.
Robin Singh of Peepal Farm is going against the grain of consumerism in India. A practitioner of radical compassion, he and his colleagues started an organic farm, animal refuge and place for people to connect to nature.
What does it take to successfully learn Hindi?
Jessica breaks down tips and tricks and answers the most common questions about how to learn Hindi. What is unique about learning Hindi and why you can't learn Hindi from a book.
What is it like to be a black woman marrying a North Indian man? In Episode 35, Nikita Gupta, multicultural lifestyle blogger, shares her beautiful story of falling in love with Indian culture and finding acceptance through overcoming stereotypes as an African-American woman marrying into a North Indian family. Her story has lots of twists and turns, but ultimately there is a happy ending. Nikita is an expert at finding cross-cultural resources for mixed families and shares them across her platforms. Find her on www.growingupgupta.com Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growingupguptas/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growingupguptablog Pinterest- https://www.pinterest.com/growingupguptas/ Twitter-https://twitter.com/GrowingupGupta TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@growingupgupta Wait until next week to find out how you can win a copy of her children's book "I Love Masala Me." Follow the Invisible India social media to see how you can win! __________________________________________ The listener question portion of this episode is up on YouTube where Abhishek and Jessica tackle the question: Should a foreigner live in an Indian joint family? Check out our brand new channel here -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfFznDUloRgilbwc-8D4mOg __________________________________________ Follow Invisible India on social media - YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/invisibleindiapodcast Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheInvisibleIndia TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@invisibleindia Twitter- https://twitter.com/IndiaInvisible ________________________________ The Invisible India Podcast’s opening and closing music is performed by Christopher Hale on Sitar and Ed Hanley on Tabla on Raag Bhimpalasi _________________________________________
indianculture #interracialcouple #interracialmarriage #interracialdating #lovemarriage #arrangedmarriage #indianwedding #learnhindi #fluentinhindi #hindipodcast #foreignerspeakinghindi #americanlearninghindi #speakhindi #bilingualkids #kidshindilessons #onlinehindiclass #blindian #blackandindian
One of the most common questions Jessica gets asked is "Why and How did you learn Hindi?"
In Episode 34, she takes on part 1- what were the motivating factors to learn Hindi and how did she overcome cultural and mental barriers to become fluent in Hindi?
Jamie Alter is certainly a rare kind of person. 4 generations ago, his great grandfather moved to India from the United States, and their family has rooted here. His father, Tom Alter was a famous Bollywood actor, but what is it like to be a white person with an Indian passport. Jamie has a fascinating story. Sports commentator, YouTube personality and actor, Jamie is breaking stereotypes on what it means to be a modern Indian.
You asked? We told!
Listeners wrote in to ask us anything! In Part 1, we answered real and off the cuff to your questions about cross cultural marriage, overcoming cultural barriers and managing family expectations as an Indian-American couple.
In Part 2, we talked about life in India- overcoming difficulties of stereotypes and adjusting to life in India.
Listeners wrote in to ask us anything! We answer real and off the cuff to your questions about cross cultural marriage, overcoming cultural barriers and managing family expectations as an Indian-American couple.
This episode is a special salute to love. On Valentine's Day, Jessica went on air with RJ Visha with RED FM 93.5 in Patna to share her love story.
Meet the 2 Idiots, Abhishek and Natasha, who traveled 31 countries, comprising of 39 flights, 3 cruises, and almost a 100 destinations in 8.5 months. They left their corporate jobs and did it together, with a 2 year old.
Meet the 2 Idiots, Abhishek and Natasha, who traveled 31 countries, comprising of 39 flights, 3 cruises, and almost a 100 destinations in 8.5 months. They left their corporate jobs and did it together, with a 2 year old.
In 18 days, we covered 6 countries, 5 currencies, 8 hotels and we don’t know how many languages with our 2 young children. All on a relatively slim budget.
Dr. Ajay Verghese, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California Riverside joins us to dive into two urgent topics affecting the social landscape of India today- 1) the legacy of ethnic colonialism and 2) modernization’s affect on Hindu's religious practices.
Author Leslie Verner approaches how Western cultures can learn from other cultures posture of open hospitality. Author of “Invited- the Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness”, Leslie sensitively approaches being a white American engaging in cross cultural friendships and what her research and learnings have led her to in her personal life. In this episode, Jessica and Leslie discuss how being a stranger in a new culture produces a sense of empathy for others.
What are some the unique challenges that India faces in managing toilet waste, water and everything in between?
Sanitation expert Chris Hyun, PhD Candidate, joins us to share about India’s unique sanitation challenges and what he has found through his research.
Even with the best of motives, short term volunteer trips can create chaos and unintended long term problems, especially in developing countries.
What are the pitfalls and dangers of engaging in voluntourism?
This episode is for the people who are long term NGO employees, aid workers or those volunteering in an under-privileged environment. Maybe you are burnt out from seeing hard stuff on a day in and day out basis and from being confronted daily with human pain and suffering.
Do Westerners have a lot of money? Life in places like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe must be easy. Why do Westerners "abandon" their parents in nursing homes? Is romance in the West really like what we see in the movies?
Misogyny, sexism and restrictive gender roles are all challenges that this generation of children are standing up against. In India, we have unique challenges for both girls and boys as the cultural narrative is rapidly shifting of what manhood and womanhood looks like. How do we compassionately parent and empower our children to navigate mixed messages? Is it best to adopt Western values or is there some that Indians can uniquely guide this next generation into a new understanding of gender roles while retaining Indian culture?
This week, we take on the top misconceptions about India and debunk them one by one. Do all Indians have arranged marriages? What is all the fuss about caste? Do Indians ride elephants to school? (Yes, that one really came in.)
Maybe you’ve heard that India is a rough place to live. If you live like locals, there is a lot you can do to prepare yourself and prevent some of the most common inconveniences of life in India. From navigating traffic to avoiding dysentery, there are tried and true ways that local people survive unscathed by India’s sometimes harsh conditions. Even as a visitor there are preparations and life hacks you can adapt to protect yourself from the elements.
Once you’re past the surface level touristy phase, you get into what makes India the real deal. How well traveled are you in India? More than checking off a list of places you’ve been, what have you experienced? Show us the real life you’ve experienced in India!
Smartphones have changed the world. But something quite peculiar has happened in India where the use of the smartphone challenges many social norms and yet supports and upholds other time held traditions.
Gender Based Inequality and Violence Against Women in India with Shefa Sikder Shefa Sikder is a hero for women’s issues. She is broadly informed on women’s inequality and laser focused on gender based violence in South Asia.
Varanasi is where the ancient and modern collide in 21st Century India. Hear about the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world with 5000 years of history.
Have you ever wondered why kids are picky or refuse to try different foods? Have you been frustrated with the mess that feeding your child creates? Do you feel like your children’s food habits are spoiled and you don’t know how to fix it?
In Episode 12, Jessica interviews Jon Rider, a linguist, translator, web developer, trainer, cultural liaison and founder of HindiUnlocked.com. In our line of work, we cross paths with a lot of people who are trying to learn Hindi.
There is no formula to raising bilingual children. In this episode Jessica talks philosophy of language learning and what you as a parent can do to encourage your child.
There are no shortage of podcasts and blogs about visiting Thailand, but most of the sites and advice blogs are geared towards Westerners. We take this episode to break down touring Thailand from an Indian perspective. Thailand is a hot spot for Indians, but there is a lot that can go wrong and a lot that you need to be aware of.
What is it like to be a foreigner in India? What about a person who stands out like a sore thumb? In this episode, Jessica shares a bit of our backstory of getting married in the US then returning to India as a family. She also dives into what it is like to be a white person outside of the international, mega cities of India and how white privilege affects her life every day.
Want to learn about Ayurvedic medicine? Hear from Dr Shari Krishna from Kairali Ayurvedic Center as we talk about her introduction to medicine, life as a South Indian in North India, and the basics of Ayurveda. The ancient healing system of Ayurveda has both scientific and mystical beginnings.
Hear our comedic take on "5 Ways to Be Tacky in a 5 Star Hotel" and how we exhibited questionable behavior on a recent trip to Gurgaaon.
Voted the highest quality of life in India, Udaipur way exceeded our expectations. We loved every minute of this beautiful, historic, clean and navigable city.
In this episode we cover a wide variety of information about Rajastan’s vegetarian hot spot, Pushkar and touch on Ajmer’s Khwaja Sahib Shrine. We talk about pro travel trips in India and some specific to Rajastan.
What does it feel like in Pushkar? Chai, falafel, good coffee shops, temples, camels and hippies. What is so special about Ajmer Sharif’s shrine to Moinuddin Chishti? How many humps do Indian camels have? Learn about where the gypsy people originated from. Is dressing up in traditional banjaara clothes cultural appropriation? What is Abhishek’s favorite non-touristy food to try in Pushkar? How do you show cultural respect while visiting a Muslim shrine? Listen and find explore with us.
A few things we mentioned in the episode: -Check out IRCTC.gov.in to book trains, but for more information on the actual timelines and reliability of Indian trains, try, www.Trainman.in - for figuring out which trains to take and if they are on time or late. -To learn more about the his...
Hear Jessica's story about giving birth in India and fighting against cultural norms to try for a natural, unmedicated birth.
There is a gaping hole of awareness of natural birth in India and there are many reasons contributing to that which are discussed on the podcast. Did you know that India skipped the Industrial Revolution? India went from an Agricultural Society to a Digital Society in a short amount of time. Imagine the jump in generation gap! This is one of the contributing factors to why many people have odd thoughts on medical science, including childbirth.
Nowadays people basically say that more intervention in medicine is better and women become the victims of the overmedicalization of birth, especially in India where some reports show that 80% of births in hospitals are performed by cesarean.
Doctors in India aren’t taught problem solving or personalizing medicine for the individual. Are you a doctor or OBGYN? Leave your comments? Do you think this is true?
During...
A visit to one of Buddhism's most holy sites in Bodhgaya ushers one into the mind blowing nature of India’s clash- the modern and ancient all in one place. In this episode, Jessica walks you through Bodhgaya and the Mahabodhi temple experience. Enjoy some pro-travel tips of exploring rural India and learn about the state of Bihar, where Bodhgaya is located.
Imagine, you are on a vacation with your family and the unimaginable happens. Your most important documents, money and devices are stolen out from under your nose. You are stranded in a foreign country for almost 2 weeks because of circumstances out of your control.
Introduction- Who are we? What is this podcast all about?
For those of you who don’t know us, we are a cross cultural couple (Indian and American) living and working in India with our two kids.
In Episode 1 we talk about why we moved back to India with our young kids after a fruitful life and careers in America. What does it feel like to be a returning NRI? How did we get here? What is it like living in the least developed state of India outside the metropolitan, tier 1 cities?