The Brown Voices Project Podcast
Conversations with South Asian Americans on identity, culture, and the stories that don’t always get told.
On The Brown Voices Project Podcast, Dr. Punita Rice sits down with South Asian Americans—creators, thinkers, professionals, and just plain interesting people—for real conversations about identity, culture, and the stories that don't always get told. Some guests are breaking stereotypes and redefining success; others bring deep expertise. All of them are people worth hearing from.
Every Conversation
October 8, 2026Log Kya Kahenge? Therapist Zohra Lasi on what Desi kids actually need
Zohra Lasi (aka “therapysherapy”) on people pleasing; Log Kya Kahenge; cycle breaking; what parents & teachers of Brown kids should know.
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September 11, 2026Neema Sharma on Building a Film Career (that nobody saw coming)
Filmmaker and assistant director Neema Sharma (Extraction, The Gray Man, DGA Training Program) on what she’d tell aspiring Desi kids.
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August 11, 2026Saloni Nahar on Community, Representation & What it Looks Like When School Gets it Right
Actor & filmmaker Saloni Nahar on growing up Brown, what her schools did right, Anxious Brown Girl, & what she’d tell young South Asian kids.
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July 21, 2026Heems (Himanshu Suri) on the Underbelly, Rejecting the Model Minority Myth & What Forward Actually Looks Like
A note before we begin: this conversation touches on mental health, substance use disorder, and suicide. Heems speaks about these experiences openly and publicly as part of his advocacy work and his mission as a storyteller. If you or someone you know is struggling, resources are available at 988lifeline.org, or by calling 988 to connect…
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July 12, 2026What the Therapy Room Reveals: A Conversation with Pinkal Panchal on South Asian Kids & Family Pressure
LA therapist Pinkal Panchal on the pressures South Asian kids carry, dual identity, harmful language at home, and five things Brown families actually need to hear.
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June 23, 2026Sabeen Marghoob on Henna, Leaving the Ladder & Why Two Things Can Be True at Once
Henna artist Sabeen Marghoob (featured in Vogue, Elle, Allure) on pressure, henna, the corporate ladder, and building a creative life…
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June 13, 2026Vishal Vaidya on Broadway, Approval, & What He’d Tell Young Brown Kids
Broadway actor Vishal Vaidya on approval-seeking, South Asian representation in theater, and what he’d tell creative Brown kids today.
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June 10, 2026Jyoti Chand (Mamajotes) on Fitting Indian, Growing Up, & What She Hopes for Brown Kids
Jyoti Chand (Mamajotes) opens up about growing up, sobriety, Fitting Indian, and what she hopes for the next generation of Brown kids in schools.
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October 20, 2018Sujata Day, Filmmaker and Actor
Actor, filmmaker, and Insecure star Sujata Day discusses South Asian American representation in Hollywood, working with Issa Rae, creating stories beyond stereotypes, and why supporting one another — on screen and behind the scenes — is essential for lasting change.
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December 9, 2017Vishal Vaidya, Broadway Actor
Broadway performer Vishal Vaidya reflects on his journey to Groundhog Day, growing up in a diverse Maryland community, building a sustainable career in the arts, and why South Asian representation matters both on stage and beyond.
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November 19, 2017Kevin Negandhi, ESPN Anchor
ESPN anchor Kevin Negandhi reflects on becoming the first Indian American sports anchor on national television and why dreaming big requires preparation, resilience, and belief.
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October 30, 2017Poet Pavana Reddy
Poet and writer Pavana Reddy reflects on grief, identity, and why giving language to pain is essential for healing and connection.
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October 17, 2017A Conversation on Representation in Media
A conversation with Raj Rawal (@asaprajy), social producer at Ovation TV, on South Asian representation in media, creative work, and building a career outside traditional paths.
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October 16, 2017Recording Artist Lady Pista
Recording artist and DJ Lady Pista shares how she blends global sounds, challenges expectations in the music industry, and encourages South Asian women to pursue creative freedom.
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September 25, 2017Natasha Sumant of Gundi Studios
Digital art director Natasha Sumant shares how her project Gundi Studios reclaims power for South Asian women, and reflects on pursuing a creative career across India and the U.S.
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September 4, 2017Jashvina Shah, Sports Journalist
Journalist Jashvina Shah shares how she built a subscription sports reporting platform, navigated sports media, and found the confidence to take risks.
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August 12, 2017Shaun Jayachandran, Crossover Basketball and Scholars Academy
Nonprofit leader Shaun Jayachandran reflects on scholar-athlete identity, building an international education program in India, and the representation he wishes he’d had growing up.
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