brown, bad n' bothered

In this episode, we sit down with Sanya, the inspiring founder of Manovichaar , a platform dedicated to breaking mental health stigmas within South Asian communities. Sanya shares her personal journey of navigating cultural expectations, academic pressures, and identity while living abroad as an international student. Together, we explore the unique challenges faced by international students and d...

In this episode, Ami Patel and I dive deep into the intricate web of societal expectations, hustle culture, and gender dynamics that shape how women approach self-worth, work and productivity. Ami Patel is a Psychotherapist and Clinical consultant with more than 22 years of experience in individual & joint therapy, parent education, professional training and student supervision. Ami’s areas of spe...

In today’s episode, Ayesha (@ayeshacoaching), a somatic mindset coach, joins the podcast to explain the science and practice behind various coaching and therapy styles such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). We uncover the power of our unconscious minds and the impacts it has on limiting beliefs, neuro pathways and individual perspectives. Ayesha’s goal is to empower everyone, especially those...

In today’s episode, the extremely talented, multifaceted, content-creating queen Alisha (@alishabhojwani_) joins the podcast to dig deep into her self-love journey that was ignited after redirecting her career and ending a ten-year relationship. Today’s episode is a proper girly pop chit chat about confidence, self-love, dating culture, friendships, redirection and solo travelling (and so much mor...

The rise of “cycle breakers” has taken social media by the horns, but what does being a cycle breaker actually mean and how does it relate to generational trauma? How does being a cycle breaker help overcome numerous health issues and general concerns for yourself and future generations? Tune in to find out, because in this episode Andrea uses her experience growing up with parents, who are cycle...

Brown Bad and Bothered is Back!! In today’s episode, Andrea gives us some insight into her 2023, where she took a break from podcasting. Today’s chat includes conversations surrounding burnouts, breakups, identity crises, depression, hyper independence and learning to slow down. Grab your chai and get ready for a relatable episode.   Don’t be shy! RATE REVIEW & FOLLOW Follow me at  https://www.ins...

Mrinal Gokhale, author of Saaya Unveiled: South Asian Mental Health Spotlight, is an Indian-American writer and advocate from Milwaukee. Mrinal has done a lot of work within various minor communities, hoping to expand mental health awareness and destigmatize the issue. Today's chat, inspired by topics covered in her first book, explores the impacts critical parenting, academic pressure, model mino...

Gurpreet, the ultimate bestie-estie-estie, joins this episode to help ME answer YOUR questions. That’s right, we dive into all the friendship, mental health, dating, and parenting questions you threw at us. The best part? You also get to hear our favorite friendship stories of each other. We even do a bit of (crappy) karaoke. Get your cup of chai, settle down for some serious older didi advice and...

Diya, @kajaldiaries, drops some serious advice & knowledge regarding financial literacy, confidence and planning! Not only does Diya address concerning trends, like educated women from challenging industries still putting financial planning aside or onto their men, but the impacts that these mindsets have on women and future generations. From culture shunning women from money talk to building fina...

Sania Khan, talented South Asian photographer and dear friend, was killed by ex-husband, Raheel Ahmed. Sania was an integral member of the South Asian space and was an advocate for creative careers and finding happiness and beauty in life. Sania publicly opened up about the hardships she faced while filing for divorce and leaving an abusive relationship. She reminded women that they aren’t alone a...

Natasha, Relationship & Divorce Coach, doesn’t hold back in this episode. Despite having some of the best, heart-wrenching, blood pumping, and truly wholesome romantic movies  - many South Asians are lost when it comes to off-screen healthy relationships. Tune into this episode to learn about how societal norms and culture impacts our ability to find and maintain healthy long-term love. Natasha (@...

Nancy Diaz, a trauma-informed specialist who is inspired by her own personal experiences, works closely with WOC and daughters of immigrants. In this episode, we dive deep into WOC trauma trends, realizing the very similar experiences WOC across all cultures and societies share. Nancy clears my doubts and questions over intricate theories and issues such as generational, childhood, and historical...

Navneet Gill, Canadian certified counselor, joins this episode to have an open chat about brown parenting and it’s long lasting impacts across generations. Despite being raised in different generations, Navneet (@navneetgillcounselling) and I share strikingly similar experiences when it comes to battling mental health issues alone, surviving the pressure of society, and being badass cultural rebel...

Is it just me or do all desi parents say the same irritating and bizarre things that drive us up the wall? Did they all attend the same parenting orientation? In this episode, Andrea chats about some go-to phrases that many brown kids are sure to find relatable and equally frustrating. How do these phrases affect children and young adults in the long run? Is it time brown parents learn to keep the...

Urvi, a certified life coach, joins this episode to break down all things mindfulness. With expertise in mindfulness, breathwork & meditation, Urvi (@innerserenitylc) explains everything you need to know in order to start integrating mindfulness in your life. Most importantly, WHY you should start practicing it! We connect the dots between relatable brown girls' problems and the role mindfulness h...

Poonam, a 21-year-old CEO of Virtue Mental, joins this episode to chat about the great impact destigmatizing mental health has on one’s wellbeing journey. Poonam (@thepoonamrahman) is a psychology, neuroscience AND management senior, determined to provide free resources for marginalized groups. We chat about our own mental health experiences while covering topics such as bullying, finding support,...

Did you know insecurities aren’t just tied to body image or relationships? In this episode, Andrea dives into the basics of insecurities. She discusses the common signs, main causes, and different types of insecurities that exist. More so, Andrea bares all when it comes to the insecurities she has faced due to being cheated on, PCOS, Dubai’s insane beauty standards, & embracing her brown skin. Did...

Payal, a South Asian body positivity activist, joins this episode to chat about the various themes and "shakey" moments from the latest season of Love is Blind. Payal (@desianklet) shares her first-hand experience with the reality tv show, leaving us both in fits of laughter. We also dive deep into relevant & controversial topics such as body inclusivity, dating preferences, internalized racism, p...

There’s nothing quite like the clash of cultures and finding your identity as children of immigrants. In this episode, Urmi (@urmamio) shares her unique yet relatable experiences as an Italian-born-and-raised Bengali. Urmi and Andrea explore what it’s like to grow up trying to assimilate to one culture yet stay true to their parents’ heritage. From double standards, feeling left out, making friend...

Valentine’s Day can be a touchy subject for those who are single and taken. Society has done an unfortunately good job at marketing love and Valentine’s to fit a one-size-all template that doesn’t match everyone’s ideal display of affection or love language. While Valentine’s can be a great time to reflect and celebrate, Andrea explores her journey and different phases that are relatable to most....

By now, many of us are aware of how media and Bollywood have normalized stalking and sexual harassment and the impact it’s had off-screen. However, in this episode, Andrea focuses on how media and traditional gender roles have enforced control in relationships and even conditioned us into thinking controlling behaviors are a show of care and love. What are examples of a subtle and extreme controll...

We spend so much time worrying about how people view us and if we are "nice enough"...but the real question is - how kind are you to yourself? Andrea navigates the impacts of a harmful inner critic and explores the importance and benefits of positive self-talk. Self-talk can actually be helpful in keeping us motivated toward goals and an overall healthy well-being, so join into the conversation to...

Let's take a look into Andrea's 2021 that was filled with academic growth, alone time and mental breakdowns. What battles did she win? What did she unlearn? What made her sad? Tune in to find out.

Do you struggle with conflict? Does the thought of confrontation put you on edge? Have all your bottled-up emotions resulted in you being aggressive in confrontations? Do you feel guilty when expressing your needs, thoughts, and concerns? Andrea addresses our inner conflict with confrontation while diving into her journey navigating confrontation and healthy communication as a girl inside and outs...

Wowza! In this week's episode, Andrea shares her listeners' toxic friendship storytimes. From backhanded compliments, trying to steal boyfriends, taking advantage of money, victim-blaming, and straight-up disrespect, it feels like everyone has had some sort of horrible toxic friend in their life. Listen to stories that are relatable while experiencing Andrea's unfiltered first reaction to some jaw...