Chai & Chat with Ranjit and Sundari

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit mark National Poetry Day with a conversation about what poetry actually is, why it matters, and how it can bring people together. We begin by asking what makes something a poem. Does it need to rhyme? Is it rhythm, imagery, line breaks, emotion, or simply the way words make us feel? From haiku, sonnets and limericks to pantun, free verse and s...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit turn a post-holiday catch-up into a warm and practical conversation about coughs, colds, seasonal bugs and the different ways we try to feel better. From Paris, the Lake District and a Norwegian fjords cruise, the chat soon moves to sniffles, sore throats and the familiar remedies many of us grew up with. We talk about turmeric milk, ginger, h...

In this episode of Chai & Chat , Ranjit and Sundari are joined by Dr Neha Gupta, a GP partner and dermatology lead, for a thoughtful conversation about medicine, migration, resilience and why skin of colour still needs far greater recognition in healthcare. Neha reflects on her journey from India to the UK and the formative experience of training at the Armed Forces Medical College, where disc...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari are joined by personal trainer Chris Foley for an honest, practical and encouraging conversation about fitness, food, confidence and making health work in real life. Chris shares his journey from accountancy to personal training, and reflects on what drew him towards helping people feel stronger, healthier and more confident. We talk about gym...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari explore the everyday creativity of making satisfying meals from whatever is already in the fridge, freezer and cupboard. From quick noodle soups and pantry staples to tired vegetables, frozen finds and the familiar question of what to cook when there seems to be “nothing in”, we talk about how simple ingredients can become comforting, flavourf...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari are joined by Dr Yvonne Chang, a senior NHS doctor and founder of Seraphae, for a fascinating conversation about medicine, migration, language, women’s health and finding purpose. Yvonne shares her journey from Malaysia to Ukraine and then the UK, reflecting on how a multilingual childhood, family heritage and cross-cultural experience shaped...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit are joined by Ian Henery, a solicitor, poet, writer, broadcaster and community advocate whose work brings together heritage, social justice, creativity and community storytelling. We begin with a Song dynasty poem, One Plum Blossom, before exploring the Chinese idea of red threads: the invisible connections that link people, stories and commun...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari are joined by writer, community organiser and LGBTQ+ advocate Khakan Qureshi for a powerful conversation about memory, queerness, family, faith and finding your voice in the Black Country. Khakan reflects on growing up in a working-class South Asian Muslim family, the moments that shaped his understanding of difference, and the memories that s...

In this episode of Chai & Chat , Sundari and Ranjit have one of those wonderfully free-flowing conversations that starts in one place and somehow travels everywhere. We begin with ideas, confidence, ADHD and the challenge of actually acting on the things that come into your head. From there, the conversation moves into the fifth UK heatwave of 2026, staying cool, watering the garden, and the s...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari take a nostalgic and very funny look at summer holiday road trips, family car journeys and all the chaos that happens before anyone has even left the house. From last-minute packing and forgotten essentials to food bags, overfilled cars, pets, children and the familiar debate about who is best at organising the boot, the conversation explores...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit are joined by multidisciplinary artist Daya Bhatti for a rich conversation about art, fashion, storytelling and cultural identity. Daya shares her journey from her Punjabi roots and childhood influences to developing a creative practice shaped by South Asian heritage, symbolism and personal expression. We explore how her work brings together i...

Join us in this episode of Chai and Chat as we delve into the multifaceted life and work of Mya Badhan, a passionate social justice activist and community leader based in the Black Country. We discuss her journey through diaspora experiences, her role as the joint West Midlands region coordinator for South Asian Heritage Month and her advocacy for inclusive and decolonial practices. This conversat...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit explore decluttering through the lens of heritage, memory and identity. We reflect on childhood experiences shaped by parents and grandparents who lived with a strong “make do and mend” mindset, where keeping, repairing and reusing things was not just practical, but part of everyday life. From migration stories to family habits, we discuss how...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari begins with the classic film Casablanca as a starting point for a wider conversation about love, duty, sacrifice and marriage. Sundari introduces the film’s iconic lines, characters and story, before we explore how its themes connect to different ideas of romance and responsibility. We reflect on Western ideas of romantic choice alongside South Asian dia...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit explore the humble chapati, and ask what happens when traditional foods are repackaged as the latest social media food trend. From chapatis, rotis and dosas to Middle Eastern and South Indian flatbreads, we reflect on how food travels across borders, changes names, and becomes part of global food culture. But when a chapati is simply called a...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari take a light-hearted look at the joys, chaos and little rituals of airline travel. We begin with Rita Dove’s poem Vacation, using it as a springboard into a conversation about anticipation, people-watching and the journey before the destination. From airport lounges and boarding gate nerves to luggage tags, delays, in-flight food and the stran...

As the UK experiences another heatwave (June 2026), in this timely episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit take a light-hearted look at heat, heritage and the familiar comment: “You’re Asian, you’ll be fine!” But does being brown really make you better at coping with hot weather? Sundari grew up in Malaysia, while Ranjit grew up in the Black Country, so we compare very different experiences...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit continue exploring Sundari’s debut collection, Poems, as she reads more of her work and reflects on the fascinating relationship between poetry, medicine and personal storytelling. Sundari shares poems that draw on her journey through medical training and hospital life, revealing how the emotional and physical demands of a medical career shape...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit explore Sundari’s debut collection, entitled Poems, and the cultural stories, memories and identities woven through her writing. We begin with the story behind the book itself, including Sundari’s vibrant cover inspired by Magritte, before moving into the deeper themes of migration, belonging and personal history. Through poems such as Belong,...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, we reflect on ageing and hindsight through two very different poems. We begin with W. B. Yeats’ The Wild Swans at Coole, a poem chosen by Sundari because it came from a book of poetry owned by her father, complete with his handwritten notes. Through Yeats’ autumnal melancholy, the passage of time, the swans that mate for life, and the poignant image of fifty-nin...

In this episode of Chai & Chat , Sundari and Ranjit begin with W. H. Davies’ poem Leisure , a gentle reminder to pause, look around, and ask whether we are making enough space to simply be. From there, we move into a conversation about leisure, work, rest and the ever-elusive idea of work-life balance. What does balance actually mean, and is it something we ever truly achieve, or something we...

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit reflect on growing up, and ask the deceptively simple question: when do you actually become a grown-up? We look back at our teenage years, the fears we carried when we were younger, and the ways we tried to fit in, belong, and find our place in the world. We talk about confidence, how it develops over time, and the people, parents, friends and...

In this episode of Chai & Chat , Sundari and Ranjit turn their attention to friendship, opening with Kahlil Gibran’s beautiful reflections from The Prophet on friendship as nourishment, companionship and mutual exchange. Together, we explore the friends who come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. From childhood friends who know the earliest versions of us, to school friendsh...

In this episode, we look back at the awkward, exciting and sometimes chaotic teenage years. From school life and teenage fashion to musical obsessions and first parties, we reflect on the experiences that shaped us growing up in two very different parts of the world. Sundari remembers glamorous house parties in Malaysia, while Ranjit reflects on the world of the British Asian daytime disco scene o...

In this episode, we take a step back and reflect on what it was like growing up, from Sundari’s childhood in Malaysia to Ranjit’s in the Black Country in the West Midlands. We explore the similarities and differences in our experiences, from school and play to family life and expectations, and how these moments have shaped who we are today. It is a personal and reflective conversation about cultur...