ROOH (Rising Over Obstacles and Healing)

Ready for a glow-up? This week, we're diving into the world of skincare with Dr. Rimy Grewal, a fellow South Asian woman and medical aesthetics expert. From the turmeric masks our grandmas swore by to the latest clinical treatments, she's breaking down what works, what doesn't, and how to get that radiant skin you've always wanted. Get ready for an honest, no-filter chat about all things desi beau...

In this inspiring episode of ROOH, we sit down with an incredible guest who proves it's never too late to chase your dreams. For 30 years, she followed her family's wishes and worked in a "safe" career, all while dreaming of joining law enforcement. At the age of 48, she decided it was finally time to answer that call. She'll share her journey of taking the grueling exam, facing failure multiple t...

This episode of ROOH features a candid conversation with my sister-in-law, Ritu, who grew up in an all-girl South Asian family. We dive into what that was like, especially in a culture that often treasures sons. But here's the cool part: Ritu shares how her unique upbringing actually made her and her sisters super independent and helped them truly see their own value. It's all about changing the c...

In this candid and heartfelt episode of ROOH, Monica and Jyoti dive deep into the nuanced experience of growing up Indian-American/Canadian. From navigating cultural expectations and straddling two distinct worlds, to the often humorous and sometimes challenging journey of forging a unique identity, they share personal stories of how their dual heritage has profoundly shaped who they are today. Jo...

Ever felt like you're constantly being compared to a sibling? In this episode, Monica and I, both the oldest in our families, chat about how we ended up being more "by the book" while our younger siblings were off having adventures. We even have Monica's sister, Priya, join us to share what it was really like being the youngest and constantly measured against Monica. Our big takeaway? It's time to...

Hey everyone, thanks for tuning into ROOH! This week, Monica and I are getting really personal. We're opening up about something that deeply impacted both our lives: our fathers experiencing heart attacks. What's truly striking are the vastly different outcomes, and what we learned about symptoms that go way beyond the typical chest pain . Stick around, this is an important one for us South Asians...

Ever feel like there's a huge unspoken thing in our South Asian homes? We're diving deep into anxiety – that silent struggle many of us face but never really discuss. In this episode of ROOH, we're joined by Shahruma, a fantastic South Asian Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She'll break down what anxiety actually is, especially how it shows up in our community. More importantly, Shahruma shares rea...

In this heartfelt episode, Monica and I open up about our personal journeys through the often-unspoken realities of the fourth trimester. We're diving deep into our experiences after childbirth, sharing the joys and challenges of breastfeeding, from those initial struggles to finding our rhythm. We also candidly discuss navigating the emotional rollercoaster of the postpartum blues, offering a raw...

Courageous Kaur: Charting a Path with Understanding and Courage Join us as Sharin, a truly Courageous Kaur, shares her inspiring journey of making brave, unconventional choices that often defied traditional Desi norms. Discover how she navigated these decisions, not just with immense courage, but also with deep understanding, forging and maintaining a beautiful, strong relationship with her family...

"Where Faith Found a Family: Neetu's Path to Motherhood" on ROOH is all about Neetu's incredibly tough but ultimately heartwarming journey to becoming a mom. She shares the raw truth about the many struggles and heartbreaks she faced while trying to have a baby. It's a deeply personal and inspiring story about perseverance, faith, and finally achieving her dream of motherhood after a lot of trials...

Join Monica and me on ROOH as we look back at the big move that brought us to NYC many years ago. We share the raw truth about the culture shock of landing in a sprawling city so different from our hometowns. But amidst the chaos, we found each other, forging an unbreakable bond. If you've ever moved somewhere new, faced the unexpected, or wondered how lasting friendships are made, this episode is...

Join us for a super real chat with Sonia! She shares her incredible story of falling in love and marrying her husband, even when "love marriage" was a big no-no in the desi culture. Get ready to hear about the challenges she faced, the wild ride she experienced, and all the wisdom she gained along the way. It's a tale of love, defiance, and finding your own path!

Welcome back to ROOH. Join us as Sahara shares her journey after her diagnosis, highlighting her initial disbelief, the complexities of sharing the news with her family, and her current outlook.

Ever feel like your brain is a browser with way too many tabs open? Our guest this week, Sahara, gets it. For years, she was battling a whirlwind of scattered thoughts, impulsivity, and feeling out of sync with everyone else at times. She spills the tea on the daily struggles that left her confused and questioning everything. Then came the "aha!" moment – a revelation that finally made sense of th...

In this insightful ROOH episode, join us as we dive into the often-murky waters of menstruation. Have you ever wondered why so many of us were caught completely off guard by our first period? We'll explore the surprising lack of open conversation surrounding this natural biological process and the cultural norms that keep it shrouded in secrecy. More importantly, we'll discuss how we can change th...

This ROOH episode dissects the powerful "wake-up call" shared by Asha in the previous episode regarding her cancer diagnosis and the realization of her unknowingly stressful lifestyle. The hosts delve into the key takeaways from Asha's story, emphasizing the insidious nature of chronic stress and its potential impact on health. They discuss the importance of recognizing early warning signs and ref...

In this powerful episode, Asha recounts the moment her life took an unexpected turn with a cancer diagnosis. Hear her raw and honest account of the journey that followed and the inner strength she discovered to face the battle head-on.

Jyoti, co-host of this podcast, shares her personal story of how she became insecure about her skin color and what it took to finally, fully accept and embrace it!