Awkward Talks

In moments of conflict, pride, or overwhelming love for our daughter, I instinctively turn to my wife, sharing every parenting high and low. This unity makes me deeply admire single parents' incredible strength and resilience. How do they navigate parenting's challenges and joys alone? In this episode, we talk about the tough parts and the strong parts of raising kids alone in India. Pleas...

There is a new breed of couples emerging rapidly in India. They are the DINK couples. They are often criticized and called selfish, especially in India since parenthood comes very high in our families. In this episode, I explore the possible reasons for people to choose this lifestyle. After listening, I would like YOU to decide if they are Smart or Selfish!

What is Autism? It is the third most common developmental disorder. In India more than 18 million people have Autism. However, there is a lack of knowledge about this condition leading to a lot of misunderstanding and ignorance. This podcast is meant to demystify Autism. They are amazing individuals whose brain functions differently. Just changing the statement from I have Autism to I am Autistic...

Are you prepared for your death? Uncomfortable question. Isn't it? We don't like to think about it much. We want to live a full life, work hard and save up and secure the future of our families, right? Unfortunately, all your goodwill and effort can be of no use to your family if you haven't made your WILL yet. They may end up with much less than what you would've liked or worse, w...

I am sure you have made at least one New Year resolution for 2024. Do you know that more than 80% give up on theirs within just 03 months? Listen in to know why and how you can make sure that you not only stay on but also accomplish what you have set out to accomplish this year. Learn how you can ensure that this year will not be like your previous years. Have an amazing 2024!

Christmas is a festival that I have loved and enjoyed right from childhood. There are bright colors, lights, carols, cakes and so much more. We celebrate it as the birth of Jesus Christ, but is that really the truth? In this episode, I talk about how Christmas in its current form came into being by including different customs from different parts of the world. This does not take anything away from...

We like someone, but somehow, they don't like us. Why does that happen? Why do some of us have the compulsive need to be liked by others? Girls are told from early childhood about behaving in a way that pleases others. How does it affect their individuality? Finally, is it really ok if people don't like us? Listen in to know it all!

Did you know that our education system originated from a model that was used to train soldiers in the 18th century? It was designed to teach them how to read and write and follow instructions without asking too many questions to the authority. Most of us do not know this. I too learned this only from my mentor Blair Singer. Listen in to know the truth about our education system.

We all have several bad memories stored in our brain that we want to forget. It takes a toll on us every time we remember them. If you have experienced a serious trauma, like domestic violence, or childhood abuse, they can take a serious toll on your life. How can we get over them? Is it even possible? Listen in to find out!

Most of us have heard of the term Toxic Masculinity. The term originated in the mythopoetic men's movement of the  1980s and 1990s . This talks about all the toxic "manly" traits that makes life difficult for people around. Have you heard of Toxic Femininity? This came into mainstream less than a decade back. What do you think does this mean? Listen in to find out the truth about Tox...

Well, I don't know if this is an "Awkward Talk" but is definitely an interesting talk. In this episode, I talk about the often misunderstood and lesser-known festival of Halloween. How it originated and how it reached the present form. Interestingly, India also has our own festivals to honor the deceased. You get to know about these also in this episode! Happy Halloween everyone!

Do you know what is discussed even less than mental health issues? The general well-being of the caregivers of mental health patients! Usually, the caregivers are untrained family members who go through physical, mental, financial and emotional turmoil. And often, their silent scream for help is overlooked/ unheard. It is time to recognize and acknowledge that the caregivers also need some care an...

You don't get a response You don't get an acknowledgement to your statements You don't get relevant answers Infact, you feel the person you are speaking with is not even listening to you! How many of you feel the above when you share something with someone dear to you? Usually men, me included, are often the ones who are blamed for everything I mentioned. It is so common to accuse men...

When emotions take over your brain, we call it an Amygdala Hijack. Anger, aggression, fear, and stress are all common emotional triggers that set off a chain of reactions we may not have had, if not for this hijack. The amygdala when triggered activates the fight-or-flight response when there is a perceived threat to a our safety. At times like this, we may not be able to develop a rational respon...

The number of student suicides in India is rising at an alarming rate, in 2022, student suicides increased by 4.5%, with around 35 deaths reported each day. The causes that lead youngsters to take this terrible step vary from peer pressure to identity issues, ragging to discrimination, societal stress to mental health, expectations to relationship issues. It is a burden like no other when a loved...

As humans, we are hardwired in a way to be attentive to triggers, more so those that signal potential threats or dangers. This evolutionary trait has helped our ancestors survive in a world filled with risks. However, in our modern lives, where many of us are fortunate to live in relatively safe and stable environments, it is essential to shift our focus towards looking for glimmers rather than fi...

This book is the culmination of my long pending dream... In this book, I have bared my life... My challenges, frustrations and desperations when I faced major setbacks in life and how it changed me as a person and how I learned to overcome them with a two-word mantra... This can be read as an autobiography of my life and also as a powerful self-help book that can help you get out of any desperate...

Marital Rape is an issue that even our government and judiciary are not willing to take a stand on. In a patriarchal society like India, this becomes an evil that a lot of women go through in silence. Despite a woman's achievements or position at work and society, despite their societal stature, this evil perpetuates even into affluent bedrooms. We need to have more discussions about this topi...

Narcissists and danger are inextricably linked. Those who have been affected by narcissism are more likely to suffer as a result.  They use force, dominate, gaslight, and disrespect boundaries . This type of behavior, in addition to frustrating and demeaning, affects the self-esteem of the people around them negatively. Covert narcissists are passive, but  they can be just as destructive to relati...

We have spoken about perimenopause and menopause. It is time to also speak up about its male equivalent - Andropause or Male Menopause.  The emotional upheaval men experience at this time is often seen as a 'refusal to ageing'. It is imperative to understand that andropause is different from mid-life crisis and though it affects several areas of life, it is largely a biological process. In...

It's always awkward talking to your child about sex and sexuality. Especially in our country, where it is looked upon as something that should be hidden or worse, looked at as a sin. Sex education is important and it is best if parents help their children understand sex, sexuality, consent, precautions and sexually transmitted diseases. It not only helps the child believe that their parent und...

Have you ever wondered why interacting with some people can leave you tired and drained? The term 'Energy Vampire' is used to describe a person who gets increased energy around other people, but leaves those other people exhausted or "drained" of energy. In this episode of Awkward Talks, let's discuss how you can identify and protect yourself from Energy Vampires.

We see a lot of people who just carry on in-spite of being miserable. We are in no way saying that you give up on relationships at the first hint of trouble, but we are asking you to question a status quo that is leading to immense unhappiness ... for all parties involved. In this episode, we discuss the questions and scenarios you need to envision and answer in order to make a logical decision wi...

Loss of concentration, skin and hair issues, hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety ... Did you know all these symptoms plus plenty more are often caused by the onset of Perimenopause in women (usually aged between 40-44)? Did you know perimenopause is the precursor of Menopause - aka end of periods? We didn't know much about Perimenopause before we read up about it. When women form such an importa...

One perennial question for many men post their marriage is - Who do I support? The Mom or the Wife? On one side is your mother who has been your everything from birth and on the other side is your wife who will be with you for the rest of your life. This episode explores the complexities of these relationships and suggests ways to handle it and make life easier for everyone in a respectful, loving...