Between Friends: Conversations with Maitri

Ruchira Gupta, a social justice activist, feminist campaigner and journalist has been fighting a long battle to empower women and children in red light areas. Ruchira shared incredible stories of her making a documentary on flesh trade, her journey in helping millions of sex workers and her satisfaction of working with resilient and brave sex workers. This project was made possible by funding prov...

Casey Swegman and Hellitz Villegas from Tahirih Justice Center had an insightful discussion with our host Nandini Ray about forced marriage: How is it different from arranged marriage? What's the impact? And what protections are available? Listen to this podcast. With this information, you can save someone’s life. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Offi...

Most of the time we tend to overlook that patriarchy can be oppressive and damaging for men too. Many men negotiate their desires, hopes and frustrations in a society that expects them to fit in to the rigid gender norms. In this episode our guest Rajat Mittal shares how he is using his creativity and storytelling approach in addressing oppressive gender roles. This project was made possible...

Did you know the first marital rape conviction in the US was in 1979? Where does the law stand in CA now? We discuss the crime, the punishment and how to bring our communities to prevent this violent act. Our guests are CPEDV Policy Specialist, Krista Colon, and Maitri's Director of Survivor Advocacy, Zakia Afrin. This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Clara Offi...

Jasmin Uribe, a survivor of dating violence is sharing her experience and knowledge to help you in finding if you are in a toxic dating relationship and what you can do about it. Jasmine turned her pain into power and became a nationally recognized program consultant, public speaker, training facilitator, and curriculum developer. She is now empowering survivors to rise! This p...

In conversation with Sharan Dhanoa, Detective Gurbaksh Sohal, and Swostika Timalsina. Human trafficking is a shocking reality in today’s world and California has a high rate of human trafficking cases. It’s possible that one of your neighbors or classmates is a trafficked victim. In this episode, our host, Nandini Ray had a conversation with a law enforcement officer and two advocates who have vas...

Our host, Nandini Ray has a deep conversation about love and acceptance with a lovely couple, Parag and Vaibhav. Their wedding made headlines around the world. Not only was it a same-sex wedding performed according to Dharmic traditions, but it also served as a model for how families and communities can evolve when they lead with unconditional love and compassion. This project was made possible by...

Who are responsible in fostering harmful, patriarchal gender norms? Are they men, women or both? Is it possible for men and women to work in partnership to identify and eliminate gender inequalities and gender based violence? Let’s find out with community youth.

Amita Swadhin is relentlessly fighting interpersonal and institutional violence against young people. Amita’s commitments and approach to this work stem from their experiences as a queer person of color, as a daughter of immigrants, and of years of sexual abuse by their father. Amita shared their pain, resilience, healing journey, and activism in this episode.   ________________________ ...

In this episode, Daman Tiwana is in conversation with two community members, Khyati Thakur and Tushar Malik, about how media and movies influence our thinking, normalize certain behaviors, and eventually shape our culture. Influences, both positive and negative, come in all shapes and forms, like the movies that we watch whether Bollywood or Hollywood, music videos, lyrics, ads, tv shows, magazine...

Sexual violence & abuse in an intimate partner relationship is not an isolated incident and it often occurs alongside other forms of abusive behaviors. Listen to this in-depth discussion on how we must change harmful social and cultural conditions that allow sexual violence and abuse in partner relationships. Today’s guest: Sarah Khan, the Director of Programs at the Asian Pacific Institute on...

Medical professionals have an ideal opportunity to assess for and intervene in family and partner violence, also they can play a huge role in prevention. Listen to this podcast to know how Kaiser Family Violence Prevention Program is taking part in identifying relationship abuse, ensuring survivors’ health and safety, also raising awareness towards prevention. www.maitri.org | 1-888-8MAITRI Instag...

In this episode, we speak to Farzana doctor, an author, activist & psychotherapist about the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation. FGM is internationally recognized as human rights violation for girls and women yet an ignored topic in the community discussion. Farzana shares her experiences working with FGM survivors and activist groups that are challenging toxic patriarchy in debunki...

Listen to this deep discussion where Anjali Rimi, the president of Parivar Bay Area talks about the oppression South Asian Queer Trans people face because of their gender. Parivar and Maitri invite you all to take part in building a community of light, love, and acceptance. If all community members are pro-active in ending gender abuse and welcoming people of all gender identities and expressions,...

In this episode, Zakia Afrin and Nandini Ray discuss domestic violence in lockdown and share information and resources that can help in safety planning and in ending abuse, and guidelines on the community’s role in violence prevention. www.maitri.org | 1-888-8MAITRI Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn _____________ This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of...

In this episode, community teens examine and analyze gender discrimination and gender violence that takes place in our daily lives. And they also share ideas to improve community responses in preventing all forms of gender discrimination and gender-based violence and abuse. www.maitri.org | 1-888-8MAITRI Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn _____________ This project was made possib...

Girls and women face extreme forms of discrimination and violence only because of their gender. In this episode Nyna Caputi, an award-winning documentary filmmaker shares her experience on her work in raising awareness against gender abuse and sex-selective abortion. Nyna tells us the stories of those girls who are abused, violated, and murdered, sometimes even before they are born, because they a...

Trigger Warning: This show contains a depiction of horrific domestic violence and marital rape. Listener discretion is advised. Kamal Dhillon, a survivor of domestic violence had an in-depth conversation with our host Nandini Ray about how she transformed her pain into power. Kamal’s story will affect you, disturb you, and enrage you but it will surely open your eyes to the reality and severity of...

In this episode, our host is having an in-depth conversation with Tarun and Angeli, a real life dating couple, about healthy boundaries and expectations in a dating relationship. The couple is sharing their personal journey, learnings, vulnerability, and the best practices they follow to make their relationship safe and strong. www.maitri.org | 1-888-8MAITRI Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTub...

In this episode, Maitri Legal Advocate Shabana Ansari & Housing Coordinator Sneha Ambekar talk about Maitri programs in Marathi. Share this episode with your Marathi speaking friends— knowledge can help save someone's life! www.maitri.org instagram.com/maitribayarea facebook.com/maitribayarea twitter.com/maitribayarea This project was made possible by funding provided by the County of Santa Cl...

Lack of affordable housing and financial stability are two major roadblocks that victims of domestic violence face. Fear of homelessness and poverty often prevents them from escaping abusive situations. In this episode, Nandini Ray is in conversation with Jaya Suresh (Manager, Transitional Housing & Economic Empowerment Program) and Sneha Ambekar (Housing Coordinator) about Maitri programs and...

She is an educated, confident, smart, young med student, yet missed red flags of her abusive relationship over and over, then she blamed herself for her abuser’s fault and continued hoping that the toxic situation will change. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and broke the cycle of violence. Today, she is happy and safe. She is raising awareness against partner violence and encouraging young...

By challenging harmful gender norms in our everyday lives we can create perceptions, attitudes, and practices that are critical to bring gender justice and prevent gender abuse. In this episode, 3 community members, Jeet Kaul, Madhumitha Sowndararajan, and Jagannath Padmanabhan, had a deep discussion with our podcast host on addressing and identifying those constraints and challenges that have hel...

Presenting heartbreaking yet powerful and inspiring stories of those women who suffered relationship abuse but didn’t give up.  Preeti Malhotra and Lakshmi Karanth from Ahaana Silicon valley shared powerful and poignant survivor stories from their collection to send out a message that overcoming the trauma of relationship abuse and reclaiming self-identity is possible. Listen to this episode...

3 South Asian Youth LGBTQ+ community members celebrated Pride Month with Maitri in this Maitri Podcast episode. Satchi Thockchom, Raveena, and Aurin Roy shared their thoughts on the intersectionality of relationship abuse and the LGBTQ+ movement, their personal experiences, pain, and hope with our host Nandini Ray. Listen to this podcast to be a better ally, and stand with the LGBTQ+ communities w...