Chai with Rai

Finally and I mean Finally managed to get Carmina Bernhardt for an intevrview. Carrying on with the series we grabbed a cuppa and discussed the inspiration behind Carmina's piece " Brainfreeze " from the audio series " Symphonies of Beaded Threads " and her love of cats and more! About Carmina: Carmina Bernhardt is a Vancouver-born and London-based actor, writer, director, script reader, and coach...

Carrying on with the interview series with the writers from " Symphonies of Beaded Threads " diving into the mind of Afriya- Jasmine Nylander . who wrote the short story titled " Professional Daydreamer ".   About Afriya: Afriya-Jasmine Nylander is a Writer, Actor and Producer based in West London. She studied Theatre at the Brit School where she performed Shakespeare at Stratford-Upon-Avon, was c...

Excited to be releasing an interview series with the the writers from the short audio storytelling series on Chai with Rai " Symphonies of Beaded Threads ". Let's warm up that delicious cuppa and dive into it with Soria Hamidi who wrote " Take my Picture "  About Soria: Soria Hamidi is an Afghan playwright, prose fiction writer and dramaturg. Her work focuses on silenced histories, communities and...

Getting into more deep chatter and games with the one and only Vidya Patel . Enjoy part 2 and you can also now listen to Part 1 HERE .  In the episode we discuss: Culture of Dance commissioning.  A tip on being financial savvy. A tip on funding, application how to get things done .  A tip on dance artists transitioning into facilitation or choreographing or movement direction? 3 things the dance c...

This is going to be a two-parted episode BECAUSE I just had to dive into this brilliant human's mind. Got to speak with the incredible Choreographer, Movement artist and wonderful human that is Vidya Patel . From connecting on Gujarati sayings to discussing decoding Classical Indian dance, it's access, Uday Shankar and so much more! This is a jam packed one.  In the episode we discuss: Creation ex...

Part 2 aka the final part with actor Tibu Fortes . From discussing reverence of Shakespeare to co-op's ( not the retail store).  In the episode we discuss: Co-Op's - 3 tools you learnt from on being on the agency side and now to switching to a complete overall management.  Lessons you have learnt from the craft about yourself and the craft? If you could go back to any role/ project- what would you...

Finally managed to sit down with the incredible mind that is Tibu Fortes . Warm up your cuppas as we dive into a 2-parted episode with the actor discussing his morning routines, acting tools/tricks and playing Martin Bashir in his recent work at The Park Theatre .  In the episode we discuss: Since this is Tibu's first ever interview in podcasting I had to ask- How was Drama Centre London and NYT?...

This is PART 2 (Final part of the 100 episode Celebration)  Massive Thank you to all the guests  Two Chickpeas in a Podcast , Zoha Rahman ,   Jay Jay Revlon , Sanjay Lago and Meghna Bhalla . HERE is the link to the Instagram unfiltered LIVE! To subscribe to Patreon  and become a Patron/ supporter of Chai with Rai.  Social: Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/  & https://twitter.com/...

Celebrating 100 Episodes of Chai with Rai with a very special episode co-hosted with Two Chickpeas in a Podcast , Zoha Rahman and featuring special guests Jay Jay Revlon , Sanjay Lago and Meghna Bhalla . Now this is part 1 of part 2 so keep an eye out for Part 2! And as we celebrate 100 episodes- HERE is the link for the Giveaways! HERE is the link to the Instagram unfiltered LIVE! To subscribe to...

This is the last story from our storytelling series Symphonies of beaded threads . I have loved working on this project, bringing you something more than just an interview or a chat on the podcast and also just flexing that producing/ directing skill in the audio world. I have also appreciated your messages, you sharing each episode, tagging chai with rai and the artists involved. Now If you haven...

Continuing on with the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads and releasing an episode daily. This is the seventh episode/ story titled " Professional Daydreamer " written and voiced by Afriya-Jasmine Nylander .  The Transcript of the piece can be found HERE .   If you would like to Donate to this project and a live event which I will be holding soon for the public in a very well known space in Centr...

Today's melodic story from the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads is by Riana Howarth and is called " She'd Sit ".  The Transcript of the piece can be found HERE .   If you would like to Donate to this project and a live event which I will be holding soon for the public in a very well known space in Central London CLICK HERE .  About Riana: Riana is an aspiring writer and illustrator with a curio...

We are in the second half of the storytelling series Symphonies of Beaded Threads and today's story is called " Take My Picture " by Soria Hamidi and voiced by Leila McQuaid  . The Transcript of the piece can be found HERE .   If you would like to Donate to this project and a live event which I will be holding soon for the public in a very well known space in Central London CLICK HERE .  About Sor...

Halfway there and today’s story from the series Symphonies of Beaded of Threads is titled " 38% " by Ra’eesah . The Transcript of the piece can be found HERE .   If you would like to Donate to this project and a live event which I will be holding soon for the public in a very well known space in Central London CLICK HERE .  About Ra'eesah:  Ra’eesah is a multifaceted creative using the mediums of...

Happy Third Day! Today's story from the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads is by Bethany Gemmell and is called " Catherine ". Fun fact: it actually features Bethany's mum Catherine.  The Transcript of the piece can be found HERE .   If you would like to Donate to this project and a live event which I will be holding soon for the public in a very well known space in Central London CLICK HERE .  Ab...

Continuing on with the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads and releasing an episode daily. This is the second episode titled " An Epic: as told by my grandma’s photo album " written and performed by Yasmine Dankwah.   About Yasmine:  Yasmine Dankwah is a British-Ghanaian spoken word artist and writer based in South London. She is interested in exploring how resistance in the form of identity-based...

Today's episode marks the launch of a NEW series I am doing on Chai with Rai called Symphonies of Beaded Threads . This 8 episode short audio series, which I will dropping daily for the next 8 days !  Takes shape in different formats from poetry to spoken word to theatrical pieces, monologues  and more by 8 different writers/ creatives.  I will also be releasing interviews with each writer of the...

The title says it all- I'm just saying 👀☕️.  Part 2 with Facilitator, Choreographer, Speaker, Cabaret Artist and Founder of Bollyqueer  (Bollywood dance space celebrating the LGBTQ+ community)   Vinay Jobanputra .  From discussing Queerness- in specific within the South Asian Community to art influencing life to milky tea and more.  In the episode we talk about:  Dance Journey- Thoughts on the S...

This had to be a 2-parter because we couldn't stop the gup shup. So, grab a cuppa as we discuss things  such as;  gender identity, social norms around sexuality, Bollywood and how it's impacted the South Asian experience, Bollywood Dance (in specific UK) and it's constructs on gender/ sexuality, how choreography can be challenged with stereotyping, their BBC documentary and so much more! Joined in...

Firstly, I am so flabbergasted to have Elias Jahshan on here. I remember reading his articles in Gaytimes and then his book This Arab is Queer  .  Then for him to say YES to coming on the podcast and discuss journalism, today's climate around politics, sensitivity, identity and then querrness, the book and so much more.  I am as the video goes "VOW"!  So ermmm thank you Elias! In the episode we ta...

From discussing negotiating skills with a zombie during a zombiepocalypse to creating a South Asian Theatre company in the UK to Fringe culture. A banterful episode with the cast and crew of Nalini Theatre's  show Woman. Life. Freedom.  A Massive thank you to Alicia Fernandes , Dhanush Giridhar , Bushra Baig, Adi Roy Bhattacharya and  T’arah Inam-McDermott.   In the episode we talk about:  The nee...

From Love to finding yourself and your alignment to comedy and writing. This episode is jam packed with writer/ poet Aamir Hassan and Cabaret/ Drag Artist Amir Dean (Lady Bushra) . Was so lovely to welcome them into the chai room and talking about their podcast " You Don't Love Me Boys " and certain things like what they have learn about themselves through finding love and each other and how that...

Sat down with the cast and creatives of Asian Girls in Therapy to talk all things playwriting, food and how trauma bonding can lead to creative juices flowing.  Thank you to Gurjot Dhaliwal , Megan Soho and Racks Nieto .  In the episode we talk about:  Process of playwriting for fringe.  Marketing, Culture and fundraising surrounding fringe. How sensitivity or care was handled in the room and in t...

I have looked at Dhruv's profile at least a hundred times and have gotten so much inspiration about not only embracing and diving into fashion but also how to live my life more authentically.  Super excited for you all to listen to this episode as we talk ethics on tech, identity through saree's and what would one do if you were stuck in a Rickshaw with Rekha and Pretty Zinta?  A massive thank you...

The artwork alone of this episode should be sellable is all I am saying.  I had such a wonderful time carrying on my chat with Muz & Alia Founders of Asianpurrsuasion , members of T he Iconic Royal House of Milan and Welsh Ballroom Community . We get into it from dating to dipping.  p.s- we did have a dance section to the games which I will edit and release soon on YouTube so keep an eye out f...