The Queer Podcast

Barry Manilow came out at 73, Joel Grey at 82. What about coming out in your 30s, 40s, or beyond? Advertising creative Mihir Chanchani shares his personal journey of coming out later in life and why he says he's "still coming out." We explore the unique challenges of late bloomers in Indian society, family dynamics, and finding the courage to live authentically at any age.

Join host Ashish as he chats with Zoya, a gender fluid DEI leader as they explore the realities of being queer in corporate India. From personal journeys of authenticity to building workplaces where 100+ LGBTQ+ professionals thrive, this conversation dives deep into why DEI matters! The gap between policy and practice, and how companies can move beyond rainbow-washing to create real change.

The queer community's increased visibility comes with a dark side: a rise in targeted crimes. In this episode, we speak with Nakshatra Bagwe, a true vigilante who has dedicated himself to fighting these alarming offenses.

When Aruna Desai's son came out, she faced a choice that would define not just their relationship, but her life's mission. In the first episode of a new season, a personal journey of a mother's advocacy and how it is helping change lives across the LGBTQ+ community, one family at a time.

Akshay Tyagi, a renowned stylist and costume designer, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the Indian film industry joins Ashish for the finale of the season. The duo take a deep dive into the fabulous world of queer history in Indian cinema, sharing. their admiration for the unforgettable queer icons who’ve shaped the industry. Akshay also opens up about his personal journey, discuss...

Sakshi Juneja, entrepreneur and the co-founder of Gaysi, joins us on the the latest episode of The Queer Podcast. Ashish and Sakshi chat about Gaysi's journey from its humble beginnings as a community blog to its current status as a content & events agency by and of Queers. Ashish brings his notepad out as Sakshi also provides valuable tips on how to push mainstream queer narratives in the...

Aroh Akunth, community organizer and founder of Dalit Queer Project and Dalit Art Archive joins us on this episode of The Queer Podcast. Ashish and Aroh discuss the intersection of caste and queerness in India, exploring how both aspects challenge societal norms and shape our cultural landscape.

Drag queen, model and entrepreneur Glorious Luna joins Ashish on The Queer Podcast as they have a candid discussion about the history of drag culture in India…from stories about her young life growing up queer in Assam, to her current avatar as one of the popular names in Indian drag, Glorious Luna shares it all!

Artist and illustrator Priyanka Paul joins us on the second episode of this season's The Queer Podcast as they speak candidly about the trauma of bullying, sharing personal experiences of both online and IRL harassment and the resilience that helped them overcome it. This episode contains discussions on sensitive topics, including bullying, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation. These themes m...

We kick off the second season of The Queer Podcast with the articulate and astute Anish Gawande. Anish and Ashish explore queer representation in Indian electoral politics; past, present and future. And how the LGBTQIA+ community can participate in shaping the future of Indian democracy. Disclaimer: This is video podcast based on individual experiences and anecdotes. All views, ideas, comments, op...

The Queer Podcast is back with a new season! And DRUM ROLL please, we are on video this time! As Pride Month beckons, get ready to dive into a wide array of exciting tales and wonderful stories about all things queer! First episode of this season will be out on Tuesday, 11th of June! Stay Tuned!  #pridemonth #queerpodcast #pride #lgbtqstories #queervoices #lgbtqfashion #lgbtqrelationships #TheQuee...

As we close the season we have the very gorgeous and brilliant Dr. Trinetra to talk to us about dating. Trinetra is an out and proud transgender doctor, actor, artist and content creator. We talk about seeking love via apps and how dating in a hetero-normative world comes with its own challenges. We also look at how dating has changed over the years in a country that struggles with modern queer lo...

What does it mean to be queer & disabled? We explore this intersectionality with Nu, who identifies as non-binary and queer. Nu is a writer, an activist, a feminist, and is disabled. They are also the founder of ‘Revival Disability India’ which is a digital collective that they founded in 2020.

In this episode we are going to chat about one of our favourite subjects of all time and all ages, along with the super fun & whip smart, social media specialist, and writer Farhad Karkaria. Good, Bad or Ugly, what challenges does the queer community face as they navigate the world of queer hook-ups and SEX.

In this episode, we look at the ways in which the queer community presents ourselves to the world via fashion and self expression, and how it has evolved over the years. Lets dive into the what’s and why’s of our lewks- perhaps what sets queers apart externally. And to decode this we have with us the make-up wiz, the super stylish Elton Fernandez.

In today’s episode we explore one of the most significant issues that the queer community faces; the importance of good mental health. Research shows that the queer community does have much higher rates of suicide, addiction and self harming patterns. Why does this occur? Why is the community more susceptible? Our guest Pooja Nair has worked in the non-profit sector and has been a researcher, cons...

In this episode we take a deep dive into queer representation in the current media landscape. Whether Film, TV, or Theatre, does representation take the form of cliches and negative prototypes? Worse still, sometimes it takes the form of tokenism, like adding a rainbow flag to your socials every June. In this episode, we explore both good and bad examples from current media Parmesh Shahani an auth...

Diving right into a contentious, hot-button topic, Ashish unpacks the challenges facing the queer community as they manoeuvre the legal and social aspects of marriage rights. Joining him is the entrepreneur duo and partners Anuja Parikh and Rupa Sengupta who have worked in retail and with the LGBTQI+ community extensively and run their own pet care brand called 'The Modern Tail'.

As the queer community breaks gender stereotypes, in this first episode, we chat about the ways in which language evolves. Dive into this exploration of self-expression, labels & pronouns as transgender drag queen singer and performer Sushant Divgikr AKA Rani Ko-He-Nur speaks about their gender choices & how this empowers their lives.

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