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Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

By: Times of India
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What does it really mean to build a life between worlds? Diaspora Dialogues is a Times of India podcast hosted by Sujatha Padmanabhan. A conversation series for the millions of South Asians living between cultures and building new lives while carrying the old ones forward. We sit down with innovators, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and changemakers from across the South Asian diaspora and ask the questions that don't usually make the headlines. What shaped them. What guides them. And what pulls them back. Honest conversations about identity, ambition, belonging, and the quiet responsibility so many of us feel to give back. New episodes every two weeks. Stream on your favorite podcast platform. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI ™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati - click here to know more and Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions - click here to know more Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Indian American Mind Behind the World's Biggest CEOs | Dr. Ram Charan on Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    The Indian American Mind Behind the World's Biggest CEOs | Dr. Ram Charan on Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    Jul 8 2026
    Dr. Ram Charan — advisor to the world's biggest CEOs — reveals why business strategy execution, not strategy alone, is what separates winning companies from failing ones. In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues, we break down the real CEO challenges nobody talks about: how China is playing a different economic game entirely, what business schools get wrong about global leadership, and why execution is the only differentiator that matters in today's AI-driven economy. In this episode: Why business strategy execution is where most companies fail The CEO challenges that business schools never prepare you for How to compete in an era of global competition and AI Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 3:43 Understanding ‘The 90% Model’ 8:47 What China Does Better Than the Rest of the World 13:11 Rise of Assertive Leadership Across the Globe 18:40 Why Top CEOs are Stepping Down 22:51 Is the CEO’s Role Fundamentally Changing? 28:03 Dr Ram on Strategy vs Execution 31:09 On Microsoft and Satya Nadella 35:49 Learnings from the Indian Trade Arithmetic 43:28 Leadership in the times of AI 48:40 Dr Ram on What Makes a Great Leader 📸 Follow us on: Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesbytoi/ Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 🎧Listen to us on: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ and Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en
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    56 mins
  • Growing Up Desi in America: Kal Penn on Defying Expectations | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    Growing Up Desi in America: Kal Penn on Defying Expectations | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    Jun 24 2026
    Growing up in North America with South Asian roots often means living between two worlds. Kal Penn sits down with Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ to break down the real pressures of balancing Indian American identity with professional success. Whether it was navigating the stereotypical roles in Hollywood or finding his voice in the White House, Kal’s story is the story of so many in our community. In this episode, we dive into: The reality of the South Asian American experience in mainstream media. Defying the "model minority" myth. How the diaspora is reclaiming the narrative. This is a space for our community. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced navigating your own path as a first-gen or second-gen immigrant? Let us know in the comments below. 👇 Time stamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:36 Story of the ‘Kal Penn’ Screen Name 9:53 Stories from The Namesake 14:50 Growing up as a Diaspora kid 20:44 Kal Penn on his Gujarati heritage 21:54 Kal Penn on the Harold and Kumar film series 28:53 Kal Penn’s experience working with the Government 34:16 Kal Penn on his relationship with social media 36:10 Has the Media Landscape changed? 38:05 Kal Penn on Zohran Mamdani 44:35 Will Kal Penn ever run for a public office? 46:13 Kal Penn on his Podcast 48:40 Kal Penn on trying his hand at stand-up comedy 52:34 What’s next for Kal Penn? 📸 Follow us on: Instagram : ⁠https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesbytoi/ Facebook : ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784⁠ 🎧Listen to us on: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience. Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati ⁠https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/ and Remitly Trusted by millions to move money worldwide https://www.remitly.com/us/en
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    55 mins
  • Chef Vijay Kumar on Why He Refused to Simplify Indian Food for the West | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    Chef Vijay Kumar on Why He Refused to Simplify Indian Food for the West | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    Jun 10 2026
    Why is Indian food always expected to be affordable? Chef Vijay Kumar has been asking that question for years, and Semma is his answer. Sujatha Padmanabhan speaks with one of the most celebrated South Indian chefs in the world about food racism, diaspora identity, and the restaurant that made New York rethink Tamil cuisine entirely. From his grandmother's snail curry to a James Beard Award, Vijay breaks down what it took to get here and why none of it came easy. All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:38 - What does ‘Semma’ mean? 4:48 - Chef Vijay Kumar's Story 6:07 - Growing Up & His Parents' Reaction 9:28 - Facing Racism & Bullying as a Chef 10:40 - Why He Chose to Become a Chef 14:46 - How Semma Became NYC's Hottest Restaurant 16:56 - Rich food vs poor food 24:01 - Food, Identity & Being Unapologetically Indian 28:50 - The Emotional Connection to Food 30:19 - Winning the James Beard Award 36:30 - Is Indian food too spicy? 41:12 - How to make Idli batter? 43:05 - His Advice for Aspiring Indian Chefs 📸 Follow us on: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/diasporadialoguesshow/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563158002784 🎧Listen to us on: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/diaspora-dialogues Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/diasporadialogues-applepodcast Subscribe for more conversations with Indian-American artists, musicians, chefs, and achievers from all walks of life shaping the NRI experience. Are you part of the Indian diaspora? Drop your story in the comments - we read every one. Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati https://tinyurl.com/45vvtebh and Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. https://sistarmortgage.com/
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    47 mins
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