What happens to families AFTER they’ve survived a traumatic historical event? Veera Hiranandani set out to explore this question in her sequel to the beloved Newbery-honor winning middle-grade novel ‘The Night Diary’. ‘Amil and the After’ now finds Nisha and Amil navigating a new life in Mumbai following their family’s migration from Sindh during the Partition of India in 1947. Join me as Veera chats about her new book, and listen and rate us on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a star rating wherever you listen! And if you’d like to hear Veera’s whole journey leading up to ‘The Night Diary’, please check out Ep. 34!

SHOWNOTES FOR Mini-Edit 3:

Connect with Veera through her website and Instagram

Buy her books here, including Amil and the After

Other books we discussed on the show:

The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

Lion of The Sky by Ritu Hemnani

The Moon from Dehradun: A Story of Partition by Shirin Shamsi

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas, Aman Moroney and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Ever wondered whether you should take that step to turning your hobby into a business? New York based Simran Khiantani (also goes by Namrata) shares her journey from Bombay to New York via the Canary Islands! Inspired by her MIL’s amazing sauces and her friends’ insistence that she start selling them, Simran recently launched her condiment brand after years of research and development. Try them now from Amazon and join our chat as Simran takes us behind the scenes of launching her business and some ideas for dinner tonight!

Listen and rate us on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this, please leave a star rating wherever you listen!

SHOWNOTES FOR Ep. 91:

Try Simran’s AMAZING sauces through her website and Amazon

Wondering what to cook for dinner tonight? Follow her on Instagram for some lovely recipes!

More recipes with SimranCooks sauces here

Dominique Ansel’s lovely banana bread recipe that is my household staple now!

Books we discussed on the show:

Cooking Up a Business: Lessons from Food Lovers Who Turned Their Passion into a Career -- and How You Can, Too

Zaytinya by Jose Andres

Flavors of the Sun: The Sahadi's Guide to Understanding, Buying, and Using Middle Eastern Ingredients

Growing Up in a Nonya Kitchen: A Peranakan Family's Food Memories of Singapore by Sharon Wee

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas, Aman Moroney and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Exploring her husband’s Goan and Portuguese heritage led writer Christine Chitnis to create a beautiful celebration of the visual culture of Portugal: “Patterns of Portugal”. Having successfully completed a similar project in 2020 with “Patterns of India”, Christine was inspired to share her view of the beauty of this small nation at the edge of Europe.

Join me in this mini-Edit where Christine takes us behind the scenes of putting together this stunning lifestyle book, including some of her favorite moments and travel tips!

Listen and rate us on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Christine’s first appearance where we chat about “Patterns of India” was on Ep. 31 and if you enjoyed this, please do tell a friend!

SHOWNOTES FOR MINI-EDIT 2:

Experience Christine’s work through her website and her beautiful instagram account

Buy Patterns of Portugal here or on Amazon

Patterns of India book and our pandemic chat on episode 31!

East Coasting

Christine’s exclusive Patterns of Portugal box with Portugalia Market brings to life the pages of the book through carefully selected artisanal products

Take an IRL trip to Portugal with Christine - sign up here

Books we discussed on the show:

A History of Burning by Janika Oza

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Notes on an Execution: An Edgar Award Winner Danya Kukafka

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas, Aman Moroney and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

“You know, as Asian Americans, we often don't know our history. I myself have lived in the US more than 50 years, and yet a lot of people still think that you’ve recently come from India. This is not just about MIT, it's actually an important part of the history of South Asians in America.” - Ranu Boppana

A physician and former President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology South Asian Alumni Association, Ranu Boppana began to learn about the history of South Asians at MIT (which began in 1880!) and the history of MIT’s role in developing technological education in the newly independent India and Pakistan. She teamed up with History Professor Sana Aiyar and, along with MIT-India Program Manager Nureen Das, they conceived of an exhibit showcasing this shared history. Driven by their own curiosity and their commitment to sharing their discoveries with current and former MIT students, the team has created a wonderful digital resource for us all.

I learned so much about the history of South Asians in the US, including many surprising connections with the Indian Independence movement. Join me in this fascinating journey back in time with Ranu and Sana and please take a second to rate the podcast on iTunes so we can spread the word about their amazing work!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 90:

Experience the “South Asia and The Institute” digital exhibition via the website including some wonderful videos

Follow Sana’s work here including her books

Read more about Ranu here

Other Books we discussed on the show:

Ross Bassett’s The Technological Indian

The Other One Percent: Indians in America by Sanjoy Chakravorty, Devesh Kapur and Nirvikar Singh

Our Stories: An Introduction to South Asian America by South Asian Digital Archive

The Caste of Merit: Engineering Education in India by Ajantha Subramanian

The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science by Kate Zernike

Booker Shortlisted Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories

Kamila Shamie’s Best of Friends

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas, Aman Moroney and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Ever wondered how an author takes a flash of inspiration and weaves a story from it? My guest Sheela Chari shares how she came to write her many wonderful children’s books, including the moment in college (as an economics major) that changed her life. Sheela now teaches writing at the Vermont College of Fine Arts while creating new stories of her own, and she graciously breaks down the process behind writing and publishing each of her books.

Hear Sheela now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening or share the podcast with a friend!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 89:

Read more about Sheela’s work at her website and connect with her on Instagram

Sheela’s books:

Vanished

Finding Mighty

Karthik Delivers

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Super Puzzletastic Mysteries: Short Stories for Young Sleuths from Mystery Writers of America

Other books we discussed:

Elizabeth Acevedo’s books including With the fire on high, Family Lore and The Poet X

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Sumaira Ahmed is a force! Upon being diagnosed with a rare neuroimmune condition (Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder/ NMOSD, whose symptoms can include vision loss, paralysis, and weakness), Sumaira couldn’t find the community she needed, so she went right ahead and launched a foundation (two months later!) to create that support for herself and patients around the world. The Sumaira Foundation has since advocated for patients, funded disease research, increased NMO awareness globally and truly been a game changer in the field. Hear how this young dancer and Bollywood aspirant (who was crowned the first Miss Bangladesh-USA) turned into a fearless non-profit leader and champion for patients suffering from this rare disease.

Join me with the wonderful Sumaira - now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening so the voices of these inspiring women can be heard all over the world!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 88:

Read more about Sumaira’s work at The Sumaira Foundation and connect with her and The Sumaira Foundation on Instagram

Infinite Vision: How Aravind Became the World's Greatest Business Case for Compassion

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

My guest Chandana Singh is a lawyer, founder of ‘Advocacy for Dyslexia’, and of The Office of Learning Support at India’s leading liberal arts university Ashoka University. Join me in this chat as Chandana dives into what makes life challenging as a neurodiovergent learner and what we can do as parents, friends, and community members to both support these children and adults and also learn from them!

Listen in as Chandana shares what led her to doing this important work in Mumbai and all over India! Hear our chat now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening so the voices of these inspiring women can be heard all over the world!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 87:

Read more about Chandana’s work featured in The Times of India

Neurodivergence

Aamir Khan’s film Taare Zameen Par

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Ever wonder what makes people take that leap and pivot into a second or even a third act? My Boston-based guest moved from a successful career in consulting to non-profit leadership, and now to landscape design! So inspiring to hear how this dynamic and passionate Bangladeshi-American has jumped into new fields and established her own business. I’m particularly partial to this topic as a plant and garden design nerd myself, and I hope you’ll take away some inspiration to plan your own garden for next spring, or even your own career pivot!

Listen in as Shoma shares tips on successfully switching into a new career, and also ideas for making your outdoor space more sustainable and wildlife-friendly! Hear our chat now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening so the voices of these inspiring women can be heard all over the world!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 86:

Read more about Shoma’s work on her website and follow her on instagram

Doug Tallamy’s books and Homegrown National Park website

BBC Gardener’s World (available via Britbox in the US)

Books we discussed:

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

The Garden Tourist: 120 Destination Gardens and Nurseries in the Northeast

Kitchen Garden Revival: A Modern Guide to Creating a Stylish, Small-Scale, Low-Maintenance, Edible Garden

Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram ! Want to talk gardens? Follow me @readyourgarden

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Ever wonder how museums go shopping for art? What does a curator see when they look at a picture? What makes something special enough to spend a fortune on? Join me in this first mini-sode featuring Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as she gives us a ‘behind the scenes’ look at two recent acquisitions for the museum’s collection. We chat about Indian art under the British, William Dalrymple, and adorable squirrels!

Hear our chat now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening so the voices of these inspiring women can be heard all over the world!

P.S. Laura was previously my guest on Ep. 18, so do catch her whole story there if you missed it, and let me know what you think of this shorter format focused on a single topic @theindianeditpodcast on instagram!

SHOWNOTES FOR MINI-EDIT 1:

Hear Laura’s story on Episode 18 of the podcast here

Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company

Empire Podcast on iTunes

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas, Aman Moroney, and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

Ready to re-evaluate what success looks like for YOU? To move toward a values-based career and life? My latest guest Rimi Chakraborty helps leaders create just that for themselves and their employees. Rimi shares how she took lessons from her MBA, her yoga studies, and her start-up jobs to overcome a difficult childhood and create new entrepreneurial ventures for herself (in the beautiful Azores!).

Listen in as Rimi shares some tips on how to approach the busy Fall season and what it’s like to live and work on a lush, volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic! Hear our chat now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening so the voices of these inspiring women can be heard all over the world!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 85:

Read more about Rimi’s work and her books on her website

The Balanced Tree exercise Rimi mentioned on the show

Check out her book “Beyond Resilience to Rootsilience”

Stay at Minuvida Lodge

Follow Rimi on instagram

Books we discussed:

Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!

I don't want to go look back at the end of my life and say “I wish I'd done this”!

But how does she do it!? We all wonder about people with full-time, demanding careers who manage to keep their creative flame burning. My latest guest Dr. Harini Nagendra is a Professor of Sustainability and now a best-selling mystery writer. Join me as Harini shares how she first ‘had a visitation’ from Kaveri, the heroine of her historical mystery series, and how she juggles her work in climate change with writing ‘The Bangalore Detectives Club’!

Listen now on your favorite podcast app, Spotify or iTunes and please take a second to rate us wherever you’re listening so the voices of these inspiring women can be heard all over the world!

SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 84:

Read more about Harini and her books on her website

Grab the latest in the series ‘Murder Under a Red Moon’ here and pre-order A Nest of Vipers Book 3 here

Cities and Canopies here (entertaining and engaging look at Bangalore’s trees - highly recommend, also on audio!)

Follow Harini on instagram

Books and other resources we discussed:

Sisters in Crime

Sujata Massey’s books (hear Sujata on Ep. 60 of the podcast here)

Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver series

Catriona McPherson’s books

Rhys Bowen’s books

Gigi Pandian’s locked room mysteries

Robin Hobb’s fantasy novels - fun post on where to start reading them here

Questions? Comments? Get in touch @theindianeditpodcast on Instagram !

Special thanks to Sudipta Biswas and the team @ Boon Castle / Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!