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  • How Vinita Gandhi Helps Immigrants Build a Home in America | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    How Vinita Gandhi Helps Immigrants Build a Home in America | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/11/11
    Vinita Gandhi arrived in America at 18 with no roadmap. Today she co-owns Sistar Mortgage, helping South Asian families buy their first home in the United States. On this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, Vinita joins Sujatha Padmanabhan to talk about why homeownership still sits at the centre of the American Dream for immigrant families and what she wishes more first-time buyers understood before they sign. She shares how she and her husband built a business through uncertainty, how to make smart property decisions in an unfamiliar market, and why financial security starts with knowing what you can actually afford. All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:25 Vinita’s Early Years 05:21 Rajeev’s Accident and Starting Sistar Mortgage 10:30 Startups: Then vs Now 13:08 Owning a Home vs Renting a Home 19:35 Upfront Cash Payments vs Interest Payments 21:58 Vinita’s Thoughts on Airbnb Businesses 26:02 On South Asian Communities in the US 📸 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 byTOI™ is sponsored by Sistar Mortgage, offering tailored mortgage solutions. ⁠⁠https://sistarmortgage.com/
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    33 分
  • How One Immigrant Family Built a Household Name in Indian Food | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    How One Immigrant Family Built a Household Name in Indian Food | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/10/28
    Neil Soni and Amrapali Soni Ryan are the siblings behind Laxmi House of Spices - the family business that brought Indian food to American kitchens. On this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, they join Sujatha Padmanabhan to trace how their parents' search for familiar Indian ingredients grew into a brand serving millions of households across North America. What we cover: • Carrying their parents' legacy forward as a second-generation family business • Why trust matters more than quick wins when you're building for the long term • Bringing regional Indian food to a mainstream audience without flattening it • Learning to run a company as siblings - the father's expectations, the arguments, the respect • How the next chapter of Laxmi gets built Neil and Amrapali are candid about the personal cost of a family enterprise: the pressure of a name that isn't yours alone, and the relationships that either make a business durable or quietly break it. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Origins Of Laxmi 02:22 Neil Joins The Business 05:35 Amrapali Finds Her Way In 07:12 Growing Up With Dad 11:51 Supply Chain And Trust 15:50 Running The Company as Siblings 20:46 Growth Without Acquisitions 25:49 Legacy And Closing Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ sits down with the people who carried a culture across an ocean and turned it into something the world buys, cooks and eats. New episodes ever fortnight. Subscribe to the channel so you don't miss the next conversation. "Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ is sponsored by Laxmi Basmati, the most consistent Basmati https://tinyurl.com/LAXMIFOODSBRAND"
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    27 分
  • How Yusuf Bhai Turns Memories Into Fragrance | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    How Yusuf Bhai Turns Memories Into Fragrance | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/10/14
    From Kerala to Dubai… meet the perfumer who turns memories into fragrance. Yusuf Bhai is a Dubai-based perfumer who can rebuild a person’s past in scent: a childhood home, Kerala after the rain, a favourite meal, someone you love. In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, he sits down with Sujatha Padmanabhan to talk about perfume, memory and identity, and why a great fragrance is about far more than smelling good. He shares his unlikely route into perfumery, from photography and visual art to the craft of making scent. He also explains how culture shapes the way we experience fragrance, and why certain smells can instantly transport you to another time and place. If you’ve ever wondered whether a perfume can hold a memory, this conversation is for you. #YusufBhai #Perfume #DiasporaDialogues TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 03:25 Early Years and Life Before Perfumes 10:08 The Art of Creating Perfumes 16:54 Yusuf Bhai’s Process of Creating Perfumes 21:53 Connection Between Perfumes and Memories 30:54 The Correct Way of Wearing Perfume 35:41 Yusuf Bhai’s Fitness and Sporting Interests 40:28 Where Are Indian Perfume Brands? 48:47 Rapidfire with Yusuf Bhai Watch the full conversation - part of the Diaspora Dialogues series by TOI™ 📸 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/LAXMIFOODSBRAND 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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    52 分
  • From India U19 to Team USA: Saurabh Netravalkar’s Unlikely Cricket Journey | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    From India U19 to Team USA: Saurabh Netravalkar’s Unlikely Cricket Journey | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/09/30
    Saurabh Netravalkar went from India's U19 setup to bowling the USA to a historic World Cup win over Pakistan while working full-time as an Oracle engineer. On this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, Saurabh joins Sujatha Padmanabhan to unpack the journey that made him one of the faces of America's cricketing rise. He talks about growing up between Indian and American cultures, choosing engineering before finding his way back to cricket, and what it means to play for Team USA while helping build a cricketing identity in America. The conversation goes beyond the boundary too…touching on identity, ambition, the Indian-American experience, and what happens when you refuse to choose between the life your background expects and the one you want to build. They also look at the changing landscape of American cricket, the Indian diaspora's relationship with the sport, and what the future of cricket in the US could look like. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:54 2024 World Cup and Life After That 07:40 The Journey and Future of Cricket USA 15:24 Multicultural Teams and Fandom in the US 23:24 Balancing Cricket and Education 28:16 Master's at Cornell and Future in Cricket 34:10 Work-Life Balance and Support from Oracle 37:03 On AI Agents and Time Management 41:47 Thoughts on Veganism and Social Media 46:31 Cricketing Heroes Growing Up 49:15 What's Next for Saurabh Netravalkar 🔔 Subscribe to Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™ for more conversations with the people shaping the Indian diaspora - new episodes every week. 📸 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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    53 分
  • Why Des Mattered: Anirudh Pisharody on Never Have I Ever | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    Why Des Mattered: Anirudh Pisharody on Never Have I Ever | Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/09/16
    On this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™, Anirudh Pisharody, Des from Netflix's Never Have I Ever, joins Sujatha Padmanabhan to talk about the role that unexpectedly turned him into a global internet boyfriend and changed how a brown leading man could be seen on American television. Anirudh discusses why audiences connected so strongly with Des, and what it meant to see a South Asian man portrayed as both intelligent and desirable on Never Have I Ever. They also talk about growing up Indian in Texas, choosing acting over the pre-med path, the realities of building a career in Hollywood, and why Anirudh eventually decided to create stories himself through Black Velvet Films. All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:40 Early Years and Career Choices 08:19 Passion vs Risks 12:45 Playing ‘Des’ in Never Have I Ever 19:50 The Des and Devi Arc 23:35 On The Reductive ‘Indian Stereotype’ 30:04 On His Relationship with Jill 36:03 Playing ‘Ravi’ on 9-1-1 39:16 Starting Black Velvet Films 43:26 Dream Roles and Rapidfire Questions 📸 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/LAXMIFOODSBRAND 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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    52 分
  • 10,000-Person Waitlist, One Restaurant & The Price of Success | Vikas Khanna on Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    10,000-Person Waitlist, One Restaurant & The Price of Success | Vikas Khanna on Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/09/02
    A restaurant with a nine-second sellout and a 10,000-person waitlist doesn't happen by accident — it's the result of a much longer story. Sujatha Padmanabhan sits down with Vikas Khanna to talk about building Bungalow, growing up in Amritsar, and the two-decade journey of bringing Indian food to the world stage. He opens up about the sacrifices behind the success, the loneliness of building a life abroad, and why his connection to India has only grown stronger with distance. From his mother's influence to his belief in the diaspora's role in shaping how the world sees Indian food, this is a conversation about ambition, identity, and what it really costs to build something the world lines up for. All of this, and more, on this episode of Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 03:15 - Making it to Time 100 and ‘Vikas Khanna 2.0’ 08:56 - On Patriotism and Sacrifice 15:52 - The ‘Chicken Tikka Masala’ Stereotype 18:02 - On Bungalow and Vikas Khanna’s Journey 26:17 - Entrepreneurship and Investing in Indian Entrepreneurs 33:08 - Vikas Khanna on Companionship and Loneliness 36:41 - On Books, Films and Creative Process 45:19 - Finding a Perfect Balance and ‘Shahrukh Khan Moment’ 50:53 - What’s Next for Vikas Khanna? 📸 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/LAXMIFOODSBRAND 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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    57 分
  • They Changed My Name to 'Roger' | Raj Mathai on the Future of News

    They Changed My Name to 'Roger' | Raj Mathai on the Future of News
    2026/08/19
    He was told his name was too difficult for American television. For nearly four years, Raj Mathai became "Roger." Sujatha Padmanabhan sits down with Raj Mathai, the first Indian sportscaster in the United States and a 12-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, for a conversation about identity, journalism, and adapting to a rapidly changing media landscape. Beyond the story behind his name change, Raj dives into the future of journalism and how media trends are being reshaped by artificial intelligence and social media. As someone who built a journalism career in one of the world's most competitive markets, Raj shares his perspective on the rise of citizen journalism , the challenges of fake news , and why cultivating media literacy is critical for the next generation of storytellers. This conversation is an essential look at the evolving media landscape -a truly inspiring immigrant success story about adapting, maintaining credibility, and finding your voice. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:45 The Journalism vs Content Debate 06:15 Credibility and Ethics in Modern Journalism 14:01 Has Reporting News Become Harder? 20:30 Editorial Integrity vs Virality 25:54 From Sports Journalism to Daily News 30:17 Raj’s First Night on Live TV 37:24 On Changing His Name to ‘Roger’ for TV 41:31 Family, Kerala, and Early Years 46:39 On Late Nights and a Journalist’s Schedule 📸 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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    51 分
  • How to Scale a South Indian Restaurant Chain: The Chipotle Model | Jay Jayaraman on Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™

    How to Scale a South Indian Restaurant Chain: The Chipotle Model | Jay Jayaraman on Diaspora Dialogues by TOI™
    2026/08/05
    How do you scale a South Indian restaurant chain without losing authenticity? Jay Jayaraman, founder of the Mylapore brand, reveals how he applied software engineering principles to revolutionize restaurant operations in the USA. In this episode of Diaspora Dialogues, we break down his systems-first approach, moving away from chef-centric models toward centralized kitchens and standardized processes. If you are an NRI entrepreneur looking to build or scale a business in North America, this is a masterclass in operational excellence. We discuss: Scaling South Indian food concepts in the US & Canada. The "Chipotle" model for Indian cuisine. Using automation and standardization for consistency. Overcoming operational challenges for Desi business owners. Subscribe for more insights for the diaspora community. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 04:20 Early Days in the Restaurant Business 08:01 How Covid Helped the Business Grow 13:07 Why Mylapore Food Tastes the Same Across Locations 15:13 On Mylapore’s Atlanta Expansion 24:32 On Diaspora Food Habits and Airlifting Food 29:40 Why Storytelling is Important for Restaurant Business 34:52 On Women in the Workforce 38:42 Bengaluru: The Capital of South Indian Veg Food? 41:44 On Mylapore’s Business and Pricing Model 47:51 Jay Jayaraman’s Pet Peeves About the Diaspora 📸 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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    52 分