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Kanika Chadda Gupta, a seasoned CNN television journalist, podcaster, and mother of three (including twins), aims to give credit where it's often overlooked - the lasting impact of living your purpose and modeling that for the next generation. She hosts the popular podcast That's Total Mom Sense, where she interviews public figures on their life lessons, parenting journey, and legacy. Guests include Chelsea Clinton, Kelly Rowland, Bobbi Brown, America Ferrera, Daphne Oz, Sarah Harden, Rebecc ...
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That Desi Spark, formerly known as The Woke Desi, is a bold podcast created by three founders who recognized a space void of color and conversation around the topics that impact dual-identity, South Asian millennials the most. From education to entertainment and social justice issues to social media trends, That Desi Spark approaches each episode with compassion, advocacy, and information, bolstered by subject-area experts and unfiltered celebrity moments. Hosted by Annika Sharma, That Desi ...
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Have you ever wondered exactly how our subconscious mind works and what it captures as memory? In this episode, Kanika interviews Pranav Yadav, Founder & CEO of Neuro-Insight US. He shares how his company has patented technology to track synapses in the brain when it’s consuming various forms of advertising. Not only is this useful when targeting m…
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Jessica Fein was a marketing executive and mom who adopted three lovely children from South America. Her world was turned upside down when her daughter Dalia was diagnosed with a rare disease called MERFF Sydrome and ended up passing away in her teens. Jessica shares her insights on taking care of children with illnesses, how to overcome loss of fa…
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Water, whether calm or raging, is a metaphor for how we can move through life. Shannon Lee, author of "Be Water, My Friend" and daughter of the legendary Bruce Lee shares her story. Raised in California by her mother Linda after her father's untimely death (she was just 4 years old), Shannon has carved her own path as a martial artist, actress, pro…
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After a long 5 month hiatus...we are back with an update! We've been acquired! That Desi Spark has been acquired by Prince Bhojwani of Asana Voices (AV), and TDS and AV have entered a strategic partnership. What does that mean? Annika stays on as host, Nita Bhojwani joins as CEO, and this episode covers all of Annika's thoughts on TDS' latest move.…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Raja Kumari is a force - a Grammy-nominated artist who has collaborated with Fall Out Boy, Gwen Stefani, and more, the face of Mac Cosmetics, nominated three times for the MTV European Music Awards for Best India Act, and made her own label album de…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Ramya Chunduri, LMSW, has been a social worker, counselor, advocate, and founder of Saurya Media. Her extensive work in the South Asian community and with women's centers produced a wealth of knowledge about domestic violence and gender-based violen…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Divya Robin's mental health advice on Instagram has been a blessing. And her conversation and thoughtful consideration around drawing boundaries with South Asian families was a hit. From baby steps to huge changes, she dove into alllll the considera…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Maitreyi Ramakrishnan shot to fame as lead Devi Vishwakumar on Netflix' Never Have I Ever. Season 4, the final season of the show, aired in May of 2023. Maitreyi joined TDS for an interview that ran over time (sorry, Netflix!) discussing representat…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Brown Girl Therapy, created by Sahaj Kohli, has become synonymous with immigrant mental health. Sahaj offers compassion, understanding, and validation for hundreds of thousands of South Asians on Instagram, through her workshops, conversations, even…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Richa Moorjani has lit up television screens since her attention-grabbing role as Kamala, cousin of Devi, on Netflix' groundbreaking series, Never Have I Ever. Since then, she's gone onto work on Fargo, and is a proud advocate of veganism and humani…
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Relive some of the highest-rated, most listened-to episodes of That Desi Spark on The Greatest Hits! Jasvinder Sanghera came home from school at the age of 14 to find out she was promised to be married. Running away at great personal risk, she was supported by her sister, who herself was married young and died by suicide after suffering from abuse.…
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In this special episode called Ma Ki Rasoi (from his Mother's Kitchen) to Michelin Star, Kanika sits down with Chef Vikas Khanna at his NY restaurant, Bungalow. The common thread is the letter "M" as they open by admiring a floral mandala and he shares poignant stories about his motherland, mother, Masterchef India, Michelin Star, and manifestation…
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When we look at the parenting industry, as creators and mothers, it feels uber saturated and overwhelming. Kanika moderates a panel with community leaders on how we can scale our brands, grow on trending social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and build our online courses and serve our audiences in the most authentic way. Learn …
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Ingrid Michaelson sits down with Kanika at the Mom 2.0 Summit in Nashville to discuss her journey as a singer/songwriter, grieving the loss of her parents, the launch of The Notebook musical on Broadway, and how to find joys in the ups and downs in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…
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As a child of immigrants, do you feel conflicted about your cultural values and your modern day beliefs? Are you navigating what you want to pass on to your kids and what you want to end with you? Today I’m joined by Sahaj Kaur Kohli, my family friend and a celebrated author, therapist, #WashingtonPost columnist, and founder of @browngirltherapy, t…
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Today’s episode features two moms I can relate to - we’re media moms of multiples! Andie and Sabrina met 20 years ago as college freshmen and have been inseparable ever since. With four kids between them, they spend a lot of time chatting about the joys and hardships of parenting; the pressures of juggling family and work; and, of course, the lates…
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The Culture Tree founder Anu Sehgal has organized the first ever AAPI Children’s Literary Festival with The Asia Society in New York City. Kanika chats with Anu on her journey building her organization, rooted in celebrating culture and strengthening the community. She also interviews featured author and food reporter Priya Krishna on her latest ch…
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Ayurveda (Sanskrit for “the knowledge of life”) is a natural system of medicine originating from India over 3,000 years ago. Lisa Mattam, founder & CEO of Sahajan, created a skincare line rooted in its essences clinically proven to deliver results. It’s the brand of choice at The St. Regis, Ritz Carlton, J.W. Marriott, and W Hotels, placing it in 4…
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In today's digital era, tweens and teens are avid users of social media platforms, engaging in various online activities. With parental controls on Meta (parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp), parents can monitor and manage their children's social media usage effectively. Nicole Lopez, Global Director of Youth Policy, joins us to explain these f…
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Chelsea Clinton, former first daughter, author, philanthropist, and mother of three, joins Kanika Chadda Gupta to discuss her life at the White House, the challenges and joys of parenting multiples, and how she aims to galvanize children of all ages to make an impact in their communities. Meet My Guest: Twitter: @ChelseaClinton Facebook: /chelseacl…
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How do we help K-12 students hone their passions outside of the school curricula (e.g. learning to code their own video game instead of just playing them?) Founder & CEO and Forbes 30 under 30 Audrey Wisch has the answer - mentorship. Much like trailblazers before her like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, Audrey dropped out of Stanford …
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Garnering a D+ grade for its preterm birth rate for the second consecutive year, the U.S. faces a critical situation with a preterm birth rate of 10.4%. For 85 years, March of Dimes has led in the fight for the health of moms and babies through research, programs, education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. March o…
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You know her as Alice Cullen from the Twilight cult saga, but now you get to see her for all the roles she plays including a women’s health advocate, entrepreneur, and mother. Ashley Greene Khoury is Co-founder of Hummingway, along with her sister Olivia Khoury. The brand is transforming how all women (and anyone with a period) views reproductive h…
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In this episode, speaker, facial plastic surgeon, and New York Times Magazine “Super Doctor” award winner Dr. Eunice Park talks about the importance of self-care and how we can be truly healthy from the inside out. Activist and entrepreneur Deepti Sharma shares how she launched Food to Eat during the pandemic, connecting immigrant-owned restaurants…
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Rare Disease Day is the last day of February and we’re honored to feature a pioneer in the field, Kinnari Patel, President and COO of Rocket Pharma. 30% of children with rare diseases will not make it to their 5th birthday. Kinnari uncovers the latest in gene therapy being used to treat patients and how their pediatric advancements are transforming…
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Kanika opens this episode by sharing her personal story living in the “sandwich generation” as a mom of three (including twins) and caregiving for her mother who has dementia. She is later joined by Danielle Cabral, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey, for an on stage keynote interview to talk about motherhood, fame, and the challenges of being o…
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Kanika interviews Mom 2.0 husband and wife duo John and Carrie Pacini on the genesis of the annual summit and community. During her live podcast with author, educator, and advocate Jen Hatmaker, they discuss her opening keynote which had everyone in the room feeling seen and understood as well as her podcast, For the Love, and cookbook, Feed These …
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Founder Jamie Kolnick of Jam with Jamie, a nationwide children’s music entertainment and education company, opens up about the loss of her three family members before she turned 30 and how she healed through music, aka “singing in the rain.” She shares her journey as a mother to her three kids and how they continue to teach her to take things in st…
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Psychiatrist and Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Sue Varma’s groundbreaking work shows that “optimism” goes beyond just having a positive outlook – it brings about better outcomes. Optimists tend to achieve more success, report higher incomes and job satisfaction, adopt healthier habits, build stronger relationships, and experience greater overall…
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Did you know that a child’s first seven years of life is the most critical for their physical and mental development? Dr. Murray Clarke, pediatrician and developer of ChildLife Essentials® blends homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine and clinical nutrition to help patients with hard-to-treat conditions. He covers today’s most common childhood co…
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This episode is from a live event hosted by That's Total Mom Sense, Fran Hauser (Author, Founder, Book Bound Co, Investor) and Sarah Benken (KNOW Women) at Industrious NYC. Kanika moderates a panel discussion with Former Miss America Nina Davuluri, Writer & Activist Tabitha St. Bernard Jacobs, and Co-Founder of Boss Beauties, Lisa Mayer. They discu…
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GoodPods rated #1 podcast in Motherhood, That's Total Mom Sense, is joining Evergreen Podcasts! Aligned with Evergreen's commitment to reaching broader audiences, the show delivers quality content with a mission to be illuminating, inclusive, and inspiring for parents worldwide. Host Kanika Chadda Gupta, former CNN journalist and mother of three, c…
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It's the last episode of That Desi Spark with Nehal as a host - but keep your eyes on TDS as it moves forward with Annika. Big things are coming! 5 years. 8 seasons. 130+ episodes. 140+ guests. The end of an era. And the beginning of another. As of January, Nehal will be leaving That Desi Spark to chase her passion of becoming an entertainment-focu…
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Devanshi Garg Sareen is a skincare enthusiast, a 3x founder, and a mother. Hailing from New York City by way of Iran, India, the UK, New Zealand and Germany, almost always an outsider, she learned early on to look at people through the lens of shared human experiences. After 10+ years working in technology services, Sareen worked as an innovation c…
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Tammy Rant is the CEO and Founder of Tushbaby, the single carrier that supports your body, your stuff, and your kids from 0-3. As a mom of three, Tammy was familiar with the usual aches and pains that came with traditional carriers: strollers were too bulky, strap-in carriers were too complicated, and wraps and sacks were too hot and sweaty. She wa…
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Kanika Chadda Gupta, host of That's Total Mom Sense (a hit podcast with guests like Chelsea Clinton!), joins TDS to talk through the career balance, deciding how to approach parenthood, and all the inspirational stories of incredible mothers across our diaspora and beyond. You can hear her podcast here, and follow her on Instagram! Go to https://be…
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This episode shares the inception story of the iconic label making brand - Name Bubbles. Founder Michelle Brandriss was focused on enhancing label aesthetics and reliability while focusing on top-quality, personalized, waterproof labels for daycare, camp, and school use made in the USA. Michelle values employee morale, a robust business model, and …
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'Tis the season to give, and American India Foundation's NY-based CEO Nishant Pandey and Chief Development Officer Kalpana Kanthan are with That Desi Spark this week to discuss the outcomes for over 17 million people this non-profit has impacted, the social programs it innovates, women in non-profit leadership, and why we all have a stake in shapin…
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Having worked with Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Priyanka Chopra, Anita Chatterjee is a force in the world of public relations. Chosen by Forbes for its Next 1000 list as one of the entrepreneurs redefining the American Dream, she serves as the CEO of A-Game PR, helping to scale brands and build personas with features in top publications like…
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The way parents communicate with each other is HUGE in influencing the way we, as immigrants and children of immigrants, engage with our partners. Psychotherapist and founder of Being, Sadaf Siddiqi, joins us for her second episode with TDS to talk about how we can unlearn some of the toxic behaviors and communication techniques we may have grown u…
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As October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month, host Kanika Chadda Gupta meets with March of Dimes Director of Maternal & Infant Health Shadie Tofigh to discuss how to reduce risks and complications, learn more about the groundbreaking technology led by the Innovation Fund, and how we can alleviate the health inequities around black maternal…
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Farnoosh Torabi is an Iranian-American journalist and one of America’s leading personal finance experts. She is the host of the award-winning podcast So Money that has earned over 30 million downloads. In her book, A Healthy State of Panic, she teaches us how to turn our fears (e.g. #fomo, rejection, failure) into our superpower and use them to cat…
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Saumya Dave, MD, knows what South Asian women are up against - the psychiatrist and novelist is a staunch advocate for mental health, and explores what self-care really means (spoiler: it's MUCH more than than eating a brownie!) for burnout, anxiety, and societal expectations on this must-listen episode of TDS. *This episode is sponsored by Therapy…
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Cara Natterson, MD is a pediatrician and New York Times bestselling author; Vanessa Kroll Bennett is a puberty educator and writer. On the show, we talk about having the sex talk with kids of all ages, how to prepare for adolescence which begins much earlier now, and how we keep open lines of communication as parents. Meet My Guest: WEBSITE: MyOoml…
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Fran Hauser is passionate about leveling the playing field for women and creating content and products that help us live our best lives. She does this through her investing, writing, and speaking. Fran has invested in over 30 female-founded companies across consumer tech, CPG, media & publishing, and wellness. She is the best-selling author of The …
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In this episode, speaker, facial plastic surgeon, and New York Times Magazine “Super Doctor” award winner Dr. Eunice Park talks about the importance of self-care and how we can be truly healthy from the inside out. Activist and entrepreneur Deepti Sharma shares how she launched Food to Eat during the pandemic, connecting immigrant-owned restaurants…
  continue reading
 
During this on stage keynote, moderator Tabitha St. Bernard Jacobs, a Trinidadian-American mom, artist, writer, and thought leader, interviews Austin Channing Brown, NY Times bestselling author of I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness and founder/CEO of Herself Media. Together, they unpack the everyday challenges black mothers…
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Kanika opens this episode by sharing her personal story living in the “sandwich generation” as a mom of three (including twins) and caregiving for her mother who has dementia. She is later joined by Danielle Cabral, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey, for an on stage keynote interview to talk about motherhood, fame, and the challenges of being o…
  continue reading
 
Kanika interviews Mom 2.0 husband and wife duo John and Carrie Pacini on the genesis of the annual summit and community. During her live podcast with author, educator, and advocate Jen Hatmaker, they discuss her opening keynote which had everyone in the room feeling seen and understood as well as her podcast, For the Love, and cookbook, Feed These …
  continue reading
 
Masculinity and mental health have come under greater scrutiny by the South Asian community in recent years. Clinical Psychology student Paritosh Joshi, a contributor to Brown Girl Magazine, joins TDS to explore how toxic masculinity impacts relationships, upholds patriarchal values, influences mental health, and creates a less inclusive atmosphere…
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