Talk Jhaal Mishti

We are all guilty of "kutnami" and sometimes it feels cathartic to let out everything that's in our heads and hearts but is it okay or is this a toxic trait woven into our "deshi-ness?"

Are platonic relationships possible? What about after getting married? We asked ​⁠‪Fuad Almuqtadir ‬ to join us in this conversation because: 1) he has an interesting perspective 2) he was friends with Bushra and Mehreen before he met Maya and 3) it’s complicated. #talkjhaalmishti #banglish #podcast #relationships #neverhaveiever #interview #celebrity #bangladeshi #platonic #situationships

How we show up for work is important. The pressure can be even greater being a POC. Have you ever felt the pressure?

NEW EPISODE!! Do you prefer to be called Apu/Bhaiya or Bhai/Bhabi or any other formal title?? Do you know when to use what for whom? Does it make a difference in the relationship? Janina bhai 😜, at a certain age, it could get complicated! Share your thoughts!!!!

Wouldn’t you want to help out if someone was in need? Especially if it was Maya??

A viewer asked if we could talk about what it's like living with in-laws. It's not always so easy. But sometimes we have to do it. We're also getting to an age to take care of our own parents as they age. What is the right thing to do? How do we live up to all the expectations?

NEW EPISODE!!! You know we had to share our opinions on all the Ambani shenanigans! (We also spill a little 🫖 that intrigues Maya and now her algo is all about the rich Desi life 😝

On this episode we discuss the dynamics of ambitious individuals and their fate.

This has to be our most requested episode. We breakdown how we handle our finances as a couple and what we have been taught by our culture.

This week we discuss the Harrison Butker speech and have some varying opinions on our take. We believe that no matter which lens we see the world through, discussion is always better than judgment. Follow us on Instagram for more content!

In this episode we talk about our experiences becoming Naturalized Citizens of the US and what if feels to belong here (or not…)

Where do you feel at home? Is home where the heart is or is it in the aroma of mom's cooking? Is home in the hustle and bustle of the city life or in hearing your mother language being spoken all around you? We have a short chat about where we feel at home. Join in the conversation and share where you feel at home.

On this episode we briefly chat about unwelcomed comments and criticisms about our bodies. How to navigate this terrain of crassness and when is this appropriate and well meaning and when is it out of line?

Can we talk about the awkward but araam massage and spa experiences?! Is it just us deshis who are uncomfortable?! 🥴

Trigger Warning Sexual abuse discussed on this episode. This subject is common across cultures but in a deshi context there is a lot of brushing the subject under the rug when it comes to sexual abuse, harassment and unwanted interaction. We discuss some of our experiences and also on how we would do things differently.

This is a light episode where we talk about traveling while we were youngins; the strange, silly and potentially dangerous situations we put ourselves in. As parents now, would we allow our kids to do the same? You tell us!

This is part 2 of the two part episode with Kahkasan Akhi. On this episode we dig deeper into her art business and the journey that it has taken her across the seas to Bangladesh and how the experience was for her as a mother of two little children.

This is part 1 of a 2 part episode where we chat with Kahkasan Akhi and her small business "Intense Pursuits". She beautifully weaved Bangladeshi culture and language into art that got her work featured on HBO. We discuss her journey with migrating to the US and her pursuit into the creative field.

This week we are back with Shams and part 2 of our conversation. We talk about all the progress made in Bangladesh including fashion, food and transportation. This episode is truly a love letter to Bangladesh.

On This episode we chat with Bushra's cousin Shams Ahmed who also happens to be an Emmy award winning music producer who received the honors after producing the acclaimed "Ragged Old Flag" for the 2023 NFL Super Bowl. We chat with him about his journey from finance to music.

Is there Unity in our Community?This episode, we discuss the lack of support from our own people. Why do we have a hard time being happy for someone else? It's time we not only rise up ourselves but also support all of our peers that are rising as well.

We talk about our experiences traveling to Bangladesh and and what migration is like for many people…

It's wedding season in Bangladesh and we are having serious FOMO! Tell us your favorite wedding traditions from the past and what you love and love to hate.

On this episode we discuss the elephant in the room for many deshi families... Mental Health and seeking therapy. This is a subject that is always swept under the rug but it is critical in our development and to break away from generational trauma to be able to process our emotions and to have an outside perspective on the things that stress us out and often hold us back.

On this episode, we touch on our experiences with pregnancy, birth, postpartum and all the stigmas around caring and feeding a baby. The relationships with our mothers can often change after we go through pregnancy and motherhood ourselves. As our parents used to say "nijer ta jokhon hobe, tokhon bujhba". What motherhood or parenting tips have you embraced from your previous generation and what do you think need to retire?

This week we touch on the subject of expectations and boundaries about health issues. When we are dealing with an illness in the family or grieving a death or loss how much bandwidth can we have to maintain our own mental health and also be accountable to others who are sharing their thoughts and feelings with us. We also have a chuckle over everyone diagnosing all our ailments with a medicine for each disease at the tip of their mouths.

When you listen to our next guest's music, you can't help but sit up. He has redefined the sound of Bangla music, infusing different genres into his song and making the lyrics unforgettable. At Talk Jhaal Mishti, our goal is to bring attention to the remarkable contributions of Bangladeshis who are shaping our cultural landscape. Meet Farooque Bhai Project.

On this episode we respond to a few anonymous questions sent from our listeners. There is banter, a lot of laughter and our experiences. Disclaimer-We are not experts and these are our personal opinions and not to be generalized. Thank you for sending in questions-we love to see the engagement coming from all over the globe.

THIS NEW EPISODE features our first guest Tazeen. We explore conversations around sexuality, taboos around queer relationships and navigating what dialogue looks like and CAN look like as a deshi. We get candid on accepting who we are and giving permission to step out of the norm.

Self care is essential for all of us. This is also something that we neglect the most. This episode gets down to the nitty gritty about self care. From weight loss medication, cosmetic procedures we open up about all the different ways we can care for ourselves.

Let's talk about relationships, dating, childhood crushes and navigating this scary terrain with deshi parents. This leaves many of us moms wondering what when and how do we navigate all this with our kids?Also, how similar and different were our experiences in "bidesh" vs BDesh? We can never forget the brave chauffeurs in Bangladesh who have all the details on our love lives but never ratted us out!

On this episode, we discuss all things "shorir kharap" or otherwise known as getting your period. Growing up between two cultures, having your period came with various taboos so, here is to diminishing shame and stigma around having the most natural experience as a woman, PERIOD!

Ki forshaa! Ki shuknaa! Ki shundor!! Toxic beauty standards, often based on Eurocentric features and body types, have been ingrained in our minds for generations. Ranging from racism, to classism to media, we’re impacted by these beauty standards more than we may know.

With all the Barbie hype, we wore pink and talked about colorism and the negative impact of the “western” beauty standards in our Bengali communities.

In this episode, we talk about why and how this podcast came to life…we’re often asked what motivated us to do this and we each share our perspective on the need for a space where Bangladeshi-Americans are represented in a fun and realistic way.

Dawaats, vacations, a perfect home, a perfect body, a perfect life…. Even if we can tell what is real and what isn’t, in this episode we talk about what we consume on social media can make an impact on our well-being. Especially, on kids.

“Ektu too much hoye gese na?!” Let’s talk about social media influencers! How far is too far when it comes to what we share?

The FOMO, the nostalgia, the multiple outfits for multiple dawaats, the pressure to pass traditions on to our kids - it’s all so real. While expectations are evolving, we’re doing our best to hold on to what we love and embracing new trends and traditions to make Eid extra special for everyone!

Our Babas (and Maas) did the best they could, with what they knew. They showed us their love more than they knew how to tell us. Now we’re trying to do the same…some things we carry with us, other things we have to unlearn…

There were many expectations and very little explanations of what healthy relationships and biye, shongshar should be like…so we start to unpack what we learned, unlearned and are still figuring out in therapy!

How many versions of your name end up on your Starbucks cup? In this episode, we talk about how our names impact our identities, even when they’re mispronounced or end up on the “No Fly” terrorist list!!!

Traveling to OR living in the Motherland comes with its own set of unique experiences that are fun and traumatic all at the same time!!

How we met was very random. Our parents didn’t know each other and some of us connected doing dushtami when our Maa’s weren’t watching. 😉 But how we became friends was because of social media, our love-hate relationships for melas and biye and the universal love for gorur gosh!