This is the last story from our storytelling series Symphonies of beaded threads. I have loved working on this project, bringing you something more than just an interview or a chat on the podcast and also just flexing that producing/ directing skill in the audio world. I have also appreciated your messages, you sharing each episode, tagging chai with rai and the artists involved. Now If you haven’t done so make sure to check out the previous 7 stories- comment, share and subscribe.

P.s this is also the 99th episode of Chai with Rai and I am going to be celebrating the 100th episode on IG LIVe on 28th Dec,23 7PM UK TIME co-hosted by some special guests. Make sure to check that out and you can also send through a question you would like myself or the guests to answer.

But without further adieu, lets warm up that delicious cuppa and let’s dive into today’s story titled "Chemo in the Summer" written and voiced by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan.

Continuing on with the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads and releasing an episode daily. This is the seventh episode/ story titled "Professional Daydreamer" written and voiced by Afriya-Jasmine Nylander. 

Today's melodic story from the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads is by Riana Howarth and is called "She'd Sit".

We are in the second half of the storytelling series Symphonies of Beaded Threads and today's story is called Take My Picture by Soria Hamidi and voiced by Leila McQuaid .

Halfway there and today’s story from the series Symphonies of Beaded of Threads is titled 38% by Ra’eesah.

Happy Third Day!

Today's story from the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads is by Bethany Gemmell and is called Catherine. Fun fact: it actually features Bethany's mum Catherine.

Continuing on with the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads and releasing an episode daily. This is the second episode titled An Epic: as told by my grandma’s photo album written and performed by Yasmine Dankwah.

Today's episode marks the launch of a NEW series I am doing on Chai with Rai called Symphonies of Beaded Threads.

This 8 episode short audio series, which I will dropping daily for the next 8 days !  Takes shape in different formats from poetry to spoken word to theatrical pieces, monologues  and more by 8 different writers/ creatives.  I will also be releasing interviews with each writer of the pieces soon so keep an eye out for that.

However! Without further Adieu let's dive into the first story called Brainfreeze by Carmina Bernhardt.  

This had to be a 2-parter because we couldn't stop the gup shup. So, grab a cuppa as we discuss things  such as;  gender identity, social norms around sexuality, Bollywood and how it's impacted the South Asian experience, Bollywood Dance (in specific UK) and it's constructs on gender/ sexuality, how choreography can be challenged with stereotyping, their BBC documentary and so much more!

Joined in the chai room with Facilitator, Choreographer, Speaker, Cabaret Artist and Founder of Bollyqueer (Bollywood dance space celebrating the LGBTQ+ community)  Vinay Jobanputra. 

Firstly, I am so flabbergasted to have Elias Jahshan on here. I remember reading his articles in Gaytimes and then his book This Arab is Queer .  Then for him to say YES to coming on the podcast and discuss journalism, today's climate around politics, sensitivity, identity and then querrness, the book and so much more. 

I am as the video goes "VOW"! 

So ermmm thank you Elias!

From discussing negotiating skills with a zombie during a zombiepocalypse to creating a South Asian Theatre company in the UK to Fringe culture. A banterful episode with the cast and crew of Nalini Theatre's  show Woman. Life. Freedom. 

A Massive thank you to Alicia Fernandes, Dhanush Giridhar, Bushra Baig, Adi Roy Bhattacharya and T’arah Inam-McDermott. 

From Love to finding yourself and your alignment to comedy and writing. This episode is jam packed with writer/ poet Aamir Hassan and Cabaret/ Drag Artist Amir Dean (Lady Bushra). Was so lovely to welcome them into the chai room and talking about their podcast "You Don't Love Me Boys" and certain things like what they have learn about themselves through finding love and each other and how that has transferred into their being/ work.

Sat down with the cast and creatives of Asian Girls in Therapy to talk all things playwriting, food and how trauma bonding can lead to creative juices flowing. 

Thank you to Gurjot Dhaliwal, Megan Soho and Racks Nieto. 

I have looked at Dhruv's profile at least a hundred times and have gotten so much inspiration about not only embracing and diving into fashion but also how to live my life more authentically.

Super excited for you all to listen to this episode as we talk ethics on tech, identity through saree's and what would one do if you were stuck in a Rickshaw with Rekha and Pretty Zinta?

The artwork alone of this episode should be sellable is all I am saying. 

I had such a wonderful time carrying on my chat with Muz & Alia Founders of Asianpurrsuasion, members of The Iconic Royal House of Milan and Welsh Ballroom Community. We get into it from dating to dipping. 

p.s- we did have a dance section to the games which I will edit and release soon on YouTube so keep an eye out for that. 

Back with Banter, Chai and Deep Chats.

Kicking off the new batch of episodes I sat down with The dynamic Duo: Muz & Alia Founders of Asianpurrsuasion, members of The Iconic Royal House of Milan and Welsh Ballroom Community.

This is part 1 and part 2 will be out next week.

Through several hair and beard styles, 80 plus episodes, close to 100 guests, a digital South Asian Arts Archive, Collaborations, Series, A residency at WeWork, self produced and self funded ! Chai with Rai is my baby...My business I have built over the last 3 years and I am so grateful for all the guests and this community. Thank you for it all and to 3 years, a sip to you all and to more that is to come :). 

5 or 5 from the Creative Series.

Have really enjoyed making this series and reflecting on the mindset and culture of being a creative.

I hope you enjoy this week's episode as I share my reflections on practicing Joy and Gratitude as a Creative and ask how you practice it? What your relationship with it is?

All jokes aside and I keep thinking of what tagline to write but this was such an insightful episode. I have been wanting to discuss the industry with a casting agent and also discuss the business/ wellbeing of Acting Schools. So, I will just say this- Warm up your cups kids and welcome into your lubricated earlobes Coach, Mentor, Author of "A Life Coaching Approach to Screen Acting", Actor and Comedian Daniel Dresner and his business partner/ co-founder of Actors Coaching international- Actor,Coach, CEO and Lead Agent at Union Management Danny Clifton.

From discussing the architecture of language to scents such as frankincense, this is a juicy and dare I say such an eloquent episode. Had such a wonderful time discussing all things entertainment, life and culture with Writer and Actor Kamal Kaan.

From Rude Gal Tings to Jalebi's and discussing Life in East London. It was so much fun to talk with Actor and Writer Saher Shah.

We highlight her UK tour of the play Vitamin D, which she has written and stars as Larki.

Warm up your cuppa's kids as we dive into banter and deep conversations with stars of the film "What's Love Got To Do With It?"- Broadcaster, Writer and Actor Mim Shaikh and Writer/ Actor Iman Boujelouah.

From reconstructing Britney Spear's "Every time" in a Scottish accent to talking about Maru's Bhajia. Had such a fun time talking to actress and founder of the channel South Asian Artists with Aarti Shah.

From our love of Dr.Who and being a Whovian to talking about Scottish sausages. It was so nice to finally connect with actor, writer and multi-disciplinary artist Sanjay Lago.

As we reflect on 2022 and enter 2023, the word that has been coming in my head a lot is Success- my relationship with it, where I stand on the highs and lows of it and what I will do with it in the next chapter (especially since in the last year feeling a bit down and like a failure almost).

This week Wisdomist Chai Clip comes from my chat with author and creative director Shweta Agarwal from Episode 22 of Chai with Rai. In the episode we discuss shortly Shweta's thoughts on why colourism exists not only in the South Asian community but other cultures as well and gender rules surrounding colourism.

Part 2 with the one and only Mahatma Khandi

From talking about how drag holds a mirror to society to talking about fisting. This is a hot and juicy episode-- dare I cornfully say "Chai Spilling" episode.

The final part of my chat with the one and only Jay Jay Revlon. From talking about Dirty Chai's to how a No, is not a No forever. This is a slightly motivational yet risky one. Hope you enjoy kids. But as a breakdown--

W/ Ridaa Husain from Dance Bhangra and Mandeep Virk Randhawa from Dance with MVR. This is an acknowledgment episode of including and researching the origins of Bhangra and how often Pakistan is left out of that narrative.

From talking about feminist sons to digitising theatre to the structure of the world that needs to be broken. This cuppa filled episode with Natasha Kathi- Chandra spills it all!

From discussions on Tiger Balms to South Asian Theatre, this was a funny and educational episode. The Double Bill that is THE SC SAGA. We need a night of that please Theatres!

With the incredibly talented peeps Dr. Sharmila Chauhan and Satinder Chohan.

From Beyoncé's fashion sense to Charlie's Angels to Selling Sunset to drag culture. This is a cuppa filled episode with LOTS of banter, deep chats and fun games.

From conversations on religion, sexuality, random filth and ethical questions. This is a juicy episode of randomness that will go down with a nice hot chai. Enjoy our DMC with a pitta TLC-- with the one and only author, poet and writer Amani Saeed. Amani Saeed is an international writer whose work brings the big issues to your kitchen table. She explores the crisis cultivated by living between sometimes (but not always) contradictory cultures, treading the line between masjid and mini skirt.

From Magic Mike to comparing his coaching styles between Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton. This episode is spilling the most-- with the one and only Daniel Dresner. Daniel has been in the industry for over 20 years, starting off as a stand-up comedian, actor and theatre director in Tokyo, Japan. He then studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York and worked as an actor there for six years, returning to London in 2001 to act, coach and teach.

Warm up your kettles and grab a cuppa as we discuss all things theatre and more (wink wink) with Mr. Kash Arshad. From his thoughts on Cats- The Musical to the Kardashians and accessibility at the Olivier Awards. We got you covered. Kash is a Scottish/Pakistani director and theatre maker based in Yorkshire, and trained on the National Theatre Studio Directors Course 2019. He is currently Associate Director at Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

With the one and only Bolly Illusion aka Anthony Pius. Everything from Topping Masculine Men to how Shahid Kapoor is a waste man? Miss Bolly is a Perfomance artist, Host, Dancer, Choreographer, Curator, Drag queen and full on SEX.

Chai with Rai (Ep.25). In conversation with Ishita Mili where we sat and discussed the dance space in the U.S from a South Asian perspective and just as an Artist. We discussed Ishita's view on the Indian Classical industry, her family and of course her company IMGE Dance. We dived deep into conversations about cultural appropriation, the joys and consequences of creating experimental work. The digital space and its progression, what that has done to the arts industry. Her vocabulary and voice as an artist.