Kay Sohini’s (This) Beautiful, Ridiculous City episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 15, 2025 · 1H 6M

Kay Sohini’s (This) Beautiful, Ridiculous City

from Modern Minorities · host W!ZARD Studios

“It was not nostalgia — I kept waiting for that to hit. I was worried about — what if New York doesn't live up to it? Because then where do I go from here? Kay Sohini is an Indian comics-maker living in New York City. She’s the author of the graphic novel THIS BEAUTIFUL, RIDICULOUS CITY . But Kay’s a lot more than a comics creator - she’s a writer, researcher, and artist. Kay grew up in Kolkata, where she fell in love with American culture - through TV and literature - as a contrast to her life in India. Kay eventually left India, got her PhD in English from Stony Brook University, and drew her doctoral dissertation — "Drawing Unbelonging" — as a comic. Since then her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Nib, and more. Her work focuses on utilizing comics in the scholarly examination of healthcare justice, environmental humanities, resisting disinformation, and creating an equitable future for all.  “This Beautiful Ridiculous City” is getting glowing reviews from NPR, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, The Financial Times and more. Kay shares some of her journey from India to America, from Kolkata to New York, but we actually talked a lot about the business - and art of comics - in the US, France, and India. Kay’s a very thoughtful, observant and direct artist and thinker. Kay’s work isn’t just deeply personal — it also challenges bigger ideas through personal narratives — with themes of marginalization, intersectionality, and the power dynamics embedded in our language and culture. Kay’s work will move you in a way few comics can.  LEARN ABOUT KAY kaysohini.com instagram.com/kaysohini goodreads.com/book/show/212294437-this-beautiful-ridiculous-city MENTIONS Alison Bechdel: goodreads.com/author/show/54223321.Alison_Bechdel Deb JJ Lee: goodreads.com/book/show/60316964-in-limbo BOOK: Ginseng Roots (Craig Thompson): goodreads.com/book/show/216971212-ginseng-roots BOOK: Unflattening (Nick Sousanis): goodreads.com/book/show/23503006-unflattening BOOK: Kari (Amruta Patil): goodreads.com/book/show/3174768-kari BOOK: Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir (Malik Sajad): goodreads.com/book/show/25394441-munnu BOOK: Skin (Mieke Versyp, Sabien Clement): goodreads.com/book/show/214387878-skin COMEDIAN: Zarna Garg wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarna_Garg BOOK: Summit of the Gods (Jirō Taniguchi): goodreads.com/series/55939-the-summit-of-the-gods SHOW: When Life Gives You Tangerines: imdb.com/title/tt26471411/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“It was not nostalgia — I kept waiting for that to hit. I was worried about — what if New York doesn't live up to it? Because then where do I go from here? Kay Sohini is an Indian comics-maker living in New York City. She’s the author of the graphic novel THIS BEAUTIFUL, RIDICULOUS CITY . But Kay’s a lot more than a comics creator - she’s a writer, researcher, and artist. Kay grew up in Kolkata, where she fell in love with American culture - through TV and literature - as a contrast to her life in India. Kay eventually left India, got her PhD in English from Stony Brook University, and drew her doctoral dissertation — "Drawing Unbelonging" — as a comic. Since then her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Nib, and more. Her work focuses on utilizing comics in the scholarly examination of healthcare justice, environmental humanities, resisting disinformation, and creating an equitable future for all.  “This Beautiful Ridiculous City” is getting glowing reviews from NPR, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, The Financial Times and more. Kay shares some of her journey from India to America, from Kolkata to New York, but we actually talked a lot about the business - and art of comics - in the US, France, and India. Kay’s a very thoughtful, observant and direct artist and thinker. Kay’s work isn’t just deeply personal — it also challenges bigger ideas through personal narratives — with themes of marginalization, intersectionality, and the power dynamics embedded in our language and culture. Kay’s work will move you in a way few comics can.  LEARN ABOUT KAY kaysohini.com instagram.com/kaysohini goodreads.com/book/show/212294437-this-beautiful-ridiculous-city MENTIONS Alison Bechdel: goodreads.com/author/show/54223321.Alison_Bechdel Deb JJ Lee: goodreads.com/book/show/60316964-in-limbo BOOK: Ginseng Roots (Craig Thompson): goodreads.com/book/show/216971212-ginseng-roots BOOK: Unflattening (Nick Sousanis): goodreads.com/book/show/23503006-unflattening BOOK: Kari (Amruta Patil): goodreads.com/book/show/3174768-kari BOOK: Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir (Malik Sajad): goodreads.com/book/show/25394441-munnu BOOK: Skin (Mieke Versyp, Sabien Clement): goodreads.com/book/show/214387878-skin COMEDIAN: Zarna Garg wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarna_Garg BOOK: Summit of the Gods (Jirō Taniguchi): goodreads.com/series/55939-the-summit-of-the-gods SHOW: When Life Gives You Tangerines: imdb.com/title/tt26471411/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NOW PLAYING

Kay Sohini’s (This) Beautiful, Ridiculous City

0:00 1:06:48

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Modern Day Modern Day Weekly convos between Emma Lembke and Jules Terpak The Field Priest Methodius Chwastek The Field is a place of cultivation and of battle. In the Church, we learn to cultivate a life pleasing to God. This life is shaped in the spiritual battle. This series examines, chapter by chapter, the Christian classic The Field, by Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov. Please join me as I explain this great work in terms the modern Orthodox Christian can understand.  Powering the Middle TJ Wilde The podcast that celebrates the backbone of America, our middle class and small businesses. We dive into the challenges that harm consumers. Threaten businesses and undermine our economy. How do we blend timeless values and traditions with modern technology to secure a brighter future? Come explore how middle class values and small businesses can keep driving the economy, creating jobs, and offering the American dream The Health Odyssey: Navigating Tomorrow's Medicine Podcast Welcome to 'The Health Odyssey: Navigating Tomorrow's Medicine,' where we embark on an adventurous journey through the ever-evolving world of healthcare. Each episode is like a treasure map, guiding you through the rich tapestry of ancient healing arts mixed with futuristic tech wizardry. We’ll chat about the wild west of health data privacy, the corporate giants reshaping our care, and the mind-bending potential of psychedelics for mental wellness. Think of us as your trusty sidekicks, unraveling the mysteries of modern medicine while keeping it real and relatable. Let’s dive into the stories, the science, and the soul of healthcare, paving the way for a healthier tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Modern Minorities?

This episode is 1 hour and 6 minutes long.

When was this Modern Minorities episode published?

This episode was published on June 15, 2025.

What is this episode about?

“It was not nostalgia — I kept waiting for that to hit. I was worried about — what if New York doesn't live up to it? Because then where do I go from here? Kay Sohini is an Indian comics-maker living in New York City. She’s the author of the graphic...

Can I download this Modern Minorities episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!