PODCAST · society
Chats Over Chai
by Australia India Institute
The Australia India Institute podcast examines key questions facing contemporary India and the Australia-India relationship.
Episodes
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Women in Diplomacy: Strengthening Australia–India Relations with Manika Jain
In the latest episode of Chat’s Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by Ms Manika Jain, former Consul General for India, Melbourne, for a conversation on womens representation in diplomacy. Manika shares her personal journey as a woman in diplomacy over three decades, and the pair reflect on the...
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Kho Kho and the Australia–India Sporting Partnership: In Conversation with Kho Kho Australia President Raj Sura
In this latest episode of Chat’s Over Chai, Head of Cultural Diplomacy Sudip Chakraborty sits down with Kho Kho Australia founder Raj Sura. Sudip and Raj reflect on the growth of Kho Kho - a traditional Indian game - in Australia, and advancements in the Australia-India sporting relationship…
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Australia, India and the ‘Soft Power’ of Business: In Conversation with Rajiv Dube
In the latest episode of Chat’s over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by Rajiv Dube, Independent Director at Tata International Ltd and Australia India Institute board member, to unpack India’s economic rise and the impact of soft power diplomacy in enhancing the Australia-India relationship. Rajiv...
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80 years of India’s Independence: In Conversation with India’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Nagesh Singh
In this latest episode of Chat's over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by India’s new High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Nagesh Singh, on the eve of India's 80th Independence Day. Lisa and High Commissioner Singh reflect on the significance of India's freedom struggle and its journey...
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India's ‘Gen Z Moment?’: Unpacking the Cockroach Movement
The Institute’s CEO Lisa Singh and Research Fellow Teesta Prakash unpack the youth led Cockroach movement in this latest episode of our Chats over Chai. The movement saw tens of thousands of Indian youth take to the streets to protest the handling of NEET (medical entry) examination papers,...
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Modi’s 2026 Visit to Australia: In Conversation with Tim Watts MP
With Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi's visit to Australia this week, CEO Lisa Singh joins Australian parliamentarian Tim Watts MP, Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, for the latest episode of Chats Over Chai. The pair unpack the opportunities in the bilateral relationship, six years…
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‘Smoke, Rice, Water’: Bengali Stories with Kishwar Chowdhury
CEO Lisa Singh joins Melbourne-born chef and MasterChef Australia finalist Kishwar Chowdhury to delve into the cultural stories behind her new book 'Smoke, Rice, Water', for this episode of Chats Over Chai. Drawing on her experience as a second-generation migrant, Kishwar shares stories of…
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Transforming Lives Through Education: In Conversation with Dr Kiran Martin
The Australia India Institute hosted ‘Transforming Lives Through Education: In Conversation with Asha Founder Dr Kiran Martin' at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday, May 13. Meaning ‘hope’ in Hindi, Asha has helped more than a million people living in slum communities in Delhi through its...
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Music, Collaboration and Cultural Exchange: The Sounds of the Three Seas
In the latest episode of Chats over Chai, Head of Cultural Diplomacy Sudip Chakraborty sits down with the artists behind the Indo Jazz-Fusion band The Three Seas - a dynamic collaboration between Indian folk musicians and Australian Jazz musicians - to explore how music can bridge cultures and...
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Bridging Theory and Practice: Rethinking Secondary Education Through Applied Learning
In the latest episode of Chats Over Chai, Research Fellow Dr Alice Garner is joined by Helene Rooks, CEO of the Vocational and Applied Learning Association and Jaynifer Iqbal, teacher at Delhi Public School to discuss how teachers can learn from each other to deliver more practical, skills-based...
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Digital Public Infrastructure and Citizenship: In Conversation with Dr Preeti Mudliar
In the latest episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh sits down with Dr Preeti Mudliar, CAIR Maitri Fellow, to explore how digital infrastructure is reshaping welfare systems, food security and concepts of citizenship. Lisa and Preeti unpack India’s biometric-mediated food security system,...
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Two Decades of Australia India Relations: Insights from Australian High Commissioners Past and Present
The Institute hosted an panel discussion on ‘Two Decades of Australia-India Relations: Insights from High Commissioners Past and Present’ in Delhi on Thursday, 5 March. Moderated by CEO Lisa Singh, the panel featured current Australian High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Philip Green OAM...
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Culture, Community and Creative Healing: In Conversation with Piyali Somaia
In the latest episode of Chats over Chai, Research Fellow Alice Garner sits down with Piyali Somaia, founder of Kahini, for a conversation on culture, community and creative pathways to wellbeing. Piyali reflects on her family’s migration journey to Australia and how it has shaped her work…
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Cultural Diversity in Democracy: In Conversation with Eden Foster MP
In the first episode of Chats over Chai for 2026, CEO Lisa Singh sat down with Victorian Member for Mulgrave, Eden Foster MP, for a thoughtful and timely conversation about cultural diversity in Australia’s democracy. As the first woman of Indian heritage elected to Victoria’s Legislative…
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Tradition, Tech & Transcendence: Nuala Furtado and Vijay Thillaimuthu on Heritage and Creative Exchange
Ahead of the 10th edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, CEO Lisa Singh sits down with Melbourne based artists, Nuala Furtado, CEO of The Substation, and Vijay Thillaimuthu, a Tamil-Australian audio-visual and laser artist to discuss their practice. In this episode, Lisa explores how...
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My Summer of Cricket: In Conversation with Nikhil Kulkarni
Cricket isn’t just a game; it is a powerful cultural bridge between Australia and India. In our latest episode of Chats Over Chai, we asked author and technologist Nikhil Kulkarni what inspired his debut book 'My Summer of Cricket', and how the stories and memories in it capture the joy, humour…
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Exploring Sports Innovation and Technology: Strengthening Victoria-India Collaboration
In the lead-up to Australia Sports Innovation Week 2025 and the Australia India T20 cricket match, Andrew Walton, Managing Director of Sports Tech World Series, joins Head of Cultural Diplomacy Sudip Chakraborty to explore how technology is transforming the global sports landscape. In this…
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Tracing Roots: Exploring Indian and South Asian Heritage in Australia with Rachel Croucher
In this new episode of Chats Over Chai, Dr Alice Garner sits down with genealogist and record agent Rachel Croucher to explore the fascinating world of tracing Indian and South Asian heritage in Australia. Rachel brings over 20 years of experience in historical research and genealogy…
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The Role of Food Diplomacy with Chef Helly Raichura
Indian-born, Melbourne-based chef Helly Raichura and author of The Food of Bharat sits down with CEO of the Australia India Institute, Lisa Singh to discuss her passion for cooking authentic Indian regional cuisine with Australian produce which led to her opening her restaurant, Enter via…
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How AFL is Transforming Indian and Australian Communities with Sudip Chakraborty
How is AFL bringing together Australian and Indian communities and how can sports can be used as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy, identity and stronger bilateral ties? CEO Lisa Singh joins incoming Head of Cultural Diplomacy at the Australia India Institute, Sudip Chakraborty, to discuss…
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Climate Change, Security and the Quad with Dr Robert Mizo
In this new episode of Chats Over Chai, Research Fellow and Director of Security and Geopolitics, Dr Samuel Bashfield, sits down with Dr. Robert Mizo, a visiting Japan Foundation Fellow from the University of Delhi, to discuss the critical intersection of maritime security and climate change. The...
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New Heights: Australia India Space Cooperation with Raj Kulshrestha
In this new episode of Chats Over Chai, Aii’s defence researcher, Dr Samuel Bashfield, sits down with Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO of Space Machines Company, who has held various roles as an investor, advisor, founder, director and executive across technology-driven sectors and has trained as an...
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Democracy Decoded: Australia's Election and the Indo-Pacific
The Australia India Institute hosted a webinar on ‘Democracy Decoded: Australia's Election and the Indo-Pacific' on Wednesday, April 30 2025 at 5pm AEDT. As geopolitical tensions rise with US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy and current trade wars, the result of the…
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Building a Resilient Australia India Defence Relationship
In a special live recording of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh sits down with the authors of the Institute's landmark defence report, "Building a Resilient Australia India Defence Relationship: Options for the next decade", Mr Kim Heriot-Darragh and Dr Gaurav Saini, to discuss the future of the...
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Bilateral business trends with India's Consul General in Sydney
In the first 2025 episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by India’s Consul General in Sydney, Dr S Janakiraman, a career diplomat, who shares insights on the growing business ties between India and Australia. From the surge in trade to the rise of Indian tech startups, and the...
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The Trump Factor Webinar: Assessing Quad Solidarity in the Indo-Pacific
With the election of Donald Trump to the White House, the Quad stands at a critical juncture as the incoming US administration presents significant geopolitical shifts for US engagement in the Indo-Pacific. In this webinar, leading experts in foreign policy examined how these shifts in US foreign...
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Professor T.V. Paul on India's Unfinished Quest
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined with Professor T.V. Paul, an expert on international security and South Asian geopolitics at McGill University, Canada to discuss India’s rise as a major global power. Drawing on his recent book The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for...
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Shifting Perspectives: The State of the World in 2024 - With Dr Shashi Tharoor MP
Recorded live at the University of Melbourne, CEO Lisa Singh hosted award-winning author, diplomat, and politician Dr Shashi Tharoor on November 13. They delve into Dr Tharoor's political views, leaders who have influenced him, India and its place in the world, the current global geopolitical...
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The Transformative Journey of Tamil Nadu - With Tamil Nadu’s Minister PTR
Recorded in Chennai, India, Lisa Singh visits Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), Tamil Nadu's Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services. Dr Rajan brings deep insights into Tamil Nadu’s impressive growth story and its growing connections with key states of Australia. They dive deep…
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Australia India and the World
CEO Lisa Singh was joined by stalwarts of foreign policy and the Australia-India relationship, Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, Mr Peter Varghese AO, and Dr Pradeep Taneja at a panel event at the University of Melbourne on September 4, 2024, exploring the burgeoning partnership between the two nations...
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Australia India Startups: Impacts Across Borders
🎙️The unique cross-border impacts of climate tech start-ups 🎙️ How can a bilateral partnership successfully support start-ups pioneering sustainable change? The India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator is a purpose-built program that helps Indian and Australian...
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Australia's Place in the Indo-Pacific with Darshana Baruah
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by the Australia India Institute’s new Director of Security and Geopolitics, Darshana Baruah, to discuss the latest geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific, Australia-India, and the Quad as well as her visions for the Institute’s...
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The Clean Energy Partnership with JP Chalasani
Following the success of the inaugural Australia India Renewables Dialogue in Sydney, this episode of Chats Over Chai features a key delegate at the dialogue, Mr JP Chalasani, Group CEO of leading Indian wind energy firm, Suzlon. Lisa and JP Chalasani discuss his rich experience in the renewables...
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Growing Up Indian in Australia | Panel Discussion
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by Australian-Indian writers hailing from different parts of the diaspora in a powerful panel discussion celebrating our country’s diversity and their unique experiences growing up. The discussion was conducted at the book launch event…
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Modernising India with Reuben Abraham
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh discusses India's rapid modernisation with Dr. Reuben Abraham, CEO of Artha Global. The pair delve into India’s increasing urbanisation and digitalisation and how this transformation is advancing India’s goal of becoming a developed economy by...
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Living Across Borders: In Conversation with Mohammad Chowdhury
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh and British-Bangladeshi author Mohammad Chowdhury discuss his book “Border Crossings – My Journey as an Outsider”, a life story that intersects cultural and societal differences within countries as well as across borders. Lisa and Mohammad trace...
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2024 Indian General Election - with His Excellency Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of India to Australia
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh unpacks the Indian Election results with India’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency, Gopal Baglay. In his first interview on the subject, High Commissioner Baglay discusses the surprise election result for Narendra Modi's Bharatiya...
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Ela Gandhi: A Legacy of Democracy and Social Justice in South Africa
In this special episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh joins Ela Gandhi, a peace activist, politician and granddaughter to Mahatma Gandhi, at the Phoenix Settlement in Durban. Ela Gandhi has devoted her life to carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather, and his values of truth and...
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The Anzac-India Story with Professor Peter Stanley
This episode of Chats Over Chai discusses the story of the Anzac-India friendship forged amidst the trials of Gallipoli in 1915. Australia’s most distinguished military social historians, Professor Peter Stanley and the Institute’s defence researcher, Samuel Bashfield unpack the little-known...
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The Growing Indian Diaspora in Victoria: Past, Present and Future with Urvi Majumdar
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, Head of Communications, Shuba Krishnan sits down with Melburnian comedian, writer and actor Urvi Majumdar to discuss the impact of the Indian diaspora in Victoria. Urvi moved from India to Australia at the age of 6 and has openly talked about the struggles of...
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Critical Minerals for Security and Prosperity: The Role the Quad Should Play
The Australia India Institute with CUTS International delivered an ‘In Conversation’ for CUTS 40th anniversary on Critical Minerals for Security and Prosperity: The role the Quad should play. This insightful panel featured Mr Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General at CUTS International and Associate...
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India’s Leading Female MPs: Inclusive Governance and Political Empowerment
In this episode of Chats Over Chat, CEO Lisa Singh hosts a delegation of Indian female MPs and delves into inclusive governance and women’s political empowerment. Joining Lisa is Agatha Sangma; from Tura, Meghalaya; Heena Gavit from Nandurbar, Maharashtra; and Fauzia Khan from Maharashtra. Under...
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In Conversation with Dr Andrew Charlton MP - Australia's Pivot to India
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO, Lisa Singh and Federal Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton MP, delve into his new book, ‘Australia’s Pivot to India’, recently launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Recorded in one of the hearts of the Indian diaspora in Australia, Parramatta,...
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Tibetan Sikyong Insights From ‘Little Lhasa’ in India
The Institute is honoured that this episode of Chats Over Chai comes to you from the spiritual city of Dharamshala in the Indian Himalayas. The beautiful Himalayas are home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan diaspora, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and our special guest, Sikyong...
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The Naga Repatriation Process with Dr. Arkotong Longkumer
In this episode of Chats Over Chai, the institute hears from a Nagaland leader and senior lecturer in Modern Asia at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Arkotong Longkumer, who highlights intercultural learning and shares Naga stories and experiences. The journey of repatriation of Naga ancestral...
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India’s High Commissioner to Australia His Excellency, Manpreet Vohra
In this episode of Chats over Chai Ambassador Vohra and CEO Lisa Singh unpack India’s journey since independence, how its relationship with Australia has evolved since that time, and the incredible future for India and its people. Ambassador Vohra's remarkable journey as the Indian High...
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The Yoga Journey: Celebrating International Day of Yoga with Alan Goode
In this episode of Chats over Chai, we're celebrating the International Day of Yoga! Join us for a special conversation with Alan Goode, the Director of Yoga Mandir in Canberra, as we dive into his yoga journey. Hosted by Dr. Surjeet Dhanji, Director of Cultural Diplomacy at the Australia India...
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Empowering India's Future with Room to Read
In this episode of Chats over Chai, Dr Surjeet Dhanji, Director of Cultural Diplomacy at the Australia India Institute interviews Poornima Garg, the Country Director of Room to Read India. Room to Read is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to improving literacy and promoting gender…
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Gandhi: on the Good Human Life with Professor Bindu Puri
In this special episode of the Australia India Institute’s podcast, we explore the life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi with Professor Bindu Puri, one of the foremost Gandhian scholars in the world. As part of the Institute’s Visiting Fellows Program, Professor Puri visited Australia from...
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Contemporary Technopolitics in the Indo Pacific with Nitin Pai
In this episode of Chats over Chai, Lisa Singh interviews Nitin Pai, co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution – an independent think tank and school of public policy based in Bangalore. Nitin delves into high tech in geopolitics, Australia-India tech cooperation, U.S-China...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Chats Over Chai have?
Chats Over Chai currently has 102 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Chats Over Chai about?
The Australia India Institute podcast examines key questions facing contemporary India and the Australia-India relationship.
How often does Chats Over Chai release new episodes?
Chats Over Chai publishes regularly with 102 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Chats Over Chai?
You can listen to Chats Over Chai on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Chats Over Chai?
Chats Over Chai is created and hosted by Australia India Institute.
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