Indian American Stories Podcast

About Dr. Murali Naidu:Dr. Murali Naidu is CEO of San Ramon Regional Medical Center and a former physician. He’s led hospitals through some of the hardest moments in healthcare, especially during COVID, and he’s also deeply involved in education as a trustee at Head-Royce School. What really stood out to me about Dr. Naidu is how he thinks about leadership—not just as running systems, but as taking care of people, whether that’s patients, students, or entire communities. We talked about healthcare, AI, risk-taking, being Indian American, and how to define success without boxing yourself in. This was one of those conversations that makes you think bigger about what you can actually do with your life.What was most fun about this conversation:Honestly, the most fun part was how grounded he was. He’s literally running a hospital, but he talks like someone who genuinely just cares about people doing well. Hearing about how hospitals had to set up tents in parking lots overnight during COVID was wild, but what stuck with me was how much respect he had for nurses, janitors, and everyone who showed up every day when the rest of the world stayed home. Also, his answers never felt rehearsed. It felt like he was actually thinking in real time, which made the conversation feel very real.What I was inspired by:I was really inspired by how he talked about success. He kept coming back to this idea that if you do something well and actually care about it, the money usually follows. But if you chase money first, that doesn’t always work out. That felt especially relevant as someone in high school where everything feels like it’s about college, jobs, and outcomes. I also liked how open he was about switching paths.What many of us Americans can relate with:A lot of what he said applies way beyond Indian American families. The pressure to define success as money or prestige. Feeling like you’re supposed to pick one path early and never change it. Being judged based on how you look, your name, or your background. Even the idea of feeling like you don’t fully belong anywhere, not here, not there, that’s something a lot of people feel, whether they’re second generation Americans or not. His point about being okay with making the wrong choice and pivoting later felt very American in the best way.What I will think more about:He said something that stuck with me: instead of squeezing yourself into a job that already exists, try to imagine what you actually want your day-to-day life to look like and then go find or create that role. That idea feels kind of scary but also freeing. It made me rethink how rigid we are when we talk about careers, especially in high school. Also, his hope that AI could bring doctors back to the bedside instead of turning healthcare into even more paperwork made me think about how technology should serve people, instead of replacing them.How this conversation connects to others on the podcast:What I liked about this episode is how naturally it connected to almost every other conversation I’ve had on this podcast. Like Gagan Biyani, Dr. Naidu shared the idea of not letting one job title or career path define your whole life. Both of them talked about success as something you shape over time, not something you lock in at 18. The idea of designing your own role instead of squeezing yourself into one felt very aligned with Gagan’s story.His emphasis on care and humanity in work reminded me a lot of Dr. Nirav Pandya. Even though one works in hospital leadership and the other in sports medicine, both talked about medicine as something deeply human, not just technical. They both pushed back against the idea that being good at your job means being cold or robotic.Dr. Naidu’s thoughts on leadership and redefining success also echoed themes from Dr. Neha Gupta and Dr. Rajni Mandal, especially around resisting narrow expectations placed on Indian Americans. All three talked about ambition without burnout, and how success doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your values or your sense of self.When he talked about community and responsibility, I kept thinking about Divya Venn, Sy Choudhury, and Maulik Bhansali. They’ve all spoken about giving back, whether through public service, entrepreneurship, or community building. Dr. Naidu’s work in both healthcare and education fits right into that same mindset of using your position to help others grow.His reflections on identity and being caught between worlds connected strongly with Prashanthi Raman, Janani Ramachandran, and Visraant Iyer. The feeling of not fully belonging in one box, culturally or professionally, came up in all of those conversations. What stood out here was how calmly and honestly Dr. Naidu talked about it, not as a crisis, but as something you learn to live with and even use as strength.And finally, his focus on care, prevention, and long-term thinking felt very aligned with Dr. Rupa Badlani. Both of them talked about systems, healthcare, and responsibility in a way that felt grounded and people-first, not flashy or preachy.Across all these episodes, the shared theme keeps coming back to this: you don’t have to be one thing. You can be Indian and American. Analytical and empathetic. Ambitious and grounded. This conversation with Dr. Naidu tied together a lot of the ideas this podcast has been circling around from the beginning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Dr. Rupa Badlani:Dr. Rupa Badlani is a Bay Area native and a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland. She grew up in the Berkeley Hills, went to Head-Royce for middle school, studied at UC Berkeley, went to UC Irvine for medical school, and did her dermatology residency at UCSF where she also served as chief resident. Now she lives in Orinda with her husband and their three kids. At work, she focuses on medical dermatology, everything from acne and eczema to melanoma and other skin cancers. Outside of work, most of her time goes into parenting, community, and staying connected to the people around her.What was most fun about this conversation:The most fun part was how normal and grounded she was about everything. She talked about being a doctor without making it sound dramatic or flashy. The way she described remembering details about her patients lives, asking about their kids, and getting life advice from people twice her age made the whole doctor patient relationship feel very human. I also liked hearing about her college experience at Berkeley and how overwhelming but freeing it was. The part about having no one wake you up for an 8 am class felt extremely real.What I was inspired by:I was really inspired by how much pride she takes in consistency. She is not chasing prestige anymore. She cares about showing up every day, doing good work, and building long term relationships with patients and with her kids. Her story about wanting to match into UCSF and her dad asking her “why not you” really stuck with me. It was not about arrogance. It was about not disqualifying yourself before you even try. That mindset feels powerful and also very practical.What many of us Americans can relate with:A lot of this conversation felt universal, even beyond the Indian American experience. Feeling more comfortable once you get to college and find people who look like you. Learning time management the hard way. Balancing work, family, and trying not to drop the ball on everything at once. Also the idea that your parents pushed you hard because they wanted stability for you, even if it felt rigid at the time. That tension between structure and freedom is something a lot of people grow up with.What I will think more about:I keep thinking about how culture changes with each generation. Dr. Badlani talked about how Indian culture naturally gets diluted over time and how now it takes intentional effort to pass it on to her kids. Things like Diwali presentations at school or cultural dances do not just happen automatically anymore. It made me think about what parts of culture are worth protecting and how much effort it actually takes to keep them alive without forcing them.How this conversation connects to others on the podcast:This episode connected to a lot of past conversations in interesting ways. Like Dr. Nirav Pandya, Dr. Badlani talked about growing up in mostly white spaces and later finding comfort and confidence in more diverse environments. Similar to Gagan Biyani, she spoke about learning independence in college and figuring things out without much hand holding. Her emphasis on work ethic and education echoed what Dr. Neha Gupta talked about with immigrant parents setting high expectations without always explaining the emotional side of it. Even her parenting approach felt aligned with other guests who talked about blending Indian structure with American flexibility instead of choosing one over the other.Overall, this conversation felt like another piece of the same bigger story. Different careers, different personalities, but the same questions about identity, ambition, family, and what a good life actually looks like. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Visraant Iyer:Visraant Iyer is the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Urban Innovation for the City of Oakland, where he helps make local government work better through design thinking and civic tech. Before that, he worked in startups, presidential campaigns, and national voter engagement efforts. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and now lives in Oakland, where he still finds time to play basketball, watch movies, and think deeply about how cities can actually serve people better.What was most fun about this conversation:Honestly, it was how wide-ranging it got. One minute we were talking about city planning, and the next we were talking about identity, assimilation, and growing up brown in the suburbs. I liked how he described biking around as a kid, exploring different neighborhoods, and realizing early on that everyone sees the world a little differently—and that’s okay. It felt like hearing how curiosity can shape a whole life.What I was inspired by:Visraant’s whole idea of problem definition really stuck with me. He said people often jump to “fixing” without fully understanding the real issue, and that curiosity—asking “why?” over and over—is the most underrated leadership skill. It made me think that being smart isn’t about having all the answers, but about asking better questions.What many of us Americans can relate with:That feeling of being seen as both “a success story” and “an outsider.” He talked about how Indian Americans went from being praised as the “model minority” to being treated as a threat once there were more of us. It’s like success became suspicious instead of inspiring. He explained how that shift isn’t just about race but about power and belonging, and how people’s comfort with your success can change depending on how visible you are. A lot of us have probably felt that switch happen in subtle ways, even at school or work.What I will think more about:He said something I keep replaying: “If you’re kind only when it’s convenient, you’re not being kind.” That line kind of sums up his whole outlook. He doesn’t want to spend life fighting hate online—he wants to build, to serve, and to live with integrity even when things feel tense or unfair. And when he talked about how the “model minority” label turns from praise to resentment once a community becomes too visible, it made me think about how fragile acceptance can be and how much strength it takes to just stay grounded in who you are.How this connects to other guests:Like Gagan Biyani, he wrestles with what it means to belong to two cultures without having to pick one. Like Dr. Nirav Pandya, he sees pride in identity as something that grows with self-acceptance. With Dr. Neha Gupta, he shares the idea that culture is full of invisible norms you only notice when you don’t fit them. And like Maulik Bhansali and Prashanthi Raman, he talks about the courage of being authentic in rooms where you might not totally “fit.” And like Janani Ramachandran, he reminds us that caring about community, whether through public service, politics, or just everyday kindness, is one of the most powerful ways to belong.Together, all these stories are really about the same thing: how Indian Americans are learning to define belonging for themselves instead of waiting for permission. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Maulik Bhansali:Maulik Bhansali is a senior portfolio manager and co-head at Allspring Global Investments. He grew up in New Jersey, started out as an actuary, then got a master’s in quantitative finance at UC Berkeley. For the last couple decades he’s been in the Bay Area managing bond portfolios. Outside of work, he’s raising a kid in a mixed-culture family, figuring out how to keep Gujarati traditions alive.What was most fun about this conversation:The rapid-fire part was great. When I asked what he couldn’t live without that was “stereotypically Indian,” he didn’t hesitate: food. Then he lit up talking about Vik’s Chaat in Berkeley. Also, his soundtrack picks cracked me up. A whole Bollywood movie soundtrack on one side and then “Dancing Queen” by ABBA on the other. That mix totally captures his balance of identities.What I was inspired by:I liked how he talked about investing being more than math. He said numbers matter but judgment and empathy matter just as much. That felt bigger than finance. It applies to life too. The other part that stuck was how he eventually stopped hiding parts of himself. Growing up Indian American in the eighties, then also being gay in a community where that wasn’t easy, he could have kept shrinking. Instead, he figured out how to bring it all together and be proud. That gave him a kind of steady confidence that was really powerful.What many of us Americans can relate with:Embarrassment when friends came over and smelled different food. Wishing you were like everyone else in middle school. Only realizing later how lucky you were to grow up bilingual or to eat the food your parents cooked. Having family expectations around careers but still finding a path you actually love. And as a parent, wanting your kid to accept people even if they do not fully understand them. All of that is super relatable, whether you’re Indian American or not.What I will think more about:His reminder that acceptance is enough. You don’t always have to understand someone completely. You can still choose respect. That feels like the simplest way to cut through so much conflict. I’ll also think more about identity being an advantage. If you grow up between cultures, you naturally notice patterns, empathize faster, and think from more than one angle. That is not just a nice character trait. It actually makes you better at solving problems.How this connects to other conversations:* With Gagan Biyani, the big theme was editing yourself in different spaces and how freeing it is when you stop doing that. Maulik lived that too on multiple fronts.* With Dr. Nirav Pandya, we heard about hiding his Indian side as a kid and then becoming proud of it. Maulik’s story about being embarrassed by Indian candy with friends is almost the same arc, just in a different setting.* With Dr. Neha Gupta, it was about how cultural norms are invisible until you are the one who doesn’t fit them. Maulik connected that to work and parenting, showing how those tiny signals shape judgment and empathy.* With Dr. Rajni Mandal, food was a big symbol of home and comfort. Maulik also came back to food as the tradition that survived and the part he cherishes most now.* With Divya Venn, the theme was identity online and how social media shapes what you hide or show. Maulik’s story was the offline version from the eighties, but the same pressure to conform was there.* With Sy Choudhury, it was about building technology that reflects multiple perspectives. Maulik showed how even in something as rigid as finance, perspective is what makes the difference.* With Prashanthi Raman, we focused on representation and what it means to show up authentically in public life. Maulik’s version of that happens quietly in boardrooms. Both remind us that visibility isn’t just about being seen, it’s about being real.If I had to sum it up, Maulik showed that when you stop cutting out parts of yourself and instead use all of them, you make better choices in work and life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Janani Ramachandran:Janani Ramachandran is an Oakland City Council member. Councilmember Ramachandran is the youngest person ever elected to the Council and the first South Asian and first LGBTQ woman of color to serve. Before politics, she studied law, founded a nonprofit called Operation Education when she was just sixteen, and worked in community advocacy. Today, she’s focused on making government more transparent and accountable while helping Oakland thrive as a city known for its creativity and culture.What was most fun about this conversation:Hearing Councilmember Ramachandran describe her first campaign was both funny and inspiring. She talked about people literally calling her “crazy” for running against a well-known candidate with almost no connections or money. But she didn’t back down. She said every “no” she heard actually pushed her to try harder. That attitude felt electric. I also loved her story about starting a library program in India as a teenager because it showed how even at sixteen, she was already trying to make change from the ground up.What I was inspired by:Councilmember Ramachandran’s fearlessness really stood out. She didn’t wait for permission to lead, and she didn’t let the fact that no one like her had ever been elected stop her. I also loved her reminder to stay grounded. She said that if you’re doing work that matters, you can’t spend your whole day reading what people say about you online. You have to log off, go outside, and live your life. That made me realize how leadership isn’t about being perfect or universally liked; it’s about staying connected to what you care about.What many of us Americans can relate with:Even though Janani’s story is political, a lot of it was just about growing up and figuring out who you are. Moving to India during middle school gave her this whole new perspective on America, and she started seeing how complicated and beautiful both countries were. That felt familiar to me, because a lot of us who grew up between cultures know what it’s like to question where you belong. Her vision for Oakland also felt relatable: she wants people to see it not just as a place with challenges but as a community full of art, food, and energy that deserves to be celebrated.What I will think more about:Councilmember Ramachandran’s focus on transparency really made me think. She said that even if people disagree with her votes, she wants them to at least understand why she made them. That level of honesty feels rare, not only in government but also in everyday life. It made me wonder how different things would be if everyone tried to communicate that clearly, whether in school, at work, or in friendships.I also liked how she connects politics with creativity. She founded Oakland Diwali, a festival that brings hundreds of people together to celebrate South Asian culture and local talent. It reminded me that leadership can also mean building spaces where people feel seen and proud of who they are.How this connects to other guests:Councilmember Ramachandran’s story connects beautifully with what so many other guests have shared.Like Gagan Biyani, she’s deeply rooted in Oakland and believes in improving her city through community action. Both of them talked about bridging two worlds and using their Indian and American identities as strengths, not conflicts.Like Dr. Nirav Pandya, she emphasized embracing who you are instead of trying to hide it just to fit in.Her commitment to public service reminded me of Dr. Neha Gupta, who talked about finding meaning through work that helps others.When she spoke about resilience and being okay with standing out, it echoed what Divya Venn said about authenticity and pushing forward even when others don’t understand you.Her emphasis on civic engagement felt connected to Prashanthi Raman’s idea of “Seva,” or service, and how storytelling and leadership can shape policy.And her celebration of culture and community reminded me of Dr. Rajni Mandal, who spoke about identity as something you carry proudly into every room you walk into.Together, these conversations show that being Indian American isn’t about balancing two separate sides. It’s about blending them into something uniquely your own and to lead, create, and inspire without fear. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Sy ChoudhurySy Choudhury leads AI Partnerships efforts for Meta, including the company’s engagements across Generative AI, AI Research, AI Infrastructure, and open projects like PyTorch and Llama. Prior to this, Sy held Product Management and Partnership roles at Qualcomm and Wind River Systems.What was most fun about this conversationHearing him explain how the Reels algorithm is different from the main feed was really cool. It’s not just about what you like. It also mixes in what’s trending in the world so it feels fresh. His take on WhatsApp groups as “micro-social media” also cracked me up. It’s true though, so much of life now happens inside group chats.What I was inspired bySy’s point about actually learning instead of just memorizing for tests really stuck with me. Because he understands the tech all the way down, from chips to models, he’s respected even in business meetings where most people don’t know those details. His advice for teens was to find what you’re genuinely curious about, go deep, and let that become your superpower. Simple, but powerful.What many of us Americans can relate with* Using short videos to learn random stuff (and not feeling bad about it).* Living in group chats more than on big public platforms.* Dreaming of moving somewhere sunny (he ditched snowy Syracuse for California).* Parents pushing us to learn for understanding, not just grades.What I will think more about* Social media is just a tool. It can connect or divide depending on how we use it.* Making powerful tech open, like Llama, means more people can build cool things but it also spreads responsibility.* Even if your role is “business,” knowing the tech makes people take you seriously.How this connects to other conversations* Gagan Biyani talked about not expecting perfection around culture, and instead giving people grace. Sy’s take on group chats and smaller communities fits that. Connection works better when the pressure is lower.* Dr. Nirav Pandya said embracing who you are instead of hiding it makes everything better. Sy’s version was about learning deeply and letting that confidence show. Both made me think about how being secure in yourself changes everything.* Dr. Neha Gupta showed how subtle cultural norms shape behavior. Sy explained how algorithms shape our habits in ways we don’t even notice, which is kind of the tech side of the same lesson.* Dr. Rajni Mandal shared how her mom’s dosa carried identity. Sy’s story about rice and lentils every night in Syracuse had that same vibe. What feels normal at home can feel special to others.* Prashanthi Raman talked about seva (service). Sy helping open-source Llama so the whole industry can use it is a very real example of that.* Divya Venn said social media is “just a simulation.” Sy basically pulled back the curtain on how those simulations are built and why they still matter for how we connect.If I had to sum it up: Sy reminded me that curiosity beats cramming. If you really learn how stuff works, whether it’s tech, sports, or even food, you get to shape it instead of it shaping you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Prashanthi Raman:Prashanthi Raman is Advisor to the Co-founder at Rula. Before that, she led global government relations at Cruise, was Lyft’s Head of North America Government Relations, and earlier worked in the Illinois Governor’s office running health policy and legislative affairs. She studied social policy at Northwestern, where she now serves on the Alumni Admissions Council and the Farley Center advisory board. What’s cool is how she blends her professional life with her Indian American identity, her community work, and even her childhood background in Carnatic music.“Learning Carnatic music gave me an internal metronome. That rhythm ended up shaping how I speak, and it even led to me being the voiceover for Cruise ads.”What was most fun about this conversation:I liked how she described showing up at school smelling like masala, or having to explain to her friends why her dad wore a lungi to get the mail. Those small, funny details made the bigger themes of culture and identity way more real.“I grew up with a dad who wore a lungi to get the mail, and I had to answer, ‘why is your dad wearing a skirt?’”Also, hearing that her Carnatic music training accidentally made her good at public speaking cadence and eventually landed her as the voiceover for Cruise’s ads. That was just unexpected and really fun.What I was inspired by:Prashanthi talked about resilience being a kind of “superpower” she inherited as a first-generation Indian American. Whether she was in the governor’s office negotiating health policy or working in tech, she leaned on values like hard work, truth-telling, and relationship-building.“My secret power has been relationship building and the resilience that comes with being first-generation.”It inspired me to think about how culture can be more than just heritage—it can actually be fuel for impact.“Being Indian American became a superpower because I understood what it meant to struggle and also what it meant to build something out of nothing.”And when she talked about Seva—the idea of service to others—it hit me that this is one of the deepest values many of us inherit from our community. For her, it’s been the guiding theme of her career: to use her skills to create change that helps people, especially marginalized communities.What many of us Americans can relate with:So much of what she said felt familiar, even beyond the Indian American experience. Things like growing up feeling different, having parents with accents, worrying about whether your major or career will make sense to your family, and trying to balance what you inherit from your parents with who you want to be. That tug between fitting in and standing out is something a lot of Americans can connect with.“We’re not new anymore. We’re not the strange exhibit in the museum. There’s more representation, and that makes my kids feel like they’re part of the larger society.”What I will think more about:Her worry about Indian culture and language fading with each generation really stuck with me. She pointed out how English often takes over at home, and unless kids are spoken to in their grandparents’ languages, those connections might disappear.“What I worry about is the beauty of our culture, especially language, being lost generation by generation.”It made me think harder about how culture gets passed down, and what role we each play in preserving it while also adapting it.How this connects with other conversations:Like Dr. Nirav Pandya, she talked about trying to hide her Indian identity when she was younger, then later realizing it was something to be proud of. And like Gagan Biyani, she pointed out how Indian immigrants in America represent just a slice of the diversity in India, which explains a lot of the stereotypes. And similar to Dr. Neha Gupta, she highlighted how subtle cultural norms, like food, language, or the way families show respect, can be invisible unless you live inside them.Together, these conversations show how Indian American stories overlap in some places but are also really diverse in others.“Hold on to your history, your culture, your lineage. Not just for yourself, but so you can pass it forward.”And maybe most importantly:“In policy and government, the most influential lever isn’t statistics. It’s people’s stories.”Prashanthi Raman’s Bio:As an established, award-winning attorney and public policy executive, Prashanthi Raman has nearly 20 years of experience navigating challenging, highly charged, and complex political environments at the international, federal, state and local levels. Honing her skills in both the public and private sector, Prashanthi has earned the reputation of building trust quickly and utilizing her political astuteness to shape and ensure regulatory certainty for multiple organizations. Prashanthi is able to see around corners to stay ahead of legislative and regulatory trends and demonstrates the vision to solve tough problems, particularly in the emerging tech space. As a woman of color working in government, tech and transportation, and other complex regulatory industries, Prashanthi brings her passion to make meta policy changes to have an impact on everyday people.She has created and built emerging regulatory industries four times that have opened up commercial and revenue generating pathways. Her career has been divided between significant industries - energy, healthcare, transportation, AI and tech - navigating some of the most complex regulatory environments to produce change, business growth and common sense and business friendly policy frameworks. Prashanthi is known for assembling dynamic and diverse teams, being an innovative and inspirational leader, and a critical, effective and analytical strategist. Her public affairs campaigns and social impact initiatives have been some of the most innovative and sustainable throughout the company’s lifecycle. She is also a highly sought after and regarded speaker, keynote, panelist and also utilizes those skills off the stage as a voiceover. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Divya Venn:Divya Venn grew up in Sunnyvale, California, and now spends her time indie hacking, writing, and creating content that’s equal parts tech, psychology, relationships, and random thoughts. She’s the kind of person who treats Twitter like an open journal — not to “go viral,” but to actually connect with people. That mindset has led to unexpected friendships, interesting projects, and some wild online moments.💬 Favorite Quote from this episode:“The praise and the hate are just two sides of the same coin.”What was most fun about this conversation:I liked hearing how she just… says what she’s thinking online. Not in a try-hard, attention-seeking way, but because it helps her make sense of the chaos in her head. Also, her story about casually roasting someone’s dating profile and accidentally starting a side business out of it? That was both hilarious and kind of genius.What I was inspired by:Divya’s openness about growing up socially isolated — and how she turned that into a drive to understand people better — hit me. Instead of pretending to have it all figured out, she’s honest about still learning, which makes her perspective way more relatable. It made me think about how valuable it is to find the stuff you’d do for free (like writing, in her case) and just keep doing it, even if it’s not “strategic.”What many of us Americans can relate with:Feeling like your life is split between “home world” and “outside world.” Wasting time on the wrong priorities in school. Wrestling with procrastination but still somehow getting bursts of work done when it counts. And that whole thing where your parents don’t really “get” what you’re doing… until it starts making money or opening doors.What I will think more about:Her point about not talking too much about big projects before they’re done really stuck with me. She said that sometimes just talking about an idea gives you enough of a dopamine hit that you lose the drive to actually finish it. I’m going to remember that next time I’m tempted to announce something too early.How this connects to other conversations:Like Dr. Nirav Pandya, Divya talked about how identity can shift from something you hide to something you own. Like Gagan Biyani, she’s aware of how online spaces can be both unifying and polarizing — and she doesn’t think we should overcomplicate cultural differences. And like Dr. Neha Gupta, she knows cultural norms can be subtle in ways you don’t even notice unless you’ve lived them, but she treats that as something to navigate with humor.🎧 Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more stories that show how Indian American life is anything but one-size-fits-all. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Dr. Rajni Mandal:Dr. Rajni Mandal lives in Oakland, California, and has had a fascinating path. She trained as a physician and is board-certified in molecular pathology, with degrees and training from Cornell, Duke, NYU, and Mass General. But right now, she’s on a break from medicine to focus on raising her kids, and in the process, she’s become deeply involved in local civic life.She’s a regular contributor to The Oakland Report and often shows up at city council meetings, advocating for her community on issues like public safety and neighborhood wellbeing. She was born in Peru, moved to upstate New York in middle school, and has navigated her Indian identity across three countries and cultures. Her story is thoughtful, grounded, and heartwarmingly relatable.💬 Favorite Quote from this episode:“I’ve realized and accepted that my definition of ‘Indian’ may not be the same as someone else’s—and that’s fine.”What was most fun about this conversation:I loved hearing how Rajni accidentally became a neighborhood leader. It all started with her just wanting to know what was going on at city council—and ended with her sending out citywide email updates, showing up at meetings, and becoming a go-to person for her community. It was cool to see how something small like being a "block captain" and organizing donut parties in the driveway turned into real civic engagement. Also, her story about people trying to convert her at church in Peru because they didn't know any Indian people was wild (and kind of hilarious in hindsight).What I was inspired by:What hit me the most was how Rajni talked about the way her view of being Indian changed over time. As a kid in Peru and upstate New York, she often felt like "the only one." But in college, she finally met other Indian people—and realized how diverse Indian identity actually is. Some spoke Hindi, some didn’t. Some loved Bollywood, others didn’t care. She said it made her realize that there’s no one way to be Indian, and that was honestly freeing. It made me think that maybe we don’t have to fit into one version of our culture—we can shape it based on who we are.What many of us Americans can relate with:So much of what she said felt familiar. Like how parents from other cultures often raise you with super strict rules, and then you visit a friend’s house and their parents are way more chill—and you’re like, “Wait, people are allowed to talk back to their mom??” Or how your name changes depending on who’s saying it: Rajni becomes “Rah-nee” or “Rahzh-nee” or “Rash-nee,” depending on where she is. Or how people always ask, “Where are you really from?” like your zip code doesn’t count. These are things a lot of first- or second-gen kids deal with, and hearing her break it down so clearly made me feel seen.What I will think more about:Rajni talked about how food holds this secret power in how it connects you to home, to comfort, to identity. She didn’t appreciate her mom’s dosas growing up, but now she says she has “performance anxiety” trying to make them because they meant so much. It made me think about the stuff in our culture that we take for granted until it’s gone. Also, her advice at the end really stuck with me: she said the most important thing young Indian Americans can do is “just show up.” Whether that’s at a school meeting, a comedy stage, or city hall—it all starts with being present.How this ties in with past guests like Nirav Pandya, Gagan Biyani, and Neha Gupta:This episode felt like a continuation of a bigger story. Like Dr. Pandya, Rajni talked about the journey from hiding your Indian side to embracing it. They both realized that the parts they once tried to downplay were actually the parts that made them powerful and connected. And like Gagan Biyani, she had this really thoughtful take on cultural code-switching—how even small things like food or names can reflect huge differences in identity.But what especially reminded me of Neha Gupta’s episode was the way Rajni talked about how culture isn’t just big obvious stuff—it’s all the little, invisible rules. Like how you’re expected to act at dinner, how people think about success, how your parents see your future. These are things you don’t even realize are cultural until you’re suddenly in a different environment and it all feels slightly off.🎧 Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more stories that show how Indian American life is anything but one-size-fits-all. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Dr. Neha Gupta:Dr. Neha Gupta is the Deputy Director of the Clinical Resource Hub at the Veterans Health Administration, where she leads telehealth services for veterans across the Western U.S. She lives in Oakland with her husband and two little kids, and before working at the VA, she was a doctor at Highland Hospital, serving the local community. She went to Stanford for college, med school, and residency, and while she’s super accomplished in medicine and leadership, what stood out is how much she cares about people—whether it’s her patients, her kids, or underserved communities.What was most fun about this conversation:It was fun hearing about her consulting days when she used to fly around the world meeting Fortune 500 CEOs, and how she realized it wasn’t for her after watching her dad help a sick teenager in just a short visit. Also, I liked her stories about growing up going to long pujas that she found boring, but now she actually misses them. That flip from “ugh” to nostalgia felt relatable. And it was funny when she said she learned the story of Holi only after buying a kids’ book for her daughter. Even adults are still learning.What I was inspired by:I was inspired by how she chose medicine not because of family pressure but because she genuinely wanted to help people. She said she didn’t want to apply to med school until she “had something to say” in her personal statement, which I thought was such a cool mindset. Also, her intentionality in parenting stood out—how she’s trying so hard to teach her kids about Indian gods, stories, and traditions, even though it takes a lot of effort. It showed me that cultural connection isn’t automatic; it’s something you have to build and pass down on purpose.What many of us Americans can relate with:Honestly, so much. Being undecided in college, taking random classes that seem interesting, feeling lost about what career to pick, and having moments where you realize what truly matters to you. Also, how she talked about juggling work and kids and feeling tired but fulfilled. And her memories of growing up in a mostly white area with a close-knit Indian community reminded me that a lot of us live in these overlapping worlds, where your neighbors and your family friends look totally different from each other, but both shape who you are.What I will think more about:I’ll think more about what she said regarding resisting medicine just because people expected it from her, and how that’s just as silly as doing something only because people expect it. That hit hard. Also, what she said about reading books really stuck with me. Her grandfather used to cut out magazine articles for different family members to read, and she said in Hindu culture, books are treated with so much respect that you’d never even touch them with your feet. It showed me how even tiny things, like the way you treat books, can carry deep cultural meaning that outsiders might not even know exists. Discovering stuff like that makes exploring other cultures (and learning more about your own culture) feel so rich and eye-opening.Putting it in context:This conversation highlighted themes we’ve encountered before, like embracing both Indian and American sides of yourself and figuring out what “success” really means. But it also brought in new ideas, like how being intentional about passing down culture isn’t just about language or food, but about storytelling, traditions, and little rituals that create belonging. Compared to other conversations I’ve had, this one felt more focused on parenting and intergenerational legacy—how each generation has to decide what they want to preserve, adapt, or let go of. It reminded me that while career achievements are great, the way we show up for family and community might be what defines us the most in the long run. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Dr. Nirav Pandya:Dr. Nirav Pandya lives in Oakland, California and is the Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at UCSF and Director of Pediatric Sports Medicine at Children’s Hospital Oakland. He’s also a huge basketball fan (especially the Warriors) and breaks down NBA injuries for fans on social media in a way that’s actually easy to understand. He grew up outside Chicago, went to med school at University of Chicago, and somehow still finds time to DJ, be a dad, and keep up with both hip hop and bhangra music. Basically, he’s got range.What was most fun about this conversation:I really liked hearing how he mixed being a DJ with both Indian and American music at parties. That image of him spinning hip hop and then switching to Indian music for a crowd of Indian Americans all figuring out their identity was just cool. Also, his story about showing up to baseball practice with a cricket bat had me cracking up—it was funny but also said a lot about what it’s like to grow up between cultures.What I was inspired by:What hit me the most was when he talked about trying to hide his Indian side in middle school just to fit in—and then later realizing he didn’t need to. That moment of going from embarrassed to proud of his culture really stood out. It made me think about how a lot of us go through that same thing, especially when you feel like you have to choose between being Indian and being “normal.” He showed that once you stop hiding and start embracing who you are, it actually makes everything better—career, relationships, all of it.What many of us Americans can relate with:So much of what Dr. Pandya talked about was just super normal stuff. Like being obsessed with sports to fit in. Watching games with his dad. Yelling at the TV. Wanting to impress people in high school. Struggling with what career to pick. Feeling embarrassed of your family traditions until you grow up and realize they’re actually kind of awesome. All of that stuff is universal.What I will think more about:His point about how Indian culture gets over-simplified was big. Like when people say “you guys all eat curry” or assume all Indian people are doctors or tech nerds. He said India is way too diverse to be summed up in a few stereotypes, and honestly, the same is true for any group. It reminded me that if we want people to understand us better, we need to actually tell our stories—not to preach, but just to show how complex and real we are. That’s the goal with this whole podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com

About Gagan:Gagan Biyani is the co-founder and CEO of Maven, and before that he helped start Udemy and Sprig. He grew up in Fremont, CA and now lives in Oakland, just like me. He's super into education, community stuff (like Empower Oakland), and also just chilling with his friends, cooking, and hiking with his wife. His parents are Indian immigrants, and even though he's lived here his whole life, he's really honest about what it's like to grow up feeling like you're between two worlds.What I learned from this conversation:I didn’t know that Gagan started out just like a regular kid trying to pay for debate travel by running a summer camp. That’s wild. I always thought founders of big companies had this super clear plan, but his story made it feel way more relatable—like he was figuring it out as he went. Also, I never thought about how the Indian immigrant population in the U.S. is kind of a filtered version of India because of how the immigration system works. That explains a lot of the stereotypes and why they don't match the reality in India.What I was inspired by:Gagan’s honesty about feeling like he had to “edit” himself at work hit hard. It made me realize that even super successful people deal with that “code switching” stuff or feeling too Indian in some spaces and too American in others. Also, I liked how he didn’t act like people should walk on eggshells around culture. He was like—it’s okay if people mispronounce names or don’t totally understand everything. We should all just give each other a little grace. That attitude really stuck with me.More food for thought:I’ve always felt like I have to pick between my Indian side and my American side, but maybe I don’t. Gagan made me think it’s less about picking and more about blending, even if it’s messy sometimes. Also, his point about not expecting perfection from people when it comes to being inclusive really made sense. Like, instead of being mad when someone gets something wrong, just help them get it right. That’s kind of the whole vibe of this podcast—telling Indian American stories not to preach, but to share, and let people connect however they want. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com