From the Ballot to the World Stage: The Rise of South Asian Political Power

The “Side Hustle” Trap Nobody Talks About (AND 3 Idiots 2 is Coming Out?, H-1Bs May Not Be Able to Get Green Cards?)

In this episode of Red, White, and Brown, Prerak and Sofia dive into the complicated relationship between creativity, ambition, and the pressure to constantly monetize our lives.' Why does every hobby suddenly feel like it needs to become a business? Why do so many South Asian Americans feel like creativity is something you “earn” only after achieving stability? We explore the cultural forces shaping the modern Desi-American mindset-from immigrant survival mentality and practical career expectations to the rise of hustle culture, content creation, and productivity obsession. Timestamps: * 00:00 — Intro + Why This Episode Matters * 00:00:26 — 3 Idiots 2 Announced & Bollywood Nostalgia * 00:02:03 — H-1B Visa Changes, Immigration Anxiety & Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric * 00:08:21 — Koh-i-Noor Diamond, Colonialism & Zohran Mamdani * 00:11:27 — Creative Hobbies, Side Hustles & Desi Expectations * 00:12:53 — “Desi Art Slop?” TikTok Debate on South Asians & Creativity * 00:16:52 — Why Desi Americans Rarely Pursue the Arts Professionally * 00:22:18 — “You Can Color After Math”: Growing Up with Conditional Creativity * 00:25:21 — Hobby vs. Side Hustle: Does Monetizing Kill the Joy? * 00:31:41 — Climbing “Cringe Mountain” & the Fear of Being Seen Trying

Desis Are Winning Everywhere… So Why Do We Feel Behind?

In this episode of Red, White, and Brown, we’re trying something new - breaking down the biggest stories shaping the Desi-American experience right now. From Zohran Mamdani’s first 100 days [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd782pjgq3o] as NYC’s mayor to the growing dominance of South Asian founders at Y Combinator Demo Day [https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/03/31/yc-w26-demo-day-highlights-rising-influence-of-ia-entrepreneurs-477926/], it’s clear that Desis are making waves across politics, tech, and culture. We also dive into the rise of global South Asian representation- from Triptii Dimri becoming a major brand ambassador to Victoria's Secret [https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/apparel-group-introduces-triptii-dimri-043000050.html] to Deepika Padukone earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame [https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/deepika-padukone-becomes-first-indian-honoured-with-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/article69767054.ece]. * Feeling behind in a hyper-successful Desi culture * The risks of entrepreneurship vs stability * The silent crisis of South Asian heart health * And where our responsibility lies—here in the U.S. or “back home” Timestamps: * 00:00 – Intro + New Format (News Recap + Q&A) * 00:43 – NYC Spotlight: First Desi Mayor’s First 100 Days * 04:04 – Policies, Reception, and Political Impact * 06:24 – Y Combinator Explained + Desi Founder Surge * 08:55 – Entrepreneurship, Identity, and “Becoming American” * 10:04 – Global Desi Representation (Bollywood → Mainstream) * 12:10 – Listener Q: Startup Pressure & Desi Parents * 16:42 – Listener Q: South Asian Heart Health Crisis * 22:28 – South Asian Clinics + Preventative Care * 23:52 – Listener Q: Giving Back (U.S. vs “Back Home”) + Outro This episode is equal parts celebration, reflection, and reality check.

The Truth About New Year Resolutions (No One Tells You)

New year, new goals… but why do so many of us fall off track within weeks? In this episode of Red, White, and Brown, Prerak and Sofia break down the psychology of New Year’s resolutions and why the traditional way of setting goals might actually be setting you up for failure. We dive into the difference between outcome-based vs input-based goals, the science behind why telling people your goals can reduce motivation, and how to use the SMART framework to create goals that actually stick. We also talk about the pressure within the Desi community to constantly achieve more—balancing ambition with rest, navigating comparison with peers, and learning how to truly “run your own race.” From fitness and finances to career and relationships, this episode is about building a system that works—not just dreaming about results. If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or stuck… this one’s for you. Timestamps: * 00:00 – Intro + Growing Up with New Year’s Resolutions * 01:06 – Are New Year’s Goals Helpful or Toxic? * 02:30 – Why Most Goals Fail (Timeframes + Dopamine Trap) * 04:52 – Why Rest Is Underrated * 05:40 – Pressure: Career, Marriage, and Milestones * 06:18 – “Run Your Own Race” (Life + Marathon Analogy) * 08:05 – Input vs Outcome Goals (What Actually Works) * 10:51 – The SMART Framework for Goal Setting * 13:58 – Real Goals: Fitness, Money, and Debt-Free Living * 17:15 – Listener Qs: Work-Life Balance + Feeling Behind

Turning 30 Changes Everything (No One Warns You About This + Why It Hits so Hard)

In this episode, we discuss the milestone that hits a little harder than expected: turning 30. * What does it actually mean to be 30 today? Is 30 old, or is it just the beginning of real adulthood? We discuss the strange feeling of mentally still being 18 while suddenly having real responsibilities—careers, finances, health, family planning, and long-term decisions that actually matter. * Passing the Baton: We talk about the shift from being supported by our parents to becoming the ones responsible for supporting others. We discuss lifestyle creep, saving for retirement, buying homes, building community, prioritizing health, and what a “good decade” in your 30s really looks like. * Summary: If your 20s were about becoming, your 30s might be about being. We also discuss societal shifts like people having kids later, buying homes later, and why traditional milestones are happening later than ever before. Article Mentioned in Episode - New York Times Article: Why American Women Everywhere Are Delaying Motherhood https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/us/declining-birthrate-motherhood.html This article discusses how more Americans are delaying having children due to education, careers, financial stability, and changing social norms, contributing to declining birth rates and shifting life timelines. Timestamps: * 00:00 – Intro and How it feels to turn 30 * 01:15 – The Baton Gets Passed at 30 * 03:23 – Responsibility, Family, and Adulthood * 03:42 – Why 30 Is Younger Today * 05:59 – Money Becomes Real * 08:05 – Habits of Successful People + Financial Freedom & Investing * 11:38 – Living Below Your Means + Lifestyle Creep * 15:38 – Health Compounds Over Time * 18:33 – What a Good 30s Decade Looks Like * 21:31 – Bulking Up Your Adulting Muscles * 21:53 – Growing Older With This Podcast * 22:16 – Outro

From the Ballot to the World Stage: The Rise of South Asian Political Power

In this episode of Red, White, and Brown, Prerak and Sofia tackle one of the most complex topics in the Desi American community: Politics. Since we last spoke in 2020, the landscape has shifted dramatically. South Asians are no longer just participating in the political process—they are at the very forefront of it, making headlines from Washington D.C. to the United Kingdom. We dive deep into the data behind the 40% surge in South Asian voter turnout (source here [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/nyregion/mamdani-south-asian-voters.html%20]) since the 2021 primaries and explore what is driving this newfound civic passion. Is it a result of increased representation, or is the community finally finding its voice as it moves up the socioeconomic ladder? In this episode, we discuss: * The "Ramaswamy/Usha/Mamdani Effect" & The Second Lady: What does it mean for our community to see names like Usha Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy on the national stage, regardless of their party affiliation? * The Immigrant Identity Crisis: Prerak shares his personal experience of feeling "othered" by politics before gaining citizenship, and how the transition from immigrant to citizen changes your stake in the American dream. * The Myth of the Monolith: We break down why it is impossible to lump the South Asian vote into one bucket, discussing the diversity of religion, income, and national origin that shapes our viewpoints. * The Gen Z Revolution: From 10-year-olds reading Time for Kids to Gen Z activists organizing on TikTok, we look at how the younger generation is pushing their parents and grandparents to be more politically active and less "othered." * Civic Responsibility & Social Justice: Sofia explains the duty of the younger generation to educate our elders on U.S. history and the civil rights movements that paved the way for our success today. Timestamps: * 00:00 Intro: Addressing the "tough" topic of politics in 2025. * 01:19 Leading the Charge: A look at Usha Vance, Zoran Mamdani, and Rishi Sunak * 02:27 The Data: Analyzing the 40% increase in Desi voter turnout (NYT Analysis) * 08:44 The Citizenship Barrier: How legal status shapes political engagement * 12:28 Names Matter: Seeing ourselves in Op-Eds and on the ballot * 15:25 Understanding How to Communicate Politics to Our Parents * 22:02 Global Connections: How loan repayments, taxes, and wars hit home * 25:20 Our Ask of You - Outro