Zubaani: Pluralism with Nafiza Azad

Zubaani: Sole Representation x Rukhsana Khan

Zubaani speaks to award-winning children's writer, Rukhsana Khan about her life as a writer when few desi books were available. Khan shares her personal griefs, journeys, challenges, and why she continues to tell stories. Guest: Rukhsana Khan Co-hosts: Upasna Kakroo & Salma Hussain Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peerbagh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [peerbagh.com] Supported by: The podcast episode programming is supported in part by a Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Millennium India Education Foundation. Books/media in this episode: * Wanting Mor (Rukhsana Khan) * The Big Red Lollipop (Rukhsana Khan) * Honk Honk, Beep Beep, Putter Putt! (Rukhsana Khan) * Biksu (Varun Grover) * Amar Akbar Anthony (Manmohan Desai) * Temporary People (Deepak Unnikrishnan)

Zubaani: Desi Honor x Ahmad Saber

Zubaani speaks to doctor and YA writer, Ahmad Saber on the challenges and joys of writing his debut book. Saber talks about literary tools to showcase a whole spectrum of desi experiences, coming out experiences of a South-Asian teen, and the yo-yo effect of progress. Guest: Ahmad Saber Co-hosts: Upasna Kakroo & Salma Hussain Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peerbagh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [peerbagh.com] Supported by: The podcast episode programming is supported in part by a Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Millennium India Education Foundation. Books/media in this episode: * Ramin Abbas Has Major Questions (Ahmad Saber) * Reasons We Break (Jesmeen Kaur Deo) * A Show For Two (Tashie Bhuiyan) * American Fever (Dur e Aziz Amna) * Love Simon (Becky Albertalli) * God's Own Country (Francis Lee)

Zubaani: Return Trips x Meera Sriram

Zubaani speaks to award-winning children's writer, Meera Sriram on her life as an engineer-turned-writer. The episode discusses the challenges, aches, and hopes of immigrant lives and writing. Guest: Meera Sriram Co-hosts: Upasna Kakroo & Salma Hussain Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peerbagh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [peerbagh.com] Supported by: The podcast episode programming is supported in part by a Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Millennium India Education Foundation. Books/media in this episode: * The Yellow Suitcase (Meera Sriram) * Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (Aditya Chopra) * Gift for Amma (Meera Sriram) * Fly in the Chai (Zenia Wadhwani) * Namaste Santa (Rahul Chaturvedi)

Zubaani: Pluralism with Nafiza Azad

Zubaani speaks to Canadian-Fijian YA writer, Nafiza Azad on building immersive characters and settings, deeply embedded in South Asian ethos and multicultural worlds. The hosts talk about books that speak to the varied castes, classes, within the diaspora and the subcontinent. Guest: Nafiza Azad Co-hosts: Upasna Kakroo & Salma Hussain Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peerbagh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [peerbagh.com] Supported by: The podcast episode programming is supported in part by a Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Millennium India Education Foundation. Books/media in this episode: * Prakash Manu ki Kahaniya/Nandan (Prakash Manu) * Kafan (Premchand) * The Candle and the Flame (Nafiza Azad) * The Wild Ones (Nafiza Azad) * Short stories by Vandana Singh * A Thousand Questions (Saadia Faruqi) * After the Rain (Nafiza Azad) * A Thousand Nights (Nafiza Azad)

Zubaani: Code Switching x Vikas Adam

Zubaani speaks to actor, professor, and award-winning narrator with 500+ audiobooks, Vikas Adam on life as a professional code-switcher. Adam talks about the role of audio narration in bringing authentic representation to storytelling. Guidance: This episode is not suitable for young kids. It's meant for parents, educators, writers. Guest: Vikas Adam Co-hosts: Upasna Kakroo & Salma Hussain Produced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peerbagh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [peerbagh.com] Supported by: The podcast episode programming is supported in part by a Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Millennium India Education Foundation. Books/media in this episode: * Ramin Abbas Has Major Questions (Ahmad Saber) * Dating Dr. Dil (Nisha Sharma) * Darius the Great is Not Okay (Adib Khorram) * Bread Winner (Deborah Ellis) * In Other Words (Jhumpa Lahiri) * Same, Same but Different (Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw) * Cross the Line (Simone Soltani) * Interview with the Vampire (Ann Rice)