Keeping Kalamkari Alive: Nikita Shah on Craft, Culture, and Conscious Creation

After a brief pause, Chai Break returns with a conversation that feels like a deep exhale. In this episode, Shwetha is joined by Nikita Shah — a multidisciplinary artist, textile designer, educator, and researcher whose work bridges the 3,000-year-old craft of Kalamkari with contemporary storytelling, community, education, and healing. From living and learning alongside weavers in Maheshwar, to studying at NIFT Kannur and FIT, to founding Untitle by Nikita and hosting Fursat , a monthly workshop

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Dec. 18, 2025

Keeping Kalamkari Alive: Nikita Shah on Craft, Culture, and Conscious Creation

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Aug. 21, 2025

Thrifting, Upcycling & the Future of Fashion, Meghana Khanna, Founder of The Bindi Project

In this episode of the Chai Break Podcast, I sit down with Meghana Sharma—serial entrepreneur, style therapist, and founder of some of India’s most creative ventures, including Levitate, The Preloved Co., and now, The Bindi Project. From her early days curating Bangalore’s iconic boho boutique Levitate to co-founding a social enterprise thrift store, Meghana has always believed in making sustainability stylish and accessible. Her latest venture, The Bindi Project, is more than just about bindis—

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June 30, 2025

Rethinking Period Products: Sustainable, Compostable Pads with Rashmi Prakash of Aruna Revolution

💡 In this episode, we talk about: Rashmi's journey pre-Arun Revolution and what led her to leave the corporate world to build a climate solution rooted in equity What most menstrual pads are really made of—and why that’s harmful The science behind Aruna’s compostable pads and ethical supply chain Period cups vs. pads: Pros, cons, and finding what works for you How Aruna Revolution is scaling across Canada and beyond The surprising challenges (and joys) of innovating in taboo spaces Plus, don’t m

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May 15, 2025

Soil to Soil: The Chemistry of Conscious Fashion with Jiwya’s Aishwarya Lahariya

In this episode of Chai Break , we dive into the world of regenerative fashion with Aishwarya Lahariya , textile scientist and founder of Jiwya , a 100% plant-based clothing brand based in India. Aishwarya shares how her background in chemistry, sustainability research, and passion for ethical design led her to create a fashion label rooted in zero-waste living , artisan empowerment , and soil-to-soil systems . If you're curious about the real impact of your clothes—from water usage to labor eth

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April 9, 2025

Bite-Sized Climate Action: Shivani Ramesh on Community & The Sustainability Mindset

In this inspiring episode of the Chai Break Podcast , I'm joined by Shivani Ramesh —a Strategy & Implementation Analyst at ENGIE Impact , environmental engineer, and passionate sustainability advocate. Shivani takes us on a journey from her roots in India to her career in global decarbonization, offering practical wisdom for anyone grappling with climate anxiety and wondering, “What can I do?” We explore the power of bite-sized climate action —small, intentional steps we can take in our homes, c

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March 4, 2025

Everyday Sustainability: Zero Waste Living with Bare Necessities' CSO, Deepti Kharbanda

Deepti Kharbanda’s Journey to Sustainable Living In this engaging episode of the Chai Break Podcast,I Shwetha Ravishanakr reconnects with longtime college friend Deepti Kharbanda, Chief Sales Officer at Bare Necessities, as she shares her inspiring journey toward a zero-waste lifestyle and sustainable living. From her early days in Bangalore to becoming a passionate sustainability advocate, Deepti reveals how everyday habits—like carrying a reusable water bottle and composting—can make a big imp

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Jan. 31, 2025

Sustainable-ish: Figuring Out How to Live Green Without Going Off the Grid

Let’s be real—sustainability can feel overwhelming. Between deciphering what “carbon neutral” really means and figuring out if your oat milk obsession is actually helping the planet, it's easy to feel lost in a sea of greenwa…

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July 23, 2024

How Sustainable Fashion Has Always Been a Part of South Asian Culture

Table of Contents1. Introduction Overview of Sustainable FashionSouth Asian Culture and Sustainability2. Traditional Clothing Practices in Sustainable FashionTextile and Fiber Products Made from Plants Handwoven Textiles in Susta…

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June 23, 2024

The Perfectionism Trap: How It Affects Women's Mental Health and Well-being

Table of ContentsIntroductionUnderstanding PerfectionismTypes of PerfectionismThe Psychological Impact of Perfectionism on WomenReal-Life Stories and TestimonialsThe Social and Cultural FactorsThe Physical ConsequencesCoping Mechanisms and Solut…

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Reviews

The Best South Asian Podcast

"I recently discovered this podcast and I’ve been listening to it every day to catch up on all the episodes. The conversations in Season 1 are so relatable and what makes them better is the casual, wa…"

Ziggy 007 | July 30, 2022

Must listen!

"Rema and Shwetha are a fantastic pair…they so eloquently and beautifully share their insights and experiences. Two intelligent, articulate and professional women who have found their footing and fit …"

mypinkpaisley | Sept. 13, 2021

Instantly Fills You with Warmth

"Shwetha and Rema are the perfect podcasting pair. Their chemistry is palpable, as is their deep respect and admiration for one another. From the moment you begin listening, you feel like you’re sitti…"

NH215718 | Sept. 7, 2021

Much Needed Break!

"Tuning into Shwetha and Rema is like joining a good old coffee klatch where the talk has a warm, chai flavor. Great for anyone who’s curious about the how two modern professional South Asian women ev…"

DTS28y | Aug. 17, 2021

Wonderful podcast!

"Shwetha I’m so proud to see you do this and put your unique voice out there. Love the energy and theme here, it’s very close to my heart. More power to you ladies! You have a regular listener in me n…"

saqwee-2243::@@ | Nov. 8, 2022

Love the conversations!

"Shwetha and Rema are great podcast hosts and bring such a variety of topics to the table! Can’t wait to see who and what their future episodes bring! One of my favorite podcasts!"

Shweyta M | Jan. 23, 2023

Refreshing take on interesting topics!

"Shweta and Rema bring about the most unique perspectives through their questions and the guests they bring on! I enjoy the candid humor and the well thought out questions as well as the natural rhyth…"

Chandani | Jan. 31, 2023

Vulnerability and relatability 💯👌🏽

"That episode was a real tearjerker for me. The one about perimenopause was mind-blowing—I'd never even heard of it before. Hearing these incredible women share their experiences with perimenopause an…"

Koomar_18 | July 9, 2024

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