In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari are joined by personal trainer Chris Foley for an honest, practical and encouraging conversation about fitness, food, confidence and making health work in real life.

Chris shares his journey from accountancy to personal training, and reflects on what drew him towards helping people feel stronger, healthier and more confident. We talk about gym nerves, realistic goals, accountability and why fitness does not have to mean extreme routines or dramatic transformations.

The conversation also explores food, family culture and the emotional side of eating, including how South Asian and wider family food traditions can shape our habits. Chris offers practical thoughts on walking, strength training, calorie awareness, GLP-1 medication, muscle health and the importance of finding sustainable changes that fit around everyday life.

From Rocky Balboa’s “keep moving forward” mindset to the power of a daily walk, this is a warm and motivating episode about health as a long-term investment. A conversation about starting where you are, building confidence, and remembering that fitness is for everyone.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #southeastasianheritage #KeepMovingForward #HealthIsWealth #SustainableFitness #FitnessForAll #HealthyHabits #WalkingForHealth #StrengthTraining #HealthAndWellbeing #ChrisFoley

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:25 Meet Chris Foley

01:28 The Rocky Balboa mindset

04:51 Accountancy to personal training

07:50 Making gyms welcoming

13:22 Culture, food and fitness

15:43 Weight-loss myths

17:05 Simple ways to get fitter

19:11 Habits that fit real life

21:39 Why walking works

23:32 GLP-1s and muscle health

27:51 Food, community and change

29:14 A client transformation

31:08 Health as an investment

33:24 Strength and confidence

35:41 Learning from everyone

38:14 End

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari explore the everyday creativity of making satisfying meals from whatever is already in the fridge, freezer and cupboard. From quick noodle soups and pantry staples to tired vegetables, frozen finds and the familiar question of what to cook when there seems to be “nothing in”, we talk about how simple ingredients can become comforting, flavourful food.

The conversation moves through South Indian and Southeast Asian flavours, student cooking, family food memories and the small kitchen instincts that help us build meals without overthinking. We share ideas for balancing sweet, sour, salty and umami flavours, using up what is already there, and turning basic staples like rice, eggs, noodles and soy sauce into something nourishing and delicious.

A warm, practical and funny episode about confidence in the kitchen, reducing food waste, cooking on a budget and remembering that great food does not always begin with a perfect recipe. Sometimes it starts with opening the fridge, trusting your instincts and seeing what you can make from what you already have.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #southeastasianheritage #CookingOnABudget #FridgeRaidCooking #FoodWasteReduction #SouthAsianFood #jamieoliver #nigellalawson #magginoodles #cupasoup

🎥Timestamps 🎥

00:00 Intro

00:51 Panic food from an empty fridge

01:32 Creative cooking from the pantry

02:34 Building meals from basic staples

04:04 Freezer staples and tired vegetables

04:42 South and Southeast Asian flavours

05:42 Balancing sweet, sour and umami

06:35 Quick adaptable noodle-soup formula

07:36 Using up tired carrots

09:01 Confidence in affordable cooking

10:05 Ranjit’s student Pasta Surprise

11:10 Family food memories

12:18 Pantry essentials for everyday meals

14:22 Noodle soup finishing touches

15:01 The Maggi noodle supermarket story

17:13 Easy tuna-and-rice dinner

18:01 Cooking by instinct

18:55 Learning through family traditions

20:39 Affordable vegetable finds

21:59 Cooking confidence and avoiding overbuying

23:54 Rice, egg and soy sauce

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari are joined by Dr Yvonne Chang, a senior NHS doctor and founder of Seraphae, for a fascinating conversation about medicine, migration, language, women’s health and finding purpose.

Yvonne shares her journey from Malaysia to Ukraine and then the UK, reflecting on how a multilingual childhood, family heritage and cross-cultural experience shaped the doctor, educator and community health advocate she became. From Kota Bharu, Penang and Kuala Lumpur to medical training in Eastern Europe and working in the NHS, her story moves across countries, cultures and careers.

The conversation explores regenerative aesthetics, midlife women’s health, menopause education, prevention and why holistic care matters. Yvonne explains how regenerative approaches differ from standard injectables, and why treating the whole person, not just the symptom, diagnosis or lab result, is central to her work.

We also talk about food, family, language and belonging, from Penang Hokkien, Cantonese, Malay, English and Mandarin to nasi lemak, char kway teow, asam laksa and the ever-divisive durian. Yvonne reflects on the influence of her grandfather, a traditional Chinese doctor and herbalist, and how curiosity, burnout, perimenopause and lifestyle medicine all shaped her evolving approach to health and purpose.

A warm, thoughtful and wide-ranging episode about medicine, identity, cultural connection and the importance of listening deeply to people’s whole lives.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #southeastasianheritage #seraphae #regenerativeaesthetics

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:25 Meet Dr Yvonne Chang

00:39 Malaysia, Ukraine and the NHS

01:23 Founding Seraphae

03:54 Regenerative aesthetics explained

05:19 Yvonne’s Rumi quote

07:46 Growing up in Malaysia

09:28 Languages at home and school

12:02 Learning Mandarin through songs

13:46 A grandfather in Chinese medicine

14:54 Language and adaptability

15:50 Malaysia’s food culture

16:35 Nasi lemak to asam laksa

18:48 The durian divide

20:19 Adapting across countries

23:01 Studying in Eastern Europe

26:38 Teaching anatomy in the UK

28:27 Rheumatology and autoimmune health

31:46 Menopause education and trust

35:55 Language and cultural nuance

38:16 Lifestyle, nutrition and prevention

41:19 Treating the whole person

43:08 Purpose, Rumi and final reflections

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit are joined by Ian Henery, a solicitor, poet, writer, broadcaster and community advocate whose work brings together heritage, social justice, creativity and community storytelling.

We begin with a Song dynasty poem, One Plum Blossom, before exploring the Chinese idea of red threads: the invisible connections that link people, stories and communities across time. From there, Ian reflects on his childhood in Walsall, his experiences of dyslexia and dyspraxia, and the youth exchange to Mumbai that opened up a lifelong connection with wider Asian cultures.

The conversation moves through poetry, law, migration, mental health, creative practice and Ian’s work with Birmingham’s Chinese community. We hear about his trilogy on Chinese migration to Birmingham, the challenges of funding community arts projects, and why forgotten stories need to be remembered and shared.

Ian also reflects on his own poetry journey, from early romantic writing to political work, spoken word and published collections, including Double Act. A rich and thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, struggle, creativity and the red threads that connect us to one another.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #ianhenery #chineseculture #britishchinese

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:14 One Plum Blossom

02:18 Red threads and destiny

03:52 Introducing Ian Henery

04:21 Law, poetry and community

06:17 What shaped Ian Henery

07:29 Dyslexia, dyspraxia and school

09:21 Mumbai at 16

10:57 Sikh teachings and connection

13:11 Chinese migration stories

14:38 Street theatre and storytelling

15:36 Grants and performances

16:05 Remembering hidden histories

17:52 Migration, truth and resilience

18:49 Sellout shows and wider reach

21:57 Fear, routine and wellbeing

25:54 First-flight memories

28:22 Ian’s poetry journey

31:01 Nine books and Double Act

32:26 Rethinking poetry and festivals

35:39 Why red threads matter

36:20 Final words on self-worth

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari are joined by writer, community organiser and LGBTQ+ advocate Khakan Qureshi for a powerful conversation about memory, queerness, family, faith and finding your voice in the Black Country.

Khakan reflects on growing up in a working-class South Asian Muslim family, the moments that shaped his understanding of difference, and the memories that stayed with him from childhood, including a vivid trip to Lahore in 1980 and his first encounter with the Hijra community at a family wedding.

The conversation moves between memoir, activism and place, from Birmingham, Wednesbury and Bilston to the wider search for belonging. Khakan shares the challenges of coming out, navigating family conflict, surviving silence and shame, and building a long-term relationship rooted in love, commitment and resilience.

We also hear about the creation of Finding a Voice, the need for South Asian and Muslim LGBTQ+ spaces, and the personal cost of public advocacy, including burnout, backlash and the pressure of being visible. A moving and thoughtful episode about survival, community, cultural identity and how speaking your truth can become a form of service.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #southasianlgbt #southasianqueer #hijra #section28 #comingout #MuslimLGBTQ

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:32 Introducing Khakan Qureshi

05:08 Four Weddings and a Ban

06:06 Pakistan, food and belonging

08:33 The Hijra at the wedding

09:56 Gender, identity and recognition

11:23 The shock of being seen

13:39 Sundari reflects on the extract

18:35 Birmingham and early difference

23:23 School and being “different”

26:17 Section 28 and silence

28:28 College and faith questions

30:38 Coming out to family

33:31 Conflict and leaving home

36:24 A 34-year relationship

39:52 Love, culture and commitment

41:47 Parents and acceptance

45:21 Founding Finding a Voice

48:43 Burnout, backlash and activism

50:41 Queer Asian spaces in the Midlands

53:12 Bilston, Wednesbury and belonging

58:08 Honesty, happiness and final reflections

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit have one of those wonderfully free-flowing conversations that starts in one place and somehow travels everywhere.

We begin with ideas, confidence, ADHD and the challenge of actually acting on the things that come into your head. From there, the conversation moves into the fifth UK heatwave of 2026, staying cool, watering the garden, and the small everyday rituals that help us cope when the weather gets too much.

Along the way, we talk about butterflies, bees, bats, canals, temples, caves, King’s Heath community life, train cancellations, unexpected conversations and memories of the 1999 solar eclipse. We also reflect on how AI can be used for creative ideas, garden design and making sense of the many thoughts we carry around.

A wide-ranging episode about heat, nature, memory, community and a reminder that sometimes the best conversations are the ones that are not too tightly planned.

#Heatwave #Gardening #AI #SolarEclipse #Bats #Butterflies #ADHD #KingsHeath #HumayunsTomb #ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #southeastasianheritage  

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:40 ADHD, ideas and action

01:16 Confidence and criticism

02:48 Testing ideas out loud

03:24 The UK heatwave

04:07 Brown people and heat

04:49 Tanning and fake tan

06:35 Air con and energy use

07:06 Watering cans in times of drought

08:23 Watering the garden

09:02 Humidity and dragonflies

10:36 Butterflies and bees

12:03 Bats, canals and caves

13:53 Why bats feel gothic

14:52 Life in King’s Heath

16:45 Train cancellations

17:32 The partial eclipse

18:59 The 1999 eclipse

20:21 Eclipse viewing confusion

22:11 AI garden ideas

25:40 What this episode became

26:59 Why free-flowing works

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari take a nostalgic and very funny look at summer holiday road trips, family car journeys and all the chaos that happens before anyone has even left the house.

From last-minute packing and forgotten essentials to food bags, overfilled cars, pets, children and the familiar debate about who is best at organising the boot, the conversation explores the small rituals that make family travel both stressful and memorable. We reflect on the mental checklists people carry with them, the things that always get left behind, and why setting off on a journey can feel like an event in itself.

The episode also travels back through memories of childhood car rides in the UK, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka, including roadside toilet stops, packed lunches, sardine sandwiches, pakoras, parathas, paper maps, A to Z books, early sat navs and service stations that became part of the adventure. Along the way, we talk about how road trips reveal family habits, cultural food traditions and the funny mishaps that become stories retold for years.

A warm, relatable episode about travel, memory, family routines and the way ordinary journeys can become some of the most lasting parts of a holiday. Whether you are a careful planner, a last-minute packer or someone who just hopes everyone remembered the keys, this conversation celebrates the shared time, stories and small disasters that make road trips unforgettable.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #southeastasianheritage #FamilyRoadTrips #SummerHolidayMemories #TravelChaos #RoadTripStories

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:50 Freecycle and old files

03:01 Summer holiday road trips

05:06 Packing cars and dishwashers

07:06 Bags, food, pets, chaos

09:18 Passport, money and knickers

10:58 Forgotten items and turning back

12:29 Family car trips in Malaysia

14:00 Toilet stops on long journeys

16:56 Picnic food and travel memories

18:07 Sardine sandwiches and family traditions

21:40 Route planning before sat nav

23:09 First sat nav disaster

25:23 Punctures, breakdowns and safety

26:39 Service stations as travel experiences

28:31 Coach trips and wedding stops

29:24 Travel sickness and front seats

31:34 Road trips versus flights

32:23 Creating memories on the road

33:40 What3words 

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit are joined by multidisciplinary artist Daya Bhatti for a rich conversation about art, fashion, storytelling and cultural identity.

Daya shares her journey from her Punjabi roots and childhood influences to developing a creative practice shaped by South Asian heritage, symbolism and personal expression. We explore how her work brings together immersive art, fashion, layered patterns and storytelling to create pieces that invite conversation and connection.

The discussion also looks at fashion and wearable art as powerful forms of cultural expression, particularly in how they can challenge perceptions, celebrate adornment and honour heritage. Daya reflects on the importance of authenticity, respectful representation and the fine line between cultural appreciation and appropriation.

We also hear about her community-based rickshaw project in Manchester, which explores migration, shared histories and the stories that connect people across generations and places. Looking ahead, Daya shares her interest in technology, immersive experiences and creating interactive work that brings audiences even closer to the art.

A thoughtful and inspiring episode about creativity, culture, identity and the importance of staying true to yourself, dreaming big and making work that speaks from the heart.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #sahm2026 #femaleartist #asianfashion #punjabiwomen

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:50 Meet artist Daya Bhatti

02:30 Fashion, art and wearable stories

03:42 Sari symbolism and layered design

05:07 Film, dreams and journeys

07:19 Punjabi roots and creative identity

09:13 Malaysia, India and cultural influence

11:25 Appropriation, appreciation and respect

13:50 Bindis, scarves and sacred symbols

16:16 Reframing South Asian culture

18:26 Art, politics and hidden stories

20:21 The Manchester rickshaw project

22:04 Tech, immersion and future ideas

24:14 Strong women in the work

26:52 Audiences, memories and personal stories

28:04 Making art interactive

31:18 Dream big and stay authentic

Join us in this episode of Chai and Chat as we delve into the multifaceted life and work of Mya Badhan, a passionate social justice activist and community leader based in the Black Country. We discuss her journey through diaspora experiences, her role as the joint West Midlands region coordinator for South Asian Heritage Month and her advocacy for inclusive and decolonial practices. This conversation sheds light on the power dynamics within communities, the importance of heritage storytelling, and the ongoing fight for equity and representation.

This episode encapsulates crucial themes of identity, social justice, and the role of arts in societal change. Mya’s insights highlight the importance of storytelling, history, and activism in shaping inclusive communities. Whether you're interested in heritage initiatives, decolonial work, or social empowerment, this conversation offers valuable perspectives to inspire ongoing engagement.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #sahm2026 #Decolonialism #Othering #Racism #blackcountry #punjabiwomen

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:20 Mya Badhan: Social Justice Activist

00:45 Youth Empowerment, Governance & Community Work

02:46 Porphyria’s Lover Poem Reading

05:22 Misogyny, Power & Possession in Poetry

05:53 Why Mya Chose Robert Browning’s Poem

08:03 Identity, Heritage & Activism

08:34 Black Country Punjabi Identity

10:23 South Asian Migration to the UK

11:30 Racism, Community & Resilience

14:11 Working-Class Identity and Belonging

15:22 Decolonialism, Othering & Racism

16:26 Power Sharing and Social Change

17:35 Education, Class and Cultural Identity

20:03 How to Avoid Tokenism

23:00 What Is South Asian Heritage Month?

24:34 Celebrating South Asian Heritage in the UK

26:20 South Asian Heritage Month Events in the West Midlands

30:53 Careers in Social Impact and Community Work

31:58 Jewellery Making, Embroidery & Hobbycraft Bentley Bridge

33:05 Community-Led Regeneration

34:38 Personal Growth, Values & Integrity

36:23 Advice for Young South Asians

37:41 Bell Hooks on Art, Activism & Possibility

39:12 Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit explore decluttering through the lens of heritage, memory and identity.

We reflect on childhood experiences shaped by parents and grandparents who lived with a strong “make do and mend” mindset, where keeping, repairing and reusing things was not just practical, but part of everyday life. From migration stories to family habits, we discuss how our relationship with objects is often shaped by where we come from and what previous generations had to hold onto.

The conversation turns to the emotional side of clutter, from clothes, books and kitchen items to keepsakes that carry memories. We ask why some things are so hard to let go of, why buying more storage is sometimes just another way of hiding the clutter, and whether regret is part of the process when something meaningful has been given away.

With humour and honesty, we talk about the difference between things that are replaceable and things that hold irreplaceable memories. A warm and relatable episode about homes, habits, family, guilt and why decluttering is not just about clearing space, but understanding what we are really holding onto.

#ChaiAndChat #SouthAsianVoices #Diaspora #Culture #Podcast #ArtsAndHealth #BritishAsian #SouthAsianHeritage #ikea #deluttering #tips

00:00 Intro

02:06 Introducing decluttering

05:23 Childhood, culture, and the urge to keep things

11:39 Memory, identity, and sentimental clutter

13:52 Why letting go can be difficult

16:41 Experiences versus possessions

18:56 What’s worth keeping: collections, CDs, and vintage finds

22:08 Clothes, keepsakes, and family memorabilia

24:20 Practical ways to get organised

27:00 Decluttering habits and common pitfalls

29:40 Finding a healthier balance with possessions

33:23 Final thoughts: be kind to yourself and declutter at your pace

37:17 Closing goodbye

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari begins with the classic film Casablanca as a starting point for a wider conversation about love, duty, sacrifice and marriage.

Sundari introduces the film’s iconic lines, characters and story, before we explore how its themes connect to different ideas of romance and responsibility. We reflect on Western ideas of romantic choice alongside South Asian diasporic experiences of family, community, expectation and duty.

The conversation then becomes more personal, as we share our own reflections on arranged marriage, love marriage, gay marriage, mixed-culture relationships and the ways family expectations can shape who we love, how we choose, and how relationships are understood by others.

We also look at modern relationship culture, from dating shows like Love Island to Indian Matchmaking and Auntie Sima, who we love, of course. Through humour, memory and honest reflection, we ask what makes a relationship work, how much influence family should have, and whether love is ever just about two people.

A warm and thoughtful episode about romance, sacrifice, culture and the choices people make in building lives that work for them, while still navigating family, tradition and community.

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit explore the humble chapati, and ask what happens when traditional foods are repackaged as the latest social media food trend.

From chapatis, rotis and dosas to Middle Eastern and South Indian flatbreads, we reflect on how food travels across borders, changes names, and becomes part of global food culture. But when a chapati is simply called a “flatbread”, or a traditional recipe is presented as something newly invented, do we lose some of the culture, history and meaning behind it?

Sundari shares memories of food, family and cooking with her grandmother, bringing in her South Indian and Malaysian influences, while Ranjit reflects on how familiar foods can be made to feel unfamiliar when they are rebranded online. Together, we discuss authenticity, appropriation, appreciation and whether changing the name of a dish makes it more accessible, or risks erasing its roots.

We also look at the richness of traditional foods, including fermented rice dishes, dosas, puttu and other staples that are naturally gluten-free, vegan, practical and full of history. A warm, funny and thoughtful conversation about food, identity, memory and why the story behind what we eat matters just as much as the taste.

Big shout out to Dosa Hut in Wolverhampton, Chennai Dosa chain, as well as Shana parathas and Huma parathas, which you could purchase from Asda, Texo. Ocado, Sainsburys…everywhere. 

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Ranjit and Sundari take a light-hearted look at the joys, chaos and little rituals of airline travel.

We begin with Rita Dove’s poem Vacation, using it as a springboard into a conversation about anticipation, people-watching and the journey before the destination. From airport lounges and boarding gate nerves to luggage tags, delays, in-flight food and the strange excitement of simply being at the airport, we share funny personal stories and the travel habits we have picked up along the way.

Together, we reflect on how flying has changed over the years, the things that still make us anxious or excited, and why some of the most memorable parts of a trip happen before you even arrive.

As the UK experiences another heatwave (June 2026), in this timely episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit take a light-hearted look at heat, heritage and the familiar comment: “You’re Asian, you’ll be fine!”

But does being brown really make you better at coping with hot weather? Sundari grew up in Malaysia, while Ranjit grew up in the Black Country, so we compare very different experiences of heat.

We talk about childhood memories, family routines, food, clothing, sleeping in the heat, working from home and why acclimatisation matters far more than ethnicity. We also share practical public health advice, including who is most at risk during heatwaves and how heat can affect sleep, mood and concentration.

A warm, funny and useful conversation about culture, climate and why brown definitely does not mean heatproof.

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit continue exploring Sundari’s debut collection, Poems, as she reads more of her work and reflects on the fascinating relationship between poetry, medicine and personal storytelling.

Sundari shares poems that draw on her journey through medical training and hospital life, revealing how the emotional and physical demands of a medical career shaped her writing. From long hours as a junior doctor to difficult supervisors and the pressures of professional life, we discuss how challenging experiences can become stories, lessons and sometimes even comedy.

The conversation also explores the lighter side of medical poetry, including humorous reflections on hospital life, motherhood, cultural identity and the everyday realities of working in healthcare. Sundari talks about why she started writing, how her poems developed during medical training and family life, and why authenticity matters more to her than formal poetic structure.

We also reflect on how migration, Malaysian heritage and professional experience shape her creative voice. Through Poems, Sundari finds a way to connect cultures, process experience and share stories that are personal, funny, painful and healing.

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit explore Sundari’s debut collection, entitled Poems, and the cultural stories, memories and identities woven through her writing.

We begin with the story behind the book itself, including Sundari’s vibrant cover inspired by Magritte, before moving into the deeper themes of migration, belonging and personal history. Through poems such as Belong, Sundari reflects on what it means to carry more than one place within you, and how family, memory and heritage shape identity.

The conversation also turns to childhood, her grandmother, Malaysian street food, durian, and the sensory richness of food as cultural memory. We explore how poetry can capture not only emotion, but also language, taste, sound, place and movement.

Later, we discuss urban life in Kuala Lumpur through “Taxi 1999”, and how Sundari uses poetry to observe the city, its rhythms and its people. The episode closes with a look at Sundari’s future writing plans, including poems that explore professional life, cultural identity and the everyday experiences that shape who we become.

In this episode of Chai & Chat, we reflect on ageing and hindsight through two very different poems.

We begin with W. B. Yeats’ The Wild Swans at Coole, a poem chosen by Sundari because it came from a book of poetry owned by her father, complete with his handwritten notes. Through Yeats’ autumnal melancholy, the passage of time, the swans that mate for life, and the poignant image of fifty-nine swans, we explore change and what it means to look back.

The conversation then moves from Yeats to Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, and to Ranjit’s memories of watching ballet in Russia at the Bolshoi Theatre.

In the second half, we turn to something much more comic, Pam Ayres’ I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth. This leads us into a lively conversation about teeth, genetics, gum disease, “summer teeth”, and the uncomfortable truth that we often only appreciate our health once some of it has gone.

Together, these two poems, one reflective and one funny, help us think about ageing, hindsight, and the things we wish we had noticed, valued, or looked after sooner.

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit begin with W. H. Davies’ poem Leisure, a gentle reminder to pause, look around, and ask whether we are making enough space to simply be.

From there, we move into a conversation about leisure, work, rest and the ever-elusive idea of work-life balance. What does balance actually mean, and is it something we ever truly achieve, or something we keep renegotiating at different stages of life?

Together, we reflect on busy working lives, personal responsibilities, guilt around resting, and the pressure to always be productive. We talk about what leisure looked like when we were younger, what it means now, and how our ideas of success, time and happiness have changed.

And, as always, we ask the bigger questions: are we working to live, living to work, or still trying to work it all out over a cup of chai?

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit reflect on growing up, and ask the deceptively simple question: when do you actually become a grown-up?

We look back at our teenage years, the fears we carried when we were younger, and the ways we tried to fit in, belong, and find our place in the world. We talk about confidence, how it develops over time, and the people, parents, friends and colleagues, who helped us overcome doubts and step into ourselves.

Together, we explore what growing up really means. Is it working, taking responsibility, paying bills, making difficult choices, or simply learning how to deal with life when it does not go to plan? We also share the lessons we have learned along the way, the fears we still carry, and the advice we would offer to anyone still figuring it all out.

And, of course, we ask the big question: do we actually feel grown up yet?

In this episode of Chai & Chat, Sundari and Ranjit turn their attention to friendship, opening with Kahlil Gibran’s beautiful reflections from The Prophet on friendship as nourishment, companionship and mutual exchange.

Together, we explore the friends who come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. From childhood friends who know the earliest versions of us, to school friendships that offered safety and belonging, we reflect on why friends matter, what they give us, and how they help nourish different parts of our lives.

We talk about friendships that ebb and flow, short-lived connections, long-term bonds, work friends, reunions, and those special people we can pick up with as if no time has passed. We also touch on the modern complications of friendship, including being cut off on social media, drifting apart, and asking: who are your real friends?