Who Am I?

In the first episode of 'Not Your Typical Desi,' host Shivani, who uses they, she, and he pronouns, introduces their podcast aimed at individuals who feel they don't fit societal norms. Shivani discusses the importance of living authentically, their personal journey of self-discovery, and how working with King Hades has influenced them. The podcast will explore themes like identity, mental health, spirituality, and cultural reconnection, with the aim of creating a supportive and empowering community. Listeners are encouraged to share their own stories, and future episodes will delve into topics such as overcoming self-doubt.

Transcript

Hi everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of Not Your Typical Desi. My name is Shivani, I'm genderfluid, and I use they, she, he pronouns. I'm so excited to share this space with you. This podcast is about exploring life outside the boundaries of what's expected. It's for anyone who's ever felt like they didn't fit in.

Because Let's face it, fitting in is fucking overrated. 

Here we'll talk about identity, mental health, spirituality, and the twists and turns of figuring out who we are. If you've ever felt like the odd one out or struggled to embrace the layers of your identity, you're in the right place. This podcast is something I've been dreaming of for a long time.

It's a space where we can explore what it means to live authentically, without forcing ourselves to meet someone else's expectations. For me, life has been a mix of figuring out who I am and unlearning who I thought I had to be. There's been a lot of trial and error, moments of clarity, and times where I felt completely lost.

But through it all, I've realized that the process of becoming isn't about perfection. It's about embracing the messiness and finding beauty in the chaos. 

The title Not Your Typical Desi reflects so much of my journey. It's about breaking away from expectations. Shaking the foundations of what I thought I had to be and finding clarity in who I truly am.

For a long time, I felt disconnected, unsure of how to reconcile the layers of my identity. But through this journey, I have learned to focus on what feels authentic and to balance the complexities of identity, mental health, and spirituality. This title isn't just a rejection of stereotypes, it's a celebration of individuality.

It's about owning all the layers of who I am and creating a space where others feel inspired to do the same. I've always seen myself, and others have also seen me, as someone who shares their story to inspire others. I think of myself as a catalyst for change. Sharing this journey means everything to me, and I hope this podcast can be a place where you feel understood, supported, and empowered to grow.

I feel like every moment in life shapes us in some way, but if I had to choose the most transformative period, it would be the past few months. Recently, I started working with King Hades. I'll talk more about him in the next episode, so I won't spoil too much now. But let me just say, he has completely flipped my life upside down.

And I mean that in the best and worst ways. He's amazing, and the work I've been doing with him has challenged me, inspired me, and pushed me to grow in ways I couldn't have ever imagined.

As for parts of myself, I've recently started to embrace more fully, honestly, all of me. My queerness, my transness, my autistic, weird, authentic self. Every aspect that makes me who I am. That includes reconnecting with my cultural identity. For a long time, I felt like that part of me was missing. Like there was this gap I couldn't quite fill.

But I've started to explore and embrace it in ways that feel true to who I am now. Whether it's wearing bindis, meditating, or learning about spiritual practices tied to my heritage, these things help me feel more connected and empowered. That doesn't mean I've perfected it, there are still parts of me I find hard to fully embrace, and it's definitely a process, but I've come a long way in allowing myself to exist as I am without apologizing or shrinking.

So, what can you expect from this podcast? Honestly, I'm keeping things flexible and intuitive. There's no one size fits all approach to life, and I want this podcast to reflect that. Each episode will be unique, just like the people tuning in. I'll be releasing two episodes every two weeks, a rhythm I've chosen to ensure each episode is shared with care and authenticity, while honoring my creative process and well being.

We'll also explore themes like reconnecting with culture, navigating mental health, and how spirituality can be a tool for self discovery. There's so much to unpack, and I can't wait to share these conversations with you guys.

When it comes to finding comfort, I have a few go tos. I love re watching shows like Breaking Bad, Tales of Arcadia, Solar Opposites, and Adventure Time. Music wise, I've had Nissan Ultima by Dochi and All We Do by Trace Songs on repeat for the past several days. Rituals that make me feel better include taking intentional showers for cleansing, pulling tarot cards daily, meditating for five minutes, and cuddling with my familiar Nala.

She's my princess baby girl, the light of my life, and I would do anything for her. So, I asked King Hades if My life were a tarot card, which one would it be, and I shuffled my deck and the high priestess popped out. Um, almost like it was waiting to be seen, um, which crazy ass card to get. But, um, this card reflects my intuition, spirituality, and connection to the unseen.

It's absolutely perfect and feels deeply aligned with where I am in my life.

Before we wrap up, I just want to say thank you for being here. Starting this podcast is a big leap for me, but knowing that we're sharing this space makes it all feel worth it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect with all of you in this space. It means more than I can put into words. I'd love to hear your stories too.

What does embracing your identity look like for you? Feel free to share with me in our discord or on Instagram. I'd love to connect. As we close, I want to leave you with this. You are enough exactly as you are, and your journey is uniquely yours to embrace. Thank you for being part of mine. Next time on Not Your Typical Desi, I'll dive into the topic of self doubt, how it creeps in, and how we can learn to move through it.

It's going to be an honest and empowering conversation, so stay tuned for episode two.