DHABA
Podcast Description
Inspired by the punjabi roadside resting place, DHABA is a podcast that invites pause, perspective, and peppered wisdom. Each episode brings together cooks, caretakers, bridge-builders and makers whose craft speaks louder than credentials. DHABA is a resting place for restless minds, where experience is the spice and conversation the fuel.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers on themes of design, personal growth, and the impact of technology on society. Notable episodes include discussions on the evolution of design tools, the role of AI in the industry, and the significance of social media influencers in the design landscape.
Inspired by the punjabi roadside resting place, DHABA is a podcast that invites pause, perspective, and peppered wisdom. Each episode brings together cooks, caretakers, bridge-builders and makers whose craft speaks louder than credentials. DHABA is a resting place for restless minds, where experience is the spice and conversation the fuel.
A face that gets called “not Indian”, a childhood rooted in Kolkata, and a culture that can vanish without anyone announcing it. I’m joined by Joanna, better known as Hakka Girl, to talk about what it means to be Chinese-Indian and to grow up with one foot in Tangra and the other in the wider world that keeps trying to simplify you.
We dig into identity and belonging in a way that goes beyond food content. Joanna explains how Hakka language, traditions, and community memory are fading as families move and younger generations stop speaking. She shares why she started recording stories online, and why social media can act like a modern oral history, especially while she is also navigating the emotional reality of being a caregiver for her mum.
We also face the parts people avoid: racism, sexism, and the history of the 1962 Deoli internment camp in Rajasthan, where Chinese-Indians were detained because of fear and prejudice. From there we return to Indian Chinese food, tracing how classics like Manchurian chicken took shape, and why Tangra chilli chicken tastes different at home, right down to technique and that unmistakable aroma.
If you care about diaspora stories, Kolkata Chinatown, Hakka culture, and the real roots of Indian Chinese cuisine, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who loves food and history, and leave us a review with the story you think deserves to be preserved.
DHABA
Brewed slowly. served warmly. crafted with care
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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