She's spent 11 episodes asking the questions. This time, she's answering them.

In this special milestone episode, your host Kriti J switches seats and Shruti Sridhar takes the mic. What follows is one of the most honest conversations on the podcast yet: why Dirty Brown started from a place of anger and why Kriti is glad she waited, what it really means to be a brown woman living between two worlds, and the cultural script she's been quietly rewriting for the last decade.

Plus: the Badchalan Quiz makes a return — and this time, the host is in the hot seat.

In this episode:

• The real story behind the name Dirty Brown
• Why COVID cracked everything open
• What's coming next for the podcast - including the naughty stuff
• Kriti's vision for what Dirty Brown can become

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:19 Dirty Brown Turns 10: The Host Gets Interviewed
• 01:06 15 Years in Tech, H1B Dreams and Why COVID Changed Everything
• 03:42 What Is Dirty Brown and Where Did the Name Come From?
• 05:07 How the Badchalan Aurat Series Was Born
• 08:30 Indian Woman Abroad: Identity, Marriage Pressure and the Cost of Freedom
• 13:56 What Makes Kriti - Hobbies, Books and the Feminist She Became
• 17:24 Have You Led a Full Life? Taking Risks and What's Coming Next
• 24:57 Badchalan Energy Quiz: Is Kriti a Certified Badchalan?
• 27:30 Outro

Connect with Dirty Brown:

• Instagram

Is life for Indian women better abroad? In Part II of our deep dive into the "India vs. Abroad" debate, host Kriti J and guest Sugandha S move from the safety of the streets to the safety of the systems we live in.

If Part I was about the physical "Safety Tax," Part II is about the "Negotiation Tax." We explore sexism at workplace and systemic issues in India vs Abroad.

We also get deeply personal about the "Marriage Script." In a culture that often views a woman’s 30s as a deadline, how do we use financial independence to reclaim our autonomy? From healing after emotional abuse to finding a "frequency match" in a partner, we discuss why choosing to stay unmarried isn’t a pause - it’s a move toward a more authentic life.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:29 Sexism in Global Workplace
• 02:19 Paternity Leave & The Caregiver Trap
• 03:55 Normalizing Period Leave in the Office
• 05:28 Marriage Pressure and Family Expectations
• 08:29 Financial Independence & Female Autonomy
• 09:49 Red Flags: Dating Apps & Modern Feminism
• 12:33 Relationships, Trauma & Healing
• 14:29 Part I & II conclusion
• 17:03 Outro

On paper, lives of these two Indian women are remarkably similar - both are independent, childfree women working on their passions. However, their daily "negotiations" with physical space look very different. From the audacity of Uber drivers in Gurgaon to the subtext of racism and isolation in Toronto, host Kriti J and her long-time friend Sugandha explore the invisible "Safety Tax" that women pay just to exist.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why Sugandha feels she had to buy her safety by purchasing a car and paying a premium for gated housing.
• The psychological "bubble" Kriti creates to ignore unwanted attention in public spaces.
• The reality of harassment while running outside, from night-time training to ultra-marathons.
• How the "Tax" of living abroad often involves navigating microaggressions and the feeling of being an "other."

This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Next episode available in two weeks. Make sure to follow!

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:52 Unmarried, Childfree, Independent
• 01:27 The Freedom Myth: Comparing Life in Toronto & Gurgaon
• 04:15 Why Independence in India Costs a Premium
• 06:50 The Runner's Dilemma
• 09:03 Street Harassment
• 13:00 The Racism Tax for Brown Women Abroad
• 15:08 Strategy of Avoiding "Lustful Eyes"
• 17:51 Navigating Freedom and Societal Pressures
• 19:50 What's next

Follow Dirty Brown on socials

What happens when a "good girl" trades an MBA for ultramarathons and designer career paths for desert dust? In this episode of Dirty Brown, Sugandha Singhal joins host, Kriti J to discuss how endurance training became her ultimate tool for self-discovery and social rebellion - from defying the "settled" timeline of her 30s to overcoming self-image issues. It’s a conversation about reclaiming your body, your time, and your right to be "difficult.

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:16 - Meet Sugandha Singhal
• 00:34 - Reality of Ultra Running
• 05:27- Why most people quit (and she stayed)
• 07:35 - The 12-hour daily grind
• 11:36 - The "Bulky" Myth: Women's fitness in India
• 16:05 - UPSC/MBA dreams vs reality: No regrets
• 19:36 - Badchalan Energy quiz
• 23:58 Part II Teaser
• 24:42 - Bloopers

Follow on socials

• Instagram: @_sugs_ , @moveasy.co
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_dirtybrown_⁠

India’s complex relationship with fair skin - From the "Fair and Lovely" ads of our childhoods to the 4,000-year history of the caste system and colonial rule, we explore the "trifecta" of forces - colonialism, capitalism, and media - that fuel the obsession with light skin.Listen to personal stories of navigating family pressure and "ghostly" makeup shades, and sit down with cosmetologist Dr. Priyanka Mall to learn why skin-lightening remains the most requested treatment in Indian clinics today. Join us as we sweep away the myths and move toward a safe space of radical self-love.00:00 Intro01:02 What's with chai making us darker!03:10 The faces of Fair & Lovely05:25 Media Representation and Colorism07:59 History of colorism and Trifecta of colonialism, capitalism & media11:58 Conversation with Dr. Priyanka Mall 25:03 Current State of Colorism and Activism26:46 Media Representation and Its Effects28:22 Self-Acceptance and Ongoing InsecuritiesInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_dirtybrown_⁠About Our Clips - We use short excerpts from various media in this episode for discussion, review, and commentary, consistent with fair use guidelines.Some images by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/Music byKamalesh Siddu⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Mykola Odnoroh⁠⁠⁠

A brown woman in her 40s refusing every "good girl" expectation - that's Mita. In this first episode of the Badchalan Aurat series, host Kriti J talks to Mita about her life as a stand-up comedian, activist, and blogger. Mita shares her journey starting stand-up in midlife , navigating societal pressure with humor, and redefining nurturing, purpose, and womanhood on her own terms. Listen as they discuss Mita's dark humor and the hilarious results of the "Big Badchalan Energy Quiz". Plus, Mita gives a sneak peek into her upcoming stand-up gig in Ottawa.

Check out her blog: https://shescomeundone.org

• Mita's IG: @mitadoingthings
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_dirtybrown_⁠

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:13 Welcome Mita Patel
• 03:46 Breaking Stereotypes: The Life of a Brown Woman
• 11:36 The Journey of a Comedian
• 14:55 Badchalan energy quiz
• 20:53 Impact of blogging and activism
• 25:09 it’s Bolly o’clock

About Our Clips - We use short excerpts from various media in this episode for discussion, review, and commentary, consistent with fair use guidelines.

Music by Kamalesh Siddu⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Mykola Odnoroh⁠⁠⁠Nigori kaisi jawani hai

If you’ve ever been shamed for choosing yourself, this episode is for you! Host Kriti J is joined by our fav guest Shruti S where they delve into the portrayal of female characters in Bollywood, discussing the prevalent tropes of the 'Abla Nari' and 'Badchalan Aurat'. They explore nuanced characters in modern films, who exactly is the badchalan aurat and the importance of reclaiming the 'Badchalan' identity.

Check out this exciting episode with an exciting announcement at the end!

Chapters:

00:00 Slurs

00:24 Episode introduction

01:41 Abla nari and badchalan tropes

05:49 Nuanced Female Characters in Bollywood Films

08:56 Is Bollywood becoming feminist!?

10:21 Importance of Reclaiming the Narrative of Badchalan

11:57 THE ANNOUNCEMENT - Dirty Brown presents Badchalan Aurat!!

12:56 Closing Thoughts

14:06 Behind the scenes/Bloopers

About Our Clips - We use short excerpts from various media in this episode for discussion, review, and commentary, consistent with fair use guidelines.

Movie/song videos - Cocktail, Piku, Thappad, Girls like to swing

Music by - ⁠⁠Kamalesh Siddu⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Mykola Odnoroh⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@_dirtybrown_

In this bonus episode, host Kriti J is joined again by Shruti S and they share their take on the new movie Aap Jaisa Koi . They break down the clash of conservative and progressive values, the underdeveloped main characters, and the slow pacing that makes parts of the movie a slog. Amid the clichés and missed opportunities, Kusum Bhabi emerges as the real hero, reclaiming agency and driving change in her world. A short, candid review that highlights gender, patriarchy, and feminist arcs, along with the saris, jewelry, and visual treats that make it worth a watch.

About Our Clips - We use short excerpts from various media in this episode for discussion, review, and commentary, consistent with fair use guidelines.

Official song videos - Aap Jaisa Koi trailer [1, 2]

Music by - ⁠Kamalesh Siddu⁠, ⁠Mykola Odnoroh⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@_dirtybrown_