54. Arranged Marriages: Then and Now ft. Shibani Joshi

Arranged marriages are often thought of as an archaic relic of the past. But what impact does the cultural and historical relevance of this practice have on the marriages of today? This week, we'll attempt to answer this question with our special guest, Shibani Joshi. Shibani is an accomplished business and technology journalist, lecturer, and professional speaker, and is an Indian-American who has had first hand experience with trying to reconcile with checking off all the "Indian-approved" boxes and the realities of what it takes to build a successful marriage.

We dive into the roots and perceived benefits of arranged marriages, as well as how they operate in India and the US. We also examine the cultural context of marriages in general, including how perceptions of marriage and divorce differ. Finally, we look at how we can reconcile personal happiness and cultural expectations in pursuit of love and marriage.