Maribel Guarin, Roshani Patel, and Sania Tariq, “Imagining South Asian America: Reclaiming the South Asian American Experience Through Podcasts”
Mentor: Lia Wolock, Communication
Oral Presentation Block 1

This project examines how South Asian Americans use podcasts to hold meaningful conversations about identity, history, and community. South Asian Americans live in the United States or Canada and have ethnic roots in the Indian subcontinent (e.g., Pakistan, Nepal, etc.). Often stereotyped as apolitical technology enthusiasts, South Asian American podcasters use their platform to push against the narratives that are frequently placed on them by their elders and community outsiders, discussing topics that are often ignored in diasporic South Asian communities. We each closely analyzed one podcast and cataloged and categorized over 10, unpacking the podcasts’ language, themes, formats, and sound design. We discussed our findings with each other on a weekly basis, sharing impactful quotes and clips to gain additional insight on our observations. Through this work, we observed the complexities that South Asian American podcasters face in initiating dialogues about topics such as identity, representation in popular American media, mental health, and South Asian history. Although they cover narratives that are unique to South Asian Americans or the South Asian diaspora, these shows often begin with the intention of being palatable to all ethnic demographics. Notably, as time progressed, many shows we studied altered their content to speak mainly to South Asian American listeners, frequently because that is who seemed to be listening and responding. At the same time, other aspects of the podcasters’ identities, such as class status, age, family immigration history, and gender posed limits for seeking solidarity with their audience, despite their intentions to unify. Overall, we found that an increasing number of South Asian Americans are using podcasting as a platform for sharing their unique cultural experiences. Their abilities to bridge gaps with their audiences is nuanced, yet powerful. Through podcasts, these creatives are reshaping what it means to be a South Asian American.