Warm up your kettles and grab a cuppa as we discuss all things theatre and more (wink wink) with Mr. Kash Arshad. From his thoughts on Cats- The Musical to the Kardashians and accessibility at the Olivier Awards. We got you covered. Kash is a Scottish/Pakistani director and theatre maker based in Yorkshire, and trained on the National Theatre Studio Directors Course 2019. He is currently Associate Director at Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

With the one and only Bolly Illusion aka Anthony Pius. Everything from Topping Masculine Men to how Shahid Kapoor is a waste man? Miss Bolly is a Perfomance artist, Host, Dancer, Choreographer, Curator, Drag queen and full on SEX.

Jay Jay has many hats. His focus is curating events, DJing, Ballroom (voguing) and mentoring. Listed as Time Out’s ‘One to Watch’, Jay Jay is a committed community activist and dedicated to creating safe spaces and conversations for QPOC and LGBTQ+. He does this through his own club night ‘Let’s Have a Kiki #theparty’ and as a volunteer peer to peer mentor at Stonewall Housing. Throughout his career, his events have raised money for many charity organisations with whom he continues to work and support.

Sitting down with the beaut Amrita Mudan to talk about Mental Health— and how our worth, confidence and self-love is connected to our work as creatives and what happens to us at the lowest of the lows and how to get out of it. Looking at representation in the prosthetics, hair and make up world. What routes to take in order to get successful in the industry, such as; going to university to learn vs apprenticeships or shadowing people until you get jobs. Talking about the influencer route. when it comes to marketing yourself vs working in the industry behind the scenes through an agency or connecting yourself to a brand or a celebrity.

We are diving into the big brown world of Sacs in the city. That is SACS as in SACS not SEX. Bringing on the talented Tarek Khwiss to discuss all things fetishes, blowjobs and the A-Z's of SACS as Brown Boys who grew up in religious households and are finding this world of sexual empowerment as 2 queer boys. From Grindr Lingo, to sex positions, to our first wet dreams and to advice on Blowjobs or Douching. We got you covered-- so, warm up your beverages or cuppa's and let's dive into this weeks Chai.

I had to make a special Wisdomist Chai clip from my chat with Fashion Designer, Creative Director and Choreographer Saran Kohli. He speaks with such passion about Vitiligo and how people should perceive it, be knowledgeable it and embrace it. This is an emotional one!

This is a mega one! I am joined by the cast of Sundown Kiki from Taking Part Production at The Young Vic Theatre- Asa Haynes, Amani Revlon (Afi Hussen), Sarah-Angel Sharma, Jasper Ryan Cater, Tatenda Shami, Jay Lafayette Valentine and special guest Emanuel Vuso (in part 2) for a chai spilling chat on Queer Naratives.

PRIDE special- Today's Wisdomist Chai comes from my chat with Sunil Gupta - who is a Photographer, Curator, Author and Activist. This is from Episode 17 of Chai with Rai. I wanted to put out something for pride and what better than some sections from my chat with Sunil. Now in the clips Sunil discuss lack of representation of Gay Asians in UK, how we have Black Pride and other movements but nothing for Asian or other communities. He got into how organisations such as Shakti were set up as a space of safe haven for young Asian men from a concept of chai and samosa’s in it’s early days.

With Mitali Dargani from the podcast Brown Game Strong and her illustration business Aunty Doodles. This was such a vulnerable episode because we really dove deep into conversations surrounding mental health, anxiety. How the digital space can affect our perspective on life. By chasing this version of perfection at times. We get into how brands are built and the behind the scenes that no one ever gets to see. How to grow your brand and an intro into illustration/ podcasting.

A Wisdomist Chai- A New segment for Chai with Rai. Taking small sips of Wisdom from an episode and popping it into a new cuppa.

This clip is from my chat with Guleraana Mir- Writer, Theatre practitioner and Educator. Who discusses ways to grow your community as a writer, advice for new writers and how to turn your hobby into work. I also feel, a lot of what she says can be transferred to any medium of life or any practice you are based in.

Chai with Rai (Ep. 29)- In conversation with Meghna Bhalla where we sat and discussed the space of being a freelancer photographer in India. Her approach and passion to movement photography, how she found a speciality in dance. How her passion in life and approach to creativity as an artist has come to be? We also discussed her content creation work and videography and dove into questions such as online media presence. Do Views and numbers matter? How she manages to gain work without having an official website. And the challenges she faces being a female in a male dominated industry.

Chai with Rai (Ep.28)- In Conversation with Ramita Ravi and Vikas Arun from Project Convergence. We sat and discussed the creative space in US from a South Asian perspective, being a female and being queer. We also dove into conversations about South Asian Dance-- how the space can often be divided and separated. How South Asian dancers are only bought together for South Asian projects as oppose to our counterparts in the community. How Ramita and Vikas are creating heritage work but meshing it with other forms. Mentorship and sharing the South Asian dance space with other companies and uplifting each other.

Chai with Rai (Ep.27). In conversation with teacher, choreographer, dancer and dance/well being practitioner Priyanka Chauhan. Where we sat and discussed her work with marginalised groups including women in domestic violence refuges, autistic young people, older people living with dementia, people living with Parkinson’s and more. We discussed the importance of safeguarding and how that skill is transferrable in her goal which is to create an international program that utilises the benefits of dance for community and individual well-being.

Celebrating all things Theatre, Film, Series and Podcast. I have curated a collection of hidden gems to watch and listen to-- all whilst sipping on your first or fifth Karak Chai. This is batch No.1 of many more to come. I hope you enjoy and do let me know which one was your favourite and also, this is the the first time I am putting this type of episode out. So, please do give me some feedback innit.

Chai with Rai (Ep.26). In conversation with Brinda Guha where we sat and discussed the lineage and history of Classical Indian Dance, from her journey of Kathak to Manipuri to Flamenco. We discussed Brinda's work, the codifying of Classical Dance, Culture Appropriation and her thoughts on Activism.

Chai with Rai (Ep.25). In conversation with Ishita Mili where we sat and discussed the dance space in the U.S from a South Asian perspective and just as an Artist. We discussed Ishita's view on the Indian Classical industry, her family and of course her company IMGE Dance. We dived deep into conversations about cultural appropriation, the joys and consequences of creating experimental work. The digital space and its progression, what that has done to the arts industry. Her vocabulary and voice as an artist.

Chai with Rai (Ep.23). In conversation with Mavin Khoo where we sat and discussed stories from his career, life lessons and the world of Classical Dancing. It was beautiful to dive into his rich career and discuss how there isn't still a lot of representation when it comes to the world of Contemporary and Classical Ballet.

Chai with Rai (Ep.24). In conversation with Daniel O'Meara where we sat and discussed his tremendous 25+ career in acting and over 40 movies. For films such as "Here Lies" with Christian McKay, award wining film "Under the Skin" with Samantha Morton, "Deadly famous" with Eric Roberts "Ironclad" starring Brian Cox, Jason Flemync and Paul Giamatti,. Daniel is truly a mesmerising actor to watch and a great director to be around.

Chai with Rai (Ep.22). In conversation with author Shweta Aggarwal where we sat and discussed her other accolades from writing, such as owning a Bollywood Company- Threebee. Which ran successfully for 10 years and they were the first Bollywood Dance Company to feature and make it to Semi-Finals of Britains Got Talent.

Chai with Rai (Ep.21). In Conversation with Saloni Saraf where we sat and discussed her journey with Kathak, the dance industry in the UK. The South Asian Classical Indian Dance Space vs Experimental work vs Bollywood. The survival toll that one can have whilst being a freelancer and gaining opportunities.