This week we're talking about motherhood, identity, and raising kids between cultures — all the beautiful, messy, and transformative parts of it. And we’re getting thoughtful and spicy about what this means. We’re joined by our dear friend Shilpi Pathak, who wears so many hats — corporate leader, creative soul, and mom raising her son in the U.S. while staying deeply rooted in her Indian heritage. We dive into everything — different parenting styles, cultural upbringing, working pressures, and how motherhood reshapes who we are. It’s the kind of chat that reminds you you’re not alone — we’re all figuring it out, one day, one story at a time.Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for being part of our community, where we recognize and learn from every personality. We’ll see you next time with more relatable and inspiring stories on Chocolate and Spice Talk.We’d love to hear from you too! Send us a note at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com, or message us on Instagram @chocolateandspicetalk. We’d love to include your voice in a future episode. 🎧 You can listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or our site: 🌐 chocolateandspicetalk.com 📬 Email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.comUntil next time—take care. We’ll be right here, checking in.Neha & Nidhi
We share everything on Diwali — what Diwali means, how we celebrated growing up in India, how we celebrate now in America, what we’re teaching our kids, and even the things we really miss about Diwali back in India.After moving to the US, we (Neha and Nidhi) had a very different experience of what they missed about Diwali and how we celebrate it. But what’s common is that we both have learned to celebrate it in a completely new way — building our own traditions from scratch and making new memories.In this episode, we also talk about how we’re teaching our kids the meaning behind the festival, how we bring the community together through Diwali events and gathering. So join us as we take you through the traditions, the memories, and the magic of Diwali — only on Chocolate and Spice Talk.Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for being part of our community, where we recognize and learn from every personality. We’ll see you next time with more relatable and inspiring stories on Chocolate and Spice Talk.We’d love to hear from you too! Send us a note at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com, or message us on Instagram @chocolateandspicetalk. We’d love to include your voice in a future episode. 🎧 You can listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or our site: 🌐 chocolateandspicetalk.com 📬 Email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.comUntil next time—take care. We’ll be right here, checking in.Neha & Nidhi
We're sharing how to thrift—especially through ThredUp. How does it actually work? We will walk you through the website of ThredUP and how we buy and make decisions on that site. We will also share tips and tricks of what really works with buying pre-loved/second-hand. A lot of our listeners have been asking us to talk about buying preloved clothes, so this episode is kind of a special request. Once you understand how it works, you’ll see why it’s such a game-changer. But we’ll also get into the not-so-perfect parts—and things we've learned in my years of trying pre-loved.So whether you’re a thrifting newbie who’s curious but intimidated, or you’re already shopping secondhand and want to hear two sisters figure it out together, check out this episode.We’d love to hear from you too. What are you interested this month? Send us a note at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com, or message us on Instagram @chocolateandspicetalk. We’d love to include your voice in a future check-in episode. 🎧 You can listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or our site: 🌐 chocolateandspicetalk.com 📬 Email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.comUntil next time—take care. We’ll be right here, checking in.Neha and Nidhi
In our Halloween episode, Neha, the introverted host of this talk show, is channeling her inner Wednesday Addams. Nidhi, the extroverted sister, is dressed as Amy Rose from Sonic with the pink hair, and red dress. For both of us, Halloween was something we had to learn as adults. We didn’t grow up with it, but moving to the US in our twenties and then having our kids really changed how we celebrate it.
In our Halloween special, we’re talking about what confused us most about Halloween when we first came to the US, how everything changed once we became parents, and the family traditions that make October magical for us.
Plus, our rules for trick-or-treating, why teal, purple, and blue pumpkins matter, and why we think October is really about creativity, connection, and community.You can find more episodes of Chocolate & Spice Talk wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple, YouTube Podcasts, and more. And check out our website chocolateandspicetalk.com for show notes, extras, and to connect with us directly. You can always email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com—we love hearing from you.Don’t forget to rate, leave a comment, and share this episode if it resonated with you. That support really helps our little community grow. We’ll be back next week with another conversation—different topic, same sisterly banter. Until then…
This chat is all about innovation in education with AI. We're joined by Laura Mazer – a former surgeon turned educational innovator who is reimagining how children learn. She is currently the Head of School at Montessorium, an elementary program that blends the independence and hands-on self-guided exploration of traditional Montessori with personalized, AI tech-powered learning. Laura brings a deep understanding of both rigorous scientific thinking and child-centered learning, combining her background in STEM with a passion for how kids learn best.Laura has been leading Montessorium through a really innovative shift from the “Two-Hour Learning” model to what’s now called Timeback. It’s all about giving kids focused academic time with the support of AI-powered learning, and then returning that extra time to them for exploration, creativity, and independence—at the very heart of Montessori philosophy.And that’s what makes this conversation so special. AI has become kind of an ambiguous word lately—people only talk about generative AI, large language models, and all the hype or fear around it. But AI can also be a powerful force for education. Hope you learn from and enjoy this conversation as much as we did—it’s a conversation that’s equal parts education, technology, and hope for the next generation.If you want to learn more about Montessorium, here are additional details: https://www.instagram.com/montessorium/https://x.com/montessoriumhttps://newsletter.montessorium.com/Website: montessorium.schoolWe’d love to hear from you too. What are you checking in on this month? Send us a note at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com, or message us on Instagram @chocolateandspicetalk. We’d love to include your voice in a future check-in episode. 🎧 You can listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or our site: 🌐 https://chocolateandspicetalk.com/ 📬 Email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.comUntil next time—take care. We’ll be right here, checking in.- Neha & Nidhi
Marriage really goes through phases. Some seasons feel easy, and some feel like survival mode—especially once kids come into the picture. From newborn nights to school drop-offs, it shifts how you love, how you argue, and how you find your way back to each other.Today, we’re sharing our own experiences—what helped, what didn’t, and how we’re still figuring it out. It’s not about having the answers. It’s about being honest about what marriage looks like after kids, and how we’re choosing each other through every season. Parenthood transforms marriage—the identity shifts, the joy, the resentment, the stability, and the surprising ways love evolves. Research shows that about 67% of couples see a significant drop in relationship satisfaction after their first child. But stats don’t tell the whole story. They don’t capture the stillness, the stability, or the moments that make you fall in love all over again.Today, we’re diving into the good, the bad, and the messy truth of marriage after kids—and what it takes to keep going through different seasons of parenthood.You can find more episodes of Chocolate & Spice: Two Brown Women Talk wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple, YouTube Podcasts, and more. And check out our website chocolateandspicetalk.com for show notes, extras, and to connect with us directly. You can always email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com—we love hearing from you.Don’t forget to rate, leave a comment, and share this episode if it resonated with you. That support really helps our little community grow. We’ll be back next week with another conversation—different topic, same sisterly banter. Until then…
Today’s episode is incredibly close to our hearts because we’re interviewing the most important woman in our lives—our mom. She’s 67 years old, and over the last few years she has carried the dual role of being our dad’s primary caregiver while also rediscovering herself. What’s remarkable is how she’s grown through this stage of life—not just surviving, but thriving in ways she never imagined. She’s found new confidence, fresh energy, and a sense of independence. She’s taken on more responsibility, learned to manage finances, and found ways to handle stress with grace. She’s built her own network of support, from her yoga circle to new friendships, and with it, she’s created a space where she feels seen, valued, and empowered.In a world where aging women—especially in small towns—are often overlooked, our mom’s story shows what’s possible when resilience, community, and self-belief come together. Today we’ll talk to her about how she grew her courage and confidence, how her community changed, and what it means to age with dignity, joy, and strength.This is a conversation about reinvention, belonging, and love—and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.You can find more episodes of Chocolate & Spice: Two Brown Women Talk wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple, YouTube Podcasts, and more. And check out our website chocolateandspicetalk.com for show notes, extras, and to connect with us directly. You can always email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com—we love hearing from you.Don’t forget to rate, leave a comment, and share this episode if it resonated with you. That support really helps our little community grow.We’ll be back next week with another conversation—different topic, same sisterly banter. Until then…
We used to think rest was something you earned after doing all the things.If we were not working, parenting, organizing, or planning…we were failing. But over the past few years, we’ve both started asking: What are we actually chasing? Is this sustainable? Is it healthy? And most importantly, is it the life we actually want?And what would it look like to rewrite the script that says we have to be “the hardest-working person in the room”?We talk about hustle culture, motherhood, multitasking brains, and the radical act of choosing rest. We get real about how rest became the hardest thing to learn—and how we’re slowly learning it anyway.If you’ve ever felt guilty doing nothing—this one’s for you. We’d love to know—what does rest look like in your life? What’s the hardest part about letting go of hustle?Message us, DM us, or leave a comment—we read them all. And if this episode resonated, please share it with a fellow overachiever who needs the reminder.🎧 You can listen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or our site: 🌐 chocolateandspicetalk.com 📬 Email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com
Today’s episode is all about small business. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to start and grow a small business—this episode is definitely for you. We’re going to dive into an entrepreneur's journey—from that first spark of an idea to what it’s like behind the scenes: the challenges, the wins, the late-night packaging marathons, and the deep sense of purpose that keeps a business going.Our guest is Shweta, the founder and heart behind The Ethnic Tadka, a beautiful small business that curates Indian ethnic wear, jewelry, and accessories. Her story highlights something we talk about a lot on this podcast: the power of community, and women supporting women. When we choose to shop small, we’re not just buying a product—we’re investing in someone’s dream, in their hustle, their late nights, their creativity, and their courage.And if you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more such stories, tag us or DM us with suggestions. We love featuring voices that don’t always get the spotlight. As usual, you can find us wherever you get your podcast and also on Instagram. Our website is https://chocolateandspicetalk.com/ and features blog posts, photos and behind-the-scenes. Don't forget to check it out!Thanks!Neha & Nidhi
Kid's schooling can be a hard area to decide. Public, private, Montessori… plus a curveball: a new “Montessorium” program that blends classic Montessori with a two‑hour AI‑powered learning model. Today, we share the pros, cons, money math, and the emotional side of selecting school for our kids—how it feels to be a working parent trying to make a good decision without falling into the comparison trap.We'll talk about how research, community discussions, shadowing classes, information sessions helped us in making decisions. We will also cover:class size & teacher quality, extracurriculars, logistics, values alignment, social fabric, academic culture and financial reality. Hope you enjoy this episode. Looking forward to discussions and comments!You can find more episodes of Chocolate & Spice: Two Brown Women Talk wherever you get your podcasts—Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and more. And check out our website chocolateandspicetalk.com for show notes, extras, and to connect with us directly. You can always email us at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com—we love hearing from you.
Today we’re diving into perimenopause and menopause. We'll talk about symptoms and diagnosis, age at which it starts, discrimination women often face, support women need, how exercise and sleep help and how hormone therapy may help. We are so excited for today’s guest: Miranda Zuhlke, a certified Physician Assistant and menopause specialist with the North American Menopause Society. She supports women through hormone therapy, reproductive wellness, and the major health shifts that come with menopause and perimenopauseWe know menopause isn’t always an easy topic—but that’s exactly why we wanted to have this conversation. If you’re going through it, about to, or supporting someone who is, we hope this episode left you feeling informed, validated, and a little less alone. You can always find us at chocolateandspicetalk.com—we’ve got blog posts, episode notes, behind-the-scenes stories, and more. And if you’ve got thoughts, experiences, or questions you want to share, drop us an email at hello@chocolateandspicetalk.com or send us a message on Instagram @chocolateandspicetalk. We truly love hearing from you.Books, and more resources on menopause and perimenopause:Estrogen Matters: Avrum Bluming and Carol TavrisThe New Menopause: Mary Claire Haver, MDThe Hormone Cure: Sara Gottfried, MDPodcasts: You are not Broken: Kelly Casperson, MDWomen’s Health: Heather Hirsch, MD
We're diving into one of the most personal, often polarizing questions in parenting: Do you want a second child? we both have one child each. But we’ve landed in very different places about whether we wanted another. We talk openly about what influenced those choices: our upbringing, secondary infertility, our capacity, our mental load, the cultural pressure we feel as brown women, and how much of this comes from what we were taught growing up vs. what we truly want now.No right answers here—just honest stories and maybe some solidarity if you're navigating this too.Get more info and details on our website: https://chocolateandspicetalk.com/
Pets are amazing. Having a dog or any pet is a huge gift. Today, we're talking about how getting a rescue dog changed our lives. We cover not only the advantages of having a dog, but also the process of getting one. Especially, if you've never had a pet before, this episode gives tips on navigating the journey of getting one.
Rescue or shelter pets are particularly vulnerable and need so much of our love and help. We talk about that process of dog adoption, and what to keep in mind before adopting a dog. More details and behind-the-scenes are in our website https://chocolateandspicetalk.com/ #dog #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #doglife #adoptdog
Today we're talking money from an introvert and extrovert's perspectives. Money management is a critical skill we all need. That said, we all approach money differently. Some like to spend more than the others! Join us as we get into the psychology of why and how we developed different approaches to saving and spending and what we think are the best ways to handle our finances.For more behind-the-scenes, photos and blogs, visit our brand website: https://chocolateandspicetalk.com/
Whether it’s a local book club, an online group chat, or even your neighborhood block party—communities are what give life richness. Today, we’re talking about the why, how, and what of building communities that truly matter. CIF or Cambrian Indian Families is a thriving, family-oriented community in the Bay Area, California.We are thrilled to welcome Priti, who’s one of the core admins of CIF—a community so vibrant it now has offshoots like a What's App group with 800+ women, gardening circles, local sports leagues, even a buzzing local marketplace.
We were clueless cooks and learned cooking after our respective marriages! But once we got a hang of cooking, we went all in. From home cooked meals everyday to creative cooking to meal prep to cooking for fussy toddlers and teenagers, we've been through it all. Today, we talk about what helped us learn and start enjoying cooking and why we started but gave up on meal prep. Plus, some chats on food habits and healthy eating as well!#cooking #cookingathome #podcast #sisters #lifehacks And don't forget to check us out on our website http://www.chocolateandspicetalk.com to see photos, behind-the-scenes, and read more on our blogs.
Our guest, Divya, was born and brought up in the US, making her a first-generation American. Her parents moved to the US from India. Today, we’re exploring what it means to navigate spaces as someone who's simultaneously 100% American and 100% Indian.
From the pressure of being the family's "first everything" to the unique advantages that come with this experience, we're getting real about the beautiful complexity of first-generation life. What does it actually feel like to grow up as the bridge between your parents' homeland and the country you call home?Like always, we’re sharing real stories from everyday lives as every story matters.So whether you're first-generation yourself, love someone who is, or just want to understand this experience better, we're excited to share Divya's story with you.
As always, do leave comments and see more behind-the-scenes on our website chocolateandspicetalk.com
Check out GenZ's questions on relationship building! Today we cover topics on relationship such as dating, love and marriage. 19 years old GenZ is asking us questions on arranged marriage and how long-term relationships work. We go deep into love marriage, relevance of arranged marriage in Indian culture and how different personalities work together in marriage. Don't miss this thoughtful and fun episode! #marriage #dating #arrangedmarriage #relationship #genz
Self-care is important, and an important life lesson we've learned as working moms. We share how we prioritize self-care, how we find growth opportunities through new learnings and hobbies and why self-improvement often comes from taking a pause and resting. As working moms, we make sure to take care of self by finding rituals and fun time and creating boundaries. Let's dive deep into how we can create happiness by prioritizing self.#selfcare #selflove #selfimprovement #hobbies #workingmom #momlife
See blog, photos and behind-the-scenes on our website www.chocolateandspicetalk.com
What does it really mean to be “a good daughter”? Where does people pleasing start - and how do we begin to unlearn it?
In this episode of Chocolate and Spice - Two Brown Women Talk, we explore the quiet epidemic of people pleasing - how it’s shaped by culture, gender roles, and childhood expectations, especially in South Asian families.
🎙️ Neha opens up about her journey as a recovering people pleaser, and Nidhi shares what helped her avoid the trap altogether. From family dynamics to career choices, we dive into the real cost of always saying “yes” and how to reclaim your “no” with confidence.
Whether you’re deep in your people-pleasing era or just learning how to set boundaries, this one’s for you.
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