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Between Friends: Conversations with Maitri

Between Friends: Conversations with Maitri

Maitri 93 Episodes Sep 16, 2026

Maitri's prevention and awareness initiative features conversations with field experts and community members on topics related to domestic and intimate partner violence. The podcast explores how social norms and power dynamics foster gender inequity and abuse in relationships. It aims to share insights and resources to help prevent violence and support those impacted by it.

Episodes

S8 Ep3: The Sound of Solidarity: Men, Music & Social Change
S8 Ep3: The Sound of Solidarity: Men, Music & Social Change Sep 16, 2026 00:35:07 What if more men chose to speak up? What if more men chose to stand up? What if we stopped seeing domestic violence as “someone else’s problem”? 💜In our latest episode of Between Friends: Conversations with Maitri, host Nandini Ray talks with Sunil Ramesh, Ritesh Nayak, and Vasant Balasubramanian of BOOMM—three men who have been standing with Maitri through music and community support since 2013.🎙
S8Ep 2: Youth Voices: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health
S8Ep 2: Youth Voices: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health Aug 21, 2026 00:28:03 For many South Asian families, we talk openly about education, success, and responsibility—but conversations about anxiety, depression, and mental health often remain unspoken. In this episode, we explore the mental health of South Asian youth and the power of youth activism with Sarah Shelke, a UC Berkeley student and founder of Mind4Youth, one of the world’s largest youth-led mental health nonpr
S8 Ep 1: How Patriarchy Hurts Couple Relationships
S8 Ep 1: How Patriarchy Hurts Couple Relationships Jul 23, 2026 00:44:10 How do harmful cultural norms, traditions, and deeply rooted beliefs impact intimate partner relationships—and what can we do to change them?To help us unpack this important topic, our host, Nandini Raywas joined by two distinguished members of the Pakistani community: Ahsan Qazi and Maria Ahmad. Ahsan Qazi is a writer, researcher, entrepreneur, and sociologist with a deep interest in understandin
S7 Ep 9: Policy Matters @Maitri- Presentation- 5
S7 Ep 9: Policy Matters @Maitri- Presentation- 5 Jun 30, 2026 00:12:46 Welcome to Policy Matters, a quarterly presentation from Maitri Policy Advocacy, where we discuss public policies that shape the prevention, intervention, and overall attention to domestic violence within our communities.In our Fifth presentation of Policy Matters, we will be addressing the intersections of gun violence and domestic abuse, a policy priority for Maitri. Zakia Afrin leads the policy
S7 Ep 8: The Truth About Couples Counseling
S7 Ep 8: The Truth About Couples Counseling May 26, 2026 00:38:18 In this insightful episode, Simi Markar, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, joins our host, Nandini Ray, to explore the realities of couples counseling and partner relationships.What exactly is couples counseling, and when should couples consider seeking support? What are the early warningsigns of a toxic or unhealthy relationship? How do family interference, cultural expectations, and trad
S7 Ep7: Breaking - Healing - Becoming! A Conversation with Jagbir Kaur kang
S7 Ep7: Breaking - Healing - Becoming! A Conversation with Jagbir Kaur kang Mar 24, 2026 00:41:05 In this powerful episode, Jagbir Kaur Kang joins our host Nandini Ray to share a story of extraordinary strength and resilience. Facing domestic violence, uncertainty of the future, and self-doubt, she refused to give up and transformed her pain into a journey of growth and renewal.From surviving to thriving, Jagbir now uses her voice to uplift others. In her book Blooming Through the Cracks, she
S7 Ep 6: শৃঙ্খল ও শক্তি: বাংলা সাহিত্যে নারী: Chains and Strength: Women in Bengali Literature
S7 Ep 6: শৃঙ্খল ও শক্তি: বাংলা সাহিত্যে নারী: Chains and Strength: Women in Bengali Literature Feb 20, 2026 00:54:45 Chains and Strength: Women in Bengali LiteratureIn this podcast episode, Zakia Afrin and Nandini Ray of Maitri come together for a heartfelt conversation on the portrayal of women in Bengali literature. Drawing from their favorite short stories, novels, and poems from both Bangladesh and India, they explore how women characters have endured inequality and oppression while also embodying courage, r
S7 Ep 5: What every survivor & advocate should know about Artificial Intelligence
S7 Ep 5: What every survivor & advocate should know about Artificial Intelligence Jan 30, 2026 00:21:36 Policy Advocacy: Part 4: What every domestic violence survivor & advocate should know about Artificial Intelligence. In our fourth Policy Matters presentation, we interview Adam Dodge, founder of EndTAB.org, about what every survivor and advocate should know about Artificial Intelligence. This episode was curated by the Maitri Policy Advocacy Program and facilitated by Smitha Chandrasekhar, a
S7 Ep 4: South Asian Men in the Gender Justice Movement
S7 Ep 4: South Asian Men in the Gender Justice Movement Nov 14, 2025 00:38:08 South Asian Men in the Gender Justice Movement:Did you know that in 2023, over 51,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or family members? (UN Women)Violence against women is often seen as a “women’s issue”, but it’s not! Since most acts of gender-based violence are committed by men, men must also be part of the solution.In this episode of the Maitri Podcast, we sit
S7 Ep 3: Moving Past Trauma, Stigma and Unspoken Pain with Chanchal Garg
S7 Ep 3: Moving Past Trauma, Stigma and Unspoken Pain with Chanchal Garg Oct 9, 2025 00:27:40 In this Maitri podcast episode, Chanchal Garg opens up about the spiritual and sexual abuse that shook her identity and forced her to confront a life shaped by duty and sacrifice. She courageously shares her journey of personal transformation—unearthing hidden truths that have been buried under cultural obligations, spiritual trauma, and the silence often expected of women.This moving conversation
S7 Ep 2: Students Against On-Campus Sexual Violence
S7 Ep 2: Students Against On-Campus Sexual Violence Sep 4, 2025 00:35:43 As a new school year begins, thousands of students arrive on campus full of excitement and possibility. But alongside that hope lies a difficult truth: sexual assault remains a seriousissue on college campuses nationwide.In this episode, we sit down with Smitha Chandrasekhar, Alex Fu, and Shreya Vishwanath to discuss why awareness matters, how students can support one another, and the steps needed
S7_Ep1: Surviving to Leading
S7_Ep1: Surviving to Leading Jul 25, 2025 00:36:27 With Menaka Iyengar Cooke – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recipient.From surviving domestic violence in a foreign land with no family support…to becoming an award-winning social justice activist, author, and HR leader.In this powerful episode of the Maitri Podcast, Menaka Iyengar Cooke shares her extraordinary journey of post-traumatic growth. Her story is a reminder that while the road fr

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