Diasporaa 03-26-25 Leaving, Arriving, Belonging: Sonal’s Journey from Dehra Dun to Portland

Alternative Talk- 1150AM KKNW

Leaving, Arriving, Belonging: Sonal’s Journey from Dehra Dun to Portland | Diasporaa Podcast Episode 3 This week, your host Aditya Mehta interviews Sonal Bhargava, a biopharmaceutical scientist based in Seattle. Sonal shares her experiences of moving from Dehra Dun, India to the United States, navigating her career in biopharmaceuticals, and raising her child in a multicultural environment. Learn about her journey, the challenges and triumphs she faced, and her perspective on balancing Indian and American cultures. Don't miss her inspiring story and practical advice for new immigrants. Tune in to hear about her career in oncology drug development and her passion for encouraging women in STEM fields. Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from the South Asian Diaspora! Remember to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from the South Asian Diaspora! 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:38 Meet Sonal Bhargava 01:31 Life in Dehra Dun 02:38 Moving to the USA 03:25 Settling in Beaverton 04:47 Schooling in the USA 07:51 Cultural Adjustments 14:48 Choosing a Career Path 16:17 Parenting in a New Culture 24:09 Celebrating Indian Culture Abroad 24:23 Balancing Assimilation and Cultural Heritage 25:54 Language Challenges for Immigrant Families 28:08 Career Aspirations and Parental Guidance 28:48 Advice for New Immigrant Parents 31:00 Navigating Cultural Differences 37:03 Sonal's Professional Journey 38:38 Fun and Lighthearted Segments 46:28 Conclusion and Farewell List of Resources: Bollywood Film Andaz Apna Apna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttCUfDtrYlU Beaverton, OR: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaverton,_Oregon Diwali festival: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali Gujarati Dialects: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarati_language Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: https://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017930 Pav Bhaji Recipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbuse4WX01I About the Podcast: Diasporaa was the name of Aditya's startup based in Vancouver, BC. It focused on helping new immigrants in Canada find their feet, get off to a running start and ease their assimilation into Canadian life. A big part of the platform were conversations, community and support. Though the startup stopped growing once Aditya moved to Seattle, WA - it remained alive in the form of several discussion groups and online communities. Now, Diasporaa has been resurrected in the form of a podcast focused on sharing interesting immigrant stories from the South Asian diaspora and uncovering how much we have in common despite our differences. It is available on YouTube, all major podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, etc. and is also broadcast as a radio show on Alternative Talk 1150 AM and 98.9 FM HD Channel 3 on Wednesdays from 2-3pm PST. About Aditya Mehta: Aditya is a Bombay boy who has lived in Austin, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Vancouver before making it to his current home in Seattle. He has degrees in marketing, urban planning, real estate and strategy but has spent his career in financial services, social media and now real estate - mostly as an entrepreneur and partly as an employee at Amazon. He balances Indian, Canadian and American culture, loves helping those who are new to North America and looks forward to the interesting stories that his interview guests bring each week. When not podcasting, he is helping his wife Prachi build her pharmaceutical business or hanging out with his son Arjun. Connect with Diasporaa: Instagram: @diasporaapodcast YouTube: https://linke.to/dspyoutube Bio Link: linke.to/diasporaa Listen on Spotify: https://linke.to/dspspotify Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://linke.to/dspapple Diasporaa Podcast on KKNW Alternative Talk Radio: https://linke.to/kknw1150