Chai with Rai

”Watch out kids, I’m not Naked” w/ Mahatma Khandi

From Beyoncé's fashion sense to Charlie's Angels to Selling Sunset to drag culture. This is a cuppa filled episode with LOTS of banter, deep chats and fun games.
Now this is part 1 of 2 with the one and only Mahatma Khandi. Part 2 will be out later this month, keep an eye out for that. 
In the episode we discuss: 
Where their humour and joy of life comes from?
Met Gala 2022
Their thoughts on projects they have been a part of such as: Sync the pink, The Bitten Peach, Khandi Shop, Karaoke Club, MTV’s True love or true lies, Queer Parivaar. 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/mahatmakhandi/ 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_ 
Guest: https://linktr.ee/Mahatmakhandi 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 

“Joyful Islam” w/ Amani Saeed

From conversations on religion, sexuality, random filth and ethical questions. This is a juicy episode of randomness that will go down with a nice hot chai. Enjoy our DMC with a pitta TLC-- with the one and only author, poet and writer Amani Saeed. 
Amani Saeed is an international writer whose work brings the big issues to your kitchen table. She explores the crisis cultivated by living between sometimes (but not always) contradictory cultures, treading the line between masjid and mini skirt.
In addition to being a former member of the Roundhouse Collective, the Yoniverse Collective, and the Barbican Young Poets programme, Amani is the curator and host of of the interdisciplinary sell-out nights Golden Tongue and the hen-nah party.
Amani has worked with Richmix, the Roundhouse, the BBC, and the Huffington Post, among others. Her debut collection, Split, was published with Burning Eye Books in 2018. Amani is currently working on the film Queer Parivaar. 
You can purchase a copy of Amani's collection, Split, by contacting her directly via e-mail, or via Burning Eye's website.
In the episode we talk about: 
What you say to yourself after taking a number 2?
Difference between Poetry and Spoken Word?
Project highlights and challenges such as Pick N Mix (Rich Mix),Jesus at the Night Club (Art UK), Barbican Poet Alumni, Split The Hen-Nah Party, The Yoniverse Collective. 
Spirituality, Culture and Religion and Sexuality. In specific it’s stamp with one’s queerness. 
Performative style and growth. Evolution as a writer-- going from Open Mic work to being a Headliner.
Response to the boldness of her voice and work.
Receiving Tit Pics instead of Dick Pics.
Performing similar pieces and how to relay that. I.e rep pieces and pulling on emotion experience. 
Writing and performing new work. 
Digital Poets such as influencer or insta poetry. Popularity vs ethics. 
The ultimate give for her for her as an artist.
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/amanithepoet/ 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_ 
Guest: https://amanisaeed.com 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 
 

” It’s the difference between Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton” w/ Daniel Dresner

From Magic Mike to comparing his coaching styles between Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton. This episode is spilling the most-- with the one and only Daniel Dresner. 
Daniel has been in the industry for over 20 years, starting off as a stand-up comedian, actor and theatre director in Tokyo, Japan. He then studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York and worked as an actor there for six years, returning to London in 2001 to act, coach and teach.
​He coaches actors, directors, writers, producers, singers, and production companies as well as the odd publisher and yoga instructor. He also, teaches privately in venerable institutions around the globe and here in London at the Actors Centre, the Guildhall, London Actors Workshop and Drama Studio London. I also run presentation skills, assertiveness and personal impact training workshops for corporates.
Before entering a career in the entertainment industry, he was a divisional manager for a large office automation multinational with responsibility for sales, marketing and operations. Since leaving this corporate world, in around 20 or so years he has acted in well over one hundred films, TV shows, plays, commercials and various voice roles in London, New York City, Tokyo and all around the world.
He is a former board member of Player Playwrights and founder member of the Actors Screen Collective, London as well as being an associate director of Spoken Word Ltd. This is on top of running his own coaching business, teaching and running corporate workshops.
 
In the episode we talk about: 
About his book- “A Life Coaching Approach to Screen Acting” (https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/lifecoaching-approach-to-screen-acting-9781350039438/) 
His experience in the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. 
If actors need an education and institution to enter the industry.
Becoming a Coach and finding a niche. In Specific, the entertainment industry.
His style as a coach.
What the community of Coaches is like. Is their support or competitiveness? 
His experience on working with organisations such as player player playwrights, Actors Screen Collective and Spoken word ltd. 
The Facebook Community he set up during Covid 1- Daniel Dresner Coaching Actors. Which facilitated actors out of work and in a dark space— a place to connect and learn (https://www.facebook.com/groups/danieldresnercoachingactors)
His work at the Actors Centre to now creating Actors Coaching International. 
Advice for Actors on success and the rabbit hole of complications. 
Discuss the art of networking, marketing and business of the industry. 
Discuss a chapter of his book on the “Saboteur” the voice that says You Cannot. 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/danieldresnercoaching/ 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_ 
Guest: https://www.danieldresner.com/
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 
 

”Animatronic Sharks” w/ Kash Arshad

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. He spent 15 years working as an actor for companies such as Freedom Studios, Citizens Theatre, GW Theatre and Channel 4.In 2015 he made the leap into directing professionally, participating in an RTYDS 3 Month Placement at Freedom Studios, acting as assistant director to Ben Occhipinti on ChipShop The Musical by Emma Hill. Since then he has assisted at Leeds Playhouse, Theatre by the Lake and Bolton Octagon. He was Trainee Artistic Director at Freedom Studios from 2017 -  2019.He is an Associate Artist of National Youth Theatre and Mentor Director for National Theatre Connections. 
 
In the episode we talk about: 
First Directing project to most recent work. 
The conversation around the topic of diversity, accessability and inclusion in theatre. Where that sits in todays word and the future. 
The Olivier Awards and do accolades matter?
Programming plays for Theatres and the mechanics of that. 
Funding and Money in Theatre. 
Approach to text.
Approach new writing vs produced work and reworked.
The advantages and disadvantages of privilege.
Thoughts on digital space and its effect on theatre.
If you remove the pillars of a strong creative (faith, support and grit)— would you continue to do what you’re doing today?
How do you balance work and relationships?
Peaks and Valleys of life.
Words to mirror self
And of course some games :). 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://twitter.com/kasharshad 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum
Guest: https://www.kasharshad.co.uk 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 

”Topping Masculine Men” (w/ Bolly Illusion)

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. 
Their credits include: The Glory, The Hoxton, Glastonbury, London Queer Fashion show, Manchester Pride 2019, The Chateau, The Roundhouse. Pussy palace, , Birmingham Pride 2021, Daytimers x Somerset House, Won the lip-sync 1000 in 2019. Working for artists such as Mic Jagger, Joy Crookes, Priya Ragu, Mawaan Rizwan. And featured in campaigns for Levis, Rimmel London, Vogue Italia-- to name a FEW! 
In the episode we talk about: 
Yaha Waha--their film/ documentary which premiered at BFI Flare
The world of Bharatnatyam and its impact whilst being non-binary and Catholic. The learning unlearning and influence on gender, sexuality and self  creative work. 
The world of Bollywood.
Advice and tips on curating shows. 
Their personal journey on having Sex and their gender.
The Cabaret and Performative space. Thoughts on the South Asian Queer scene. And on organisations/ communities such as the Bitten Peach.
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/bolly_illusion/ 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum
Guest: https://linktr.ee/bolly_illusion 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 

”Walk Body to Adele-- Will People do it? Maybe not. Can it be done? Yes!” (W/ Jay Jay Revlon)

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.
Jay Jay has been an early and devoted influence on the London Ballroom scene for the past five years and has been instrumental in defining how Ballroom in the UK is run. As Father of the ‘UK House of Revlon’ and founder of the ‘Kiki House of Tea’, Jay Jay is a leading authority of Ballroom in the UK. 
From leading workshops at Tate Britain and SouthBank Centre, to bringing his inclusive flare to The Marlborough for Brighton Pride, he is a frequent collaborator with LGBTQ+ artists such as Honey Dijon and Years & Years. Jay Jay’s love for dance, voguing and DJing has taken him around the UK and Europe as a major force in the dance and music world.
A hugely in demand DJ, Jay Jay’s talent behind the decks has seen him play up and down the UK, on the festival circuit and internationally, bringing his signature mix of House, Afro House, Classics and Ballroom beats. As well as having his own BoilerRoom Set, his credits include playing for Rinse FM, Fabric, The Royal Academy, National Portrait Gallery, Bussey Building, as well as playing for brands such as Levi’s, G-Star, JW Anderson’s LFW Afterparty and many more. 
 
In the episode we discuss
Ballroom culture- where it's been and where it's going?
Music- How Jay Jay got into Dj'ing and what does the future hold? 
Theatre and what made Sundown Kiki at The Young Vic Theatre in London special for the culture and him? 
How to uphold values of culture and support each other in the community when it can turn into a monetisation scheme. 
How Drag and ballroom culture have become a pop/ soundbite moment often. And what separates that from the experience of-- vs it's visibility. Can certain things be problematic? 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/jayjayrevlon/ 
Links:Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithrai 
Guest: https://www.justjayjay.com 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 

”What do Adriana Lima & Nikesh Patel smell like?” (W/ Amrita Mudan)

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. 
Working as a freelancer, barriers one faces being South Asian and a woman through the lens of culture or the industry. Also, our connectivity on Korean skin care our shared passion love for Francis McDormand, Adrian Lima and Nikesh Patel. And an eternal question Gandalf the grey or Gandalf the white?
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/amritamudan/ 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum
Guest: https://www.amritamudan.com 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.
 

”Foot Fetishes and Black Nike Socks” (W/ Tarek Khwiss)

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. 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/tarekkhwiss/
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum
Guest: https://linktr.ee/tarekkhwiss
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.

A Wisdomist Chai- ”I feel the Vitiligo community is the antidote or vaccine for racism”.

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!
To watch the full video: https://youtu.be/on1PGOzHUi8 
To listen to the entire episode:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-9-in-conversation-with-saran-kohli/id1602305867?i=1000546286699
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1JakzWrHIcXwQ6tSXXG7vQ?si=FXWNL09VSXagVZglTNchRg
Amazon/ Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d99d5499-92f5-49eb-a66b-6b3525a82c0b/episodes/9001ee7b-a5e2-4d57-a1a2-53ca184dd975/chai-with-rai-episode-9--in-conversation-with-saran-kohli
Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3JhaW11aXRmdW0vZmVlZC54bWw/episode/cmFpbXVpdGZ1bS5wb2RiZWFuLmNvbS9hYWE0ZDA1OC1kMGE4LTMzODAtODlmMC04OGEyYzlkMmVhOWE?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjY0dzzypP3AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ
Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-t4mh8-115da06 
 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/sarankohli/ 
Links: Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum Guest: https://www.sarankohli.com 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe and share follow my page and everything above.

”La La Land does not represent White Love in LA” (W/ Cast of Sundown Kiki)

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. 
We get into discussing Gender, Pronouns, Sexuality, Privellage. Narratives you would change/ embrace about queer culture and how it is being POC &  queer in the space? Your experience than of that someone who comes from a white or Privileged background? What would you embrace and change about the LGBTQ+ community ? And of course we touch up on sexual/ porn experiences and randomly Janelle Monae, Anime, Nando's and opinions on Iggy Azalea. 
Social:Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/amanicosmo/ , https://www.instagram.com/angelx19/ , https://www.instagram.com/asa_haynes/ , https://www.instagram.com/jasper.ryancater/ , https://www.instagram.com/laffytaffyette/ , https://www.instagram.com/tatendashamiso/ & https://www.instagram.com/emanuelvo/ 
Links:Myself: https://linktr.ee/raimuitfum
Guest: https://www.youngvic.org/taking-part/participation/sundown-kiki-project , https://linktr.ee/jasperryancater & https://linktr.ee/tatendashamiso 
Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in.
To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.