Akka's Unsolicited Advice
Welcome to Akka’s Unsolicited Advice, where eldest South Indian daughters finally get the mic (because we’ve always had the opinions). If you’ve ever been the family’s built-in babysitter, unpaid therapist, cultural translator, and emotional shock absorber all before hitting puberty, this one’s for you. Each episode serves up stories, unsolicited (but spot-on) advice, and big sister energy with a side of sarcasm. Whether you’re the resident akka or just need one in your life, come validate your oldest-daughter trauma with us. No filter, no apologies, just a lot of love and probably some judgment.
Episodes
19 episodes
The Unwritten (Tamil?) Mom Rules
There is an unwritten rulebook for being raised by a Tamil mom. We just never got a copy.In this episode, we review some of the rules we somehow all learned by osmosis—from superstitions you were never allowed to question, to the correct...
Pack Your Bags, We're Going to India for the Summer
For some of us, summer vacation meant one thing: India.In this episode, Anjali and I talk about growing up with summers that revolved around trips to India. One of us was ready to stay home, the other couldn't wait to go. We compare our ...
Thambi Has Entered the Chat
What’s it actually like having an Akka?For once, we’re hearing from the thambi. In this episode, we invited Dharshini's baby (he is an adult) brother, Mithran, to share his perspective on growing up with an older sister. He t...
Not the Main Character
What happens when stories set in Tamil communities rarely center Tamil women?In this episode, we unpack how Tamil women are portrayed in Indian media—from being sidelined into supporting roles to having their pain used as a turning point...
So...Why Are You Still Single?
For once, the Akka giving the advice is the one answering the questions.In this flip-the-script episode, my cousins take over the interview chair to ask me about dating (or not dating), being single in my thirties, and navigating all the...
Too Skinny, Too Curvy, Never Just Right
Our bodies have always seemed to be a topic of conversation, but should they be?In this episode, we talk about growing up in a culture where comments about weight, appearance, and body changes are often seen as normal conversation, even ...
Puberty, But Make It Public
From awkward first periods and learning how to use a pad, to sadangus and realizing your entire extended family somehow knew what was happening before you did... this episode is all about growing up.We laugh our way through the ...
Lovely, But Not Fair
In this episode, we unpack one of the most pervasive yet often unspoken issues in the Tamil community: colorism. From childhood comments about staying out of the sun to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways lighter skin was praised, we explore ho...
Say My Name, Say My Name
What’s in a name? More than most people realize.Welcome to Season 2 of Akka's Unsolicited Advice! We're back with a conversation inspired by the recent debate surrounding Indian Americans who anglicize or adapt the pronunciation of their...
Fitting In: The Gen Alpha Edition
Growing up today looks very different than it did for the millennial akkas. In this episode, we hear from a new generation navigating identity in a world that is more diverse, but still full of stereotypes and pressure to conform. We talk about...
Fitting In: The Millennial Edition
Growing up South Indian in a mostly Western world meant mastering the art of blending in (or at least trying to). In this episode, we talk about what “fitting in” looked like for millennial Akkas: from lunchbox shame and name fumbling to learni...
Doctor, Engineer, or Disappointment?
We’ve all heard the stereotype: Tamil parents want you to be a doctor, engineer, or at least something with a steady paycheck and no creative risk. But that’s not everyone’s story. In this episode, we talk about parental expectations and how th...
We Don't Talk About Mental Health (But We Should)
In this episode, we’re breaking the silence around mental health, the kind that gets swept under the rug with a “just be strong.” From the pressure to always keep it together to the stigma around therapy, we unpack how mental health is (or isn’...
Girl Marries Not-Tamil Boy
In this episode, we go beyond the initial shock and explore what happens after you tell your family he’s not Tamil. We dig into the real-life aftermath of big feelings, big questions, and sometimes big drama. From managing subtle (and ...
Girl Meets Not-Tamil Boy
In this episode, we dive into the emotional, funny, and sometimes nerve-wracking reality of dating outside the Tamil culture, especially when it’s time to tell your family. We explore what it means to fall for someone who doesn’t share the same...
Curls, Chaos, and Coconut Oil
Our hair holds our history, with Sunday oiling rituals, school photos with tight braids, and the quiet shame of not fitting the “good hair” ideal. In this episode, we talk about unlearning beauty standards, embracing texture, and healing the co...
What We Learned (And Didn't) About Money
Savings, spending, and side-eye from your parents: today we’re talking money. In this episode, we unpack what we were (and weren’t) taught about money, how guilt sneaks into our spending, and what financial independence means for eldes...
Unlearning and Rewriting the Gender Rules
Our parents meant well, but love doesn’t always protect us from stereotypes. In this episode, we talk about how gender shaped our upbringing: the expectations placed on daughters, the freedoms given to sons, and how we watched our parents perfo...
So, You’re the Eldest Daughter…
Welcome to Akka’s Unsolicited Advice, the podcast for every eldest daughter who had to figure it all out first. I’m Aarthi: recently graduated physician, lifelong big sister, and expert in unsolicited wisdom. In this intro episode, I’m...
