Meet Aniya Jain and Ishya Jain | Radio Show Co-Hosts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aniya Jain and Ishya Jain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aniya and Ishya, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
Aniya: I recently read Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime and really enjoyed it! In the book, he explores his childhood in the apartheid era of South Africa as a mixed-race boy. I was intrigued by the way he contrasts racism in South Africa and America by including anecdotes of his encounters with his friends, family, and even law enforcement. His reflection on the perseverance of all the women in his life, including his mother and grandmother, resonated with me.

Ishya: I have recommended Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus to so many people because it connects with such a large audience! The protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist in the 1950s who, due to sexism, fails to get recognition for her work, so instead she hosts a cooking show on television, an opportunity she uses to empower the American housewife. The book is a great representation of the resilience of working women and showcases the power of media in social change.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Our family has always encouraged us to explore our creativity, whether it be through music, visual arts, or a plethora of other hobbies. While many of our hobbies were fleeting interests, creativity and curiosity were at the core of nearly everyone. Over the pandemic, to fill up our free time, we subscribed to numerous magazines and read each one religiously. We noted that each issue covered a diverse range of topics, presented in different mediums such as editorials, photos, recipes, and memoirs. Despite this, the editor managed to connect them all thematically. We wanted to implement this format in another type of media and quickly realized that radio was the perfect platform. After cold-emailing the director of the station, we pitched our show to her and completed multiple training sessions. Through our radio show, we meld our passion for South-Asian diasporic music with our drive to facilitate an informed electorate. Having hosted the show for almost a year and a half, we have learned that our community places immense value on radio because of its unique ability to create a sense of comfort and belonging. We also learned about South-Asian American creative communities from our interviews with Shevya Awasthi and Manasi Arya. So often, the South Asian community gets left out of news media, but through the agency of our show, we hope to showcase the diversity of our community and combat the lack of political attention directed towards it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food!
Q Donuts: The best donuts in Dallas are in Plano
La Casita Bakeshop: James Beard nominated (!) and addicting almond croissants
A Day Cafe: Crepes, coffee, and super cute
India Palace: Come for the malai kofta, stay for the pani puri
Malai Kitchen: Thai food for the vegans/vegetarians!
Starship Bagel: [better than] New York-style bagels

Attractions!
Cedar Ridge Preserve
Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas Arboretum
In the spring, see the bluebonnet and tulip fields
H-E-B
Gaylord Texan Resort

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our parents deserve a lot of credit because they have driven us to the studio countless times (even in the middle of the night for our training sessions) and always encouraged us to pursue our passions relentlessly. Additionally, Ambreen Hasnat, the Director of Operations at FunAsia, has supported us from our first meeting. She is one of the hardest working and most passionate people at the station!

Website: https://funasia.net/

Instagram: @funasia_radio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FunAsiaradio/