Real Beauty Season 6: Editor/Publisher of LCAHouston International Society News Magazine, and Founder Host of International Mothers Day Soirée featuring Ruchi Mukherjee

Episode 5 PART 1! 

Hit me up @choosandfashiondoos

Transcript

0:01

Hey, welcome back to real beauty with Ft. Season six. And this is episode five. I'm currently getting organized. It is Sunday night. I'm doing all the fun chores, such as changing the bad sheets during the washing. All that other fun stuff that we typically do on a Sunday to prepare for the week ahead. And. This afternoon, I went to one of my favorite places in old town spring. It's called T cattle cafe. And they literally do the best high tea. It's I really try and go as often as I can. Cause I miss gongs. Clotted cream and fresh jam from the UK. Of course. So anyway, after we had. Hi T we were celebrating my girlfriends. Birthday. Me and Luna rose decided to just wander around old town spring, which if you haven't and you live in the Houston area. It is such a cute place. Firstly, if you're British like me, they have the British store. So of course it makes me want to buy. Super overpriced products that you would pay like a core of the price for at home, but it's those kind of homely comforts that remind you of like childhood or different memories. Anyway. We also went to a place called. On a whim. And. Oh, my gosh, they have such cute items. It's a mixture of, um, like they have jewelry. They also have some like core Cesarea. Boots shoes. Um, and then they also have like really cool clothing. So of course. And I'm sitting, looking at it right now. Hence reminded me IM. Firstly. I am addicted to buying. Any like jewelry that has snakes on it. I don't know why I don't particularly want to look into X. I can't imagine any of the, like, I can't imagine it's going to be positive, but anyway, I just love it. And it's really difficult to find. I think it's probably because of. I remember years ago when Bulgari came out with this snake, like necklace and that collection, which is like iconic. Um, I guess I'm just always trying to find like a cheap dude. Cause clearly I'll never build forward Bokhari, but anyway, So. They had two sets of. Adorable like chic snake earrings. Of course I bought them. And then they had. Great jackets with like fringe, especially as we're coming up to rodeo season in Houston. So I purchased a denim jacket and the back of it has fringe, but it's like DMT. fringe. Which I was like, oh my God, we're going extra. So I double check with Luna. I was like, do you think I should purchase this? And of course she said, yes, mama. I'll do it. So now I'm like, we're clearly. Going to be terrible influences on one another, but anyway, Um, it was a really fun. Afternoon. So highly, highly recommend. Just go check out old town spraying. They also have a really cool bar called plain and level where it's like great wine, great atmosphere, and they have kind of tap pass. So, um, yeah, it's a cool kind of different local place and that we certainly love going to. What else has happened this week? Well, I finally finished the audio book version of spare. So prince Harry's. Um, and I can only imagine if you are so bear with me with my podcasts and I'm about to do. Uh, post tonight about it. Um, you'll either. Love this. And I agree. Or I find there's no, in-between, you're going to instantly hate me and follow me. That's fine. It's your own province, but. And, uh, thankfully. One of my colleagues at work. She started a book club for us to kind of talk about this, which has been awesome. So finally finished it this morning. And it was so good. Like I appreciate, there's definitely split opinions out there. I think this was him writing the book as a fuck you to the press. A little bit of kind of self therapy for himself. And also, I think it was more clearly like a bit of a kind of fuck you to your family that. You can't continue to go silent in these circumstances. So it's too long for me to. Go into firstly, if you don't know the background about the whole situation, um, But you've been seeing in the press. Um, and you're probably thinking. Oh, my gosh. Why is her life? So shit. Why are they complaining? I thought they didn't want to be in the press. And now they're in the press and now they're doing the documentary and they did that interview with Oprah on like, How dare they speak against the Royal family. So I see all these headlines and specifically journalists, such as like piers Morgan, like clearly have. Not enough going on in their life that they have to fully just spend. A lot of dedicated time to attack individuals, which I find is really sad. But. To me, what I find kind of most concerning just reading it is. The press in the UK specifically. I'm like, God, it's so bad. So bad. And I feel we've been living here for. Nearly nine years and don't get me wrong. The press in the us. I mean. Um, the press globally is not ideal, but Jesus. I just looking back, like some of the articles that have been written against Meghan Markle and prince Harry, I'm like, it's actually appalling. And for anyone who I've kind of had. A little bit of a debate about I'm like, Oh, you need to do is look back and think, imagine if you were in that situation or that was you and your gang people messaged you or like funk cover of like established magazines saying. Does gusting, racist, horrible things. Um, it just instantly makes me think of. Um, Caroline flack who, if, you know, especially my more American listeners, Carline, flack was a TV present in the UK. And the UK press were just relentless. It was just constant. And she ended up taking her own life and her mom tried to. Um, do campaigns. And there was a lot of stuff on Instagram and on the web, because I mean it trended saying like, be kind right. Um, like be kind to each other and then literally within a month, everything just goes back to normal guy. And I think. Oh, God. Why are people so fucking mean? So. If you are of the opinion, then you think it's all bollix. And do you think he just needs to kind of get over himself? And so does she, and they just need to kind of go back in their home and stop speaking about like their life. I would highly recommend. Just instead of just reading the headlines and taking that. Like face value. Do some research, like look into it. And maybe take yourself out of that. Like your own bubble and put yourself in someone else's shoes and think, well, That must kind of sock. And I think. Again, regardless of like the details at the end of the day, that was his family that remained silent. And I think that's really sad and I've deep as empathy for anyone that doesn't get the right love and support from their family. Because it really is sad. And for me, at least Harry is trying to stop that generational cycle. He's doing something about it. And hopefully he will be a lot better. Father compared to what he's received, but anyway, I'm going to get off my home. And I will save this for my boot club and Friday. Um, and if you are still the thing. I promise. It's going to be a great episode. Um, I'm really, really excited about speaking to, um, Richie, who is the editor publisher of LCA Houston international society news magazine. And also the founder host of international mother's day surgery. So, um, we had such an awesome conversation, but anyway, I just want to touch on just kind of my thoughts after finishing that book. And I'm so glad I dedicated time to listen to. Here, what he had to say. Anyway enjoy and have a great week

francene: 9:45

How's it going?

Runchi: 9:47

Good as usual. Very was a Today was not that crazy. Just lining up with, uh, the million things that I do.

francene: 9:56

Oh my gosh. When I was reading your bio, I was like, there's so many different directions I want to

Runchi: 10:02

go in I know. I said, so is my day-to-day life. And my mom said, you're in town from India. Oh wow. After four years pandemic and all of that and just, it's been four years and part of I know, of course we'd be jumping and one of the most interesting part of my work is figuring out what will I be wearing? Yeah. the entire week at least. Yeah. I mean, it's nice if you like fashion, which I do, but it's exhausting.

francene: 10:35

Yeah. It's a lot. So do you lay everything out?

Runchi: 10:40

I, I definitely try. Yeah. And then whenever I don't try or I don't plan, I have to like the variations of my event. Like just before this I was on a message with this one of my friends and, you know, clients and Bridge Klay, she's chairing the, uh, evening in the park Memorial Hermann, uh, fundraiser. Yeah. She's a very, very, they have, she and her has been very big donors and she's also a very good friend of mine. And I have been with my magazine, been part of many mainstream Houston events and these are like from Opera Ball, ballet Symphony, tiger Ball Society. Then they, you know, hum Park. I mean these are not something you just cannot get up and go, you know, Oh, for sure. Although I've been one of those people, I do not believe in fashion being keeping up with the Joneses. I don't. Because A, I cannot, because my circle is, everyone's like, eh, they're at least a millionaire So I'm like, okay, you're like, cannot compete. But I'm very lucky that in a profession I am in that I work with a lot of fashion houses and I work with a lot of brands that either sometimes be sponsors or they just give me outfits. Like Bulgur has given me like the hundred$50 necklace to wear.

francene: 11:54

Oh my gosh. You are living the dream.

Runchi: 11:59

That's like, that's amazing. But I plan outfits

francene: 12:02

definitely. I love it. Well, you always look fabulous. The more I see your Instagram and after meeting you in person, you're a fabulous person.

Runchi: 12:12

I love your outfit of the day. I think it's really nice. I think everyone should do it. People who are working, um, whoever don't like it, I always say they don't have to see it, but I enjoy it. I'm like, I like to see like, me too. It's, it keeps you cause I'm nosy. It keeps you motivated to look good. I feel it does important people, some might say it's showing off. I don't see it that way because it's kind of fun. Yeah. Girls have always loved because women have always loved to dress up so,

francene: 12:39

I agree. Plus I always feel it gives me a bit more inspiration. Mm-hmm. to see what other people are wearing. And I'm like, oh, that's a great idea. Let me copy it. Yeah. Let me see if

Runchi: 12:50

I can imagine. Reina, I am of course a creator of my own madness with, despite my crazy schedule, I will come up with these things like, oh my God, I wanna buy this bright yellow color dress or something. Yeah.

francene: 13:05

Yes. I'm all about the color. I try and avoid black. I like it. Yeah.

Runchi: 13:11

I like black. Like the evening gown black. But I will not wear it all the time. No, I want colors

francene: 13:16

for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Me too. Me too. Um, well, hey, thank you so much for taking time to talk with me, especially if your mom's in town. Um, I'm also really looking forward to Brun. And catching

Runchi: 13:29

up. It's a fashionable project course. So we try, we're trying to think. Me and my friend Mika will also be joining. Yes. So we are like, maybe we'll do floral sorrys. Maybe we'll do dresses. She's like, let's do sorry. At Butler house. Oh my

francene: 13:41

God. I love it. I love it. I cannot wait. Um, so hey, welcome to Real Beauty. Um, so I kick off every single podcast asking each guest, what does beauty mean to

Runchi: 13:55

you? Ooh, it's a good question. Um, beauty to me, honestly, I know the cliche answers. Inside. Inside, of course, I have more and more. As you age, progress, mature in life. You do realize that, uh, beauty to me definitely is staying healthy mentally and physic. Yeah, because I, I did the crazy workaholic situation I was in and I was, I had the most expensive, not buying, but getting it from whoever. I had expensive clothes, but I was not feeling good. You know, you cannot slap a Tom Ford on your, or, you know, Chanel if you are not feeling good. Yeah. And that's the number one rule. And you can wear a target dress and look million dollars, million bucks, uh, if you are really feeling healthy. And the size is not really never important for me. But yes, you know, you know your height, you know your weight, you know, you know what's healthy for you. All that is extremely, extremely important.

francene: 15:02

Yeah, I, I agree. It's how you feel inside and having that confidence, cuz it's so true. You could wear the best dress ever. If you don't feel good. Then I'm always conscious, I'm always, you know, kind of covering my stomach if I don't feel good. And then on other occasions I'm like, Hey, Yeah,

Runchi: 15:22

no, and it's, I agree. It's very true because I have seen it again in the social scene where I am mm-hmm. uh, where everyone is, everyone is in my situation, definitely I feel way richer than me. You know, they all have so much more wealth. And my dad taught me one thing very, at a very, very young age that when you walk in a room, there'll always be someone prettier, skinnier, and wealthier than you. Yeah. And you could never, you will never be able to win with that mindset if you're thinking of upping them. Because there will always be someone like you cannot. Yeah. You know, bill Gates was, was the top one, and then there's someone else will top him. So, but, you know, at the same time, but if you, you go and walk in in your room as with your confidence and what you can offer.

francene: 16:12

Yeah. Oh my God, I love that. That's so true. Um, so again, after reading your awesome Bayou, um, bio, so you started off, um, in journalism. So you were a journalist reporter for Crime Beat, um, in the Times of India, and you were only 20 and you covered incredible stories and, and subjects like se sex trafficking, um, political corruption scandals. So how did you get into that? Did you always want to be a writer?

Runchi: 16:50

So I grew up in India. I came to the United States at the age 23, 24. Okay. Okay. And I was always very like, you know, I was in seventh grade when I kind of raised my hand. You know, those teachers ask you those questions, what do you wanna be? Mm-hmm. And I always loved fashion. This was just me as a first grader. Mm-hmm. I used to pull, you know, as a kid, I used to pull my outfits together and my mom was so frustrated with me. She's like, I can't wait for the uniform to start Cause this girl drives me nuts. And you, it's so funny. That little girl in me, I have not changed. Oh, I love that. I'm just grown. But I am that same. And I, even now, I look at myself, I still remember the same girls would get putting herself ready for kindergarten, That's awesome. So the nice dress and all of that, But what she, what happened was, I always liked fashion. Uh, there's a very serious side in me. Like, it's so funny. It's like in some part when people see my social media, I come across as a very like, you know, passion and, which is true, that's one facet of me, but I'm a very deep philosophical over not a overthinker spiritual person. I love to talk about what is the meaning and you know, why are we doing what we are doing and things like deeper conversations. Yeah. And this is just not today. Even when I was in fifth, sixth grade, I used to ask my mom, growing up in India, I used to see my peers not getting bothered about us few things as in India, even though education was fine for girls and common, you know, it's like we all girls in middle, middle class or upper middle class, we all were getting education. But what changed in me was a thought I would go to these Indian weddings. Hmm. And. It was like growing up in the mid in, in the eighties, I would see, I remember still like it was 89, 88 or whatever year it was. And I was like, you know what? And I went to the best school. My dad was paying so much money for that private school, and I was looking at the, like, the situation of, in the wedding, the boys' family was like, you know, so superior and the girl's family. And the girl was like, all it kind of, I came back asking 20 questions to my mom, ma I, and I remember having that Lord Buddha moment in me that, what is the point? Yeah. Why am I worth studying so hard? Why are you asking me to do homework? Why are you asking me to study Because I told her, I said, if this is gonna be my future in like 10 years from now at 21, 22, whatever, um, what, what's the point? Yeah. Why, why are working? So my mom would be like, I don't know, that's not true. But I'm like, but I could see that they were, they were treated as lower class. Like they were treated as lesser. They were treated second class citizens. Mm-hmm. Why? Why? She like, oh, these are just customs. And really, I said, no, when I don't understand. Then I would read the newspaper. Times of India, grew up reading the Times of India. I would get every morning the newspaper thrown in the, you know, the front yard. Yeah. And I read the newspaper and it was filled with dowry, deads, rape, abuse. and it like, it just, I was like, I was just functioning, but I was not, I felt miserable. Mm-hmm. and the little girl in me was, I think that's what is good, because I thought I could change the world. Yeah. And I think it's a good feeling even if you, no one, one person can never do it, but it takes that one person of course, to try to always take that one person to feel that I will change the world. That even though if you can't change the world, you can change your situation and that will change your child, child situation. Hundred percent and so forth.

francene: 20:30

Yeah.

Runchi: 20:31

Yeah. And that's the exact example. And the, that's the motivation and that's what is my life story. I changed my story. When I had arranged marriage, my daughter is so proud of me and I have a feeling she will not make those kind of mistakes. Sort of like, which I didn't make mistakes, but I got in a situation where I had an arranged marriage. Mm-hmm. and I, things I didn't want to be, you know, experiencing happened to me. I was not treated equally in the marriage. I was considered, my voice was not heard. I was considered, you know, unimportant only just to, uh, um, give birth to a child. Mm-hmm. and my career was very important and all of that. And my, so I changed that. I left my arranged marriage with, uh, six month old baby in my hand because she was the reason I left the marriage, because I did not, I didn't feel respected, I didn't feel loved. I didn't, it didn't match any of my ethics and values. That was the reason I left, and my daughter is so proud of me for doing that. Why that I

francene: 21:38

can't even imagine how difficult that must

Runchi: 21:40

have been. It was extremely difficult, but what would be very difficult was, I feel, to stay. Yeah. Yeah. That's my number one motto in life is I wish we grew up more. I wish I grew up even more with my peers, grew up with this not mentality that, uh, stay in the marriage for the sake of the child. No one should actually not stay in the marriage for the sake of a child or children. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So that's my, yeah.

francene: 22:06

Yeah, I agree. And how, um, so I guess with like your peers and back then, I can imagine from a society standpoint, that must have also been hard to It was very hard.

Runchi: 22:18

The wave. Yeah. They made me look like a bad guy. They made me look like the bad person. They made me look like a bad mom. They made me look, uh, like everything I didn't from the Indian community, it was like, uh, you know, what was I doing? I all of that. And going back to the question of what made me start, so it was literally reading those newspapers. I was in seventh grade. The teacher asked, what do you wanna do when you grow up? And my, I raised my hand and I said, um, crime reporting. And my thought process was, I want to write about dowry, death's, abuse, and this whole mindset of stay in a marriage and just kill your happiness. Mm. I'm a big believer of marriage. I'm a big believer of love. I am. I'm one of the most hopeless romantic person on this planet, but I am not a believer in abuse and staying in any abusive relationship, but not just not marriage, whether even in a family, parents or siblings. I feel, uh, it's just to me that's not love.

francene: 23:20

Yeah, I agree. Yeah. And especially if you're not happy. Yeah. I think that's such a key message. You know, happiness is everything. So how do you ensure that you create an environment that allows you to be happy, especially if you have kids,

Runchi: 23:35

you know? Exactly. Yeah. It's very Cause they're watching. Yeah. The most everything they learn is not, not so much from school that we are, the parents are the first is what we teach. Yeah. And to some extent, I feel I took a sort of abuse or whatever, even though it was such a feisty journalist in me, but somewhere deep grained was like, I guess we need to tolerate this. Yeah. Didn't you shake yourself from that dream that No, you don't need to. And do

francene: 24:04

you feel it's like the world's changed since then with the outlook on marriage and ensuring that, again, you get yourself out of that abusive marriage. Um, do you feel like there's a lot more support than it was back then India? Or? Both because I guess you have both. Um, yeah, I have.

Runchi: 24:29

Right. 3 22 and you know, it's like interesting. Yeah. Um, you know, uh, very interesting. I still feel people are making changes. And there's a lot of stigmas for men too, you know? Mm-hmm. like, uh, they being in abusive relationships, men also experience extremely abusive relationships, financial abuse from their spouses, the experience. Yeah. Um, of course the physical abuse is typically they thought processes that, that only women go through, which is not true. Right. Men go through a lot of abuse as well, and women actually have way more support that way. They can cry, they can, uh, typically they will be getting more support than a man will get. Mm-hmm. and I have personally seen in my, in my association with a lot of, you know, whoever my friends or boyfriend that I, they have talked about or have not just talked about a relationship they were in. I see how they deal with the exes even now. Yeah. That is how there's verbal abuse. Um, and these things, women, we actually talk so openly. We say, oh my god, red flag, he said this and she said that. but men don't say it. For example, I know a guy whose ex still calls him fat, ugly and short. Oh my gosh. And to me, and they brush it off. We, we take it like we, but to me that's abuse. And can, if you can imagine this is ha this he, she says, when they are not together, I can only imagine when they were together what level of emotional abuse she must have done. So having said that, but I still hear a comment, which makes me believe that has the society changed as in, oh my god, we have been together for 35 years. Mm-hmm. like I feel this is not a race about completing so many years. Yeah. But a journey of happiness. Yes, that's what it should be. But I do feel it is changing. Good. Uh, divorces are normalizing. I am not, again, I've hate to say it cause I, I don't be, when you go in a relationship, you do not think of a splitting. You know, you never think of that. Of course. Always think of, you know, a relationship being, you know, forever. But if you think about it, nothing in life, if we go with the mindset of nothing is forever. It's a good mindset. Yeah. It, because nothing is forever. Whether our bodies, our childhood, our in the weather, nothing is created forever. India has come a long way, in my opinion. Um, it has to still go a long way. Mm-hmm. because it's very, it's very divor diverse and very intercom complex. India, in one hand, you specifically, who is in the oil and gas, you know? Mm-hmm. is the most, they produce the most educated men and women. Oh yeah. Literacy rate is really high. Women are very educated. There. But the society mindset when it comes to marriage, they still talk about it is leaving as if the, the mindset is, if it's not that bad, what's the reason? Does he beat you? Yeah. Does he

francene: 27:40

knock on, does he, yeah. Like there needs to be something more.

Runchi: 27:43

Yeah, yeah. So in my case, like I was lucky to have something more, so I was like, oh, even then, just because he has a good job and he was not someone who would come across as like, he's, he didn't hit me or anything. I'm like, okay, so can you work it out? No. You're like,

francene: 28:00

no, I don't want to. No. Yeah. So,

Runchi: 28:03

um, I think it's coming. Change is coming slowly and change is never easy, but that's when you have one. The present generation have the way we talk to our children. Yeah. Yeah. We need to talk more openly and, okay. The reason I feel change is coming and has come is because of those stories and those, um, Disney stories that have been produced. Yeah. That's the number one. When we watch the, you know, where it's in Canto was loving. Can I have been watching with my boyfriend's kids, all these stories and movies? Yeah. And I watch and see. I was talking to him and I said, oh my God, I grew up with Cinderella and Prince Charming. Every end of the mo story there was a Prince Charming with a shoe to save the day, or a ladder climbing up and saving me. And, you know, you know, it's ingrained in us. It's ingrained me. It's slowly changing, but it's, it's ingrained that the man will give you something nice. Only then you're valued. Oh my God, a hundred percent. and people, women still ask, oh my God, what did he do for you on that day? Yeah. What did he buy for you? Because that is valued now with these movies, I feel they're talking about feelings, emotions, they're not making stories, which are just, boy, girl, boy loves girl, and you know, and then they lived happily ever after. They're, they're touching more real topics. Yeah, I

francene: 29:27

agree. And more equalness with between men and women too. Yes. Yeah. More groups. Yeah. Um, because I even noticed that when we had Luna and I went back to work after three months, and then I started going on business trips at five months. I went to Alaska, Canada. And I remember the initial reaction from my girlfriends was, Well, where's Luna gonna go? I was like, well, she has a father at home, What do you mean? And they're like, is your mom gonna come over and help? I'm like, no, why would that be the initial reaction? But yet my husband travels and has continued to travel. No one ever questions. Will Luna be okay?

Runchi: 30:08

No. It just so funny, it's so funny, it's so annoying. I say this all the time, I will go to the gala and the first question they would ask me, so where's Erica Uh, my daughter's name? Yeah. I'm like, uh, with her dad? Yeah. Oh wow. And

francene: 30:24

in my case, they, they're what a, what a great

Runchi: 30:25

guy. Cause we're not together. So they would be like, oh wow. So you're so lucky that at least he watches his. Oh my God. When you're out

francene: 30:33

and about. I know. I can't, oh my God, I can't. The amount of comments I get with my social life and they're like, you are so lucky. Your husband's so supportive. I'm like, um, we both have a life and we're both equal and he's a founder

Runchi: 30:45

and God forbidden only for work. We can also go for a little bit of fun too, you know? I know,

francene: 30:50

I know. I know. Heaven, him forbid.

Runchi: 30:54

I mean, and I understand, but no one ever has. I have in the social scene a classic example, I've seen men, single dads walk in and they're never been asked. Yeah, of course. Where's your, but this is not upon the men. This is upon the women. Yeah. Women ask these questions.

francene: 31:11

Oh, I agree. It's always women. To me, the guys never say anything. I've never had women being like,

Runchi: 31:17

ever ask me, where's your daughter? Yeah. How's your daughter? They ask. Yeah. They've never asked. Where's your daughter? Yeah. It has always been the women who ask me, Where's your daughter? Oh my God, you are out every, and my job is every gala and luncheon, I go, my God, you're out every evening, And but the way they say is like, I as if I'm doing something wrong. I know.

francene: 31:41

Yeah, I

Runchi: 31:42

know. Yeah, it sucks. And there's, right away the praise is, oh my God, he, he's at least. I don't understand

francene: 31:51

that I don't understand either. Like, I hope that that's something that changes.

Runchi: 31:56

Yeah. And that takes you such primitive thinking than you think. Oh, I know.

francene: 32:00

But again, to your point, I think it's ingrained in us. Yeah. And it's only when you get that reaction from people, like, I would never have that reaction to someone because I've, I get that reaction. Yeah. And I don't think that way, but it's how you make it a normal, to your point with your kids, for them to be able to see it is normal. To have a life, to also have a job and also do stuff with your, you know, parents. Yeah. But separately, like, that's okay. It's okay for the mom to go out

Runchi: 32:34

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's just, it's just mind boggling and how, you know, you see that, but you know, like you said, it, it's, these are things that you have to, items. And I used to go in the very beginning, it was a lot when the Indians, whether it's in the Indian social scene or non-Indian, both places I've got that, but Indian eyes would get way more and I didn't, it didn't scare me. The whole point was not to be scared, be confident, and keep doing Yeah. And you know, and, but I have my own take on equality with men and women and different takes I have. Um, but yeah, that is, uh, I think it's fairy tales and the. It's, you know, gender roles. Yeah. Which is okay, you know, in a house a mom can give more tender love and, you know, it's comforting to have a, you know, mother and a female in the house and then running to my dad when I was sick. I get that. That's different. Yeah. But these questions make no sense if we are all working this day and age. Yeah, I,

francene: 33:42

I agree. Um, and, you know, looking at all of your achievements over the years, and as you continue to do so now, I mean even just from getting your own column, um, for the Indian Statesman publication and then going on to cover NASA Columbia Shuttle disaster in 2003, um, also covering stories for Fox A, B, C. ESPN used one of your stories in a documentary. I mean, it is incredible what you have accomplished. Um, so how have you found navigating through this industry, starting off in India, moving then to the States as a female? And I know that you are a big advocate and we'll go on to discuss this for L C A in diversity, but how have you found it?

Runchi: 34:39

Um, being female was not very challenging, uh, because my, this community has been extremely supportive of, uh, you know, Like the, the people, the communities have, they believe this, first of all, the way it worked is they saw my work because I, yeah. My mission was not to be a socialite, you know, I'm not a socialite. I am a journalist. I am writing, I've been interviewing people from different walks of life. That was my profession. Trained journalist, which turned into writing columns. Yeah. Then more, um, having a magazine, which made me more of a business side. Yeah. So still going and attending whatever. They kept seeing the good work and they loved the stories, and the way I connected people was incredible. Mm-hmm. and what our magazine has been doing from day one. So the support was coming very, you know, good people were supporting right away. What was challenging was, Being far from family. Yeah. With a small baby and like dinner, toddler, then like, you know, all these stages. I had no family here. Like at times, I really don't know. I don't have even the answer to tell what, how I did. I don't know. Like I don't know how I did it. So how do I scramble through this? I guess it may, I mean, with Erica being so little, three, four, when I started the Mother's Day school in Houston, she was in first grade. Oh my gosh. Wow. Yeah. And I have no mom here. No, my, my parents in India. My sister's in my one sister, she's in India. Um, just pretty her to bed at nine, uh, eight 30, but then she goes to sleep, then I take off my computer, then I start writing stories and when she's at school, then come meetings, doing all that, coming home at three 30. Then after school program kind of helped me get a little bit more time. I What time with that? Yeah. Things like that. What was very challenging. I will say was the subtle, and I don't that again, I am very proud because there is no one in the social scene as, as a character or a person as me for two reasons. Mm-hmm. number one, I was not born and raised here. Indian. Mm-hmm. So the ones who make it in the mainstream community, most likely as a gala scene covering or attending, uh, either with a backing of a rich parents Uhhuh, or they're married to very wealthy husbands, or they themselves like, you know, doctors, engineers, or whatever. Mm-hmm. but they're also married to very wealthy people. Then they get a foot in the door to attend, invited, or cover or not cover, attend the big galas and events, opera, whatever. In my case, I was. on top of it, I'm a brown girl who came from India. Mm-hmm. who didn't have the American accent, who was not born and raised here. Yeah. There would be a huge support, big corporate supports. But there's a subtle, uh, there's a subtle racism is there, which is very, very subtle. But over time I have seen it. Like they will be like, oh yeah, yeah, we will, we would love to, but there will not be any seat for you. You know what I mean? There will be some subtle mm-hmm. I have noticed it in the, in the mainstream, like having my magazine get in opera ball, having my magazine, get in ballet. Even though my, some of my caliber, what we've covered for many years. I covered the, um, when I was, this, this was way back in 2005. I was what, 25? I was 26 years old, 25, 26 years old. And I covered, uh, the, uh, you know, um, the Oscar z Brisky, she got the best documentary for Oscar. Yeah. I chased her down to do an interview. Oh my God, that's amazing. With that kind of Caliban journalism I have to talk to, they will invite the Houston Chronicle, because Houston Chronicle has a backing of the name. Mm-hmm. But, but they're journalist because it's just because of the o o of the paper city or whichever. But they ha I have to, I have to tell myself over and over, over again who I am. Yeah. But then also I'm Indian. So they're like, oh, you know, oh, so they will either pile me with the Indian group of magazine. It's interesting, it's subtle, but I don't give up easily. I fight and I took my magazine single-handedly in the mainstream forefront, and at the same time, amazing amount of supporters. I cannot thank some big corporate people who don't care what color of skin is. And that's what Houston makes Amazing though. Yeah. I, I mean, I'm so support, thankful for the, uh, mainstream media, a, b, C 13, K P R C, Fox 26. They have been my biggest supporters. They've loved me, they loved me, and so forth. And, um, yeah. But there is, it's, it was very tough, very tough without a wealthy daddy or a wealthy husband Oh, god, yeah. In the name of, you know, the Johnsons or the, you know, yeah. Being able to get an invitation. but I did it all with my worth, with my work. So God, that's so incredible. I'm very part of that. Like I, I didn't have to use a rich man to take, hold my hand and take me to the gala. Yeah. I took myself with my work I got in invited for. That's so, that's

francene: 40:17

so amazing. Um, so do you find, I mean, this is just my viewpoint, so moving from the UK to Houston? No, from India. Oh. So I am, I'm from Oh, from, yes. Yeah. From Oh, you grew from, from uk. Yeah. It's right here. Yes. And I found from moving from there to here, there's a lot more opportunities in the us. if you're willing to go get them, and if you're willing to be persistent and you know, network. But I found that to me from a professional standpoint, there's a lot more here. Um, do you think the same since moving from India over here, if you had continued your journey over in India?

Runchi: 41:03

Oh no. I would not. I love, uh, my roots. I am very proud of, uh, uh, my culture, my clothes, my food, all of that. Yeah. But I a hundred percent agree with you. Yeah. Um, I've never lived in the uk, uh, but I can assure that and people will be like, oh, but you've not lived there. Well, maybe. But I can assure that what Houston, and even for that matter, what America, you nailed it is absolutely true. People in the United States are the best. More than anywhere in the world. Yeah. And they are, they are willing to applaud. Yes, yes. They're not pretentious. We are not snobs. They are, they are like, they are so welcoming of other communities. No other country. Yeah. I mean in the big, I have the support of the second generation of Indian Americans, mind Indian. I do not, I am not scared to say this. I have the support of the second generation Indian Americans for my magazine and my brand or my work. Not the first generation of Indian Americans who I actually served way more. Not one person came forward to support me financially or. They're in their little group and you know, if I have a husband, a doctor, husband, maybe they will look at me, but they are great on my face. They love me. I'm not gonna say that, but the support I get is from the second generation of Indian American people. Yeah. The first generation is, you know, they are doing their own thing and they, they are, they love to show America what they've done. Uh, but sadly they're very, um, concentrated and they will help a few within their peers. And to some extent, I feel I come as an outsider to them because I don't follow their trend of, you know, merit and, you know, in that sense. Yeah. Or whatever that means. And, uh, India. I've never worked there. I have, I might have been 23 when I left, but, uh, I feel like a baby there. So I don't know. And I don't even know now what it'd be like for me, but I would never choose any other country and UK at the same matter. I don't think so. I've heard from my, my other friends and uh, people that the way I see America and Houston especially Yeah. You know, is generous. Not just with, I'm not talking about financial generosity with their, with their openness. Yeah, I agree To

francene: 43:49

embrace. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, I agree. And so many different cultures here, which is great. And this is what I love about living in Houston.