iHeartPodcasts and Vaaka Media have announced the launch of a new original podcast series titled “Boys & Girls.” The show will explore the arranged marriage process within South Asian communities, focusing on personal stories and cultural expectations surrounding the search for “desi love.” Hosted by Radhika Viswanathan, the series is set to premiere on February 19 and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and other major podcast platforms.
The podcast aims to provide insight into how factors such as caste, class, family connections, and location play significant roles in arranged marriages. According to the announcement, approximately 93% of Indians opt for arranged marriages. These relationships are often facilitated by family members, matchmakers, and astrologers.
Radhika Viswanathan brings her own experience with arranged marriage to the show. She stated, “I was just beginning to explore who I was. Choosing breakfast was hard enough, so choosing a life partner made my head spin,” she recalls. “It felt like I was in a fishbowl, watched by everyone around me. In this new series, my friends and show producers Samyuktha Varma, Menaka Raman and I will go on a journey to talk to the boys and girls who lived this same experience and survived.”
The first episode will introduce listeners to both the host and the complexities of arranged marriage systems. New episodes are scheduled for release every Thursday.
“Boys & Girls” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts.
Vaaka Media is an audio production company based in Bangalore that focuses on creating original content about society and identity. This collaboration marks their first project with iHeartPodcasts.
For more information about Vaaka Media, visit www.vaaka.in.
