Nisha Balsara's guest appearances

Nisha Balsara

ETU - Earth To Us

The VedgeTalk Podcast

2AUTHENTIC

Joel Fuhrman

Gunnar Lovelace

Terence Gerchberg

Caldwell Esselstyn

Toni Okamoto

Ben Brown

Ellen Fisher

Tanya O'Callaghan

Max La Manna

Adam Sud

Benjamin Alter

Chris Green

David Benzaquen

Andrea Brown

Rachel Atcheson

OwlTail

In episode ten of the 2AUTHENTIC podcast, my guest Nisha Balsara shares her experience of growing up as a biracial South Asian woman in Texas. We touch on topics such as racism, colonialism, white supremacy and cultural identity.

Biracial Identity, Racism & White Supremacy in the United States with Nisha Balsara

This weeks game changing guest is Nisha Balsara. Actress, Youtuber and incredible human from Los Angeles, CA.   We recorded this one on the floor of her new apartment in LA, as we caught her on moving day!Nisha sets a fantastic example for women of color and people in general. She’s goes about veganism in a light, approachable way, but don’t confuse this with lack of dedication. She is an incredible voice for the plant based diet and what it can do for health, the animals and the planet.  In this episode we cover:  - Growing up in Texas, with parents from Canada and India.  - Experiencing acting set backs at a young age.   - What it’s like to have a serious health problem.  - Relationships with non-vegans.  - The important of diversity in the entertainment industry.  + More!  Nisha has an amazing personal story and I am so happy to be sharing it with you today, hope you enjoy the show!  You can find Nisha on Instagram at @nishabalsara and also YouTube. She has her own channel, ‘Nisha Balsara’ and is also a part of ‘The Vegan View’.

This weeks game changing guest is Nisha Balsara. Actress, Youtuber and incredible human from Los Angeles, CA.   We recorded this one on the floor of her new apartment in LA, as we caught her on moving day! Nisha sets a fantastic example for women of color and people in general. She’s goes about veganism in a light, approachable way, but don’t confuse this with lack of dedication. She is an incredible voice for the plant based diet and what it can do for health, the animals and the planet.   In this episode we cover:   - Growing up in Texas, with parents from Canada and India.   - Experiencing acting set backs at a young age.   - What it’s like to have a serious health problem.   - Relationships with non-vegans.   - The important of diversity in the entertainment industry.   + More!   Nisha has an amazing personal story and I am so happy to be sharing it with you today, hope you enjoy the show!   You can find Nisha on Instagram at @nishabalsara and also YouTube. She has her own channel, ‘Nisha Balsara’ and is also a part of ‘The Vegan View’.

25 - Embrace Diversity with Nisha Balsara

It’s no question. Film and television are two of the biggest culture shapers in our society. And images are more powerful than words. This is why so many are asking for wider visibility in these forms of media that properly reflects the diversity in the US. In this episode, Evan and Hannah talk with actor and YouTuber Nisha Balsara about how Hollywood is failing to give various groups the visibility they deserve on screen. Also discussed are representation in new media, vegans in TV shows, the shocking pay gap, and the positive changes this decade is already experiencing.Nisha on InstagramNisha on YouTubeHere are some links to studies and articles that were cited in this episode."Inclusion or Invisibility? Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity in Entertainment" 1/3 of speaking characters were female (33.5 percent)28.3 % of characters with dialogue were from non-white racial/ethnic groups though such groups are nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population.3.4% of film directors were female7% of films had a cast whose balance of race and ethnicity reflected the country's diversityIn broadcast TV, 17% of directors were female and 19 % of programs were ethnically balanced. In all TV shows…women of color over 40 were deemed "largely invisible" and just 22% of TV series creators were female. half the films and TV shows they analyzed had no Asian speaking characters and more than 1/5 of them had no black characters with dialogue. Just 2%  of speaking characters were identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual, and more than half the LGBT characters in all the films they examined came from two movies. When looking at how women are depicted, the study found female characters were four times more likely to be shown in sexy attire, three times more likely to show some nudity and nearly four times as likely to be referred to as physically attractive. films and TV shows with women or people of color in the important jobs behind the scenes — director, producer or writer — tended to have better diversity numbers."It's about who is greenlighting those decisions and who is giving the okay for certain stories to be told," Smith says. "When a very narrow slice of the population is in control of power and has the ability to greenlight a project, then we are going to see products and stories that reflect that narrow worldview."(Stacy L. Smith, one of the study's authors and founding director of the Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism)---‘2016 Hollywood Diversity Report: Business as Usual” by the Ralph J. Bunch Center for African American Studies at UCLAConcluded that...American audiences prefer diverse film and television content In 2014, people of color purchased 46 percent of all movie tickets sold in the United States.  ---Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media’s report: Gender Bias without Borders: An investigation of female characters in popular films across 11 countries (2014)10% of all films have a gender balanced cast31% of speaking roles are occupied by women23% of films feature of female protagonistWhen there is a female filmmaker, there is a 6.8% increase in the number of females on screenWomen are 5 times more likely to receive appearance based comments than menWomen are twice as likely to be shown in sexually revealing clothing or with some nudityFictional females aged 13 to 39 are equally sexualized“Female executives are an endangered species in international films”More men than women in onscreen STEM jobs (7:1)---The Reel Truth: Women Aren’t Seen or HeardIn films with male leads, male characters dominate the speaking time, but in films with female leads, men speak as much as women.Films led by women grossed 15.8% more on average than films led by men.---Why is Hollywood still casting white actors in Asian roles?Constance WU Doesn’t Want to be Your “It” GirlDiego Luna Shares a ‘Star Wars’ Story That Will Bring Tears to Your EyesMusic by Lee Rosevere and DJ Quads.

It’s no question. Film and television are two of the biggest culture shapers in our society. And images are more powerful than words. This is why so many are asking for wider visibility in these forms of media that properly reflects the diversity in the US. In this episode, Evan and Hannah talk with actor and YouTuber Nisha Balsara about how Hollywood is failing to give various groups the visibility they deserve on screen. Also discussed are representation in new media, vegans in TV shows, the shocking pay gap, and the positive changes this decade is already experiencing.<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nishabalsara/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nisha on Instagram</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJU7b85vzVmngc-rInEyLEQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nisha on YouTube</a>Here are some links to studies and articles that were cited in this episode.<a href="http://annenberg.usc.edu/pages/~/media/MDSCI/CARDReport%20FINAL%2022216.ashx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Inclusion or Invisibility? Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity in Entertainment"</a> <ul><li>1/3 of speaking characters were female (33.5 percent)</li><li>28.3 % of characters with dialogue were from non-white racial/ethnic groups though such groups are nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population.</li><li>3.4% of film directors were female</li><li>7% of films had a cast whose balance of race and ethnicity reflected the country's diversity</li><li>In broadcast TV, 17% of directors were female and 19 % of programs were ethnically balanced.</li></ul> In all TV shows…<ul><li>women of color over 40 were deemed "largely invisible" and just 22% of TV series creators were female.</li></ul> <ul><li>half the films and TV shows they analyzed had no Asian speaking characters and more than 1/5 of them had no black characters with dialogue. </li><li>Just 2%  of speaking characters were identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual, and more than half the LGBT characters in all the films they examined came from two movies.</li></ul> <ul><li>When looking at how women are depicted, the study found female characters were four times more likely to be shown in sexy attire, three times more likely to show some nudity and nearly four times as likely to be referred to as physically attractive.</li></ul> <ul><li>films and TV shows with women or people of color in the important jobs behind the scenes — director, producer or writer — tended to have better diversity numbers.</li></ul>"It's about who is greenlighting those decisions and who is giving the okay for certain stories to be told," Smith says. "When a very narrow slice of the population is in control of power and has the ability to greenlight a project, then we are going to see products and stories that reflect that narrow worldview."(Stacy L. Smith, one of the study's authors and founding director of the Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism)---<a href="http://www.bunchecenter.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2-25-16.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">‘2016 Hollywood Diversity Report: Business as Usual” by the Ralph J. Bunch Center for African American Studies at UCLA</a>Concluded that...American audiences prefer diverse film and television content In 2014, people of color purchased 46 percent of all movie tickets sold in the United States.  ---Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media’s report: <a href="https://seejane.org/symposiums-on-gender-in-media/gender-bias-without-borders/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gender Bias without Borders: An investigation of female characters in popular films across 11 countries</a> (2014)<ul><li>10% of all films have a gender balanced cast</li><li>31% of speaking roles are occupied by women</li><li>23% of films feature of female protagonist</li><li>When there is a female filmmaker, there is a 6.8% increase in the number of females on screen</li><li>Women are 5 times more likely to receive appearance based comments than men</li><li>Women are twice as likely to be shown in sexually revealing clothing or with some nudity</li><li>Fictional females aged 13 to 39 are equally sexualized</li></ul>“Female executives are an endangered species in international films”<ul><li>More men than women in onscreen STEM jobs (7:1)</li></ul>---<a href="https://seejane.org/research-informs-empowers/data/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Reel Truth: Women Aren’t Seen or Heard</a><ul><li>In films with male leads, male characters dominate the speaking time, but in films with female leads, men speak as much as women.</li><li>Films led by women grossed 15.8% more on average than films led by men.</li></ul>---<a href="http://www.teenvogue.com/story/ghost-in-the-shell-whitewashing-hollywood" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why is Hollywood still casting white actors in Asian roles?</a><a href="http://www.vulture.com/2016/06/constance-wu-c-v-r.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Constance WU Doesn’t Want to be Your “It” Girl</a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/diego-luna-star-wars-rogue-one-accent_us_586c8435e4b0de3a08fa2643?section=us_latino-voices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diego Luna Shares a ‘Star Wars’ Story That Will Bring Tears to Your Eyes</a>Music by<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Lee Rosevere</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DJ Quads</a>.

021 - Diversity in Hollywood and New Media, with Nisha Balsara