Creating space for honest conversations – ‘Don’t talk back’ | Khushee Gupta

Best Publication in Multicultural Media sponsored by SSI

Khushee Gupta grew up feeling caught between cultures.

She did not fully identify with her parents’ home country of India, but she also did not see her experiences reflected in Australian media.
So, she created a space where those experiences could be spoken about openly.

“Growing up I rarely saw stories that reflected the complexity of my experience – the tension between cultural expectation and personal identity, and the things we were told not to talk about,” she said.

“So many of those conversations, including around mental health, sexuality, and self-expression, were avoided, even though they were shaping our lives.”

Seeing a gap in how younger South Asians were represented, Khushee began looking for ways to engage her generation through storytelling.

In June 2024, she and co-host Renesh Krishnan launched the podcast Don’t Talk Back. Their first guest was Indian-Australian singer Avneesha Martins.

“We were super nervous,” Khushee said.

“We were playing it by ear, but Avneesha had done podcasting before so she could take charge if we slipped up.

“She is a very approachable person and a wonderful mentor.”

Since then, guests have included people from different generations, members of the LGBTQA+ community, and voices from a wide range of regional, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Episodes explore issues affecting young South Asians, including barriers to employment, systemic racism and how identity is expressed.

“Our approach to culturally sensitive topics is grounded in respect and empathy,” Khushee said.

“We encourage listeners to see beyond stereotypes and engage with people whose voices are too often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

“For me, storytelling across cultures comes with a responsibility to listen first, to hold nuance, and to let people speak for themselves.”

Having finished its second series, the podcast aims to continue to reflect the diversity and complexity of the South Asian community.

The audience is growing quickly. The first season was streamed or downloaded 153,000 times. The second more than doubled that, reaching 311,000.

The conversations are also reaching beyond the studio.

“The podcast has encouraged dialogue within my own family, allowing older generations to reflect and shift their perspectives,” Khushee said.

“Ultimately, this work is about building bridges – between generations, cultures, and communities – and reminding people that their stories are worth telling.”

‘Don’t Talk Back’ was awarded the 2026 Best Report in Multicultural Media.