Author Talk: Sahaj Kaur Kohli on 'But What Will People Say?'

Schedule

Sunday, June 23, 2024
2 p.m. Book Presentation and Author Talk
2:50 p.m. Audience Q&A
3 p.m. Book Signing and Community Hour

Therapist and mental health advocate Sahaj Kaur Kohli understands firsthand the unique challenges faced by many children of immigrants: born to Indian refugees and immigrants, she learned how to navigate two worlds at the same time. Drawing on her personal experiences and research, Kohli created the internet sensation Brown Girl Therapy to destigmatize mental healthcare, promote wellness, and empower individuals to authentically embrace their multifaceted identities. In her poignant debut book But What Will People Say?, Kohli shares her profound insights as a therapist and researcher alongside her rich personal experiences and analysis, and offers practical tools and recommendations for navigating generational trauma, setting healthy boundaries, and better understanding identity.

Joined in conversation by Aparna Shewakramani, star of Indian Matchmaking and writer, Kohli will share insights and reflections from her book and personal journey. Books will be available for purchase onsite, and a book-signing will follow the program.

"In her beautiful debut, Sahaj Kaur Kohli draws on her life-giving work as a therapist to challenge the stories we've been told to believe to win acceptance. With radical honesty and empathy, Sahaj breaks the traditional self-care model for community care, returning us to true belonging rooted in love." — Valarie Kaur, bestselling author of See No Stranger

About the Author

Sahaj Kaur Kohli is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy (@browngirltherapy), the first and largest mental health and wellness community organization for adult children of immigrants, a licensed therapist, and a columnist for the Washington Post’s advice column Ask Sahaj. Sahaj’s words and work have been featured in Today, Good Morning America, CNN, The New York Times, HuffPost, and others. Sahaj also serves as a consultant, educator and international speaker. She has sat on panels and delivered workshops and keynotes for The White House, Amazon, Google, Athenahealth, Merck, JPMorgan Chase, LinkedIn, and UNICEF, among others.

About the Moderator

From her polarizing portrayal on Netflix's Emmy-nominated Indian Matchmaking, Aparna Shewakramani became an overnight ambassador for women demanding to be heard — in their love lives, workplaces, and in every space they occupy. Ever-transparent about the vitriol she experienced ranging from cyber bullying to death threats, Aparna spoke her truth and shared her personal story with over 200+ media outlets to date.

Aparna took her own story from the press straight into writing her first memoir, She’s Unlikeable: And Other Lies That Bring Women Down. Now a “recovering attorney,” Aparna has pivoted her JD from Vanderbilt University Law and 10 years of legal practice into a full-time writing career. With several projects in development ranging from feature screenplays to creating a docu-feature which places her both behind and in-front of the camera, Aparna looks forward to continuing her storytelling from her unique point of view.

Asia Society hosts today's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect Asia Society views.

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, and ExxonMobil. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., bp America, and Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding provided by Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Regions Bank, and Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

Business & Policy Presenting Sponsors

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.