Can you hold onto your culture, your family, and your queerness—all at once?

In our first interview of The SafeTea podcast, Akbar sits down with IRL couple Dr. Roshan Sethi (writer/director of "A Nice Indian Boy") and actor Karan Soni (Deadpool, Ghostbusters) to talk about the layered journey behind their new film A Nice Indian Boy—and the one they’ve been living off-screen. From redefining what makes someone “out,” to grappling with family fears, to finding empowerment in brown love, this is a conversation rooted in truth and tenderness.

We get into:

• Growing up without queer South Asian love stories
• Family, fear, and why grace goes both ways
• Media’s impact on attraction, and challenging the “white fantasy”
• Building trust, healing, and the SafeTea way forward

Follow Us!

Follow Roshan Sethi: instagram.com/goatdonkey1

Follow Karan Soni: instagram.com/karansoni

Follow A Nice Indian Boy: instagram.com/aniceindianboyfilm

YouTube: youtube.com/@thesafetea

Instagram: instagram.com/thesafetea | instagram.com/akbar.hamid

TikTok: tiktok.com/@safeteapod

DM or email safeteapodcast@gmail.com to share YOUR story or reaction, we want to hear from you!

In this debut episode, host Akbar Hamid opens up about his journey from growing up as a closeted queer Muslim with zero representation — to launching his own agency, starring in a Tribeca-bound film, and starting this podcast to pay it all forward.

He introduces the S.A.F.E.T.E.A. framework: to be Seen, Accepted, Free, and Empowered — and the responsibility that comes with it: to Transform, Elevate, and Affirm others.

This is for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to hide who they are just to survive. Come for the honesty. Stay for the breakthroughs.

Follow us for weekly episodes on all your favorite platforms!

YouTube: youtube.com/@thesafetea

Instagram: instagram.com/thesafetea | instagram.com/akbar.hamid

TikTok: tiktok.com/@safeteapod