TARANNUM THIND

Host & Producer at Chai with T Podcast

Born to parents who were passionate about performing arts and theatre, Tarannum’s childhood shaped her for a career in mass communication. She grew up surrounded by her parent’s friends, mostly theatre personalities whose conversations revolved around literature, world drama, and poetry. She loved listening to their stories and, in the process, developed an inherent connection and deep empathy for people from creative backgrounds. During her summer holidays, she would perform on stage for the theatre group started by her father for the neighbourhood children. In 1997, Tarannum immigrated to Canada with her family and tried her hand at different study programs. Her dream, however, was to study Broadcast Journalism at BCIT. However, while still on the waitlist in 2003, she auditioned and got selected to host a multicultural show on Channel M in Hindi and Pun- jabi. It began the professional journey of one of the most sort-after, familiar, and personable South Asian media personalities in Vancouver and beyond.

After hosting and producing numerous shows for TV and radio, and voiceover work for hundreds of commercials, she is ready to release her podcast, Chai with T. This name suggests chai with Tarannum but also alludes to the “Indian masala chai,” often referred to as “chai-tea” in Canada. She believes her podcast could be the bridge between the two worlds, a safe space where people can have the hardest of conversations. “I’ve been preparing for this for the last 20 years. There’s so much bubbling inside me that I want to share with my listeners. I almost want my podcast to be the balm that soothes my listeners and makes them realize that they can get through anything,” she says.

Through her podcast, she wants