Mounica Kota (Oglethorpe ’16) is a behavioral ecologist working on her PhD in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota. While her research focuses on animal communication, she is interested in communication in a broad range of contexts. Specifically, as an Indian-American immigrant, she is drawn to immigrant narratives as a means of navigating the complexities of living in a diaspora. She read the part of Dr. Mala Singh in Ep. 8 and provided Indian classical vocals for Ep.4 and Ep.6.
Alex Wilson is a recent graduate from Oglethorpe University (’18) who majored in Communications and minored in Music. He is the director/composer of MAB and the L-Train, a small jazz ensemble based in Atlanta, GA. His goal is to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. He provided original compositions for Ep.2, Ep.3, and Ep.8.
Married duo Elizabeth and Parker Allen both grew up in Lilburn, GA. Elizabeth majored in Film & Photographer and minored in Writing at Oglethorpe University (’18), where Parker studied Politics with a minor in Business. They both enjoy literature, backpacking, and celebrating artistic expression. Their song (lyrics and vocals by Elizabeth Allen) “Spoken Geology” is featured in Ep. 1.
Subashri Garimalla (Oglethorpe ’21) was born in Chennai. She is currently majoring in Biopsychology and is infatuated with a podcast called Nancy. Nancy centers on emotional experiences of queer people of color and the transformative power of storytelling. She read the part of Alina Chandaraman in Ep. 1.
Pritali Amrutkar (’19) is a Biology major who is also interested in different forms of art. She is the president of Oglethorpe’s chapter of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority (’17-’18), and she read the part of Priti Chandaraman in Ep. 9.
Mohammad “Asim” Javed (Oglethorpe ’21) is double majoring in Biopsychology and Music and studying to eventually go to grad school or Veterinary School. Hailing from Peachtree Corners, GA, his family has English and Pakistani roots. He read the part of Jaysan Bivahani in Ep. 5.
Nipun Nilesh Shukla (Nigel), a student at Oglethorpe, lives in Atlanta, Georgia and is currently pursuing a degree in Indo-European Studies. His interests include Ancient History, Language and Archaeology. More particularly, he is interested in India of the Vedic Age. He read the part of Dr. Manu Chandaraman in Ep. 2 and also co-wrote the episode.
Aadithya Prem, a dancer and choreographer in the Atlanta area, is an alum of Oglethorpe University’s Class of 2017. Aadithya majored in Communications while at Oglethorpe and currently works for a real estate company in Atlanta as their Client Relations Manager. He is also the director of Aadithya School of Dance, an institute specializing in traditional Indian dances located in Lilburn, GA. He read the voice of Sri Ampathy in Ep. 7.
Serlin Singh (Oglethorpe ’19) is from Buford, Ga. She is a psychology major hoping to pursue research in the near future. She is also on the Khayos dance team and loves to travel to learn about different cultures. She read the part of Kali Reddy in Ep. 4
Alison Tess Curl currently lives in Louisville, KY (when not at Oglethorpe). She is a French and Spanish double major who wrote “Nothing Like Home” (featured in Ep. 9) through an unnamed, original character’s voice who grew up in New Orleans, the city in which she spent many of her formative years (age 12-18). Gregory Best helped with musical arrangement.
Evan Drew (Oglethorpe ’17) is from Albany, GA and majored in English and Philosophy at Oglethorpe University, where he formed the Hardcore Punk band False Consciousness with Andrew Spann and their close friend, Jon Kemp. Their songs “Absence” and “No Speed Bumps in South Atlanta” are featured in Ep. 2 and Ep.3.
Sean Handy was born and raised in Savannah, GA. The Studio Art major is a graduate from the Oglethorpe University Class of 2018 who took an interest in music in the 5th grade. When asked what inspired him to start playing and creating music, his response was, ” I watched “Drumline” starring Nick Cannon, and wanted to do everything in that movie and ended up in marching band years later. Then I realized, I was good at arranging and composing music and made my own. Here we are.” Sean’s song “Flow-Key” is featured in Ep. 5.
Lakshita Singh is an independent and hard-working Oglethorpe student whose goal is to help others in any way possible. She also attends Georgia Tech for the Air Force ROTC program and is in the Air Force Reserves. A Biology major, Lakshita is focused on becoming a neonatologist. She read the part of Suma Modi in Ep. 3.
Kimberly Farmer (Oglethorpe ’21) is a Studio Art major with interests that span a wide variety of subjects, including illustration, creative writing, character design, and much more. She grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia, spends her time drawing, writing, singing, and dancing, and hopes to pursue a career as a storyboard artist. Each podcast episode features her design and illustration of each character in the series.
Preksha Jain (Oglethorpe ’19) is a business major with an avid involvement in theatre and the arts. She is the Vice President of Oglethorpe’s improv troupe (2018) and helped design and update the website. She is hoping to pursue a career in marketing and graphic design.
John Burke is a Grammy-nominated composer and an Oglethorpe University alumnus. His instrumental track, “The Traveler” is featured in Ep. 7.
Seema Shrikhande is a Professor of Communication Studies at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. She studies global media corporations and international news. She earned her Ph.D in Mass Media from Michigan State University and an MA from the University of Pennsylvania. She emigrated to the US in 1987 and has lived in Atlanta since the early 90s. She enjoys making wheel-thrown pottery, reading and crochet and cooking. Professor Shrikhande read the part of Ruchi Singh in Ep. 6.
Reshmi Hebbar is an Assistant Professor of English at Oglethorpe University specializing in multicultural and transnational literature and completed her PhD at Emory University in 2002. The daughter of Indian immigrants, she grew up in Florida and has written about her bicultural experiences in Atlanta-periodical Khabar Magazine. She enjoys prodding her daughters, her husband, and extended family members for zany anecdotes and hushed-up secrets about South Asian lives and wrote and produced each Sweet Om Atlanta episode.