Not Half of Anything
Summary
Interracial and interfaith couples build strong bonds and make space for each other at home and in the world. But what happens when two people become three or more?
In Episode 3 of Mixed, Khyati and John face a new chapter in their interracial, interfaith marriage: raising a child. When their son Kedhar is born, they begin the complicated work of giving him a sense of belonging in a world that often insists mixed-race and mixed-faith people must choose one identity over another.
From naming their son to encountering strangers who mistake Khyati for his nanny, Prof. Joshi explores the everyday work of protecting a mixed child from messages that he cannot fully belong to both sides of his family. She connects these experiences to the larger history of racial classification, religious socialization in America, and the pressure on mixed people to choose a single identity.
The episode culminates with a seemingly simple first-grade assignment—bring one thing that represents your family—and the realization that “one thing” can feel impossible for a child whose family contains multiple cultures, races, and faith traditions. Ultimately, Episode 3 is about the power of giving mixed children something the world too often denies them: the freedom to be whole.
Creator: Dr. Khyati Y. Joshi is a scholar-storyteller who bridges research, lived experience, and practical wisdom. She is a tenured, Full Professor in the School of Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the author of White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in America (NYU Press, 2020) and several other books on race and religion in America.
Dr. Joshi is also part of a mixed marriage. Along with her husband John, they have raised their son to be Hindu and Christian; and to recognize, cherish, and embody his Indian and European heritages.
In this series, she blends scholarly expertise with her unique story, relaying the mistakes she’s made, the wisdom she’s gained, and the practical tips she can offer for cultivating mixed relationships and raising kids and adults to embrace their whole selves.
Find Dr. Joshi on Substack: https://khyatiyjoshi.substack.com/
Mixed was created by the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement (IRMCE), in collaboration with the Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) through generous funding from the Henry Luce Foundation as part of the Under Gods project.
Executive Producer: Brad Onishi
Producer: Andrew Gill
Original Music, Scoring, and Engineering: Scott Okamoto
Story Editor: Leah Payne
Production Assistance: Kari Onishi
Cover Art: Jennifer Chen
Straight White American Jesus
The flagship show examining Christian nationalism and democracy.
Listen Now
Reign of Error
Explore how religious and ideological extremism—especially white Christian nationalism—has become central to U.S. politics in the Trump era and beyond.
Listen Now
