S3.E36: Shane Lamba on Being Brown, Bisexual, and a Public Health Leader cover art

S3.E36: Shane Lamba on Being Brown, Bisexual, and a Public Health Leader

S3.E36: Shane Lamba on Being Brown, Bisexual, and a Public Health Leader

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 Health Equity Researcher Shane Lamba on Bisexual South Asian Identity, the DL, & Living in the In-BetweenWhat does it mean to exist in the in-between, culturally, sexually, professionally, and still choose to show up fully, refusing to collapse yourself into someone else's framework?In this episode of Embracing All of Me, Ross sits down with Shane Lamba, health equity researcher, program evaluator, and host of Chai Me a River, for a conversation that moves between humor, identity, and data-backed truth. Shane unpacks what it's been like navigating life as a South Asian, Indian, bisexual man in spaces that often expect you to choose one version of yourself — and why he refuses to.From growing up in California to working at the intersections of sexuality, gender, disability, and healthcare access, Shane explores the layered realities behind both his research and his lived experience: the emotional weight behind the data, the hidden barriers in LGBTQ+ healthcare, and the difference between being closeted, "DL," discreet, or fully seen, and how those narratives shape stigma around bisexual men.We get into:What it means to not feel "enough" — culturally or queerly — and how that shapes identity formation for South Asian bi+ peopleThe hidden barriers in healthcare for LGBTQ+ and disabled communities — and why access isn't just about policies, it's about being seenThe difference between being closeted, "DL," discreet, and fully visible — and how those labels impact stigma, mental health, and relationship dynamics for bisexual menHow humor can be a tool for processing identity and challenging norms without softening the critiqueWhy representation — especially for bisexual and South Asian voices — still matters, even when it feels like we've "moved past" that conversationThe real-life impact of health inequities and what it takes to create spaces where people feel safe, seen, and supportedAnd yes, we get into it: "You don't want a DL man, you want a fantasy!"But beyond the soundbite, this episode is about learning to embrace every part of who you are, the researcher, the podcaster, the bisexual South Asian man, even when the world tries to simplify you personally and professionally.About Shane Lamba:Shane Lamba is a health equity researcher whose work focuses on sexuality, gender, disability, and access to care. His research has been published in JAMA, American Journal of Public Health, and LGBT Health. He is also the host of Chai Me a River, where he explores his brown and bisexual identity with humor, honesty, and unfiltered perspective.Connect with Shane:Podcast: Chai Me a RiverInstagram: @chaimeriverpod | @shanelamba21Learn More:Embracing All of Me is a storytelling and advocacy platform for the multi, complex, and in-between, uplifting the voices of Bi+ people of color, our kin and friends.Website: https://embracingallofme.orgEmail: stories@embracingallofme.orgInstagram: @embracingallofmeeTake Action:Contribute a written piece to Embracing All of MeBook a Creative Consult with Ross VictoryTopics: Shane Lamba, Chai Me a River, bisexual South Asian identity, health equity, LGBTQ+ healthcare, Indian bisexual men, disability and healthcare access, DL men, down low, closeted vs discreet, bisexual stigma, South Asian representation, queer South Asian voices, BIPOC health disparities, sexuality and gender research, bisexual mental health
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