Welcome to the October 2025 edition of RPL at Home, where I share what I’m up to when I’m not in the kitchen or in front of the camera.
Every few months, I give you a glimpse into what I’m working on, habits I’m cultivating, things bringing me joy, books/TV shows/podcasts I’m enjoying, and more. Think of it as stream-of-consciousness blabbering meets a semi-curated list of recommendations meets life update.
Table of Contents
1. Fun Things!
2. What I’m working on in life
3. What I’m watching, listening to, and reading
Fun Things!
After a relatively slow summer, the last two months have been jam-packed (in a good way), which is why I didn’t get around to sharing any updates until now!
🌋Hawaii recap
In September, we flew to the Big Island, Hawaii to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday! I hadn’t traveled with my mom in awhile, and this was Max’s first time traveling with her beyond short weekend trips, and it was SO much fun.
Before checking into a resort on the western side of the island with the rest of the fam, my mom joined Max and I on our exploration of the more rugged eastern side of the island, where we were lucky enough to witness the Kīlauea volcano erupt the day we were leaving the east side of the island.
It was one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever witnessed, watching the power of Mother Nature unfold in real time. It was particularly special because my mom has always had “see a volcano erupt” on her bucket list so I was over the moon we got to experience that together.
We stayed in the rainforest, explored the Volcano National Park, road tripped, and stopped at beautiful waterfalls, gardens, and beaches.
My mom is the opposite of what I would call an “outdoorsy person” and has barely exercised a day in her life, but she surprised us with her sense of adventure and I’m so glad we got to spend that time with her.
Stay tuned because I’ll be sharing a detailed summary of our trip, including recommendations for things to do on the Big Island, where to stay, and what to eat.
🎥 NYC Trip!
As soon as we got back from Hawaii, we hopped on another plane to NYC where I had the privilege of filming recipe videos in the New York Times Cooking studio!
In case you missed the announcement in the last installment of RPL at Home, I became a contributor to NYT Cooking this summer!
We filmed four recipes in one day(!), which certainly wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the team at NYT Cooking. From the videographers to the food stylist, they made it so easy for me. All I had to do was show up and be myself in the kitchen, which is always the most fun part.
My first video on NYT Cooking’s YouTube channel will be out in mid-November (another one coming in January). Until then, you can find several of my recipes for NYT Cooking on their app/website, plus videos on my YouTube channel.
🎂 Double the Birthday Fun!
Then, a few days later, we celebrated my 38th birthday!
I was lucky enough that my mom had planned her 70th birthday party (with 200+ guests!) for the same week, so several of my closest friends and family were already in town and got to celebrate my birthday with me 🥰
We topped off a busy but very fulfilling season with my mom’s party, where Max and I regaled the audience with stories about my mom’s sense of humor.
Oh, and in case you missed the email about this update, Max—who’s never baked anything in his life, not even pre-made cookie dough—baked me a cake for my birthday!!!
And not just any cake. He made The Celebration Cake from my cookbook Big Vegan Flavor, and he did an A+ job. Texture: 100. Flavor: 100. Happiness: 100.
🏋🏽♀️ What I’m working on in life
If the Oxford English Dictionary crowned a health-related word of the past few years, I think it’d be strength training (okay, fine, that’s two words!).
With each month, more and more scientific research continues to shed light on just how powerful strength training is for overall health and aging, especially for women. And I’m pleased to say I’ve finally hopped on the bandwagon!
I’ve documented my fitness journey in past editions, but as a brief recap: Four years ago, I was in a lot of physical pain due to a combination of my floppy joints, an exacerbation of old injuries, and lack of exercise. I was in too much pain to exercise, which created a vicious cycle of getting injured frequently because being weak = my joints get out of place more quickly and my old injuries resurface more easily.
Two years ago, I started to get stronger by committing to pilates several times a week, which strengthened my core and hips. And this year, I decided to take my strength journey to the next level with heavy weights. Good-bye, 3 pound dumbbells!
Listen, I’m not doing anything crazy like lifting and slamming heavy barbells down on the floor of a Crossfit garage. I don’t even have a gym membership.
But I have been quietly obsessed with the at-home workout program Evlo. Perhaps one of the reasons I love it is that the program is created by physical therapists and it’s designed specifically for women’s bodies.
The emphasis is on “gentle consistency”: consistently strength training but in a way that’s gentle to the body. I used to easily get injured when I tried strength training on my own, whether at home or at a gym, and this is the first time where I feel safe and grounded when lifting weights.
The only downside is that my office is now turning into a weight room, as I’m collecting more heavy dumbbells. But I suppose it’s a small price to pay for feeling stronger, mentally and physically!
What I’m watching, listening to, and reading
📺 Watching
I’ve discussed my love for spy TV shows in the past, so it’s not surprising that the first two on this list are just that.
First up, season 5 of the British TV show Slow Horses, which is IMO one of the best shows of the past decade. It’s a spy thriller series but it’s also really funny, so it scratches two itches at once. We watched the penultimate episode last night, and I’ve been hypothesizing finale endings with Max all morning (he’s very tired of listening to me by now).
Next, The Eastern Gate, a Polish espionage thriller series. Set in 2021, it follows Ewa, a Polish spy, while international tensions between Poland, Belarus, and Russia unfold. It’s intense and sometimes quite violent, but also captivating and full of clever twists and turns.
I particularly love non-English TV shows because you have to give them your undivided attention; otherwise, you’ll completely miss the plot. In an age where there are now TV shows literally being dumbed down for “second screen viewing,” I, for one, love a TV show that requires your full attention.
Finally, The Lowdown, a crime drama starring Ethan Hawke. He plays a scrappy, chaotic yet charming journalist who’s single-mindedly focused on uncovering the truth about corrupt, big money actors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s shot artfully, has a great mix of humor and intrigue, and is each episode is packed with delightful surprises.
PS: Ethan Hawke was my neighbor for a few years when I lived in Brooklyn, and he was always so nice. The first time he said hello to us, I think I garbled in surprise “uh, yes, you too.”
📚 Reading
While I’ve read several books since I last shared an update, I wanted to share the one that stuck with me the most: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Adichie’s novel, now nearly 20 years old, is an epic and heartbreaking novel that recreates a moment in history that had long been forgotten: the brutal Nigerian Civil War and Biafra’s fight for independence in the 1960s, which resulted in the starvation of millions of civilians.
I loved this book for two reasons. One, it’s just a masterful novel. It features complex characters with a page-turning plot. Two, it introduced me to a part of history I had embarrassingly never heard about (and sadly reminded me that history often repeats itself).
As I was reading the novel, I’d find myself regularly putting down the book to research a fact about Nigeria or the Igbo people or the civil war, so I felt like I got to read an engrossing novel and get an education.
🎧 Listening
I’ve been a longtime listener to This American Life, and the recent episode Harold has become one of my all-time favorites.
It tells the captivating story of Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, elected in 1983.
Like the novel Half of a Yellow Sun, I enjoyed this episode so much because it placed me in a different historical period with such specificity that I almost felt like I was in Chicago in 1983 on the cusp of this historic moment. And I got learn about an incredibly inspiring politician who I had never heard of (sadly, he died shortly after being elected to his second term in 1987).
Okay, that’s it for this edition! Drop me a line below and let me know what you’re reading, watching, or working on in your own life!
Really enjoy your recipes, Nisha, and though I don’t comment often (because how do you say the same thing in different ways a hundred different times?), your recipes and instructions are, as another commenter posted, unmatched. I’m glad you chose this path instead of being a lawyer!
I must say, in addition to free weights, I love my Total Gym for its variety of strength training options and decreased likelihood of injuring myself. I got one last January for a fraction of the price when they were running a promo.
And a book I read recently that I found both informative and fascinating was Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb.
Cheers!
Hi Sina, I appreciate every comment and love to read them 🥹 I’m so happy that you love my recipes and instructions! I do think being a law student/lawyer may have helped with the clarity of instructions and detail, so not totally wasted lol! Thank you for the book recommendation. One of my close friends has gotten really into ecology, so now I know the perfect Christmas gift for him!
great job thank you
Hi Harold, thanks for reading!
This was good and fun reading. I will offer you a suggestion for workouts. I have been doing Essentrics for more than twenty years. It was started by Miranda Esmond-White. She does not use weights because they give us short bulky muscles. Her program gives long, lean muscles. I am 85 now and in great shape with no aches or pains.
Here’s the website if you are interested: https://essentrics.com
I agree. An exercise program for any age and condition with no equipment needed. I first became aware of Essentrics from a PBS program.
Hi Kristina,
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll look into it. So great to hear that you’re in great shape and have no aches and pains. What a testament to your regular practice!
I’m also a fellow floppy-jointed person! So glad to hear about the gentle strength training, I’ve also had some health struggles that have interrupted my workout habits majorly and it’s so nice to hear that getting back into the routine really is possible! Peloton also just released a menopause collection/program that they’re going to be building out that sounds similar to what you’re doing! Yay to working out for lifelong strength!
Hello, fellow floppy-jointed friend! This is the first time that sticking to a routine without major interruptions has felt possible so I’m feeling optimistic! I actually had to give my Peloton bike away a couple years ago because it triggered a series of injuries 😔 But good to know that they’re starting a menopause collection and that they’re taking women’s health seriously!!
Happy birthday to your mom! Such fun updates. I’d love to know where your Indian outfit is from? It’s so hard to find good Indian clothing living in the US. Would love to know more about your outfits in general and if you are able to extend the vegan lifestyle beyond food. Thank you
Hi Parul, thanks for the wishes! Honestly, this is just one of my mom’s outfits I borrowed for the party (she gets all of her outfits from India). Clothing is not that difficult for a vegan lifestyle! You just have to learn to read labels when you shop, which becomes a habit over time. And I try to shop from brands that have relatively good environmental impact scores. I’ve also found it pretty easy to shop vegan, cruelty-free for beauty and lifestyle products; lots of options these days! For beauty, one of my favorite brands is Live Tinted!
Thanks Nisha! Yes, I am trying to go as far as I can with being vegan in all aspects. Been loving your style, would love to see what’s in your closet in future!
Hello Nisha,
Happy Birthday for both your Mom and you !!
It seems you really enjoyed your trip together , it is so nice to see the chemistry between you and your parents , they must be so proud !!
Thanks for all the work you are doing , for us to enjoy all your recipes from youtube or your fantastic cookbook !!
Saskia, Spain
Hi Saskia, thanks for stopping by and for the birthday wishes for me and my mom! We did have the best trip, and I’m so happy that we got to spend time with my mom for her special birthday. So happy you have my cookbook all the way in Spain!!
A+. Easy to read and very enjoyable. I value your comments on what fills your life.
Hi Suelynn, that’s so nice to hear! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Nisha,
I have your cookbook and watch you regularly on Youtube. You inspire me with your ready smile and engaging way of cooking.
Hi Jessica, that’s so nice to hear! Thank you for supporting my work with my book and watching my videos—that means so much to me!
I have been following you for years and I love your work. Your recipes truly are unmatched. I didn’t realize you were a fellow floppy-jointed person! I can so relate to the cycle of trying to work out, getting injured, and then having too much pain/instability to work out. Next time you’re in NYC, you’re welcome to get in touch and come by my acupuncture/dry needling practice. I specialize in myofascial pain and I work with lots of hypermobile folks.
Oh how I wish you lived on the opposite coast! I’m 1.5 years post op from double jaw surgery and the lingering nerve pain in my face can be debilitating some days.
Nisha, you’ve given me hope and I’m grateful you shared your exercise woahs with us. That resonated deep with me as I’m smack in the middle of those early issues you had. I had my first physical therapy appointment yesterday to address joint #1 and I foresee a long journey. I will absolutely check out Evlo. Sounds like exactly what I need. I’m sick of trying this on my own and getting injured over and over again. All that to say- thank you for sharing!
Hi Samantha, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been experiencing debilitating pain since having surgery. I didn’t realize that sharing my journey would be helpful for others—I’m so very happy it gave you a bit of hope! Physical therapy was the first step in my journey of recovery, and once I started taking it seriously (going regularly and most importantly, doing the exercises at home!) I noticed improvements. And that enabled me to start incorporating some exercise into my life. Wishing you a healthy and smooth recovery!
Hi Marina, so nice to hear from you! I don’t know if I’m fully hypermobile, I might be a little bit lower in the spectrum, but yes, hello from a fellow floppy-jointed person! So great you have turned your experience of injuries and pain into a practice! I have had acupuncture done for other issues and have really noticed a difference. Thank you for the kind offer!
Thanks for sharing all of this with us – happy birthday to your mom and to you! It’s great to hear that you are feeling stronger and have trust in the new program you’ve started. That’s wonderful. 🙂
The volcano trip looks amazing, and slightly scary! Happy Birthday to you Mom.
On books: if you like fiction books that have a historical background,
the city blues quartet of books by Ray Celestin are really fabulous.
The Axeman’s Jazz is the first of the four and features detectives, gangsters, a female Pinkerton called Ida, her friend Louis Armstrong and of course the axe murderer. ( https://raycelestin.com/the-city-blues-quartet/ ) This first book is set in the 1900’s and the remainder of the books over the 20th century during Armstrong’s lifetime. The background of these detective is set across the lifetimes the life of the fictitious Ida and imagined persona of Armstrong within the social complexity of the period in four cities New Orleans, Chicago, New York and the final book in LA.
I’m a Brit so I didn’t know lots about all of that period of history in the USA and it was fun finding out more whilst reading the detective mysteries.
I’ve since read one of the biographies of Armstrong to understand him as a real person and about context of the books.
Hi Libby, that series sounds fascinating! I’ll definitely look into it. The volcano was so surreal and one of the coolest things I’ve seen. The park doesn’t allow you to get anywhere near the volcano, so it felt safe because we were far away!
Hi Hannah! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes for me and my mom! And for the kind words 💪🏽