In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers interviews Hrishikesh Hirway, the renowned musician and podcaster behind Song Exploder. They discuss Hrishikesh's family background, including his parents' arranged marriage, the influence of an immigrant upbringing, and the evolution of family traditions.

The conversation delves into the impact of loss and grief, particularly the passing of Hrishikesh's mother, and how this shaped his understanding of family. They also touch upon the themes of loneliness, the decision not to have children, and the role of music in processing personal experiences. The episode concludes with reflections on the unconditional love and obligations that define family life.


Host: Nabil Ayers

Guest: Hrishikesh Hirway

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Production Company: Palm Tree Island

Music: Nouela and Patricia Brennan.

In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers interviews Hrishikesh Hirway, the renowned musician and podcaster behind Song Exploder. They discuss Hrishikesh's family background, including his parents' arranged marriage, the influence of an immigrant upbringing, and the evolution of family traditions.
The conversation delves into the impact of loss and grief, particularly the passing of Hrishikesh's mother, and how this shaped his understanding of family. They also touch upon the themes of loneliness, the decision not to have children, and the role of music in processing personal experiences. The episode concludes with reflections on the unconditional love and obligations that define family life.
 Host: Nabil Ayers
Guest: Hrishikesh Hirway
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Production Company: Palm Tree Island
Music: Nouela and Patricia Brennan.

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.

In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.

Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?

Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.

The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Identified with Nabil Ayers

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Song Exploder's Hrishikesh Hirway on Music's Healing Power.

Is Blood Really Family? In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers sits down with Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks Podcast, to explore the deeply personal terrain of identity, family, and legacy. Traci opens up about growing up mixed-race with older parents, navigating loss at a young age, and the impact of her Black and Jewish heritage on how she views belonging.

Their conversation weaves through themes of grief, motherhood, and emotional inheritance, as Traci reflects on what it meant to lose her father in her twenties—and how that absence continues to shape her relationship to parenting and selfhood. She shares insights on the expansive nature of chosen family, the cultural roots of inclusion in Black and Jewish communities, and the quiet power of forging your own path in the absence of clear models.

Traci’s honesty about not feeling naturally inclined to motherhood—while fully embracing the role—offers a fresh and nuanced view of modern parenting. This episode challenges traditional definitions of family, makes space for contradiction, and honors the complexity of claiming one’s story.

Guest: Traci Thomas

Host: Nabil Ayers

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Production by: Palm Tree Island

Is Blood Really Family? In this episode of Identified, host Nabil Ayers sits down with Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks Podcast, to explore the deeply personal terrain of identity, family, and legacy. Traci opens up about growing up mixed-race with older parents, navigating loss at a young age, and the impact of her Black and Jewish heritage on how she views belonging.
Their conversation weaves through themes of grief, motherhood, and emotional inheritance, as Traci reflects on what it meant to lose her father in her twenties&mdash;and how that absence continues to shape her relationship to parenting and selfhood. She shares insights on the expansive nature of chosen family, the cultural roots of inclusion in Black and Jewish communities, and the quiet power of forging your own path in the absence of clear models.
Traci&rsquo;s honesty about not feeling naturally inclined to motherhood&mdash;while fully embracing the role&mdash;offers a fresh and nuanced view of modern parenting. This episode challenges traditional definitions of family, makes space for contradiction, and honors the complexity of claiming one&rsquo;s story.
Guest: Traci Thomas
Host: Nabil Ayers
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Production by: Palm Tree Island

Is Blood Really Family? Podcaster and Writer Traci Thomas on Chosen Family

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by acclaimed comedian, actor, and musician Tim Heidecker for an unexpectedly candid conversation about ancestry, grief, and identity. Tim traces the impact of family tragedy across generations—from the death of his grandfather’s mother in childbirth, to the sudden loss of a sibling in his father’s childhood, and how that cascade of trauma subtly shaped his own upbringing in suburban Pennsylvania.

He reflects on the weight of generational loss, the evolution from a tight-knit extended family to one defined by chosen bonds, and how becoming a father redefined his understanding of connection, vulnerability, and care. With humor and heart, Tim shares how he's created a nurturing and playful environment for his own children—while still reckoning with the echoes of the past. This episode explores themes of grief, resilience, chosen family, and the quiet strength it takes to raise a family differently.

Guest: Tim Heidecker

Host: Nabil Ayers

Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Production by Palm Tree Island

In this episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers is joined by acclaimed comedian, actor, and musician Tim Heidecker for an unexpectedly candid conversation about ancestry, grief, and identity. Tim traces the impact of family tragedy across generations&mdash;from the death of his grandfather&rsquo;s mother in childbirth, to the sudden loss of a sibling in his father&rsquo;s childhood, and how that cascade of trauma subtly shaped his own upbringing in suburban Pennsylvania.
He reflects on the weight of generational loss, the evolution from a tight-knit extended family to one defined by chosen bonds, and how becoming a father redefined his understanding of connection, vulnerability, and care. With humor and heart, Tim shares how he's created a nurturing and playful environment for his own children&mdash;while still reckoning with the echoes of the past. This episode explores themes of grief, resilience, chosen family, and the quiet strength it takes to raise a family differently.
Guest: Tim Heidecker
Host: Nabil Ayers
Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Production by Palm Tree Island

Comedian Tim Heidecker on the Power of Chosen Family

What if your most formative identity traits come from people you didn’t grow up with?

In this powerful episode of Identified, rapper and queer icon Cakes Da Killa reflects on growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, raised by his teenage mother and grandmother. He shares openly about the complexities of reconciling with an absent father, discovering inherited traits in unexpected family members, and why — as a queer person — chosen family has always played a central role in his life.

This episode touches on:


Intergenerational strength from women in his family


The slow repair of fractured paternal relationships


The trauma of losing family homes and generational wealth


The nuance of chosen vs. biological family


And why his mother’s strength remains his biggest inspiration

With clarity, wit, and raw honesty, Cakes shows that family — like identity — is something you get to define on your own terms.

What if your most formative identity traits come from people you didn&rsquo;t grow up with?
In this powerful episode of Identified, rapper and queer icon Cakes Da Killa reflects on growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, raised by his teenage mother and grandmother. He shares openly about the complexities of reconciling with an absent father, discovering inherited traits in unexpected family members, and why &mdash; as a queer person &mdash; chosen family has always played a central role in his life.
This episode touches on:
<ul data-start="963" data-end="1247">
<li data-start="963" data-end="1018">
Intergenerational strength from women in his family
</li>
<li data-start="1019" data-end="1074">
The slow repair of fractured paternal relationships
</li>
<li data-start="1075" data-end="1136">
The trauma of losing family homes and generational wealth
</li>
<li data-start="1137" data-end="1183">
The nuance of chosen vs. biological family
</li>
<li data-start="1184" data-end="1247">
And why his mother&rsquo;s strength remains his biggest inspiration
</li>
</ul>
With clarity, wit, and raw honesty, Cakes shows that family &mdash; like identity &mdash; is something you get to define on your own terms.

Song Exploder's Hrishikesh Hirway on Music's Healing Power.

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