Mahika Kukday
WUSF Radio News internMy friends here call it ‘the spiel’. Whenever we meet someone new, they say, “Mahika, you have to give them the spiel!”
And since we probably haven’t met before, I’m going to do just that.
I was raised equally in Sydney, Australia and Pune, India.
In 2020, I was supposed to start studying journalism in New York — but a certain virus ruined that plan.
Instead, I ran a full-time baking business out of a ratty oven that only baked six cupcakes at a time and browned every single one unevenly.
That took me to Paris, France, for the next two years. I graduated from culinary school, slapped ‘Chef’ on my resume, and learnt that natives use the colloquial “ouais” instead of “oui”.
In 2022, I landed in the Tampa Bay area. I’m pursuing my BA in Journalism at the USF St. Petersburg campus and hoping to become a professional food and culture writer in the long-term.
I am currently Arts & Life Editor at The Crow’s Nest, the USFSP university newspaper, and a contributing writer and columnist for the popular food blog, St. Pete Foodies.
To me, life is all about the people and the experiences that enrich my spiel. I want to eat and dance my way across the globe. And all I’ve ever really wanted to do with my life is hear your spiel — and your friend’s, and their friend’s — and share it.
At WUSF, I can’t wait to venture into broadcast journalism and tell meaningful stories that matter.
And yes, my favorite cuisine is Indian. You’re one mutton-rogan-josh-and-garlic-naan away from sharing my opinion.
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