
S4 Episode 21: A View From the Front Desk – Bound by the Cloak
In this episode, we explore the unique experience of growing up in a motel as a family business, where the line between home and work blurs in the most fascinating ways.
Foram Mehta, reflects on her childhood spent amidst the hustle and bustle of transient guests, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of motel life. She shares stories of the diverse travelers who passed through, the lessons learned from her parents about entrepreneurship and resilience, and how this unconventional upbringing shaped her identity.
Foram is a storyteller, freelance journalist, editor, and content developer.

Show Notes:
Articles:
The Motel Patels Built Empires. For Younger Generations, It’s Complicated (2023)
The ghosts of our motel (2021)
The Motwani family business’s rise from motels to luxury hotels and condos (2020)
I’m Indian And Yes, My Family Runs Motels. Here’s What It Was Like To Be Raised In Them (2019)
How growing up in our family motel shaped me as an adult (2019)
How Motel Ownership Offers Indian-Americans a Gateway to the American Dream (2014)
