Tuckered Out with Ami Thakkar

In honor of SXSW coming up next week, I wanted to share a previous episode with one of the keynote speakers for the conference!

Rohit Bhargava is the Founder and Chief Trend Curator of the Non-Obvious Company and is widely considered one of the most entertaining and original speakers on trends and marketing in the world.

Rohit believes the world needs more Non-Obvious thinking. He helps leaders and professionals to be more open minded, see what others miss and learn to anticipate the future. He is the author of seven popular business books, including his signature Non-Obvious Megatrends which has been read or shared by more than 1 million people and was a #1 WSJ bestseller + USA Today bestseller earlier this year.

Outside of speaking and consulting, Rohit is also the co-founder of Ideapress Publishing - a fast growing independent publisher that specializes in working with top authors to publish beautiful business books.

We talk about what a Futurist does, why he is the trend  guy, what the Human Mode trend is and why it's here to stay, how starting a publishing company kept him from becoming an a&&hole, and the reasons he wanted to start supporting the South Asian community.

 Kavita Mehta is a a non-profit leader with 20 years of service and a deep commitment to fostering cultural change, organizational transformation, and movement building.

Kavita is the Executive Director for Sahki for South Asian Women, a survivor-led gender justice organization whose goal is to eradicate gender-based and domestic violence. Sakhi is the second largest organization of its kind in the US, and celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. It has really changed the conversation on gender-based violence in our community while uniting survivors and institutions to work together.

In our conversation,  Kavita delves into how Sakhi provides a safe space and community for survivors; the high rate of gender violence in the South Asian diaspora, the challenges in overcoming it, and its connections to South Asian culture and beliefs. We talk about South Asian family dynamics and how they have impacted us, She generously opens up about her own trauma, how it drove her to do the job she does, and how she overcomes trauma to this day

What we talked about: 

• Kavita’s Sakhi Journey:  How Kavita joined Sakhi at the advent of the MeToo movement + the challenge of COVID + preparing for the migrant crisis in New York City. (6:26)
• A Force for Transformative Change:  Sakhi’s unique holistic survivor outreach from counseling to housing + how 48% of South Asian Americans have experienced gender-based violence  +  Saki’s inclusive rebranding (10:50)
• The Need for True Community and Safety: How fear of judgment and the need to keep up appearance isolates and suffocates South Asians + how feeling like an outsider in childhood impacts adulthood  19:45)
• Live in the Trauma Or Live in the Healing: Kavita opens up about her violent and traumatic childhood + haunted by the life her mother could have had + how she found healing through her work with Sakhi + South Asians breaking the stigma around mental health. (24:31)
• The Hidden Trauma in South Asian Families: Amy and Kavita reflect on their gradual awareness of childhood toxicity + the need to educate the next generation  (29:02)
• What next for Sakhi: Celebrating Sakhi’s 35th anniversary + ringing the bell of the New York Stock Exchange + gala (34:16)
• Lessons Learned: Kavita’s anxiety, learning when to accelerate and when to slow down + Sharing internal struggles of making decisions (37:26)
• The Need for Self-Care: Kavita talks frankly about her need for regular therapy +  the case that haunts her to this day (39:30)
• Rapid Fire Questions: (42:35)
• Kavita’s Bucket List: (45:36)

Connect with Kavita:

• Sakhi for South Asian Women
• Linkedin

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram
   

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media

When I met my next guest for the first time after getting to know her on social media, I felt like I’d known her forever. 

Akruti Babaria is the founder of Kulture Khazana , a business is dedicated to sharing Indian culture with children through educational and play activities. 

Her story began in 2018 after the birth of her son, Ayaan. When Akruti realized that the diverse places she has lived in had no sign of her culture or community, so she decided to do something about it

Now through Kulture Khazana, Akruti is able to shares the South Asian culture with children around the US  and all of its beautiful treasures.

Kulture Khazana has a variety of incredible Indian toys and Diwali gifts as well as games, puzzles and online story albums for kids of all ages.   Kulture Khazana is also is now the first Indian cultural toy brand founded in target.com and nordstrom.com, and now will be launching with macys.com this year!

As a mother of two little girls who is trying to share our culture as much as possible . I could not recommend checking out Kulture Khazana more.

What we talked about:

• Going full force for Holi: Akruti talks about the upcoming launch at Macy + her new products that make Holi safe and fun + her most popular product (02:52)
• The Story of Kulture Khazana:  Akruti shares her original journey to normalize Indian culture through stories  + the challenge of COVID + the diversity of products and sensory experiences in Kulture Khazana
• Personal Highlights: Akruti shares her pride in talking to her son’s school for Diwali + her new school district campaign to expand South Asian culture to all classrooms. (19:31)
• Lessons from Akruti’s Journey:  People are willing to help +  Not letting “no” ruin your larger purpose is the key to peace of mind  (23:27)
• Growing up Brown in School: Akruti opens up about being treated differently for being Indian + how it became the impetus to help Indian girls find their voice (27:18)
• Women in Indian Culture:   Challenging the subservient view of women in traditional Indian stories. (34:15)
• What Next? Akruti gives the lowdown on her upcoming projects (39:08)
• Rapid fire questions (40:10)

Connect with Akruti:

• Kulture Khazana
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

Instagram
 

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media

How is it February already??  While we are working on a few other projects these past few weeks, we're going to share an episode from the end of last year that we also submitted for The Webby Awards this year.  Please do go watch "To Kill A Tiger", it's one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen

Nisha Pahuja is a writer, an artist, and director and now an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. Her passion for social impact is marked by a quiet courage towards exploring complex social issues that often breed division through the lens of her camera. We chat about her latest award-winning documentary "To Kill a Tiger," which has won 19 awards from prestigious festivals such as TIFF, Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Canadian Screen Awards, and Doc Aviv and has names like Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling attached to it. The film earned its way on The New York Times Most Anticipated Fall Releases list and Anne Thompson at the IndieWire’s Oscar Contenders list.

I had the pleasure of moderating the premier of the film here in Dallas with some of the executive producers and was absolutely blown away by the film.

Nisha's storytelling prowess goes beyond this latest project, with notable credits like the Emmy-nominated "The World Before Her," the documentary "Bollywood Bound," and the insightful series "Diamond Road." Her work doesn't just capture stories; it sparks conversations and challenges perspectives, especially around themes of cultural evolution, the reality of stereotypical depictions, and the grip that shame has on so many of us. As an immigrant from India to Canada, Nisha's unique vantage point enriches her narratives, bridging diverse worlds with empathy and insight. Her journey is not just about making films but also the art of fostering understanding, catalyzing change, and alchemizing adversity into inspiration.  

We talked about: 

• How Nisha got involved with Kill A Tiger and what she feels were the hardest parts to film (4:16)
• Western and eastern societal parallels around discussing and handling sexual assault (8:10)
• Nisha’s relationship with shame and the concept of shame as a cultural inheritance (12:05)
• How Karen and her family are doing now and current projects in the works  (17:20)
• What experiencing immigrating from India and growing up in Canada was like (18:50)
• Nisha’s relationship with our culture (23:50)
• The World Before Her, the initial journey to documentary making, and her perspective on representation (29:30)

Connect with Nisha Pahuja

• Instagram
• Linkedin

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Nick Rathod has been thinking a lot about the power of culture and using it as a platform for change.  And he has some experience with that.

Over the span of his 20-year career, Nick Rathod has built successful campaigns, businesses, governmental and non-governmental institutions and been a key advisor to the nation's leaders. Nick has served as special assistant to the President and Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House, and was also the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Obama-Biden transition team. 

Nick has also built a number of nonprofit organizations. Most notably, Nick was the founder and first Executive Director of the State Innovation Exchange. Nick has most recently served as the campaign manager for Beto's race for governor of Texas. He is now the President of Impact and a founding partner in the People of Culture Studios in Hollywood, California. 

Nick shares his vision of affecting real change by using Hollywood culture to connect people of color to the mainstream, how he brought his 20 years of experience in politics to bear on the upcoming election, and his fascinating journey of growing up brown in rural Nebraska.

Nick is also currently a partner in building the first ever sneaker and streetwear museum in Houston, TX.  NBD.

Honestly, Nick is one of those undercover badasses that has done so much in his professional journey, is sincerely the kindest to everyone, and really never asked for the spotlight. 

We need more people like Nick in this world. 

What we talked about:

• People of Culture Studios + how Hollywood movies can bring stories of sexism and patriarchy as well as people of color to Middle America + bridging Hollywood and DC. (04:35)
• DEI and the challenge of creating authentic brown stories in movies without becoming a niche. (14:27)
• #ImmaBeHonest and tackling mental health taboos in the Black and South Asian communities. (16:06)
• United Dream Fund supporting immigrant investors + building the first ever sneaker and streetwear museum in Houston. (22:24)
• Beto campaign and championing women's reproductive health, immigrants and the LGBTQ community in Texas + Nick’s love of Texas. (26:51)
• Election year: Democrats need to break out of the DC bubble and connect with people to beat Trump + how Vivek Ramaswany embodies the worst stereotypes of South Asian men. (29:54)
• How Nick’s family have supported him in his career + balancing individuality and compromise in marriage. (36:33)
• Growing up brown and poor in Nebraska and overcoming racism and bullying to develop empathy + his sister, the debt owed to his immigrant parents and taking his father to meet Obama. (39:04)
• Rapid fire questions (50:29)
• Nick’s bucket list. (51:35)

Connect with Nick: 

• Linkedin
• Instagram.com
• Twitter
• Facebook

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a Harvard physician, stress expert, speaker, national television correspondent, and host of the podcast, Time Out with Eve Rodsky. She is also a lecturer at Harvard Medical School in the Division of Global Health and Social Medicine, and serves as the co-director of the Clinical Clerkship in Community Engagement. She has spoken at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit, the HBS Women's Conference, and many other events.

Most importantly, her new book, The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body For Less Stress and More Resilience, came out this past week, where she focuses on how to maintain healthy levels of stress.

In our conversation, we reflect on how the pandemic and other traumatic events of the last three  years have impacted us all. Aditi shines a light on the unique challenges that make us more stressed out than our parents and opens up about the insights into stress she gained on her journey as a patient and as an expert while sharing practical tools for navigating the new normal.

Reading this book was probably the best thing I've done for myself to start out the year!

What we talked about: 

• How stress and burnout is the norm not the exception. You are not alone and it is not your fault. (03:54)
• How information overload impacts the natural stress of parenting (08:55)
• Healthy versus unhealthy stress + achieving the “sweet spot.” (18:04)
• Dismantling the myth of multitasking + monotask to overcome stress and burnout.(21:26)
• Aditi’s stress journey + her personal techniques for relaxation. + supporting the gut-brain connection to decrease stress-triggered illness. (25:55)
• Aditi’s family immigration story + tackling  taboos of mental illness in South Asian culture and around the world. (36:14)
• Aditi’s deep connection to Bombay as key to her Indian identity. (42:09)
• Rapid fire questions. (49:05)

Connect with Aditi Nerurkar: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Linkedin
• Podcast

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

We're back!  It's the new year and we hope everyone had a safe and peaceful holiday....and we also hope you're ready to get Tuckered Out this year! And what a way to start off 2024...

Megha Tolia is the President and COO of Shondaland as well as a beacon of ingenuity and leadership. Her professional journey began at Neutrogena and spanned over 20 years, where she honed her expertise in building mission-driven, consumer-centric brands. Her trajectory took a thrilling turn when she leaped into the media universe, bringing her strategic prowess to Shondaland, the brainchild of the legendary Shonda Rhimes. Megha shares her transition from the structured world of consumer goods to the vibrant and unpredictable realm of television production. It's a narrative of embracing new challenges and the excitement of stepping into the unknown.

In our conversation, Megha delves into her personal journey, reflecting on her rich Indian heritage and the influence of her family’s immigration story.  We also discuss navigating the complexities of the entertainment industry, her role in supporting Shonda Rhimes’ vision, and her efforts to implement structure and strategy in a creative powerhouse. 

As we reflect on the year and look ahead, Megha's journey provides an inspiring example of balancing tradition with innovation, and structure with creativity. 

We talk about:  

• Moving to Dallas, Texas + adjusting to a new city (2:41)
• The learning curve of shifting from CPG to the entertainment industry + discovering the initial opportunity (8:52)
• Megha's favorite Shondaland shows to watch and work on (20:11)
• How their team has grown + what it's been like working so close with Shonda Rhimes (28:59)
• Becoming a co-founding director of the William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership and SMU Cox School of Business (35:57)
• Magha's family immigration story + how she nurtured her love of dance growing up (40:45)
• Rapid Fire Questions (52:09)

Connect with Magha: 

• Linkedin

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

.

Today, in the last episode of 2023, I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who makes this podcast possible: my hubby and our girls, our amazing production team Ginni Media, and of course, to you. Thank you for your company, support, and for pretending to laugh at my jokes.

Before you go, I need to ask you a favor. Tuckered Out has been recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences as a finalist for the Anthem Awards! 

What do I need from you? A simple vote to help this underdog podcast take a win home. 

Hugs and high fives, see you in 2024! 

Resources:

• Help Tuckered Out win the Anthem Community Voice Award!

Let’s Connect!

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media. 

Falguni Lakhani Adams is an Emmy Award-winning producer and executive with Vice TV and another one of my long-lost soul sisters. She is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate, a mom, a director, a writer, a mindfulness coach, and an entrepreneur, and she has more than 20 years of experience producing creative nonfiction stories for broadcast TV, digital media, and long-form audio documentaries. 

She has worked on projects such as Unknown Amazon with Pedro Andrade, The Search For Q, Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11, and Black Market with Michael K. Williams. You also may have heard of the very popular United Shades of America, as well as Belly of The Booth. She also just happens to have a very long list of credits for NBC News, and MSNBC, including 10 years at Dateline NBC. 

Her focus on production and community has earned her space in Veronica Beard’s Make It Happen campaign. She is also an active member with Chief, Co-Creator of Getting Hotter, and CEO of Sorry, Not Sorry, Productions. I'm sorry, because I don't know how this woman is standing up. I mean, she is doing it all. And she has fantastic hair. I hope you guys enjoy as we peel back the layers of her illustrious 20-year career, which is as colorful as it is impactful. I really loved our conversation, where every turn was a story, every anecdote a lesson, and every laugh a memory. Tune in and let’s get Tuckered Out together with the incredible Falguni Lakhani Adams.    

We talked about:    

• Meet Falguni (2:48)
• The hippo that ate her grandfather's leg (4:40)
• Representation and inclusivity + The White House Diwali event (11:33)
• Vice TV, 'Sikhs In America', + Falguni's efforts toward amplifying diverse voices (24:17)
• Journalistic integrity + the power of authentic storytelling (34:15)
• Upcoming projects + disrupting stigma around aging and going through body changes (38:30)
• Rebranding random and learning to flow with the opportunities that flow our way along the career path (48:25)
• Growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens (57:00)
• Rapid Fire Questions (1:05:00)

Connect with Falguni: 

• Instagram
• Linkedin

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

 Today's guest is none other than Raja Kumari, a Grammy-nominated songwriter, and India’s top female rapper. Known as Svetha Rao to loved ones, she brings an otherworldly fusion of Eastern and Western music that's completely reshaping the industry.

In our chat, Raja Kumari takes us on a journey through her album 'The Bridge’. Released worldwide in April 2023, this album is a work that not only showcases her unique blend of cultures but also marks her debut under her own label that launched two years prior, Godmother Records. Talk about trailblazers, guys, this woman is fearless. She has such a charismatic personality and is truly a natural-born storyteller, who by the way now has over 43 million monthly Spotify streams. 

I had such a blast interviewing her as she shared captivating insights into her transition from classical dance to hip-hop, her struggles with American labels, and her groundbreaking move back to India, where she found an audience that immediately resonated with her music. We also touch on her collaborations with absolute legends in the industry like John Legend, her approach to songwriting, and her vision for empowering women in music. Join us as we dive into Raja Kumari's world, where music is an expression of identity and a tool we can use to decorate time. Her experiences, from performing at India’s biggest music festival to working with all sorts of iconic figures, highlight her journey as an artist and a cultural innovator.  

We talked about:  

• Finding a guardian angel in Madhuri Dixit + the initial journey to making revolutionary music (2:12) 
• Touring for 'The Bridge' (14:42) 
• Transforming Svetha Rao through the birth and evolution of Raja Kumari (22:44) 
• Slaying the challenges of creating an album during a global pandemic (29:15) 
• Raja's inspiration for naming GodMother + showcasing the power of authenticity and cultural pride (36:55) 
• What’s up next for Raja + healing through music (42:23) 
• Rapid Fire Questions (50:29)  
• Raja's Soundbite For The Soul (53:43) 

Connect with Raja: 

• Official Website
• Instagram

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

.

Nisha Pahuja is a writer, an artist, and director and now an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. Her passion for social impact is marked by a quiet courage towards exploring complex social issues that often breed division through the lens of her camera. We chat about her latest award-winning documentary "To Kill a Tiger," which has won 19 awards from prestigious festivals such as TIFF, Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Canadian Screen Awards, and Doc Aviv and has names like Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling attached to it. The film earned its way on The New York Times Most Anticipated Fall Releases list and Anne Thompson at the IndieWire’s Oscar Contenders list.

I had the pleasure of moderating the premier of the film here in Dallas with some of the executive producers and was absolutely blown away by the film.

Nisha's storytelling prowess goes beyond this latest project, with notable credits like the Emmy-nominated "The World Before Her," the documentary "Bollywood Bound," and the insightful series "Diamond Road." Her work doesn't just capture stories; it sparks conversations and challenges perspectives, especially around themes of cultural evolution, the reality of stereotypical depictions, and the grip that shame has on so many of us. As an immigrant from India to Canada, Nisha's unique vantage point enriches her narratives, bridging diverse worlds with empathy and insight. Her journey is not just about making films but also the art of fostering understanding, catalyzing change, and alchemizing adversity into inspiration.  

We talked about: 

• How Nisha got involved with Kill A Tiger and what she feels were the hardest parts to film (4:16)
• Western and eastern societal parallels around discussing and handling sexual assault (8:10)
• Nisha’s relationship with shame and the concept of shame as a cultural inheritance (12:05)
• How Karen and her family are doing now and current projects in the works  (17:20)
• What experiencing immigrating from India and growing up in Canada was like (18:50)
• Nisha’s relationship with our culture (23:50)
• The World Before Her, the initial journey to documentary making, and her perspective on representation (29:30)

Connect with Nisha Pahuja

• Instagram
• Linkedin

Let’s talk Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Manu Raju is a Chief Congressional Correspondent for CNN and an anchor of Inside Politics Sunday. He has covered Capitol Hill for over seven years with Politico before taking on his current role at CNN. With a career spanning from Congressional Quarterly to inside Washington publishers, he's a familiar face to anyone following political news.

Award-winning and always at the heart of the action, Manu's work is driven by a passion for uncovering the stories that matter. His on-the-ground reporting during the January 6 Capitol attack was so impactful, that it awarded him the David Blum Award. I learned so much from listening to him recount the events and provide his perspective on what it takes to develop a story of that magnitude. 

Manu has a truly awe-inspiring career and his journey is a testament to the evolving landscape of South Asian representation in media. Manu discusses the challenges and nuances of reporting complex political stories, offers insights into the news-making process, and shares his experiences as a South Asian journalist navigating a pivotal era in American politics. It was a fascinating conversation exploring the intersection of South Asian identity, journalistic integrity, and the relentless pursuit of truth in an era of divided media.  

We talked about: 

• Manu's role behind the scenes + developing a story as a CNN correspondent (2:38)
• How the news cycle has shifted + evolved over the last decade (8:20)
• Manu's coverage of January 6 at the Capital + discussing the news with his kids (13:43)
• The fragmented perception of media outlets + the importance of unbiased fact-based news reporting (17:36)
• Navigating stereotypes and South Asian representation in media (22:41)
• Manu's powerhouse of a family lineup and his experience growing up Brown in the Midwest (26:36)
• Rapid Fire Questions (36:09)

Connect with Manu Raju: 

• Instagram
• Twitter

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Swati Sharma is the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Vox, a leading platform for explanatory journalism. I recently had the pleasure of sharing a panel with her earlier this year and felt an instant connection. 

As the Editor-in-Chief of Vox, she’s on a mission to demystify the complexities of the world by helping her audience move out of ignorance into knowledge, no matter their background.

Throughout her storied career, she's been a force at renowned news institutions like The Atlantic, Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. She has overseen digital coverage through pivotal events like the pandemic, racial reckonings, Trump's presidency, and an historic election. 

Beyond her editorial prowess, she's a Bay Area native with a passion for travel and all things Bollywood. No doubt that Swati was meant to write and tell stories and is a true trailblazer in journalism. 

We talked about: 

• Swati's role at Vox Media and their relationship to other editorial brands (2:51)
• The essence of explanatory journalism and why we need it (5:53)
• Hiring people who live by intellectual rigor and approachability (11:16)
• Serving + maintaining a diverse audience with intention and integrity (15:03)
• Facing imposter syndrome + unlearning working twice as hard for half as much (18:21)
• Shahrukh Khan, Bollywood's influence in South Asian media, and going mainstream with niche topics (24:40)
• Highschool Swati + her relationship with brown growing up (30:05)
• Rapid Fire Questions (35:10)
• Swati's bare bones for happiness (37:27)

Connect with Swati:  

• Linkedin
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Nisha Ganatra, is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter, producer, and actress of Indian descent.

We met this year at Sundance where I was lucky enough to see her screening of Rise, a short film focusing on the struggles of women enterpreneurs today. I first got to know her after watching Chutney Popcorn back in '99, now a cult classic, which she wrote, directed, and produced herself. 

Ganatra has directed numerous television shows including Transparent, You Me Her, Better Things, Dear White People, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She also directed the comedy-dramas Late Night and The High Note. She is also the founder of Ladies' Car Production.

We talk about her amazing 25-year journey working in Hollywood, why we are most likely related,  and why she would love to get back to her indie roots. 

We talked about: 

• Her short film Rise + how her 25-year career began (1:48)
• Chasing the next achievement and dismantling the rival fallacy (10:55)
• Nisha's experience of breaking into TV and noticing the shift in industry practices (17:46)
• Nisha's style of directing and providing actors with notes (24:12)
• Affecting cultural change through impactful art (26:44)
• Reframing our conditioning to unlearn people-pleasing tendencies (29:57)
• What’s next for Lady’s Car Production (32:35)
• Rapid Fire Questions (36:47)

Connect with Nisha: 

• Website 
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

.

We're coming at you LIVE! from the inaugural summit of SALUTE in my favorite city, NYC baby.

The SALUTE (South Asian Ladies Unite To Empower) mission is to build an impactful community of South Asian women focused on innovation, unity, and progress. Members of this community are rising leaders in their fields, who are making decisions to shape the present and influence the future.

Guys, I can't tell you how much I love this community. The founders have built something very special and profound for South Asian Women. The summit itself was not only impactful, but it felt incredibly warm and intimate, which is not easy to pull off. I had a blast talking to so many amazing South Asian women who are just dominating in their fields, checking out all their amazing brands, and also running into all sorts of friends.

It felt like one big reunion, so I hope you enjoy this very special Live episode honoring the women of SALUTE.  

In today’s episode, I talked with:  

• Founder of Girls That Invest, Simran Kaur on getting involved with SALUTE and her panel on all things investing (1:50)
• NYC Yoga and Meditation guide, Neeti Narula after leading the mindfulness break for the group (6:31)
• Managing Director at J.P Morgan Private Bank, Deevana Palazzolo on connecting with her community and sharing her expertise alongside such impactful women (10:36)
• Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Associate Dean at Stanford Medicine, Priya Signh on the importance of mentorship, aligned values, and what makes SALUTE special (17:22)
• Board Partner and former CEO of Crate & Barrel, Neela Montgomery on cultural identity and navigating the career journey (24:27)
• Founder of Brown Girl Angels, Bhargavi Varma on financial literacy and supporting brown co-founders in their founders journey (27:24)
• President and Co-Founder of GEP Worldwide, Neha Desai Shah on the many paths to impact and success (33:34)
• Speaker and Founder of Silver Linings, Parul Somani on leading her workshop and defining empowerment (36:53)
• Co-Founder of SALUTE, Neha Singh on the journey to reaching the summit, experimenting along the way, and finding your voice (42:42)
• Co-Founder of SALUTE, Era Ray on the vision behind their paid membership and her hopes for ther collective moving forward  (57:52)

Connect with SALUTE: 

• SALUTE 
• Hasan Minhaj

Let's Connect:  

Instagram

 Rooshy Roy is the founder and CEO of Aavrani, a holistic skincare line that uses clean, effective cosmetics rooted in Indian agent beauty rituals, which she saw her grandmother using as a young girl in India. 

As an adult searching for an easier way to access non-toxic formulas, Rooshy reconnected with her roots by creating the beauty products she wished she had as a young Indian girl growing up in the Midwest. I deeply resonate with this because growing up in Texas, I only saw brands like AVON or Revlon, and none of it was created with my skin in mind. 

It’s definitely a beautiful thing when the journey to find a solution, molds us into the resource we once set out to find and that’s the nature of Rooshy’s story. 

Her recent partnership with Lilly Singh on her upcoming haircare line is proving that Rooshy is ready to bring these ancient rituals to the mainstream and share the beauty of the Indian culture. Join the conversation and hear all about this incredible partnership, Rooshy’s path to her current success, how she is harnessing the most powerful beauty rituals of the Ayurvedic tradition, and more. 

We talked about:   

• How the AAVRANI and Lily partnership came about  (1:51)
• The moment Rooshy knew this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship (9:32)
• Maintaining healthy competition while supporting other holistic brands (14:10)
• Rooshy's favorite beauty brands, rituals, and holistic practices + what's next for Aavrani (19:42)
• The shame of turmeric-colored fingers in childhood + how hairy legs can build character (24:20)
• Dating as the oldest daughter (29:53)
• Rapid Fire Questions  (34:17)
• Rooshy's bare bones for happiness (38:50)

Connect with Rooshy: 

• Aavrani
• Linkedin
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

Gotham Chopra is an American sports documentarian, media entrepreneur, producer, podcast host, director, journalist, and author.  He is the co-founder of Religion of Sports, Liquid Comics, Chopra Media, and the Chopra Well. Gotham is known for his sports-centric films, having worked with athletes such as, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Simone Biles, and in today’s episode, he talks with me about his latest project with Serena Williams.

We discuss his current role as co-founder of Religion of Sports, a sports-focused media company that was founded in 2016 by Chopra, Michael Strahan, and Tom Brady.  Gotham opens up about  his incredible journey up till now, what it was like growing up with a famous father, and what he believes is the sign of true greatness.    

We talked about:  

• Meet Gotham (1:06)
• Sports as a universal language of connection (3:36)
• The role of inspiration and finding fulfillment through failure (8:25)
• The quality that every truly elite athlete shares (14:45)
• Upcoming projects Gotham is working on in collaboration with the South Asian community, Serena Williams, and Steven A. Smith (16:45)
• Growing up with a famous father and touring with Michael Jackson as a child (22:17)
• Gotham reflects on the culture of early home life and his relationship with India (31:09)
• How Gotham's relationship with his Dad has evolved over time and influenced his career journey (34:41)
• Rapid Fire Questions (42:57)
• Gotham's bare bones for happiness (48:28)

Connect with Gotham: 

• Linkedin
• Instagram
• Religion of Sports

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

Neelu Kaur is an author, facilitator, NLP and executive coach, and a wellness and burnout management expert. She combines leadership development, neurolinguistic programming, and burnout management to offer her clients a healing hybrid of research-based professional development skills intricately intertwined with the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda. Neely’s book, Be Your Own Cheerleader, is an Asian and South Asian woman’s cultural, psychological, and spiritual guide to self-promoting at work to get your professional needs met. 

Guys, this book is a must-read, even if you're not in a corporate environment. Join me as I sit down with Neelu to discuss her unique approach to focusing on the mind in the workplace, healing our relationship to mental health, and how she continues to overcome the cultural, psychological, and spiritual challenges we all face daily.

We talked about: 

• Neelu explains Neuro Linguistic Programming and what to expect in her program (3:40)
• Self-advocating as South Asian women (12:04)
• Neelu's role as a core guide with Chief and how she got involved (16:39)
• The most difficult cultural, psychological, and spiritual aspects of Neelu's journey that had to be overcome  (20:09)
• The importance of reframing and having discussions around mental health (27:42)
• Neelu reflects on her childhood and what it was like immigrating to the U.S. (31:44)
• Neelu's relationship to South Asian culture now vs. back then (36:54)
• Neelu unpacks her journey through higher education and her quest for credentials (41:54)
• Rapid Fire Questions (48:46)
• Neelu's bare bones for happiness (52:21)

Connect with Neelu: 

• Website
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

My fourth guest for my South Asian author series is Sj Sindu.

As a genderqueer Sri Lankan American novelist and riveting short story writer, SJ Sindu is one of the most exciting young voices out there today. Her first novel, Marriage of a Thousand Lies, won the Publishing Triangle Edmund White Award for debut fiction and was named an American Library Association, Stonewall Honor Book. SJ’s upcoming book, The Goth House, is a collection of stories that focus on queer joy, as well as shocking cruelty. You know we love a good paradox. In today’s episode, we talk about her upbringing in Sri Lanka, her memories of the Sri Lankan war, and how much that trauma is incorporated into her writing. And I obviously couldn't resist asking her if she loves MIA as much as I do. Find out how she navigated the many intersections of ‘other” she found herself within, the hilarious last-ditch effort she made to throw her Brown parents off her trail, and what she hopes to inspire in younger generations through her work.  

We talked about:  

• How SJ came to know she was a writer (1:54)
• How SJ's search to find her voice and genre has shifted over time (6:30)
• SJ’s genius solution to appeasing her parents and inspiring a fantastic read (8:12)
• The meaning and inspiration behind her novel Blue Skin Gods (11:48)
• SJ's new chapter book coming out in October: Goth House (18:34)
• SJ’s relationship to Sri Lanka, its culture, and growing up there until age 7 (21:34)
• The first few explicit experiences of racism and discrimination that radicalized SJ (29:29)
• Telling queer stories and exploring the many possibilities within the marginalized experience (35:18)
• Dating as a queer South Asian (36:45)
• Life as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (39:30)
• Rapid Fire Questions (42:09)
• SJ's bare bones for happiness (43:00)

Connect with SJ:   

• Website 
• Instagram
• Marriage of a Thousand Lies 
• Blue-Skinned Gods 

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Once labeled as the ‘Face of Failure’ by The New York Times, Suneel Gupta is a best-selling author, renowned speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, and host of a global documentary series (presented by American Express Business Class). Suneel has studied leaders around the world to discover and share simple, actionable habits that lift our performance and deepen our state of well-being. 

He is also the founding CEO of Rise, a breakthrough wellness company, and has recently released Everyday Dharma, a guide through 8 essential practices for finding success and joy in what you do. A very penetrative and digestible read based on Hindu philosophy, I cannot stress enough on how relevant, healing, and insightful it was to for me.

He joins me today to talk all things dharma (your essence or your calling), concepts we formulate around successes and failures, and if in fact, everyone does find what their true calling is.

What we talked about:   

• Meet Suneel (0:19)
• Touring for his book Everyday Dharma and receiving affirming feedback(4:44)
• The power of telling your own story (8:49)
• Work-life balance, inner peace, and devotion to one’s Dharma (11:18)
• The arrival fallacy and shifting your perspective (19:04)
• The arrival fallacy and shifting your perspective (29:56)
• How Suneel has since connected with the people that inspired his book (44:53)
• Suneel reads his favorite excerpts from the book (48:42)
• Suneel reads his favorite excerpts from the book (53:59)

Connect with Suneel: 

• Chasing Life with Suneel Gupta 
• Website
• Linkedin

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

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