Being Brown

Welcome to "Shades of Creation," the podcast where we dive headfirst into the incredible tapestry of creativity and further afield. Here, we're all about exploring the intricate connections between artists, BIPOC visionaries, and beyond. We're here to shine a light on the stories and voices that often go unnoticed. From painters to poets, musicians to writers, business owners to community leaders, we're delving into the lives of folks who weave their own identities, cultures, and backgrounds into their work. In our heart-to-heart conversations with these remarkable minds, we're uncovering the challenges they've faced, the sparks that ignite their passions, and, of course, the sheer magic that art brings to their lives. "Shades of Creation" is our haven – a space where candid conversations about race, ethnicity, gender, and more converge. We're celebrating victories and delving into struggles, sharing insights that resonate with everyone from budding creators, seasoned artists to anyone who's captivated by the world of imagination. So, join us in unearthing the radiant stories that spring from every corner of globe. Tune in to "Shades of Creation" and let's embrace the symphony of colors that weave our world together. Stay connected by following us on Instagram at @shadesofcreate and hitting that subscribe button wherever you listen to your podcasts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shadesofcreation/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shadesofcreation/support

Jyoti Chadda, Founder of My Wellness Company, returns to Being Brown and speaks with Heena about appropriation, culture and much more. Jyoti is the founder of My Wellness Company, a yoga & meditation teacher and holistic wellness guide. She is passionate about empowering her clients to create an intentional and authentic life that is happening for them and not to them. She does this using ancient philosophies and wisdom as well as a range of holistic wellness modalities including yoga philosophy, meditation, journaling, moon circles, cyclical living and more. Jyoti is on a mission to teach yoga in an authentic way that empowers her clients to take yoga off the mat, to stop living on auto-pilot and create the most beautiful version of their life. Find Jyoti at www.mywellnesscompany.co.uk Jyoti's Instagram and Facebook. Mentoned in this episode: Rtu Vidya ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

We have another banger of an episode for you, folks! Bobby Empath, another fellow podcast host and also host of Rukus Avenue Radio show, Mental Dominance. Heena and Karan spoke to Bobby about his journey so far, DMX, and how the idea of Sapna Toronto, an organization that aims to strengthen and rejoice the professional presence of the South Asian community in Toronto. We also continued to speak about DMX (RIP). Bobby is a community activist, entrepreneur, and family man that is always on the go with various projects. Bobby is originally from Hamilton, Ontario and he now settles in Toronto which is his most favourite city. Bobby has been making strides on a community and entrepreneurial level. Bobby is a founder of SAPNA Toronto, which is a networking platform that allows individuals to take part in knowledge-based panels, development workshops, and exciting networking events. Bobby battled multiple forms of mental health despair, but he redeemed himself as a proud cancer survivor while overcoming many forms of depression. His goal is to let everyone know that they're not alone in this fight. He now transformed himself as Bobby Empath who is an ear for mental health while helping the community address topics like depression, anxiety, betrayal, narcissism, heartbreaks, and much more. Sapna Toronto site Sapna on Instagram @bobbyempath on Instagram ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

In this second part of the wonderful conversation we had with Nehal Mehra, Image and Confidence Coach, we spoke about the wavering judgement women face within the South Asian communities, how we can teach the youth of today to be more accepting and much more. As South Asians, we know that image is a huge factor within our communities as it all boils down to other’s perception of us. Fun disclaimer: we don’t care what they think but we do want to change the negative impact that these unnecessary judgements cause. Here’s the second part of this awesome conversation! You can find Nehal on: Instagram: @_nehalmehra Her Website ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

In the first of this two-episode series, we speak with Nehal Mehra, image and confidence coach. We spoke about Nehal’s journey which stemmed from her diagnosis with thyroid cancer, who she fundamentally is, who she’s become and what has drove her to want to become an image and confidence coach. As South Asians, we know that image is a huge factor within our communities as it all boils down to other’s perception of us. Fun disclaimer: we don’t care what they think but we do want to change the negative impact that these unnecessary judgements cause. Here’s the first part of this awesome conversation! You can find Nehal on: Instagram: @_nehalmehra Her Website ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

In the latest episode of Being Brown, Heena and Karan talk to Jyoti Chadda, Founder of My Wellness Company about taking yoga off the mat, what the eight limbs of yoga are and what they mean as well as some of Jyoti's experience as a yoga teacher. Jyoti is the founder of My Wellness Company, a yoga & meditation teacher and holistic wellness guide. She is passionate about empowering her clients to create an intentional and authentic life that is happening for them and not to them. She does this using ancient philosophies and wisdom as well as a range of holistic wellness modalities including yoga philosophy, meditation, journaling, moon circles, cyclical living and more. Jyoti is on a mission to teach yoga in an authentic way that empowers her clients to take yoga off the mat, to stop living on auto-pilot and create the most beautiful version of their life. Find Jyoti at www.mywellnesscompany.co.uk Jyoti's Instagram and Facebook. ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

This episode has been almost a year in the making - we’re excited and thrilled to have Meenakshi Sharma of MamaUntoldThoughts, who’s the Founder of The Lotus Movement, a community leader, blogger, vlogger, writer, and of course, mother. In this episode Karan had a long-awaited conversation with Meenakshi about being a mother and experiencing anxiety, the story of MamaUntoldThoughts and The Lotus Movement, growing up as a South Asian and experiencing anxiety and much conversation where notes weren’t required! Meenakshi's Instagram: @MamaUntoldThoughts Mama Untold Thoughts links The Lotus Movement's Instagram: @The_Lotus_Movement The Lotus Movement links Colors of Roshni: @colorsofroshni ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

We’re back for our regularly semi-scheduled programming to bring you an intriguing individual who is building a platform that prides itself on the evolution of South Asian culture to transform how we think + feel through various initiatives like advocacy, self-reflection and social inquiry through public art projects. Himmat Co is a platform that recognizes that progress requires courage. Joining Karan today is Jagreet Dhadli, a young South Asian womxn from Vancouver, Canada who has been working in the non-profit, arts, and entertainment industry for the last 8 years. She founded Himmat Co with the premise of creating vulnerable spaces for us to connect and unite as she works toward answering the many questions on social structure and identity she’s cultivated working in this industry from the age of 16. Himmat Co Links: Instagram Website Jagreet's IG Kisaan Ekta ===== We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/support

This episode, Karan talks with Rahul Wadhwa, who is an Amritsar-born American who moved to the states when he was 7. Rahul and Karan talk about the current events surrounding the world. In the last couple of weeks we’ve seen a civil uprising of sorts following the unlawful and unnecessary killing of another black life - George Floyd. Karan and Rahul discuss the current state of America and Rahul’s experiences growing up in the country. We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. References: Michael B Jordan speech in LA NFL Commissioner's Statement on Black Lives Matter A piece on the last week How the George Floyd Protest Compare With Previous Ones --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

I wanted to record a quick episode as an update and a reminder that Being Brown hasn't gone anywhere. This was recorded in the heart of Downtown Toronto so forgive the sounds of the passing traffic and strange chirping noises. We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

An insightful and important conversation, South Asian tattoo artist, Heleena Mistry, @heleenatattoos (of Francis St. Tattoos, Leicester) discuss her experiences growing up as an Indian in Leicester, south asian mental health, the impact social media has had on what she does and we also talk about how important her social media platform is in today’s society and what it means. This was the final episode recorded in the UK before I left the country for Ontario, Canada - and it was a great episode. We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

In another episode with @thebrownpsychologist, Dr. Tina Mistry and I sat down and discussed South Asian mental health and how South Asian communities deal with the stigma attached with men having mental health issues.  I talk about some of my experiences with therapy, counselling and how my parents reacted when I told them I was having therapy.  To mark the end of Men's Mental Health Week, it seemed like an appropriate time to release this episode - though there's never a bad time to discuss this topic.  Thanks again to Dr. Tina Mistry, @thebrownpsychologist for taking the time to join me again for another episode.  We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it!  Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows.  You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

We discuss her profession, why she does what she does and what it means to be a brown, female psychologist in today's society. The stigmas around the topic of therapy and mental health within the people of colour's communities are ever-apparent and is something we are constantly trying to overcome, whether it involves having a difficult conversation with our parents, grandparents or friends. This episode of Being Brown with Birmingham-based clinical psychologist Dr. Tina Mistry gives us a small insight into why therapy is an important part of understanding who we are not just as people but as a society. We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

We're traversing through the 80s this episode; picking up where we left off, Dad tells us about his experiences growing up in Wellingborough and being a part of a local football team where he was surrounded by a predominantly White-British population. We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

We're traversing through time on this episode; we start just after Dad moves over to England and we travel through the late 60s and across the 70s. We're on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

In part two of the conversation, Dad and myself discuss privilege as he grew up and we also have a conversation about how we both view our brownness and what it means for our everyday life. We're now on Instagram, so give us a follow - we're at @beingbrownpodcast - we'd greatly appreciate it! Have any questions or feedback for this first episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message

Welcome to the first episode of Being Brown. In this first episode, my Dad joins me and talks about his experiences growing up in Kenya. We discuss some of the privileges he saw growing up and how this compared to in today's society. Have any questions or feedback for this first episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite shows. You can also email us on bebrowner@gmail.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/beingbrownpodcast/message