Brown Game Strong

To kick off our BGS Mumbai series, introducing someone whose work you have seen before you've met him. Siddharth Sharma is the founder of House On The Clouds, the iconic editorial wedding photography and filmography team behind the stunning soft photos under the sun you saw from Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's intimate wedding at their home. Rejecting the term ‘celebrity weddings', he chooses instead to call them ‘artist weddings', detailing the intricacies around catering to the requirements of couples who have a keen eye for the small moments, like a camera shutter clicking during a groom's speech, or the clinking of bangles as the bride walks up the aisle on her big day. Siddharth was never a traditionally flamboyant or charismatic character. Whilst he started his career in engineering, he quotes ‘as a kid I always wanted to make films'. His charm is in his self proclaimed ‘introverted' and slightly ‘awkward' nature. Sometimes the quieter souls are the ones who see the world in the most colourful way. How relatable for some of us, right?(0:00) - Introduction to Siddharth Sharma(2:52) - Filling a creative void during his engineering career(05:42) - Siddharth's first camera(06:55) - The first House on The Clouds wedding(08:13) - I used to hate weddings(11:00) - A HOTC ethos that has stuck from the first wedding(15:07) - An underrated skill as an introverted founder(21:20) - Working on huge ‘celebrity' weddings(25:56) - The growth of House on The Clouds(31:45) - The filmmaking process(40:05) - Moments in the wedding worth capturing(45:20) - Managing couples' expectations with virality, Vogue features etc.(47:36) - Reflecting on regrets(49:45) - Passions outside of photography(55:35) - Why the name House on the Clouds(58:19) - What does Siddharth have strong game in?Find House On The Clouds on:  Website: https://www.houseontheclouds.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehouseontheclouds

One of my personal idols growing up, Juhi Pande, sits with us in this wonderfully reflective episode to talk about her eclectic career as a TV host, presenter and VJ on Channel V, and what exactly prompted her to leave that career and make the move from Bombay to London.We dive into the highs of early media life (casually interviewing the likes of Rakhi Sawant and Sanjay Leela Bhansali as part of the job), the quieter shifts that followed, and the deep grief of suddenly losing her best friend and business partner; a moment that changed everything for her. Juhi shares how she slowly began to rebuild, grounding herself in the act of making with her hands, eventually founding Skunk, a line of beautifully crafted soaps made with intention and care. And then, the whirlwind that was becoming a mother at 39 and how that's transformed her life in beautiful ways she had never imagined.This conversation is nostalgic and full of the kind of honesty that will stay with anyone trying to figure out what comes after the pivotal moment.Explore Juhi's work on: Website: https://skunksuperstore.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skunksuperstore/

In this episode, we sit with Heleena Theodore, also known as Heleena Tattoos. In her first ever in-person podcast interview, she shares with us what it was like being one of the first South Asian, Gujarati tattoo artists for miles, how she didn't feel accepted in the community of tattoo artists, how her work has been pivotal in shaping the face of cultural appropriation in this industry in the UK. She also kindly talks to us about how despite tattooing giving her joy, everything around it was making her miserable which led her to taking a break. We talk about the incredible community that waits for her releases with bated breath, selling out her collections in a matter of hours. We also talk about what inspires her work, and how she navigates the creative industry with integrity and an unwavering belief in that what she is producing for the world is coming from a deep place of raw authenticity. From the bottom of my heart, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it.Episode chapters:(00:00) - What do Heleena's tattoos mean?(02:10) - Introduction to Heleena(05:15) - I was a normal kid(07:58) - Being brown helped me as a tattoo artist(08:45) - Cultural appropriation in the tattoo industry(10:14) - Tattoos being taboo(15:05) - Everyone makes mistakes(18:30) - Why I went on a tattoo break(24:15) - Productivity doesn't exist as a creative(25:14) - Making money as a tattoo artist(27:49) - Productivity is a capitalist mindset(28:35) - How Heleena has formed her community(31:47) - Promoting your work online (39:15) - Reframing our mindset around comparison culture (45:20) - Spicy erotic art and dismantling shame(51:45) - Would you want to swap lives with the people who you feel judged by?(01:06:00) - What is Heleena currently working on?This weekend, Heleena is hosting her debut solo exhibition in London, and you don't want to miss it! Get your tickets here: https://otherbox.co/heleenaExplore Heleena's work on:  Website: https://heleenatattoos.bigcartel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleenatheodore/ 

We sit with Henika Patel, founder of the School of Sensual Arts and author of Sensual. We dive into the themes of her new book, learning that mindfulness is actually a Western packaging of Eastern practices, we learn about the true essence of Tantra beyond its westernised lens, and how we can start to embrace and process big emotions through practical methods such as breathwork.Henika shares her own journey as an educator in this space, the wisdom she's gathered from her experiences, particularly post getting married, and practical ways to cultivate sensuality, presence, and emotional awareness in everyday life. This conversation is an eye-opener for anyone looking to deepen their connection with themselves and the world around them.Episode chapters:(0:00) - Introduction(7:30) - Ancient eastern practices (10:18) - What is tantra?(11:10) - Why mindfulness is a Western concept(12:30) - Why we are so disconnected with our bodies(16:30) - Is there a scarcity of pleasure in our community?(22:51) - How can we improve sex education for kids(28:45) - Men and their perception of yoga and tantra (31:13) - Catering to the LGBTQ+ community(33:32) - Writing a book on Sensuality(38:07) - The intent behind sharing ancient Indian practices(41:54) - Practical applications in coping with Big Feelings(45:45) - How to breathe to control your stress and anxiety(47:25) - Life and work after marriage(52:15) - What does Henika have strong game in?Explore Henika's teachings on: Website: https://schoolofsensualarts.co.uk/Book: https://schoolofsensualarts.co.uk/sensualbookInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/henika.x/

Meet Amaan, the 21 year old visionary behind the disruptive jewellery brand Basliq. He recently launched an official collection at Bloomingdale's for Wicked The Movie—a collaboration that stemmed from a chance encounter with Cynthia Erivo (the actress who plays Elphaba in the film) at the Loewe store on Bond Street, leading to an unexpected friendship. Amaan shares with us how he's built his brand through raw authenticity, being in the right place at the right time and maintaining genuine relationships, with icons like Bella and Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé, Maya Jama, and Doja Cat championing his designs, as well as being one of the first South Asian designers and the youngest designer in history to style for the Met Gala. We also dive into his mixed Pakistani-Indian heritage, growing up in Manchester and now calling Dubai his home. At this point in his life, Amaan has already understood what many spend their twenties (and beyond) figuring out—his purpose: to create a brand that every cool girl you can think of is wearing. Episode chapters: (0:00) - Introduction  (2:51) - How Bella Hadid wore his jewellery (6:43) - Authenticity in the industry (8:37) - Growing up half Pakistani half Indian (11:09) - Creative process (13:41) - Jewellery production process (15:25) - Getting to work with Doja Cat (18:05) - There is no break in fashion (24:45) - Global representation in the fashion industry (28:03) - Key takeaways from running a global jewellery business (29:25) - Pay young designers fairly (34:32) - If Miuccia Prada isn't on your moodboard, you're doing something wrong (37:35) - What does Amaan have strong game in? Explore Amaan's designs at Basliq on: Website: https://www.basliq.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basliq_/ To be the first to get updates on new episodes, please do give us a subscribe or follow!

In this episode, we sit with Nina, the first South Asian woman to be crowned Miss America in history. This year, she celebrated 10 years since being crowned, and we spend some time reflecting on those days as well as discussing all the advocacy work she now does to help women embark on their self-love journey.  When Nina became Miss America, it never occurred to her that she would face immense backlash, both from media outlets in the US as well as in India, where she was deemed too ‘dark-skinned' to ever be crowned Miss India. Nina took her time to process the negativity and returned with a strong, intentional message. She delivered a TED talk, opening up about her experience and the price she paid for being the first among her demographic to hold this title. She created ‘COMPLEXion', a documentary aiming to challenge the archaic notions that exist around global perceptions around skin colour.  She also wrote to CEOs of major CPG companies including Unilever, the creators of skin lightening cream formerly known as Fair & Lovely, as well as L'Oreal which she now sits on the DEI board of. She was instrumental in the companies ditching terms such as ‘fair' and ‘light' in their product marketing.

Celebrating our 50th episode and 10 years of Sedoso aka Silky being a social media creator, this girly, lighthearted and Bollywoodpan-filled conversation was one of the most fun this year.  To be the first to get updates on new episodes, please do give us a subscribe or follow!

Sravya is an award winning illustrator and art director who places a huge focus on impact and activism in her work, particularly around topics involving mental health. In this conversation, she shares her experiences as a third culture kid of Telugu descent having grown up in Hong Kong and how she has infused those experiences in her artwork. From having designed for Coachella to Ariana Huffington to having featured on the Gen. T list at Tatler Asia among all her other achievements, she is only really just getting started. Explore Sravya's work on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sravyaa/ Website: https://www.artbysravya.com/

In this conversation (featuring an adorable furry friend) we sit with Avisha, the founder of Friendsline, a UK based charity that for the past 10 years has been running mental health, mindfulness and yoga workshops for women and girls in India and Nepal who have faced gender-based violence. Avisha has tirelessly worked on this initiative for the majority of her 20s, and now having stepped into her early 30s, with all the life changes that it has brought with it, is considering whether it's time to move onto pastures new. She kindly shares where she is at in her journey of accepting the evolution in her life, and the confusion it can create around her perceived identity; a feeling many who are purpose driven but don't feel the exact same way anymore about the ventures they started a long time ago may resonate with. Find out more about Avisha's work with Friendsline on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_friendsline/ Website: https://friendsline.org/

This week we sit with Sreesha, the founder of Shop Lune, a contemporary jewellery brand based in Mumbai and Goa. If I told you that her designs have been worn by Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif to name a few, and she has not spent any money on PR, would you believe it? Having grown up as a South Indian in Goa and lived across Pune, Bangalore, London, Birmingham and now Mumbai, Sreesha admits that she feels most comfortable in discomfort. Perhaps this is what makes her a great entrepreneur, not being afraid of leaning into her 'otherness'. She prides herself in having grown Lune organically, admitting that it hasn't been a perfect journey and one that has taken a very long time, but one that she has come out of stronger, and is proud of. We get into more technical discussions around finances and what it really takes to set up a jewellery brand, but also into the mental side of what Sreesha would have done differently if she were to start her business again today. A lot of gems in this conversations. Find out more about Sreesha and Shop Lune on: Shop Lune Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoplune/ Sreesha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sreeshas/ Shop Lune Website: https://shoplune.com/

For as long as he can remember, Farooq Got Audio really was ‘that guy' who downloaded leaked layers of songs and mashed them up together to create new sounds. Years of graft have now led him to being one of the world's leading South Asian music producers. At the time of recording this conversation, his ‘Mayya Mayya' remix had hit number 3 globally in terms of reach on Instagram. Despite being so talented and producing incredible sounds - often making the original tracks even better - he candidly tells us about how large music labels haven't always supported him. Having now dealt with a legal lawsuit with a huge film production company, he has yet to be deterred and continues to produce catchy music that reaches millions around the world.Find out more about Farooq on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farooqgotaudio/ Website: https://www.farooqgotaudio.com/ If you haven't already, please do give Brown Game Strong a follow to be the first to be updated about new episodes.

In this episode, we sit with journalist, public speaker, powerlifter and author Poorna. We discuss normalising getting out of relationships that no longer serve you, making friendships intentionally in your adulthood and the mainstream trivialisation of mental health.  We also discuss Poorna's latest novel ‘This Is Fine', the process of writing it, the motivation behind the themes in it and what she hopes her readers will take out of her writing. She also gives us a glimpse into her plans for her next novel.

In this podcast interview from her recent trip to London, we sit with singer, songwriter and actress Lisa. We talk all things foot fetishes, how she ‘almost' became a tennis player had it not been for her ADHD, going from almost taking a job as a data scientist at Uber to becoming an ‘overnight' sensation in the Bollywood industry, the relentless grind that came after her ‘big break' in Mumbai and her current mission to uplift young female talent in the desi music industry. It's not all roses, but as she puts it, it's worth it. Check out her new album ‘Sorry, I'm Late', her new Amazon Prime series ‘Call Me Bae' alongside Ananya Pandey #behencode, and also her new podcast co-hosted with Shah Rule called ‘Dish & That'. Lisa also has a Netflix show called 'The Royals' alongside the incredible Zeenat Aman, coming early in 2025. This lady has been busy! Find out more about Lisa's work on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisamishramusic/

In this episode, we sit with two members of the lovely band When Chai Met Toast from Kerala, lead vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar and guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal (AJ). Following a successful UK tour, during which they kindly agreed to put up with me for an hour, they are now headed to the US for the next leg. We spoke about all things creativity, their South Indian roots, how the band formed through a mutual love of the little things in life, got to know each band member in a bit more detail, discussed team dynamics and even a little bit about the huge aspirations the band have to keep winning the hearts of people all over the world. Find out more about When Chai Met Toast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenchaimettoast/ Website: https://www.whenchaimettoast.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/04hYGGSjYtLekuuJXEGrIl?si=jv9185VGSPKBRozckoPb5w

In this wonderful and increasingly hilarious episode, we sit with Srishti, a visual artist, illustrator and fashion designer based across London, Bangalore and Kolkata. We talk to Srishti about growing up watching Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network as a 90s kid, to going from being super crafty and creative to studying science to entering the world of fashion design. We discuss what it is like being a maximalist in a world becoming increasingly minimal, and how staying true to herself has brought her some incredible opportunities to work with brands like Michael Kors, Adobe and now Hermès. Srishti also shares some very 'motivational' gems from her own life experiences that will certainly leave you floored. Find out more about Srishti on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srillustrator/

In this episode, we sit with Natasha, a choreographer, performer and dance content creator all about how she stumbled upon a full-blown career in dance, growing up not being that interested in dance but falling into it and subsequently starting a lifelong journey of training and teaching in numerous dance styles. We talk about how glamorous and sustainable the jetsetter life really is, and the importance of putting yourself out there on the internet with your art, and using it to create a community around you and spread joy across the world. A wonderful hour chatting with an eclectic and incredibly talented woman. I hope you enjoy holding space with her just as much as I did. Find out more about Natasha on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natasha.sherpa/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natasha.sherpa

In this eye-opening episode, we sit with storyteller and sex educator, Seema Anand, also known as 'Seema Anand Storytelling' as she talks us through the myths around the Kama Sutra, women owning the narrative around their sensuality, the damage the porn industry has done to our minds, the dangers of society's constant hyper-focus on the 'bad boy' image and why there isn't enough sex education widely out there for non-heterosexual couples. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemaanandstorytelling/ Website: https://www.seemaanand.net/

In this wonderful episode, I sit with Meghna; choreographer, dancer, filmmaker and the co-creator of Ascending; the first ever official documentary covering the six South Asian artists at Coachella in 2023: Diljit Dosanjh, Joy Crookes, Ali Sethi, Jai Paul, Charli XCX and Jai Wolf. I had the privilege of attending the London screening organised by Dialled In at the Southbank Centre, and this chat was an elaboration of everything that led Meghna to the point of capturing this historic moment in global music. Watch 'Ascending' in full, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9qZZguPIZI

In this conversation we sit with the incredibly talented artist and digital illustrator: Vik Kainth, to talk about his modern maharanis, his process from ideation to creation, random restaurants in Punjab stealing his artwork, will AI really replace humans in the digital art space, and what it means to be an artist in the digital age. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vik.kainth/ Website: https://www.vikkainthart.com/

In this episode, we sit with the brilliant Anisha, a curator, artist and jewellery designer. Not only does she design beautifully intricate and unique desi jewellery pieces, she also opens up a space for learning and storytelling around ancient forgotten heirlooms and educates us on their deep-rooted colonial past. Anisha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anishaparmarlondon/

In this episode we sit with, Anjalina (Anjali) Chugani, a renowned Barcelona based chef, recipe developer and author. She describes herself as a 'timid girl' and bookworm born in London who flourished in her formative years growing up in Bangalore. In recent decades, she's been actively running events and initiatives to teach Spain about Indian cooking. We talk about how cooking was never a passion for Anjalina growing up, and started as more of an obligation when she got married and moved to Barcelona. However, somewhere along the way she found her voice in it and now uses it to empower herself and others to explore their love for cooking. We also talk about the misconception around Indian food being unhealthy, as well as the benefits of looking at food from an ayurvedic perspective. These very topics are also covered in her new cookbook 'RASA' - the recipe book she wishes she'd written first, where she talks about each dish in the context of her life and journey. IG: @anjalinachugani

In this episode, we chat with Dilan Patel, the founder of DNA Fitness. Dilan talks to us about how he went from his corporate role in recruitment, with a background in financial computing, to taking a leap of faith and starting his journey as a women's fitness coach. He also is a new dad and tells us about it was like when his daughter was born. We also discuss the moment he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (an aggressive type of blood cancer) on his 25th birthday and how that led him onto an arduous journey of treatment and recovery, and how that journey ultimately peaked his interest and passion in health and fitness, particularly in women, and why as a South Asian community we have such a way to go in this space when it comes to our women. Dilan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dnafitnessuk/ -- Follow on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browngamestrong/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@browngamestrong/ For updates on new episodes, subscribe to the YouTube channel: youtube.com/@browngamestrong

In this episode we sit with Raja Kumari, aka Svetha Yallapragada Rao, a world renowned Telugu-American rapper, Grammy-nominated songwriter, singer, previously first female rapper to be signed to Nas' label Mass Appeal Records, now the founder of her own label; Godmother Records. In this heartwarming conversation, we discuss her growing up with classical dance and music influences, going on to train in Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Kuchipudi as well as discovering rap and hip hop at an early age. We talk about what it means to represent the diaspora as a Telugu woman within mainstream music in India, all the way from underground hip hop and rap to high-flying Bollywood. We also cover some of the incredible projects she's worked on, including her rap in Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan Title Track, as well as the release of her new album 'The Bridge' and her 2023 North America tour. We also revel in the impact manifestation has had towards her professional goals and dreams, of course while discussing the challenges along the way, We also chat about what spurred her on to create her record label: 'Godmother Records' where she now aims to provide opportunities to young, up and coming South Asian artists. A queen in every sense of the word. Raja Kumari's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therajakumari/ Brown Game Strong's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browngamestrong/

We sit with Vishal Punjabi, the brain behind The Wedding Filmer, a world renowned wedding videography company, known for having worked on stunning weddings all over the world, including those of many Bollywood celebrities. As Kiara Advani advances towards Siddharth Malhotra during their big day, making sweet hand gestures at him, the world watches, mesmerised at the magic of the moment captured. Vishal is no doubt a magician when it comes to telling stories through beautiful cinematography. But when is it ever an easy ride? He tells us all about his journey, from how he once got a call from Shah Rukh Khan himself, to how he got deported from India back to Ghana one day and rebuilt his career from scratch, to what it really is like being a fly on the wall in the glitz and glamour of the world of high profile South Asian weddings. IG: @theweddingfilmer

In this episode I chat about all things life with my dear friend, Pooja, a nurse, (ex-)photographer, skincare guru and now the founder of Amala Skin Therapy & Aesthetics, a clinic that offers a range of skincare and aesthetics services based in east London. I've always loved chatting to Pooja because not only is she super chill, she's also extremely insightful and self-aware. We cover everything from not really knowing what you want to do in life, to perceptions around cultural appropriation on social media vs in real life, to what working with extremely high profile clients on Harley Street has taught her, to skincare to just trusting the process. IG: @skinbypooja @amala.skin

To mark this special little milestone for a podcast that started off as a tiny seed in the brain, that has since seen so many evolutions, multiple breaks, going from two hosts to one, from lockdown Zoom sessions to face to face interviews, from over-sharing just inner thoughts to having now brought on 25 guests, what better tribute than to do a little storytime about where it all started and what it represents? Happy birthday, Brown Game Strong. With gratitude.

In this episode we sit with Aakash; dancer, choreographer and co-founder of Afrodesi, a company where Afro meets the Desi world through music and dance. You've seen the guy throwing shapes on the internet, now you can hear his story in his own words. We also cover topics such as art vs. the artist, community and collaboration and the power of sharing your art online in today's digital age. IG: @aakashphulwani

Join us as we sit with Priya, a renowned science journalist and author of her debut book, Motherland: What I've Learnt about Parenthood, Race and Identity. In this conversation we talk about Priya's own childhood experiences whilst living between India and the UK, fast forwarded to her now raising her daughter to embrace her Indian-Bangladeshi heritage, growing up in France and Spain. Some heartwarming gems on a mother-daughter relationship, how your kid may one day turn around and want to look like Elsa from Frozen, and how as parents we can be more conscious of the nuances of race and identity when raising our children. IG: @priya.joi

In this episode we sit with Anish, a successful lawyer in the city who talks to us about when he realised he was gay, how he came out to his mum, what it felt like sharing his story in his BBC documentary 'My Hindu Coming Out Story', and what it means for him on a day to day basis to embrace his identity in the religious, cultural and corporate environments he navigates. IG: @itsanishpathak

We sit with Sohini, the founder of Smoke and Lime; the chef and creator of Bengali-inspired supperclubs in London. She talks to us about the reality of living and working in a big city as an entrepreneur, as well as the people and moments that inspired her cooking journey and what specifically drove her towards completely no-waste cooking. We also learn about the Bengali concept of ‘adda' that she hopes to emulate in the city through her work. IG: instagram.com/smokeandlime

We sit with the incredible Sneha; neurologist in training and the calligrapher behind Paint Pots & Quills, who also happens to be the official calligrapher at Cannes Film Festival. We talk about her deciding to pursue a career in medicine, what being a doctor was like during the COVID pandemic, discovering joy and escapism in calligraphy, social media and how to manage a growing business page whilst still maintaining her sanity, her visits back home to Mumbai and how her South Indian grandmother inspired a lot of the art she creates today. IG: @paintpotsandquills

In this conversation we sit with Shivani, a successful British Indian model, having been the face of Sabyasachi, Charlotte Tilbury, Tatler magazine and more. She shares some of her stories that touch on topics such as womanhood, the evolution of the modelling industry, friendships, finances, on maintaining your identity and integrity in the industry and learning to live for yourself first so you can be of better service to others. IG: @xshivanisharma

In his first ever in-person interview podcast, singer Raghav Mathur, aka Raghav, sits with us to talk about the process of creating his music, his influences growing up, working in Bollywood, the evolution of the British Asian music industry over the last two decades and more. We also discuss his comeback through his new track ‘Desperado' featuring Tesher. IG: @raghavworldwide

In this episode we sit with Jyoti who tells us all about her Kenyan Gujarati heritage and the role it has played in writing her debut novel 'The Things That We Lost'. Grab a copy wherever you purchase your books. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-... IG: @jyotisbooks @wearemediahive

In this conversation, we sit with Angie to talk about her work in amplifying the cultural appreciation of yoga and why it is important for it to be taught and practiced in a way that acknowledges its ancient Indian roots. IG: @tiwariyoga Follow (like! subscribe!) us on @browngamestrong

We sit down with Leena Patel to discuss all things creativity, dance, motherhood and is it really feasible for a woman to 'do it all'? IG: @leena_lplp, @bollyfemme | Follow (like! subscribe!) us on @browngamestrong

The lovely Rakhi Sachdev sits down with us to discuss her journey with her perception of her body. Welcome to the first of the Brown Game Strong studio series. Looking forward to holding space with you. TW: discussions on disordered eating IG: @rakhisachdev_ Follow (like! subscribe!) us on @browngamestrong

In this episode, we speak with Ashok Banker, a best-selling author and screenwriter based in LA with over 80 books and a career spanning 30 years who identifies as non-binary. They are known for their popular Mahabharata and Ramayana books that have been adapted into screenplays as well. We speak to them about their extremely unusual childhood, what inspires them to write as much as they do and all things about their debut thriller fiction; A Kiss After Dying, a story about a young south Indian woman living in the US who is on a mission to avenge the deaths of her family. We also talk about growing up anglo-Indian and them coming out as non-binary as well as what's next. There is also a surprise in the episode so keep an ear out.

Tanya is a dancer, choreographer and creative director based in New York and through her visual storytelling and teaching over the last few years both in person and online has won the hearts of so many people all over the world. Not only is she an incredibly hard working and dedicated human being, she's also been transparent in sharing her struggles and journey with the world and proves to us every day that hard work will always win. In this episode, we chat about Tanya's journey with food and her body, as well as both her physical and her mental training journey to be able to do what she does as dancer. We talk about how she deals with haters online, with her relationship with social media and engagement and how she manages to stay on top of it all whilst managing her anxiety and overall mental health. I'm so grateful and humbled to have had the opportunity to chat with her so openly about her inner demons and self doubt and how she fights it to be able to show up every day and keep killing it at her profession and craft. Hope you gain a lot from this conversation. I definitely did! - Find Tanya on Instagram at @tanya_thanawa or on her website www.tanyathanawalla.com

Prerna is a chartered accountant and also the founder of This Girl Invests, an incredible educational platform aimed at providing women with financial freedom through jargon-free content that explains all aspects of personal finance and investing in a digestible format. I am proud to say that Prerna is also Spanish Sindhi, grew up between the Canary Islands and Madrid and now lives in London and is my dear friend of 12+ years now! In this episode we chat about everything from our MSN days to what Prerna's experience was like moving to the UK and what propelled her to make the choice to study Pharmacology and then work in Audit in a Big 4 firm and eventually create a side hustle where she provides people with financial literacy. I've learnt so much from speaking to her about how to manage my spending / saving and we also discuss why it's so important for women specifically to know how to invest and why women in South Asian communities (especially the Sindhi community from our personal experience) were typically not equipped with this knowledge in the past. We hope this is now changing! Prerna's great tips have drastically improved how I view and manage my finances and whilst it's known that you can obtain this knowledge from a bit of googling, the beauty of her work is that it's all in one place and you know you'll understand it all pretty much on the first try. Find Prerna's work on Instagram on @thisgirlinvests and also find her blog and courses on www.thisgirlinvests.co.uk

Nisha Aaliya is a powerhouse. She's an actress, a dancer, a singer, a model and has worked on some incredible projects including Netflix's The Girl on The Train alongside Parineeti Chopra, Amazon Prime's Shakuntala Devi alongside Vidya Balan, numerous adverts including Deliveroo and Hellmann's and yet still somehow manages to remain completely grounded, genuine and lovely when you speak to her. In this episode we discuss exactly how Nisha went from pursuing a career in IT working her way up the corporate ladder to becoming a leading actress in a Bollywood musical overnight with no formal prior training in acting or intention to audition. We talk about the exciting work she has been involved in recently, what it's like to be in the creative field, especially during COVID, what her hopes and dreams are for her future, and also what it's like to work in Bollywood as a British Asian actress. We also discuss the significance of dance in her life and how it powers her to make important decisions whilst also touching on her relationship with her roots and the significance of parental approval in desi families to pursue careers in creative fields. All of that among tons of other stuff and a few giggles. I hope you enjoy this wonderful chat. Find Nisha on Instagram on: @miss.nisha.aaliya

Henika is the founder of School of Sensual Arts, an organisation aimed towards bringing the ancient Indian arts into modern society. We became friends over lockdown and she is a total inspiration, with the way she slowly transitioned away from her law career and into teaching yoga and tantra, and proceeding to uproot and travel the world for a few years. She listened to her soul and followed her gut instinct and truly, what can be more freeing than that? She now dedicates her time to educating the world about these beautiful arts that are often so misconstrued by the time they are brought over to the West. We speak at length about her solo travels, especially as a desi woman, and what she learnt and experienced on that journey that she now incorporates into her work and purpose. She talks about what it was like travelling to China whilst not speaking the local language, and still finding kindness everywhere she went. We talk about what it took for her to transition away from the corporate world to really work towards what she really feels her true calling is, whilst overcoming any fears of financial instability and what people would think of this decision. We also discuss cultural appropriation of the yoga and tantra practices and what we as a society can do better to honour those ancient art forms the way that they truly deserve to be. I feel so privileged to have had this chat with the lovely Henika, who is just such a gentle and calming soul and I genuinely feel like I've learnt so much from this episode. I also have attended her women's circles which I highly recommend to anybody who is looking to go deeper into their self awareness journey. School of Sensual Arts: https://schoolofsensualarts.co.uk/ Henika can be found on Instagram on @henikapetal

Today I'm excited to bring to you a conversation with the lovely Sara Nisha Adams, a debut author who has just released her first book 'The Reading List' a beautiful story about an elderly Gujarati widower who discovers reading in an attempt to feel closer to his late wife who loved books, who meets and becomes friends with a young lady who works at his local library and gives him a list of books to read. Sara grew up to English and Gujarati parents, and having experienced living in Hertfordshire as well as Wembley in all their glory, shares with us what it was like for her growing up with these two different cultural influences, and also candidly shares her journey writing and publishing this beautiful book which is so greatly inspired by her own personal life, whilst in a pandemic. She also gives us an insight into how she overcame her self doubt every single day whilst writing. How often do you get to read a book and then share your thoughts with the writer themselves? Find Sara on @saranishaadamsbooks and be sure to give her your thoughts if you've read her book!

In this episode I ask Aanya how she quite literally manages being a Psycle instructor whilst doing a full time science PhD. From having been diagnosed with leukaemia as a child whilst growing up in Sri Lanka, to coming to London for treatment and boarding school and falling in love with science, fitness has been something that has followed her throughout her adult journey, and she shares with us how she organically came across the opportunity to apply to be an instructor at Psycle or the PhD she is now pursuing. Through her 'A Team', she motivates hundreds of people to fall in love with themselves and their bodies, and push themselves to show up and be better. However she doesn't shy away from her struggles and we talk about the times she has found it really difficult to manage everything and what she does to help get herself out of a funk. One of my favourite parts of this episode is discussing food and nutrition and various misconceptions that exist around certain diets such as vegetarianism or veganism. There are some great practical tips on how to include certain food groups if you are struggling to figure out what to cook at home. Aanya may not quite realise it but she is massively paving the way for South Asian women to fall in love with fitness and their relationships with food. I'm so proud that she is part of the same Sindhi community that I am from, because many women in our community don't typically place much importance on fitness and exercise and so it's great to see her among some other amazingSouth Asian women in the fitness space in Europe, charging right through that barrier. You can find Aanya on Instagram at @aanya.h and definitely check out some of her music playlists that will get you pumped on your next workout.

In this episode, I sit down with Akash Mehta, the co-founder and CEO of the haircare wellness brand, Fable and Mane to talk about where the idea for the brand came from, how he turned his failures into his strength, his tips on how to grow your social media platform, how he ended up on Forbes 30 under 30, how he takes care of himself mentally and physically whilst running 3 companies and much, MUCH more. Fun fact; although Akash and I didn't know eachother at uni being there at the same time, we were simultaneously living very similar experiences and going through similar growth pains - I loved that we connected over that. He also speaks candidly about his upbringing in the UK, his experiences with the South Asian community and colourism growing up and how his relationship with his roots has evolved over time and has translated into what his company stands for today. He also shares the story of how he made a complete switch from studying engineering to working in the beauty industry and ended up becoming the youngest ever Digital Manager at Estée Lauder and eventually went on to launch his own company with his sister. Akash is probably the most driven person I know and I’m so excited to share this chat, where he tells us how he manages 3 businesses, how his product ended up in Sephora and went absolutely viral on TikTok, how he built his extensive influencer network, how he ended up on Forbes 30 under 30, how he takes care of his mind and body with such a demanding career (basically living on a Peloton bike) and how anyone can grow their online platform and get cracking on their business idea today. I found this to be an incredibly inspiring and useful conversation for aspiring entrepreneurs because it gives a great insight into what it really takes. If you’re stuck in a rut with your business, have a ton of self doubt, want to start but don’t know how or are building one but could do with some perspectives from someone who’s been there, I think you’ll really enjoy listening to this.

I sat down with the powerhouse that is Dr. Tina Mistry to learn about all things conscious parenting, intergenerational trauma (we are born holding trauma in our bodies from our grandparents, you guys!) and why mental health is so misunderstood in children and in the South Asian community in general. I love love loved this honest and raw chat about what life is like as a parent of two young children in a pandemic, about how ‘disciplining your child’ is often approached so incorrectly, toxic masculinity and how that stems from childhood, emotional absenteeism in parenting, and how we can unlearn the bad stuff to avoid passing it on to our kids! And of course that none of this is a perfect process; it’s messy AF, full of ups and downs and perhaps there is a lot of beauty that lies in that. Also Dr. Tina is so soft spoken that I feel like I've undergone therapy just by listening to her voice. So light a nice candle, get a hot drink and get comfortable to listen to the gems dropped in this conversation. If you are a pandemic parent, especially a South Asian one, or wondering what life is like as one, this episode will be of interest to you! If you haven’t already, please check out Dr. Tina’s platform; @brownpsychologist. She puts out awesome content on South Asian mental health and now has her own fabulous podcast called ‘Brownology’ discussing these topics in even more depth.

If it isn't blatantly obvious, I'm a big fan of ZHK Designs, and so I had the absolute time of my life sitting down with Zoe, the founder, and just having a good old chit chat. ZHK Designs is a digital art platform which strives to empower and educate the South Asian community and beyond. Zoe Harveen Kaur, the designer, focuses on representation and sharing various cultures and backgrounds through her art. Zoe is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and comes from a Punjabi-Sikh background, however her goal is to empower every community and share their traditions and cultures with others around the world. You can find her work on @zhkdesigns or zhkdesigns.com In this masala-filled episode, we discuss Zoe's childhood growing up in Calgary and basically being related to every other Punjabi-Sikh in town, attending college, founding her business, dating as an entrepreneur, some of the most memorable pieces and series of illustrations she has released on ZHK Designs, her favourite Netflix shows and Bollywood films and what inspires her to create such cool art, as well as the community around her and how she deals with copycat artists. There's no doubt that Zoe is going to continue to soar and reach new heights, all whilst inspiring, educating and empowering the South Asian community in her wake, and we're all so here for it!

This week, I sit down to have a chat with Jonah Batambuze, the founder and creator of Blindian Project, a platform showcasing the stories of Black x South Asian couples. The globally crowdsourced, art-based documentary project aims to normalise Black x South Asian relationships and dismantle anti-blackness within both communities. Jonah is a Ugandan-American, multidisciplinary creative with a focus on community building. He is now based in London and his work focuses on uplifting the underdog and connecting communities through online & offline activations. I’m such a huge fan of the work Jonah is doing, and we delve into all things growing up in Chicago, being a college athlete, travelling to Ireland and meeting his now wife who is Indian, and what motivated Jonah to start his platform. We also talk about his beautiful wedding, the importance of travel, a bit of healthy competition, getting over fears of cultural barriers between two families and how he manages it all with his full-time consulting job and family life. Loved this candid chat and felt like I learnt so much about Jonah and also about the purpose of his project. I hope you get to learn some interesting things too from it! Disclaimer: Thoughts and views expressed are our very own; we are purely speaking from our personal experiences and do not aim to offend or disrespect. If you have any concerns with any of the areas discussed, please reach out.

TW: Topics around death and grief are discussed in this episode. The first thing I noticed about Shirin when I met her for the first time at a dance class was how reserved she appeared to be, but as soon as we started getting to know one another, I quickly learned how chilled and at times goofy she is, and also how much wisdom she has to offer despite not quite appreciating it herself. Aside from being a lawyer, a great dancer and overall lovely person, none of which she gives herself enough credit for (do any of us?) she is also impressively the co-founder of South Asian Sisters Speak (SASS), an organisation and community designed to open up difficult conversations around the South Asian female and non-binary experience. They run book clubs and round tables where ideas are shared among many other inspiring and educational events. It has been a privilege to hear the story of how this community came about from one of the founding mothers herself. Perhaps a topic that we hardly ever hear about in any culture or community is that of death, loss and grief. Yet as Shirin so eloquently puts it, it's the only guaranteed thing in all our lives. We will all have an experience with it at some point, and so it is important to think about how to navigate it rather than brushing it under the carpet and how to be more empathetic towards those experiencing it. This is one of the very first times Shirin has shared her experience with losing her dad earlier this year; a deep rooted, ominous fear that many of us who are close to our parents carry on our chest, and I really learnt a lot from her experience with it, and particularly amidst a global pandemic. Feel free to reach out to Shirin on twitter.com/shirinfulna or on Instagram via @weare_sass to get involved in their exciting events and community. Disclaimer: Thoughts and views expressed are our very own; we are purely speaking from our personal experiences and do not aim to offend or disrespect. If you have any concerns with any of the areas discussed, please reach out.

I came across Roshni's profile about a year ago when she featured on the Live Tinted Instagram page, and her story was so striking to me that I knew I absolutely had to bring her on here to have a chat. And it just so happens that we were both wearing the Live Tinted huestick when we recorded this episode! #notanad Roshni is a proud Surinamese woman, often mistaken at first glance for being Indian, yet at the same time being so deeply and proudly ingrained in South Asian culture. She graduated from Rutgers University in May 2018 and is working in the digital marketing space in New York. In April 2019, Roshni was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in which she endured 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Through her experience, Roshni is working to destigmatise what being a cancer patient is and to educate young women, especially those of ethnic backgrounds, to not be afraid to advocate for their health. What better time to do so than during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this episode we speak about everything from her finally feeling some form of representation through fellow Indo-Caribbean Nadia from Indian Matchmaking, to getting a puppy (it seems there is a theme with these episodes!) to embracing her new hairstyle and wearing lots of colourful wigs, to surprisingly uncovering even more childhood-related traumas than cancer-related ones through therapy. We talk about experiencing chemo brain at work, and whether chemo hurts as much as they say it does? And also why it’s so important to keep your body in check, not letting societal stereotypes (and the patriarchy) shame you into not talking about feeling your breasts regularly. We also touch on the common idea of not wanting to ‘stand out’ too much in the workplace or among friends, yet still choosing to be outspoken and wanting to share our experiences with the hopes that it may somehow help somebody. I loved our chat and I hope you do too. Disclaimer: Thoughts and views expressed are our very own; we are purely speaking from our personal experiences and do not aim to offend or disrespect. If you have any concerns with any of the areas discussed, please reach out.

I sat down to have a chat with Pranav Patel, co-founder of AfroDesi (an eclectic fusion of African and Indian dance styles), professional dancer, ex-Nasa intern, law student, among like 3 other degrees, and proud puppy owner! We discussed how he embraced his Gujarati roots growing up in the US and navigated his dual identity in a very positive way, whilst doing every extracurricular activity he could possibly get his hands on. We spoke about procrastination. And politics and BLM. And piercings. And dealing with getting evicted from his flat. We also covered the South Asian dance scene in the US; him participating in and judging dance competitions and the conception of AfroDesi and what the future holds. Most importantly, we spoke at length about his beautiful dog. I could have talked about her all episode, tbh. We got a chance to hang out last year while Pranav was visiting London teaching dance workshops. Whilst talking to him and making him down masala coke, which he did like a trooper, what struck me the most is how no-BS he is. The more I spoke to him during the recording of this episode, the more I realised that he's also managed to figure out how to balance all the different moving parts really efficiently. Or at least make it look like he does. Watch this space, because there are big things coming from this one! Instagram: @pranavpatel.jpg @afrod3si Disclaimer: Thoughts and views expressed are our very own; we are purely speaking from our personal experiences and do not aim to offend or disrespect. If you have any concerns with any of the areas discussed, please reach out.