Best South Asian Trailblazers Podcasts (2024)

1
Courage, Community, and Cancer: Nasreen Shahi's Unfiltered Journey 27:13

3h ago27:13

27:13

Nasreen Shahi is a well-known fashion and lifestyle influencer, celebrated for her vibrant online presence and a community of over half a million followers on social media. Through her platform, Hey Nasreen, she shares style inspiration, wellness tips, and personal insights, offering her audience an authentic look into her life. Beyond her role as …

1
Davy Gardner Leads Tribeca Audio 53:00

22d ago53:00

53:00

Davy Gardner started his career as an audio writer and creator whose work can be found on networks like Radiotopia, Wondery, and Audible, among others. He has won multiple awards and honors valuing his work as a writer in various genres such as comedy and audio drama. He was a playwright and performer for six years at The Upright Citizens Brigade T…

1
Sharon & Niri -The Final Chapter 35:33

1M ago35:33

35:33

In this special wrap-up episode, we reflect on our four-year podcasting journey together. Anu Pala, podcast mentor and editor, guides us through a heartfelt review of our episodes, memorable moments, and the incredible guests we’ve had the opportunity to meet through this platform. Join us as we share what podcasting truly takes, offer some behind-…

1
Gurnimit Singh - Kirtan As Medicine 1:14:58

3M ago1:14:58

1:14:58

To end our podcast journey, we invite a trained Indian Classical Vocalist who has been singing and performing Kirtan since the age of 9 years. His talent was recognized in the Sikh Community in April 2010 where his music and chanting started being celebrated by the community all over the world. He is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher and aspiring …

1
JamsBash Are Breakin' On The One 1:11:51

3M ago1:11:51

1:11:51

“So much of what Bash and I do through our work is what we call this Revised Americana…we’ve had such a Euro-Centric what American storytelling is, but how can we change that narrative through the films that we make, through the commercials that we make, through all of the content that we put out there…I think Breakin’ was an opportunity to do that…

1
Rianjali Is Mild Mannered And Timid 1:19:52

3M ago1:19:52

1:19:52

Rianjali is an award-winning, NYC-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter/composer. Previously working as a former domestic violence and teacher, Rianjali found her “pinch me moment” when Oscar award-winning musician A.R. Rahman invited her to work with him And she hasn’t looked back. From composing music for hit shows on Amazon Prime and Netflix…

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Bill Teck On The Trail Of Stevie Van Zandt 43:20

4M ago43:20

43:20

Welcome to the first special episode where I will be interviewing trailblazers from all backgrounds. Because let's face it, being Tuckered Out is universal. Bill Teck is a writer, producer, director, and the founder of the Generation ñ Media brand. His films include One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film (2014). A Cuban…

1
Bad Shah - Bollywood Drag King 44:40

5M ago44:40

44:40

We speak with Khushi, also known as Bad Shah, Canada's first Bollywood drag king. Khushi shares her journey as an international student from Mumbai to Victoria, BC, and how she found drag as an outlet to cope with the move. Her drag persona, Bad Shah, has become an icon among the South Asian LGBTQ+ community, making history by bringing representati…

1
Anjali Virmani Talks Time Out 44:15

5M ago44:15

44:15

Anjali Virmani is the Global Head of Creative Solutions at Time Out Media. Shuttling between 10 global offices with a brief of 333 cities, she crafts and implements the Time Out global brand story, strategy, and identity, building bridges between the Time Out brand and its consumers globally. Anjali’s passion for diversity, uniting, and empowering …

1
Utkarsh and Kaly: Blazing The Trail for South Asian Rappers 47:15

6M ago47:15

47:15

Utkarsh Ambudkar, aka UTK, is an actor, rapper, and singer and is featured in the CBS hit show Ghosts. He is also known for his roles in Pitch Perfect, The Mindy Project, and Never Have I Ever. Kaly, aka Kunal Patel, is a highly-respected rapper who has collaborated with artists such as Indian musical composer and Oscar winner A.R. Rahman. As a sid…

1
Jason Pillay - Vancouver's Fashion Stylist 47:07

6M ago47:07

47:07

We speak with Jason Pillay, a queer Indo-Fijian who has made his mark in the Vancouver Fashion scene. Jason Pillay is his own brand and he shares his hustle journey of attending fashion school to becoming a well-known stylist in Vancouver who got to style Ashanti in her latest movie! He has worked on many sets in Vancouver’s Hollywood and beyond. J…

1
Maryanne J.George is Celebrating Life, Music, and Motherhood 23:43

6M ago23:43

23:43

Maryanne J. George is a Grammy Award-winning artist and a clinical mental health therapist. With five Grammy wins and nine nominations attributed to her collaborations with Maverick City Music, her impact on the music industry is undeniable. Together with Maverick City Music, she has helped redefine the boundaries of contemporary Christian music (C…

1
Exciting Updates: Upcoming Events, Season 8, and our Agency 2:55

6M ago2:55

2:55

Send us a text Happy AAPI Heritage Month from South Asian Trailblazers! 👋🏼 In this short soundbite, I’m sharing exciting updates about events we’re hosting around the world(!), Season 8, and our Agency. The highlights: Season 8 goes live this Fall! But we couldn’t wait to share a sneak peek with you…which is why you can enjoy our latest LIVE record…

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Syd & Dee Gill - Trailblazing Mother-Daughter Duo 1:01:53

7M ago1:01:53

1:01:53

We speak with Syd and Dee Gill, a mother-daughter duo who are on a mission to empower queer and trans individuals to be proud and live their authentic lives. Syd Gill works at Qmunity - BC’s largest Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Resource center, as the fundraising coordinator. She is also on the board for the Vancouver Dyke March. Dee Gill is a clini…

1
Zarrar Khan is Shining A Fresh Light on Pakistan 43:26

7M ago43:26

43:26

Zarrar Khan is an award-winning Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker. Born in Karachi and currently based out of Toronto, Zahra’s works have been screened and awarded in over 100 festivals, including TIFF, Bocarno, and BFI London. In Flames, his genre-bending feature directorial debut, premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival as part of the Director's Fo…

1
Anu Seghal and Priya Krishna Discuss Culture and Cooking 43:04

7M ago43:04

43:04

Anu Seghal is a children's author and the founder of The Culture Tree, a cultural literacy and language education company that celebrates South Asian culture. Priya Krishna is a food reporter and video host for the New York Times and the best-selling author of multiple cookbooks, including Indian-Ish and Cooking at Home. Her latest book is Priya's …

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SPECIAL LIVE EPISODE: Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement 1:21:00

8M ago1:21:00

1:21:00

Send us a text In this special edition of South Asian Trailblazers, Simi Shah hosts a LIVE podcast with Gurbir S. Grewal — the Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement and former Attorney General of New Jersey — at the law offices of Morrison Foerster in New York City. WATCH this episode on YouTube. This event was proudly hosted in partnership…

1
Rochelle Pinto Is Taking Vogue India Into A New Era 51:27

8M ago51:27

51:27

Rochelle Pinto is the head of editorial content for Vogue India. She has had quite a career and is exactly how you think a Vogue head would be-poised, intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful, and as a bonus, she’s totally down to earth. In case you were also wondering if she does gets to work with and receive advice from Anna Wintour, the answer is yes…

1
Harjant Gill - The Masculinity Trap 49:29

8M ago49:29

49:29

Harjant Gill is an award-winning filmmaker and associate professor of anthropology at Towson University in Washington DC. Dr. Gill’s research and films explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, citizenship, transnationality and notions of belonging with a particular focus on Indian and diasporic masculinities. His films on Indian ma…

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Michael Maliakel and Sonya Balsara: Breaking Barriers on Broadway 54:53

8M ago54:53

54:53

We're going to Broadway! Today, I am talking with the two South Asian leads in a very beloved Broadway show: Michael Maliakel and Sonya Balsara, who play Aladdin and Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway. Michael made his Broadway debut with Aladdin in September 2021. He has had theater experience, including being part of the national tour of the…

1
Rohit Bhargava Discusses The Non-Obvious 52:41

8M ago52:41

52:41

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 ne…

1
Kavita Mehra Is Changing Conversations On Gender-Based Violence 48:01

9M ago48:01

48:01

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 …

1
Akruti Babaria Is Bringing Indian Kulture To Our Kids 44:30

9M ago44:30

44:30

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 r…

1
Norma Lize - Trans Activist and Refugee Advocate 51:05

9M ago51:05

51:05

We speak with Norma Lize, a trans activist and refugee advocate from Lebanon who has received awards for her advocacy work. We learn about refugee settlement into Canada and what that journey entails especially for LGBTQ+ individuals who are forced to leave their homes due to threats, violence, and imprisonment. Norma shares her personal story as a…

1
Nisha Pahuja Spotlights Social Issues Through Her Lens 33:57

9M ago33:57

33:57

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…

1
Amol Shah, Go-To-Market at OpenAI 50:00

9M ago50:00

50:00

Send us a text For our Season 7 Finale, we catch up with Amol Shah from OpenAI, one of the world's leading artificial intelligence companies and the creator of ChatGPT. Amol's career spans roles at tech giants like Facebook and TikTok, and more recently, he served as the Chief Revenue Officer for blockchain startup QuickNode. Before his foray into …

1
Nick Rathod Is Bridging Hollywood and DC 51:35

10M ago51:35

51:35

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 spe…

1
Nishant Roy, Chief Communications & Impact Officer at Chobani 1:03:00

10M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

Send us a text In this episode, we meet Nishant Roy, Chief Communications and Impact Officer at Chobani. Chobani is one of the fastest-growing food companies in the world and has been a pioneer in the natural food movement for the last decade. Nishant has an incredibly variegated career to date. He began his career with distinguished service in the…

1
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar: Resetting for 2024. 53:38

10M ago53:38

53:38

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 spoke…

1
Rahat Saini - Proud Bisexual Queen 1:08:23

10M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

Rahat Saini is an actor, storyteller, and comedian. Rahat is an actor in Make Me A Match, Hallmark's very first South Asian story! This movie touches on Indian Matchmaking with a twist. She also starred in the play Unexpecting, a production by Zee Zee Theatre, which celebrates queer love and provides insights into the realities of modern motherhood…

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Akash Mehta & Niki Mehta, Founders of Fable & Mane 52:00

10M ago52:00

52:00

Send us a text In this episode, Simi welcomes our first-ever sibling founder duo: Akash and Nikita Mehta, Co-Founders of Fable & Mane. Fable & Mane is an Ayurveda-inspired hair wellness brand. Akash is a British entrepreneur and influencer. He graduated from Imperial College London with a degree in electrical engineering. His professional journey s…

1
Megha Tolia Talks Shondaland 53:46

10M ago53:46

53:46

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 ye…

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South Asian Trailblazers Podcasts

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