Heartistry

Founder of Scrumptious Wicks, Sonya Malani Panchal discovered a unique passion for candle making. When developing the scents she wanted in her candles, she made the beautiful connection between smell and taste, rooted in her nostalgia and overall love for flavors, and hence the name of her company.

We chat about her journey, and the far too often tendency of being exploited by those over asking for donated products. This is a relatable topic for so many, and we appreciated Sonya’s ability to both advise others to do what is right for them, and to call it out when it isn’t working. 

We are so glad that this week's guest, Silicon Valley Exec turned Award Winning Actor & Filmmaker, Renu Razdan, shared this advice she received. Listen to this conversation to hear more about the pivot she made, leaving "weekend warrior" days behind her. 

Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.

We are thrilled to share this episode with Saiyna Bashir @saiynabashir_studios - an incredible and award winning photojournalist based in Pakistan. Seriously check out some of her work in that area, and then while you are picking your jaw up off the ground, note that Saiyna is also a documentary filmmaker AND is currently working on "Ustad" @ustadthefilm - a documentary on the untold story of one of the world's greatest singers, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. 

Though it has been close to three decades since Nusrat Sahib's passing, needless to say, his music lives on in the minds and hearts of so many. We see this to be the case with so many great artists. With the recent passing of other true legends and masters, Ustad Aashish Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain, the world of South Asian music, is certainly mourning the loss of their physical presence, but also reminded of the world treasures that we have in and from South Asia. 

Thanks to storytellers like Saiyna, we even have the chance to learn more about the greats. 

You must hear more about her incredible journey, when and how we will get to see the documentary, and so much more! 

Listen to the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.

#Photojournalist #Filmmaker #UstadTheFilm #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Hearing how an idea is born AND the name it is given, is always so fascinating! 

Alyzeh Rizvi, co-founder of Peepal People, a South Asian pantry brand bringing vibrant, punchy flavors to American kitchens, gave us the beautiful backstory of their company, and how it showcases her Pakistani roots through fresh, small-batch, low-sodium hot sauces.

Listen to the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.

#PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast #PakistaniEntrepreneur #PeepalPeople

We loved getting to know Nadia Rahman during our recent conversation (which happened to take place at the end of election week). Nadia is a communicator, organizer, and activist based in San Francisco. Standing up for what she believes in, navigating how to acknowledge support and endorse candidates who have made progress in some areas, but still holding them accountable to their shortcomings - all of this, and so much more, is what inspires us about this week’s guest!

Our conversation this week is with Bisan Shehadeh, Executive Director of Zawaya, based in the SF Bay Area. She says so much about their vision to achieve intercultural solidarity, respect, and understanding through the universal languages of music and the arts

On Nov 9th, Zawaya presents “We Are All Palestinian”, a concert honoring our shared humanity and the sacredness of life by diverse Bay Area communities coming together to denounce genocide and ethnic cleansing through the universal language of music, particularly by celebrating and preserving Palestinian folk music.

For Muthulakshmi Anu Narasimhan, art has always been a lifeline. Coming from a long line of artists and musicians, Anu has been painting from the moment she could hold something in her hand.  Art isn’t just an exploration of Anu’s cultural heritage or nomadic life, but has always been a way to heal her soul, find beauty in the world, and show the world that everyone can find healing in art.

And, as you’ll hear in this brief excerpt from her conversation with @farahyasmeenshaikh, when creating art, Anu hopes that art can also be a place of unexpected connection for people across the globe.

This week's guest, Kalsoom Lakhani, has a pretty awesome "what", however, what we loved even more is her "why"?

Kalsoom is the Co-founder & General Partner at i2i Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund for Pakistan, and the country’s first female-founded VC fund, which opened its doors in 2019. She is also the Founder of Invest2Innovate, i2i Ventures' sister entity, which she launched in 2011 to support and unleash the potential of young entrepreneurs in growth markets like Pakistan. 

Listen to this snippet, and then to the entire conversation on @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio on Fri, Oct 4 at 9pm PST / 9am PKT

#PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Preethi's #heARTivism is steeped in her personal experience as a Bharatanatyam artist, along with her extensive research and commitment to representation and the performance of myth among transnational Bharatanatyam practitioners. 

This conversation aired on @rukusavenueradio on the @iheartradio app, and is now available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts 🎙

Irene Tcruz Shimizu is a self-taught, intuitive, channeled artist and divine messenger co-creating art that speaks to the soul. Irene manifests activation art so people awaken and amplify their gifts, and in turn share their gifts with the world, expressing her creativity with mixed media paintings that emanate love, beauty, hope, harmony, and faith.