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How to Be Seen: Loneliness, Culture & Safe Spaces with Sangeeta Pillai
Episode Summary
When Sangeeta Pillai walks into a coworking space, she’s not just looking for a desk—she’s scanning for signs that someone like her belongs.
In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, Sangeeta—founder of the Masala Podcast and Soul Sutras - joins Bernie to talk about what inclusion actually feels like, not just what it looks like in a brochure.
From growing up silenced in a Mumbai slum to building one of the UK’s most celebrated feminist networks, Sangeeta unpacks what makes a space truly safe—and why most coworking spaces still miss the mark.
They talk loneliness in big cities, misfiring community efforts, why asking someone’s name matters more than your branding, and how even a WhatsApp nudge can pull someone back from the edge.
If you’ve ever wondered why some people walk past your coworking space every day and never walk in, this is the episode that explains it.
Timeline Highlights
[00:40] “I’d like to be known for feminism until the day I die.”
[01:22] Growing up voiceless in Mumbai—and turning pain into a movement.
[02:34] Famous guests, taboo topics, and why Masala Podcast hits harder than PR fluff.
[03:30] What Brick Lane looks like through immigrant eyes (hint: it’s not your weekend bagel run).
[06:15] What safe space means—from name pronunciation to lunchbox shame.
[07:47] Why being noticed—just being seen—can save someone’s life.
[08:55] Loneliness in London: How 8 million people can feel like zero connection.
[10:55] “Even small talk is human contact.” Why strangers matter more than we admit.
[12:40] Bernie’s Vigo confession: he speaks to more people in Spanish than he did in English in London.
[15:55] The problem with coworking bubbles: why locals walk by and never step in.
[17:21] If your space doesn’t look diverse, it doesn’t feel welcoming.
[19:05] Bernie realises what felt like impostor syndrome was a lack of belonging.
[21:09] The workshop that made coworking leaders confront their fear of community.
[22:57] “It’s a buffet. But no one knows how to get to the table.”
[25:51] The WhatsApp message that got Bernie out of bed—and possibly saved his week.
[26:59] AI won’t save us. Conversation might.
Episode Breakdown
A Podcast That Became a Movement
Sangeeta didn’t set out to be a community leader—she was trying to survive a culture that wouldn’t let her speak.
Her podcast opened the floodgates for conversations that South Asian women were never “allowed” to have.
What Safety Feels Like
A safe coworking space isn’t about good vibes or diversity statements.
It’s about micro-moments of respect, like learning someone’s name or not judging their food. These things matter more than you think.
🏙️ Loneliness in a Crowd
You can be surrounded by millions in London and feel utterly alone.
Sangeeta and Bernie compare that isolation to the warmth of small-town India—and what coworking spaces could learn from it.
🧍🏾 Who’s Welcome?
If your space looks like a tech bro reunion, people notice.
If no one who lives nearby is inside, they notice.
If no one says hello, they feel it.
This is where “community” starts—or dies.
📍 Beyond the Bubble
Most coworking spaces say they care about the local community, but few engage.
Sangeeta explains why even well-meaning operators often get stuck, and what it takes to build trust across the street.
🔗 Links & Resources
* Soul Sutras – Website
* Masala Podcast
* Pre-order: Bad Daughter Memoir by Sangeeta Pillai
* Sangeeta on Instagram
* Sangeeta on LinkedIn
Recurring Links
* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn
* Register for European Coworking Day
* Visit the Workspace Design Show
* Join the 8k+ LinkedIn Coworking Group
* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn
* Unreasonable Connection – Lu.ma
One More Thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability—values that shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
Rate, follow, and share the podcast if this resonates with you.
Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking enriches lives, builds careers, and strengthens communities.
Community is the key 🔑
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com
View all episodes
By Bernie J MitchellEpisode Summary
When Sangeeta Pillai walks into a coworking space, she’s not just looking for a desk—she’s scanning for signs that someone like her belongs.
In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, Sangeeta—founder of the Masala Podcast and Soul Sutras - joins Bernie to talk about what inclusion actually feels like, not just what it looks like in a brochure.
From growing up silenced in a Mumbai slum to building one of the UK’s most celebrated feminist networks, Sangeeta unpacks what makes a space truly safe—and why most coworking spaces still miss the mark.
They talk loneliness in big cities, misfiring community efforts, why asking someone’s name matters more than your branding, and how even a WhatsApp nudge can pull someone back from the edge.
If you’ve ever wondered why some people walk past your coworking space every day and never walk in, this is the episode that explains it.
Timeline Highlights
[00:40] “I’d like to be known for feminism until the day I die.”
[01:22] Growing up voiceless in Mumbai—and turning pain into a movement.
[02:34] Famous guests, taboo topics, and why Masala Podcast hits harder than PR fluff.
[03:30] What Brick Lane looks like through immigrant eyes (hint: it’s not your weekend bagel run).
[06:15] What safe space means—from name pronunciation to lunchbox shame.
[07:47] Why being noticed—just being seen—can save someone’s life.
[08:55] Loneliness in London: How 8 million people can feel like zero connection.
[10:55] “Even small talk is human contact.” Why strangers matter more than we admit.
[12:40] Bernie’s Vigo confession: he speaks to more people in Spanish than he did in English in London.
[15:55] The problem with coworking bubbles: why locals walk by and never step in.
[17:21] If your space doesn’t look diverse, it doesn’t feel welcoming.
[19:05] Bernie realises what felt like impostor syndrome was a lack of belonging.
[21:09] The workshop that made coworking leaders confront their fear of community.
[22:57] “It’s a buffet. But no one knows how to get to the table.”
[25:51] The WhatsApp message that got Bernie out of bed—and possibly saved his week.
[26:59] AI won’t save us. Conversation might.
Episode Breakdown
A Podcast That Became a Movement
Sangeeta didn’t set out to be a community leader—she was trying to survive a culture that wouldn’t let her speak.
Her podcast opened the floodgates for conversations that South Asian women were never “allowed” to have.
What Safety Feels Like
A safe coworking space isn’t about good vibes or diversity statements.
It’s about micro-moments of respect, like learning someone’s name or not judging their food. These things matter more than you think.
🏙️ Loneliness in a Crowd
You can be surrounded by millions in London and feel utterly alone.
Sangeeta and Bernie compare that isolation to the warmth of small-town India—and what coworking spaces could learn from it.
🧍🏾 Who’s Welcome?
If your space looks like a tech bro reunion, people notice.
If no one who lives nearby is inside, they notice.
If no one says hello, they feel it.
This is where “community” starts—or dies.
📍 Beyond the Bubble
Most coworking spaces say they care about the local community, but few engage.
Sangeeta explains why even well-meaning operators often get stuck, and what it takes to build trust across the street.
🔗 Links & Resources
* Soul Sutras – Website
* Masala Podcast
* Pre-order: Bad Daughter Memoir by Sangeeta Pillai
* Sangeeta on Instagram
* Sangeeta on LinkedIn
Recurring Links
* Coworking Values Podcast on LinkedIn
* Register for European Coworking Day
* Visit the Workspace Design Show
* Join the 8k+ LinkedIn Coworking Group
* Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn
* Unreasonable Connection – Lu.ma
One More Thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability—values that shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
Rate, follow, and share the podcast if this resonates with you.
Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking enriches lives, builds careers, and strengthens communities.
Community is the key 🔑
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit coworkingvaluespodcast.substack.com