In this episode, I sit down with Sana Akhand — a spiritual mentor, coach, writer, trendsetter and boundary-pusher who challenges societal norms and redefines modern relationships.

A few years ago, as a 32-year-old Pakistani-American woman living in New York, Sana made a bold and unconventional choice: she got her own apartment after marriage and started dating her husband again. Her goal? To keep the magic alive, to nurture excitement beyond routine, and to avoid falling into the trap of coexisting as mere roommates. By redefining traditional norms, she created the life she truly desired — one where she could embrace independence while still honoring her relationship.

Together, we explore what it means to be a modern woman today — one who is independent, takes radical accountability for her life, yet holds space for a partner and supports him in his ambitions. We discuss the delicate balance between self-sufficiency and allowing a man to provide, the importance of receiving and reciprocating, and how modern women can challenge gender roles while still being nurturers and caregivers.

But women like Sana don’t thrive alone — we need healed, secure masculine counterparts. We dive into how to choose partners who empower us, who allow us to grow, explore, and step into our full potential. Too often, South Asian women are stripped of agency, identity, and choice. In this conversation, we flip that narrative — embracing our power to exercise choice and own our decisions in relationships.

If you come from a traditional or orthodox background but dream of a life beyond conventional expectations, this episode is for you. Sana and I share how we’ve built partnerships that align with our values—relationships where gratitude coexists with standards, where we refuse to settle for men who aren’t secure, and where we thrive in our feminine energy because our partners have done the work to heal their masculinity.

This episode is deeply personal, as Sana and I shared an intimate flow of energy. I learned so much from her and, for the first time, opened up about my own life — my background, healing journey, my partner, our relationship, and the choices that have shaped us.

Listen in for an inspiring conversation on love, independence, and redefining what it means to be a modern woman.