The Raz Patel Show

Traditional South Asian parents ask about marriage before you've even had your first date. This episode gets into why, and what it costs both generations.

In this episode, Dhaval Shah joins Raz for an honest conversation about growing up between two cultures, dating under parental expectations, and why mental health is still a taboo topic in so many South Asian households.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why South Asian parents view dating through the lens of marriage, and how that shapes their children's dating experience as adults

This is The Raz Patel Show, where we turn knowledge, experience, and adversity into conversations that help us move from Frozen to Fearless(TM).

In this episode, Raz sits down with Cindy Sha, founder and president of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. Cindy left a PhD in textile engineering and a career in research to build something the business community was missing: a single place connecting entrepreneurs to government, corporate, and community networks.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- Why some hardworking entrepreneurs stay invisible on purpose, and why others simply lack access to the right platforms

This is The Raz Patel Show, where we turn knowledge, experience, and adversity into conversations that help us move from Frozen to Fearless(TM).

He applied twice to become a NASA astronaut. Both times, he didn't make it. So instead, he spent the next eleven years studying what happens to the human body he wanted to send into space anyway.

That's Dr. Jojo Sayson.

Long before NASA's Human Research Program brought him on as a consultant, Jojo was a physical therapist who couldn't let go of one question: why does the human spine hold up fine under gravity, and start falling apart within weeks without it? The answer came from watching astronauts. Working alongside NASA researcher Dr. Alan Hargens, Jojo helped uncover how spaceflight causes real, physical changes in the spine and its bones, changes that explain why astronauts come home in pain, and why the rest of us, sitting still for hours a day, might be doing a slower version of the same thing to ourselves.

Off the clock, Jojo has spent decades as a children's advocate and motivational speaker, known for showing up as Superman to remind kids what strength actually looks like, and he's carried that same instinct into Project Michelangelo Foundation and Angel Rising Magazine, where he champions women's stories that don't usually get told.

In this episode, Raz sits down with Jojo to talk about what astronauts' spines reveal about the rest of us, why the back pain so many people quietly accept as "just aging" might be something else entirely, and what it actually takes to build a body, and a life, that holds up.

What happens when networking becomes something more meaningful—when it becomes community?

In this episode of The Raz Patel Show, Raz Patel sits down with Lisa Ann Adams, founder of the Social Collectives, to explore the power of connection, belonging, and creating spaces where people genuinely feel welcomed.

From building relationships that extend beyond exchanging business cards to creating communities that open doors personally and professionally, Lisa shares what she has learned about bringing people together with intention.

The conversation also comes full circle for Raz, as Lisa’s encouragement and support helped inspire the expansion of the Social Collective concept into the South Asian community.

Together, they explore community building, leadership, authentic networking, belonging, collaboration, and why sometimes one introduction or one conversation can create an unexpected ripple effect.

🎙️ The Raz Patel Show

She arrived in America at four years old, without a word of English. Decades later, a diagnosis made her stop being quiet.

“A man goes in for Viagra - it’s covered. I have cancer, and the test that could help save my life isn’t.”

That’s Vesna Cottrell. She isn’t speaking rhetorically. She’s describing her own coverage.

Vesna arrived in America at four years old without speaking English. She grew up navigating assumptions about her name, her heritage, and whether she truly belonged — the quiet daily arithmetic of proving you’re from here.

Decades later, a year of loss and a diagnosis she wasn’t expecting put her in front of a different kind of gatekeeping: a system that decides which tests are worth paying for, and for whom.

She could have accepted that answer. Most people do.

In this conversation, Vesna talks about immigration and identity, motherhood, the year that took more than she thought she could carry, and the specific moment she decided that staying silent was no longer available to her.

IN THIS EPISODE

Listen to the end, and answer it for yourself: what defines an American woman?

This episode shares one woman’s personal experience and is not medical advice. Speak with your healthcare provider about your individual screening needs.

#TheRazPatelShow  #WomensHealth  #ImmigrantStory  #Resilience  #Identity  #AmericanWoman

We have more access than ever — more profiles, more choices, more swiping — and yet real connection feels harder to find than at any point in history.

So why are we lonelier than we've ever been?

In this episode of The Raz Patel Show, Raz sits down with Sanjay Sharma ("Sanju Mama") and Shailu Maasi, the matchmakers behind Tota-Maina — a personalized matchmaking platform built on intention, family values, and real human connection instead of endless swiping. Together they reveal what a matchmaker sees that no dating profile or algorithm ever can.

They get honest about why dating apps leave so many people exhausted and alone: the fake profiles and scammers, the paralysis of infinite choice, and how we obsess over trivial dealbreakers while missing what actually makes two people compatible.

They talk about healing after heartbreak before you're ready to connect, why real trust moves slower than a swipe, how family background quietly shapes a relationship, and the courage it takes for parents to let their grown children choose their own path.

An honest, unfiltered conversation about modern love, compatibility, and finding a life partner in 2026.

IN THIS EPISODE

CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:26 More choice, less connection 03:36 Why dating apps stopped working 04:59 What a matchmaker sees that an algorithm can't 10:32 The trivial dealbreakers that cost you love 13:40 Healing before you're ready to connect 17:00 Love languages & accepting a partner 22:24 Why real trust moves slower than a swipe 26:13 Where a matchmaker actually makes the difference 29:15 Why family background matters 33:49 The South Asian family & personal boundaries 39:00 Letting your grown kids live their own lives 42:05 Cultural criteria: language, community & cooking 46:41 Why you need a third party to see what you can't 53:31 Inside the Tota-Maina process 58:19 Confidence & first impressions in dating

ABOUT TOTA-MAINA Tota-Maina is a personalized matchmaking platform built on intention, family values, and real human connection. [ADD: website, Instagram, contact]

READ THE FULL WRITE-UP The written version of this conversation is on my newsletter: https://razpatel.substack.com

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvgqJmIyhi8

CONNECT WITH RAZ Website: https://razpatel.com Instagram: @razpatelofficial Newsletter: https://razpatel.substack.com The Raz Patel Show

Subscribe to The Raz Patel Show bold conversations on resilience, reinvention and fearless living.

This conversation is a discussion of relationships and personal experience, and is not clinical, therapeutic, or financial advice.

Most people think self-defense begins when danger becomes physical. Instructor Tarika Sethi says it starts much earlier—with a boundary being tested, a repeated pattern, an attempt to isolate you, or a feeling you keep explaining away.

At four feet ten inches tall, Instructor Sethi can put someone twice her size on the ground. She is the female instructor behind OSA Martial Arts in Fairfax City and has spent decades helping children, adults, families, and people with disabilities develop confidence, awareness, and practical safety skills.

In this episode of The Raz Patel Show, Raz Patel and Instructor Sethi explore the psychology of personal safety, situational awareness, and self-defense. They discuss how potential threats may identify distracted targets, what your posture communicates, how social media can expose personal information, and why recognizing red flags matters before a situation escalates.

Instructor Sethi is also honest about the limitations of training. Under stress, people can lose fine motor skills and forget techniques they have only practiced once. A one-time workshop may introduce useful concepts, but repetition is what helps the body respond when fear takes over.

Drawing from her background in social work and two decades of experience with at-risk youth and therapeutic recreation, she also discusses bullying, confidence, inclusive instruction, and why martial arts is about far more than fighting.

The conversation ends with a live demonstration of how to escape a wrist grab.

This episode is not about living in fear. It is about developing the knowledge, awareness, and confidence to make safer decisions.

What role should Indian-Americans really play in shaping the future of U.S.-India relations? In this episode of The Raz Patel Show, Kapil Sharma - a veteran of U.S.-India relations, government affairs, and diaspora advocacy breaks down why storytelling, economic security, local politics, and community leadership matter more than most people realize. This is a conversation about far more than policy. It is about immigrant identity, assimilation, the rise of the India Caucus, how media narratives shaped perceptions of India, why the Indian-American diaspora must become its own storyteller, and what happens when young people lose faith in jobs, leadership, and the future. Kapil also opens up about what politics gets wrong about economic insecurity, why parents need to rethink success, how well-being and depression have become major public-policy issues, and why the next generation may determine whether the U.S.-India relationship stays strong. In this conversation:

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone thinking deeply about identity, leadership, and the future of the diaspora. Chapters - 00:00 - Intro 02:15 - Kapil’s immigrant roots and identity 05:59 - The India Caucus and community representation 08:39 - Why Indian-Americans must tell their own story 10:34 - India’s rise and the storytelling gap 15:21 - Jobs, trade careers, and redefining success 19:28 - From anger to community-building 21:01 - The next generation and opportunity in America 25:23 - Job anxiety, layoffs, and what kids are absorbing 30:15 - Mental health, failure, and well-being 33:27 - Roundglass, whole-being, and policy 36:19 - Depression as a public policy issue 37:08 - Caregiving, dementia, and emotional strain 44:26 - Economic security and politics 47:17 - Why local politics matters more than you think 49:02 - The future of U.S.-India relations

🎙 Connect with Raz Raz: @razpatelofficial

Newsletter: https://razpatel.substack.com

#KapilSharma #IndianAmericans #USIndiaRelations #IndianDiaspora #PublicPolicy #JobsCrisis #MentalHealth #LocalPolitics #Leadership #RazPatelShow

Imagine walking away from global stardom at the peak of your career to raise a family in suburban Texas. Bollywood icon Meenakshi Seshadri joins us to share her incredible journey of reinvention, from being the heartbeat of Indian cinema to finding her true self in the quiet moments of motherhood and spirituality. This is a story about the courage to begin again and the power of choosing your own path on your own terms.

In this deep and moving conversation, Meenakshi discusses the power of the pivot and why she decided to step back from the limelight for three decades. She opens up about the challenges of moving to Dallas, learning to navigate a new culture, and the importance of being undefinable beyond the labels of actress or ice maiden. We dive into her mastery of four classical dance forms, her memories of working with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, and the untold stories behind her powerful performance in the cult classic Damini.

Now, as she embarks on her second innings in the entertainment industry, she offers profound wisdom for any woman looking to start a new chapter regardless of age. From her thoughts on beauty and aging to her spiritual practices, Meenakshi shows us that life is not about holding onto one chapter, but about having the strength to write the next one. Whether you are a fan of her classic films or looking for inspiration to reinvent yourself, this interview provides a rare look at the woman behind the headlines.

Chapters

0:00 Intro and Welcome

If you found inspiration in Meenakshi Seshadri's story of courage and growth, please like this video and subscribe for more deep dives into the lives of extraordinary people. Share your favorite Meenakshi movie moment in the comments below!

#bollywood #meenakshiseshadri #damini #reinvention #motherhood