By Ami Thakkar Raval: Podcaster and Writer
4.9
8686 ratings
The podcast currently has 179 episodes available.
Debbie Millman is a writer, designer, educator, artist, brand consultant and host of the podcast Design Matters.Design Matters is one of the world’s very first podcasts. Broadcasting independently for 19 years, the show is about how the world’s most creative people design the arc of their lives. On top of it all, she has authored 6 books, her latest one called Love Letter To a Garden comes out in April and is a definite shift from her previous works. Which is no surprise to me because Debbie is the very definition of evolution, constantly learning, changing, growing and all the while, having a blast.
Debbie recounts her journey as a OG podcaster and explains her process of preparing deeply researched interviews that uncover her guests' stories with authenticity and depth, emphasizing the importance of respect and engagement in meaningful conversations. Debbie also opens up about her latest book, Love Letter to a Garden, a visual and personal exploration of her quest to cultivate greenery in her life. She discusses how gardening became a source of connection and creativity during the pandemic and how this new venture has inspired her future projects.
We also talk about what makes New York City kids so unique, why we’re both glad we didn’t peak in high school, how she designed her high school prom, and why she is still keen to keep walking up the mountain.
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.
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 an influencer, Nasreen is a resilient advocate for breast cancer awareness. Diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer at 40, she has courageously shared her journey, empowering women by speaking openly about her health battles and challenging the cultural stigmas that often surround such diagnoses in South Asian communities.
In this episode, Nasreen speaks candidly about the emotional and physical toll her diagnosis has taken and describes her initial shock, especially given her healthy lifestyle before the diagnosis. She talks about her ongoing treatments, the challenges of choosing between different therapies, and the side effects she endures. Nasreen shares her perspective on the need for a more proactive approach to women’s health and highlights the lack of open discussion about breast cancer. She recounts stories of South Asian women who keep their diagnoses private due to cultural stigma, hoping to inspire others to speak openly and seek support. Nasreen also touches on the joys of motherhood and how her journey has led her to a more present and intentional life. Despite the challenges, she has continued her work as an influencer, driven by her desire to help others through her openness and authenticity.
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.
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 Theatre in New York City.
For over two years now, Gardner has been the Head of Tribeca Audio and Curator of Audio Storytelling at Tribeca Enterprise. He made a great contribution to taking the “Film” out of the Tribeca Festival and pushing it further towards a multimedia festival that it has been for a while.
In this episode, Davy discusses the evolution of the Tribeca Festival into a multimedia event and emphasizes the importance of audio storytelling. He highlights the challenges independent podcasters face, such as discoverability, and the role of curatorial entities like Tribeca in promoting innovative content. He also shares his journey from writing for the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater to his current role, stressing the need for creative risks and the value of public recognition. Finally, reflects on personal experiences, including the impact of his mother's death and the importance of recognizing and managing feelings of being "tuckered out."
“I Don't Have A Billboard On Times Square”: The challenges that independent podcasters face + audio storytelling as an emerging genre parallel to what comes to everyone’s mind when podcasting is mentioned + the disproportionate recognition the audio art form gets in the public eye and ways entities such as Tribeca can play a role in this. (04:49)
Getting Audio On The Red Carpet: Emphasizing the importance of recognizing audio creators + getting the first Getty Image and the word out there about one’s podcast (14:12)
Improv Guided My Life: Davy explains how he got into performing after being on the writing side + how improv comedy got him out of depression after his mother’s passing + the way performing and improv can support a writer’s journey (17:45)
State of Podcasting and Independent Creators: Discussing the challenges of audio as a whole is going through for decades now + the importance of creative risk-taking while not being ruled by the money tap + Davey encourages independent creators to focus on their artistry and not get discouraged by financial difficulties (22:01)
Growing Up in New York City: Davy tells about his upbringing and experiences being a high schooler in NYC + NYC as a melting pot of people from diverse backgrounds + not ending up dead as a teenager and rubbing elbows with the Ivy League kids (28:39)
Attending The Happiest College: The challenges of adjusting to the new environment both literally and figuratively + forming career-defining connections throughout the years in college (35:55)
Being “tuckered out”: The way to sustain anything is if it brings you joy + no shame in being in and out of feeling “tuckered out” when there is a constant pressure of getting back to happy + Davy shares his experiences with grief and how they shaped his perspective on life (39:00)
Concert Highlights: Davy Gardner shares his experience seeing Arcade Fire and the impact it had on his career + having a complete concert experience while watching the live recording of LCD Soundsystem's "Dance Yourself Clean" (48:42)
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.
“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…”
Breakdancing? At the Olympics? Hell. Yes.
Today is a watershed moment for the @dynamicrockers and @rocksteadycrew1977 who were just kids at the time they created this dance movement in a NYC that was going through a tumultuous time.
Welcome to another special episode where I will be interviewing trailblazers from all backgrounds. Because let's face it, being Tuckered Out is universal.
Jamaal Parham and Bashan Aquart are known as the Brooklyn-based directing team JamsBash and have spent the last decade crafting award-winning TV shows, commercials, documentaries, music videos, and a film. They worked with people like Michael B. Jordan, Robert DeNiro, Mindy Kaling, Samuel L. Jackson- just to name a few.
Their work is driven by their innate desire to tell stories of the authentic American experience, infused with magical realism and rooted in a love of boundary-pushing design and classical filmmaking technique.
We discuss breakdance's origins and growth, its cultural relevance, and whether it should be considered sport, art, or both (it’s a topic my friends), how hiphop and breaking grew together in parallel, their relationship with art and storytelling, and all agreed that stories that begin and end in NYC are stories that could never happen anywhere else or be replicated anywhere else.
We dive into their latest documentary, "Breakin' On the One," they share their thoughts on the challenges of doing comedy in "sensitive times," the importance of preserving African American cultural heritage through dance, how communication through a cypher of movement it is such a beautifully uniquely black and brown thing, and what our Bboy names would be if we could all actual breakdance.
Mine is Trick Tucker.
Also, Bashan was attacked by a beetle during the interview. He survived.
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This podcast is produced by
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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 to collaborating legends such as U2, Bishop Briggs, and Shawn Mendes, Rianjali’s big mission in life is to change the perspectives of South Asian musicians’ perspective in the diaspora and to encourage women to explore careers within music and film, and she does this with humor and heart through her Mild Mannered and Timid Podcast, which Rianjali co-hosts and produces, sharing her no-holds-barred views on the society, music, and culture of the South Asian diaspora.
Rianjali’s production company is Mild Mannered Timid whose short films include Seeing God, which won Best Documentary at the South Asian Film Festival of America, and Saltwater, which was officially selected for the Wisconsin Film Festival and Chicago South Asian Film Festival of America.
This drive to break barriers and defy traditional expectations and stereotypes defines every aspect of her life from her marriage to her music to her films. She is a true trailblazer and and yes, now my soul sister
Rinajali shares her crazy ride and lets us into her darkest moments, the challenges she faced taking care of her parents and South Asian expectations, and her decision to follow AR Rahman to Chennai. She reveals how AR Rahman became her personal Mr Miyagi and what he’s like up close and personal. We talk about how her marriage to Kunal by a queer Hindu priestess inspired her first doc; how her latest short film,Saltwater, explores communication in South Asian families; and how her film work helped her connect with her own family.
The Mild Mannered and Timid Podcast: Challenging the stereotype of South Asian women + using humor to deal with pain +wanting to support South Asian community + the freedom to be honest about South Asian culture + fear of being shamed five years from now (04:48)
Breaking the Film Barrier: Making debut movie with $800 + getting married + the tattooed, weed-smoking queer Hindu priestess + Saltwater and how Indian fathers communicate + having your film used in film classes (12:42)
Rianjali and Kunal - How the Crazies Found Each Other: Rianjali details her husband’s talents as an attorney and musical creative + how she and Kunal connected through music + how their parents thought they were crazy + how Kunal supports and complements her. (20:11)
Rianjali’s Dark Journey: Rianjali’s early love of singing and how her teacher pushed her to musical high school + Giving up singing for college and being diagnosed with depression + Getting polyps on vocal cords and fighting back + Getting a “realistic” job and the stress of helping battered women. (24:44)
Enter AR Rahman: Rianjali tells how a singing clip on Facebook led to her meeting AR + how she had to care for her sick parents + Singing for AR while he videoed her like a dad + the offer of a lifetime to go to India + Deciding to go and the guilt of “abandoning” her parents. (30:12)
Rianjali’s Journey Begins: Joining AR Rahman in Chennai as a purple-haired girl in a traditional Indian community + the intensity of being mentored by AR and learning on the fly + how AR took care of her like a father + her first triumphs with Amazon and Netflix and Bollywood (41:34)
Returning to Earth: Rianjali talks about finding her musical voice, being South Asian but wanting to do her own thing + the joy she took in becoming a full-time teacher + how the pandemic forced her to switch from gigging to writing music + advising people on the hard realities of the music business + the South Asian impulse to be realistic about career choices and how it clashes with following your dream. (50:32)
Rianjali and U2: Rianjali recalls her jamming session with Bono, the Edge, and AR Rahman. (59:01)
Current and Future Projects: The excitement of making documentaries with Academy Award-Winning Vanessa Roth + plans to showcase traditional South Asian recipes and moving beyond South Asian food + having her dad star in a pilot episode, how he shared his life story with her on camera, and her love-hate relationship with him + the clash of generational attitudes towards family and ambition in South Asian culture (01:01:16)
What Now for Rianjali? Rianjali reflects on her changing goals in life and work + her desire to be known as just a female composer + the importance of getting more women into making music and film + the pleasure of helping people on their own music journeys.
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This podcast is produced by
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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-American who grew up in Miami, Bill has been named by Newsweek Magazine as One of 20 Latinos to Watch and by Hispanic Business Magazine as One of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America.
His amazing new HBO documentary, Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. Chronicling the legendary Stevie Van Zandt, it features a wealth of never-before-seen footage that traces Van Zandt's career as a producer, musician, songwriter, activist, actor, and a whole lot more. For those who know Stevie best as consigliere to Bruce Springsteen and Tony Soprano, Bill beautifully captures the story of a true Renaissance man and amazing human being.
In this episode, Bill recalls his Miami days as an out-of-place rock and roll fan in a disco town, and we bond over our love of British invasion music. Bill dives deep into the making of the documentary, revealing the challenges of keeping up with a man who never stops creating and the thrill of finding lost footage that even Stevie didn’t know he had. Bill describes how Stevie’s driving force is his passion for rock ‘n’ roll as a force for social change. Finally, he shares what observing up close Stevie’s musical originality, his fifty-year-old marriage to Maureen, and his close lifelong relationships have taught him about life and himself.
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple debuted on JUNE 22 (8:00 p.m.–10:25 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media
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 people of all ages and cultures shines through in her life and career. She sees her role at Time Out as a gateway to building bridges between brands and consumers and fostering connections worldwide. And she is in a unique position to unite diverse communities through the shared experiences of food, culture, and general joy.
Anjali shares her incredible journey from her childhood, always feeling out of place, to finally finding her home in New York and Time Out. She reveals the challenges and the exhilaration of managing the amazingly diverse Time Out brand. We dive deep into the evolving nature of DEI, race, and what it means to be South Asian for our generation compared to our parents. We go into breaking out of the mold of Good Indian Girl and the importance of learning new things. Finally, we reflect on being the freest South Asian generation and look forward to a new era of diversity for our children even if we still have a long way to go.
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.
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 side hustle, he also happens to be an attorney.
These guys have been friends forever, but they've never really worked together. Now, in collaboration with their producer, Shankar Tucker, they have released their independent seven-track EP titled Too Grown Men, exploring themes of heartbreak and struggle and defying stereotypes.
In this episode, we dive into the familiar theme of growing up on the fence between American and South Asian cultures, their own personal growth and experiences as artists, what they each bring to their music, and their plans for the future.
Utkarsh discusses his early years in the music scene with MTV Desi, the BTS of his epic Oscar Performance with Questlove, why he hasn't been to an ashram in India to find himself yet, and the potential plans for going on tour. Kaly tells me about growing up Jersey without any brown people around him, why he is a rappers rapper, how he still keeps his east coast roots living in LA, and what it has been like working with the legendary A.R. Rahman.
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.
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 (CCM) earning critical acclaim, widespread recognition, and a dedicated fan base.
Maryanne has released a brand new independent track called Labor, just in time for Mother's Day, and this song really captures the journey not just of motherhood but womanhood and personal growth.
In this episode, we talk about motherhood and the journey we thought it would be, the journey that it is, and all the beauty and ugliness of it. We talk about how motherhood is the hardest thing you'll ever do, and the most rewarding. Finally, we go deep into how we navigate the expectations of being South Asian, career, and motherhood, and how they shape the lessons we teach our children.
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media
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 Fortnight. A story about Pakistani women, about resilience, it’s a perfect mixture of education, entertainment and thriller, and has garnered critical acclaim and prizes worldwide.
In this episode, Zarrar delves deep into the process of creating In Flames and its subsequent controversy, and the importance of portraying Pakistan in all its complexity. He passionately expresses the importance of telling stories of Pakistani women at a time of worldwide crisis for women’s rights. He shares his thoughts on the state of Pakistani cinema. Finally, he shares his insights into living as both a Canadian and a Pakistani and learning to fall in love with all of Pakistani culture.
Zarrar is truly committed to telling stories that amplify historically marginalized communities, about voices that need to be heard.
In Flames comes out April 12th across North America
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This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.
The podcast currently has 179 episodes available.
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