Tuckered Out with Ami Thakkar

Neelu Kaur is an author, facilitator, NLP and executive coach, and a wellness and burnout management expert. She combines leadership development, neurolinguistic programming, and burnout management to offer her clients a healing hybrid of research-based professional development skills intricately intertwined with the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda. Neely’s book, Be Your Own Cheerleader, is an Asian and South Asian woman’s cultural, psychological, and spiritual guide to self-promoting at work to get your professional needs met. 

Guys, this book is a must-read, even if you're not in a corporate environment. Join me as I sit down with Neelu to discuss her unique approach to focusing on the mind in the workplace, healing our relationship to mental health, and how she continues to overcome the cultural, psychological, and spiritual challenges we all face daily.

We talked about: 

• Neelu explains Neuro Linguistic Programming and what to expect in her program (3:40)
• Self-advocating as South Asian women (12:04)
• Neelu's role as a core guide with Chief and how she got involved (16:39)
• The most difficult cultural, psychological, and spiritual aspects of Neelu's journey that had to be overcome  (20:09)
• The importance of reframing and having discussions around mental health (27:42)
• Neelu reflects on her childhood and what it was like immigrating to the U.S. (31:44)
• Neelu's relationship to South Asian culture now vs. back then (36:54)
• Neelu unpacks her journey through higher education and her quest for credentials (41:54)
• Rapid Fire Questions (48:46)
• Neelu's bare bones for happiness (52:21)

Connect with Neelu: 

• Website
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

My fourth guest for my South Asian author series is Sj Sindu.

As a genderqueer Sri Lankan American novelist and riveting short story writer, SJ Sindu is one of the most exciting young voices out there today. Her first novel, Marriage of a Thousand Lies, won the Publishing Triangle Edmund White Award for debut fiction and was named an American Library Association, Stonewall Honor Book. SJ’s upcoming book, The Goth House, is a collection of stories that focus on queer joy, as well as shocking cruelty. You know we love a good paradox. In today’s episode, we talk about her upbringing in Sri Lanka, her memories of the Sri Lankan war, and how much that trauma is incorporated into her writing. And I obviously couldn't resist asking her if she loves MIA as much as I do. Find out how she navigated the many intersections of ‘other” she found herself within, the hilarious last-ditch effort she made to throw her Brown parents off her trail, and what she hopes to inspire in younger generations through her work.  

We talked about:  

• How SJ came to know she was a writer (1:54)
• How SJ's search to find her voice and genre has shifted over time (6:30)
• SJ’s genius solution to appeasing her parents and inspiring a fantastic read (8:12)
• The meaning and inspiration behind her novel Blue Skin Gods (11:48)
• SJ's new chapter book coming out in October: Goth House (18:34)
• SJ’s relationship to Sri Lanka, its culture, and growing up there until age 7 (21:34)
• The first few explicit experiences of racism and discrimination that radicalized SJ (29:29)
• Telling queer stories and exploring the many possibilities within the marginalized experience (35:18)
• Dating as a queer South Asian (36:45)
• Life as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (39:30)
• Rapid Fire Questions (42:09)
• SJ's bare bones for happiness (43:00)

Connect with SJ:   

• Website 
• Instagram
• Marriage of a Thousand Lies 
• Blue-Skinned Gods 

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Once labeled as the ‘Face of Failure’ by The New York Times, Suneel Gupta is a best-selling author, renowned speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, and host of a global documentary series (presented by American Express Business Class). Suneel has studied leaders around the world to discover and share simple, actionable habits that lift our performance and deepen our state of well-being. 

He is also the founding CEO of Rise, a breakthrough wellness company, and has recently released Everyday Dharma, a guide through 8 essential practices for finding success and joy in what you do. A very penetrative and digestible read based on Hindu philosophy, I cannot stress enough on how relevant, healing, and insightful it was to for me.

He joins me today to talk all things dharma (your essence or your calling), concepts we formulate around successes and failures, and if in fact, everyone does find what their true calling is.

What we talked about:   

• Meet Suneel (0:19)
• Touring for his book Everyday Dharma and receiving affirming feedback(4:44)
• The power of telling your own story (8:49)
• Work-life balance, inner peace, and devotion to one’s Dharma (11:18)
• The arrival fallacy and shifting your perspective (19:04)
• The arrival fallacy and shifting your perspective (29:56)
• How Suneel has since connected with the people that inspired his book (44:53)
• Suneel reads his favorite excerpts from the book (48:42)
• Suneel reads his favorite excerpts from the book (53:59)

Connect with Suneel: 

• Chasing Life with Suneel Gupta 
• Website
• Linkedin

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

.

My next interview for our South Asian author series is with the indomitable Hitha Palepu.

Hitha Palepu is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, CEO of Roshan Pharmaceuticals, and a lover of all things Mr. T and Taco Bell. From a young age, Hitha’s parents encouraged the belief that she didn't have to be just any one thing but her dreams would require hard work and diligence no matter what. Today we discuss how she wrote her book, We’re Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris, in two months, why your relationship with your partner is the second most important, the clever way we can borrow confidence, and her experiences with the Vice President. 

What we talked about:  

• Keeping our last names, why being in your 40's rocks, and how I found Hitha's book (1:51)
• The process of writing Hitha's book on Kamala Harris (15:52)
• Hitha explains what a hype file is, what's in hers, and how to use them to borrow confidence (21:08)
• Do something about it, don't do it half-assed (26:11)
• How the principles instilled in Hitha by her parents have influenced her parenting style (30:40)
• Eating no for breakfast and learning how to say it more (34:21)
• Waiting for your Doug and why partnering with the right person is so important (39:26)
• Hitha shares her experiences with meeting Kamala Harris (46:12)
• Hitha's life-saving luggage advice (50:22)
• Hitha and I's concept meeting for the ultimate South Asian collab (super top secret - do not steal or you’ll be hearing from our Aunties) (51:40)
• #5SmartReads (54:28)
• The lessons Hitha learned from her first start-up that is helping her now as CEO (55:46)
• The childhood story that Hitha feels defined her identity as a South Asian (58:49)
• Rapid fire questions (1:03:13)
• Hitha's bare bones for happiness  (1:06:44)

Connect with Hitha: 

• Instagram
• Twitter
• We’re Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris 
• Substack 

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

Priti Tanna is the author of I Married A Coconut, a coming-of-age story turned memoir that explores Priti’s journey through navigating the dichotomy of being a first-generation Indian American. It is an incredibly insightful book about growing up South Asian and having to walk the tightrope between two seemingly opposing cultures. Today, we talk more about her book and how Priti found her path as a writer, what her childhood was like, the pearls of wisdom that came out of her healing journey, her approach to dating and marriage, and why our lives our so parallel.

What we talked about:  

• How Priti decided to become a writer (2:27)
• When the book became a memoir (5:40)
• The true meaning behind her book title (12:17)
• The concept of being a coconut and the bullying we face as kids (14:53)
• Priti’s experience at her Hindu summer camp and how it shaped her (29:23)
• Why were twins (35:33)
• How Priti has approached dating and marriage (40:27)
• Priti in the Associate of Indians at Rutgers and Bollywood classic reruns  (45:17)
• What’s next for Priti and the feedback she received for her book from friends (48:17)
• Priti’s relationship with India now and what she would tell her younger self  (53:19)
• Rapid fire questions (58:40)
• Priti’s bare bones for happiness (1:03:06)

Connect with Priti: 

• Instagram
• So, I Married A Coconut

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

To honor and celebrate Pride Month, you are in for a treat! This week, I am bringing back three episodes near and dear to my heart. Get ready to listen to the third episode of the mini-series, with Maneesh Goyal, where we're talking true hospitality – Indian style.

I have been following my next guest for quite a while now through social media and mutual friends.  He has been doing some amazing work and also.... throwing some amazing parties- I definitely was trying to get invited to one.

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Maneesh Goyal is a self-acclaimed "insatiable people-person,"  and was determined to open the next great restaurant in NYC, which had to be Indian given his roots. That idea mixed with his desire to fulfill his father's legacy, one that started in the 80s with the first Indian restaurant—India House—in Texas, led him on a journey of self-discovery of who he truly is and love for where he comes from.

Maneesh is the Founder & Partner at SONA & SONA Home and has partnered with global icon Priyanka Chopra- some of you may have heard of her- to bring Indian hospitality and food to the next level.

We talk about growing up in Texas as South Asians, the challenges he faces in the restaurant scene that people may not know about, and how he wants to be remembered by those he loves.

He tells me how he and Priyanka ended up working together, his favorite memory at SONA so far, and what the true glamour of global India is today.

Here is to hoping for a future SONA Dallas to open up! 

What we talked about: 

• Maneesh's first interactions with the restaurant business (03:49)
• How he and Priyanka ended up working together (07:23)
• Maneesh's favorite experience at SONA (13:22)
• One dish that makes SONA unique (17:55)
• The pop-up at Soho House in Miami (23:08)
• The challenges Maneesh faces in the restaurant scene (24:54)
• The importance of supporting each other as a community (29:29)
• Our impact on the next generation – the aunties and uncles of the future (38:13)

Connect with Maneesh: 

• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

Produced and Edited by Ginni Media. Made Offbeat.

To honor and celebrate Pride Month, you are in for a treat! This week, I am bringing back three episodes near and dear to my heart. Get ready to listen to the second episode of the mini-series, with Zameer Kassam, where we're talking diamonds – the kinds that tell your story.

With a background as unique as the jewelry he designs, including time at McKinsey & Company, Harvard Business School, and De Beers Louis Vuitton, Zameer Kassam has emerged as one of the global jewelry industry’s most innovative thinkers and artists. He is the Founder and CEO of Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry, which he launched in 2011. Through every iteration of his career, one thing has remained constant: his passion for storytelling.

We talk about his parents' unique immigration story, how his training really started with his family jewelry business, and why he didn't feel Indian "enough" growing up. 

Zameer talks about how personalizing the jewelry industry truly incorporates everything he is passionate about, what his 3-part process entails, and his genuine connection with each of his clients. 
 

He shows me some of the beautiful sketches he produces for each piece, talks about his partnership with Forevermark and explains traceable diamonds, the fantastic celebrities he has worked with (Ashley Judd, Hasan Minhaj), and the heartwarming story behind his family heirloom.

Recently, Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry has become an official Harvard Business School case!!

Grab a glass of champagne (I did), it's time to talk diamonds!

What we talked about:  

• Why Zameer's childhood was different than his other South Asian friends (03:00)
• How Zameer got into the jewelry industry (06:13)
• Zameer's three-part process (21:18)
• How it looks like to have a truly personalized ring (26:01)
• Why it's worth buying personalized jewelry (30:06)
• How Zameer stays relevant in the jewelry industry (32:17)
• How the partnership with Forevermark helped shape his business (35:37)
• Some of the celebrities Zameer has worked with (39:59)
• The Harvard Business School case (50:43)

Connect with Zameer:

• Website
• Instagram

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

To honor and celebrate Pride Month, you are in for a treat! This week, I am bringing back three episodes near and dear to my heart. Get ready to listen to the first episode of the mini-series, with Ginni Saraswati, where we're talking podcasting.

It's always nice to interview someone who has nicer equipment than you.

Today I talk to fellow podcaster, Ginni Saraswati. She is Founder and CEO of Ginni Media, a podcast production company whose motto is, “Made Offbeat”- which I can relate to. She is also a contributor to Entrepreneur Media and Rolling Stone Magazine.

We talk about everything podcasting, her thoughts on the industry, and where she sees it going in the next 5 years. She also talks about growing up brown in Australia, coming out to her family, and what she would like to be known for at the end of her career.

Most importantly, we figure out who the OG influencer really is and I talk about the time I shook Madonna's hand, which can be a whole other podcast episode.

What we talked about:  

• How Ginni Media was born (01:25)
• The importance of a good customer service (06:05)
• Some of the pain points Ginni had at the beginning of Ginni Media (07:18)
• The future of podcasting (11:26)
• Ginni's background - growing up as a Sri Lankan in Australia (15:20)
• The importance of being rooted in where you come from (20:28)
• How Ginni's family found out she is gay (30:27)

Connect with Ginni:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Youtube Channel

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by Ginni Media

In honor of the Indian American Impact Summit we attended last week and Pride Month, we're bringing back to your ears the amazing interview we had a while back with Communications Specialist and my college friend Parag V. Mehta.

We start off our interview discussing our University of Texas at Austin days as dandia/raas champions (of course) to how the story of Matthew Shepard changed his life.

We then get into Parag's impressive and expansive experience in the D.C. political scene. He addresses many important issues such as South Asians in government and their evolution as activists, questions regarding Proposition 8, his reflections on Hillary Clinton's devastating loss, what happened when Vivek Murthy (our first Indian Surgeon General) was "relieved" of his duty and how to find hope in our crazy political atmosphere today.

He also highlights the story of falling asleep while taking the MCAT's, attending the first White House Diwali party organized by his friend Kal Penn, his upcoming big fat Indian wedding, Texas style of course, with his partner Vaibhav and how lotion became a subject matter when he first met with President Obama.

What we talked about:  

• How the story of Matthew Shepard changed Parag's life. (05:53)
• The importance of diversity in politics (11:17)
• The start of Parag's political career. (19:12)
• Highlights of the Obama years & Proposition 8 (22:23)
• One of Parag's proud moments (27:32)
• What happened when Vivek Murthy was "relieved" of his duty (29:49)
• Trump's election and the aftermath (38:41)
• Why Parag loves working for immigrants (45:39)
• The one thing that's holding India back (55:15)
• Rapid fire questions (01:06:16)
• Parag's upcoming Indian wedding (01:11:03)

Connect with Parag:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media

.

Anita Verma-Lallian is the CEO and founder of Arizona Land Consulting, a Phoenix-based land investment consulting company that specializes in commercial real estate. But like a true boss, Anita couldn’t stop there. She is also the founder of Arizona’s first South Asian and first female-owned film production and entertainment company, Camelback Productions. 

Their mission? Focusing on South Asian and minority community storytelling by uplifting the voices of those who belong to these groups. 

What we talked about:  

• Anita’s perspective on Arizona’s real estate market  (3:07)
• Anita discusses her latest 12 million dollar deal and bringing industries to Arizona  (5:48)
• The importance of Anita’s family in building her business (8:44)
• Anita’s inspiration for Camelback Productions (13:47)
• Anita’s ultimate dream story to produce (18:41)
• Anita’s experience growing up Indian (22:00)
• Rapid fire questions (27:51)
• Anita’s bare bones for happiness (30:41)

Connect with Anita: 

• Instagram
• Website  - Arizona Land Consulting

Let’s Connect:

• Instagram

This podcast is produced by

 Ginni Media