TURN it up!

We meet Hardy Singh in Edmonton during his first Canada tour with Karan Aujla, and trace how a kid raised in Dubai turns family celebrations into a global Bhangra mission. We talk about building teams worldwide, pushing dancers into headline slots, and what it takes to make passion pay. 

• First Canada tour energy and why Edmonton crowds matter 
• Early Bhangra influence through family celebrations in Dubai 
• Starting a Bhangra group in 2011 and learning online when local teachers were scarce 
• Growing from college competitions to paid performances and bigger opportunities 
• Taking Bhangra workshops worldwide and teaching in more than 56 countries 
• Mentoring local groups so Bhangra scenes keep moving year-round 
• Making dancers the main act and demanding professional respect and fair pay 
• Concert-day ritual and the music that gets Hardy into his zone 
• How Hardy becomes an official tour choreographer for Karan Aujla and what that milestone means 
• Designing a standout vest to blend Punjabi tradition with P-pop Culture

Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We make a science-backed case for bringing whimsy back into adult life, not as a cute extra but as a real way to train cognitive flexibility and improve wellbeing. We connect play, creativity, and positive emotion to dopamine, brain networks, stress recovery, and practical habits you can start even on a tight budget. 

• why whimsy depends on cognitive flexibility and prefrontal cortex shifting 
• how creative activities and novelty help loosen rigid thinking patterns 
• a simple reset exercise that turns “I’ll never get this right” into progress 
• why playfulness activates the default mode network and dopamine seeking systems 
• “just because” ideas that make daily life more exploratory and less pressured 
• how the executive control network helps entrepreneurs refine creative ideas 
• using colour, texture, markers, gel pens, and construction paper to make adult tasks feel lighter 
• building positive affect to support working memory, problem solving, and novel associations 
• broaden-and-build theory and why playful habits strengthen resilience before hard times 
• physiology benefits like lower stress response and faster recovery after stressful moments 
Stay up to date with our podcasts on our socials at the Universal Radio and stream us wherever you get your podcasts. 

IG: @theuniversalradio

We break down why imposter syndrome can feel louder during uncertainty and why it often targets high performers, not beginners. We connect self-doubt to locus of control, anxiety, burnout, and the pressure to keep moving the goalpost instead of taking in real wins. 

• Defining imposter syndrome as persistent self-doubt despite evidence of competence 
• Imposter syndrome not being a formal DSM diagnosis while still feeling intense 
• Internal vs external locus of control and how it shapes confidence and resilience 
• recognising how upbringing bullying caregivers peers and work culture affect self-belief 
• small acts of agency and self-efficacy that shift perceived control 
• cultural impostor syndrome and racial impostor syndrome and the role of perception 
• global instability and uncertainty increasing external control beliefs and anxiety 
• CBT-style three-column exercise to separate control from evidence 
• reducing isolation by talking to someone and using support groups 
• reality checks self-evaluation and gathering proof of accomplishments 
• mindfulness nature breath work online limits and healthier boundaries 

Utilize these resources, utilize the help that's out there, and don't avoid the opportunities and support because there are people that do want to hear you out, and there are people that can really relate to you. 

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesdays with Sogand on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We pay tribute to Asha Bhosle and trace how her voice became the soundtrack of Indian cinema across eight decades. I reflect on reinvention, the stories we project onto famous women, and why a legacy can outlast the moment a legend is gone. 

• Asha Bhosle’s passing at 92 and why her work matters 
• The scale of her career with 10,000 recorded songs 
• Growing up in the Mangeshkar musical household 
• Finding an identity beyond Lata Mangeshkar’s shadow 
• The producer phone call that triggers a full reinvention 
• Versatility across classical, Western-influenced, folk, qawwali and ghazal styles 
• Playback singing explained and why Bollywood relies on it 
• How film archetypes shape women’s voices and roles 
• The rivalry rumours and what both sisters actually say 
• Early marriage, separation and raising children while working nonstop 
• Creative and romantic partnership with R.D. Burman 
• Grief, endurance and practising celebration as a habit 
• Big questions about being remembered and what we leave behind 

Thank you for listening, you can hear Ravia every Thursday on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We revisit boundaries through a South Asian diaspora lens and get specific about what happens when limits are too rigid, too porous, or missing altogether. I connect healthy boundaries to the circle of control so you can stop burning energy on other people’s reactions and start choosing what you can realistically carry

• Boundaries as capacity and sustainability in relationships 
• Why collectivist and family-oriented cultures need clear limits 
• Rigid boundaries as an impenetrable wall and how they show up at home 
• Porous boundaries as overgiving and the line between care and self-erasure 
• Healthy boundaries as a screen door that stays flexible 
• Circle of control, circle of influence, and circle of concern explained simply 
• How “log kya kahenge” pulls us into the outer ring 
• Myths that shame people for limits and how to spot manipulation 
• Setting consequences without trying to control anyone 
• Real-life example of car access and following through 

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesday with Gurjeet Gill on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We talk with Alberta’s Minister of Education and Childcare about new expedited teaching certificates designed to bring more certified teachers into classrooms sooner. We press on timelines, safeguards, and what “faster” looks like while keeping Alberta’s standards firm. 

• Four new pathways to become a certified teacher in Alberta 
• Easing pressure from growing enrolment and fuller classrooms 
• Keeping teacher quality standards and conduct requirements unchanged 
• Assessing internationally educated teachers and bridging gaps with added coursework 
• Bringing tradespeople into Grades 7 to 12 to spark interest in the trades 
• Measuring success through certificates issued and annual evaluation plus feedback 
• Making the change permanent while prioritising student safety 
We will also be sharing more information and we can also have links on our social media if you have more questions. 

Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We look at what mental health research is saying about Sikh communities, and why getting help can feel harder than it should. We connect stigma, racism, migration stress, and identity to practical barriers in Canada’s mental health system, then talk about what culturally safe care can actually look like. 

• The difference between “Sikh” and “sick” and why naming matters 
• Stigma in families and the pressure of reputation 
• Low use of mental health services despite real need 
• The gap after diagnosis when people still cannot access care 
• Loneliness and disrupted spiritual practice for Sikh migrants 
• Evidence of implicit bias affecting counsellor callbacks in Vancouver 
• Public stigma versus self-stigma and how both block help-seeking 
• Collective trauma from Partition and Operation Blue Star shaping the present 
• Racism and hate crimes as measurable mental and physical health stressors 
• Sikh youth stress from being visibly different plus intergenerational tension 
• Why Western therapy can fail without cultural fit and language support 
• Punjabi language as access to emotions and meaning, not just translation 
• Help-seeking pathways that start with family and gurdwara before clinicians 
• Culturally safe models including Sikh-informed counselling frameworks 
• Empowerment and peer education approaches that reduce self-stigma 

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesday with Gurjeet Gill on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We sit down with Fateh to trace how Canadian Punjabi and South Asian music grows from a few scattered gatekeepers into a real national scene. We also unpack why he writes for connection over clout and how “Jadu” came together through real friendship with Mickey Singh. 

• The early days of making Punjabi music in Canada and why artists once had to look abroad 
• Brampton as a hub alongside rising scenes in Calgary and Vancouver 
• Building touring infrastructure across Canada and wanting to reach more provinces 
• Creative mindset of writing from the heart instead of chasing crowd formulas 
• Why fan stories matter more than views and follower counts 
• The story behind  the “Jadu” collaboration with Mickey Singh 
• Hopes to return to Edmonton and connect with Alberta audiences 

Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We talk with Alberta’s Minister of Education, Minister Nicolaides, about the province’s $600 million investment in modular classrooms and why the plan focuses on speed. We break down what modular classrooms are, how quality standards work, and how the Schools Now program aims to relieve enrolment pressure while new schools are built. 

• What a modular classroom is and how it is built off-site 
• Why modulars are used as a temporary stopgap for overcrowded schools 
• Alberta’s enrolment growth and the time gap between demand and new builds 
• Quality, safety, and government specifications for modular units 
• How modular classrooms have been used in Alberta for decades 
• How the $600 million Schools Now funding translates into classrooms, washrooms, and student spaces 
• Why the modular budget does not reduce planned new school construction 
• The challenge of forecasting population growth and adjusting long-term capital plans 
 
Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We ask Naheed Nenshi, the leader of the official opposition of Alberta, why Alberta’s government is stepping into electoral boundary drawing and what that could mean for fairness at the ballot box. 

We talk through how gerrymandering works, why courts may get involved, and why public pressure still matters even when politics feels heavy. 

• Why Canada relies on independent boundaries commissions to protect fair elections 
• What changed between the interim report and the political blowback on the final report 
• How a new advisory panel without public hearings shifts power toward government control 
• What “gerrymandering in slow motion” looks like in practical terms for Calgary, Edmonton, and nearby communities 
• How vote dilution can affect urban voters, racialized communities, and rural representation 
• Why the notwithstanding clause does not apply to electoral rights 
• how legal challenges could cost money and delay change while elections approach 
• Why “politicians shouldn’t choose their voters” is the core democratic test 
• The simplest actions regular Albertans can take to push back 
• The little-bird story as a guide for civic responsibility and Seva 


Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio