Amituckeredout

 Kavita Mehta is a a non-profit leader with 20 years of service and a deep commitment to fostering cultural change, organizational transformation, and movement building.Kavita is the Executive Director for Sahki for South Asian Women, a survivor-led gender justice organization whose goal is to eradicate gender-based and domestic violence. Sakhi is the second largest organization of its kind in the US, and celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. It has really changed the conversation on gender-based violence in our community while uniting survivors and institutions to work together.In our conversation,  Kavita delves into how Sakhi provides a safe space and community for survivors; the high rate of gender violence in the South Asian diaspora, the challenges in overcoming it, and its connections to South Asian culture and beliefs. We talk about South Asian family dynamics and how they have impacted us, She generously opens up about her own trauma, how it drove her to do the job she does, and how she overcome

When I met my next guest for the first time after getting to know her on social media, I felt like I’d known her forever. Akruti Babaria is the founder of Kulture Khazana , a business is dedicated to sharing Indian culture with children through educational and play activities. Her story began in 2018 after the birth of her son, Ayaan. When Akruti realized that the diverse places she has lived in had no sign of her culture or community, so she decided to do something about itNow through Kulture Khazana, Akruti is able to shares the South Asian culture with children around the US  and all of its beautiful treasures.Kulture Khazana has a variety of incredible Indian toys and Diwali gifts as well as games, puzzles and online story albums for kids of all ages.   Kulture Khazana is also is now the first Indian cultural toy brand founded in target.com and nordstrom.com, and now will be launching with macys.com this year!As a mother of two little girls who is trying to share our culture as much as possible . I could

How is it February already??  While we are working on a few other projects these past few weeks, we're going to share an episode from the end of last year that we also submitted for The Webby Awards this year.  Please do go watch "To Kill A Tiger", it's one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen Nisha Pahuja is a writer, an artist, and director and now an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. Her passion for social impact is marked by a quiet courage towards exploring complex social issues that often breed division through the lens of her camera. We chat about her latest award-winning documentary "To Kill a Tiger," which has won 19 awards from prestigious festivals such as TIFF, Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Canadian Screen Awards, and Doc Aviv and has names like Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling attached to it. The film earned its way on The New York Times Most Anticipated Fall Releases list and Anne Thompson at the IndieWire’s Oscar Contenders list.I had the pleasure of moderating the premier of the film

Nick Rathod has been thinking a lot about the power of culture and using it as a platform for change.  And he has some experience with that.Over the span of his 20-year career, Nick Rathod has built successful campaigns, businesses, governmental and non-governmental institutions and been a key advisor to the nation's leaders. Nick has served as special assistant to the President and Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House, and was also the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Obama-Biden transition team. Nick has also built a number of nonprofit organizations. Most notably, Nick was the founder and first Executive Director of the State Innovation Exchange. Nick has most recently served as the campaign manager for Beto's race for governor of Texas. He is now the President of Impact and a founding partner in the People of Culture Studios in Hollywood, California. Nick shares his vision of affecting real change by using Hollywood culture to connect people of color to the mainstr

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a Harvard physician, stress expert, speaker, national television correspondent, and host of the podcast, Time Out with Eve Rodsky. She is also a lecturer at Harvard Medical School in the Division of Global Health and Social Medicine, and serves as the co-director of the Clinical Clerkship in Community Engagement. She has spoken at the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit, the HBS Women's Conference, and many other events.Most importantly, her new book, The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body For Less Stress and More Resilience, came out this past week, where she focuses on how to maintain healthy levels of stress.In our conversation, we reflect on how the pandemic and other traumatic events of the last three  years have impacted us all. Aditi shines a light on the unique challenges that make us more stressed out than our parents and opens up about the insights into stress she gained on her journey as a patient and as an expert while sharing practical tools for navigating the new normal.Reading thi

We're back!  It's the new year and we hope everyone had a safe and peaceful holiday....and we also hope you're ready to get Tuckered Out this year! And what a way to start off 2024...Megha Tolia is the President and COO of Shondaland as well as a beacon of ingenuity and leadership. Her professional journey began at Neutrogena and spanned over 20 years, where she honed her expertise in building mission-driven, consumer-centric brands. Her trajectory took a thrilling turn when she leaped into the media universe, bringing her strategic prowess to Shondaland, the brainchild of the legendary Shonda Rhimes. Megha shares her transition from the structured world of consumer goods to the vibrant and unpredictable realm of television production. It's a narrative of embracing new challenges and the excitement of stepping into the unknown.In our conversation, Megha delves into her personal journey, reflecting on her rich Indian heritage and the influence of her family’s immigration story.  We also discuss navigating the

Today, in the last episode of 2023, I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who makes this podcast possible: my hubby and our girls, our amazing production team Ginni Media, and of course, to you. Thank you for your company, support, and for pretending to laugh at my jokes.Before you go, I need to ask you a favor. Tuckered Out has been recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences as a finalist for the Anthem Awards! What do I need from you? A simple vote to help this underdog podcast take a win home. Hugs and high fives, see you in 2024! Resources:Help Tuckered Out win the Anthem Community Voice Award!Let’s Connect!InstagramThis podcast is produced by Ginni Media. 

Falguni Lakhani Adams is an Emmy Award-winning producer and executive with Vice TV and another one of my long-lost soul sisters. She is the epitome of a multi-hyphenate, a mom, a director, a writer, a mindfulness coach, and an entrepreneur, and she has more than 20 years of experience producing creative nonfiction stories for broadcast TV, digital media, and long-form audio documentaries. She has worked on projects such as Unknown Amazon with Pedro Andrade, The Search For Q, Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11, and Black Market with Michael K. Williams. You also may have heard of the very popular United Shades of America, as well as Belly of The Booth. She also just happens to have a very long list of credits for NBC News, and MSNBC, including 10 years at Dateline NBC. Her focus on production and community has earned her space in Veronica Beard’s Make It Happen campaign. She is also an active member with Chief, Co-Creator of Getting Hotter, and CEO of Sorry, Not Sorry, Productions. I'm sorry, because I don't know how

 Today's guest is none other than Raja Kumari, a Grammy-nominated songwriter, and India’s top female rapper. Known as Svetha Rao to loved ones, she brings an otherworldly fusion of Eastern and Western music that's completely reshaping the industry.In our chat, Raja Kumari takes us on a journey through her album 'The Bridge’. Released worldwide in April 2023, this album is a work that not only showcases her unique blend of cultures but also marks her debut under her own label that launched two years prior, Godmother Records. Talk about trailblazers, guys, this woman is fearless. She has such a charismatic personality and is truly a natural-born storyteller, who by the way now has over 43 million monthly Spotify streams. I had such a blast interviewing her as she shared captivating insights into her transition from classical dance to hip-hop, her struggles with American labels, and her groundbreaking move back to India, where she found an audience that immediately resonated with her music. We also touch on her

Nisha Pahuja is a writer, an artist, and director and now an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. Her passion for social impact is marked by a quiet courage towards exploring complex social issues that often breed division through the lens of her camera. We chat about her latest award-winning documentary "To Kill a Tiger," which has won 19 awards from prestigious festivals such as TIFF, Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Canadian Screen Awards, and Doc Aviv and has names like Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling attached to it. The film earned its way on The New York Times Most Anticipated Fall Releases list and Anne Thompson at the IndieWire’s Oscar Contenders list.I had the pleasure of moderating the premier of the film here in Dallas with some of the executive producers and was absolutely blown away by the film.Nisha's storytelling prowess goes beyond this latest project, with notable credits like the Emmy-nominated "The World Before Her," the documentary "Bollywood Bound," and the insightful series "Diamond Road."

Manu Raju is a Chief Congressional Correspondent for CNN and an anchor of Inside Politics Sunday. He has covered Capitol Hill for over seven years with Politico before taking on his current role at CNN. With a career spanning from Congressional Quarterly to inside Washington publishers, he's a familiar face to anyone following political news.Award-winning and always at the heart of the action, Manu's work is driven by a passion for uncovering the stories that matter. His on-the-ground reporting during the January 6 Capitol attack was so impactful, that it awarded him the David Blum Award. I learned so much from listening to him recount the events and provide his perspective on what it takes to develop a story of that magnitude. Manu has a truly awe-inspiring career and his journey is a testament to the evolving landscape of South Asian representation in media. Manu discusses the challenges and nuances of reporting complex political stories, offers insights into the news-making process, and shares his experien

Swati Sharma is the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Vox, a leading platform for explanatory journalism. I recently had the pleasure of sharing a panel with her earlier this year and felt an instant connection. As the Editor-in-Chief of Vox, she’s on a mission to demystify the complexities of the world by helping her audience move out of ignorance into knowledge, no matter their background.Throughout her storied career, she's been a force at renowned news institutions like The Atlantic, Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. She has overseen digital coverage through pivotal events like the pandemic, racial reckonings, Trump's presidency, and an historic election. Beyond her editorial prowess, she's a Bay Area native with a passion for travel and all things Bollywood. No doubt that Swati was meant to write and tell stories and is a true trailblazer in journalism. We talked about: Swati's role at Vox Media and their relationship to other editorial brands (2:51)The essence of explanatory journalism and why we need

Nisha Ganatra, is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter, producer, and actress of Indian descent.We met this year at Sundance where I was lucky enough to see her screening of Rise, a short film focusing on the struggles of women enterpreneurs today. I first got to know her after watching Chutney Popcorn back in '99, now a cult classic, which she wrote, directed, and produced herself. Ganatra has directed numerous television shows including Transparent, You Me Her, Better Things, Dear White People, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She also directed the comedy-dramas Late Night and The High Note. She is also the founder of Ladies' Car Production.We talk about her amazing 25-year journey working in Hollywood, why we are most likely related,  and why she would love to get back to her indie roots. We talked about: Her short film Rise + how her 25-year career began (1:48)Chasing the next achievement and dismantling the rival fallacy (10:55)Nisha's experience of breaking into TV and noticing the shift in industry p

We're coming at you LIVE! from the inaugural summit of SALUTE in my favorite city, NYC baby. The SALUTE (South Asian Ladies Unite To Empower) mission is to build an impactful community of South Asian women focused on innovation, unity, and progress. Members of this community are rising leaders in their fields, who are making decisions to shape the present and influence the future. Guys, I can't tell you how much I love this community. The founders have built something very special and profound for South Asian Women. The summit itself was not only impactful, but it felt incredibly warm and intimate, which is not easy to pull off. I had a blast talking to so many amazing South Asian women who are just dominating in their fields, checking out all their amazing brands, and also running into all sorts of friends. It felt like one big reunion, so I hope you enjoy this very special Live episode honoring the women of SALUTE.   In today’s episode, I talked with:  Founder of Girls That Invest, Simran Kaur on getting in

 Rooshy Roy is the founder and CEO of Aavrani, a holistic skincare line that uses clean, effective cosmetics rooted in Indian agent beauty rituals, which she saw her grandmother using as a young girl in India. As an adult searching for an easier way to access non-toxic formulas, Rooshy reconnected with her roots by creating the beauty products she wished she had as a young Indian girl growing up in the Midwest. I deeply resonate with this because growing up in Texas, I only saw brands like AVON or Revlon, and none of it was created with my skin in mind. It’s definitely a beautiful thing when the journey to find a solution, molds us into the resource we once set out to find and that’s the nature of Rooshy’s story. Her recent partnership with Lilly Singh on her upcoming haircare line is proving that Rooshy is ready to bring these ancient rituals to the mainstream and share the beauty of the Indian culture. Join the conversation and hear all about this incredible partnership, Rooshy’s path to her current success

Gotham Chopra is an American sports documentarian, media entrepreneur, producer, podcast host, director, journalist, and author.  He is the co-founder of Religion of Sports, Liquid Comics, Chopra Media, and the Chopra Well. Gotham is known for his sports-centric films, having worked with athletes such as, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Simone Biles, and in today’s episode, he talks with me about his latest project with Serena Williams.We discuss his current role as co-founder of Religion of Sports, a sports-focused media company that was founded in 2016 by Chopra, Michael Strahan, and Tom Brady.  Gotham opens up about  his incredible journey up till now, what it was like growing up with a famous father, and what he believes is the sign of true greatness.    We talked about:  Meet Gotham (1:06)Sports as a universal language of connection (3:36)The role of inspiration and finding fulfillment through failure (8:25)The quality that every truly elite athlete shares (14:45)Upcoming projects Gotham is wor

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

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

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 receivi

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 par