In the third episode of our Mumbai series, we sit down with actress Vedika Pinto, widely recognised as “that girl from that music video”, the iconic Liggi by Ritviz. You might remember her gallivanting through a haveli in a bridal lehenga, the morning after her wedding, while her new husband lay asleep. In just a few minutes of screen time, her effortless charisma and presence made many, myself included, instant fans, eager to see more of her on screen.Fast forward seven years, Vedika has just starred in Anurag Kashyap’s latest film 'Nishaanchi', where she plays the sassy and charismatic Rinku. When we recorded this conversation earlier in the year, she couldn’t reveal much about the project, but the film is now out in the world for you to watch.As a self-proclaimed daydreamer, Vedika may come across as easygoing, but beneath that calm exterior lies a clear sense of how she wants her audience to feel when they watch her perform on the big screen.This heartwarming conversation about girlhood, self-discovery, grounding and ambition is one for anyone navigating their twenties and beyond. Recorded just as both of us returned from big trips that shifted our perspectives, it’s a gentle reminder that dreaming, reflecting, and daring to do the thing all matter just as much as the final product.Vedika's necklace and Mitali's earrings are by Arvino. Find them on:Website: https://arvino.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arvino_co/Find Vedika on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vedikapinto/
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In the second episode from our Mumbai series, we sit down with Namrata Soni, one of India’s most celebrated makeup artists and the creative force behind some of Hindi cinema’s most iconic looks, from Main Hoon Na to Aisha and beyond.In this conversation, Namrata opens up about her two-decade journey in beauty and film, and what it took to fight for her place in Bollywood at a time when women weren’t allowed to work as makeup artists. She shares stories from her collaborations with Sonam Kapoor, Farah Khan, and many others, reflecting on the moments and choices that have shaped her remarkable career.Namrata is also the founder of Simply Nam: a homegrown, conscious beauty brand born during the COVID lockdown, designed to celebrate and serve the unique beauty needs of the Indian woman.(0:00) Introduction(1:43) Nam’s skincare routine(3:20) A daily essential beyond SPF(4:14) I was a complete tomboy(6:25) I wanted to study economics growing up(7:36) Studying makeup in London(8:27) The Hindi film industry was completely male dominated(13:45) I was manhandled and dragged out of movie sets(16:40) Do upcoming HMUAs know about the sexism in the industry?(17:35) Life working on Bollywood movie sets(23:32) Main Hoon Na, Aisha and others(26:00) The crossroads(27:45) Career regrets(29:15) Keeping up with the new age(31:45) The hunger to rise to the top instantly(33:15) Holding a conversation in the makeup chair(38:30) Pros and cons to today’s make up industry(42:30) Launching Simply Nam(49:05) A recommended multi-purpose product from Simply Nam(51:10) India’s obsession with fairness(54:00) Homegrown brands and manufacturing(57:30) What does Namrata have strong game in?A special thank you to team DSPR for making this happen.Find Namrata & Simply Nam on: Website: https://www.simplynam.com/Namrata's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/namratasoni/To be the first to get updates on new episodes, please do give us a subscribe or follow!
In this episode, we sit down with Sana Javeri Kadri, founder and CEO of Diaspora Co., the single-origin spice company reimagining what an equitable, decolonised spice trade can look like. Growing up in 90s Bombay in a mixed-heritage, progressive family, Sana witnessed firsthand the power of food and culture in shaping identity. After moving to the U.S., she uncovered the lack of transparency in the global spice trade and set out to change it; placing freshness, farmer equity, sustainability, and justice at the core of her mission.We explore Sana’s story from Mumbai to California, her queer, progressive approach to leadership, the challenges and triumphs of building Diaspora Co., and why spices aren’t just a garnish for special dishes, but the everyday backbone of our lives.(00:00) - Introducing Sana Javeri Kadri(00:55) - Sana’s childhood and blended family roots(02:16) - Growing up mixed religion in 90s Bombay(06:16) - Bullying, queerness, privilege and ambition(10:15) - Diasporic nostalgia vs. modern India(12:18) - Sana's culture shock moving to the US(15:01) - Visual art, food politics and storytelling(18:40) - Realising the broken spice trade(20:08) - Why the origins of your spices matter(24:05) - Cancellation fears, female founders & transparency(26:05) - Co-opted language in the food industry(27:29) - Scaling Diaspora Co & measuring true impact(30:23) - Workers’ equity & long-term growth goals(33:23) - Educating consumers without preaching(34:39) - Making spices more accessible(36:15) - Intentional vs. easy consumption & capitalism fatigue(37:16) - Balancing founder life, step-parenting & partnership(43:03) - Why Diaspora Co is inherently queer(46:01) - Storytelling and branding(47:02) - Climate change and regenerative farming (52:18) - Tariffs and challenges of scaling globally(53:33) - Diaspora Co expanding into Ocado & Whole Foods(55:14) - The Diaspora Co cookbook(56:31) - Branding, packaging and in-house design process(58:23) - What does Sana have strong game in?Find Diaspora Co on: https://www.diasporaco.com/Mitali is wearing the Käma choker & Mango Slices by Surmeyi: https://surmeyi.com/
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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Rathika Marsh, aka The Spiritual Psychologist, whose work bridges psychology, spirituality, and embodied healing. With over 17 years of experience, she left behind a traditional psychology career to create her own transformational framework, helping people step into radical responsibility, faith, and freedom.We dive into her spiritual awakening journey, what it means to take ownership of your life, and the healing power of rituals and identity. From her experiences of growing up Tamil and embracing Carnatic vocals, to the moment she walked away from clinical psychology, Rathika shares her wisdom on how healing differs from therapy, why synchronicity matters, and the importance of not carrying what no longer serves us.This conversation touches on radical truth-telling, faith, cultural identity, women’s cycles, and the courage to trust yourself, even when it means crumbling everything you thought you knew.(00:00) Introduction(02:45) Rathika's spiritual awakening journey(12:12) - Taking radical responsibility of one’s own life(14:09) - On Tamil identity and rituals(17:45) - I’ve taken up carnatic vocals(19:19) - On quitting traditional psychology to start the Spiritual Psychologist(22:00) - What is healing and how is it different to therapy?(28:15) - Having unwavering faith in something(30:30) - We carry so much around without putting it down(40:32) - Dr. Rathika’s offerings and upcoming retreat(51:58) - What does Dr. Rathika have strong game in?Find Dr. Rathika's work on: https://thespiritualpsychologist.co.uk/
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Is being unmarried and without kids a sign of failure in your 30s?In this week’s episode, we sit with Soni, a third culture kid who grew up in Gran Canaria, moved to the UK for university and work, and at 31 made the decision to move to Australia by herself. She joins us to unpack the unspoken hierarchy of ‘adulting’ - study, work, marriage, kids, and what it means to rewrite the bullsh** rules she had placed on herself.We begin with discussing growing up Sindhi in Spain, and the cultural and social conditioning that shaped how Soni measured success. From there, we trace her feelings around being the only unmarried one in her group of friends who are all now having kids, unpacking her discomfort with her life through therapy, and her eventual decision to move across the world solo, the discomfort of starting over, and how she’s learning to trust her own pace.In the second half, we talk about shedding societal timelines, the grief and beauty of life transitions, and what it means to own your story, even when it’s messy or uncertain. Through it all, Soni reminds us that there’s power in doing life differently, especially when it’s scary.(0:00) Introduction(03:19) 'I’ve always been a creative at heart'(04:19) Themes in Soni’s book ‘Your Mind Matters’(04:59) Was the corporate job stifling her creative potential?(05:41) On starting her own dance academy in Gran Canaria(09:15) The Sindhi community don’t often open up about their challenges(09:30) The mental turning point(12:20) Soni’s therapy journey(23:30) Being married with kids by 30 is a bullsh** rule(26:50) The ‘hierarchy of successful adulting’(39:25) The move to Sydney(50:43) Takeaways from her book ‘Your Mind Matters’(54:42) What does Soni have strong game in?Check out Soni’s new book ‘Your Mind Matters’ where she talks about it all and more - https://www.waterstones.com/book/your-mind-matters/soni-sawnani//9798301476259To be the first to get updates on new episodes, please do give us a subscribe or follow!
In this wholesome episode, I sit with both the Founder and Director of Storytelling of Surmeyi, Manasvi and Sathvika, during their recent visit to London.Surmeyi is known for its storytelling and thoughtful craftsmanship, but few know the voices of the women who power the brand. Both Manasvi and Sathvika are dear friends, and we had the joy of collaborating with them on our very first pop-up in June: To London, With Love. What they’ve built is deeply intentional, and we’re lucky to have entrepreneurs like them who lead with heart and care.Over the next hour, you’ll get an inside look into Manasvi and Sathvika’s creative worlds — from the highs and lows of running a purpose-driven business, to the behind-the-scenes chaos of launching new collections, to the vision and storytelling that have shaped Surmeyi’s striking identity and community impact.The Käma choker I am wearing can be found here: https://surmeyi.com/products/kama-choker?srsltid=AfmBOooPtsakxw3-IE9MWZ5BT2lH67ROftHvc_AnccMdXfwsyTU7i9iIThe Mango Charm studs I am wearing can be found here: https://surmeyi.com/products/mango-charm-studsFind Surmeyi on: Website: https://www.surmeyi.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surmeyiFollow BGS on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browngamestrong/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@browngamestrong/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KRk9vQUP0Rqh9GDMkr4RHApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brown-game-strong/id1482564133To be the first to get updates on new episodes, please do give us a subscribe or follow!
To kick off our BGS Mumbai series, introducing someone whose work you have seen before you've met him. Siddharth Sharma is the founder of House On The Clouds, the iconic editorial wedding photography and filmography team behind the stunning soft photos under the sun you saw from Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s intimate wedding at their home.
Rejecting the term ‘celebrity weddings’, he chooses instead to call them ‘artist weddings’, detailing the intricacies around catering to the requirements of couples who have a keen eye for the small moments, like a camera shutter clicking during a groom’s speech, or the clinking of bangles as the bride walks up the aisle on her big day.
Siddharth was never a traditionally flamboyant or charismatic character. Whilst he started his career in engineering, he quotes ‘as a kid I always wanted to make films’. His charm is in his self proclaimed ‘introverted’ and slightly ‘awkward’ nature. Sometimes the quieter souls are the ones who see the world in the most colourful way. How relatable for some of us, right?
(0:00) - Introduction to Siddharth Sharma
(2:52) - Filling a creative void during his engineering career
(05:42) - Siddharth’s first camera
(06:55) - The first House on The Clouds wedding
(08:13) - I used to hate weddings
(11:00) - A HOTC ethos that has stuck from the first wedding
(15:07) - An underrated skill as an introverted founder
(21:20) - Working on huge ‘celebrity’ weddings
(25:56) - The growth of House on The Clouds
(31:45) - The filmmaking process
(40:05) - Moments in the wedding worth capturing
(45:20) - Managing couples’ expectations with virality, Vogue features etc.
(47:36) - Reflecting on regrets
(49:45) - Passions outside of photography
(55:35) - Why the name House on the Clouds
(58:19) - What does Siddharth have strong game in?
Find House On The Clouds on:
Website: https://www.houseontheclouds.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehouseontheclouds
One of my personal idols growing up, Juhi Pande, sits with us in this wonderfully reflective episode to talk about her eclectic career as a TV host, presenter and VJ on Channel V, and what exactly prompted her to leave that career and make the move from Bombay to London.We dive into the highs of early media life (casually interviewing the likes of Rakhi Sawant and Sanjay Leela Bhansali as part of the job), the quieter shifts that followed, and the deep grief of suddenly losing her best friend and business partner; a moment that changed everything for her. Juhi shares how she slowly began to rebuild, grounding herself in the act of making with her hands, eventually founding Skunk, a line of beautifully crafted soaps made with intention and care. And then, the whirlwind that was becoming a mother at 39 and how that's transformed her life in beautiful ways she had never imagined.This conversation is nostalgic and full of the kind of honesty that will stay with anyone trying to figure out what comes after the pivotal moment.
Explore Juhi's work on: Website: https://skunksuperstore.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skunksuperstore/
In this episode, we sit with Heleena Theodore, also known as Heleena Tattoos. In her first ever in-person podcast interview, she shares with us what it was like being one of the first South Asian, Gujarati tattoo artists for miles, how she didn’t feel accepted in the community of tattoo artists, how her work has been pivotal in shaping the face of cultural appropriation in this industry in the UK. She also kindly talks to us about how despite tattooing giving her joy, everything around it was making her miserable which led her to taking a break. We talk about the incredible community that waits for her releases with bated breath, selling out her collections in a matter of hours. We also talk about what inspires her work, and how she navigates the creative industry with integrity and an unwavering belief in that what she is producing for the world is coming from a deep place of raw authenticity. From the bottom of my heart, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it.
Episode chapters:
(00:00) - What do Heleena’s tattoos mean?
(02:10) - Introduction to Heleena
(05:15) - I was a normal kid
(07:58) - Being brown helped me as a tattoo artist
(08:45) - Cultural appropriation in the tattoo industry
(10:14) - Tattoos being taboo
(15:05) - Everyone makes mistakes
(18:30) - Why I went on a tattoo break
(24:15) - Productivity doesn’t exist as a creative
(25:14) - Making money as a tattoo artist
(27:49) - Productivity is a capitalist mindset
(28:35) - How Heleena has formed her community
(31:47) - Promoting your work online
(39:15) - Reframing our mindset around comparison culture
(45:20) - Spicy erotic art and dismantling shame
(51:45) - Would you want to swap lives with the people who you feel judged by?
(01:06:00) - What is Heleena currently working on?
This weekend, Heleena is hosting her debut solo exhibition in London, and you don’t want to miss it! Get your tickets here: https://otherbox.co/heleena
Explore Heleena’s work on:
Website: https://heleenatattoos.bigcartel.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleenatheodore/
We sit with Henika Patel, founder of the School of Sensual Arts and author of Sensual. We dive into the themes of her new book, learning that mindfulness is actually a Western packaging of Eastern practices, we learn about the true essence of Tantra beyond its westernised lens, and how we can start to embrace and process big emotions through practical methods such as breathwork.Henika shares her own journey as an educator in this space, the wisdom she’s gathered from her experiences, particularly post getting married, and practical ways to cultivate sensuality, presence, and emotional awareness in everyday life. This conversation is an eye-opener for anyone looking to deepen their connection with themselves and the world around them.
Episode chapters:
(0:00) - Introduction
(7:30) - Ancient eastern practices
(10:18) - What is tantra?
(11:10) - Why mindfulness is a Western concept
(12:30) - Why we are so disconnected with our bodies
(16:30) - Is there a scarcity of pleasure in our community?
(22:51) - How can we improve sex education for kids
(28:45) - Men and their perception of yoga and tantra
(31:13) - Catering to the LGBTQ+ community
(33:32) - Writing a book on Sensuality
(38:07) - The intent behind sharing ancient Indian practices
(41:54) - Practical applications in coping with Big Feelings
(45:45) - How to breathe to control your stress and anxiety
(47:25) - Life and work after marriage
(52:15) - What does Henika have strong game in?
Explore Henika's teachings on:
Website: https://schoolofsensualarts.co.uk/
Book: https://schoolofsensualarts.co.uk/sensualbook
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henika.x/
Meet Amaan, the 21 year old visionary behind the disruptive jewellery brand Basliq. He recently launched an official collection at Bloomingdale’s for Wicked The Movie—a collaboration that stemmed from a chance encounter with Cynthia Erivo (the actress who plays Elphaba in the film) at the Loewe store on Bond Street, leading to an unexpected friendship. Amaan shares with us how he’s built his brand through raw authenticity, being in the right place at the right time and maintaining genuine relationships, with icons like Bella and Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé, Maya Jama, and Doja Cat championing his designs, as well as being one of the first South Asian designers and the youngest designer in history to style for the Met Gala. We also dive into his mixed Pakistani-Indian heritage, growing up in Manchester and now calling Dubai his home. At this point in his life, Amaan has already understood what many spend their twenties (and beyond) figuring out—his purpose: to create a brand that every cool girl you can think of is wearing.
Episode chapters:
(0:00) - Introduction
(2:51) - How Bella Hadid wore his jewellery
(6:43) - Authenticity in the industry
(8:37) - Growing up half Pakistani half Indian
(11:09) - Creative process
(13:41) - Jewellery production process
(15:25) - Getting to work with Doja Cat
(18:05) - There is no break in fashion
(24:45) - Global representation in the fashion industry
(28:03) - Key takeaways from running a global jewellery business
(29:25) - Pay young designers fairly
(34:32) - If Miuccia Prada isn’t on your moodboard, you’re doing something wrong
(37:35) - What does Amaan have strong game in?
Explore Amaan's designs at Basliq on: Website: https://www.basliq.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basliq_/
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In this episode, we sit with Nina, the first South Asian woman to be crowned Miss America in history. This year, she celebrated 10 years since being crowned, and we spend some time reflecting on those days as well as discussing all the advocacy work she now does to help women embark on their self-love journey.
When Nina became Miss America, it never occurred to her that she would face immense backlash, both from media outlets in the US as well as in India, where she was deemed too ‘dark-skinned’ to ever be crowned Miss India. Nina took her time to process the negativity and returned with a strong, intentional message.
She delivered a TED talk, opening up about her experience and the price she paid for being the first among her demographic to hold this title.
She created ‘COMPLEXion’, a documentary aiming to challenge the archaic notions that exist around global perceptions around skin colour.
She also wrote to CEOs of major CPG companies including Unilever, the creators of skin lightening cream formerly known as Fair & Lovely, as well as L’Oreal which she now sits on the DEI board of. She was instrumental in the companies ditching terms such as ‘fair’ and ‘light’ in their product marketing.
Celebrating our 50th episode and 10 years of Sedoso aka Silky being a social media creator, this girly, lighthearted and Bollywoodpan-filled conversation was one of the most fun this year.
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Sravya is an award winning illustrator and art director who places a huge focus on impact and activism in her work, particularly around topics involving mental health. In this conversation, she shares her experiences as a third culture kid of Telugu descent having grown up in Hong Kong and how she has infused those experiences in her artwork. From having designed for Coachella to Ariana Huffington to having featured on the Gen. T list at Tatler Asia among all her other achievements, she is only really just getting started.
Explore Sravya's work on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sravyaa/ Website: https://www.artbysravya.com/
In this conversation (featuring an adorable furry friend) we sit with Avisha, the founder of Friendsline, a UK based charity that for the past 10 years has been running mental health, mindfulness and yoga workshops for women and girls in India and Nepal who have faced gender-based violence. Avisha has tirelessly worked on this initiative for the majority of her 20s, and now having stepped into her early 30s, with all the life changes that it has brought with it, is considering whether it's time to move onto pastures new. She kindly shares where she is at in her journey of accepting the evolution in her life, and the confusion it can create around her perceived identity; a feeling many who are purpose driven but don't feel the exact same way anymore about the ventures they started a long time ago may resonate with. Find out more about Avisha's work with Friendsline on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_friendsline/ Website: https://friendsline.org/
This week we sit with Sreesha, the founder of Shop Lune, a contemporary jewellery brand based in Mumbai and Goa. If I told you that her designs have been worn by Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif to name a few, and she has not spent any money on PR, would you believe it? Having grown up as a South Indian in Goa and lived across Pune, Bangalore, London, Birmingham and now Mumbai, Sreesha admits that she feels most comfortable in discomfort. Perhaps this is what makes her a great entrepreneur, not being afraid of leaning into her 'otherness'. She prides herself in having grown Lune organically, admitting that it hasn't been a perfect journey and one that has taken a very long time, but one that she has come out of stronger, and is proud of. We get into more technical discussions around finances and what it really takes to set up a jewellery brand, but also into the mental side of what Sreesha would have done differently if she were to start her business again today. A lot of gems in this conversations. Find out more about Sreesha and Shop Lune on: Shop Lune Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoplune/ Sreesha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sreeshas/ Shop Lune Website: https://shoplune.com/
For as long as he can remember, Farooq Got Audio really was ‘that guy’ who downloaded leaked layers of songs and mashed them up together to create new sounds. Years of graft have now led him to being one of the world’s leading South Asian music producers. At the time of recording this conversation, his ‘Mayya Mayya’ remix had hit number 3 globally in terms of reach on Instagram. Despite being so talented and producing incredible sounds - often making the original tracks even better - he candidly tells us about how large music labels haven’t always supported him. Having now dealt with a legal lawsuit with a huge film production company, he has yet to be deterred and continues to produce catchy music that reaches millions around the world.Find out more about Farooq on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farooqgotaudio/ Website: https://www.farooqgotaudio.com/
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In this episode, we sit with journalist, public speaker, powerlifter and author Poorna. We discuss normalising getting out of relationships that no longer serve you, making friendships intentionally in your adulthood and the mainstream trivialisation of mental health.
We also discuss Poorna’s latest novel ‘This Is Fine’, the process of writing it, the motivation behind the themes in it and what she hopes her readers will take out of her writing. She also gives us a glimpse into her plans for her next novel.
In this podcast interview from her recent trip to London, we sit with singer, songwriter and actress Lisa. We talk all things foot fetishes, how she ‘almost’ became a tennis player had it not been for her ADHD, going from almost taking a job as a data scientist at Uber to becoming an ‘overnight’ sensation in the Bollywood industry, the relentless grind that came after her ‘big break’ in Mumbai and her current mission to uplift young female talent in the desi music industry. It’s not all roses, but as she puts it, it’s worth it.Check out her new album ‘Sorry, I’m Late’, her new Amazon Prime series ‘Call Me Bae’ alongside Ananya Pandey #behencode, and also her new podcast co-hosted with Shah Rule called ‘Dish & That’. Lisa also has a Netflix show called 'The Royals' alongside the incredible Zeenat Aman, coming early in 2025. This lady has been busy!Find out more about Lisa's work on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisamishramusic/
In this episode, we sit with two members of the lovely band When Chai Met Toast from Kerala, lead vocalist Ashwin Gopakumar and guitarist Achyuth Jaigopal (AJ). Following a successful UK tour, during which they kindly agreed to put up with me for an hour, they are now headed to the US for the next leg.We spoke about all things creativity, their South Indian roots, how the band formed through a mutual love of the little things in life, got to know each band member in a bit more detail, discussed team dynamics and even a little bit about the huge aspirations the band have to keep winning the hearts of people all over the world. Find out more about When Chai Met Toast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenchaimettoast/ Website: https://www.whenchaimettoast.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/04hYGGSjYtLekuuJXEGrIl?si=jv9185VGSPKBRozckoPb5w