In this episode of Larger Than Us, Keerthi and Sneha talk with Suswati Basu - a South Asian British journalist and editor, as well as podcast host of How to be…- a books podcast focusing on enhancing mental well-being, self-development, and understanding key social issues on a global scale. They start with how disabilities are defined - physical, mental, and hidden and talk through stigmas with each. As Suswati shares her experiences, Keerthi and Sneha also talk about theirs which leads the conversation to the healthcare system - particularly gaps in the current system that were hyperbolized with the pandemic, the approaches for diagnosis, patient care, and training of healthcare professionals. While they talk about the growing issues and similarites within the UK and the US, they dive into approaches within the corporate world to address this, especially getting leadership buy-in for inclusive efforts, and nuances with South Asian culture that affect navigating certain conversations around disability awareness and treatment. They finally end the conversation with advice on how we can actively improve the system and problem areas and how individuals can find the support and care they need in the initial parts of their journey.

To learn more about Suswati and her career: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/suswati-basu

Link to her podcast 'How to be' : https://howtobe247.com/