Today we are joined by our guy Naveen aka NSR. He is the official photographer of Brown Ballers and is well versed in different content creation, sports photography and more. How did we first meet and when did he first get involved with the platform? How did he originally get into photography and how has he been able to turn it into his career? We discuss how he managed his parents’ expectations when he was first getting started and what excites him the most when it comes to photography. He operates in a highly competitive space so how does he go about finding new opportunities and navigating through the competition? We wrap this one up by talking about Canada basketball and what it means for the next generation of young hoopers in the country. Make sure to follow: https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague

Today we are joined by Navid Rahman, a pro football (soccer) player that has played around the world and just recently represented the Pakistani national team. Holding citizenship in multiple countries, Navid was actually born in Europe, grew up in Canada and has actually never lived in Pakistan. Where has he played around the world professionally and how does sports culture differ overseas? We discuss the growth of soccer in Pakistan and what it is like to be called up to the international squad. He talks about how there are multiple dual citizens playing for the international team and some of the guys that he models his game after. Are there any stereotypes brown players face in the sport and what are the chances we see a south asian nation take the next step when it comes to international competition? Finally, we all know that Brown Ballers and this platform has been very basketball centric but we are super excited to announce that we will be launching a soccer team! https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague

Mathushan is the Head Trainer and CEO of Underdog Athletics, a training platform that he started to develop basketball players at all ages. We talk about how he first fell in love with training athletes and the meaning of being an Underdog. How has his personal experiences impacted the way he has approached training and what are specific things he looks for when evaluating his athletes? We then discuss how he’s turned his passion into a business and how he has gone about creating an amateur league. Make sure you tune in because he gives some valuable advice to those looking to take their game to the next level.  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague

Welcome back Kishan Mistry from UNINTERRUPTED Canada. He has had a unique journey in sports and has built out an impressive portfolio shooting for some major organizations. Kishan has really made a name for himself in the space so we discuss how he first started in photography, what does his day to day look like at UNINTERRUPTED and what are some past companies he has worked for? How does he approach capturing content differently and what is it like working with major athletes and brands? We also talk about growing up in diverse cities such as Brampton and Toronto and how they are different from other cities across North America. Finally, we discuss the power of sports and storytelling and Kishan shares some advice for aspiring creators.  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague

Today we are very lucky to have Arsalan Jamil join us on the pod. Not only is he the Assistant Coach for the Raptors 905 but he is also the founder of Goals Over Temptations. Coming to Canada when he was 15 was not an easy transition for Arsalan and his family but sports was always a source of happiness for him. We talk about how his first time playing organized basketball was at the University level and how a 2-week contract working with MLSE turned into a greater opportunity with the Raptors. Who are some of the people that he has learned from along the way and where did his passion for coaching come from? Arsalan also talks about how players like Allen Iverson inspired him and where his underdog mentality comes from. Finally, how did his family react when he decided to pursue a career in sports and what are his thoughts on what we are doing with Brown Ballers and India Rising? https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague

We have a special guest on today’s episode that some people refer to as the GOAT of Brown Basketball, Robbie Sihota. From Calgary, Canada to playing professionally overseas, basketball has truly taken him all over the world. What were some of his favorite places to play, where did that itch for basketball come from and what does it mean to him to come back and hoop for India Rising? Robbie talks about the mental side of the game that challenges athletes and how basketball can teach you life lessons outside of the game. Also, what is it like being a dad and what are some of the things Robbie looks to instill in his son? Robbie also gives his thoughts on the Brown Ballers platform and what excites him the most about what we are building.  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague

Today we are focused on something that is not exactly basketball but something deeply ingrained within the culture of the sport, Tattoos. Let’s walk through the India Rising training camp and hear the inspiration behind everyones tattoos. Whether it be pieces representing their basketball journeys, a lost loved one or different experiences in their lives, everyone has their own reasoning for getting a tattoo. Let’s hear if anyone was worried about telling their parents that they got a tattoo. Finally, let’s get back on the topic of India Rising and what it means to these guys and the next generation of athletes.  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Our guy Pranav joins us on this episode out in Dayton, Ohio. He started his brand AMAZN HQ back in college on a mission to not only create more opportunities but to be an inspiring voice for the Asian community. He opens up about some of the challenges that he has faced trying to grow the platform and some of the amazing experiences he has had along the way. What are some of the successes he has seen in building his brand and what are they looking do next? Also, what are some of the events that they he has hosted that have brought the top asian talent together from different parts of the world? Listen in to hear some of our advice when it comes to creating content and building out a unique platform. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

We have a special guest that has travelled far and wide to be with us today, Shree Saini. She holds the title of Miss World America and she was the First Runner Up at Miss World 2022. What does it mean to be Miss World America and what goes on behind the scenes in building up to these competitions? Shree was on a mission from a young age to not only be Miss America but to continue to help and serve others around the world. What does being a Brown Baller mean to her? She has been a large advocate of the Brown Ballers movement so listen in to hear her thoughts on what we are building and how we can continue to empower our community. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today we are joined by our friend Amar, the CEO of Northside Growco, the only Indian Owned Cannabis cultivator in Canada. What are some of the stigmas that are faced by people in the Cannabis industry and how has the tone towards Cannabis shifted? Be ready for a crash course on everything Cannabis and hear how Amar first got involved in the Industry and how his company is looking to innovate their products. There is often a negative connotation associated with consuming Cannabis so how has increased education and accessibility changed how people look at Cannabis. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today we are joined by sports chiropractor, Dr. Karma Patel who came down to Dayton, Ohio with us to help take care of the players of India Rising. Hear the reasoning behind Dr. Patel starting his own Practice and the philosophy behind it. He has worked with his fair share of high level athletes and gives his thoughts on how treatments can differ depending on the person and how the wave of new technology is impacting treatment. We also break down some stereotypes when it comes to Brown athletes and how academics and athletics are not mutually exclusive. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today we are joined by two professional basketball players, Gokul Natesan and Venky Jois. Basketball has taken both of these hoopers to different leagues across the globe. How long have they been playing professionally and what are some of their favorite cities they have played in? We are all passionate Anime lovers so what are some of the best shows and what deeper lessons can be taken from Anime? We also talk about the high level of basketball being played by India Rising and how the sport can not only take you anywhere in the world but open up new opportunities that you could never have imagined. This was a fun one so make sure you give it a listen! https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/  

Today we are joined by our friend Vivek Chauhan who is a pro basketball player in India and a coach at the NBA Academy. This guy can ball and he was ranked the #1 3x3 player last year in India. Is there a difference in play style in India compared to North America? Let’s also talk about how Basketball has taken him across the US and how the level of competition differs. Finally, he speaks on the love for Basketball is India and some of his key takeaways from being a part of India Rising. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today we are joined by one of the Brown Ballers Co-Founders, Darsh Patel. Usually operating behind the scenes, it’s time for us to shine some light on Darsh who has had a huge impact in the building this brand. What are some of the things he handles for the organization and what are his thoughts on the trajectory of the platform? Let’s talk about his personal connection to one of our tournament sponsors Extra Butter and how that brand has grown over time. What is sneaker culture like in India and how is Extra Butter going to make a move overseas? This is Darsh’s first time out at the TBT tournament with India Rising so let’s hear how his experience has been so far. Stay ready because the future is bright for Brown Ballers! https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

We are at the TBT Tournament in Dayton, Ohio for this one. Joining us today we have our India Rising coaches Madhav Trivedi, the Head Coach of the University of Toronto and Amit Tailor, a Player Development Associate for the Houston Rockets. They have some impressive resumes so let’s talk about their coaching backgrounds and how the India Rising team is looking after the first few days of training camp. What has the game of basketball taught these two and what does being a brown baller mean to them? Finally, they share some keys to success and tell us what their experience with this team has been like so far. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

What's going on everybody? This episode is being recorded on the road but we had to give you all some more information on what's been going on behind the scenes at India Rising in preparation for the TBT. Just a couple weeks away from this ESPN broadcasted event and it's crazy to see where our team is at. That 1 Million Dollar prize is up for grabs and some people might consider us underdogs but we couldn't be more ready. https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Welcome back to the Brown Ballers podcast! Today we are back in Vancouver to talk to our good friend Jash. Jash is the perfect example that academics and athletics are not mutually exclusive. A former NCAA basketball player, today part of his mission is to spread his knowledge on mental health. For brown athletes, are their common mental health battles that we face? Also, how is Jash looking to educate the next generation of brown hoopers? It’s important to understand that everyone has their own struggles and we should look to uplift those in our community that need help.  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today I am joined by Rajah Chaudhry, the NBA Head of Strategy for Asia Pac & Country Head for India. Let’s begin this one by talking about some of the player success stories that have come out of NBA India. How is Rajah helping to build up the basketball ecosystem in India when it comes to players, coaches and fandom? Also, how did a love for video games translate to a love for basketball for Rajah and what are the most popular NBA teams in India? Together we discuss obstacles to growing a game overseas with issues like time zone differences, and how content is being consumed. What do the plans look like for youth basketball development and ultimately what does the future hold for the NBA in India?  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today we are out in Langley, BC at the IndoHoops tournament. Im with my guy Mikhael and at the age of just 10 years old he is by far the youngest brown baller ever to join the show. We talk about how he first fell in love in the game and his aspirations to play basketball in high-school and college. Who is his favourite NBA player and who are some of his favourite brown ballers? Finally, what excites him about what we are building at India Rising?  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/

Today we are joined by Shaan Hundal, a professional soccer player for Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League. Shaan speaks on his journey from being offered his first professional contract at the age of 14, playing for team Canada and how he ended up playing in Vancouver. What is it like to be offered a contract at such a young age and to choose the professional sports route instead of playing division 1 soccer in the US? Also, what does being a Brown Baller mean to him and what advice does he have for Brown Ballers around the world?  https://www.instagram.com/brownballers/ https://www.instagram.com/tidalleague/