Heartistry

For the second time, we welcome organizers of Aurat March Karachi to the podcast. Now in its 8th year, this grassroots movement in Pakistan advocates for gender equality and rights of gender-based minorities. Their mission is to create a society where all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal rights and opportunities. Through peaceful protests, advocacy campaigns, and community engagement, we aim to raise awareness about gender-based violence, discrimination, and other issues faced by women and marginalized groups.At a press conference leading up to the march this week, some of the organizers were detained in a physically aggressive and unlawful manner, and in the midst of all the planning that goes into this gathering each year, those involved in the movement are also responding to what has unfolded in this most recent situation. Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Anjali Rao brings an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens to the study of philosophy and religion (Indic traditions) integrating storytelling, art and poetry. Deeply influenced by her dance training, Anjali's work emphasizes an embodied approach and explores how spirituality, power and politics intersect. Her first book, "Yoga As Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens in Caste, Gender And Sacred Resilience in Yoga History" by North Atlantic Books was named one of the 10 most inspiring, and "insightful and seriously worthwhile" books of 2025 by Yoga Journal and "a scholarly work and a deeply personal journey" by L.A Book Review. Sometimes it’s not even about the "what" that defines our purpose, but also the "how". This moment in our conversation with Anjali reflecting on how and when she wrote her book resonated so deeply with us (as I’m sure it will so many other women). We often put off what is calling us, waiting for the right time to do IT, confront IT, be IT. Sometimes the realization of the totality of what feminism can be the most important and powerful lesson. Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Farhana Huq is a visionary social entrepreneur, executive coach, and thought partner who transforms ideas into meaningful social impact. Her expertise spans traditional arts preservation, immigrant women’s economic empowerment, and surf and ocean culture creation through her platform, brown girl surf.In this conversation with Farhana, we hear how she balances her professional life with surfing, art creation, writing, travel, intellectual exploration, and a deep appreciation for community and nature. We are in awe of her evolving ability to reflect, grow, learn, pivot, and plant new seeds and ideas through it all.Just one example that feels so indicative of this incredible journey is how in 2012, Farhana received a $500 Amber Grant to launch a surf storytelling platform. Thirteen years later, she has just been awarded a $10,000 Amber Grant from the same organization — this time for a sustainable beauty brand that grew directly out of that journey. This is a highly competitive business grant awarded to female entrepreneurs across the U.S and Canada, and now places Farhana in consideration for a year-end Amber Grant in the amount of $50,000. We couldn't be happier for Farhana, and know that listeners will be inspired by this and so many aspects of this episode!Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Dr. Nadhi Thekkek is the Artistic Director of Nava Dance Theatre, and uses the south Indian dance form of bharatanatyam to navigate place, identity, and politics through the lens of her lived experience as a South Asian woman and a child of immigrants. She reimagines how bharatanatyam and South Asian forms can serve marginalized narratives that need to occupy space in the US right now.So many moments and interactions throughout this conversation were a gateway to reflection for Farah, and we are certain our listeners will feel the same way!For those in the Bay Area, come see Nadhi and other brilliant artists of Nava Dance Theatre perform "Rogue Gestures Foreign Bodies" on Fri, Mar 13 at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco - sourcing community interviews, historical texts, and poetry to explore the intersections of labor, agency, and belonging in our South Asian ancestry. Listen to this excerpt for a little more about the show, and get your tickets today!Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Season 7 of Heartistry is here (!!), and we are launching with a joyful and inspiring conversation with the awesome Hamama Tul Bushra!Trained as a graphic designer from National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan, Hamama earned her Master’s degree in Art History from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in the United States. Her thesis explored two folios (pages) from a Mughal album, Gulshan Muraqqa, at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where she assisted the curator in research and write-ups for featured art and objects in exhibitions. While pursuing her doctorate, Bushra’s energies shifted during the initial Covid era/isolation to visual art. Meanwhile, provoked by the social, political and personal environment she was compelled to respond to her inner dialogue through painting, a passion she returned to. Today, Hamama practices a unique style of figurative painting defined by stylized forms that carefully preserve and highlight the soul and personality of each subject, enriched by cultural and traditional references and metaphors. Her signature bright color palette in acrylic on canvas and the application of material reflects her graphics background, separating her paintings from mainstream work. Fun fact: Hamama was inspired by a photo she saw of Farah and created an original work as a result! If you "watch" this episode, you might catch glimpses of this piece on both Hamama's and Farah's walls. Swipe to see this beautiful and vibrant work by Hamama.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Aranyani is a Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer who began her training in 1990. Over time, Aranyani has developed her own distinctive approach to Bharatanatyam focusing equally on the human and divine; the religious and secular; and the traditional and modern.In 2025, Aranyani Co-founded Indian Dancers for Gaza’s children to raise awareness about the plight of children in Palestine, and later Lebanon, and helped to raise a significant amount of funds through dance performances across the world for a paediatric charity in Gaza. For all our fellow dancers out there, check out this excerpt where Farah and Aranyani get into notions of "tradition, contemporary, authenticity". Sound familiar? Listen to the whole episode to hear what they have to say about this and so much more! Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Mona Ahuja is a certified Yoga Instructor as well as a Pilates Reformer Instructor and Deep Stretch Coach. There were many moments that we loved in the conversation with Mona, but this had to be one of our favorites. Lesson: acknowledging - and acting on - the importance of how our own happiness and fulfillment can positively impact those around us. Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

This conversation with Mariam Magsi has been a long time coming, as Farah knew right away upon meeting Mariam in Pakistan in 2023, that this was someone that had to be heard on Heartistry! Finally, the stars (and schedules) aligned, and we are thrilled to share this episode and the infinite reflections, takeaways, words of wisdom, you name it, we know you're going to love it! Based in Toronto, Canada, Mariam Magsi is a multidisciplinary artist, writer and educator using photography, poetry, performance and other arts to amplify marginalized stories, challenge norms and ignite change.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Sisters and co-founders Lakshmi and Vinaya Ravi share their path to creating @vyoletclothing where simplicity meets quality and elegance in apparel.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

If you have seen either Roopa Mahadevan or Sruti Sarathy perform, you know just how brilliant they are! If you haven't, now is your chance!! And this time, they are premiering their collaborative project "Songs of Many Lives" which will bring their minds, hearts and music together in ways that are both rooted in their artistic sensibility, and bring so many unexpected layers to it. Swipe to hear @sruti.sarathy and @roopama speaking about the work, and even @farahyasmeenshaikh give her take on this uniquely grounded work.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. See the live performances in the San Francisco Bay Area on Oct 25 & 26 in Mountain View and on Nov 9 in San Francisco!#PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Nikita Shah is a brilliant Kalamkari and textile artist, originally from Mumbai, and now based in Brooklyn. This episode is extra special because Farah not only had the chance to learn so much about Nikita, but these two artists are both being presented as part of @whenyesspeaksf on Oct 11 & 12.Nikita will be giving a workshop in Oakland on Sat, Oct 11, and Farah and @nooranidance company will perform on Sat & Sun in SF, sharing their unique and reflective project “Saabit Qadam - Perseverance.”Nikita’s work will also make some special appearances in the performances! Hear them talk about all of this and more in this conversation.

Conversations like this one exemplify so much of what the Heartistry Podcast is all about. Spotlighting voices and stories of individuals who are equally focused on doing the same in the various ways that they show up in the world.Preethi & Shruti are a dynamic duo that - through their own individual and collective artistic practice, as well as through their various endeavors, platforms and opportunities they are creating for others - are sparking reflection, dialogue, inquiry, healing, and so much more.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Arjun Verma is an internationally acclaimed sitarist trained by Maestro Ali Akbar Khan, Alam Khan, and Roop Verma, and has recorded with GRAMMY-winning artists London Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and John Beasley, performed with musical greats Swapan Chaudhuri, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, and Alam Khan, and presented music at the United Nations, the Fillmore, Prague Castle, and on NBC TV.Throughout this episode, Arjun shares about the beautiful pathways and people that led him to where he finds himself at present. Much like his music, there is a deeply reflective nature in the way Arjun communicates, one that is profoundly introspective, but never without absorbing and learning from others, and then always sharing - whether through teaching, performing, or in developing his own artistry.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Phoenyx Rose is a Bay Area-born, multi-hyphenated artist, healer, and movement educator whose work spans Broadway, film, music, and sacred storytelling. With over 2,000 students taught across the Bay Area, Phoenyx is known for weaving life values into every movement, igniting transformation in and beyond the studio. Her creative lineage merges ancestral power with modern expression, empowering others to see. As a performer, writer, and founder of Aurora Luxe Candles, she blends art with alchemy. This beautiful and inspiring conversation with Phoenyx is a little extra special as it includes Aziza Noor Shaikh, Farah's daughter, as the co-host for this episode. Aziza is a direct recipient of our guest's brilliance, and throughout the conversation, you'll understand why!Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Saadia Khan is the founder of Indus Threads, an impact driven fashion accessories brand that blends culture with elegance while empowering women through style. After leaving her corporate career, Saadia set out to build a brand that not only offers statement pieces but also inspires confidence and self-expression. With a keen eye for design and a passion for impact, she works with global artisans to create collections that celebrate individuality and bold fashion choices. A portion of each purchase goes to charities working towards women health and education. Saadia is on a mission to make fashion a force for confidence and change; championing empowerment through accessories that tell a story.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Muhammad Joyo @mojofounds is a Pakistani-American, born in Karachi and raised mostly in the US. His moving around a lot while young made him curious about new places and ideas, and was driven by learning and challenging himself to obtain new skills. After working at Google for five years as a software engineer, Muhammad started Elaichi Co, a chai cafe in Berkeley, with his wife and parents, and found his current passion - entrepreneurship and growing Elaichi Co, bringing him new challenges every day. We love this excerpt of him talking about the importance of growing and evolving into being a positive and strong leader.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Dr. Geetha Murali is CEO of Room to Read, a leading international organization that transforms the lives of children through education. Geetha is a driving force behind Room to Read’s presence in 24 countries — benefiting more than 45 million children. We loved hearing about how Geetha's diverse personal professional experience have culminated into "wins" in various environments, in ways that even she could not have predicted.Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts. #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Seenaya @seenayaofficial was born out of a deep love for Pakistani heritage and the desire to share its beauty rituals with the world. As a mother-daughter duo—Saman and Maha— grew up surrounded by potent, natural ingredients and age-old skincare traditions passed down through generations. Inspired by their grandmother’s rituals and guided by the wisdom of their roots, they created Seenaya to bring these time-tested secrets to a new generation of skincare enthusiasts.Hear each of them speak about how their individual paths led them to becoming Co Founders of this skin care brand that connects generations and a community of individuals who value authenticity, heritage, and the power of nature.

Devanshi Somaiya is an obstetrician-gynecologist with 20 years of clinical experience and a strong background in public health, and has worked in low-resource settings. For the past decade, Devanshi has concentrated on cost-effective solutions for cervical cancer prevention, including screening and vaccination. Currently, Devanshi leads and serves as a clinical specialist on several local and global collaborative research projects on women’s health with Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII).Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.  

Zainab Jeewanjee is a relationship-driven leader who believes “service is sales, and sales is service” and thus her work is rooted in service as a deepest form of connection. She exemplifies this in her actions, and so much of what she shares with Farah throughout this conversation. A Bay Area native, writer, yogi, and global thinker, Zainab brings heart, humility, and intention to everything she builds. It is no surprise that she was invited to be Chair for the upcoming OPEN Silicon Valley conference, “SYNERGY” on May 10th in the Silicon Valley, and with her self proclaimed “card carrying feminist” lens, shares what we can look forward to this year. 

Kulsoom Aftab is a dramatist, poet, actor, original content creator, director, translator, voice-over artist, script consultant, writing and acting coach, and student counsellor, and the founder and artistic director of Theatre K productions. Before her building up her own theatre production house, she has served National Academy of Performing Arts in various capacities for twenty years. Kulsoom is an activist for meaningful entertainment, female empowerment, and original content. In this excerpt, we loved her reflection and analysis of the multiple artistic migrations that have taken place in and out of Pakistan, and how it is has impacted the artistic landscape to present day in the country. 
Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.

#PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Rana Nadya is a certified fitness trainer and an entrepreneur. She has been a national swimmer for Pakistan as well. Rana completed her MBA, and like everyone in their masters dreamt of an ideal corporate job as the only future. Two years into corporate life, she knew that it was not for her, and that something was always missing.  This is when Rana started doing online certification courses and training at a local gym. In her 8 years of fitness training, she has been driven by a singular mission - to ignite a fire within other women, and to empower them to find passion and purpose in their work. Rana knew firsthand, the transformative power of earning one’s own income, and yet, it wasn’t just about financial stability. It was also about autonomy, dignity, and a sense of self-worth. Rana started her own journey from timid, corporate slave to now a confident entrepreneur. The women she trains also yearn for more - more independence, more fulfillment, more control over their own lives. Rana urges all women to take the leap, to pursue their passions, and to never settle for anything less than their dreams. And most importantly, to keep trying to find something you adore doing. One of the ways Rana is achieving all of her desires for herself, and for others, is through a beautiful sense of community that she has helped to create. 

Taabir Noorani is an artist and yogi living in Karachi, Pakistan. She owns a gym and an art business with a touch of interiors. Farah invited Taabir to be a guest on Heartistry, not just because of her artistry and other endeavors, but also because of her involvement with various other activists and humanitarian efforts. Taabir is a great example of showing up sometimes with something specific to offer (skills, etc), and at other times just "do what's needed"!

Founder of Scrumptious Wicks, Sonya Malani Panchal discovered a unique passion for candle making. When developing the scents she wanted in her candles, she made the beautiful connection between smell and taste, rooted in her nostalgia and overall love for flavors, and hence the name of her company.We chat about her journey, and the far too often tendency of being exploited by those over asking for donated products. This is a relatable topic for so many, and we appreciated Sonya’s ability to both advise others to do what is right for them, and to call it out when it isn’t working. 

We are so glad that this week's guest, Silicon Valley Exec turned Award Winning Actor & Filmmaker, Renu Razdan, shared this advice she received. Listen to this conversation to hear more about the pivot she made, leaving "weekend warrior" days behind her. Hear the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.

We are thrilled to share this episode with Saiyna Bashir @saiynabashir_studios - an incredible and award winning photojournalist based in Pakistan. Seriously check out some of her work in that area, and then while you are picking your jaw up off the ground, note that Saiyna is also a documentary filmmaker AND is currently working on "Ustad" @ustadthefilm - a documentary on the untold story of one of the world's greatest singers, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Though it has been close to three decades since Nusrat Sahib's passing, needless to say, his music lives on in the minds and hearts of so many. We see this to be the case with so many great artists. With the recent passing of other true legends and masters, Ustad Aashish Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain, the world of South Asian music, is certainly mourning the loss of their physical presence, but also reminded of the world treasures that we have in and from South Asia. Thanks to storytellers like Saiyna, we even have the chance to learn more about the greats. You must hear more about her incredible journey, when and how we will get to see the documentary, and so much more! Listen to the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.#Photojournalist #Filmmaker #UstadTheFilm #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Hearing how an idea is born AND the name it is given, is always so fascinating! Alyzeh Rizvi, co-founder of Peepal People, a South Asian pantry brand bringing vibrant, punchy flavors to American kitchens, gave us the beautiful backstory of their company, and how it showcases her Pakistani roots through fresh, small-batch, low-sodium hot sauces.Listen to the full episode of @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio and wherever you hear your favorite podcasts.#PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast #PakistaniEntrepreneur #PeepalPeople

We loved getting to know Nadia Rahman during our recent conversation (which happened to take place at the end of election week). Nadia is a communicator, organizer, and activist based in San Francisco. Standing up for what she believes in, navigating how to acknowledge support and endorse candidates who have made progress in some areas, but still holding them accountable to their shortcomings - all of this, and so much more, is what inspires us about this week’s guest!

Our conversation this week is with Bisan Shehadeh, Executive Director of Zawaya, based in the SF Bay Area. She says so much about their vision to achieve intercultural solidarity, respect, and understanding through the universal languages of music and the artsOn Nov 9th, Zawaya presents “We Are All Palestinian”, a concert honoring our shared humanity and the sacredness of life by diverse Bay Area communities coming together to denounce genocide and ethnic cleansing through the universal language of music, particularly by celebrating and preserving Palestinian folk music.

For Muthulakshmi Anu Narasimhan, art has always been a lifeline. Coming from a long line of artists and musicians, Anu has been painting from the moment she could hold something in her hand.  Art isn’t just an exploration of Anu’s cultural heritage or nomadic life, but has always been a way to heal her soul, find beauty in the world, and show the world that everyone can find healing in art.And, as you’ll hear in this brief excerpt from her conversation with @farahyasmeenshaikh, when creating art, Anu hopes that art can also be a place of unexpected connection for people across the globe.

This week's guest, Kalsoom Lakhani, has a pretty awesome "what", however, what we loved even more is her "why"?Kalsoom is the Co-founder & General Partner at i2i Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund for Pakistan, and the country’s first female-founded VC fund, which opened its doors in 2019. She is also the Founder of Invest2Innovate, i2i Ventures' sister entity, which she launched in 2011 to support and unleash the potential of young entrepreneurs in growth markets like Pakistan. Listen to this snippet, and then to the entire conversation on @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio on Fri, Oct 4 at 9pm PST / 9am PKT#PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Preethi's #heARTivism is steeped in her personal experience as a Bharatanatyam artist, along with her extensive research and commitment to representation and the performance of myth among transnational Bharatanatyam practitioners. This conversation aired on @rukusavenueradio on the @iheartradio app, and is now available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts 🎙

Irene Tcruz Shimizu is a self-taught, intuitive, channeled artist and divine messenger co-creating art that speaks to the soul. Irene manifests activation art so people awaken and amplify their gifts, and in turn share their gifts with the world, expressing her creativity with mixed media paintings that emanate love, beauty, hope, harmony, and faith.

Salman Ansari lives his life playing with many pursuits rather than specializing in a single path. He's worn different hats over the years - software engineer, startup founder & CTO, writer, illustrator, and DJ, to name a few - which he speaks to in this excerpt from the episode. We loved hearing about all that fill Salman's life, how and why it works for him, and so much more! Listen to @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio on on Fri, Aug 9 at 9pm PST / 9am PKT#JackOfManyTrades #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Zainab Hussain is a proud Muslim woman, a multilingual, multi-ethnic immigrant, a person with disabilities and conqueror of mental illness, all of which contribute significantly to her work as a poet. Zainab’s poetry centers around embracing vulnerability, practicing self-love, navigating social issues and most importantly, healing trauma through self-expression.In this episode, Zainab generously shares this powerful and moving work titled “Trailblazing”. After you hear this, we know you’re going to want to know and hear much more about this amazing heARTivist!

Eben E. B. Bein is a high-school-biology-teacher-turned-climate-justice-advocate at the youth-serving nonprofit Our Climate. This conversation with Eben is a reflective culmination of their experiences since childhood, what led them to doing their present work, and the many encounters on their journey. Farah and Eben connected on so much throughout their time together, and we just had to share a clip of this particular moment!Listen to @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio on on Fri, July 12 at 9pm PST / 9am PKT#ClimateJustice #ClimateJusticeAdvocate #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Being a storyteller, first of your own stories, and then as a conduit to and for others to share theirs, is Meghna Bhat's super power. We loved hearing from her about her inspiration to embrace this calling through various mediums, and how she is empowering others to do the same.Listen to @heartistrypodcast on @iheartradio app @rukusavenueradio on on Fri, June 28 at 9pm PST / 9am PKT#SouthAsianStoryteller #CulturalPracitioner #GulabiStories #PassionCompassionCommitment #Heartistry #Podcast

Rizwan Jagani is professional violist and educator of Indian and Pakistani heritage. He calls himself the “new-fit” violist due to his diverse career of many genres and styles in his performance with his most recent highlight being a performance with Grammy Award-winning Afrobeats artist, Burna Boy, in his Washington DC tour concert. He is currently finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Catholic University of America.

Marvi Mazhar is a Pakistan based architect and researcher, with her practice combining visual culture, spatial advocacy and interventions. What she won’t often say about herself, but you’ll undoubtedly agree with, is that through her work, she has become not just an inspiration to many in her field, but a true change maker in thought and practice.

From developing a collective vision, to finding your individuality, to upholding tradition while simultaneously embracing and acknowledging the contemporary impact - this conversation with Aparna & Ashwini of Ragamala Dance Company was beautiful. These sisters speak of their unique history to present, and how the work of an artist encompasses so many known and unknown aspects.  

If you’ve already had the gift of reading Author @thealkajoshi books, you’re likely already a fan! What we loved is hearing about her journey that led up to becoming an author, her inspiration for her “Jaipur Trilogy” of novels, and so much more! 📖This excerpt from her conversation with @farahyasmeenshaikh is also a great example of not always knowing where your path is leading you, but ironically, it is usually leading you in the right direction. In Alka’s case, her story was being written - literally and figuratively - without her even knowing it! 💫

Breaking mental health stigma in the South Asian community was the “why” for the creation of South Asian Americans for Change (SAAFC) @saaforchange - a non profit organization focused on promoting emotional, physical, and social well-being through art, education and community-building.Farah speaks with two of the co-founders - Neema Nardone @neema_nardone and Rupal Joshi @rkj5014 - who not only give deeper insight into the “why”, but also share the “how”, which includes multiple free in-person community building events to de-stigmatize topics relevant to mental health in the community, including colorism, unrealistic beauty standards and unique challenges faced by South Asian men regarding mental health.

In this special episode that is meant to encompass reflections of Ramadan, Farah speaks with Rabia Meghani and Maha Sami - both a part @nooranidance staff alongside Farah. They each share their own relationship with fasting and other aspects of Ramadan, and how this year has added a greater degree of global empathy and sensitivity.

We loved this conversation with Sabah Bano Malik who shared her unique story of moving from west to east, and making Pakistan not just home away from home, but truly home base. Once in Pakistan, @sabahbanomalik has endeavored into a role in multimedia journalism, hosting her own radio show, modeling as Pakistan’s first plus size model, becoming an author, and she is a dynamic and overall person on the internet. Sabah’s witty, straight forward, no BS approach, is equal parts thought provoking and hilarious!

We all know representation matters, and our conversation with this week’s guest is a perfect example of exactly that.Dr. Anne Huang is the Executive Director of World Arts West, a 45 year old arts organization that supports cultural artists sustaining the world’s diverse dance traditions. As the first person of color and a cultural artist to lead the organization, annehuang29 has led @worldartswest through a transformative equity journey that we believe is truly changing the course of this organization, and setting the example for so many cultural artists.

Fashion has the potential to make a statement - sometimes literally!  This week’s guest is Salman Parekh - founder of Manto @wearmanto - a Pakistani born fashion label with a touch of the traditional, delivered on contemporary terms. Manto is bold and eye-catching, with an unapologetically rebellious streak.We loved having the chance to hear from Salman @maansals - a storyteller, psychology-marketing enthusiast, content creator, reader, and relentless learner at heart - about how this increasingly popular brand came to be!

@auratmarch is a grassroots movement in Pakistan advocating for gender equality and rights of gender-based minorities, challenging patriarchal norms and promoting inclusivity, diversity, and intersectionality. Through peaceful protests, advocacy campaigns, and community engagement, they aim to raise awareness about gender-based violence, discrimination, and other issues faced by women and marginalized groups, with a mission to create a society where all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal rights and opportunities. As our guest, and of the founders of Aurat March in 2018, says so beautifully, “The root of the feminist movement is to embrace everyone so that no one is alone.”

Bina Shah is a force, to say the least. Author of six novels, including “Before She Sleeps” (a selection in @lillyslibrary) and “The Monsoon War”and two collections of short stories. Self proclaimed “writer with a global soul”, Bina’s work is recognized and sought out globally - as a commentator on women’s rights and female empowerment in Pakistan and across Muslim countries, and as a regular writer for the New York Times, the Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, the Daily Dawn, and the Independent and the Guardian.What we love about the conversation between @bina_writer and @farahyasmeenshaikh is hearing the unique story about the writer - the one who often writes about others. 

What if we could all be colonized by art (in a good way)?! This is but one of the many aspirations of Saad Sheikh, the co-founder of The Colony in Lahore, Pakistan.This conversation between @thesaadsheikh and @farahyasmeenshaikh took place during Farah’s recent tour, and there are so many moments throughout this episode that will leave you feeling inspired, rejuvenated and hopeful.

Doing away with the male gaze, but how?! Through the female gaze of course!Season 5 kicks off with a powerhouse heARTivist!Meet Marium Kamal - Pakistan based artist, feminist and entrepreneur. Though a graduate of a renowned arts institution in Karachi, Pakistan, it was the unlearning that Marium did, and her ability to channel her anger and frustration of the male gaze, that led her to her true path of heARTivism.