The People I Meet

With International Dance day being celebrated tomorrow across the world I thought today would be the perfect opportunity to share my conversation with one of the most talented dancers of today's generation - Simran Sivakumar. She is to me the perfect amalgamation of classical, contemporary, modern and western styles of dancing. Having carved a niche for herself as a dancer par excellence Simran brings to the table a variety of different skills. Her years of experience as a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and performer clearly shines through in every single video that we see on Social media and the amount of perfection she brings to the limelight takes years of training, not to mention countless hours of practice. Not only are these videos breathtakingly beautiful and aesthetically pleasing to the eye they are filled with grace, technical knowledge, clarity in movement and so much more. Simran and I talk about her journey, her strengths and weaknesses, her thoughts on being a content creator and so much more on today's episode.There is so much that I learnt from the conversation that I had with her and I really look forward to seeing her grow from strength to strength in the coming years. Dancer or not, this is an episode you don't want to miss. International Dance Day special.

On today's episode I am in conversation with someone who is truly bold, sassy, unapologetic and unfiltered in her opinions and is not afraid to stand out from the crowd. She wakes up every morning with an unending zest for life, a crazy amount of passion and enough energy to bring the roof down. Jane Jeyakumar is a woman of many talents. She is a Radio Jockey, Vlogger, Social Media Influencer, Podcaster, Marketing strategist and so much more. She is a fire-cracker at what she does and is always looking for cool things to do not just in her city but even outside of it. She has always lived life on her own terms and the sort of experience she brings to the table is incomparable. On the episode she shares with me her vulnerabilities, her idea of romance, why she does what she does, her recent addiction to fitness, what drives her as a 36 year old to get out of bed everyday and so much more. Catch this power house of talent in conversation with me only on The People I Meet - Season 2.

On the occasion of World Health day I think its a happy coincidence that my guest for today is someone who fits the bill. In today's fast paced world it is but imperative that we understand how important it is to be fit and healthy. Finding the right trainer or coach is one of the most important aspects of your fitness journey because to be very honest finding the right person who makes you want to be the fittest version of yourself is no cake walk. That's where today's guest comes in. A multifaceted superwoman, Sheba Devaraj is a well known name in the fitness circle of Chennai and is the proud owner of her own Strength and Conditioning Studio known as Creed. Sheba did not magically enter the world of Fitness, it has always been her passion even when she was a reporter/ content writer/ amateur Kart Racer or working as a game developer for a reputed firm in the city. What made her want to pursue this dream? What are those FAQ's that she is a little tired of? Is it easy being a part of a male- dominated industry such as fitness? What stereotypes does she want to break? Find out the answers to all these questions and more on this episode.

On episode 3 of Season 2, it gives me great pleasure to have as my guest one of the most multi-faceted super woman of Chennai and someone who I really look up to as a role-model. Rohini Rau is a leading Doctor, International Sailor, TED fellow, a Global Shaper, a motivational speaker, an entrepreneur, a young mom and so much more. She grew up watching her mom hustle 24/7, take care of her family and contribute to the betterment of society every single day and to her that was nothing out of the ordinary, in fact that was how she liked it. Today as a young mom her social media posts about her pregnancy, her honest and filter - free approach to life and everything else that she does on a day to day basis has had a very positive influence in the minds of the people. Rohini is undoubtedly a force to reckon with and on today's episode she gets candid about her life's journey and how she manages to do it all.

One of the most dynamic women entrepreneur duos of Chennai city, my guests today are a force to reckon with. Jinal and Vandhana are as different as chalk and cheese but when it comes to building their brand Wsquare their values, ethics and ideas are all aligned towards a common goal of uplifting women. Coming from varied backgrounds the two women bring to the table a plethora of talents, skills and ideologies and are firm believers of being a voice for the voiceless. I have had the good fortune of watching them evolve on this journey and am incredibly proud of how far they have come. From being India's first co-working space for women to now being incubators these women are here to stay and slay. We discuss motherhood, challenges of entrepreneurship, the gender stereotype, the digital future and so much more on today's episode. Tune in to find out and let me know what you think.

On the first episode of season 2, I introduce to you one of my oldest friends and a freakishly talented human being Aarabhi Badri. I have known her for close to around 15 years now and I have always been in awe of how committed, sincere, hardworking and talented she is at everything that she does. A dancer, special educator and a creative movement rehabilitator this young mom has always been vocal about her opinions, thoughts and ideas right from when she was 5. On this episode today we talk about our journey together as friends, how our relationship has survived the various highs and lows, her interest in planning her days since she was 10, what influenced her decision to enter the disability education sector despite pursuing an electronic media course, her love for the arts and a whole lot more. As always this was a very special episode with a very special guest and its as honest as it can get. Listen to it and let me know what you think.

Hi, It's me again and I am back with season two of my Podcast series - The People I Meet. On this journey I hope to share with you once again some real, raw and honest stories of the people I respect, admire and love. I am inspired by every single person I meet and I cant even begin to express how much I learn from them during the countless conversations and interactions I have with each of them. This is the pilot episode of season 2 and I am thrilled once again to be sharing these stories with you and launching this season on International Women's day. Here's to Strong Women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. Happy Listening.

And we are at the Silver Jubilee Episode. For this one right off the bat I knew I wanted to have a conversation with a young, talented millennial who according to me is the perfect fit for the term " Free Spirit". My guest today is all of 26 , she is a traveler, a writer and an entrepreneur with dreams as big as the sky. She loves to share stories just like me, have deep conversations about a variety of subjects but more importantly she uses several different avenues to showcase her ideas with the world. On days that she is not working, travelling or hustling with her business, which are extremely rare days to be honest, she has conversations with her plants and her pet. I talk to Mridula, the founder of Jugaad about so many different things today but my favourite part of our conversation has to be the 5 year plan that she shared with me . It's just so honest, inspirational and moving at the same time that I had to share it with you all. Have a listen won't you?

There are some people you meet in life who you admire just for their sheer talent, passion and work ethic and one such person I know features as my guest today on The People I Meet. Soundarya Bala Nandakumar is a playback singer, actor, performer and so much more. She is sincere, committed, hardworking and is always vocal about what's on her mind. From having given up a stable bank job to follow her dreams, to now working in one of the most anticipated feature films of Tamil Cinema Soundarya's life has definitely been a roller coaster ride. What does she enjoy doing more, acting or singing? What has this pandemic taught her? How does she evaluate her journey? These are just a few of the questions she has answered on today's episode and her answers are honest, truthful and direct. Tune in now.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the console of a DJ? Well, I always have and of course being the curious human that I am I wanted to get one of the pioneer DJ's of Chennai to spill the secrets with you as well. Being a DJ is a lot of hard work and it definitely isn't always about the glitz and the glamour that we see on Page 3. Besides a deep passion for music, there is a specific skill set that helps you stand out in a crowd and a sound knowledge of technology definitely helps up the game. DJ Zen talks about his journey, how this particular career choice happened to him, where India Stands in terms of the party scene an so much more on today's episode. Tune in now and let me know what you think.

Sometimes in life despite having a rock solid plan in place , your life switches tracks and goes on a completely different route. A few years later when you look back you realise that the detour was the best thing that could have happened to you! This is exactly what my guest for today feels when she talks about how she decided to embark on her Hair-Dressing journey. Cutting hair is a science, knowing what works best for each hair texture is an art, understanding what exactly your client wants is a skill and ensuring that they leave the salon with a smile on their face is a true gift! This is a gift that Uma Selvaraj possesses in abundance and during the course of our conversation today you will find out that behind the pretty face and the gorgeous curls stands a strong, independent woman who has big dreams for the future. Join us on this episode to know a lot more about this curly haired Diva from Chennai.

Today's guest is a young content creator who believes that there is a place for everyone in the digital world and is always looking for new ways to express himself. A music producer, editor and writer facing an existential crisis is what his social media bio reads but this young gun is here to stay and slay. Arjun Manohar has always believed that given the right platform every individual can find their voice and express freely their thoughts and opinions , but its up-to that individual to find that voice and give it life! We talk about a great deal of feelings on this episode of my podcast and as always it was sincere, honest and candid! I hope you enjoy this chat.

Today's guest is a Theatre Technocrat. A very intriguing title no? When the gentleman himself is such a multi-faceted and interesting personality I am sure the title must be too. Anyone who is from Chennai must know of The Little Theatre and if they do, it obviously means that they know the Man behind it - Artistic Director, Krishnakumar alias KK as he is fondly called. A man of many many talents KK is a Director, Actor, Producer , Writer, a TED X speaker, member of the Global Shapers Community and so much more. A national level swimmer and a fitness enthusiast he is also deeply passionate about animal welfare and is often found juggling between all of these different roles with a great level of energy! Today's conversation touches upon several aspects of his journey and is as honest as it gets! Tune in to know more about this wonderful human being!

Today's guest is a musician with a Midas touch. One of the most sought-after violinists of his generation he is at ease with varied genres of music be it Carnatic, Blues, Jazz, Commerical or even Heavy Metal. He adds his own personal touch to any track he plays and there-in lies the magic. Shravan Sridhar is not just a well known face in the music circles, he is also a social media celebrity with a very loyal fan base. In his own words, Shravan shares that he did not have an epiphany of sorts that Music was his life's true calling yet Music is all he has known and loved for close to 19 years. Today we talk about his tryst with music, how it all started, his varied associations with some incredibly talented musicians across the globe and of course his band's new album. Catch it all here on this very special episode.

Today's guest is a sauve, charming, talented, young Designer from Chennai who has made his presence felt very strongly in the Fashion Industry. What started as a childhood obsession slowly translated into a hobby during the weekends which later on became a full fledged career choice. From creating one or two ensembles for friends and family members for their special occasions to owning a beautiful studio in Adyar, Ashwin Thiyagarajan's journey of becoming an established brand that makes statement bespoke outfits for everyone has truly been phenomenal. Just like his clothes, Ashwin's personality also makes a statement every single time. Outspoken , sensitive and classy he shares his journey with me today as we talk about his Oscar moment, his coming out journey, his love for all things vintage and so much more. Listen in and let me know what you think.

Today's guest is quite literally a viral sensation and I mean that in the nicest way possible. An actor and stand up comedian by profession, Abishek Kumar is deeply passionate about the spotlight and has no qualms about accepting that he loves the attention. For the first time on my podcast I had a guest tell me they loved engineering and all the experiences that came along with the college package and that in itself was a different sort of revelation. A teaching stint with a leading theatre group in the city lead him on to the path that he is currently travelling on and there has been no looking back ever since he took on the avatar of Mrs. Janaki. On this episode we discuss the transition and transformation Abishek has had to undergo to become the person he is today. Tag along and let me know what you think.

Are you one of those people who knew right from when they were little that this is what you wanted to be when you grew up? Well, Amitash was one of those people. He was bitten by the acting bug at a very young age and knew deep down that he had to follow his passion and make his acting dreams come true. His debut into tamil cinema is what dreams are made of and what followed the success is a story of hope, grit, determination and passion. Amitash is a great conversationalist and on this epsiode we talk about a series of different topics that are close to our hearts. Hope you enjoy this heart-to-heart interaction with this charming heart throb.

Today's guest is an Advertising and Branding Wizard. At an age when kids were running around freely during summer vacations she turned her love for books into a business opportunity and became an entrepreneur when she was just 8 . She has never let go of the child in her and her constant love for adventure and creativity led her on a roller coaster journey of sorts. Her out-of-the box, wacky and innovative ideas have always made her stand out from the crowd and she enjoys all the adrenaline rushes that the world has to offer. Multi-faceted, confident and outspoken, entrepreneur Mum Batul Tarub is a powerhouse of talent. Raven-claw her brand is her brain child and today she gets candid with me about her journey. Don't miss out.

It's not very often that we hear of successful reverse migration stories right? But my guest today is a pro at it and even better she has built a very beautiful community for herself in the heart of the city in a very short span of time. No I don't mean a literal physical space but a dance community that aims to break stereotypes and welcome with open arms anyone who wants to groove to the music. Kavya a.k.a the Black Swan is a dancer and choreographer who has made a mark in the city with her versatile dance moves and charming personality. But Kavya is more than just a fantastic dance teacher and performer she is on a mission to empower people and bring change through the arts. We caught up late one night and chatted about her journey and trust me there are quite a few interesting revelations on this episode. We hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did !

Today's guest on my Podcast is a radio veteran with a voice that is as sweet as honey! She quite literally wakes Chennai up with her mellifluous voice and charming personality and is one of the kindest people I have had the good fortune of knowing through the years. She always has a kind word for anyone she meets and is always up for a fun conversation which is what makes Sulabha a crowd favourite. There are several misconceptions people often have about Radio Jockeys in general and on today's episode Sulabha and I talk about several of these notions and so much more. With Sulabha conversation is always easy, free flowing and honest because that is just who she is as a person and it truly reflects in our conversation here as well. Have a listen please and let me know your thoughts as always.

Today's episode features a very special guest, someone I have known right from my child hood. She is confident, bold, out-spoken and is never one to mince words. Everytime Yaamini walks into a room she owns it and that's one of the many admirable qualities she possesses. In this conversation we talk about her transformation journey, her interest in architecture, her tryst with entrepreneurship, the term friends like family and so much more. It never felt like this was an interview for a podcast, its a casual conversation with two sisters catching up virtually over a cup of coffee and talking about life. Hope you find the conversation endearing and filled with love.

On today's episode I am going to be in conversation with a phenomenal Boss lady! She is so insanely talented that every time I check out her profile she is up-to something new and is always working hard at getting better every single day. Though a make up artiste by profession, Anusha Swamy's first love is dance. She is one of the most versatile dancers I know and is a fantastic choreographer as well. Her work with the Down Syndrome foundation also made her evolve as an entrepreneur who has helped so many wonderful people create a livelihood for themselves. But what made her pick up the brushes, switch to pole dancing, become a fitness enthusiast, a surfer and a plant mom? She reveals all of this and more on this very personal and honest conversation with me. You will be inspired, I promise!

On today's episode I am going to be in conversation with a young Yogini. Her three most favourite things to do in the world are to smile, hug and do Yoga. Interesting right ? Well, I thought so too and hence here we are. Rohini Manohar is the Founder of the Chennai Yoga Studio and is an internationally certified yoga teacher who has practiced and taught yoga for 12 years in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and India. If I told you that before this life-altering switch to becoming a Yogini, Rohini was a wild child who partied her way through university in Australia would you believe me ? You probably wouldnt, but she talks about this phase of her life, her stint of working with the GREEN PEACE, getting introduced to Yoga through an australian friend and more on this episode and trust me she has lots of interesting things to share! Take a listen wont you.

My guest on this epsiode is an architect, artist, edupreneur, dancer, designer, research scholar and an experimental mom as she likes to call herself! Phew, thats a lot of different hats to wear right? You must think at some point she lets go of any of those roles to accomodate something else. But the answer is no. She is a master juggler who constantly keeps the ball rolling and is an inspiration to thousands of people. She is also the co-founder of The ArtBrew Company and Little trails, both of which she runs with her husband who is also her business partner. How does Avanti Natarajan do it all? Tune in to find out :)

Confident, consistent and classy my guest on today’s episode is a Diva in every sense of the word. She is sassy, very vocal about her thoughts and is so dedicated and passionate about all things fashion that every single time she puts out her content I am blown away by her creative streak. Sushmita Agarwal a.k.a MissPinkshoes is an influencer and content creator from Chennai who has made heads turn with her out-of- the- box styling ideas and quirky content every single time! But was she always this dazzling fashionista ? Surprisingly the answer is no! She reveals several interesting facets about her personality with me on this episode and trust me this powerhouse of talent has lots of wisdom to share with the world! As always listen to our conversation and let us know your thoughts!

Make up is art, it is a form of expression for me and I believe the right make up can enhance one's natural features in the best possible way says Make up Artist Vishnupriya. A talented singer, a budding voice over artist, a good-food enthusiast, an obsessive perfectionist and more, Vishnu is someone who is extremely passionate about all things make up. She gets candid with me as we talk about first impressions, the word collaboration, the booming make up industry, the several life choices she has made and so much more on today's episode. Like the saying goes, life needn't be perfect but your make up can be! Sit back, relax and enjoy this light-hearted banter between two good friends, we hope you enjoy the story as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you.

It takes a certain kind of courage to leave behind a city and a life that you have loved and embraced with your whole heart to follow your passion and dreams! My guest on this episode did just that and her story is driven by passion, a deep rooted love for art, thirst for knowledge and most importantly – THE HAPPINESS CHECK! A self-professed coffee addict, Ramya a.k.a the rbtrary is an artist, teacher, author, entrepreneur and an IDEA OFFICER! How and where did this all begin? How did Ramya embark on this life changing journey? How did Ramya decide to embark on this quest for the Happiness Check? Answers to all this and more on today’s episode of my podcast. Tune in and listen to our conversation and as always share your lovely feedback with us!

Bitten by the dance bug at a very young age, Sagarika enjoyed grooving to the music and performing on stage all the time. But little did she know that dance would one day be her career and take her on this whirlwind journey of fitness, choreography, performances, teaching and even entrepreneurship! Always smiling and always on the move, Sagarika is a well known face in the dancers circuit here in Chennai and has always been one of the most passionate and hardworking people I have known. Smart, sassy and cheerful, Sagarika shares her life’s journey with me on this episode of my Podcast series – The People I Meet! We hope you enjoy the conversation and remember to groove along to the tunes of life.

Singer/Model/Makeup Artiste/Teacher/MC and what not. How can someone be this multi-faceted and yet so down-to earth and approachable? On today's episode you will get your answer to that question when you hear Aishvarrya share her journey. Apart from discussing her growth as a person across these different career paths, she also discusses her personal battle with anxiety and why it is important to break the taboo around Mental Health! This was a very intense, powerful and an honest conversation with an incredibly talented human being! Please listen to this story and share your feedback with us! We hope you love it and that it strikes a chord with you :)

On today's episode I share with you the story of how two life long friends embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and haven't looked back since. Janani and Preethika are two of my dearest friends and I have watched them juggle the roles of Entrepreneurs, mothers, daughters, wives, friends, colleagues and everything else in between so effortlessly! Listen to them share their journey in a candid, honest and light hearted manner with me Shruthi.

Karthika Shravanti, the founder of Bakeman Begins is an outstanding baker and entrepreneur from Chennai. Her life story is truly filled with a lot of interesting experiences and she always keeps things honest and straight forward. She loves to foster animals, teach, watch the sunsets and spend a lot of time with nature when she is not whipping up amazing treats in the Kitchen. A multi-faceted Karthika always looks for ways to better her craft and is an inspiration to hundreds of people. Listen to Karthika get candid with me about her experiences on this episode.

On this episode of my Podcast I share with you my conversation with a good friend and a long time inspiration, Chennai's favourite Food and Fashion Photographer Anita Kamaraj. She is someone who truly is deserving of all the accolades that has come her way and is one of the most talented people I know. Sincere, committed, hardworking, disciplined, consistent, passionate are just a few of the words I would use to describe this Powerhouse of Talent! We have discussed a lot of interesting topics and I can assure you that she is real, honest and interesting without even having to try. Thank you Anita for being YOU!

I am Shruthi Vijayakumar Vasanth and this is my Podcast series called The People I Meet! Through this series I hope to share with you some real, raw, honest and inspiring stories of the people I have met on this adventurous journey called Life. This is a brief introduction of me. Subscribe to listen to some interesting stories!